A/N: So, this chapter may be a little bit confusing and pointless, but believe me, it has everything to do with the plot! This chapter may be the most PLOT FILLED chapter I have EVER written!

"Hey guys!" Tear called as they walked into the grounds. The others looked up, smiling.

"Hey. How was your lesson?" asked Natalia as they joined them.

"It was alright. Luke fell asleep again," Tear replied, and Luke gave a grumble. Ion laughed while Asch rolled his eyes.

"What did she do today?" asked Ion.

"Made him stay on the floor with the chair on his legs," Tear explained.

"Alright alright. Enough about me," Luke muttered.

"Maybe if you actually paid attention, you wouldn't be stuck in these embarrassing positions," Asch pointed out, eyebrow raised. Luke stuck his tongue out.

"Come on, let's just get going," he sighed, turning. He suddenly tripped over, groaning, and everyone else laughed before filing past him.

"Come on, let's get going," Natalia mimicked, causing them to laugh again.

"Damn it.." he sighed as he sat up, rubbing his head. Looking up at them with a pout, he suddenly paled, his eyes wide. Nervous laughter filtered through the group, then faded as Luke didn't move.

"Luke?" asked Natalia hesitantly. He didn't reply, staring at whatever was in front of him.

"Luke, stop it. This isn't funny," Tear said, her heart speeding up. Why was he just staring like that?

Luke's breathing suddenly sped up, and he hesitantly reached forward.

"M-Mum..." he whispered. Asch stiffened, staring at Luke. Luke suddenly flinched, drawing back and looking around in confusion, eyes desperate. Finally he slumped, eyes dark.

Tear bent down in front of him. "Luke?" she asked quietly. His eyes flickered up to meet her own, and she saw the same, raw pain that she had seen in Lorelei a couple of nights ago.

His eyes slid away, searching desperately again, and Tear grasped his hand.

"Luke, look at me," she ordered, and his gaze slid back to her. "She's not here. Listen, Luke!" she said again, as he started shaking his head. "She's not here. I know it hurts. But you have to get over it, at least for now," she murmured.

Luke looked ready to break down. Glancing at Asch, she saw that he looked crestfallen, subconsciously rubbing his arms to calm himself down. Glancing at the others, she saw their confused and concerned looks.

"I'm going to take these guys somewhere else to calm down, okay? Can you tell their teachers that they'll be skipping the lesson?" she asked. The group nodded, watching as Tear stood up and helped Luke up, grabbing Asch's wrist and pushing Luke ahead of her as she led them off.

Finally they reached the clearing Luke had shown her the other night, and sat Luke down. Stepping back, she eyed them hesitantly.

"Um...Asch, can I borrow your phone?" she asked, finally deciding Luke was in no condition to even listen to her.

Asch blinked, glanced at her like he hadn't realised she was there, then pulled his phone out and passed it to her. She took it, looking through it and finding the number she needed. Pressing the dial button, she held it up to her ear and waited.

It soon picked up. "Hey Asch. Why're you calling at this time..."

"Lorelei, it's me, Tear."

Lorelei was silent for a moment, and when he next spoke, his tone was serious. "What happened?" he asked.

"I'm not sure. Luke tripped over, then when he was about to start complaining he went completely white. He didn't hear any of us, and apparently he saw their mother. As soon as he said that, Asch completely blanked. I'm not getting much of a reaction out of either of them, though Asch is more receptive."

Lorelei gave a hum, and she could hear him tapping the desk.

"Alright. I'll be down in a moment. Can you keep an eye on them? Make sure they don't do anything rash."

"Of course," she replied. The phone clicked off and she held it out for Asch. He stared at her blankly. "Your phone," she explained, and he blinked before nodding, taking it and slipping it into his pocket.

She sat down a little way away, watching them carefully. Asch was at least showing interest in his surroundings, though he looked a little confused. Luke just stared blankly at the floor.

She heard soft footsteps and looked up as Lorelei entered the clearing. He saw her and smiled softly, then moved over to the two boys.

