Chibimamoru: Small Lady's Otooto-chan (Revised)

Chapter 4 – Meet the Parents

Author's Notes: Sorry for the delay. I've had a bad case of writer's block and of course I went out of town for Spring Break. Anyways, here it is – Chapter 4!! Mamo finally meets his parents. Chapter 15 of Mamoru's Journey should be out soon as well. Hopefully, my writer's block is gone for good. Hopefully – As always, don't forget to review!!! Tell me what you think this chapter.

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Standing before the heavy wooden doors that lead to the Throne Room and his parents, Mamo gulped clutching A.B. like a lifeline in his tiny trembling arms. What would his parents be like? What if they didn't like him? What if he did something bad and they decide to lock him in the dungeon or something? Or worse – what if they locked A.B. in the dungeon? Could they do that?

"Mamo-chan?" Mamo jumped startled out of his thoughts as a firm hand rested on his shoulder. "Are you ready, Mamo-chan?" General Nicholas inquired sympathetically.

Mamo looked up at the general with fear in his eyes. "My tummy feels funny." He complained.

General Nicholas smiled at him. "You have butterflies in your stomach."

"Butterflies?" Mamo blinked, looking curiously down at his tummy. "Go away butterflies." He ordered frowning at them. "You're making my tummy feel funny."

General Nicholas laughed. Mamo looked back up at him confused. What was so funny? "You will be alright, Mamo-chan." He assured him as he led him up to the door. The guards standing on either side of the double-doors bowed to the general before opening the way into the Royal Throne Room. "Come on. Let us meet your parents." Nicholas suggested. Mamo gulped again. Was he really ready for this? Could he actually be happy here – with these people?

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In front of the otherwise empty throne room before two large twin throne chairs, King Endymion paced nervously waiting for his best friend to return with his missing son. "What is it taking so long?" He snapped voicing his impatience.

"I am sure they are on their way, Endy." Neo Queen Serenity, his wife, assured him calmly – as was her nature. Hugging him tightly, she placed her hand on his shoulder. "Oh, Endy. Do you think he will be happy to see us?"

Endymion cursed his lips together. "I do not know Usako." He answered honestly. In truth, he was having the same doubts himself. Would Chibimamoru be happy to see his parents? Would he be angry? How much would he remember? He had been only 3 years old at the time of his disappearance. What would his reaction be? He only wished things could go back to the way they were before. Was that even plausible?

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As the door to the throne room slowly opened, the knot in Mamo's stomach pulled tighter and tighter. Whimpering slightly, he rubbed his hand over the back of A.B.'s head. "Du – don't be sca – scared A.B. I'm not scared." Even from the back of the room, he could feel his parents' eyes on him – studying him. What did they think of him? He was afraid to find out and kept his eyes glued to the floor in front of him.

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Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion looked up from the front of the room. It was him. He was here. Their son had come home. King Endymion's heart skipped a beat. The closer Nicholas and Mamo-chan came, the clearer his features became. He was taller than when he'd left. His dark hair had become a darker shade of black, but his midnight-blue eyes – the same as his father's – hadn't changed at all. "I had almost forgotten how much he looks like Endy." Serenity thought to herself. "I wonder what he's thinking?"

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After what seemed like forever for both sides, General Nicholas and Mamo- chan made it to the front of the Throne Room where Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion waited. "Your Majesties." General Nicholas started with a bow. "I brought Mamo here to meet you as you requested, but –." He looked back at the young child who lingered just a few feet behind him. Holding A.B. tightly in his arms, Mamo had his face buried shyly behind it. "He's a bit shy."

King Endymion stood still – unmoving – starring passed the general – his best friend – to the small boy – his son – standing a few feet behind him. He had expected his son to be happy to see him. He was prepared for his son to be angry with him, but the little boy there wasn't happy or angry. He was scared. Endymion wasn't prepared for his son to be scared of him. What should he do? He had waited so long for this day to come, but hadn't once thought what he should say to his son once they found him. So, he didn't say anything.

