Aiko's Memories part 1-Left Alone

A/N: Well, as I'm writing this it's a Friday night. I kinda hate myself right now because what I wrote out for the beginning I didn't save and thus it got deleted. I'll just try to remember what I have. I most likely won't have this all done tonight but I'm aiming to get a lot done. Enjoy guys! Please R&R again.

Important!!!!!!

Okay let me see here. There are 124 reviews now, so if you guys want your art for this story I need 26 more reviews. Let's see...I've got. *sifts through a pile of papers*

Denny in a bear suite and an angry Vaughn.
Chelsea in her dress for the ball.
Sabrina in her dress for the ball.
Lanna in her dress for the ball.
And one manga style page of part of a scene from the ball. I'm open for requests you guys. So if you liked a certain scene from the story so far and want me to draw, ask in a review and I'll try my best. ^^

Disclaimer: Ummm, I own little Chelsea/Aiko and her parents. If there's any current Chelsea and Vaughn in this chapter then- I don't own them.

"Anarrica Mamma?"

"Yes honey, we're going to Antarctica." I looked up at my mother, giving her a big toothless grin. She had to be the most beautiful woman in the world. The way her hair flowed out in long gorgeous hazel waves around her pale heart shaped face brought out the deep sapphire of her eyes; the ones that had been passed down to me. My mother wasn't a fragile woman, but she wasn't entirely a muscular woman either, she was somewhere in the middle. If she was too small then she wouldn't be able to do her job as a scientist. Even before I was born my mother and father had been scientists and left constantly for their work, traveling to all sorts of places. Of course, since I was so young, they didn't bring me with them and I often felt lonely because of that. But this time…this time I was going with them. It was the first winter that I got to spend with my parents.

A small giggle escaped my lips as my mother scooped me up in her loving arms. I pressed my tiny hands to her cheeks and my smile grew wider as I closed my eyes in happiness.

"Dis means I get to come wiff mamma an' papa all de time wight?" I questioned innocently. My father walked over to us as he entered the room. He gently wrapped his strong arms around my mother and answered my question.

"Of course Chelsea. You're my little princess after all." His tone was soft as his green eyes radiated love. He let go of my mother and took me from her arms as he held me up in the air. The two of us smiled and I giggled again. I was happy to be with my parents, so unbelieving happy.

"Now little princess, why don't you go play with your toys while mamma and I talk about the trip?" Father asked as he set me down on the polished wooden floors. Nodding, I scurried down the hall, past the front foyer, to my playroom, to young to pick up the worried tone in my fathers voice. It was a large colorful room with plenty of toys scattered about. There were my blocks stacked in one corner, teddies in another, dolls in the center, and my favourite; a wooden rocking horse that my mother owned when she was younger. I ran over to it, wrapping my arms around the wooden neck as I smiled and nuzzled the side of my face against the soft wood.

"Mr. Whiney, I'm going on a wong twip wiff mamma and papa soon so wou'll be all awone. I'm sowie." I apologized as I stood up and climbed on the horse. As I began rocking back and forth, giggling all the way, I remembered that I had left my favourite cow girl hat in the kitchen.

So, I left the room and began to scurry down the hall, but came to a sudden halt as I heard the sound of my parent's voices. They didn't sound too happy. If anything, they sound worried and upset. I hid around the corner, still being able to peer into the well lit kitchen as I spotted my mother and father, standing there, my mother looking worried.

"Ray, do you really think it wise to bring her with us? She's a mere child. She's only turning four in a couple days. Anything could happen to her!" It was my mother who spoke, her tone sounding as if she were on the verge of tears. It struck me then and there, they were talking about me, arguing actually….they had to bring me with them, they just had to. I didn't want to be left alone. I wanted to be loved; I wanted to be a happy family with my mother and father.

"What else are we supposed to do Karen? Leave her here alone?! Hire a sitter for months? Send her to a day care? There's no one to look after her anymore and we can't very well trust a stranger. Lest you forget they died in that fire!" My father shouted back. I could tell that he wasn't entirely angry but concerned too. Thinking about it now, I really didn't have any family left. A year ago when my parents were actually home, we went to a large family reunion. Everyone was there…that was the year that the fire took my family. We were all having a great time, laughing and all, though of course I was in my mother's arms as she visited. My father was out at the car getting something when my mother decided to go check on him. Once we were outside we began to smell smoke, but weren't entirely sure where it came from. Then, all of a sudden, the building where everyone was in began to burst into flames. The screams of my relatives could be heard from inside as they slowly began to burn. My father turned and began to run back into the building to try to see if he could save anyone, but before he could get inside, the roof collapsed and one last great wave of screams echoed throughout the air. I remember my father's expression from that day. It was pained…I could understand how useless he felt. He felt as if it were his fault for not being able to save anyone…he was silent for a long time after that, and we never found out how the fire started, only that our family was gone…everyone of them.

