Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: I'll be updating MBFG next, and after this chapter, we get back to Sam and company. Please review!

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

"As long as I'm still breathing, I'll be right there by your side." -Takato Matsuki (Season Three, Episode 14: Grow Mon Grow)

Chapter 52: Meant to Be

Matt Ishida

Kyoto, Japan, Earth

"Hey, Matt."

Matt looked up at the sound of Mimi's voice and spotted his wife walking slowly towards him. He was sitting at a table next to the window in a small restaurant, and he gestured for her to sit across from him. The restaurant was relatively close to the place where Mimi was being assaulted by cameras, and they had made plans to meet there for lunch. Apparently the fashion shoot was running a bit behind schedule because his wife was twenty minutes late for their dinner date.

Or should I say brunch? I guess it doesn't really matter either way, as long as she eats a decent meal. Poor, Mimi. I don't know how she can stand having a bunch of cameras in her face all day.

He had not forgotten what it was like to be the centre of attention. After all, thirteen years ago he had been the lead singer of one of Japan's most popular rock bands. At first, he had not minded being in the spotlight, but then the media had started to invade his private life, and that was when he had decided he did not want to spend the rest of his life in the music business. He had always been a private person, and nothing was ever going to change that.

I had known all along that being in a band was going to affect my whole life, but I never expected The Teenage Wolves to become so popular. I tried to stick it out as long as possible, but in the end, my desire to have a family and live a normal life won out. I don't need a bunch of screaming fans following me around all day because I have Ryoko. He'll always be my biggest fan, and his opinion is the only one that matters.

Music would always be a part of him, but it did not have to be everything.

He and his band had decided to break up when Mimi was six months pregnant with Ryoko. All of them had wanted to start their own families and pursue other interests. Unfortunately the band's demise had not stopped the media from following him and Mimi around when Ryoko was born, and now, every so often, he would open a magazine and spot his son's face plastered across several sheets of glossy paper, along with his own. He was doing his best to keep his family out of the spotlight, but so far he was not having very much luck. It was hard to avoid the press when you were a former singer and your wife was one of Japan's most famous models.

"Hey, Mimi," he said softly. "You look really tired. Are you feeling alright?"

Mimi slowly sat down across from him and reached out to take his hand. Her eyes were dark, and she looked like she was lost in thought.

Maybe we should have gone back to our hotel room to talk. She looks so serious.

"I don't think I'm the one you should be worried about," his wife said quietly.

"What do you mean?" Matt studied his wife's pale face and frowned in confusion. Mimi has been acting a little strange lately. I wonder what's going on. Is she worried about Ryoko?

"Matt, do you think it's a good idea to let Ryoko have friends over while we're away?" Mimi asked, gently squeezing his hand.

He stared at her in surprise and shrugged. "I don't see why not. We've allowed him to have friends over before while we've been gone, and there has never been a problem."

"I know. It's just...do you remember what Tai said about Takara?"

Matt could feel his wife's hand trembling in his grip, and he leaned over the table to give her a reassuring kiss on the cheek. "I remember. He said Takara has been acting really odd lately, and T.K. said the same thing about our nephews."

"Don't forget about Sam," Mimi whispered. "Ken's is really worried about him, and I can tell Yolei's starting to suspect something, as well."

Matt nodded in agreement and sighed. "Then there's Dai. Apparently he got injured on the bleachers at the soccer field, but I don't believe that for a second. It's a good thing Noriko doesn't know about his injuries, otherwise she'd have a fit. You heard what Davis said to me over the phone. Both Sam and Ryoko told him Dai got hurt playing soccer, but I think they were just trying to cover up what really happened that afternoon."

"You really think Ryoko would lie to Davis and Ken?" Mimi asked, her eyes growing wide with surprise.

Matt smiled softly at her and shook his head. "I don't know, Mimi. Ryoko has always been so open and honest with us before, and I just can't believe he would lose those qualities almost overnight. No one can change that much in one week."

"Change usually happens over time," Mimi said quietly. "Ryoko's still as honest as ever. I know he is, and I refuse to believe anything different!"

Matt gently kissed the back of his wife's hand and gazed into her amber eyes. "I know Ryoko seems a lot like me, but we can't deny the fact that he's also a lot like you. That's what makes him such a wonderful person."

"The Crest of Sincerity," Mimi whispered. Her eyes sparkled with sudden tears, and she rested her cheek against his outstretched hand. "Oh, Matt. I love him so much. What are we going to do if something happens to him?"

