Argh! Late update... What the hell happened to my New Year's resolution? Meh, whatever... This was meant to be uploaded on Friday (two weeks ago), but the power went out thanks to winter storm Nemo, (Why does it have to have that name?) The power was out for 44 hours and it was so cold that I could see my breath in the house! Ahem, sorry for my rambling. Just to let everyone know, I don't support Trolly. I'm just writing this for a good old fashioned family/drama story. Now that that's cleared up, enjoy this chapter!

Thank you to Macabre Beauty, Cyberchao X, and ivyclan moonblossom for reviewing!

Chapter 7: Not Pleased

"What!? Where? When? Wait, who? Who is it!?"

"Polly, calm down. She's down at the agency, come on over!" Trucy hastily replied.

Apollo didn't even waste time to say goodbye and just hung up the phone, shoving it into his pocket. He didn't bother to put anything away and just grabbed his house keys and ran out the door. He fast-walked to the agency until there was one block left and he slowed his walking to a crawl.

Wait a minute, do I really want to go through with this? Do I really want to meet her? What would I do? Would I yell? Would I be happy? Nngh... I really don't know...

Apollo finally reached the agency and sighed, putting his hand on the door knob.

Well, I guess it's time to find out, he thought.

He didn't bother knocking and flung open the door to find Phoenix sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. Apollo glanced around the room and cautiously approached him.

"Mr. Wright...?" He said slowly.

Phoenix quickly looked up and forced a smile. "Uh, hey Apollo!" He tried to grin wider, but his smile didn't reach his eyes.

Apollo eyes him curiously. "A-are you alright?"

"Hmm? Yeah, I'm fine."

"OK then, well where are Trucy and my... y'kno-"

"They're in the kitchen," Phoenix slumped down lower in his seat and waved his hand toward the door to the kitchen.

"Well, thank you," Apollo said. Phoenix was silent while Apollo was walking toward the door.

I wonder what's up with him? Meh... whatever. I don't care, I just want to meet this woman.

Apollo swung open the kitchen door and found Trucy sitting at the table looking down and tracing some groves in the table with her finger. A woman with light brown hair was also sitting at the table with her back turned toward the door. Neither glanced toward the door when he entered. Apollo slowly walked toward the table, studying the woman's face.

Hmm... Aqua colored brooch... Seems familiar. Light brown hair... The style seems familiar, too. That eye color... No...

Apollo took a step back, "Y-YOU?"

Thalassa slowly lifted her chin trying to look into Apollo's cold, dark glare, "H-hey, Apollo."

"You... It was you all this time, Lamiroir?" Apollo balled his hands into fists, his voice getting louder. "You've had your surgery over a month ago, and you didn't even have the decency to tell me or her?" Apollo gestured toward Trucy who now had her attention fixed on Apollo and her mother. "What is wrong with you? I thought you were a kind woman with no memory or sight. But when you gain both of them back you don't tell you son and daughter that you're their mother?"

"Polly, don't be so hard on her!" Trucy broke in, trying to keep her composure. "She is our mother after all, and she-"

"Oh, no Trucy. With you it's different. She didn't leave you by choice. She was shot, lost her vision and memory. I have no idea how she ended up in Borginia, but that doesn't matter. But she left me by choice," Apollo pointed his finger at Thalassa accusingly. "And she-"

"Apollo, please. You don't understand," Thalassa interrupted.

Apollo turned around to face her, "No, I understand completely. You were just TOO LAZY to take care of me!"

"N-No! You don't know what I've been through! You don't know-"

"Please, you have no idea what I've been through," he leaned towards her, "What YOU PUT ME THROUGH!"

Thalassa let out a shriek, "No, I didn't d-"

"Polly, leave her alone! She didn't do anything to deserve this!"

"She didn't do anything?" Apollo slammed his fists on the table out of habit. "Dammit Trucy, you'll never understand!" Trucy and Thalassa turned toward the door when Phoenix came in, but Apollo ignored him. "But... I can make her understand," Apollo leaned toward her again. Thalassa feared for the worst and shied her chair farther away from him. Phoenix went around and grabbed Apollo's wrists and put them behind his back.

"Mr. Wright! Let go of me!" Apollo tried to free himself from Phoenix's grasp.

"I'm sorry, Apollo. But I don't want anybody to get hurt here."

"I wasn't going to touch her!"

"Yeah... I know from personal experience that you know how to pack a punch when angry and I'm not willing to risk that right now."

"I'm serious though!" He again tried to free himself.

"Look, you just need to calm down. I know this isn't easy for you but-"

"You don't know anything either, Mr. Wright!" Apollo interrupted. Phoenix just sighed and decided not to say anything else.

Sensing that everything was going to get better, Thalassa got up from her chair and walked toward Apollo, putting her hand gently on his face.

"I can't imagine what has happened to you these past twenty years, and I would like to know someday... But I'm sorry. I know you don't understand my actions, but I wasn't lazy to take care of you, honest. I wouldn't abandon you, my son," Apollo gritted his teeth when he heard the word 'son.' "for something as simple as 'being lazy,' as you put it. You don't understand yet," Thalassa's smile started to waver. "But you will when you have your own kids."

Phoenix, Trucy, and Thalassa all stared at Apollo, awaiting his reaction. Apollo just suck in a breath and said as calmly as he could: "If I ever had my own kids, I would never put them through what you had put me through, no matter how incapable I was of taking care of them."

Apollo suddenly felt like he had finally lost all energy and once again tried to free himself of Phoenix's grasp. Phoenix let go, knowing that Apollo was calm enough not to do any harm. Apollo left the kitchen and Trucy followed him.

"Polly, you can't leave yet!"

"Why not? I'm done here Trucy. I need to be alone for awhile."

"But you're always alone! That can't be good for you!"

"I'm used to it," Apollo gestured toward the kitchen door. "Blame her," With that, Apollo walked out of the agency.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Back in the kitchen, Thalassa slumped down in her chair, defeated. "That didn't go well. I didn't know he had such a temper. I feel like I'm never going to be able to know him like I want to."

Phoenix leaned against the wall and put his hands in his pockets. "Don't worry about it, he can get out of control at times... But he's a good kid. He'll come around eventually."

"I hope you're right."

Well, that's it for this chapter! This chapter was actually really hard to write! I feel as if Apollo's emotions didn't really fit with his character. I tried my best not to make him too OOC, and I'm not sure if I did a good job or not. With Phoenix also, I felt as though as if he's a little out of character himself. I don't think he would so hobo-ish in this situation like he is in AJ... I'm just not really sure. But I do think I got Trucy's character down to pat. Hooray! She's just way too easy to right for! :) Please review!