2.1

A/N: This chapter ended up a little shorter than I imagined, but I thought it was a good place to stop. We'll continue on with the water scene in the next chapter. Then it's back to Shion and Allen. Enjoy! And please review! Feel free to flame if I get too ooc.

MOMO stepped through the sliding doors, face still pointed toward the ground in deep concentration.

"MOMO?"

She lifted her head to see who had spoken.

"Mommy!"

"Is there something wrong?" asked Juli.

"Oh no, of course not!"

"I see. It's just… you seemed like you were a little down," observed Juli rather thoughtfully.

"I was just thinking." She paused for a moment, staring at the floor once again.

"I see."

"Oh!" She'd almost forgotten why she'd come there in the first place. "Ziggy says he's ready for the next treatment!"

"Alright. I'll have it ready in a moment."

"Mommy?"

"Yes?"

"Is it true that… Is it true that the 100 series realians have a hardcoded personality?"

"Why would you ask something like that?" asked Juli, although she suspected she knew the answer already.

"I've just been thinking about it lately."

"Well—" She was interrupted by the sound of the two doors opening once again. "Ah, Jan, Jr. Are you ready? The simulation is about to begin."

MOMO watched as her mother turned from her to the two males. She closed her eyes a little sadly. So it was true. Well of course. Like Jr. said, she wasn't human so that made perfect sense.

"Oh, I just remembered something. MOMO?" MOMO turned to face her mother. "I remembered a little while ago that your birthday is coming up soon."

"My… birthday?"

Jr. and Ziggy both turned their heads to look at the pink haired girl. She hadn't mentioned anything about a birthday to either of them.

"But I don't-" MOMO began, but Juli silenced her with a small hand gesture.

"The day my husband activated you."

"Oh." MOMO seemed slightly confused.

"I was just wondering if there is anything you would like." Juli put a hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"Oh, no. I'm alright. I mean, I've never had a birthday before so I-"

"YOU'VE NEVER HAD A BIRTHDAY!" shouted Jr. MOMO jumped a little at the sound of his voice and gave him a strange look.

"Well, I'm a realian so –"

"That doesn't matter! Realian or not, you're still a person. And every person deserves to have a birthday! Even Gaignun and I celebrate ours and we're URTVs."

"But-" argued MOMO. "It really doesn't matter. It's okay-"

"No, it's not!" Jr. clenched his fist a little and she saw his face turn red from some hidden emotion that might have been anger.

"I- I'm sorry-"

"Don't apologize!"

She stared at Jr., confused and waiting. He sighed and tuned his face away from her. She guessed what he was thinking.

"MOMO!" He grabbed her hand so quickly, she flinched. "We're going to throw you a birthday party!" She was going to object but he stared her down with a fierce determination. After a moment of silence, she smiled.

"Thank you, Jr.!"