It hadn't been easy the last few months. Their little family had gone from four to three in what seemed like an instant.
While Haruka did her best to keep going, it was still agonizing. Wondering if there had been any earlier signs she could've noticed. If she could've seen it sooner.
But there was no telling what was going to happen. We thought they were both healthy when I was pregnant. It wasn't until they were born that we found out.
Now, it was just waiting.
She still wasn't sure if her husband's idea was even going to work. She hadn't seen him in over two weeks for more than a few hours to sleep and then rush back to the lab.
"Airisu? Is it wrong that we're doing this?"
"No." Her net navi shook her head. "You're trying to cope and well, this is your way of coping. It might seem extreme to some but… this is the Hikari family. We tend to be a bit more… out there with our methods in dealing with situations. Like how Yuichiro always likes having your special spaghetti whenever something bad happens."
Haruka chuckled a bit.
"I guess that's true. Just… this is different than that though."
"I know, Haruka. But… Yuichiro just wants you to be happy and… he misses Hub just as much as you do. We all do."
Haruka sighed, glancing down.
"I won't deny how much I miss our baby boy. He was such a happy little thing before he got sick." She closed her eyes, her hands gripping at skirt. "I just don't understand why we had to lose him. He didn't do anything wrong."
"Haruka…"
"My little baby boy…"
"WAAHHH!"
Haruka and Airisu straightened up at the sound of a baby wailing.
"Looks like something woke up Lan."
Haruka got up from her chair, heading to Lan's room. The little boy was squirming in his crib, his cheeks streaming with tears.
"Oh, oh, oh, oh…" Haruka picked him up. "It's okay, Lan. Shhh…" She rocked him gently. "It's okay."
Lan whimpered, huddling up to his mother, grabbing onto her shirt.
"Goodness, what has you so upset?"
Airisu appeared on the monitor they kept in the room, looking through the camera recordings.
"Doesn't appear to be anything visual." Airisu noted the little boy appeared to have reached a hand out to what seemed to be nothing before his happy face turned to sadness. "I guess he saw something we couldn't on the camera."
"Odd…" Haruka looked down at her son.
Lan was looking around the room, some small whimpers still escaping him. He soon curled back up to his mother.
She frowned, holding him tighter, kissing his head.
"Shh… It's okay Lan.. I got you." Haruka, whispered, taking one last glance around the room before leaving.
Lan relaxed visibly as soon as they left the room, tucking his head under his mother's, eyes half lidded as he let out a small yawn.
"Wah…"
Haruka glanced back for a moment before taking Lan to the living room.
"How about you keep me company while we wait for your Daddy, huh?"
"Bah…"
Haruka took her place in the chair she was in earlier, Airisu reappearing in her PET.
"I have to wonder what he saw." Airisu thought out loud. "I've read somewhere that sometimes babies can see things that older humans can't."
Haruka hummed in thought, her gaze focused on her son. She had an idea, part of her wondering if it was even logical to think about.
"I wonder… if he saw Hub. They were so close when he was still with us."
"The ever doting big brother. If Lan was upset, Hub was right there." Airisu smiled softly. "Ever helpful."
"Even if that meant Lan swiping his snacks."
"Yep."
"Haruka?"
Haruka looked up to see Yuichiro entering the front door. He was tired but he had a huge grin on his face. Haruka went to stand but Yuichiro held up a hand, signaling her to stay where she was.
He slipped off his shoes before making his way over to her. He put Zero's PET next to Airisu's before pulling out another one from his holder. He knelt next to her chair, showing the PET to her and Lan.
"Haruka… I did it."
Her eyes widened, as she looked at the PET before back to her husband.
"You… You really did?"
He nodded, warmth in his eyes, mixing with relief. He took her free hand, squeezing it gently.
"He's right here. He's been looking forward to talking with you."
Haruka's eyes grew misty before she nodded, not trusting herself to speak just yet, signalling for him to take the device out of sleep mode.
Yuichiro flipped the switch as the screen illuminated.
"Hub, say hello to Mom."
Hub appeared on the screen, his eyes widening at seeing Haruka.
