A/N: 2022.12.18

Hello, all! So, before I put "Unpack Your Heart" aside for a moment, I need to do some "Chronicles" stories. After so long, I feel it's time for Michelle to meet her mother.

Enjoy!

SUMMARY: After Bruce's passing and with Terry and Max taking a sabbatical, Michelle makes the decision to seek out her mother, despite the protests of everyone. Post-"So Far Away".

Never Again – Part 1

On the long list of bad ideas Michelle had willingly performed in her entire life, she was convinced that this was the absolute worst.

But, because of how much Bruce and Waller cared for her, Michelle told herself, if only this once, she had to be the bigger person and do the right thing.

Michelle talked to Tiana, who protested the plan, vehemently, but Tiana did as Michelle requested.

Tiana located Michelle's mother, Margaret Prince.

And Michelle made the decision to go see her. Perhaps, for the last time. Just this once.

And, maybe, never again.

As Michelle sat on the plane, the conversations with everyone played in her head. She remembered the disapproval of the people she loved the most: Basem, Sally, Chelsea, Tiana. Michelle didn't even bother telling her uncle and aunt, Mitchell and Isabela, figuring it was best to tell them after the visit. Michelle was actually glad Terry and Max were out of town. Michelle considered Terry and Max to be some of the strongest, smartest people she had ever met; if they had told her she shouldn't do this, it might make her forget the whole thing. However, part of her was positive she had to do this. But it was the fact that this caused the first real fight between her and Hayate that really left Michelle worried. While she was almost certain this wouldn't break them up, especially after the engagement, a part of her did wonder if that would be the case. After all, everyone was right, and Michelle knew it.

Why should she even bother? Margaret had made no attempts to ever find her, unlike Mitchell and Isabel. Even Tiana confirmed no effort was ever made on Margaret's part.

Moments like that caused Michelle to remember why she decided to do this, and how she explained her side to everyone, especially to Hayate.

One Week Before.

"You shouldn't even give her this chance!" Hayate walked out of the room.

"Will you just listen to me?!" Michelle chased after him.

Hayate stopped and glared at her. "And what if she wants something? Money? Or to be back in your life? She'll just do what's she done to you all your life! Toss you aside when it's convenient!"

"I know that! That's not why I'm not doing this!"

"Then why?!"

Michelle stopped. "It… it-it's because… of Bruce… a-and Waller."

Hayate straightened up a bit.

"They… they… cared about me. Actually… gave a damn. I… found Uncle Mitch and Auntie Bella because of Bruce. I… realized I could be somebody because of Waller. I just… yeah, my mom was the worst. But… everyone told me how Bruce changed. I know Waller was a piece of work but… I know who she was to me."

Hayate turned around and took a deep breath.

"I'm not giving Margaret a chance to ruin my life. I've got way too much to lose. I just…" Michelle paused. "…I just wanna see… if she knows what she did. And if she… wants to try to make it right."

Hayate looked back at her. "I don't like this."

"I know."

"But… I also know you must do what's best for you. I trust you, Michelle. I don't trust her."

"Fair enough," Michelle replied. "You're not alone."

Hayate walked to her. "I love you. I just don't want to see you hurt."

"I know." She smiled a bit. "But, if you don't want that, I should stop being Ember."

He smiled back. "No. Because in those cases, you routinely hurt back whoever hurt you."

"Damn right." Michelle's smile fell away. "I just… don't want you to hate me or…"

"Never. I just… this leaves me worried. I know how she hurt you. I'm even more scared of you doing this alone."

"I know. But… I have to do this. Please, tell me you understand."

"I just don't like the idea. I apologize for inferring that I didn't understand. Because I do."

"Thanks, babe." She lifted up and kissed him. "I really love you."

"I love you, too."

Present.

After the plane landed in Orlando, Florida, Michelle went through security, noticing the crowds of people around. For a brief second, she thought she saw someone who looked like Basem. But she just shook it off as her wishing that her "brothers" were there with her. Michelle was positive what Hayate would do if he met Margaret, which is why she didn't ask him to come along, but she did start to wish Basem, Sally, or Chelsea had come with her. But Michelle thought again and repeatedly told herself that she needed to do this alone.

With only a carry-on bag and no other luggage, Michelle left the airport, picked up the car she rented, and drove toward the address that Tiana had given her. Michelle had been to Orlando years ago, during her criminal days. She hid out there for a few months after robbing a bank in Atlanta; she robbed another bank in Orlando before she left.

Michelle tended to laugh to herself about that time in her life. She wasn't proud of it, but it was funny to her to compare life from then to what it was now.

Michelle drove through the city until she was far out of the metro area. She pulled into a more rural area of the city, away from the bright lights and busy streets. She parked a car against a curb in front of a one-story house that looked more like a shack than a residence. Michelle couldn't help but feel, as old as Mitchell's house was, it was a four-hotel compared to this. At least all of the windows at Mitchell's house were intact.

She checked her phone again to make sure she had the right address. Once she confirmed it, she looked back at the house.