"Mamma?" I questioned as I walked out from behind the corner I was hiding behind. Instantly my mother and father stopped their conversation and both turned to look at me as tears began to well up in my eyes. I didn't want them to fight or leave me here alone. I wanted to be with them. "Pwease don't weave me…." I cried as the tears rolled down the sides of my cheeks. My mother and father were instantly at me side, both hugging me in their warm arms and hushing me with soothing tones.

"Shhh, it's okay honey, we won't leave you." My mother reassured me as she began to rock me back and forth. My sobs came to a close as I pulled away from them, wiping the tears off my cheeks, as I looked at both of them. A small smile soon replaced the previous frown and I hugged them once more, before my mother picked me up and we left the kitchen and headed to my room to pack.

**

"No, we need Macawoni bear too!" I told my mother as I shoved a small furry brown stuffed bear into my suitcase. "And mister bun bun too!" I added as I pulled out a pink fuzzy bunny rabbit. My mother simply laughed lightly. Her laugh alone sounded like bells, so I couldn't help but smile when I made her happy.

"Okay, okay, but that's enough Chelsea, we can't bring all of your toys." She laughed again as she zipped up the small suitcase and set it down beside hers and papas. It was early in the morning and I was still adding toys to my suitcase before we left for the airplane. We had a long flight ahead of us, so I had to be sure that I had everything with me. "Are you ready to go Ray?" My mother asked turning to papa. He smiled at her and nodded as he jingled the keys to his car in his fingers.

"But of course dear." Father answered, then turned to smile down at me. "Is my little princess ready for a big adventure?" He chuckled as I nodded vigorously, a determined look across my childish face.

"You bet papa!" I said eagerly as I reached for my bag, ready to bound out the door and into the car. I couldn't believe that they were finally taking me with them.

"Hold up there tiger!" Papa laughed as he picked me up in his arms. "It's cold out there, we can't have you getting sick now can we?"

"No…" I sighed in defeat and he set me back down. My mother, who had been smiling as she watched the scene, helped me put on my puffy red coat. She zipped up the zipper then tied a fluffy pink scarf around my neck as I plopped a knitted red toque on my head. Mittens soon found their way on my hands and before I knew it I was sitting in my car seat, holding Mr. bun bun as the three of us pulled out of the drive way. "Can you tell me a stowie?" I asked innocently from the backseat. My father looked at me through the rearview mirror and from what I could tell he was smiling like before.

"Of course princess, what story did you want to hear?" I thought about it for a moment, my finger going to my chin as I made the 'hmm' sound. As I thought, I looked out my window. It was still dark out because it was so early in the morning. Faintly, I could see the stars and if I looked closer I could see the moon. Then the thought struck me.

"Mamma, Papa, can wou tell me the stowie about da moon?" I was always curious as to how the moon was made and why it was up there all alone, miles away from the other stars; I thought that maybe I could finally get my answer. My mother cleared her throat as her and my father looked at each other for a moment. She nodded then turned around to me with a smile across her pink lips.

"Well honey, there are many stories of the moon, but I'll tell you one that's passed down from our great great ancestors." I nodded, eager and curious to hear the story. "Way back in the old times called "The Dreaming," two young men fell in love with the same girl. A tall beautiful young woman who could not make up her mind which one of these handsome warriors she wanted to marry."

"Was she pretty wike you mamma?" I asked innocently as I gave her a toothless grin. She seemed a tad caught of guard but nodded and smiled nonetheless.

"Yes honey, I suppose so. Anyways, this woman would talk to one man and then the other. The older women of the tribe spoke to her about this behavior, but she ignored their advice."

"Was she being bad mamma?!" I gasped in surprise. My mother laughed lightly at this.

"I suppose she was." She answered me after a moment's contemplation. Then she continued on with the story. "The young men became angry and each warned the other to stay away from this girl. It was not long before trouble started between the young warriors and each faced one another in combat. They raised their fighting sticks, and the fight began. So furious was the battle that the earth trembled and the mountains shook. Soon each man was wounded."

"Oh no! Mamma, please tell me they didn't die!" A frown appeared on my lips for I was clearly upset and feeling sorry for the two men.

