She was loved by millions as Sharon Vineyard.
She was loved by thousands as Chris Vineyard.
She was a great best friend as Sharon Vineyard.
She was feared, hated, and loathed as Vermouth. As her true self.
Throughout her life, having multiple faces had Vermouth face multiple challenges whether as an Organization member or as an actress.
But nothing prepared her for this.
She was in Japan, filming a movie when she decided to drop by and visit Yukiko and Yusaku, but the two later on decided to leave for something important, and left her.
With two four-year-olds.
Their son Shinichi, and his best friend Ran.
'They're just four years old… nothing can go wrong…', Sharon thought as she eyed the two who were watching tv on the ground, feeling stressed as she crossed her arms, 'They'll come back soon. Nothing to worry about.'.
"A snowstorm just had to goddamn happen.", She hissed angrily in English as she dropped her phone next to her on the couch. Yukiko had informed her that she and Yusaku are staying at a hotel considering the sudden snowstorm, and even Eri and Kogoro can't come over to take the children.
She was probably trapped for an unknown number of days with the toddlers.
"Fate does truly hate me. As if what I had been through wasn't enough.", She continued.
"Um…". Sharon looked down, her frown and cold eyes still on her face, but she did not notice that until she saw Ran shrinking away from her.
"What?", She bit back angrily, making Ran walk back a step, tears forming in her eyes from the harshness in Sharon's voice.
"N-Nevermind… Sorry…", Ran mumbled as she held back her tears, but she sniffed before she walked away, Sharon's eyes following her.
"Hey! Talk to her nicely!", Shinichi cried as he stood in front of her, "We didn't cause the snowstorm if that's why you're angry about!".
"Mind your own business.", Sharon replied back, in the same manner.
Shinichi then picked up a paper that Ran was drawing, and it showed an awful drawing of a blonde woman, and Sharon recognized that this was supposed to be her.
"She wanted to give you this to cheer you up! Since you were nice and smiling until the storm happened, but I guess you don't deserve it.", Shinichi said as he pointed at the picture.
Sharon's eyes widened for a second as she saw a girl the age of Shinichi, with blonde hair and blue eyes in his place.
"I did nothing wrong! I tried to make a gift for you but the watercolors spilled on the floor!", She said.
"I know, I know. Let's clean this up together.", She saw an image of herself reply.
Sharon shook her head, making both images disappear as she took the picture from him before she sighed as she got up, and searched for Ran.
She found her inside the kitchen, pushing the chair across the counter, before she climbed up on it, and attempted to open the cardboard above, but she lost her balance and almost fell on her back had Sharon not caught her.
"What are you doing? You know this is dangerous.", Sharon rebuked, but gently this time.
"I… there are biscuits above… I wanted to ask for your permission and help but…", She trailed off.
Sharon sighed as she placed Ran back on the ground, stood up, and got the biscuit's jar out of the cardboard. She placed a few in a plate and handed it to Ran as she patted her hair while kneeling to her height.
"You did nothing wrong… I was acting like a child.", Sharon said with a small smile before she motioned the paper, "Thank you for the drawing.".
Ran smiled widely, "Your welcome!", before she walked back to the living room.
Her smile, however, made Sharon have a flashback of the same girl, thanking her as she handed her the same plate, before she gave her a hug.
Sharon shook her head before she returned back to the living room.
Sharon watched as Shinichi and Ran ate the biscuits, Ran continued her drawing and Shinichi would open the book, or the two would watch their tv show.
She could not help it.
Her mind wandered to those days.
"Mommy! Look at me! Look at how high I jumped!", The girl cried.
"That's my Chris!", Sharon clapped happily.
"Mommy! Can we buy ice cream?".
"Mommy! there's a monster in my closet!".
"Mommy, I didn't mean to make you sad. Sorry.".
"I love you Mommy!".
"You tried keeping her away from us, Vermouth. The best punishment for her is to make her the first lab rat to try the drug made by Miyano!", Rum said.
"Vermouth… I… I'm so sorry… I tried to save her after they gave her the drug and I didn't know I swear… she got cancer as a side effect…", Elena mumbled.
"Mommy… it hurts… Will it ever end?", Chris mumbled faintly and weakly in her bed as Sharon sat next to her.
"Yes, it will sweetheart, soon it will.", Sharon mumbled as she hugged her daughter.
"I love you Mommy…", She mumbled.
"I love you too, sweetheart.", Sharon mumbled, tears falling down her face, as her daughter breathed her last breath.
"Sharon-san?". Sharon snapped back to present day and looked at the kids in front of her who were looking at her worriedly.
"You're crying.", Shinichi said worriedly, "Are you okay?".
Only then did Sharon finally notice the tears down her face, and she wiped them away as she said, "I just remembered my daughter…".
"She… she's gone isn't she…?", Shinichi mumbled.
Sharon silently nodded.
Shinichi and Ran both climbed onto the couch on both her sides as Ran said, "We can never replace her… but we can be your children too!".
"Yeah, consider us like her from now on!", Shinichi said.
Sharon slightly snorted at their pure childish thoughts, and when both kids hugged her, she silently returned the hug.
"Sharon-chan, we're back!", Yukiko called as she and Yusaku opened the door the next day and walked in.
Yukiko looked around before she awed at the sight on the couch.
Sharon fell asleep while sitting, with Shinichi and Ran sleeping on her lap, her arms around them, the three having a small smiles on their faces.
"You think they exhausted her?", Yusaku asked.
"No.", Yukiko said, smiling at the rare genuine smile on Sharon's face.
"I think they became her treasures.".