Author's Note: Well, I'm thinking of stretching out the story a bit, so faithful readers, just keep reading.
Disclaimer: Umm, do I have to admit it. Fine, (In monotone) all Lupin The Third property is not mine.
Chapter Title: Somewhere Someday
Chapter Summary: Mostly just how people are feeling around New Years.
(Somewhere) Somewhere there's a field in a river
Somewhere you can let your soul run free
(Someday) Someday let me be the giver
Let me bring you peace!
(Somewhere) Somewhere there's a break in the weather
Somewhere Where the heart and spirit go free!
(Someday) Someday it'll be for the better.
Let this bring you peace!
Somewhere Someday, NSYNC
(On With The Story)
Alex looked at Jigen with apprehension on her face. She didn't know how he would react to what he said, and the fact that he hadn't spoken in a full minute since she had said the words didn't help much. She saw him visibly swallow then meet her eyes.
"You mean that?" he asked her.
"Yes Jigen, I think I'm in love with you," she told him smiling slightly.
Jigen looked at her, it was obvious now to her that Jigen wasn't upset about what she said, and he was shocked.
"Alex, I don't know what to say, I mean I know you mean a lot to me, and part of me does believe that I love you, but don't you think we moved just a bit fast?"
"Jigen, I know we moved fast, but I always live by the saying, good things take time and great things happen all at once," she told him putting her hand on his cheek and smiling at him, her blue eyes shinning.
Jigen looked at her and smiled back. It was true; this girl had broken the barrier to his heart. She had somehow slipped past the shell he had put over himself, he had seen it coming and was powerful to stop it.
"Alex, I think I feel the same, I don't know how, but you have become so important to me in such a short amount of time, and it actually scares me to think about it, but I know that I can't lose you," he told her.
"That's all I needed to hear," she said and kissed him.
Jigen kissed her back and backed away to smile at her again.
"Let's just hope that I don't do something to screw this up, it's something I would do, say something stupid, piss you off, and you hate me forever," he told her with a laugh. "Trust me, I can't hate you Jigen," she said and hugged him leaning her head against his chest.
"Good to know," Jigen replied.
(Meanwhile)
Amber sat on the bed her and Alvin had shared for the past few months. They had shared this room while Arista was gone. Down stairs she could hear Alvin arguing with Arista and sighed. She had a feeling she knew what it was about. It was about her being here. Then she heard a door slam and shook her head, at least they had quit yelling at each other.
She ran her hand over the mattress and smiled. It had been a dream waking up next to Alvin every morning with his arms around her. She remembered the speech she had given Alex about how she didn't need to be married to Alvin for her to be happy, that just being with him was enough and sighed. It was a lie and she had known it the minute the words had come out of her mouth.
Alvin was the world to her and she knew it was the same for him. She had only look to his bedside table to know that. Most men have pictures of his wife and him on their wedding day next to their bed. But on his bedside table it was a picture of them at a charity ball. The same charity ball that he had told her he loved her at. That was over a year ago. She picked it up a tear drop sliding down her check.
That night had been the best night of her life. She had been so sure that things would work out for her and Alvin. So sure that they would have a happy ending; but she was wrong, there would be no happy ending for them. She only hoped it would be different for Alex. The girl deserved to be happy after what her mom had put her through.
She sighed and put the picture back down. It was time for her to remember why she was there. She walked over to the closet and pulled out a suit case. She was leaving and she hated herself for it. She knew she needed to leave though. It was time for her to admit that Alvin was married to a woman who would never divorce him. Amber laid the suitcase back on the bed and started putting clothes in it.
It wasn't hard to finish the job, being a single mom had made her keep less and less clothes as the years went by. She looked around the room when she was done and her eyes filled with tears. She didn't know what to take; in fact, she didn't want to take anything else. This was her and Alvin's room. Not his and Arista's then for a short time his and hers, it had been theirs, Arista hadn't slept in this room in over a decade and she knew it.
Alvin had made sure he had turned this into their room the first day she arrived here. All their stuff was set up as if it had been that way for years and it touched her heart that he wanted to take that step with her. She really loved him. She knew deep down that her son didn't like him though and she had no idea why. Alvin had always gone out of his way to be nice to Zander and Zander just threw it back into his face. Maybe it was for the best that she was leaving, Zander had been so happy when she told him she was moving out. She was a mom above all else, and she had to do all it was in her power to make sure her son had a good childhood even without a father.