"You'll see honey." Was her simple reply before she continued again. "Now the Great Spirit, Biame, seeing what was happening interfered and before the two young men could harm themselves further, Biame's powerful magic had lifted the girl into the sky turning her into the Moon, saying "if you can not make up your mind I will do it for you."" She paused and looked at me, as I looked at her with wide sapphire eyes.

"Wow! Bimbo man is amazing!" I exclaimed. My exclamation caused both my mother and father to laugh, but I didn't find what was so funny at such a young age. "Is dere more?" I asked eagerly, with a small smile and that same half shocked expression.

"Yes there is." Mamma answered, and then finished up the story of the moon. "Now she becomes pregnant once a month, growing bigger and bigger with a child until she disappears for three days to have her baby and then reappears again to repeat it time and time again."

"Is dat why da moon gets so big and fat?"

"That's exactly why dear." Mother smiled.

"Den what happened to the ovfer guys?"

"Well the younger of the two men who so loved this girl died of a broken heart. His spirit entered the red bellied black snake who crawls around at night, high in the mountains still trying to reach his true love in the sky." Once she was finished the story she looked at me with her soft sapphire eyes, shocked to see my saddened expression. I couldn't help it either, being a child I felt sorry for anything that suffered.

"…she all awone forever…." My voice was but barely a whisper as I clutched my bunny tighter and looked out my window at the moon again. It was only then did I notice the small amount of snow that was falling. It was pretty- the way it contrasted the night sky. It was also mesmerizing, I'd always loved snow, but I'd hated winter because my parents were always gone.

"It's just a story honey, don't worry." My mother said as she snapped me out of my trance. I looked at her for a moment before nodding and smiling.

"Okay Mamma!"

Before I knew it I was at the airport. It was jam packed with people and was as noisy as a zoo. People were walking around talking on their cell phones, waiting in line at the counters, heck! There was so much going on it was too much for my small brain. I clung to my mothers arm as she picked me up and carried me. To be honest, I was scared of all the people there because they were so much bigger than me and I could easily get lost. There were so many unfamiliar faces that it gave me the shivers.

As my mother, father and I waited in line for our tickets a young couple stood behind us. At the sight of me the woman began to make the 'aww' sounds. "Isn't she just a doll hun? How old is she?" The woman asked my mother. Shyly, I buried my face into my mother's shoulder which caused the other lady to laugh. I was really uncomfortable around strangers and my mother knew that, so she tried to make it short and quick as she answered.

"She's three years." Thank goodness the line we were in was short for after my mother answered my father turned around flashing the tickets and I inwardly sighed with relief. The three of us boarded the plane as I clutched Mr. Bun bun close to my chest. I was set down in the seat between my mother and father and soon fell off into a deep sleep. I remember the last thing I thought before I drifted off was how happy I was that I could be with them. We were a family at last. For the first time in awhile we were together, happily, perfectly together and there was nothing, nothing that was ever going to change that, or so I thought.

I rustled slightly in my sleep, my eye lids still heavy, but my mind wanting to know my surroundings. Lazily, I lifted one eye lid open, allowing my sapphire eyes to scan the area. Wherever I was, it was dark, pitch black. It was black enough that I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face as I stuck it out. "Mamma? Papa?" My voice was but a low whisper filled with worry, for I really hope that I hadn't dreamt the whole thing.

"We're right here princess." It was Papa who answered as I felt a light hand pat the top of my head. I looked over in the direction and could barely make out the rough features of his face. His soft eyes were what I found first. I smiled, relieved that I wasn't alone. "We're still on the plane, everyone's getting rest, and we have a long flight ahead of us still. Go back to sleep princess." He whispered softly and I nodded before I curled back up in a ball and drifted back into dream land.

The next I awoke, it wasn't so pleasant. Everything around me was shaking and I was being jostled up and down, left and right, I felt like scrambled eggs. The sound around me was that of utter chaos which confused me. What was going on? Was I still on the plane? Where were Mamma and Papa? I looked to my right frantically to see my mother sitting there, looking slightly panicked, but trying to hide it.

"Mamma?!" I had to shout over the panic of every one around me. Suddenly I heard a speaker crack and an unfamiliar feminine voice came on.

"Passengers, please remain calm. We are only experiencing slight turbulence. Please strap yourselves in and close all trays." And as soon as the voice had come on, it went off.

My mother turned to look at me, a small sign of relief washing over her face as she reached across my lap and strapped the seat belt around me. She did the same to herself as did Papa then both reached for my hands. My stomach flipped uncontrollably and I knew that we were descending rapidly from the sky.

