Mimi was surprisingly happy that day. She woke up with a new hope in her heart, as if nothing could go wrong. She smiled, as she rolled over, and faced Matt's sleeping face. Not disturbing him, she quietly got up and showered.

When she got out, Matt was awake and cooking breakfast. "Morning." he said as he kissed her cheek.

"Morning. What are you making? It smells great."

"Strawberry pancakes." he said smiling.

"You spoil me." she said as she pulled the maple syrup out of the fridge. She grabbed the glass container, as Matt turned on the radio, waiting for the news.

"If you've just tuned in, we are still reporting about the gruesome murder at Neriko Hospital, where the security guard was shot in the stomach, and a young child was abducted." said the announcer. Her voice a little fuzzy, from the misplaced tunning.

"Oh God Matt." said Mimi, as she turned her attention to the black box, sitting on the counter.

"You don't think..." said Matt. His voice shaky. "He's gone. He died."

"A six-month-old baby was the tragic victim of the abduction. It is reported she is a girl, but that's all the information we have at this moment." finished the reporter.

"No..." grasped Mimi, falling to the floor. "Not Lilly!" she said as she buried her face in her hands.

"Oh my God." said Matt as he rushed over to Mimi's side, trying to comfort her. But he couldn't do it. He broke down in tears with her. The pancakes started to burn, which set off the fire alarm, which set off the sprinkler system in their apartment.

They sat through the falling water, only adding to it, with their tears of grief.

************************************************************************

"Stupid baby. Why won't you die!?" screamed Brian to Lilly. "Go figure. The part of you that belongs to your dad, is his pesky habit of staying alive." he wheeled her case over to a damp, dingy corner of his basement.

He looked at his personal haven. Half dedicated to Mimi, half for Matt. He walked over to a stack of papers that had belonged to Lilly. Her medical records. Her stats chart.

Basically, everything that had ever belonged to her, was with him. Everything except her mother, and that was what he wanted. "This time, I don't have some love-struck fool on my hands to deal with." he cursed Cole silently, and continued talking to himself.

"No! We can't do that! We have to! No, we don't! He knows! What? When did he find out? He's known for a long time. We have to get rid of him, before he tells. Fine. Have it your way."

He began to walk up his stairs, when he heard the one person he hated the most in the world, call him.

"Boy! I'm getting sick and tired of having you locked up in that basement all day! You came up here and make me dinner, before I come down there, and beat you black and blue!"

"Coming father." he said, as he entered the house.

"What'd you call me? Father? You can start calling me dad, when I can call you my son! You're pathetic! Your stupid and you're pathetic! Why can't you be more like Yamato Ishida? Now there's a boy a father could be proud of."

"I'm not Matt, and I never will be!" exploded Brian angrily.

"Don't raise your voice to me. You idiotic mistake!" he held his hand up high, and brought it down on his face, sending him sprawling back, hitting a wall.

Brian struggled to get up. "Do it now! No, I won't not like this. He'll get you. No, he won't!"

"Stop talking to yourself! Normal kids don't talk to themselves!" he sent his fist into Brian's mouth, causing him to cut his lips.

He looked around for something to grasp onto, in an attempt to get back in his upright position. He reached up on the small end table, and knocked over a bottle of vodka. He caught it before it hit the ground, and smirked at the thought that popped into his head.

"You know what dad, what you think, doesn't mean anything to me. But I'll be damned if I let you compare me to Matt. He's worthless! I'm not stupid! If anything you're the stupid one, for not picking up on it! You made my life a living hell! Always comparing me to Yamato Ishida!" his voice dripping with sarcasm. "The great Yamato Ishida. He's not so bloody great!" he said, unscrewing the top of the bottle. You're the one to blame for all the people I've killed! I did it to get back at the one person who robbed me of a father!" he brought the bottle back, and smashed it over his head, causing the bottle to break, and vodka to cover his father.

"You insolent little bastard! I'll kill you!" his dad barked.

"Not if I kill you first!" said Brian, with a mad look in his eyes. "Congratulations dad. You'll be the first person in the history of this building, to be turned into a living cigar."

"What the hell are you mumbling about boy?" his dad shouted, charging at Brian.

Brian swiftly grabbed his lighter, and lit a small flame. As his dad charged at him, he held out his hand, and let his dad run into the flame.