"Luke, Asch," he murmured, and the two boys looked up at their names. Spotting Lorelei, Tear watched in surprise as their walls came tumbling down.

Luke leapt at Lorelei, starting to cry. Lorelei held him gently, looking over at Asch and holding out an arm. Asch hesitated then also buried himself into Lorelei's chest, his body shaking lightly.

'Is this what it's like to lose a loved one? To..have parents that care about you and will support you?' Tear wondered to herself. An old, aching pain washed over her, and she looked away, willing away the tears that gathered in her eyes.

It was a stupid feeling, one she'd had since she was little girl. The desperation to have loving parents...but she knew it was something that would likely never be granted. They'd died, she was sure of it, and Van didn't count as a 'loving family'.

A tear slipped down her cheek, but she rubbed it away. She couldn't show weakness, not now. Luke, at least, would need her to be strong.

She heard footsteps coming towards her and wondered if Lorelei was coming over. They knelt down, and a gentle hand reached out, briefly pushing her fringe from her eye.

"Are you alright?" a gentle voice asked, and she blinked before looking round. A beautiful woman with golden brown hair and blue eyes smiled at her.

"Y-Yes, I'm fine. Sorry," Tear said, rubbing at her eyes again.

"It's alright. Lorelei can take care of the boys," the woman soothed.

"I know. But it's nothing important," Tear murmured.

"Well...maybe it would help if you talked about it? A lot of problems can be resolved if you just talk through them with someone."

Tear sighed, hugging herself. "It's just...I never knew my parents. And my older brother was rarely at home. I pretty much raised myself, but it just..gets a little lonely sometimes." The woman stiffened, but Tear didn't notice. "I just wish that I could meet my parents one day...but they're probably dead. I mean, what other reason could they have to never come home?"

The woman sat down lightly beside her. "Maybe they were busy?"

"But they left when I was two. It's been fifteen years already."

"That long, huh.." the woman murmured, eyes distant.

Tear shook her head. "Sorry. I didn't mean to force that on you. It's not your problem, after all," she said with a forced laugh.

The woman sighed, glancing away. "I suppose it's been long enough," she murmured. Tear looked at her in confusion, and the woman caught her glance before giving a soft smile. "Sweetie..." She trailed off, trying to find the words, a way to say it that wouldn't end with Tear hating her.

"Yes?" Tear prompted. An inkling of an idea was entering her, and she wanted to know if she was correct.

"Sweetie...My name is Yulia. I'm...your mother."

Tear let that sink in, then took a deep breath to control herself. Tilting her head, she looked at Yulia, eyes taking her in.

"...Why did you wait so long?"

Yulia blinked, obviously not expecting that to be her question.

"Huh?"

"Why did you wait so long to tell me?" Tear re-iterated.

"Oh...I'm not sure. I was nervous, scared. I..didn't want you to hate me. Though you have every right to!" Yulia added hurriedly, then went back to staring at the lake. "But it was just so...awkward, I suppose."

Tear took this in. "Why did you leave? And why did you never come back?"

Here Yulia sighed. "Your father was weak. He had a serious illness. I wanted to try and find a cure for him, and went searching, but he followed. He pushed himself too far, and died. I was devastated, so I went back to my friend and his wife. I've lived here with Lorelei almost as long as Luke and Asch have while he helped me get over my loss. And just as I finally came to terms with mine, he had his, and I stayed to help him get over it like he did with me."

Yulia suddenly smiled, looking at Tear. "I'd been trying to come up with an excuse to finally go home, when we received your application. Van asked Lorelei to let you come, but Lorelei had already decided you'd be accepted. And a good thing too," Yulia added, looking over at the twins. "They've never been able to open up to me like Luke has to you. Asch is still cut off, but I hope one day he'll find someone he can talk to."

Tear nodded, then glanced at Yulia. "You know, I'm still kinda mad at you," she murmured.

"As you should be," Yulia conceded.

"But...I'm kinda happy as well," she murmured, and Yulia looked confused. Tear smiled. "Well, I've always wanted a mum or a dad. Now I've got my mum back."

A/N: See? Do you see that PLOTNESS?!

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