"Come on, Mamo-chan." General Nicholas coaxed him. "These are your parents. Come on up here."

"Uh, uh." Mamo whined clutching A.B. even tighter. If he closed his eyes, then the strange people wouldn't be there. Then, it would just be him and A.B. A.B. was his friend, his only friend. A.B. would make it better. "A.B." He whispered. "Help me, A.B." A.B.'s eyes lit up in response but quickly went back out. "A.B." Neither Nicholas nor Endymion moved to help him. Mamo started to cry silently.

"Oh." Serenity was the first to regain her composure. Who cared if he had been gone for three years? So what if he had forgotten her. Hadn't Endymion and Senshi forgotten her after Beryl was destroyed? That didn't change anything. Mamoru was still hers even if he didn't remember her. Mamo-chan was still her son, and he needed her now.

Walking past General Nicholas, Neo Queen Serenity knelt near her son pulling him gently into her arms. "Shh. Everything is ok now, Mamo-chan. You are home now. Mommy is here."

Home? Mamo sniffled. Mommy's voice was calm and soothing just like it was supposed to be. Was this really his home? Mommy said it was. Mommy was warm. What was home really? Home was where Mommy made it all better. He liked home. Would home go away if he opened his eyes? Would Mommy go away like she did when he woke up in the morning at Nephrite Hills?

The room was deathly quiet. Serenity's gentle voice was the only sound that could be heard in the large empty room. Mommy is here. Everything is ok now. Mommy wouldn't lie would she? Was everything really ok? Only one way to find out for sure –

Slowly – cautiously – Mamo opened his eyes. First open one eye, then the other. White. He saw white. Mommy's dress was white. Looking up slowly, his eyes met Mommy's. Mommy's eyes. "Mommy?" He questioned.

Serenity looked down at him. Mommy looked down at him with her gentle tear- filled blue eyes. "Yes, Mamo-chan?"

"Do I make you sad, Mommy?"

"No. Of course not, sweetheart."

Sweetheart? Yuck. "Then, why are you crying?"

Serenity smiled. Mommy smiled at him. "I am just so happy to see you."

"You cry because you're happy?"

"Hai."

Mamo blinked. Crying wasn't supposed to be for happy. Crying was for sad. Didn't Mommy know that? "Adult's are weird." He told her. Serenity laughed, a gentle laugh like music. Mommy's laugh. He liked Mommy's laugh.

King Endymion laughed along with his wife. His laugh was deep – deeper than Mommy's laugh. Who was he? Finally starting to relax (and build up his courage), Endymion came over helping Serenity up onto her feet.

Standing in front of them, Mamo looked up. Mamo looked up at them – at Mommy and him. Him? Who was him? Mommy was supposed to be with Daddy. Mommy and Daddy were always together. So, he must be Daddy. Mommy and Daddy. Daddy was taller than Mommy and taller than General Nicky-san. "Welcome home, Mamo-chan." Daddy says.

Mamo cursed his lips together looking up at Mommy and Daddy. They were Mommy and Daddy now. They were Mommy and Daddy before – before he was alone – before Nephrite Hills. They weren't Mommy and Daddy at Nephrite Hills. He was an orphan at Nephrite Hills. Orphans didn't have a Mommy and Daddy. He was alone at Nephrite Hills. Nephrite Hills was gone now though. They were Mommy and Daddy now.

"Mamo-chan?" Daddy questions.

Mamo looked up at them. "Genral Nicky-san says you want ta be my Mommy and Daddy again." Serenity and Endymion exchanged a look. What would they say to that?

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The new family had a lot of catching up to do. Mamo would need a new room. His old room was ok for a 3 year old, but not for a 6 year old. He would need new toys. Small Lady would have to be told and of course the Senshi. Small Lady would have some adjusting to do. Mamo would be the center of attention for a while. Hopefully, Small Lady would be happy to see her baby brother home safe – hopefully.

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