That's when she heard the door slam shut behind her. She turned around expecting to see Alvin standing there, but instead she just saw a smug looking Arista.
"Finally realize you're not wanted around here?" Arista asked crossing her arms.
"Stay out of it," Amber said snapping her suitcase shut and going to walk past Arista.
Being in the same room as Arista Marriott was enough to make her blood boil, she wasn't to be held accountable for her actions if she was forced to be alone in a room with her as she gloats.
"Oh Amber," Arista said in a too sweet of a tone as she opened to door. "Take my slut of a daughter. . ."
She never got to finish her sentence. By the time she got the word daughter out Amber had sat down her suitcase and slapped her clear across the face. Arista was left holding a beat red cheek as Amber got in her face.
"Don't you ever insult Alex in front of me," Amber told her quietly in dangerous tones.
"Why not, she's my daughter I can talk about her how ever I want to," Arista told her.
"Not in front of me you can't," Amber snapped.
"Why you didn't carry her for nine months, you're not her mother, you can't decide how she's treated in this home," Arista replied.
"I may not have given birth to Alex but for fourteen years, I have been more of a mother to Alex than you were her whole life," Amber told her. "Wait, why am I wasting my time on you? You don't even realize what's right in front of your face; let alone what someone's telling you."
"What are you talking about?" Arista asked.
"Your life, you have an amazing life and you don't even realize it. You have a beautiful daughter with the biggest heart I have ever seen anyone have. A wonderful husband who would do anything to make the people he loves happy and you don't even realize it," Amber said shaking her head. "Alvin loved you at the beginning of your marriage and you took his heart and stomped on it so many times that love turned to hatred. So much so he can't even stand to be in the same room as you. Then Alex, the daughter you should have loved, you spent your time hating until you made her think that she didn't deserve a mothers love. When I met her she was so depressed it made me want to cry. A seven year old girl thinking she deserved to have her mom hate her is the worse sight anyone can see."
"And I'm supposed to care?" Arista asked her.
"No I didn't think you would, you're like a parasite sucking the life out of everyone you come across. You suck the happiness out of everyone around you and you love it," Amber said disgusted. "You enjoy causing other people pain and when you see them finally getting some happiness out of life you can't stand the thought of them being happy and you not, so you just continue, You won't quit until you make sure their miserable for the rest of their lives and it's sick and disgusting and I will never understand how you can do that to people."
"Get out my room," Arista said suddenly.
"It's not your room and you know it," said a voice from the doorway. "It hasn't been your room for years. Now get out, I have something I want to say to Amber."
Amber looked up to see Alvin standing in the doorway. She expected to see anger, or at least some emotion on his face, but strangely his face was void of any emotion at all. That's when she saw where his eyes were looking; they were looking down at her suitcase.
Arista walked out in a huff and Alvin finally looked up and met Ambers gaze. That's when she saw what he was feeling and he broke her heart to see that she was breaking his. She could tell by his gaze that he was upset she was leaving.
"When did you plan on telling me you're leaving," Alvin asked her.
"I was going to tell you on my way out," she admitted looking away.
"Why are you leaving?" he asked quietly.
"I can't stay here Alvin. You're a married man, I need to realize that," Amber said.
"Dammit Amber, how many times do I have to tell you, if I had any choice it would be you I was married to, not Arista," he said sitting down on the bed.
"I know this Alvin, but until Arista agrees to a divorce it's not me, and it's about time we realize that Arista is never going to sign those papers. She will never give up being your wife, she loves the power and money it gives her," Amber said sitting down beside him.
"I promise one of these days I will get her to sign those papers, even if I have to threaten to get her to do it," Alvin said looking at Amber and cupping her cheek in his hand. "I know you will," she said leaning forward and kissing him.
"I love you," he said after they broke off the kiss.
"I know you do, and I love you too," she replied.
"Please Amber, stay, I need you here," he told her.
"You don't need me here Alvin, you want me here," she said standing up.
"Maybe you're right, but Amber, having you here has been a dream come true for me. I love being able to see you in the morning, being able to just have you around was the greatest thing on earth. There are only two things in the world I would die for," Alvin told her softly. "You and my daughter are those two things."
Amber looked at him shocked. She had known Alex would be one of them, but her, she had no idea she meant so much to him.
