Ch. 3

HI! I know! I took sooooo long 2 update! Sorry! I really wanted 2! I kept telling myself 2morrow, 2morrow! And I never got around 2 it… I'm really sorry! Bows down please forgive me! Please! I love you all!

Ne hoo, back 2-da story.

Her mom had said it would all be all right… but Chihiro knew it would not be, not for a long time yet. Chihiro opened her eyes and closed them again, trying to adjust to the sunlight coming in from the windows. She turned so that she faced the dark side of her mother's room and buried her face in her mother's pillow. It smelled so good. She had almost forgotten this smell… it was strange because it wasn't like a perfume. Every one has their own smell… it marks them, and it's just another way to tell people apart. But it smelled pleasant, and reassuring. It smelled like home. Home… that word sounded distant to her. She was home now… yet she was not? Her mind drifted slowly to her dream… her dream. What had happened in it? Oh yes; now she remembered. Haku… he had left her. or had she left him? But… who was that boy? The one she could never see his face. He seemed so familiar.

She stretched her arms and they reached the end of the bed. Wait… the bed was empty? Where was her mother? Sure, her father had gone to work… but what happened to her mother? She lifted her face from the pillow in search of her… wait… something smelled so good. Chihiro sniffed the air again. Was her mother cooking? She got up and walked barefoot in the kitchen. There was her mother, happier than Chihiro had seed her in weeks, standing by the stove frying some bacon. Chihiro frowned suddenly as she examined her mom. Was it her… or was her mother getting fat? Did it even matter? Chihiro shook her head and walked over to the table. She needed to figure out her dream.

What had caused her so much pain? That she didn't want to remember it?

Her mother suddenly walked towards her with a frown.

"What's wrong?" she asked Chihiro. Chihiro blinked pulling herself together in as little tie as she could.

"Nothing." She lied dismissively. Her mother frowned again.

"Chihiro, I know it's been hard for you, since we moved in. a new school, new friends… and I've been so out of it, with your father… everything's changed." She said softly reaching for Chihiro's hand.

Chihiro could see the concern mixed with sadness on her mothers face.

"It's fi-fine." Whispered Chihiro, she was trying so hard not to cry. Tears began rising over her own mother's eyes but she wiped them away with the back of her hand.

"Chihiro… I think it's time to move on. You'll be going to college soon… and everything will change again… so… we need to pull through this." She said. Chihiro studied her mothers face blankly. What as she trying to say?

"Chihiro, I have some good news. I know that… it'll help this family to grow. Her mother tightened her grip on Chihiro's hand.

"we- I'm…"

"Pregnant…" said Chihiro breathlessly. "You're pregnant." For a split second Chihiro felt anger and jealousy wash over, but it was replaced by happiness.

"Oh mom!" she exclaimed throwing her arms over her mother. No wonder her father had stopped arguing lately, no wonder he was in such a good mood. Chihiro looked up at her mother's face, as her mom sighed with relief.

"I'm so glad you're happy…" sighed her mother. Chihiro sniffed and wiped her eyes.

"I am happy mom." She said between a sob and a giggle.

"Oh… I better check on the bacon. Said her mother releasing Chihiro.

"Yeah…" Chihiro responded. She walked slowly up to her room and opened the door.

If she were going to find out anything, she would have to wait until Saturday. There was school today.