Previously

Kakeru nodded "I graduated high school at 16, I attended college that fall and graduated early last year in December top of my class…and well here I am"

"Wow" she whispered

"That's not even the big news" he said smiling "The night of my graduation Ty expressed his undying love for mom…the two were married a month later."

"This is insane" she whispered

"It's a lot to take in I know…how about we stop for today" he went to stand when Usagi grabbed his hand

"Please, I don't want to stop…I need to hear the rest…I want to hear it all"

Kakeru nodded as he took his seat again, they spent the rest of the day in each other's company each sharing stories with the other.

Military Life

Chapter 24

What was he thinking? How could he do this? He couldn't do this…no, there's no way he could be a father…not at 16. Sure he came from a good home; his mother was always home always present, cooking cookies like a little Sandra Lee. Then there was his father-who is an engineer for a local computer company-he always made time for his children. It wasn't like he hadn't had extraordinary role models…

His parents were known as high school sweet hearts…he knew that his mother and father had, had him at 16…but still…this was him…he always messed up. Fumbling passes, tripping over his own two feet, dropping anything that is passed to him and not to mention his obsession to smell things around him…how could he possibly be a role model to another living being?

But as he sat in his kitchen holding the small curly haired blond in his arms, he couldn't help but stare down at the cute 4 month old. This was one thing he knew he could do…the one thing that he could give more than anything else…

Love

He would be able to give his child Love, pure and unconditionally.

"Honey" his mother's sweet voice broke him from his thoughts as he looked up at her with apologetic eyes "You seem offal quiet, is there anything you want to talk about?"

He smiled, this was his mother, always worried always caring. She had put him before anything else…her heart was bigger than Mount Fuji and he would forever be grateful for the blessing that he called his mother.

"So you think we can talk once dads here?" he asked looking down at his baby sister

She nodded her short blond curls bouncing with her "alright honey, but know that if you change your mine I'm here." Jadeite nodded "now put your sister in her play pen and come here, I need your opinion on this plate of chocolate double chip cookies and this frosty glass of milk"

He laughed as he stood up placing his baby sister in her pen and walking over to his mother grabbing a cookie as she did. Toasting their cookies the two took a bite "delicious as always mom" he kissed her cheek gently as the two smiled and continued eating and drinking, having a conversation about his football practices and school.

Tears

Sitting alone in her room, she felt her tears falling from her eyes once more she wondered when the pain would subside. All she wanted was him; she wanted him to show up-fight for her…but she knew that just wouldn't happen. Rocking back and forth her arms protectively wrapped about her slim belly. She was scared; her mother's words replayed themselves throughout her mind like a broken record.

Abortion

She shook her head again, no she couldn't, I mean sure she was young and wasn't really ready for a child or to become a mother…but still…she had accepted this small gift from the heavens, and in a way that was strange to her…she loved this baby.

It was then that the door opened to revile her parents. Looking away from them she let out a small sniffle. "Rei" her mother's voice filled her ears, it wasn't angry as it was when they found out, but gently.

"Rei can we come in?" she asked

Rei only nodded her head. The two parents took their seats on either side of their upset daughter both grabbing hold of one of her hands "we're sorry" she heard her father whisper "We never meant to hurt you angel…we were just upset…"

"Your fathers right" Akio added "we just don't want to lose you sweet heart" Rei turned to her mother as she watched the woman break down into her arms

"Mom" Rei whispered

"We love you sweet pea" her father cried as he to held onto his daughter "we're here, we'll help you no matter what you choose to do"

Rei felt her own tears falling faster from her violet eyes "Thank you" she whispered

"You're never going to be alone sweet heart; we will be with you every step of the way"

"Thank you daddy" she embraced her father "I'm so sorry" she cried

He shh'ed his daughter as he ran his hand down her raven hair "we love you angel so much"

"I love you two too" she said hugging her mother "thank you"

It was then that Mamoru walked into the room, a small smile playing on his lips "is there enough room for one more?"

The three looked up smiling at the handsome teen "come here" her mother said opening her arms. Without hesitation Mamoru allowed his family to embrace him.

