Chapter 37: A Mother's Love

Featuring Teru Teru Bozu Choju, Red Garon

Alex's House

Alex and Willow were at his house working out together. They were in a room that had some workout equipment that he'd usually do in his spare time. He was punching a punching bag while Willow was using an abdominal crunch machine. Alex just laid the last punch on the bag as he turned over to Willow who was also finishing up.

Alex: ( panting) How you doing Sprouts?

Willow: Almost...almost done.

Willow just finished the crunch and got up. Clover flew up to her with a rag as she took it and wiped the sweat off her face.

Willow: Man, so sweaty.

Alex: Yeah me too. Its getting all over me.

Alex took off his shirt, showing off the muscular build on his body. Willow looked at him blushing a little, but quickly looked away when he turned to her.

Willow: Anything else left?

Alex: Just the bench press. Or are you too tired?

Willow: We can do it.

We cut to the two on the bench press. Willow was the one pushing the bar as Alex spot her.

Alex: Alright come on Sprouts, come on one more! It's all you. It's all you.

Willow did it as Alex helped her place the bar back as she sat up.

Alex: Wow you really are strong.

Willow: Thanks. You gotta be in good shape when playing grudgby or flyer derby.

Entering the room was Alex's stepmom Olivia with a couple bottles of water.

Olivia: Hey you two. You doing okay in here?

Willow: Oh we're good Mrs. Stonefist.

Olivia: Oh please, call me Olivia. I brought you two some water.

Olivia hands them each a bottle.

Willow: Thank you Olivia.

Alex: Yeah, thanks Olivia.

Olivia: You're very welcome. Is there anything else I can get for you?

Alex: No, no we're good.

Olivia nods and exits the room.

Willow: I see your warming up to your stepmom.

Alex: Well, yeah. We talk a bit more now. And she's alright.

Little do they know Olivia is just outside the door listening to their conversation. She nods with a small smile hearing of what he said.

Willow: That's good. She's really nice after all. You have a good stepmom.

Alex: I mean yeah, stepmom.

Olivia's frowned judging by his tone.

Willow: Why do you put it like that?

Alex: I mean I don't dislike her anymore. She's fine, but she's still not my mom.

Olivia continued to frown and finally leaves the area.

Willow: Alex we talked about this.

Alex: I know, but don't you sometimes wonder where your birth parents are.

Willow: I never really thought about them. I always had my dads and they were all I needed. And I thought you said you didn't care where your actual mom was.

Alex: I was probably talking tough that day. I do that a lot.

Willow: If you were to find your mom, what would you gain?

Alex: I just want to see her. Just know how she is and why she and pop divorced. You know?

Willow looked back at her bottled water and took another sip, thinking about Alex. She wants to help him but trying to think how.

Meanwhile

We cut to Olivia walking into the living room and Alex's dad Thorin watching his show on the crystal ball.

Thorin: Pffft hahaha! Whoo love this show. The office demon realm edition. ( to Olivia) Hey baby! Want to see something funny?

Olivia: No.

Thorin then looked concerned and got up to her.

Thorin: Hey what's wrong?

Olivia: Thorin, have I done anything wrong since I moved in with you.

Thorin: What? No, what makes you think that?

Olivia: These past few weeks of Alex actually talking to me nicely, I thought we were finally bonding but he still doesn't see me as his mom.

Thorin: You want me to go in there and discipline him, cause I will.

Olivia: No that's not necessary. I just wish he'd know that I'm here for him as well.

Thorin: He's been warming up to you slowly. That's something.

Olivia: But maybe he still thinks about your ex wife.

Thorin: ( groans) Not Karen. I told him to forget about her. She's nothing but a deadbeat, a gold digger and a alcoholic. And it's best he'd stay away from her.

Thorin takes Olivia's hand and kisses her cheek.

Thorin: Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me and trust me, that boy is soon going to realize that he should be grateful to have you. Give it a little more time.

Olivia: I hope so Thorin.

The next day.

Alex was in his room at his work station, working on his miniature houses. After carving out the house he began painting, but then his dad barged.

Thorin: Hey boy!

Alex: AH! Pop you made me mess up.

Thorin: Sorry boy, but your girlfriend is here.

Alex: Willow? Wonder why she's here, and she's not my girlfriend.

