A little update from us. Please enjoy, and thank you guys for reading and reviewing.
It's been getting colder, days becoming shorter, and the snow falling more and more. Mom has Law and I coop up in the house until the mini blizzard passes. She said something about me getting lost again, which wouldn't happen. Bepo comes and checks on me everyday to be sure I'm still in the house. When I do leave, the bear follows me around happily.
"So, what do you want to do?" I ask Law who is sitting indian style reading.
"Nothing." He simply responds.
"We should do something for Dad when he gets home tomorrow." Lately the Marines has been demanding Dad to go on countless of missions. He's rarely ever at home now, and as far I can see, it's been affecting all of us, especially Mom.
"Azalea." I turn my head to him.
"Yes?" I glance over at my brother questioningly. For awhile it's like Law won't say anything, but then he smiles at me.
"Let's go have a snack." He gets up and leaves. Clambering after him I grab his hand happily. "Did you hear what mom said about her sister?" He asks me suddenly.
I frown, I hadn't even known mom had a sister. "Nii-chan, we have an aunt?" I ask curiously.
This time Law frowns. "You should listen more." Law says as we enter the kitchen. "Since Dad has been away so much, she offered to come help out." Though Law seems to not like this thought very much.
"Something the matter?" I ask him as I look through the pantry for something to eat, a little snack to hold me over until dinner. Finding my favorite kind of cookies, I happily tear the package open and stuff one in my mouth.
"Dad seemed to be worried about it, something about her never really meaning well before." Nii-chan says worriedly. "But since Dad'll be home, maybe it'll be a short visit."
"Has she been here before?" I ask curiously, Nii-chan grimaces, she's obviously been here and Law probably didn't like her very much.
"When you were first born she came and stayed for a while, I don't really remember much, but I kind of remember her talking about taking you away back to her home island." Law sends an icy glare off to the side before he looks back at me. "We'll stick together."
I nod my head happily. "With Bepo, Sachi and Penguin too." I say happily before glancing out the window.
"What are you two doing here? Eating dessert before dinner." I turn to look at Mom who was leaning on the archway.
"Maybe?" I giggle while sending mom a cute smile while eating one last cookie.I look over at Law to see him smiling at me.
"If you were hungry you could of just said so." Mother says with a coy smirk, she pats my head and then suddenly pulls Law into a side hug. "How's my little mister?" She teases.
Law just glares toward the floor and mutters "I'm not little.."
"Well when you actually get taller than me, then maybe you'll be a big boy." Mom kisses his head and let's him go. Law had a faint blush dusting his cheeks.
"Mom, can you tell us about our aunt?" I question, if Nii-chan doesn't like her, than I probably won't.
"Well...she's a bit-" She pauses for a moment. "She's a bit complicated." Mom doesn't really seem to know how to explain her own sister very well.
"Like how?"
She sighs. "Azalea not right now sweetie."
"But Law said she wanted to take me with her. Take me where and why?" I knew it was making Mom uncomfortable, but curiosity gets the better of me, besides when someone wants to take your away from your family there has to be a reason.
"Azalea" I hear Law say my name with a hint of annoyance. I just ignore him for the time being, I don't want to hear that our Aunt is coming to visit just to try to take me away again.
Mom just gives a gentle smile and leads Law and I to the table to sit down. "Curious are we? Yes, your Aunt wanted to take you back to our home island. She thought it would be best for you to grow up in a larger city. But of course I set my foot down and told her no." There are still so many questions I want to ask her.
"What was your home like?" I ask trying to keep them all from spilling out. Mom rarely talks about these kinds of things.
"Ah home was very large, colorful lights, very lively, snows a lot like here too. There's also a large forest in the southern area. The island, Belle Neige, is known for dancing and it's competitive dance recitals. Many people go to visit just to see the them and watch the many shows the island puts on." Mom has a nostalgic look on her face as she talks about where she grew up. "However, I would normally win most of the competitions." Mom says with a mocking smirk on her face, one very similar to Law's. I couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, I'm no where near her level of dancing, she says all in good time and I just need to practice, so I do.
"Sounds like a nice place. Why did you leave?" This time Law asks, which surprises me, but I smile at my older brother happily before looking back at our mom.
"Despite all the fame, the glory of winning, and the excitement of putting on shows. It just wasn't for me. I want to live in a nice, quiet place where I can settle down. Besides, I love it here and I have a cute little family to boot. Don't you like it here, Law, Azalea?"
Without a second thought, I yell "Of course! Law even promises that we will never be apart." I add with a huge smile, I glance at my brother happily. "Nii-chan we'll be together, right?" I ask looking back at Law.
"Always." Law says while grasping my hand. "I'm going to go read up on the medical journal that came in." Nii-chan says hopping off his stool and walking off. He'd given me a look that knew I want to dance, Nii-chan knows me very well.
I look at my mother, she's just smiling at me with a kinda far off look on her face. "Mom, can we dance again?" I ask her hopefully.
As always she lets out a musical laugh before nodding her head. Picking me off my chair she sets me on the ground for me to trail behind her. Watching mom walk makes me kind of jealous, she's really graceful. Nii-chan says that it just takes time and I'm a little kid so I should enjoy that, and I want to listen, but at the same time I can't help but want to dance like mom.
"Now my little flower, we'll review from where we left off last time." I mimic my mother's actions and raise my arms above my head.
"Good good. Now we are going to do a pirouettes. They are like doing spins but in a much more structured way." She explains. "First get into position" As she demonstrates, I try to follow suit. "Then we move our arms like we're hugging the air,and remember to relax the shoulders." Again I try to copy my mother's movements. "Very good, keep your chin up a little higher." She says happily.
This goes on with mom explaining the importance of keeping my head up and that I'm a beautiful swan, which I still don't get. I'm a person, Nii-chan has tried explaining it, but insists that I'm a duckling and not a swan, and it only left me more confused.
We continue with the dance lesson until Law comes down to remind us of dinner. "Mom, I'm starving, when is dinner?"
"What are you in the mood for?" Mother calls back playfully while twirling around on her toes, I watch in awe as she stops to look at my brother.
"Sea King meat" He says simply before walking over to the couch to watch me. "You're looking a lot better now." He says motioning to my arms as mom leaves us while humming and skipping to the kitchen.
…
Dad finally came home earlier today. He looked a little distressed and tired while walking up to the door, but quickly changed when he saw us. We decided to make him a big dinner as a welcome home present.
I stare at him from across the table happily, while he returns my stare with a playful look. "Miss me that much sweet pie?"
I nod my head at him happily before glancing at Nii-chan and mom. "I really missed you while you were away." I confirm while pouting.
Dad chuckles before glancing at Law, he's looking particularly sour. "Something happen while I was gone, Law?" Dad asks while looking at him to mom. "Melanie?"
"I was going to wait until later." Mom says while getting up, she heads back to the counter and picks up a letter, the one Aunty sent us. "It's from my sister, she's coming to visit." As mom says this dad grimaces.
"If she tries to take Azalea again dad, I'm not going to be nice." Law declares with a grim face.
The atmosphere quickly became tense and quiet, mom, dad and Law all glance at me.
"It will never happen. This family is sticking together." Dad says firmly while glancing back mom than at me. I look at my family a bit confused, but I nod my head at them and smile.
"Right, Law did promise that we would always stay together."