"Alvin, I want to stay really I do," she said.
"Well then stay, don't worry about my wife," Alvin told her.
"How could I not, you're wife is going off the deep end," Amber said with a sigh.
"I'll take care of her, don't worry about her," Alvin said.
"What about Zander, my son hates you, and I'm not exaggerating he jumped for joy when I told him to pack," Amber told him.
"I'll go talk to him, he may not like it, but it's about time me and him got some things settled," Alvin said.
"Ok, just don't be too hard on him," Amber said.
"I won't, now unpack and get down break fast please," he told her with a small smile.
"Fine," Amber said and kissed him.
Alvin kissed her back and walked out, Amber still couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to leave.
Alvin walked down the hallway to the door that had a "Do Not Disturb" sign on it and knocked.
"Mom, you don't need to knock you know that," said a teenagers voice laughing from inside the room. "Well, if I'm Amber then I guess I can embarrass you in front of all you're girlfriends?" said Alvin laughing.
"Oh, Alvin it's you, what do you want," said the voice.
"Zander, can I come in, I need to talk to you," Alvin said sighing.
"Fine," Zander said reluctantly.
Alvin opened the door and walked in. Zander was sitting on the bed looking at Alvin as if he wished to be anywhere but there right then. Zander looked a lot like his mom with his brown hair and brown eyes, but there was a little of his dad in the temper of his.
"What do you want?" Zander asked. "If you can see, I'm just finishing packing."
"No reason to pack, you're not leaving," Alvin told him.
"What, there is no way you were able to convince my mom to stay," Zander said through narrowed eyes.
"You're staying," Alvin replied.
"Why don't you just leave her alone and quit playing with her emotions!" Zander snapped.
"What are you talking about," Alvin asked him confused.
"My mom, leave her alone, don't you think you've hurt her enough," Zander said looking at him, his face full of anger.
"I haven't done anything to hurt your mother," Alvin said confused.
"Really, you don't call stringing her along, making her think she has a future with you, only to have those hopes crushed stringing her along," Zander asked him.
"I never meant to do that," Alvin said sitting down.
"Never meant to do what?" Zander asked crossing his arms.
"Hurt her," Alvin replied looking at him.
"How could you not mean to hurt her when you pretend to care about her just because you're not happy in your marriage," Zander asked.
"That's not what it is Zander, I care about your mom more than you think," Alvin told him with a sigh. "But you are right, I am not happy in my marriage." "Then why don't you get out of it," Zander asked him confused.
"Because, Arista won't sign the papers," Alvin told him.
"You mean you've tried to divorce her," Zander asked cautiously.
"And tried, and tried, and tried," Alvin replied. "I have been trying since my daughter was seven."
"If you didn't love her, why did you marry her," Zander asked now thoroughly confused.
"Because at one point I did, she wasn't always the way she is now, and then she turned greedy and started acting like she does now. This all happened after your dad left, so me and your mom was already friends. After a while, we just fell in love," Alvin told him.
"Why don't you just leave my mom alone though, being with you and not being married to you is killing her," Zander told him.
"I didn't realize it affected her so much, but your mom knows I'll marry her in a instant as soon as I get divorced and that will be soon if I had anything to do with it. I will not waste another year of my life on Arista," Alvin told him.
"Good, if not, I get to hurt you," Zander told him.
"And I don't doubt you would do it," Alvin said laughing.
"Trust me, I will, I am very protective of my mother, she's been hurt too many times," Zander told him.
"This I know, that's why I don't plan on hurting her," Alvin told him.
"Good to know," Zander said and Alvin walked out shaking his head.
Maybe the kid was actually a nice kid after all.
(Meanwhile at an Ice Skating Rink in New York)
"Come on Caleb, just hold my hand, you won't fall," Lorraine said taking her sons hand.
"Mom," the little boy whined as she pulled him on the ice.
"Just hold on, I won't let you go," she said laughing.
"Alright," he said and Lorraine went out further on the ice.
Caleb was holding on to her hands as hard has his little fists would let him. "Told you I wouldn't let you go didn't I," Lorraine said with a smile.
"Yes," he said with a small smile.
Lorraine looked around and that's when she saw something that shocked her in the crowds. Zenigata was there, it was hard to miss the trench coat. But he was there with a little girl. She smiled at the thought; he was obviously having a good time with his daughter. She only hated the thought that Lupin was going to ruin the time they were able to spend with their kids.