Thorin: Whatever, she's waiting downstairs.

Alex got up and went downstairs. He saw Willow sitting on the couch.

Willow: Alex.

Alex: Sprouts, hey. What brings you here?

Willow: Did you forget? We're supposed to practice for flyer derby.

Willow winks at him.

Alex: Wait isn't flyer derby practice not until tomorrow...

Willow winks at him again as Alex gets it.

Alex: Oh yeah, I must have lost track on time. Let's get going.

Olivia: You want me to take you two. I have to go shopping anyway.

Willow: Oh no we're good Olivia, but thank you. Come on Alex.

Alex: Uh yeah, be back Pop, Olivia.

Willow grabs Alex's arm and pulls him outside. Once they made further away from his house, Willow lets go of him.

Alex: Wait is flyer derby practice today?

Willow: Alex be honest with me. Do you really want to know where your actual mom is?

Alex: Y-Yes.

Willow: Okay, well after yesterday I stopped by the Owl House and asked Luz and Eda if there was a way to find certain residents of the Bonesborough. Eda said to go to the Witches of Bonesborough Records office. I haven't gone yet because I need you to come with me for more details.

Alex: We're really going to do this?

Willow: If this will bring some closure to you, I'll help you out. So you want to do this?

Alex looks away, takes a deep breath and looks back at her.

Alex: Okay, let's go do this.

Later.

We cut the outside of the office building of Witches of Bonesborough Records. We see Alex and Willow exiting out with a copy of the form of Alex's mom.

Willow: Okay, so her name's Karen Cozvbi. Says here she was formerly married to Thorin Stonefist and currently lives in Latissa at 7934 Loch ness road.

Alex: So we know where she is. Alright let's not just here, let's get going and meet my mom.

Willow: Now Alex hold on. Before we proceed I want to say you should not get your hopes up.

Alex: Why do you say that?

Willow: Because she may not be...that great.

Alex: Of course she is. She's my mom.

Willow: But Alex think about it. Has she ever check on you after she and your dad divorced.

Alex: Well no.

Willow: Then that confirms it what I think.

Alex: Whoa Sprouts hold up. What are you trying to say? I thought you were trying to reunite us.

Willow: It's not exactly a reunion. We're not trying to get the two of you back together as a family. I'm trying to help you confront her, know why she left so you can get closure and appreciate your stepmom more.

Alex: She's my mom, I'm sure she had her reasons. Besides Olivia is alright but I mean she's only nice because of my dad.

Willow: But remember what I said how my dads adopted me after my bio parents gave me up as a baby.

Alex: I know but that's different I vaguely remember my mom, you didn't. I mean it's not my fault that you're parents never loved or wanted you.

Willow gasped looking at him with a hurtful look. Alex realized what he said and knew he went too far.

Alex: Willow I didn't mean...

Willow: You know what fine.

Willow hands him the copy of the form and turns his back from him.

Willow: You want to go find her? Go ahead, I hope you get what you wanted.

Willow leaves as Alex watches her leave.

Alex: Willow wait.

Alex reached his hand for her and called but she ignored him and left. Alex felt a little bad of what he said. He wanted to persue after Willow, but he looked back at the form. He decided to go find his mom first and check on her later.

We cut to Willow walking home. She looked down upset. What Alex said hurt her. Willow always tried to forget that. Though she was raised by her loving fathers, she didn't have to be reminded of her abandonment. Though she was upset, part of her felt like she should not have left Alex alone knowing this could end bad for him. Before she could consider going back, she saw a group of Dorodoros walking into an ally. Seeing them, she knew something was happening. She went to the ally and peaked her head in to see what was happening. She saw the Dorodoros with Mikela and Voffa. Also with them was another choju, who was a few inches taller than the two.

This one was a strange one as it looked like a japanese teru teru bozu doll, but the color was blood red and had a black ribbon around it's neck with a chain like leash. The face had a sad ghostly look on it with hollow eyes and mouth. His hands were weapons with the left hand having a scythe and the right was a whip.

Voffa: You're really doing this again Mikela?

Mikela: Nataran was another failure and this caused Battra to get burned. In the meantime, I will be sending Red Garon to the Owl Lady and the human next.