"I don't know, Mimi, but there is one thing I am sure of," he said, his sapphire eyes narrowing into a frown. "Ryoko and his friends have been acting very secretive for almost a week now, and whatever it is they're hiding from us, it can't be good. Why else would they be trying so hard to stop us from figuring out what they're really up to?"

"Good point." Mimi let go of his hand and wrapped her arms around herself. She stared at the ceiling for a moment, and a small frown appeared on her pretty face. "Ryoko, Dai, Sam, Takara, and our nephews are spending a lot of time together after school. I know they always have an explanation for their whereabouts, but a lot of their excuses have sounded more like lies to me. It's almost as if they've practiced what they're going to say to us ahead of time. What do you think is really going on?"

Matt shook his head and turned to stare out the window. "It's hard to say. Ryoko and his friends always spend a lot of time together after school. That's nothing new. It's not like they're really doing anything out of the ordinary."

"You're right," Mimi said, smiling slightly. "Maybe I'm just overreacting. Ryoko's our only child, and I know I'd end up going crazy if anything ever happened to him."

I feel the exact same way, Mimi.

"Are you ready to order?"

Matt looked up in surprise and blinked at the waitress who was standing next to their table. The raven haired teenager had given him a couple of menus earlier, and he had told her he was going to wait until his wife arrived before making his final selection from the list of main courses. Apparently he had been so busy worrying about Ryoko that he had not even noticed her approaching the table with a pad of paper in her hand.

"Yes," he replied. "Sorry about the wait."

"Don't worry about it," the waitress replied, giving him a big smile.

Mimi glanced down at her menu, and her eyes sparkled with sudden emotion. "Oh," she said softly. "I haven't eaten anything today, have I?"

Matt shook his head and smiled at her. "It's no wonder you look so worn out. I know this fashion shoot is important to you, but you can't allow it to get in the way of taking care of yourself. You should have had some breakfast before we left the house this morning."

"You're right!" his wife gasped, her amber eyes growing wide with fear. "I'll never forgive myself if I end up hurting-"

Mimi suddenly broke off in the middle of her sentence, and Matt stared at her in surprise. "Mimi, what-"

"I think we've made our waitress wait long enough," Mimi said quickly, forcing a smile. "Let's eat before my stomache starts to growl!"

The waitress quickly wrote down their orders and scurried off to another table. She passed by one of her co-workers, who was heading towards her, and put a hand on the other girl's arm to get her attention. The raven haired teenager pointed at Mimi, and Matt heard her whisper something about 'the singer' and the 'famous model'.

He gazed at them for a moment and slowly turned to look at Mimi. The two waitresses were still talking about him and his wife, but he barely even noticed. All he could think about was the look that had been on Mimi's face just before the raven haired teen had interrupted them. Something's definitely wrong with her. She has been acting very uneasy the past few days, and I'm sure she didn't sleep at all last night. I get the feeling she's excited about something, but that doesn't make any sense. Her eyes are filled with fear. How can she feel excitement and fear at the same time?

"Mimi, you've been really quiet today," he said softly, reaching across the table to take her hand again. "Are you still worried about Ryoko?"

I know I am, and that would explain the fear in her eyes.

For some reason, Mimi was unable to look at him. "Well, yes," she said quietly, avoiding his eyes. "I am worried about him, but...that's not the only thing I'm worried about."

"What do you mean?" Matt stared at her in confusion, but she refused to look at him.

"I'm not worried about something happening," she whispered, her eyes filling with sudden tears. "I'm worried about something not happening. Matt,...do you remember that conversation we had in Ryoko's room several days ago?"

Matt realized his hand was trembling in Mimi's grip, and he gave her fingers what he hoped was a reassuring squeeze. "Yes," he said quietly. "What about it?"

Mimi finally looked at him, and her amber eyes began to sparkle with fierce hope and determination. "Do you remember how we...um... you know...about two weeks before that?" she mumbled, her face turning pink. She glanced around the restaurant to see if anyone was listening and quickly ducked her head again.

Matt forgot he was supposed to be embarrassed. The sound of his own heartbeat rang loudly in his ears, and he found himself unable to breath. This can't be happening. I'm dreaming. Any minute now I'm going to wake up...

"Mimi..." His voice was shaking so badly he could barely say her name.

She placed a finger against his lips and managed a shaky smile. "Ever since we had that conversation in Ryoko's room, I've been feeling a little...odd," his wife said quietly. She slowly looked up at him again, and this time she stared directly into his eyes. "Matt," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm not entirely sure, but...I think I might be pregnant."