Disclaimer: I certainly do not own Zero ((but he's sooo cute)) nor do I own many other things Louis Sachar and Walt Disney have made up. HOLES belongs to Mr. Sachar, THINGS-YOU-DO-NOT-RECOGNISE probably belong to me.

My Angel, My Only

Chapter Twenty Two ll If Only, If Only

----------

The two sat in the backseat of Ms. Morengo's car. The suitcase lay in between them. It was locked.

"You don't know what's in it, do you?" she had asked Stanley.

"No."

"I didn't think so."

The air conditioning was on, but they drove with the windows open because, "No offence, but you boys really smell bad."

Ms. Morengo was apparently a patent attorney, helping Stanley's father with the new product he invented. She had done a little investigation with Stanley, and found out he was innocent.

Zero smiled. It's about time.

All he knew was that he was leaving Camp Green Lake. He didn't want to think what would happen to him after.

He needed to savour this happy moment.

"What did my father invent?" Stanley wanted to know, "Did he find a way to recycle old sneakers?"

"No, he's still working on that. But he invented a product that eliminates food odour. Here, I've got a sample of it in my briefcase. I wish I had more. You two could bathe in it."

Ms. Morengo opened her case with one hand and passed back a small can to Stanley.

He took it and glanced warily at Zero, who shrugged. Stanley pushed the little button down and a hissing noise sounded.

It had a fresh and somewhat spicy smell.

Zero took it from Stanley as he handed it to him.

"What's it called?" Stanley asked.

"We haven't come up with a name yet," Ms. Morengo said.

"Smells familiar," Zero said, sniffing the air.

"Peaches, right? That's what everyone says."

Peaches? Well that wasn't what Zero had been thinking of. It smelt a bit like...

The sploosh.

Smiling to himself, Zero laid his head against the window of the car door. As he did so, it struck him they were returning back to civilization.

He was leaving Camp Green Lake.

"Hey, Stanley?" he said suddenly.

"Yeah?"

"Don't call me Zero anymore," Zero grinned widely, "My name's Hector."

Stanley smiled back, "Alright then, Hector."

A little while later, Stanley Yelnats and Hector Zeroni fell asleep.

---

You all know what happens. Stanley and Hector get lots and lots of money. They both spend it in their own ways. The Yelnats got a new house (a big one, at that) that included a workshop and everything Stanley's father needed for his future inventions. Hector used some of his money to hire a team of private investigators.

Stanley and Hector walked out onto the veranda of an old pub. There was a bus stop out there, and they had been told that Miss Sapphire Zeroni would be coming.

Hector's stomach gave an enormous lurch. What ifs kept speeding in and out of his mind.

All he knew he was one thing.

He was going to see his mother.

His mother that he hadn't seen in years.

They saw a bus in the distance.

"Ready?" Stanley asked him.

Hector gulped and gave an unconvincing nod.

The bus stopped at the stop.

He felt like running away.

A woman stepped off the bus. She had dark skin and black hair that was done up in a bun.

Hector sucked in his breath.

It was her...

She turned and looked at him.

A smile lit her face and crystal-like tears formed in her eyes.

"Hector," she whispered, her eyes glistening.

Something flashed in Hector's mind, like a choppy movie trailer.

"I love you, Hector," she murmured, holding him close, "I'll never let go of you. Never."

"Stay here on this porch step. Now don't leave here until I get back," she'd tell him.

"Never take anymore," Sapphire took care to tell him.

Hector took a step forward and stared at her. Her chocolate brown eyes full of warmth looked back.

Then he ran towards her and into her warm arms.

Sapphire hugged her son tightly, kissing the top of his head repeatedly.

"Oh, Hector, I love you," she murmured, smiling. Several tears ran down her face as she tightened her arms around her long lost son.

Hector, blinded by tears, buried his face in her stomach.

"I love you," he murmured as well.

Stanley smiled as his grandfather, also smiling, laid a warm hand on his shoulder.

Sapphire held on tighter and swung Hector around, gently rocking him from side to side. Sometimes she'd lift her head, which she mostly kept buried in the soft locks of her son's hair to look down at him, as if to make sure he was really there and that he wasn't just some figment of her imagination.

When she was assured that Hector was real, she'd smile through her tears and wrap her arms around him again.

Hector sniffed as he continued to hug his mother more and more tightly. He was never letting her go again.

Never.

Sapphire smiled, still holding onto Hector. She was never letting go of him again.

"I'll never let go of you. Never."

I want a mum that'll take my hand, and make me feel like a holiday.

A mum to tuck me in that night, and chase the monsters away.

I want a mum that'll read me stories and sing a lullaby.

And if I have a bad dream, to hold me when I cry.

When she says to me, she will always be there.

To watch and protect me, I don't have to be scared.

