A/N: I should really spend some time writing chapters for my other stories, but it seems like all I do leads me back to this one, haha! So, here you go, another chapter! I suppose these quick updates will continue for another week or so… :D

Thank you for all the wonderful reviews, they make my day and make me want to write even more!

Enjoy!

She was dressed casually when she waited for him in front of the school that day, in blue jeans, a simple white top, and a black jacket with sleeves that reached her elbows. There was a colorful scarf around her neck, a brown bag slung over her shoulder, and nude high-heels on her feet. She was wearing little make-up, less than usual, and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail.

"Hey," she greeted, bending down to press a kiss to his cheek. "How was school?"

"Boring," he groaned, his hand slipping into hers.

"That sounds lovely," she commanded.

Hana sent her a dry look. "It does, doesn't it?"

Anna smiled and tugged on his hand. "Come on, your father is waiting for us."

"Where?" he asked, surprised, as she began to pull him along.

"You'll see."

He frowned at her cryptic answer. "Where's your car? And why are you dressed like this?"

"I didn't have to go to the office today," she answered.

"Oh," he said. "Why?"

She smiled. "Because I had to survey a field," she answered. "Satisfied?"

"Yes," he declared, content. His mother always used company cars when she had to travel, but she never gave up her high-heels. "Where are we going?"

"You asked that question before," she reminded him.

"I know, but—"

"We're here," she interrupted him before he could begin his complaints, coming to a stop in front of a building not even a block away from his school.

Hana mimicked her movements, his eyes staring into the distance at the words printed on the front, while she watched, a smile slowly growing on her features, as realization dawned on him. When it finally did, he turned to face her, excitement already brewing in his eyes.

"We're getting a dog?" he exclaimed in awe, looking up at her with wide eyes and a grin on his face.

Anna smiled and picked him up, which seemed to be as good of an answer as any.

"No kidding?" he prodded.

She shook her head. "No kidding."

"And I can choose whatever I want?" he pressed.

She walked up the stairs that led to the entrance before placing him down on his feet. "Of course," she said, opening the door to allow him inside. "But I have a feeling your father might already have a suggestion."

True enough, Yoh was waiting for them inside, holding a brown cardboard box and sporting the same ridiculously happy grin.

Anna watched, amused, as Hana rushed to his side, nearly bouncing in his excitement. Shaking her head, she took a seat in her part of the room.

She was surprised when they approached her, but as her son clambered in her lap without another word, his continuous questions soon drowned the feeling.

Yoh set the box on the seat beside her, and it was only then that she caught her first glimpse of the infamous puppy. She nearly rolled her eyes, because his choice had never been more obvious—a golden Labrador. The animal was already energetic, wiggling his little tail and constantly placing his paws over the edge of the box, attempting to jump out.

"Does it get really big?" Hana asked, studying his new companion from where he had made himself comfortable in her arms.

"Yeah," his father responded from his crouched position in front of them.

This time, Anna did roll her eyes.

"Can I call him Spaceball?"

"You can call him however you want," he assured him, grinning.

Hana made his decision on the spot and prepared to thank his father, but right when his gaze returned to him, he looked up at his mother. Everything about him seemed to change in that moment. His eyes softened, his lips molding into what was more a loving smile than an amused grin.

He dared to glance at his mother, then, and almost had to do a double-take.

Hana had witnessed his mother smile before, but never like that. She had laughed with him on many, many occasions, and he had never gotten the impression that she was unhappy, but seeing her now, he realized that there was something inside of her mind and heart that had always hung over her, a painful sort of hindrance that had never allowed her to be fully and truly content.

Because now, when she smiled, her entire face lit up, and her eyes sparkled in a way they had never sparkled before.

Then he realized. He had seen that look before—in the picture he had found so much time ago.

Gazing out the window later that day, watching her son play in the garden, she found it difficult to contain her smile.

She had been right. The puppy was a ball of energy, constantly barking, constantly wagging his tail, constantly jumping from place to place. Hana seemed to enjoy that, though.

Caught up in her own thoughts, she failed to notice his presence until he was right beside her.

"Hey," he greeted, his brown eyes soft, as he handed her a steaming mug of tea.

She whispered her gratitude, meeting his gaze for the briefest of moments, before her eyes returned to the scene unfolding behind the glass.

Hana appeared to be attempting to teach his new companion a couple of tricks and commands, but was failing miserably, dissolving into fits of laughter every time the small animal did the complete opposite of what he was asking of him.

From beside her, Yoh laughed. "Doesn't he look happy?" he asked, smiling.

Anna nearly rolled her eyes, and scoffed. "He is happy," she answered.

She knew exactly when his eyes slid from their child to her own form, his gaze making her skin prickle even after so much time.

"Are you?" His voice was soft, unsure, hesitant—even wavering. It was as though he was afraid of her answer—or perhaps of his question.

She turned to face him then, confused, not knowing how to respond herself. Anna had grown comfortable around Yoh, but when their conversations began to even graze the surface of what had happened between them so many years before, she always felt an overwhelming urge to run—to run, away from him, and to never look back. She didn't want to relish the past.

"How does it feel to be back here?" he prodded. His eyes searched hers, chocolate pools of warmth and encouragement and feelings she would not name, would not admit they were there, and she felt safe and stable and right for the first time in what seemed to be forever.

She swallowed. The words were out of her mouth before her mind could even begin to process them. "Like home," she whispered. "It feels like home."

A/N: This last scene was quite the headache, to be honest, but I feel like I nailed it down in the end.

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