Red Garon raised his arms and roared ( stock Nova roar). Willow watched and knew that Luz was in danger. Before she was about to leave and go warn Luz and Eda, Red Garon raised his whip arm again ready to attack, but his whip hit the dumpster nearby which nearly hit Willow as she yelped, blowing her cover.

Voffa: An intruder.

Mikela: Wait, it's that young Hexside student hat made me look bad and crashed my airship.

Voffa: She was spying on us. She knows too much. After her.

Willow ran out but was quickly caught up the the Dorodoros. The drew their daggers and surrounded her, but she stood her ground and formed a bunch of vines, impaling them as they melted into paint. But it wasn't over. She heard Red Garon's roars and turned to him as he was ready to fight her.

Meanwhile.

Alex was making his way through Latissa, trying to find the home address of his mom. He was anxious and nervous to meet her. He hardly remembered his mom. He remembered her for part of his life until she left when he was around five or six. All he had was his dad, raising him to be tough and strong, but still giving him the love he needed, looked up to him as a role model and inspiration to be a construction witch. When he met Olivia he wasn't too fond of her for a while and though he has been warming up to her lately, he still seeks to find his real mom. At last he found the apartment building she was living in. He made his way inside and soon found the apartment number where she lived.

Alex: ( sighs) This is it? Just relax Alex, be cool.

Alex knocked on the door. Moments passed and the door opened to be his mom. She was a thin witch with light brown skin and black hair which looked a bit messy. Her face also had some redness on it signifying she might be an alcoholic and even smelled like alcohol as well though Alex tried to ignore that. Her eyes were red wore a black shirt with red pants. She looked at him but doesn't recognize him.

Karen: Who are you?

Alex: Hey mom. I-It's me. It's Alexander. You're son.

Karen's eye's widened as she heard her boyfriend calling her.

Karen's boyfriend: Hey Karen! Who's at the door?

Karen: Uh, it's no one hon.

Karen stepped out and closed the door so her boyfriend wouldn't here.

Karen: I can't believe, you're here. What are you doing here?

Alex: Mom, I... I can't believe I actually found you.

Alex tried to hug her but she raised her arms, rejecting it.

Karen: I said what are you doing here? Your dad isn't here is he?

Alex: No, I came looking for you.

Karen: Why?

Alex: I just wanted to see you. Maybe catch up you know.

Karen: I don't have time. I'm busy just go home kid.

Alex: Wait please I just want to know. Why did you and dad divorce? Why didn't you ever come see me?

Karen looked at him dead in the eye.

Karen: You really want to know?

Alex nods as she stepped closer to him.

Karen: He thinks I do nothing for him. I make him his dinner and he thinks me hanging loose is destructive, buying things I deserve is a waste as we were living together. But he really ruined things for me for getting me pregnant.

Alex: ( eye's widened) W-What?

Karen: Having you ruined my chances of living the life I wanted. I was once beautiful until I had you. I looked at you and your father and realized you didn't mean anything to me anymore. I wasted time being with you and him. He was out fulfilling his career while I was stuck as a housewife with you, who I never wanted.

Alex tried so hard to remain calm. He was fighting the tears that were coming down. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His mom hated her life with him and his dad and she seems to hate him more.

Karen: Does that answer your question?

Alex looked down as he didn't want to even look at her anymore.

Alex: Yeah, it did. And you know what, my dad was right about what he said about you. You really are an alcoholic and a dead beat. You're not worth it.

With that, Alex storms off frustratingly. Once he made it outside he went to an ally as he leaned against the wall and covered his face. He was sobbing as tears flew down from his face. He rarely cried as he thought it would make him look like a girl. But his mother rejected him and expressed how much she hated him. He yelled as he began to take out his sorrow, pain and anger against the wall. He began punching it multiple times leaving it dented and cracked, but resulted in his knuckles bleeding. Willow was right all along to not get his hopes up. Now that he thought about her, he wiped the tears off his face and went to go find her.

Meanwhile.

Willow was facing off Red Garon. She formed numerous plant vines at him. Red Garon swiped the vines with his scythe hand as he roared. Willow then formed a large venus fly trap plant from the ground to eat him, but Red Garon jumped up and levitated in the air. As he slowly landed back down he used his whip hand and wrapped it around Willow. She was caught and thrown to a wall, but she acted quick and formed a large flower to catch her. Red Garon roared and fired eye beams at her which she dodged. He fired at her again but this time she formed a wall of vines to shield her. As the vine wall collapsed, Red Garon saw she was gone. She emerged undergrounnd from behind and trapped him in more vines. He was caught as he roared and struggled to get out.