Now sitting in the family room, Mamoru looked to his two quiet parents "I'm sorry about Kenji" he whispered

The two parents shared a sad look before asking "how is Usagi?" it was Don who asked

"She's better then she was yesterday" he answered honestly "I'll take some time, but thanks to some…added information…she should be alright"

The two adults looked to each other than to their son "added information?" Akio asked

Sighing he began "well your gonna find out sooner than later…Usagi has a brother"

"What?!" Rei, Don and Akio practically jumped off the couch

"Last night…." Mamoru told his family what transpired the night before and this morning…from the fights to the revelations…

"Why didn't anyone tell me?!" Rei hissed

"You were dealing with a lot last night…we all were" Mamoru said with a shrug

"It doesn't matter I'm her best friend!"

"Minako was there, so was Kunzite and myself"

"You still should have told me!" she thought for a moment "wait…you said Ami found out the information?" Mamoru nodded "that blue headed little tart! She was here with Makoto and neither of them bothered to tell me?! Ooo-ooo just wait till I see them again" she grumbled

"Kenji had a son" Don said shocked

"Serenity had another child…that explains so much" the raven haired woman whispered "I can't believe this"

"What does it explain mother?" Rei asked

"When we were 14 I started seeing Serenity dress in oversized sweaters…she wouldn't even let us hug her, she kept saying it was a new 'phase' or something…I thought it was weird, but we just went along with it" there was a few times where she didn't even come to school"

"Minako's mother didn't notice anything strange or her grandmother?" Rei asked

"Millie was busy with all the different clubs she was in…we all kinda were…all of us but Serenity." Don said still a bit shocked "and as Momoko…that woman hated Serenity, she was always on her case nagging and belittling…"

"It's not surprising that Momoko never noticed, I mean Serenity could of showed up missing both her legs and that woman wouldn't of even batted an eye lash" Akio said in disgust.

"Why keep the baby a secret? Why not tell anyone? I mean even if her mother hated her…why not at less tell you or one of the others?" Rei asked she really hated being out of the loop.

Mamoru began to tell them everything Usagi told him earlier, the hanger insistent, the threats by Ikuko…everything. By the time he was done Akio was in tears again and Don felt as if he was about to pass out.

"Dad, Mom" Mamoru began when he saw his parents sadden expression "You both were really young…you couldn't have known how all of this would turn out." He whispered

"We knew Ikuko was obsessing over Kenji…we knew that she wanted to be with him…that she hated Serenity deeply" Akio said "We should of said something that day Don, we should of help her…"

"Ikuko?" Rei asked

"No, Serenity" Don said with a breath "It happened while you both were in elementary school…you were about five at the time." The two teens stayed silent waiting "your mother and I decided to work on the stone walk way between Kenji's and our home…thinking it would make transitioning from the back to the front easier…"

"as we were outside we hear people talking…sounded like someone was pleading for something…so we listened" Akio stopped "it was Serenity, from what we understood she had received papers stating her restraining order was lifted…she was allowed to see Usagi again…"

"Ikuko was so mean to her, threatening her and warning her to stay away…then she said something to Serenity that we didn't catch" Don added

Akio nodded "Serenity just looked frightened…"

"That was when she threatened to expose Kakeru." Mamoru said with a frown "you never said anything….why?"

Akio and Don held each other's hand "we're not proud of the choices we made…but we made them. We decided to act as if we heard nothing…knew nothing. We can't really give you an explanation why we did what we did…but if we could take it back…we would"

Questions

"When were you going to tell me?" she whispered as her mother held the journal "when were you going to tell me about her?"

Millie sat silent the information and words of her sister running like a frat train though her mind "I" the words wouldn't come out, this was a lot of information for one to take in… her sister had a child…a son.

Was their relationship really as pulled apart as she thought? Where they ever truly close as twins should have been? She shook her head; she knew the answers to her questions. She choose others above her own sister…and now because of her own stupidity she had not only lost a sibling, but a nephew as well.

"Mom" her daughters voice caught her attention, and without warning the older woman dropped the journal embracing her daughter in a way Minako had never felt before.

She held her with such need and fear. After a few seconds the older blond let out a gut retching cry.

Wrapping her arms around her distort mother Minako sat -tears running down her own face. Any questions the young teen had were answered at that moment. She knew then that her mother had never spoken of Serenity- not because she was trying to hide the situation from her daughter, but because of her own denial. The denial and the realization that her only sister was dead and never did anything wrong to begin with.

It was hours after Millies melt down. The two blonds sat silently holding one another's hand in comfort as they sip on a cup of green tea. "Things shouldn't have turned out they way they did" Minako looked up at her mother "We were so caught up in the lies that we didn't even stop to think of our actions. This books…this journal…if only I knew this…"

"Mom, everything happens for a reason…sometimes those reasons aren't what we want or what we expected, but they happen…the only way to rectify the problem is to learn from those mistakes and understand the reason."