He instantly caught on fire, and began running around the room, yelling out in pain. Brian watched as his father was being burned alive, and smiled. When the fire had become too great to handle, he fell down dead.

Brian walked over to his charred corps, and pulled out one of his cigarettes. He held it over his dad's head, and waited till it caught fire. "At least you were good for something." he said simply, as he exhaled a large puff of smoke.

He cautiously grabbed a garbage bag from the kitchen, and went into the living room, scooping up the remains of his dad, and throwing them in the basement.

"Now you'll really rot in hell. My hell."

************************************************************************

Mimi dashed into the hospital, with Matt at her heels. She broke through the police barrier, and ran over to the infirmary window, looking around wildly for her child. When she didn't see her, she collapsed once again.

Matt caught her thins time, and buried his face in her hair. "I'm sorry, but you'll have to leave this area. It's a crime scene. We can't have anyone disturbing the evidence." said the officer. "Mimi? Matt? Is that you?"

"Officer Brenner." said Matt solemnly. "Yeah. It's nice to see you again."

"What happened? Why is Mimi crying?" he asked.

"The baby that was kidnaped. It was our daughter. Lilly." he said, bluntly.

"Oh man." he looked really uncomfortable. "I'm, I'm sorry. But I promise you, we'll get you kid back. Lilly."

"Thank you." squeaked Mimi from under Matt's strong grip. "Thank you Andrew. Thank you..."

"Come here kid." he said, opening his arms. Matt let her go, long enough for her to fall into his arms. Andrew hugged her reassuringly. "We'll get the sick individual who did this. I'll get em for you." he turned and looked at Matt gloomy.

"Come on Mimi. Let's get going. We can't help Lilly, if we disturb the crime scene." said Matt, taking her hand.

"If it makes you feel any better," shouted Andrew, "the kidnaper should be sending his ransom list soon. You'll get your kid back in no time."

"Thanks." mumbled Matt. "But it doesn't help one bit."



That night, Matt kept having the same horrible nightmare over and over again. He kept picturing Cole hunched over Mimi, holding the cold. Steel blade to her throat. This time, he didn't make it in time. He would watch on in horror, as Cole swiftly slashed at Mimi's throat, tearing deeper and deeper, moving from left to right. Top to bottom. Making sure her face was completely mutilated, before taking his own life.

He would always wake up in a cold sweat, and make sure Mimi was safe beside him, where she belonged. After waking up, for the tenth time, he nixed going back to sleep. He just got up, and paced the apartment. Every so often, he would go and check on Mimi, just to make sure she was safe and out of harm's way.

"Who took you Lilly?" he said to himself. "Cole is dead! I saw him die! Who would want to take you?" he said in a small voice. He didn't want to think about what some sicko was doing to his daughter. He didn't want to think about it at all.

Mimi turned over, expecting to find Matt, lying right next to her. Instead, she found a wide opening, which caused her to jolt awake. "Matt." she called out. In what seemed like a second, Matt appeared at the doorframe.

"What's wrong? Do you need something?" he asked.

"I want my daughter back." she cried. "I want her back, here with us!"

Matt walked over to her bed, and sat down, embracing her. "You heard Andrew. He said he'll get Lilly back, and they'll lock up the guy that took her."

"Andrew also said he'd keep us safe! And looked what happened! You ended up getting stabbed, and I ended up giving birth to Lilly, three months in advance!"

"We can't blame Andrew. He didn't know about Cole. If I had only told him, then we wouldn't be in this mess." said Matt, choking on the words.

"What are we going to do Matt? What are we going to do if the kidnaper makes his demands, we give it to him, and he kills Lilly all the same?" she asked Matt, with tears streaming down her face.

"Nobody could be cold hearted enough to kill a six-month-old baby. All we have to do, is wait till the kidnaper makes the demands. That's all. We can't do anything." he said sadly.

"Matt, whatever you do, don't leave me right now."

"I had no intention of ever leaving you." he said, as he kissed her. They were interrupted by the telephone ringing. Mimi screamed in shock. Matt laughed a little, as he went to pick it up.

"Hello." he said smiling, looking at Mimi, who was looking very cross at him.

"Hello. Is Miss. Tachikawa there?" the voice said.

