A/N:: Okay, okay I finally got enough up-dates to encourage me to continue. I want to say thank you to everybody who reviewed me; they were very helpful and gave me the extra boost I needed. Recently there was a death within my personal life and it took a toll on me, but now I feel up to it so put it short here's the 8th chapter.

The Key to Her Heavy Heart

"Okay who would like to present their report first?" Faye asked her class.

A whisper of murmurs went through the class, the report was hard and the topic was a bit personal. Regardless, the class in the beginning had seemed excited at it, and had been willing to do it.

The report was an oral presentation on what they wanted to be when they got older, how the hoped to achieve it, what was the significance of the occupation, and what they were hoping to accomplish within the role of occupation. Many were excited and were nervous, but over all they were nervous because they hoped that their presentation would make their teacher happy.

Throughout the years, Faye had become the most loved teacher in the school. Not only were she fun and her stories fun, but she treated them like adults and always was fair with what she did. Practically the whole school looked up to her for ideas and solutions. Her stories brought excitement to the class and great encouragement, and everyone was always willing to do 100 in her class.

"Anyone, oh cmon guys I don't bite, what you did couldn't of been that bad I mean do I have to tell you of what I used to do as a kid?" Faye asked in fake exasperation causing the tension in the class to drop dramatically and cause a round of light laughter through the room. One boy in the back raised his hand.

"I'll go first, Faye"

Faye looked to the back of the room and smiled.

"Sure come on down Samson and face your doom."

Samson a rather good looking kids was the quietest kid she had ever met. She was happy that she was able to help him become more out spoken. As he walked up to the front of the class, he seemed to change. His once nervous face changed into one of a proud person, holding his head high as though no matter what someone says he would be proud to do what he was going to do and stick with it.

"As you all know, the assignment was to describe what our motives where when we are able to achieve them. Mine is one of an unusual, but regardless I have found that this is what I do best. I wish to be a play therapist for autistic children. As an older sibling who has a younger sibling with autism I believe that it is something I can do.

Play therapy is the social interaction with a child or person by playing games and learning how they live and what they do to cope with their problem.

Autism is a developmental disorder that disables the person to interact with others. You can kind of say that they are in their own little fantasy world and they can't break out of it. Although it might seem bad on all levels, autistic people are actually able to see far beyond their comprehension, which still amazes me to no end.

The process of becoming a therapist now a day is very difficult on account of having to go to Medical School and taking courses in college on brain development. Not to mention learning to cope with such a challenge as to deal with children that probably doesn't really know who they are, is extremely emotional for people who wish to help them.

I believe that I can figure out a way to cure autism as well as helping the child learn who they really are and what they can do."

Faye looked at Samson in awe, never once in the entire year had he spoken so much. This topic really shined a new light on him.

"That was an amazing report Samson. I can see that this is an occupation and dream means a lot to you. I'm very proud of you for coming up and here and sharing your report. What do you say kids? Wasn't his report great?" She looked at her class.

"That was amazing!" Came from one of the girls in the class.

"Ya, I loved the presentation!" Came another kid.

"You have to tell me more about this later during lunch okay!" Said one of the boys.

"Thanks everybody I'm really glad you liked this report." Samson replied red at the face from all the attention he was receiving, and walked back to his seat earning pats and slaps on the back.

Faye smiled and spoke "Anyone else want to go, we still have 30 minutes left. She smile widen as she saw all of the kid raise their hands eager to present and please their teacher.

Back Aboard the Bebop

"Here is the gym that me and Spike use every morning" Anita told Michelle.

"Spike and I, cmon Anita for a genius you really have bad grammar." Michelle teased and giggled as Anita stuck out her tongue in a childish fashion.

"Cmon I still have some more things to show you." Anita had already shown her all of the bedrooms, kitchen, hanger, all of the zipcrafts, the living room, and the gym. She still had yet to introduce Michelle to Spike who was lounging outside on the small patio on the outside of the Bebop.

"So how's it going at the veterinary clinic, you work with Andy right?"

"Yup its so much fun, but I still have yet to be allowed to perform a surgery by myself."

"Don't worry you'll get you chance soon, it just takes some time."

"I hope so I'm getting a little bored with cleaning out the cages, you know I can now recognize which poop belongs to which animal, that's relatively sad."

"Information that was totally not needed."

Both walked out on to the patio just to see Spike running after Ein who just happened to have Spike's shoe in his mouth. "Ein give me my shoe! I need that and don't you dare chew it up I love this pair! I swear to god if I didn't think of Anita as a daughter and didn't give a crap about how she felt about you I would have cooked and eaten you already."