Before I knew it the shaking and screaming stopped and the voice from before sounded again. "We have now landed in the South Pole." As soon as she said that my mother and father zipped up their jackets and another heavier one was soon place on top of me. It was official…I was a walking talking marshmallow, at least that's how I felt. We got off the plane and walked out of the airport only to be greeted with a gust of harsh wind followed by snow whipping around us. Okay, so I guess I was happy that I was a marshmallow now, for I could withstand the cold and snow. Wow, it's like I were some sort of super hero. I smiled triumphantly to myself as I followed my mother and father to a car. Surprisingly there was another elderly couple in there. I stopped in my tracks, causing my mother to turn around and look down on me.

"Chelsea honey, these are nice people. We can trust them." She told me with a reassuring smile. I got in the car with my mother, only because she told me that she could trust them and that must have meant that she knew them well. "I really am very sorry about this." She said as she spoke to the elderly woman in the passenger's seat.

The woman simply smiled then shook her head. "Don't you worry dear; it's no trouble at all." The woman looked at me with a kind smile and I couldn't help but smile back. Maybe, they were nice.

"Chelsea, we're going to be staying with these nice people for awhile." My mother explained and I simply nodded.

As we drove I looked out the window, pressing my tiny child-like hands against the glass. Outside it was snowing like crazy and the wind was blowing like there was no tomorrow. The sound of it howling echoed throughout the inside of the car. Sadly, I wasn't sure if it were night or day because it was so grey and white out…it was kind of depressing.

The minutes passed by as we drove along, when finally, I spotted a small sturdy red house off in the distance. "That's where we're staying Chelsea." My mother told me as she pointed to the house. I nodded, growing eager to see what it was like inside.

We stopped and parked in the driveway and before you could say "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" I was out of the car and working my way up the wooden front steps to the house. Up close, it was much larger than I thought. It was made of wood and had a wooden porch surrounding it. Two white framed windows were on either side of the door which I was walking through. As I stepped inside I was completely taken aback. The house was similar to that of a log cabin, cozy, warm and welcoming. Across the room from me was a staircase leading to the upper level, but the room I was in now was definitely the living room. A couple beige sofas were in the middle of the room surrounding a bear mat which lay in front of a roasting fire place. In the back of the room was a door which probably lead to the kitchen. I had always wanted to go to a place like that and I was there with my parents. Things just kept getting better and better.

Suddenly, the door opened again as the elderly couple and my parents walked in carrying luggage of all sorts.

"Mamma! Papa! Dis pwace is huuuuggggeee!!" I exclaimed with big bright eyes as I began to jump up and down excitedly. My parents giggled at my expression, causing me to smile wider.

"Yes it is princess; would you like to see your room?" The idea of exploring more of the place had my blood pumping with excitement, so I nodded vigorously in response as I ran circles around my father. He chuckled and set down the things as I ran up the stairs, him following close behind.

I was then shown to a room with a wooden roof and ceiling. There was a window on the other side of the room and a closet. Across the ceiling was an arrangement of stars and a moon which lit up when the lights went off. Near the window was a bed-my new bed. Without a moment's hesitation I ran over to it and jumped on it. Surprisingly, I sunk right in as the softness of the mattress enveloped me. "Papa!" I shouted as I flailed my arms around helplessly. He chuckled again out of amusement and walked over to me to help me out of the mattress. "Papa!" I gasped eyes wide. "It's a monster! It's gonna eat me again!"

"No no princess. It's something called a 'feather tick.' It's softer than a normal mattress because it's stuffed with goose feathers." He explained.

"Ohhh…." I replied completely shocked.

After I settled in, everyone went down to the kitchen to eat a warm dinner of stew, turkey and steamed vegetables. Once we finished with that we sat around the fireplace, telling stories- of course I only listened. I used to love stories, because not one story was ever told the same way by the same person.

Things continued happily for awhile, my mother and father would go out in the field on the snowmobiles to study patterns in the glaciers on days that were warm and calm, while I stayed with Mr. and Mrs. Fox. They turned out to be nice people and we'd often go outside and find penguins playing. I thought that everything was perfect and that I could never be happier in my life. I was naïve, for I wasn't entirely aware of the dangers the arctic truly held.

One day…One day I was out with Mr. and Mrs. Fox playing in the snow, when I somehow got separated from them. I looked around endlessly, trying to find them, but to no avail. Then…it began to snow and I thought I caught sight of two figures further ahead of me. In hopes of it being them, I headed in that direction. The snow grew thicker and the temperature began to drop drastically. Suddenly, out of no where, a southern wind blew across the barren snow field, causing me to tumble and fall to my side. The last thing I saw were a pair of hands reaching out to me….before the dark took over.