Willow: Was that really the best you can do?

Willow formed one large vine big enough to crush him, but then Red Garon began breathing red smoke at Willow's face. She lost concentration of her magic as she coughed but worst of all her vision was messed up. She could only see all red. Nothing of the environment or the choju.

Willow: My, my eyes. I can't see.

Red Garon roared as he swiped Willow away. She was down on the ground as he roared and raised his scythe arm, swiping down at her arm, cutting her as she yelled in pain. She fell onto her knees holding her arm as Red Garon roared having the upper edge.

We cut to Alex back in Bonesborough hoping to find Willow. That's when he heard Red Garon's roars. He wondered what was going on and followed the sound. He made it to the area and to his shock he saw Willow being thrown to a wall by Red Garon. Red Garon raised his scythe arm about to finish her, but then he was punched across the face by Alex. Red Garon fell back as Alex had a dead serious look on his face with his stone fists ready.

Alex: You stay away from her you bed sheet ghost.

Willow: Alex?

Alex: I got this Sprouts. Stand aside.

Alex yelled and ran up at the choju.

Willow: Alex wait! Don't let it spray you with its gas!

Alex yelled and punched Red Garon again. He roared at him and tried to whip him. Alex caught the whip and began to swing him around until throwing him at a wall. Alex then punched the ground as a stone pillar hit Red Garon knocking him down. But Alex winched due to his injured knuckles with his stone fists. It was making the pain worse for him, but he tried to fight through, right now he wanted to protect Willow. He aimed his stone fist at the choju and launched it. Red Garon stopped it with his eye beams. He tried to strike him with his scythe hand which Alex blocked with a stone wall. He tried to whip him, but he jumped out of the way as he formed to large stone hands about to grab Red Garon, but then he breathed his red gas at Alex's face.

Alex: AUGH ,( coughs) what is this? My eyes!

Alex coughed as he lost concentration of his magic. He couldn't see anything other than red. Red Garon roared and whipped Alex. He fell back as he tried punching the choju aimlessly, but to no luck. Red Garon swiped his scythe at him, cutting his right shoulder. Alex stepped back as he held his cut shoulder. He couldn't use his right arm now as it would further hurt his shoulder. Then Red Garon used his eye beam at Alex, as he gets hit and is flown into a wall next to Willow.

Willow: Alex!

Willow tried to feel him and did. She held onto him as he tried to get up.

Alex: Willow...run.

Willow: I can't. I can't see and I'm not leaving you if I could.

Alex: Then...I'm sorry. For everything.

Red Garon closed in on the two and was about to finish the two off, than was until he was hit by a potion bomb. He turned and saw it was Olivia.

Olivia: Stay away from my son.

She had a stockpile of potions with her ready to fight.

Willow: Was that your step mom?

Alex: Olivia?

She threw another potion bomb at Red Garon. As he was distracted by the blast, she quickly got over to Alex and Willow handing them a blue potion.

Olivia: Put some of this on your eyes. It should heal you.

Alex: Olivia...

Olivia: I got this Alex.

Olivia turned back at Red Garon as she threw more potion bombs at him. Red Garon tried whipping and eye beaming her, but she was fast as she kept dodging his attacks. Alex and Willow applied the some of the potion Olivia gave him. Pouring some on their hands and rubbing it on their eyes, their vision was coming clear again.

Willow: I can see.

Alex: And I can fight clear. Willow, will you...

Willow nods to him. Olivia threw another potion bomb at Red Garon, he whipped it away and grabbed hold of her. But as he was distracted, Willow formed some thorny vines from the ground wrapping him up, but this time wrapped his face up too so he couldn't use any of his attacks. She raised Red Garon up high until finally slamming him to the ground. Red Garon was weakening as he struggled to get up and Alex finished him off by launching his stone fist at his head, exploding on impact. Red Garon let out a dying roar as he fell to the ground and explodes bursting into flames.

Alex: That finally got him.

Olivia: Alexander.

Alex looked over at Olivia as she rushed over to him.

Olivia: Are you okay? Oh look at you, you're both hurt.

