Someone Out There
Chapter Twenty-One: Motherly Love

"Calm down, calm down. Take off those dirty socks before coming inside!" ordered Sango. Tommy had not stop talking since his mom picked him up. "And this meanie guy called Midori hates me!" claimed Tommy. Sango busied herself with his clothes and backpack, checking to make sure he'd brought his lunchbox back. "Tommy, where is your lunchbox?" she asked in a pained voice. Tommy pretended to look fascinated with the bug on the door frame. "Thomas, where is it?" she said warningly. Tommy knew he was in trouble when his mother used his full first name.

"I uh, left it at my desk." he lied. Sango raised an eyebrow and looked at him. Sango squirmed trying to look away but she held his gaze waiting. Sango smiled a little bit and raised the other eyebrow. Tommy burst out laughing, guiltily. His mischievous glint in his eyes already gave away have his lie, all his mom had to do was wait for the other half to get the better of him.

"Oh you," she said affectionately pulling him into a hug. It's been 5 years since she left college to raise her baby. Now her baby was all grown up. Well not really, but the thought brings happy tears in her eyes. Anything about her baby brings happy tears in her eyes. It wasn't only because he was her flesh and blood, but because so much more was given up for him and in return she got one of the greatest gift of all: love from their children. Sango couldn't even begin to explain how unconditional and pure the love is one has for their own children.

She had grown up a lot since then. No, grown up would be the wrong word to use. Everyone grows up, it's the maturity in a person that determines exactly what "grown up" meant. Sango matured a lot. She still had a lot of fire and spunk in her, but she also was wiser. Especially from caring for the baby all the time for the first 3 years. It exhausted her and took almost every ounce of energy. Now look at her: she's happy and her child is healthy. Sure Tommy was a little rough around the edges, but he's got plenty of years ahead. He's a chip off the old block.

Sango still looked fit. She grew a little taller since she left and her brunette hair was now medium length tied in a messy ponytail. She grew her bangs a bit and now they reached to the side of her face, edging it prettily. Her eyes looked tired all the time, but full of happiness: the kind of happy-tired that only a loving mother can possess. Tommy reached over his mom's shoulder and grabbed at her hair.

"Nu uh," she chided. "Tommy, enough fooling around, go do your homework." she said sternly. Tommy's eyes went huge, "Homework! Mooooom I'm only 5!" He held up his five fingers to prove it to her. Sango laughed, "Fine, then pick a story book out and we'll read."

Tommy crossed his arms again, "No, we already read a stupid story at school today." Sango lifted an eyebrow, "So the teacher read WITH you today?" Tommy considered this for a moment. "No, but the stupid Midori guy read a dumb book about 3 pigs to the class." Tommy put his hands on his hips, waiting for his mommy to let him off to play. "Nice try young man, we are reading TOGETHER." Sango said, emphasizing "together."

He let out a growl but wisely obeyed. He went over and chose a book that his grandfather bought him for his birthday on January. "Who gives people books for their birthdays anyways?" he grumbled. They sat together on the living room couch, Tommy on his mother's lap and she started reading to him.

Occasionally Tommy would interrupt with questions such as, "Why would anyone wear GLASS slippers anyways?" or "How does a witch poison an apple without cutting it in half?" or "Who would want to kiss an old lady after she's slept for 100 years and then MARRY HER?" followed by the classic "EYUCK" face. Tommy's antics made reading fun for both of them.

Sango picked up Tommy and set him in the play area of the living room. "Knock your self out kiddo," she said as she made her way towards the kitchen to cook. Tommy held a fist and bonked his head with it, taking his mother's words literally. Sango chuckled at the "ow" as she opened the fridge to see what she could make. Sango took out some meat and vegetables from the fridge. She opened the cupboard to grab some potatoes and a pan to make mashed potatoes. She hummed to the radio as she cut the meat into nice chewable pieces for Tommy so he won't look like a carnivorous beast when eating.

5 years ago she would've had no idea what she was doing. But ever since she realized she needed to take care of the baby, and take care as in feeding the baby right, she took it upon herself to learn how to cook a few things so it wouldn't be instant-noodles every night. She glanced over to watch Tommy as the vegetables were steaming. She walked over and plopped herself next to her beloved son.

"Whatcha doing?" she asked playfully, poking his sides. Tommy instantly dodged back. Sango laughed at her son's sensitivity to being tickled. "Mom?" he started. She nodded to show she was listening while mindlessly playing with the Lego blocks. "I don't want to go to school." he whined.

"Why?" asked Sango. A pang raced to her heart, hoping it wasn't because someone was bullying Tommy. "Is someone being mean to you? 'Cause if so, I'll go beat them up. No one messes with my child."

Tommy nodded agreeing, missing the laughter in his mom's voice. "I don't like the substitute. Midori." Sango looked at her son. Who was this Midori character? I mean, what guy would call themselves Midori anyways? "Is that his real name?"

"I don't know, I think it's his nick name." replied Tommy dubiously.

Sango felt laughter growing inside of her again. Some nickname, she thought wryly. "So what did he do wrong that made you mad your highness?"

Tommy tapped his chin thinking, "Well he made me say sorry to a girl." His face twisting with disgust at the thought of the girl.

"Did she throw cooties at you?" Sango teased. Tommy shook his head seriously, "Not yet but it might as well be a matter of time." Sango burst out laughing to the dismay of her child. "Mom! This is serious! Do you want your son to die?" he cried out, waving to get attention.

"You don't die from cooties," chided Sango, "You up falling in looooove then you kisssssss. Say, who is this lucky girl?" Sango pretended to swoon.

Tommy covered his ears in horror. Fall in love? That's gross! "What should I do?" he whispered urgently. "Well first of all, you need to give that substitute a chance. Maybe Midori is a nice guy." She let that comment hang in the air.

"Then what?" Tommy asked anxiously. "Well if you really don't like her, then steer clear of her. And if you really don't like the Midori shemale, you can steer clear of him too, but just remember to be polite." She knew all too well that it was her son who started pulling at some girl's hair. He was a favorite amongst the girls. Depending on how you define "favorite" that is.

"What's that smell?" asked Tommy. Sango sprung to her feet. "Oh shit, my vegetables!" Tommy shook his head at his mom and called out, "The Midori-shemale said it was bad to say 'shit'."