"When did you become smarter than your mother?" Millie whispered kissing her draughts forehead

Minako shook her head "I've had a good teacher"

Understanding

"Why do I get the feeling we're being watched?" Kakeru whispered in his sisters ear as they walked up her drive way

Usagi giggle "probably because we are" she said with a shrug "but I don't care"

"I'm really happy you came over Usa" he looked at Usagi funny as her smile grew brighter "what?"

"You called me Usa" she quickly hugged him "I hope we can hang out more…Kaka-onii" pulling his arms away she looked up at him "what?"

"Kaka?" he asked shaking his head "Lets come up with another name shall we?"

"What? Kaka-onii is cute!" she defended

"Kaka is what small children call poop; I don't like being referred to as poop"

Usagi laughed full heartedly "okay then, how about Eru-onii?"

Kakeru smiled sweetly at his little blond sister "Eru-onii it is then, Usa-imouto" the two embraced once more only to be interrupted by a familiar voice

"Usagi" turning around the blond in question smiled "Hello sensei" Minako whispered eyes still puffy and red

"Mimi" Usagi whispered back "I'm guessing you told your mother?" her blond counterpart nodded "are you okay?"

"I'm fine…it's just…"

"What?"

"it's just my mom Usa…she read the journal and I told her everything you told us…I also told her what happened last night…" she shook her head as she began to cry again "she's really mess up"

"What do you mean Messed up?" Kakeru asked

"She's heartbroken and really depressed…she's trying to act like she's okay but I can tell she's ready to lose it" Usagi hugged her cousin "she thinks you hate her…"

Usagi pulled away wide eyed "I don't hate her, why would she think that?"

Minako shrugged whipping away a few tears "after everything that happened…she-she thinks she's to blame and that you hate her for how she treated your mom…and that you" she turned her eyes to Kakeru "that you also hate her …she thinks you'll take Usagi away forever…"

"I would never do that" Kakeru said looking to Usagi with worry "I think you should go see her Usa-imouto"

Usagi grabbed his hand at that moment "come with me?" she asked "I know this is a lot to ask and I'm not asking you to forgive her or even like her…" Kakeru stopped Usagi

"I'll go"

"Really?"

"If it will make you happy, then so be it" he smiled as Usagi did

"Thank you"

Kakeru nodded as the three walked into Minako's home "mom" she called

"Minako where did you run off too..." Millie stood frozen as she stared at Kakeru, he looked so much like her father…and Kenji…it was bizarre.

"Aunt Millie" Usagi began "I'd like you to meet Kakeru…Kakeru this is our Aunt Millie" there was silence as she continued to stare at the blond male

"I'm so sorry" was all the older woman said as she continued to stare.

After a while Kakeru spoke up, his emotions getting the better of him "I know that after everything that happened most people wouldn't even be here…but" he watched as her eyes filled with tears "My mother never made a bad remark against you…any of you…she had always said how much she missed her sister" the tears began to over flow "I grew up without any Aunts, Uncles or cousins…I never had many friends and I was always kept in hiding…." Kakeru never expected to feel so over whelmed with emotion, but his Aunt, this woman in front of him looked so much like his mother… "I don't want to continue to live my life in the shadows…I want to be a part of a family…of this family" he whispered

Millie dropped her cup she was holding, causing its contents to spill on to the floor. She engulfed the young man in an earth shattering hug.

"You will always have a family" she whispered thought tears.

Dreams

Walking up to the door Makoto continued to whip her sweating palms on to her pants

"Calm down Mako" Nephrite chuckled as he watched the brunette fidget with her shirt

"Calm down? I can't calm down, I'm about to meet one of japans top culinary master minds!"

Laughing Nephrite opened the front door and called for his mother.

"I'm in the kitchen" was her reply

On their way to the kitchen they were stopped by a tall brunette male with a grayish brown beard "Nephrite my boy, who's your friend?"

"Oh she" he placed his arm around her "is my girlfriend pa"

"Oh is she now?"