Ein suddenly let the shoe go and went right up to Spike and sniffed him. Then jumped on him, as if telling him that even though he was a different species he felt the same way.

"I'm glad we came to an understanding." Spike smirked and grabbed his shoe before Ein could get to it again.

"Ahem"

Spike turned around to see a giggling Anita and a red headed girl who had her hand to her mouth to stifle the laughter that threatened to break loose.

"Ummm……….you just saw that didn't you?"

"Every single second of it. Glad that you think of me that way Spike-O." Said Anita walking past him over to where Ein sat and picked him up. Her expression turned solemn.

"You've got to stop running around like that, your not as young as you used to be, I don't want to you to over work yourself." She brought him into a hug and rocked him back and forth. As much as she loved Ein she knew that he was getting older by the minute and at this time anything could happen to him. And it scared her, he was her only companion for a large portion of her life and it was hard to imagine her life without him.

Spike watched intently as she talked to him and held him close. He never knew what it was like to man's best friend as a companion, but he was sure that it was a bond that was very strong, and if broken would be heart breaking.

"So your Spike, huh?"

Spike looked away from Anita to see that redheaded girl that was trying not to laugh at him a few moments ago.

"Ya, that's me and you are?"

"Forgive me, I'm Michelle, I'm Anita's best friend or do you still call her Ed?"

"No we all call her Anita."

"She seems to be very close to him doesn't she." Michelle replied changing the subject, turning her attention to Anita and Ein, who was still in her arms.

"Hmm." Was the only reply. "As a child she was very strange and always hung out with Ein. I never knew that the bond between them was so strong. It makes me wonder on what a wonderful friendship that they have created that no one but them have." Spike said carefully.

"The relationships between a human and animal have always brought great happiness to both sides. I guess that animals and humans are more alike then we seem to believe."

"I like you already."

"Why is that?"

"I like people who can up-hold civil conversations. I would like to speak with you more often."

"I would like that very much, I love the Bebop. It's amazing and from all the stories I've heard I'm sure that everybody's very close to one another."

"Your right you can almost call this place, the home of the Dysfunctional Family. That's an interesting title." Spike smirked at the idea.

"You're telling me" Came a voice behind them causing both Michelle and Spike to jump slightly. Anita was there still holding Ein and smiling. "I heard your conversation. I agree with you guys. I have to tell mom about the Dysfunctional Family thing, its too funny." She replied chuckling.

"Let's get something to eat, I'm hungry, anyone up for sandwiches." She yelled as she walked into the living room of the Bebop. Ein still in her arms.

"Sounds great, by the way where's Jet I haven't seen him all day!"

"He's out catching a bounty, didn't you see the note on the fridge?"

"Apparently not."

"No shit."

"That's no way for a lady to speak."

"Well I wasn't raised by a goddess you know.'

"That's right you were raised by the shrew of all shrews."

"Hey! Watch it, she's still my mother. Besides I just got this all on tape."

"WHAT!!!" Spike's eyes widened as he ran into the kitchen to see Anita holding a tape recorder.

"Mom asked me to get you on tape to show to the class. I thought this would be a great example." Anita smirked mischievously.

"Give me that!" Spike lunged for the recorder in her hand but all he grabbed was air as she quickly moved out of the way. Running into her room she locked the door and put the tape recorder in her secret stash area.

Meanwhile in the kitchen Spike was pissed. "I'm dead, this is going to be as bad a the coffee incident." He lightly touch the bump on his head that was given to him by the fist of the woman he had been living around for the last few years, and winced.

Michelle just smiled and shook her head. Anita had warned her about the craziness and was completely fine with it. Finishing up the sandwiches she sat down at the dining room table where Spike was and handed him his sandwich.

"It won't be that bad. Faye's changed a lot, who know she might find it humorous." Michelle said trying to lighten the mood.

"Might is the key word here. If she doesn't I don't even want to think of the consequences."

"Hey look, Faye's a great person and believe me, I know a great person when I see one. She's an amazing mother and a fabulous teacher who is loved by many people."

"What does this have to do with me and my predicament?"

"All I'm saying is that Faye isn't the same person you left 4 years ago. She's changed and sure she's still the same in many different aspects, but she has changed in more ways then anyone can count. I'm mean when did it ever occur to you that everything that Anita is, is because Faye helped her. You can't judge appearances any more Spike, you need to really learn to observe your actions as well as hers now."