"Caleb, hold on tight, I'm going to skate over to a friend alright," she said looking down.
"Okay," Caleb said tightening his girl a little.
Lorraine looked over to where Zenigata was and skated over there as fast as she could with Caleb holding on.
"Souta," she said when she got close enough.
Zenigata looked up and smiled.
"Lorraine didn't know you'd be here," he said.
"Yeah, taking Caleb Ice Skating, but he seems afraid of the ice," she said looking down at her son.
"Not ice, these," he said pointing to his feet.
"You're scared of the skates?" she asked shocked.
Caleb nodded.
"Why?"
"Because, they're sharp," he told her.
"Oh Caleb, they won't hurt you, come on, I'll take you off the ice and get your shoes on alright," she told him.
"Poor kid," Zenigata said shaking his head.
"Yeah, so when did you learn to skate," she asked.
"When I was a kid," he replied.
"Daddy, can I have some cocoa," said the little girl at his side. "Yeah come on," he told her.
They all four got off the ice, Lorraine and Caleb to take off their skates, and Zenigata and Aria to get his daughter some cocoa.
After Zenigata got Aria her Cocoa he sat down beside Lorraine and shook his head, Aria sitting beside him sipping her cocoa.
"So, how has your vacation been," Lorraine said putting Caleb's ice skates in her bag along with her own.
"Good so far," he told her with a smile.
"Now you're Aria right?" Lorraine asked her.
"Yep, that's me," Aria said.
"That's a beautiful locket; did your dad get it for you?"
"Yes he did," Aria said smiling.
"Well he has good taste," Lorraine told her.
"Are you friends with my dad?"
"We work together," Lorraine told her.
"You're a hero too?" Aria gasped.
"Hero?" Lorraine asked.
"That's what she calls cops, she thinks they're heroes because they get the "bad guys" off the streets," Zenigata told her.
"Oh, well then I guess I am," Lorraine said.
"Well nice to meet you," Aria said and went back to her cocoa.
"You okay, you seem a bit upset," Zenigata said looking at Lorraine.
"Yeah I'm fine, just thinking," Lorraine told him.
"About what," Zenigata asked.
"Nothing really, just that if she knew me when I was in high school, she would have referred to me as one of the bad guys," Lorraine said with a small laugh. "Really?"
"Yep, you name it, I did it," Lorraine told him. "I did everything there was to do out there that could put you in jail."
"Then why did you become a cop?" Zenigata asked her.
"My brother, he did all he could to make sure I changed my ways," Lorraine told him.
"Where is he now?"
"He died right before I graduated high school, and I became a cop because of that, he put his life on the line everyday and was killed in the line of duty. So I decided I would honor his memory by becoming a cop," Lorraine said softly.
"Lorraine, I'm sorry," Zenigata replied shocked.
"It's okay, it happened years ago," Lorraine said.
"Mom, I'm hungry," Caleb whined.
"Alright, come on, I'll take you to get something to eat," she said standing up. "It was nice seeing you again Souta; I'll see you when Lupin comes up with some crazy scheme."
"Yeah, bye Lorraine," Zenigata said.
Lorraine picked up Caleb and her bag then walked out.
Zenigata watched his daughter drink her cocoa then when they were done they went back out on the ice. His mind was still on Lorraine though. She had seemed so upset when she told him about her brother. He hoped she was alright.
"Daddy watch this," he heard Aria say.
Zenigata snapped out of his thoughts just in time to see Aria do a spin on the ice and smiled.
"That was great," he told her.
"Thanks," she replied with a smile.
Zenigata skated off to join her, his thoughts once again plaguing him. He finally decided to stop worrying about it and be happy he was spending time with his daughter.
(In Washington) Goemon woke up to the sight of Fujiko sleeping soundly beside him and smiled. He had dreamed about this so many times, he couldn't believe it was actually happening. Waking up to having Fujiko in his arms was a dream come true.
He battled with the thought of waking her and finally decided he should so he leaned over and kissed her.
"Hmm, morning," Fujiko said yawning when she woke up and broke off the kiss.
"Good morning to you," he said with a smile.
"You're really happy aren't you," she asked him smiling.
"Yes I am why wouldn't I be? I have you, that's all the reason I need in the world to be happy," he told her.