"Yeah, may I ask who this is."

"Nurse Yerion. From the children's wing at the hospital. Tell her it's about Derek."

"Sure. Mimi, telephone!" he shouted lightly.

She took the phone from Matt's hand. "Hello. Oh! Hi Marie. Yeah. Derek! Oh my God, I'll be right over!" she said dropping the receiver, and rushing to the bedroom.

Within minutes, she was out and dressed. "What's going on Mimi? What's wrong with him?"

"No time to explain. I'm going to the hospital!" she yelled out the door.

"I'm coming with you!" he said as he pulled on a shirt, and shoes, running out the door after her.

When they got to the hospital, Mimi ran right over to the small boy, crying in a corner. Brian was sitting next to him, trying to get him to sign something.

"Derek!" Mimi cried, as she hugged him. The little boy looked up, and hugged her back, crying his eyes out.

"What happened?" asked Matt. "Mimi wouldn't tell me!"

"His parents were in a car accident the night Mimi went into labor. They just died." said Nurse Yerion, coming from behind Matt and Brian.

Matt had a flashback to the night he was waiting for Joe to tell him about Mimi. Two people were wheeled past him, in stretchers, but he didn't give it much thought.

"Derek, don't be sad. I'm here for you." said Mimi, trying to keep her own tears in check.

Derek made some symbols with his hands, which made Mimi slump to the floor. "My parents were taken away from me."

"My baby was taken from me too." she said, touching her stomach.

Derek looked a little angry. Waving his hands furiously, Mimi translated. "At least you have a chance of seeing your baby again! I can't see my parents again. Ever!" he finished by crossing his arms.

"I might not see Lilly ever again Derek. I'm scared for her. I really am. But just remember. I'm always going to be here for you." she said.

Derek looked ashamed. He covered his eyes, with his palms, and let out a dull cry.

Matt walked over to him, and touched his shoulder. Trying to remember some sign language Mimi taught him, he began flailing his hands around, hoping it made some sense.

The boy looked stunned. Then a smile broke out on his face, and he let out a raspy, nails on a chalk board sound. He was laughing.

"What'd I say?" asked Matt.

"You said you have a cat shoved down your pants, and you're doing the 'snoopy' dance."

Matt blushed bright crimson. "What I meant to say, was I'm sorry for your loss. How does that translate into I'm doing a 'snoopy dance, with a cat in my pants?"

'Maybe because you're stupider than a door nail.' thought Brian. Not daring to say what's on his mind. 'Hope the kid got Mimi's brains.'

"Derek. Do you want to stay with Matt and me tonight? Matt makes really good pancakes." said Mimi. The boy nodded his head. "Is that okay Marie?" asked Mimi to the Nurse.

"No. But since it's you, I'll make an exception. Oh, and if anyone asks, you took him without me knowing. Okay?" she said sneakily.

"You got it Marie. Thank you." said Mimi, smiling at her friend. She collected the small boy in her arms, and carried him off to her car. "Don't worry, small one. You'll be safe at my house. We can play games and you can eat all the ice cream you want." the boy's face lit up. He licked his lips, as Matt winced.

"Really Mimi. Ben and Jerry's are making me one of the owners! We've been buying way too much ice cream there. Did you know all the servers know my name? It's humiliating!" he said pleadingly. Mimi gave him, one of her looks. Matt knew he had lost that battle.

Marie began making 'whipped' noises, as Brian made the gesture. "Quiet! You try defying The Look!" he said, as he turned feel, and stormed out of the hospital.

"Mimi sure did a number on him." said Marie laughing.

'Sure did.' he thought. 'What I wouldn't give, to do a number on him. A few slashes here. A few bullet holes there. Cut off that bloody hair... pisses me off.' he said as he waited for Marie to turn around.

When she wasn't looking, he grabbed a massive needle, and a few of the small vial's next to it. He slipped them in his coat, as he walked out.

************************************************************************

"Time for your daily injection of life kid." said Brian, as he took some of the clear liquid in the needle, and injected it into the baby's arm. The machine next to her bleeped, then died down to its normal rate. The injection giving her a little boost.

"Don't worry. I have no intention of killing you. Now, that is." he backed up, almost tripping on a large bag.