Alex: I'm fine. I'll live.

Olivia: But your hands.

Olivia held his hands seeing how bruised and bloody they were. She looked into her bag and got out some bandages. She began wrapping his hands. Alex saw the concerned look on her face as she gently bandaged him up.

Olivia: There, that'll do for now until we can get you to a healer.

Willow: Matti doesn't live far from here, we can go to her.

Olivia: Oh Willow, let me do you as well.

Willow approached Olivia as she bandaged her arm.

Willow: Thanks for saving us there Olivia.

Olivia: I was around the area shopping when I heard all this commotion. You're lucky I got you out. I thought you were going to flyer derby practice, what are you doing here?

Willow: Well...

Alex: It's my fault Olivia.

Olivia turned over to Alex.

Alex: I was out searching for my mom.

Olivia: ( frowns) Oh and did you find her?

Alex: ( nods) Yeah I did.

Olivia: And where is she?

Alex: I'm looking at her.

Olivia let out a small gasp as did Willow.

Alex: You really saved me there and you're actually pretty tough. I can see why pop married you.

Olivia: Well, I don't like to brag or show off my skills. But of course I'd save you. You're his son and even though you're my step son, I want to get to know you so I can see you as my own son.

Alex: You probably would have known me better had I let you in. I'm...I'm so sorry for always pushing you away when all you wanted was to just spend time with me and...

Olivia just pulled him into a hug and stroked his hair.

Olivia: Shh, it's okay. I'm here for you whenever.

Alex: Yeah...okay. Thanks mom.

Later

After getting proper medical treatment, the three of them made it back to Alex's house.

Alex: Are you going to tell pop about today?

Olivia: ( sighs) I'll let this one slide, but you'll have to rake the yard.

Alex: Fair enough. I'll be inside in just a minute.

Olivia nodded and went inside, leaving him and Willow alone.

Willow: You found your actual mom didn't you?

Alex: Yeah.

Willow: She wasn't that great was she.

Alex: Terrible. Flat out said how much having me was the worst thing that ever happened.

Willow: Oh. Alex I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left you all alone, I knew this could be bad and...

Alex: No you had every right reason to leave. I was a real jerkwad. What I said was really uncalled for. We may not know why your parents gave you up, but maybe they had their reasons. Maybe better ones than my mom did. Maybe they did love you and for some reason had to give you up to protect you. But you told me how much you loved your dads and how they were there for you. I had my dad but I never truly appreciated Olivia as a real mom until now.

Willow: Are you okay now?

Alex: I guess, but part of me is still shoken up that I was practically abandoned and how my actual mom didn't want anything to do with me. But it hurt me more that I nearly lost you. I'm so sorry Willow. I shouldn't have been more considerate and listened to you more. You're my first friend ever and I don't want you to leave me too.

Willow: ( holding his hands) Hey, hey easy. Take deep breaths, like this.

Willow slowly inhaled and then exhaled as she counted her fingers to three. It was something she normally does whenever she was stressed. Alex copied what she did as he started to calm down.

Willow: Did that help?

Alex: It kinda did.

Willow: Good and I'm not leaving you. I'm sorry things went bad, but you know what forget her. It's her loss that she can't see she gave birth to a great guy. Your step mom saw that and she's glad to be part of your life. You'll always have support form us. You're family, your friends and me. I'm here for you as well Alex, whenever you need me.

Willow hugged Alex as the two held onto each other.

Alex: ( whispers) I love you.

Willow: What? What did you say?

Alex: ( blushing) Uh, uh. I said olive juice!

Willow: Olive juice?

Alex: ( whispers) Olive juice you too.

To be continued...

Author's Note: That's it for this chapter. I know this was probably not my best and might seem like filler, but I've been trying to make a Willow and Alex centered chapter for a while and this is what I ultimately came up with. Just wanted to do this to expand on their relationship. I know people seem to ship Willow more with Hunter since that's what the show was luring us too and it's cute, but here I made two different people for them simply because the two didn't meet at the time I started this and before season 2b, Willow was sorta set on the side and didn't have much of a role which is why I made Alex. But I promise the next two will be a bit more interesting. Anyway I hope you enjoyed. I like to thank Lady Shadow92 for help on this chapter. If you liked this chapter, be sure to follow, favorite and review. As always thank you and until next time.