Spike listened and had to admit, she was right and all this time he had been selfish and believed that she was the same and never giving a damn that she had changed and that maybe what he was saying was wrong. He was giving himself the wrong impression and making her the bad guy over nothing.

"Your right, your absolutely right, Faye has done nothing to me to make her the bad guy. I guess I'm going to have to work on some things."

"No shit Sherlock" Both Spike and Michelle jumped at the extra voice behind them.

"STOP DOING THAT!!" Both Spike and Michelle screamed simultaneously, making Anita look at them as if they had each grown another head.

"The world still doesn't make sense." Anita muttered with a sigh and sat down to eat her sandwich.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, nothing at all."

The End of the Day on the Bebop

Spike walked through the silent hallway of the bedroom area. Anita and Jet had passed out after dinner. Jet had successfully gotten the bounty, which made them 2 million wuloongs richer.

Spike stopped suddenly at Faye's door, he leaned in closer and heard small sobs coming from inside the room. Opening her door he saw her holding a picture and crying softly.

"Faye……are you okay? Do want to tell me?"

Faye looked at Spike and started sobbing harder.

"Faye tell me what's wrong?"

"We had an oral presentation in my class today. They had to tell us what they wanted to be when they go older and the process in which they could achieve it." She said softly.

"Is there more?"

"One kid said that he wanted to be a play therapist for autistic children. I got a flashback from my past."

"Go on"

"I had a little brother who was autistic, he's in suspended animation as we speak. He had severe autism, but………despite that he's was my brother and I loved him so much. He's still the little eight year old that I remember. Here's a picture of him."

Spike took the picture and looked at it. There in the picture was a 20 year old Faye and an 8 year old little boy with blue hair but the same beautiful green eyes and bright smile that his sister possessed. They were both bundled up in clothing playing in the snow. The smile on both of their faces was enough to make Spike smile sadly.

"I'm sorry Faye. Life has been hard on you, but I'm sure that we can get your brother back if you want. I'll even help you."

"Really you really mean it, Spike?"

"Yes."

Faye through herself into his arms and cried. "Thank you Spike you have no idea how much this means to me. I love my little Akeila."

"Akeila?"

"That's his name, I've always envied it, it was such a nice name."

Spike looked at the picture again and smiled. Akeila fitted the young boy. He wondered were they would get the money to get him back but he would worry about it later.

"You need some sleep Faye, your gonna get sick."

No response. Spike lifted her slightly and realized that she had fallen asleep on him and was gripping him tightly. Sighing he lifted her bridal style and carried her to her bed. He was just about to leave when he felt something grab him.

"Please stay, I need someone right now." Faye said lightly, she was thankful it was dark so Spike couldn't see her blushing face.

Spike didn't respond he just slipped off his shoes and slid silently into the bed. Wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close he instantly fell asleep, as did Faye.

Unknown to them a smiling shadow watched from the doorway. Anita had watched the entire scene unfold. Not surprisingly things were working out the way she expected. Now all she had to do was get enough money to get Akeila in their custody and play matchmaker. She smirked at the ideas that came to mind and slowly shut the door and walked off to her room with Ein at her heels.

A/N:: Alrighty then I've up-dated!! How was it?! I need reviews. Thank you to everyone who reviewed me and by the way check out Kendra Luehr's new story called Bleed for Me. Its great and I highly recommend it. I want to just say this quickly I've got a ton of things to do during the next two months or so, not to mention my dad went off to London (Luck!) for a little while so things have been very hectic. So I'm just going to say I won't be able to up-date quickly but it will happen.

You're probably wondering why I choose Faye to have and autistic brother. The answer, I live in a world surrounded with kids with autism, aspergers, tourettes, ADD, ADHD, LD, anxiety, social interaction disorder, bipolar, mental retardation, and many more.

Many times when you're hanging out with your friend, they will sometimes imitate people that have these problems. It hurts. When people make fun of us it hurts, weather we show it or not. We desperately want to fit into the world that we live in, and when we are teased we think that we don't belong. So the next time one of your friends makes fun of us, please stop them, and when you see someone get teased because of who they are, please stand up for them. We're not monsters, or freaks of nature, we just have some problems that cannot be helped without medication. We just want to live our lives normally with you.

P.S. If you want to know more about these disorders, please e-mail me and I will send you a webpage that lists and explains many common and uncommon disorders.

Fox Xanatos