Hours later I awoke, my hands numb, my face frozen and my lungs stiff. I could tell that the sky was dark even through the whiteness that continued to pelt me. With each breath I took I felt my chest grow heavier. My eye lids began to drop, but I needed to move, I needed to find my parents. Where were they? Where was I? What was going on? Why did I feel so weak? I tried to stand, but the more I tried to stand the heavier my legs became, until I fell over again. How come I couldn't move? A sudden tear rolled down the side of my cheek, for I was scared. I didn't know what was going to happen to me. I wasn't sure where my parents were. I didn't know what sort of creatures were lurking about out in the darkness…nor did I know how long the storm would last. Would I survive? I began to feel alone, betrayed almost. Why weren't I with Mamma and Papa? Why wasn't I in their arms right now? The thought of never seeing them again struck me and more tears poured down the side of my cheeks.

"Mamma, Papa, where are you?" I cried as the tears began to pour down my cheeks uncontrollably. "Don't leave me alone!" I pleaded to no one as the white shrouded my vision, making it impossible to see my own hand in front of me.

"Mamma! Papa!" I cried out again but they were nowhere to be found, for all I knew they HAD left me, left me alone in this cold, dark place. I shivered as the tears that were being drawn soon froze and remained on my soft ivory cheeks. Would they ever come back? "Mamma…Papa…" I softly whimpered to myself as the black clouded my vision and my body went numb, I could feel no more.

A/N: Yup, it's kinda a cliffy. Well this is the beginning to her sad past. The next chapter will have some good things, but I think chapter 14 will be the most uplifting out of her past. Please R&R guys. =) Still trying to get that 150!

This chapter is the shortest I've written in awhile (which is probably why I'm posting it now) but I kind of…somewhat liked it.

Anyways, if you check out the "updated" section of my profile every so often, then you'll know how work on this story is coming along. I've got two nights of no work, then it'll get busy.

Hope you guys don't mind reading about her past, but don't worry, there'll be some Vaughn and Chelsea….soon(er or later) )

Time to reply!!

CT: Well I hope you enjoyed this and I'm glad you're so eager to read them. xD Aw thanks, you're too nice. But I feel bad if I don't update. =(

ShadX: I hope you ended up liking them! ^^ Please Review again.

a-grass-fairies-life: Thank you for helping me! I hope you like this one. xD Hmm, yes I hate when things move too fast. See…some reviewers like the wait; some don't, so it's kinda hard to get in between, but I'm glad you like it! xD

AnimeLover09: It's so unfair! It's one of those times I wish I was one of those girls. Heh o.o Your bday's in October? I'll have to remember that. ^^

Sweet Quiet angel: I love the drama in your reviews so much, it makes my day! xD I'm glad that there are reviewers like you who look forward to updates! :3 Makes me feel special. Bwahah! In his face! I was thinking about possibly doing a song fic over the summer or something, so you might get some good songs if you read it. *hint hint*

Eevee-san: Well, after her past I can assure you that there'll be some more romance. ;) More kissn' for sure!

xXxRainbow-HarvestxXx: *hyperventilates* OMG!! A NEW REVIEWER!! *tackle hugs* I'm glad you like this! xD you don't know how happy it makes me to get more reviewers!

Kirara2256: heh that's what I thought because I wasn't exactly sure how to make the moment without Vaughn being too OOC.

mugglelover27: I'm so happy that you're interested in hearing about her past! Here's the first chapter so I hope that you liked it!

Shiratara: Sorry, sorry, it was only one letter! You haven't talked to me in awhile, so I just did the editing solo on this one compodray.

KittyKyo5467: Heh I hope ya had a good weekend! Sometimes the busy ones can be the funest. Hope your mom had a good bday!

KireusEarannos: *glomps* yes! Another new reviewer!! Thank you so much! I wasn't sure if it was going to slow or not, but well you're the second person to tell me it's working good at the current pace. Thank you for reviewing, please continue to!

Batskull: *tackle hugs* yesh! Another new reviewer! I'm glad I could make your day with the previous chapter…this one though, it's kind of depressing. It'll get better though so please continue to review!

Hmmm, I'll try to think of a good preview for the next chapter.

Preview: After loosing her parents, Chelsea finds herself in an orphanage. Scared of people, and feeling lonely what is she to do? All hope is lost until she meets Celia, her new best friend for the next four years. Will fate allow the two to stay friends? Read about Chelsea's past at the orphanage, which like everything else, has its ups and downs.

Coming next

Aiko's Memories Part Two- An unbreakable bond. (Title undecided)