Thank you for reading! This is my first time writing so any advise you can give is super appreciated! Much of Luc is based off my own two year old so if there's too much of that cuteness in the story just let me know LOL.

For the purposes of the story, I have needed to change Akito to a few years younger, but from what I can gather from the manga, its only two or three years I think, which doesn't make a huge difference as far as I can tell. 'He' would have been born around the main four characters fourth grade. I'm trying to keep that the only thing I change for my own sanity lol. Mom brain is real! I'm trying to incorporate my character smoothly in a way that doesn't affect the overall story, but is a help for all these characters, especially the older ones. Hopefully, they can help her heal from her pain as well😊 oh! If anyone has a pairing for the main character, shout it out. I'm not sold on pairing her with anyone yet so let me know your thoughts. Only pairing that wouldn't work is Ayame and that's mostly cause I just can't write him well and cant do his marvelousness justice😊

Chapter 3

Shigure, Ayame, Hatori, and Kyomi sat and reminisced about their childhood until Mine came in and informed the adults there was a little boy who wanted to see his mother. Kyomi stood up as Luc came running into the room, "Mama!" She swept him up into her arms and planted a big kiss on his cheek as he hugged her neck. He pulled back, grabbed her cheeks, gave her a kiss, looked into her eyes and in the cutest little voice said, "Mama, eat apple peas." Kyomi laughed and gave him another hug. "Thank you for being so patient and playing with Mine. Do you want applesauce with dinner?" He responded with, "Apple!" eliciting another laugh from all the adults this time.

"I believe we need to go home so someone can eat his dinner and then go to bed." Kyomi said taking her bags from Mine who had collected them when Kyomi had fainted earlier.

Hatori handed Kyomi a paper with all their numbers and addresses on it. "If you need anything, or if your head pains you again, call me. I've never heard of anyone regaining their memories after having them erased so I'm really not sure how you will react to it all."

Shigure had a different idea however. "Hatori, why don't Kyomi and Luc spend the night with you tonight? That way if anything does happen you will be right there, and it would keep her and Luc safe."

Hatori gave his old friend a look that said, I know you're scheming again. Ayame jumped in with, "Oh please Hatori. I would have them to my place, but you know how much of a mess my home always is."

"You and Yuki really are brothers in that regard. His room always sadly impassible." Shigure whined. "I would be glad to host, except I have no room myself and I think this is enough reconnecting for Kyomi for one day. She doesn't need to meet the others just yet."

Hatori sighed and accepted his fate for the evening. "I can drive you to your apartment to get things for the night and then bring you to my place for the night. As much as I hate to admit that Shigure is correct, I think it would be safer for you both to spend the night so I can monitor how you are doing. I can run a few tests tonight and in the morning to be sure nothing is wrong."

"If you are sure it's not too much trouble…"

"I have an extra room just for these situations." Hatori reassured her.

"Alright, the stroller I was using for Luc actually converts to a car seat so we can use that." Kyomi responded and continued to get packed up. "I actually do feel better knowing that if I do pass out again, someone will be there for Luc. I would hate to scare him or leave him alone."

The weight of her words settled on the three as they helped her carry her things to Hatori's car parked at the curb. As Hatori, Kyomi and Luc drove off, Ayame and Shigure went back to sit down to some tea while Mine finished closing the shop. "She has really been through it since elementary school hasn't she?" Shigure asked. Ayame answered, "More than you know. The adopted family she had? They are all gone too. They went on a family vacation after she and her husband got stationed overseas and there was a car wreck. There were no survivors." Shigure digested this information for several minutes while they finished their tea. Ayame recounted the process of Hatori verifying her identity. Shigure wasn't surprised at his friend's caution. "I knew it was really her the moment I saw her. There's something about that hair and the way she spoke that left no doubt in my mind."

"Of course you would have the easiest time telling since you drove her mad chasing after her like a love sick puppy. You never did gain your same smile back after we lost her." Ayame recalled with sadness.

"I grew up."

"Thank you for letting us stay here. You could have just taken us to the hospital to get me checked out." Kyomi told Hatori as they unpacked their few bags. "I just hope Luc sleeps alright."

