Title: The Meaning of Pops

Author: Lady Jet

Rating: PG-14

Summery: Zenigata finds out a lot of things very quickly about Lupin the Third, most that surprise both the thief and the inspector.

Author's Note: I own nothing!

Chapter one: The Missing Son

The memories still haunted Inspector Zenigata. What if things had been different? What if his wife hadn't died in labor? What if he was able to keep his son? He wondered if he would be in the position that he was now. A young inspector Zenigata walked along to his office. It was a long night of research on a local robbery. There were very few clues and once the night shift was over Zenigata went home. As he walked along he reflected upon his horrible choice.

"Zenigata-san?" the doctor asked coming into the waiting room. Zenigata jumped up and felt his heart race.

"Where is she? Is she okay? Did they both make it?" He couldn't stop his hands from shaking. He felt like he could have made a great martini at that moment, if the news wasn't so horrid.

"I'm so sorry, Zenigata-san. She didn't make it. You're lucky you didn't loose your son in the process. It was too late, the infection in her blood was too far along. Your son is ill, but we believe he will make it. This way, you can see him. He's in ICU." The doctor walked off towards the intensive care units. Zenigata shuttered and followed the doctor. He was only twenty, just entering the police academy. His wife had just finished nursing school when they decided to have a child.

"Is...is that my boy?" The doctor nodded to his question. "He's so small..." Zenigata gently held the small boy's hand. He gently stroked the child's head, a few dark brown strands of hair. In his heart, Zenigata knew that he could in no way support a child while in the academy; but leaving the academy would be no better for either of them.

"Zenigata-san? Are you all right?" the doctor looked at the young man almost knowing what was going through his head.

"I can't take care of him. Not in the way that he needs it. He needs a home, a better home than I would ever give him. I've always wanted to be a father, but my son needs more than that."

"If you wish, I can draw up some adoption papers for you whenever you want." Zenigata nodded and the doctor left him and his newborn son alone.

The babe opened his bright blue eyes and looked upon his father as he knew him for the only time.