"Good to know," Fujiko said leaning over to kiss him again.
She couldn't believe how easy it was to go from being Goemon's best friend to the woman he loved. She couldn't believe how long he had loved her. He had told her last night that he had wanted to be more than friends since they were fourteen, and that was nine years ago.
Things with Goemon just seemed so simple. He was a simple guy, he just wanted to be with the people he loved and have them love him back. With Lupin it was different. Things had been really complicated. It was a constant battle of whether she hated him or not. Then there was the many times they had broken up because he screwed up.
There was also something about Goemon she couldn't explain. She just felt drawn to him. The feeling overwhelmed her. She didn't know what she would do if she didn't have Goemon in her life.
She was scared she would do something to mess this wonderful thing that she had with Goemon up but she knew she couldn't.
"Goemon," she said softly after the kiss broke off.
"Yes," he said.
"I love you," she told him. "I know how I feel, but I don't know how to be in a relationship that works. I'm telling you this right now, so if I do something stupid to screw it up, please, understand that."
Fujiko was looking at him biting her lip and Goemon smiled.
"Fujiko, I don't think there is anything in the world you could do to make me not one to be with you," he told her.
"You mean that," she asked.
"Of course I mean it, I love you, and I always will," he said.
"I love you too," she said smiling.
"Good to know," he said.
"So what are we going to do now," she asked him stretching.
"That's up to you," he replied.
"Well, I was hoping to stay in bed all day, but I'm kinda hungry," she said.
"Well, how about I go pick us up some breakfast, then we stay in bed all day," he suggested.
"Sounds good to me," she told him.
Goemon got up and dressed then walked out. Fujiko laid back on the bed smiling. She was going to like this day. Spending all day in bed with Goemon, it sounded alright to her.
(Back at Alex's)
"So when do you guys leave," Alex asked Jigen over breakfast.
"I don't know, that's all up to Lupin," Jigen replied.
"What do you do for a living," Alvin asked him.
"He works a bunch of jobs for his friend Lupin, they travel all the time so it's never the same job," Alex interjected as Jigen hesitated.
"So you don't have a fixed salary," Alvin asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No, but we usually make enough money to carry us on to the next job," Jigen told him throwing Alex a grateful look.
"Do you enjoy your job," Amber asked.
"Sometimes," Jigen replied. "Depends on Lupin's attitude, sometimes I just wish I didn't work for him." "Then why do you," Amber asked confused.
"Because he's a friend and if I didn't work for him the guy wouldn't know what to do with himself," Jigen replied.
"Sounds like an idiot," Zander said from where he was sitting.
"He his, he was racer number three at the Grand Prix," Alex told him.
"Oh the baboon dude," Zander said with a nod.
"Yeah, that's who I work with," Jigen told him.
"I'd shoot him, Alex looked like she wanted to," Zander said.
"She does," Jigen replied.
"He won't let me use his gun to shoot him or else I would," Alex told Zander.
"You have a gun?" Zander asked shocked.
"Yeah," Jigen replied.
"What kind?" Zander asked him.
"S&W M19 Combat Magnum," Jigen told him.
"You're shitting me," Zander said eyes wide.
"Watch your mouth," Amber hissed at Zander.
"No I'm not," Jigen said shaking his head.
"He's not, I've seen it, he always wears it in a holster on his hip," Alex told him.
"Can I see," Zander asked.
Jigen sighed and pulled out his gun showing Zander.
"You weren't shitting me," Zander said staring at the gun.
"Zander, watch your mouth," Amber snapped again.
Alvin watched the scene in mild amusement. He didn't like the idea of someone having a gun out while he ate dinner with his family, but he could tell Jigen didn't like showing it off so he knew for a fact that the guy wouldn't shoot anyone. It was kinda surprising that Zander was impressed by the gun. Then again, the guy's mafia appearance might have something to do with it also.
After Jigen got the gun put away they all ate in mild silence occasionally discussing something here or there.
Well there you go the end of the chapter. Thanks to Psycho-Katrina15 and Goemon's Lady for your reviews. Goemon's Lady, if you review this chapter, I am sorry for confusing you on the last. I still have at least two chapters to write before I go into the sequel. I would say more, but my sister is going to the hospital to possibly have her baby tonight and I have to get off the comp fast. I wanted to get this chapter up though. So thanks for reading and reviewing.