"Jeez, Mom…" Michelle whispered. "Couldn't you have, at least, hit the lotto?" She got out and approached the door.

She remembered when she and Hayate went to see Mitchell and Isabella. Michelle was simultaneously more and less terrified than she was that day. Michelle raised her hand but stopped. She looked at the doorbell. Then took a deep breath.

Michelle shrugged, "Well! Came this far…"

Michelle summoned all the courage she had and rang the doorbell.

A few moments later, the door opened and a woman with light-blonde wig stepped out.

Margaret Prince stopped. Her eyes widened. "Michelle?"

Michelle exhaled. "Hi, Mom."

Margaret stepped outside, closing the door behind her. Before she did, Michelle caught a glimpse inside. Due to her training with the team, little details were hard for her to ignore anymore.

She noticed the house was a bit in disarray. And she saw toys on the floor.

Michelle looked at Margaret after the door closed. "You had more kids?"

Margaret looked at her stunned. "What…" She sighed. "Yes. And… grandkids."

"You had other kids? You have grandkids?!"

"What are you doing here?"

Michelle stared at her. "I was looking for you. I wanted to see you."

"Why?" Margaret asked, irritably.

In that moment, Michelle almost regretted all of this. "Because I'm your daughter. You're my mother. Believe it or not… I actually missed you."

"How the hell did you even find me?"

"A good friend. Who tried to convince me this was a bad idea."

"What…" Margaret began.

"Mom," Michelle held her hand up. "Listen… I just came to see you. I wanted to see you! Okay? Can we… just stop? Can we not do this? Why does it have to be like this? Why are we… like this?"

"I told you why I left!"

Michelle's face screwed up in confusion. "When did you do that?!"

"The day we left!" Margaret argued. "I told you we had to leave Detroit because Ivan had some problems with some criminals!"

Michelle's mouth hung open. "Mom! You never told me any of that!"

"Yes, I did! We were at that burger joint that night before!"

"The night before you were hungover and I spent half the night trying to keep you from drowning in your own puke!" Michelle stopped. She exhaled, ruefully. "Oh, my God. You were drunk, or worse, and you dreamed up that whole conversation."

Margaret stopped, trying not to blush.

"Wow. Ivan." Michelle clicked her tongue. "Dammit. That was his name. Ivan Matveev. I remember him now."

"How could you forget him?!"

"You had a revolving door of men, Mom. Why was I supposed to remember any of them? Starting at my dad and all the way."

"Stop asking about that man!" Margaret insisted. "He doesn't matter! He never did!"

Despite herself, Michelle couldn't help but remember Bane's words. "Yeah," Michelle began. "Yeah… I'll bet… Melvin Carter… didn't matter."

Margaret stopped then she whispered, "What?"

"Melvin Carter. He's my father. And why should he matter? He only gave you a daughter."

Margaret's eyes widened. "How did you know that?!"

"Came across it when someone from the IRS wanted information about him," Michelle lied. "They tracked me down. And told me he died ten years ago." She folded his arms. "The friggin' air conditioner repair guy. You repeatedly told me you hated him."

"I did!"

"But you let him smash!"

"We were drunk!"

"Ooh," Michelle said, sarcastically. "Shocking."

Margaret set her jaw. "He was a lousy, do-nothing loser! He was never going to be a father to you!"

"And I'm sure you screened him so thoroughly after you sobered up."

"You seem to know all about him now! You know he was no good!"

"Yeah!" Michelle replied. "Just another in long line of great picks from your roster! Just like insert-any-name-here, including Ivan! I can't believe I forgot that guy! He looked, sounded, acted, and had the name of a James Bond villain."

"He was good to you!" Margaret argued.

"No one you ever dated was good to me. It's like you picked them specifically because they would be trash father figures."

Margaret scoffed. "What?! You wanted them to be like your sainted Uncle Mitch!"

Michelle's face became stoic. "At least I know he's always loved me."

"Please! Like he ever… cared about you!"

"He cared enough to look for me. Sure did feel good when I saw him again."

Margaret's eyes widened as she stood, dumbfounded. "You… saw Mitch."

"Sure did. Him and Auntie Bella. They're doing well, by the way."

Margaret scoffed. "Oh, he's still married to that wetb…"

"Do not!" Michelle interrupted. "Do not use that word!"

Margaret scoffed. "Those brats still talk to them?"

"My cousins? Yeah, they still talk to their parents. Crazy notion, isn't it?"

Margaret just let out a long sigh. "So. You moved back to Green Forks. Couldn't make it in the real world?"

Michelle rolled her eyes. "No, I don't live in Green Forks. Where I live… is none of your business. I don't want to chance you showing up and trying to ruin what I've got. I got a family now, besides Uncle Mitch and Auntie Bella. Real family. People who are there for me. Who care about me. Who love… who love me. I mean… even when they barely even knew me, they cared. And, I already know for a fact they love me more than you ever did." She stopped and stared into her mother's eyes, "I got a guy who loves me. All of the bullshit I had to deprogram because of you… he waited for me. He… helped me with the worse parts of me. He met me at my worst. And he still loves me. So many people… met me at my worst… and they still cared about me. Still loved me, anyway."