And when she says to me, I will always love you.

I won't need to worry, 'cause I know that it's true.

I want a mum when I get lonely.

Who will take the time to play.

A mum who can be a friend, and a rainbow when it's grey.

I want a mom to read me stories, and sing a lullaby.

And if I have a bad dream, to hold me when I cry.

I want a mum that will last forever.

I want a mum to make it all better.

I want a mum that will last forever.

I want a mum that will love me whenever.

Whatever.

Forever.

---

"We still need a name," Stanley's father was saying, holding the can of eliminating-foot-odor stuff.

Hector, who was sitting in Sapphire's lap, glanced at Stanley and grinned.

They were in the Yelnats' lounge room, having tea. Mr. Yelnats still needed a name for his product.

"I think Hector has a suggestion," Stanley spoke up.

All eyes fell on him.

Hector shifted uncomfortably. He glanced at Stanley and his mother warily. They both gave him encouraging smiles.

"Sploosh," he finally said.

Stanley's grandfather and mother exchanged glances.

But Mr. Yelnats was delighted, "Sploosh! Now why didn't I think of that! Well, three cheers for Mr. Zeroni on that one!"

"Way to go, Zero," Stanley said with a grin, holding his hand up for a high-five.

Hector laughed at his little nickname and slapped his hand into Stanley's.

Sapphire wrapped her arms around Hector's waist and held him close.

---

"It's on!"

The commercial showed a baseball game. Amid a cloud of dust, Clyde Livingston slid into home plate as the catcher caught the ball and tried to tag him out.

"Safe!" shouted the umpire as he signalled with his arms.

The people at Stanley's house cheered as if the run really counted.

Clyde Livingston got up and dusted the dirt off his uniform. As he made his way back to the dugout, he spoke to the camera, "Hi, I'm Clyde Livingston, but everyone around here calls me 'Sweet Feet'."

"Way to go Sweet Feet!" called another baseball player, slapping his hand.

Besides being on the television screen, Clyde Livingston was also sitting on the couch next to Stanley.

"But my feet weren't always sweet," the TV Clyde said as he sat on the dugout bench, "They used to smell so bad that nobody would sit near me in the dugout."

"They really did stink," said the woman sitting on the couch on the other side of Clyde. She held her nose with one hand and fanned the air with the other. Clyde shushed her.

"Then a team mate told me about Sploosh," said the TV Clyde. He pulled a can of Sploosh out from under the dugout bench and held it up for everyone to see.

"Sploosh!" Hector called out gleefully. Everyone chuckled.

"I just spray a little on each foot every morning and I really do have sweet feet. Plus, I like the tingle," the TV Clyde said, spraying his feet.

"Sploosh," said a voice-over," A treat for your feet. Made from all-natural ingredients, it neutralizes odor-causing fungi and bacteria. Plus, you'll like the tingle."

Everyone clapped at the Yelnats' house.

Hector was sitting beside Sapphire on the sofa, his head on her shoulder. They lived right next door to the Yelnats', but they frequented over for dinner and parties or just for a chat.

All the boys of D-Tent had been invited over for a party, to celebrate the new product 'Sploosh'. They were all laughing, cheering and having a very good time being together.

"C'mon, who wants to dive bomb?" X-Ray (Rex) called out, running back out to the swimming pool.

"Oi! Wait for me!" Armpit (Theodore) yelled, running after him. The others boys followed, except for Hector. He was content with sitting with his mother, enjoying the moment with her.

Sapphire smiled at her son and kissed his forehead. Fluffing up his hair she slowly hummed.

"If only, if only,
The moon speaks no reply,
Reflecting the sun and all that's gone by.
Be strong my weary wolf, turn around boldly,
Fly high, my baby bird,
My angel, my only."

----------

A/N: YO!! :) I had an interesting week that I will not go in depth with. 'Twas... interesting. Hehe. I'M GOING ON CAMP NEXT WEEK! I am so tired right now and I wanna watch Ever After which is the movie on tonight, so I'm not in the mood to be excited about camp. But still, I'm looking forward to it... sort of. Hehe. IT'S ALMOST THE END! I hope you loved that. Yes, LOVED IT! Bwahahaha. Actually, this is the end. LOL. The next chapter is the epilogue... Oh jelly, this is scary. I know sometimes the story got a little boring, but I still hope you enjoyed it! With all your dear little heart! :) I love you all so much for being here and always reviewing. You all rule and deserve emmy's! :) --MSQ.

PS. The little italicised part after Zero hugs his mother are song lyrics by Cyndi Lauper. The song is called "I Want A Mom That Lasts Forever" and it's in Rugrats in Paris. Anyway, I sort of formatted it a bit so that it sounds like Zero is thinking these things, instead of song lyrics.