"Actually sir" Makoto slid out of his hold "I'm Kino Makoto, and we are not dating"

His father turned to him with raised eye brow "Formalities" the young teen said as he waved his father on

"Very well then your mother is in the kitchen" he turned to Makoto "it was nice to meet you Makoto"

Makoto nodded as the two teens walked into the kitchen to find his mother working diligently on a few dishes "mom" she didn't answer "Mom" she was tasting a sauce "MOM" she turned around "This is the girl I told you about, Kino Makoto"

Smiling Makoto nervously shook her hand "it is an honor and a pleasure to meet you Chef"

"I like this girl" his mother smiled "are you his girlfriend"

"Yes" "No" the two answered at the same time

"Formalities" the brunette male teen said with a wave

After an hour of cooking and a hour of eating Makoto and Nephrite found themselves happily sitting outside "thanks for bringing me"

"Thank you for coming"

"You know you're really not that bad" Makoto commented

"So does this mean we're together?"

"No" she said with a laugh

He shrugged "can't fault a guy for trying"

"I guess not, especially not one as persistent as you"

"Hey, persistence makes the heart grow fonder" he said teasingly "but it is getting late, I should get you home" he whispered standing up "Don't want big bad Motoki coming after me"

Makoto laughed as she took his offered hand "I don't need my brother to fight my battles for me"

"No, I suppose not"

Truth

Flash back

"Well its official!" Jed's father, Ichiro, said joyously "My son, the college student! Tokyo University I am so proud of you son!"

"T-thank you dad"

"And to celebrate" Hiroko, jadeites mother, said placing a large chocolate cake on to the table "A delicious double chocolate cake with chocolate fudge frosting"

Everyone cheered but Jadeite "I am so proud of you son" his father smiled as he took a bit of his slice "I think tomorrow we need to head out, furniture shopping"

Hiroko clapped her hands "that's a wonderful idea!"

"I also think it's time to give you your gift"

Jadeite looked up at his parents "gift?"

"Well we know you're not graduating for a couple of months but…" Hiroko looked to her husband and they both smiled brightly "here" she handed him an envelope

"What is this?" he asked taking the envelope from his parent's hands

"You won't know unless you open it silly" his mother laughed

Gingerly opening the envelope Jadeite gasped "mom…dad" he whispered pulling out a large amount of cash

"For that trip to Puerto Viarta…you deserve it son"

"there's enough for the hotel, food, tickets and spending cash" his mother held his father's hand "You deserve this sweet heart we are so proud of you angel"

Jadeite stared at his parents in disbelief "No…no I don't" he whispered pushing the money toward his parents, who looked confused "I don't deserve any of it" with that he left the dining room.

His mother and father entered the living room, a bit worried over what their son had to tell them. During dinner Jadeite was quite, he barely touched his food and continued to stare at his little sister as if she was some kinda extraterrestrial. Then his father pulled out the acceptance letter from Tokyo U…then they gave him his gift…

Entering the living room they took their seats "Jadeite sweet heart are you alright?" his mother asked causing the teen to look up at them with apologetic eyes

"Son, you know what ever you have to tell us…we'll listen" his father reassured

"I know" Jadeite ran his hand though his hair, he then covered his face with his hands "I'm so sorry" His mother gasped as she heard her sons sobs "I'm so very sorry" the teen cried

"Honey" his mother whispered as she knelt down in front of him with his father by her side "please" she whispered pulling his hands from his face "talk to us"

"I really messed up" he said tears still cascading down his pale face "I'm so sorry I never meant for this to happen…not now" he fell into his mother's arms crying hysterically "I'm so sorry" he whispered again as his mother and father shared a concern look

"Whatever it is Jadeite we're here for you" she cooed as she rubbed his back, like she use to do when he was six.

"It's Rei" he whispered

His mother pulled him away from her looking into his eyes "She's pregnant" she said more as a statement then a question. Jadeite only nodded as the tears continued to fall from his eyes, without hesitation both parents embraced their child as he continued to apologies and cry.

***********

In this story my Character, Coronal Walkers Wife, Maya -Seiya's mother

Was envisioned after a close family friend…who was the wife of a Coronal who served with my father while in Iraq. She was an amazing woman who care about others…who words could not even begin to describe how amazing she was. Especially with the military families. Growing up in a military house hold I have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of military families and service members. She by far was everything a military wife could ever achieve to be-what a person could ever hope to be...an angel.

This morning 1-1-2010 at 6am she lost her battle with cancer…at the age of 48. Leaving behind a loving husband and three beautiful children, I want to dedicate this story to her.

You'll be missed and forever loved.