HELLO! Thesis defense is finally over! WUHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NOW I CAN DIE AND SLEEP. JUST KIDDING OKAY I'VE GOT A STORY TO FINISH AND ANOTHER ONE TO START =)) It's almost summer here and I can feel the heat seeping through my skin… killing me softly… okay srsly I gotta stop. I'm just so happy and excited and all other positive things because judgment day is over and now I'm waiting to snatch that diploma and just leave college! I might still be posting short chapters since I've got a few things left to do in school so please be patient.

To all those who reviewed, thank you so much! You guys are my motivation in making new chapters 3 I hope you're still enjoying my story despite it being so long and some errors here and there. I'm trying so hard and learning everyday.

So, I present to you Chapter 29! :*

"I honestly don't know what to say, Noll." Luella remarked stiffly, trying her best to keep her anger at bay. "Your father and I know you. Yes, you can be insensitive, but not to that extent."

At that, Naru cringed a bit. He, too, thought that he actually was an insensitive being but he wasn't expecting to just up and leave Mai like that years ago. He thought it was the best course of action seeing as he was leaving Japan and had no idea when he was coming back. "Mom. I'm sor –"

"Save your apologies, Oliver." Her mother interrupted, a frown marring on her face. "I don't need it. She does."

"I already apolo –"

"It's not enough." Luella's frown deepened. "And I think you know that."

Martin placed a hand on Luella's shoulder, trying to calm her down. "That's enough, Lu. I think Noll knows his mistake."

Luella simply sighed and took Mai's hand, caressing it softly with her thumb. "She has given us wonderful grand-daughters, Martin." She said with a soft smile on her face. "Oh I can't wait to just spoil them!" She squealed, controlling her voice so as not to disturb Mai's rest.

Martin chuckled. "I know you can't."

Naru rolled his eyes. "You better not. Mai spoils them enough."

"That's what a mother does, Oli –"

Luella's eyes snapped to Mai's sleeping features.

"- Mai spoils them enough."

Naru?

She tried to move her tired body. She knew that she wasn't supposed to wake up yet. She knew that she needed more rest. But she didn't want to. She wanted to see everyone okay. She wanted to see Naru… her kids. She tried moving her hands, unsurprised that it somehow felt like a hundred-pounder.

"Nngh…" She heard herself groan. "..Naru…" She croaked.

She felt one of her hands getting warmer. "Mai." She heard him. "Are you feeling okay?"

She opened her eyes slowly, somehow knowing that a harsh onslaught of sunlight would beam straight into her eyes. Instead of coherent words, she coughed and coughed making her throat feel drier. She felt cold plastic being pressed to her lips. She tiredly opened her mouth, welcoming the warm liquid that's making her feel more awake and stable. She removed her lips from the cup and stared straight into Naru's ocean-blue eyes. "Naru…"

"How are you feeling?"

Mai paused for a while, trying to gauge her own state. "Feverish. Or maybe I'm just tired." She replied.

"I'll go get the nurses again."

Mai looked at the person who owned the unfamiliar voice. "Who are…?"

"I'm sorry. I know we haven't met before. My wife has, though." Mai looked at the person who was holding her other hand and a spark of recognition passed through her. "Luella!" Mai looked at the elderly yet handsome-looking man who just got out from her room to call for a nurse.

Luella hugged Mai softly. "It's so nice to see you!" Luella released Mai and gave the girl a soft glare. "Although I wasn't expecting that for our next meeting, I'd be seeing you in a hospital bed. You have to be more careful next time now that you've got twins."

Mai's words rushed out from her mouth. She was dumb-founded. She looked at Naru, hoping for an explanation.

"I told them. The twins were actually here earlier." Naru said.

"And I must say they all look so beautiful!" Luella squealed, her eyes shining with excitement with the thought of having beautiful grand-daughters.

Now Mai was getting more stunned every second. She wasn't mad? "Wait, wait." Mai looked at a beaming Luella. "You're not mad that I never told any of you?"

Luella shook her head a smiled at Mai. "No. Never. Why would we be mad when there's a bigger headache right beside you who has done you nothing but pain?"

Mai giggled while Naru just sighed, ignoring the insults. "It's all okay now, Luella. He apologized."

"And it's not enough." Luella added, tapping Mai's nose.

They heard the door open and saw Martin together with a nurse. "How are you feeling?" The nurse inquired.

"She says she's feeling feverish." Luella supplied for Mai. The nurse replied with a nod and starting checking Mai's temperature. After a few minutes and a couple of beeps heard from the thermometer, the nurse smiled at Mai. "Her temperature is at a normal range. Her body probably needs more rest."

"Thank you." Martin smiled and the nurse took that as a cue to leave the room silently. Martin took this time to observe Noll's girlfriend. She was currently looking pale, but nonetheless could see her bright disposition with the way she animatedly talks to his wife. He looked at his son whose face was looking passive yet his eyes were soft and were fixated on the petite girl. He knew that his son was a social recluse. He hated crowds and most especially hated girls who hit on him openly. But this one, according to Madoka and Lin, she was fire. She was the one that burned brightly in the center of the team and kept them all together. Opposites do attract, eh? Martin thought. Noll was the darkness that kept himself hidden through all these years, most especially after the death of Gene. Then this bright girl just bumps into his life. "Life is full of surprises…" He mumbled softly.

"What are you mumbling about, Martin?" Luella asked curiously.

Martin simply shook his head and directed a sincere smile at Mai.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Taniyama-san."

Mai beamed.

Okay, so I'm gonna have to stop it there because the next part will be an epilogue :D Feeling kinda sad because this story is close to ending. My very first work here in FanFiction and it's coming to a close *cries*

So… I'll see you guys in the next chapter, okay? DON'T MISS IT! Take care everyone! =)

Ciao!
Nana xxx