"If I had taken you to the hospital, it would have raised too many questions and you would have had to find someone to watch Luc since he probably wouldn't have been comfortable with any of us since he doesn't know us."

"He could have stayed with Mine. I teach at the preschool the days the shop is closed so Luc stays over there those two days I teach. But I didn't think about the way I lost my memories. I'm really going to have to remember what secrets to keep to myself."

Hatori set the bags on the floor as Luc came running in squealing and launched himself onto the floor mat, feigning snoring and then looking to his mother saying, "Nap! Mama, nap!" Kyomi laughed at his antics and sat on the floor next to him so she could tickle him. He giggled and giggled until something else caught his attention and he ran out of the room.

"I have a collapsible crib he can sleep in so he's at least corralled. There are things down the hall for the clinic I wouldn't want him into." Plus, if something happens with you, there's less likelihood he would be disturbed this way.

"That sounds perfect. He has his own bed at home so I think he would be most comfortable with that as well. Also, if something does happen with me, it would be much better for everyone if he sleeps through that."

Hatori looked at her shocked for a minute wondering if she had read his mind. She didn't notice and started getting things ready for Luc's bedtime. "After everything I've been through, I've learned to keep a level head and let logic lead. Don't worry, the waterworks will probably come later."

While she set up the room for sleep, Hatori made a simple dinner that Luc ate so fast Hatori thought he would choke on it. Kyomi just said, "If he does choke, he will learn to eat slower next time." As Kyomi was putting Luc to bed, Hatori sat at his desk reading through files of anyone who had memories suppressed in an effort to find answers for Kyomi. She came into his office to find him reading and sat down with her crocheting she brought from the shop. They sat with their tasks, Kyomi humming the song she sang to her son softly to herself, until Hatori looked up. "What are you working on?"

Kyomi stopped humming, "It's a table runner for a customer from the shop."

Hatori looked confused since he knew what merchandise Ayame made and sold there, and table runners did NOT fit in that category. She looked up when he didn't respond and saw the confusion on his face. "Sometimes the wives and girlfriends want something special for their homes or the customers themselves want American styles. I help with both of things. I sort of run a side business there. It allows me to put to good use things I would be making anyway. And my home is already maxed out in handmade goods." She chuckled to herself.

Hatori got an image of every surface covered in crocheted fabric and he quickly pushed the image aside as impossible. "You didn't know how to do these things when we were younger."

"My adopted mother taught me when I moved there. She was very good, and I picked it up quickly. Within a few months I was making doll dresses. I think I still have the first one I made in storage actually." She reminisced with a smile on her face.

"Is there anything else you need before you go to bed?" "No, I think I have everything I need." "Let me know immediately if you feel anything off. I'll come check on you two a few times during the night too just to be safe." "Thank you, Hati."

She finished the section she was working on and bid Hatori good night.

Shigure got home after the others were finished with their dinner. He came into the house to Tohru and Yuki cleaning up the kitchen. "Welcome home Shigure! We saved you dinner just in case you haven't eaten. Is everything alright?" Tohru asked kindly.

"I think everything is even better than alright. Thank you, but I ate dinner with Ayame."

Yuki, always suspicious of his brother and Shigure, asked, "What happened with Ayame?"

"We ran into a very old and dear friend who we never thought we would see again."

"You had another close friend growing up Shigure?" Tohru asked surprised that they had never heard of this.

"We were told she was dead, but apparently that wasn't the case. It's definitely a mystery…." Shigure said thoughtfully.

"Haru has been around you too much." Yuki said shaking his head.

"Were you very close?" Tohru questioned.

"We were friends in elementary school and went to different schools, but yes, we spent every other waking moment all together. She was the last person before you, Tohru, who was allowed to keep knowing our secret. Partly because we never told the adults that she knew until a year or so after she had found out." He chuckled at the memory.

"Is she a Sohma?" Yuki asked curiously.

"No, but her mother married a Sohma shortly after she sent away. She learned she has a little brother today as well." Shigure kept to himself the details I figured Kyomi would want to share in her own time.

"Who is her little brother?" Tohru asked excitedly.

"Oh, no one of consequence." Shigure vaguely replied with a grin as Kyo walked into the room. "No one of consequence."