Haruka's eyes did the same as she took in Hub's new appearance.
No longer was he the little baby boy she had held in her arms. Instead, he now appeared to be eleven years old. He was dressed in blue armor that had teal and yellow accents, the family crest now present on his chest.
They stared at each other for a few more moments in silence till Hub spoke.
"Mama?"
Haruka was startled out of her stupor before she reached a finger out, resting it over his cheek.
"I'm right here, baby boy." She replied, her voice shaky, a smile coming across her face. "I'm here."
Hub grinned, his eyes a little shiny, reaching a hand out, meeting her finger against the screen.
"I'm home."
She gently took the PET from Yuichiro, a tear running down her face. He still had the same eyes she remembered so fondly, the same smile.
There was no doubt in her mind, that this was her son.
"Oh my baby!"
She held the PET close to her heart, right next to Lan.
"Both my babies… I finally have you both back."
"Mom…"
Yuichiro brought his arms around his wife and children, resting his head against hers.
"It's not the ideal situation but… we're all here now. Our family is whole again."
Haruka nodded.
"Yes."
She held the PET out again, looking at Hub.
"So… where do we go from here?" Hub asked.
"Still figuring that out but for now, all that matters is you're here. Zero and Airisu will help you adjust to being a net navi." Yuichiro answered. "You can help around the house, you'll be able to help take care of Lan but other than that, not sure what else the future will have in mind. Though, one thing I need to bring up."
Hub tilted his head.
"Hm?"
"While at home, we will still call you Hub. However, when you eventually are allowed to leave our houses net system, you can not go by the name outside."
"Huh?"
"What!?" Haruka gave her husband a baffled look. "But that's his name. Why can't he?"
"Because it will draw attention." Yuichiro's look was serious. "Haruka, Hub is a very special navi. If someone were to find out about that I fear what might happen to him. What that kind of information would… attract. Our family isn't exactly obscure."
"I suppose…" Haruka frowned, looking to Hub. "Then… what is his name when he's not at home?"
Yuichiro gave a gentle look at he looked at Hub.
"I've dubbed him with the name of Megaman to be his net navi alias."
Haruka raised an eyebrow.
"Megaman?"
Hub hummed in thought, a hand going to his chin.
"Megaman huh?" He thought aloud, a big grin crossing his features. "Hey, that sounds cool! I like it!"
Haruka looked to him, before she sighed a smile coming to her face.
"Like father, like son. If he likes it, I like it."
"Then we're in agreement." Yuichiro chuckled. "Though he'll probably be in the house net system for awhile. Zero and Airisu will help prepare him for outside interaction but for the time being, he just stays here."
"Sounds like a plan." Haruka sighed in content, placing the PET in Lan's hands, the baby fast asleep. He smiled, holding the PET close to him. "Aww…"
"Heh… I'm home, little brother." Hub smiled softly, both hands on the screen as he looked up at his sibling. He chuckled, as a thought crossed his mind. "So… am I officially the big brother now?"
They chuckled, keeping close to one another.
"Seems so."
"Finally!"
Yuichiro laughed.
"That's my boy." He looked at Hub, seriousness in his eyes. "Though I guess one thing I will assign you as a net navi duty, Hub."
"What's that?"
"When you're ready and when Lan himself is ready, I want you to watch out for him as his personal net navi. Think you'd be up for that?"
Hub shrugged.
"I already watched out for him before. What'll make it different as his navi? I think I can handle him… But… does Lan get to know about…" He pointed to himself. "Me? Like, the real me?"
"That… we'll have to play by ear, Hub. When he's really little, we'll have to keep it quiet for a time. Little kids will tell secrets and while most won't believe him, there is a small chance that he could let it slip."
Hub's face fell, before he shook his head.
"Then I'll just be Megaman to him then. The super cool net navi!"
"That's the spirit… But no matter what." Yuichiro brought his hand over Lan's, his thumb brushing against the PET. "You will always be our son."
Haruka nodded, bringing her hand over Yuichiro's.
"Always."
He smiled, keeping close to the screen, his head resting against it.
"And I'll always love you. All of you."
"And we love you. Welcome home, Hub."