Margaret laughed, scornfully, while Michelle rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"You got some dumbass to pretend he loves you?" Margaret asked. "What? You have to be in his bed every night to get him to say it?"

Michelle set her jaw as she suddenly had to resist hitting her mother. "No. He's a good man. I didn't know any of those were left. But he is. So are my friends. Good men. Good women. Just… good people who actually care."

"No one is good out there, you stupid brat! They're just using you until they're done with you."

"You say that… with more kids… and, presumably, another man."

"That's the truth of life," Margaret declared.

"No. It's not. There are good people in the world. My friends are good people, my man is a good one! They're nothing like you wanted me to believe the entire world is like."

"Yeah, they are!" Margaret insisted. "Those men just want you for your body and those women? Your 'girlfriends'? Probably just keep you around so they can make fun of the trash! All bitches are just alike! They only exist to rip you down!"

Michelle braced herself again. Talking bad about Hayate angered her. Insulting Max, Sally, Helena, and/or Chelsea, women who she saw as the sisters she never had, Michelle took as even more personal offense. "No. No, Mom. They're nothing like you."

Margaret scoffed.

Michelle considered if she should make her next declaration. But, this talk was going bad enough. Another bit of news couldn't make it much worse. "I'm getting married."

Margaret slowly craned her neck back.

"To the guy. And before you ask, no, I'm not pregnant. Even if I was, he'd marry me already because that's the kinda guy he is. But he loves me. I love him. He wasn't pressuring me but I know I want to spend the rest of my life with him."

Margaret huffed. "Let's see how long that lasts!"

"Oh, my God!" Michelle looked away, shaking her head.

"Why are you even here, Michelle?! Why did you even bother looking for me?! You know who I am! What did you think was gonna happen?!"

Michelle stared into Michelle's eyes then looked down. "I tracked you down because… I lost some people recently. Who… cared for me like I was their kid." She looked back at her mother, "That's why I found you, why I bothered looking. I wanted… to try… to see if maybe… maybe we could fix this. But I get it now. We can't. We never could. We were never going to." A single, heartbreaking, devastating conclusion came to Michelle. "You never loved me. You never even wanted me. You took me away… just so Uncle Mitch couldn't raise me. All you cared about was hurting him. You never gave a damn about me."

"You're so ungrateful!" Margaret growled. "You dumb bitch! I raised you! I took care of you! All I did for you and all you care about is that asshole uncle of yours! I did everything for you! I fed you, cleaned you, clothed you…"

"Abandoned me when I was 17," Michelle interrupted.

Margaret slapped Michelle.

Michelle turned her face as the blow landed.

"YOU UNGRATEFUL SLUT!" Margaret shouted. "I KNEW YOU WOULDN'T LEAVE WITH US! THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T BOTHER GOING TO LOOK FOR YOU WHEN WE LEFT! YOU'RE THE SAME PIECE TRASH NOW YOU WERE THEN! YOU WHINY, SPOILED, PATHETIC BITCH!"

Michelle kept her face turned after the slap. She felt the blow. But she didn't feel pain. Not from the hit, anyway. But in that moment, it was clear to her.

There was nothing here.

There never was.

And that slap screamed at Michelle that there never could be.

Once the slap connected, Michelle remembered all times her mother hit her before, as a child and as a teenager. She had suppressed those memories, never fully admitting it to anyone else, but those memories also helped shape Michelle into the hardened fighter she became. But that strength was for when she was a criminal.

Michelle hadn't used that strength in years. She became a hero. Ember didn't need that pain to be strong. And Michelle didn't either. Not anymore.

Michelle turned back toward Margaret and stared at her. "I hope that was worth it. Because you just lost me for good."

Margaret growled at her.

"I don't care anymore. Because now… I see nothing but a pathetic, old woman. I may never be a mother. But I'm an aunt now. To more than just my blood nieces and nephews. I got… these adorable little kids I can look after. And, on my life… I swear to God… I'll be better to them than you ever were to me."

Margaret just held her glare. "Is that all you want?"

Michelle stared at Margaret, blankly, then let out a quick huff. "You know what? I'm so done with you… I don't even have it in me to tell you to 'go to hell'. Live your pathetic life, Mom." She scoffed. "Margaret. And don't worry. You'll never hear from me again. That's a promise. Goodbye." She turned and walked back toward the car.

Margaret watched Michelle walk away. "Yeah?! Yeah?! Is that it?! You're so worthless! Just like your pathetic uncle and his bitch wife! Don't come crying to me when that man leaves you and your so-called friends cut you loose! When they toss you back in the gutter where you came from!"

Michelle just steeled herself and kept walking.

"You're nothing! You hear me! You're worthless! A pathetic little bitch! I should've left you in Green Forks! I never should have had you in the first place! You're nothing to me! YOU HEAR ME! NOTHING!"

Michelle got in the car, started it, and drove off.

Margaret kept screaming, even after the car was out of sight. She screamed until her voice was hoarse.

That's when the tears fell.