~*AN*~ wow, I actually got some reviews. *smiles* of course I am going to continue the story, I hate leaving things unfinished. Anyway, on with the story!

~*Chapter II: Going Home*~

"I miss you too Andrew," I replied inaudibly, fighting back the tears that were building up in my eyes. Right there and then I made up my mind, that I would go back to Japan. "But you know what Andrew? I have the perfect solution to your problems, I'm going to come visit for a while with Jason and Keith, how's that sound?" I said trying to sound enthusiastic to get Andrew out of his slump.

"Honestly? You're not joking, right Sere?" asked Andrew immediately as soon as the words left my mouth. He sounded so happy I couldn't bear to let him down by backing out now.

"Yes Andy, I'm 100% serious about this. I can't let you be in this state after all you've done for me dear," I admitted, trying not to sound bothered by the idea of returning to Japan and facing my fears.

"Great! I'll plan some activities for us all to do, it'll be just like old times," replied Andrew with so much excitement that it made me laugh, he sounded like a little child with candy.

"You do that, but I have to run, I'm still in the middle of my bath right now," I said quickly, trying to change the subject.

"Oh! Wow, now that's an interesting place to be while on the phone with me," said Andrew, laughing nervously.

"Hey! You get those images out of your head you dirty little boy!" I yelled, blushing at the very thought of Andrew picturing me naked in a bathtub. Actually, it was kind of invigorating. I giggled at my own dirty thoughts.

"I was just kidding! Can't I guy dream?" laughed Andrew, causing me to blush even harder. "All right, I'll let you finish washing up missy, but you better remember to call me back to let me know of the details later!" he lectured, as I began to tune him out.

"Yes sir!" I teased. "Have to run, bye Andy!" I added quickly before slouching back into my now luke warm bath.

"Bye Sere," responded Andrew just before I returned the phone to its receiver. Sometime I would think I hear him say something else just as the phone hangs up, but maybe I'm just thinking way too much into the idea?

Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, going back to Japan. What am I going to tell Keith? Hey, lets pick up our nice comfortable lives and go to Japan for a nice long visit! Right, like that wouldn't raise any suspicious questions from him. It's so hard trying to explain things without going into too much detail that isn't necessary for him to know about.

"Mama, I'm home!" yelled out a voice from the foyer. I could hear the sound of a bag being thrown across my hallway haphazardly as the footsteps grew closer to my bedroom. "Where are you?" I heard from just outside the doorway.

"In the shower honey, I'll be right out," I called out. You're probably wondering when the heck did she have a child right? Well, I already explained to you about Keith, I gave birth to him shortly after I entered fashion school and he's been a part of my life ever since. I'm still trying to get used to being a mother, especially to an unbelievably smart little boy like Keith. It's hard to keep up with him at times.

"What are you doing that's taking so long? Jason called and said you were sick so I hurried home from Chases house to see if you're okay," said Keith, slowly pushing the bathroom door open as he inched in with his tiny little hands covering his eyes. "I hope you're covered Mama, because that would be really disgusting!" he joked, moving his finger over to peek and see where I was.

"You know, for a genius that knows so much, you sure are immature at times!" I chided, laughing as a grabbed a towel and wrapped it around myself before getting out of the tub. "Did you get home okay?" I asked, reaching for my robe before sitting down at my vanity to dry my hair.

"Yes, I had my scooter so it didn't take long. Besides, I'm a big boy now; I can take care of myself!" he argued trying to sound like one of the older kids at his school.

"That's good, I'm glad you're being more responsible baby. Now I know I can trust you to do things without having to worry over you," I replied, pulling him into a tight hug and placing a kiss on his sandy blonde tresses. "So how was school today?" I asked, getting up to prepare dinner.

"It was great; I started reading this really neat book today. Miss Mitchell told me that it's a fourth grade book!" said Keith happily as he skipped along behind me towards the kitchen. "I think that's so cool Mama, don't you?" he asked, smiling so big that his dimples were starting to show.

"Yes, I think it's wicked cool baby!" I replied, trying to sound half as bubbly as he did. We both laughed at my sorry attempt and shrugged it off after a moment of silence. Oh, did I forget to tell you? It's impossible to believe, but my son turned out to be a genius. I found out when he was 3 years old, I thought it was a little odd that he was learning everything so quickly, so I took him to a specialist. To this very day, I still don't know how it's possible, being that I did really poorly in grade school. I wonder what his father would think if he knew?

"Mama?" called out Keith, waving his hand in front of my face trying to snap me out of my daze. "You were doing it again," he whispered, trying to hide his big grin.

"Sorry sweetie, I just have a lot on my mind. That and I have something to tell you," I replied, smiling goofily as I finished up dinner. "It's kind of hard for me to tell you this, so be prepared to listen for a long time okay?" I warned him as we both sat down at the table and ate dinner while we talked.

Ever since Keith learned to talk and started understanding things in life, I told him the story of how I ended up in America and how he came to be. He knew he had grandparents and uncle back in Japan, but he's never seen their picture. I feel bad for not trying to contact them for his sake, but I guess he sort of understood how difficult it was for me. The one thing I never told him was who his father was. I didn't think it was a good idea to tell him yet, not until I set a few things straight in my life.

At dinner I told Keith about how I had dated a man named Darien and had loved that man with all my heart, but he broke my heart when something horrible took place. That is why I ran away from home and all my friends. Keith is still a young boy, so it's not necessary for him to know the exact details of the horrible thing Darien did to me. But to make my story clear, he cheated on me. And with one of my best friends too.

Raye, I had trusted her with my whole heart and thought that she knew how much Darien meant to me. I honestly thought that she had let go of her feelings for him, but I was wrong. She could not get over the fact that Darien was destined to be with me. So one night at a party she confessed her feelings to Darien and threw herself at him, not knowing that I had been standing nearby the entire night. Hit by the shock that my best friend would betray me like that had made me dizzy with denial; I just couldn't believe the sight before my eyes. And to make matters worse, Darien let her have his way with him and kissed her with so much passion that I never saw in him before. The entire incident hurt me so bad that I was became delirious. I trudged around the party sulking and drinking as much liquor as I could get my hands on. I needed to wash away all my heartache. Somehow I ended up getting so wasted that I woke up the next day in the arms of another man that wasn't Darien. Shocked at my behavior and the person, who I had by accident slept with, I took off running, and never looked back. "That is, until today," I finished, with a long sigh of relief; it was like a huge weight that had been lifted off my shoulder. It felt so nice to finally rid myself of that heavy burden of a secret.

"Is that what I am to you Mama?" asked Keith on the brink of tears. I looked up to see my five-year-old son racked with tears and shaking.

"No, no baby! You are not a mistake honey. I thank God everyday that he sent you into my life, you are the reason why my life changed for the better and I'm grateful for that Keith!" I answered quickly, pulling him into my lap and squeezing him tightly. "Don't you ever think that again you hear me? You are my pride and joy and mommy loves you very much, understand?" I asked him, tears beginning to stream down my cheeks as I held him in my arms.

"Yes," he whispered as his tiny hands wrapped around my neck. He reached up and wiped the tears from my face and said, "Don't cry Mama, I'm sorry." I couldn't help but laugh at my naive son; he always thinks apologizing answers every problem. If only the world worked that way.

~*AN*~

Okay, that's all for now. Are you disappointed? I hope not, because I have a lot more in store for this story. Was it unexpected that Sere would have a son? Can you think of some possibilities for being Keith's father is?