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 Seven: Smoke and Mirrors

Zenigata parked his car in his driveway and looked at his home for the first time in several years. There were papers piled up on the front lawn and said lawn needed to be clipped. He had been back a few years back while Lupin was in Japan, but the time he spent actually in the home was short.

"I can't believe it's really over..." he said to himself as he got his keys out and walked up the walk way to the door. His suitcase in hand Zenigata unlocked the door and went in. The inside of his home hadn't changed in the time since he was last there. He flipped on the switch and moved towards his old office next to his bedroom. He tossed his coat and hat onto the waiting rack and set his suitcase on the ground. He had no desire to unpack just yet. Frowning he went over to the desk and picked up the picture of him and his wife upon their wedding day.

"What was she like?" came a very familiar voice. Zenigata spun around his hand going to his gun, searching for the intruder.

"All right where are you?" Zenigata called out. He felt the picture frame being lifted from his hand and turned around to see Lupin sitting on the desk staring at the image.

"I really mean it. What was she like?" Zenigata's heart broke and he put his gun away, thinking up a lie.

"It's nothing, you thief. How about you just leave my house now? I'm not on your case any more. I'm not even a cop. Why don't you leave an old man to his memories?" Zenigata glared, trying hard not to tear up as he took the picture from the weak hands of the young man.

"How about you tell me what I want to know, Pops?" Zenigata blinked hearing the pain and anger in his voice. Where once there was nothing but sly charm and a true smile, there was now a hurt face and a glare. Lupin knew.

"Lupin, leave. Now. There's nothing here for you to steal except my retirement." Zenigata tried hard to keep his voice level, but it didn't work. The tears began to flow freely and Zenigata quickly went to the window and looked out, refusing to look at the man.

"Damn you Zenigata! I know okay? You can't lie to me anymore! Why the hell didn't you tell me! WHY DID YOU ABANDON ME?" Zenigata winched and hung his head. He wouldn't accept it. He couldn't.

"Lupin...you don't know..."

"The hell I do! You can't deny it any longer! I'm your SON!" Zenigata let his tears fall freely, his entire body wracked with pent up emotion. "Why did you leave me? Why did you abandon me? Dad, why didn't you try to find me?"

"I didn't abandon you. Your mother had just died, I had just joined the police academy, I just...I couldn't take care of you the way you would have needed. You were sick. I didn't have the money. I had just enough to pay the bills from the hospital but that was it. I didn't just leave you, Hajime, didn't your parents ever give you something from Japan?" Lupin blinked and swallowed remembering the strange kimono that his adopted parents had given him when he turned five.

"It burned down with the house. Along with all my birth certificates. I never knew you were my father. I never even knew the name you had given me. Pops, do you even want to accept me?" Zenigata blinked and turned around seeing the young man clear his eyes from the tears rolling down his face. Those bright blue eyes. He couldn't deny it any longer.

"Hajime, that is the name I gave you. You were to be the beginning of a new life. I don't care that you're a thief. Because I know your a good person. You have morals, out of wack morals but damn it you have them. I never disowned you once I found out. I still love you," Zenigata choked out his tears falling from his eyes. Lupin went over and embraced his father sobbing into the white shirt and red tie. Zenigata held him close crying as well.

"I always knew you'd look after me, Pops. I just didn't know you had started doing it before I ever met you." Zenigata smiled slightly and held the thin young man.

"Hajime, Lupin...you have too many names. You are always welcome here, along with Jigen Goemon and Fujiko. You will always be welcomed home."

AN: Just so you know this is NOT the last chapter, there is one more to go!