He reached out, and covered his nose. The smell of burnt flesh, lingered in the grimy basement, to the point of repulsion. "Man dad. Why'd you have to be so God damn smelly?! I though I'd gotten rid of your revolting odor when I killed you."

He expertly took out a pair of white latex gloves, and began pawing through his remains. He finally found what was left of his arms, and pulled him up, snapping off three of his fingers. A trail of red/black blood paved a trail, as he took the corpse, and shackled it to a bar that stuck out of the wall.

The man's body, barely intact, cracked and chipped, as his once son, chained him violently to the wall. His jaw hung open in a scream, which no one heard. His eyes rotting in the sockets. Like a magnet, insects of all kinds attached themselves to the body, enjoying their feast. Soon, rats and other vermin were tearing at the flesh madly.

Brian watched in delight. "You finally got you just deserts' father. Except, now, you are the desert!"

************************************************************************

Mimi and Matt sat with Derek all night. They had a large bin of chocolate ice cream, and were watching reruns of Gilligan's Island.

"You know," started Mimi, "Matt's little brother Tk, has a hat like his. I never noticed it before." she finished by scooping a large spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.

"I heard that!" said Matt. "I gave Tk that hat!"

"You see! I told you I should have come shopping with you for his present!" said Mimi, throwing a pillow at him.

"Hey," he said throwing it back. "my taste isn't that bad!"

"Not if you're the Skipper. Maybe the captain..." she said, smiling ear to ear.

Matt got off the end of the couch, and lunged at Mimi, kissing her neck. "I'll get for that comment. Just you wait and see!"

"Really honey. In front of the child?"

"Do you mind Derek if I tickle her till she says uncle?" the boy shook his head, smiling at the goofy couple. "See. He's on my side." said Matt, tickling Mimi.

"No! Stop it!" cried Mimi, fighting back tears of laughter. Derek didn't help by joining in, helping Matt win a crushing victory.

"Way to go little man! We showed her!" exclaimed Matt, giving him a high five.

"Really!" said Mimi! "You sleep on the couch!"

"What!" exploded Matt. "You can't be serious!"

"1 week." said Mimi.

"A week!" squeaked Matt.

"Fine. Two weeks." said Mimi stubbornly. Matt's jaw hung to the floor. His eyes watered up, giving her the Puppy Stare.

"Two weeks." he pouted. Mimi resisted looking at him because she knew if she got a glimpse of the puppy dog eyes, he could con her into dumping the bucket of ice cream on her head, and run around the block.

"AH!" she said in frustration. "You win. No couch."

"Yes!" said Matt thankfully.

"This week." she put in hastily.

"We'll see about that. But right now, I'm going to sleep. Night Mimi. Derek." he said kissing Mimi, and ruffling Derek's head.

Derek smiled, and looked up in amazement. "I like this." he signed.

"I like this too." said Mimi, hugging him.

"Mimi." he signed slowly. "Do you think I could be your replacement child, while Lilly's away? You don't have to answer if you don't want to." he quickly added, blushing tremendously.

Mimi felt a tear roll down her cheek, as she collected the boy, and hugged his tightly. "Oh course you can."

Matt watched the two, and couldn't help but smile. Mimi and Derek were so close, and he couldn't help but feel jealous. 'He's 6 Matt. No competition for you.' he reminded himself several times.



Mimi woke up the next morning, with a sharp pain in her neck. She winced as she got up, but realized it was only because she was hunched protectively over Derek. They had fallen asleep during the 12-hour marathon, for I love Lucy.

She lay the boy down, and covered him with a blanket. She left the room, to go get the newspaper.

She passed by the bedroom, and saw Matt sleeping sloppily. His arms and a leg sticking out from the blankets. She giggled, as she wondered how somebody could sleep the way he does.

She heard a thump at the door. The newspaper boy had arrived on time as usual. She opened the door, and collected the newspaper. She turned to her favorite section. Fashion. She skimmed right over the Sports, Obituaries, and Comics until she got to her section.

She opened it wide, and began reading a column on Donna Karen, shaking her head at the woman's new ideas.

Something circular fell out. Mimi stared at it for a moment, before collecting it. She noticed there was some writing on it.

"What the hell?" she said, as she dropped the paper. Lilly Ishida. Born: June 4. It was her ID bracelet. "Matt!" yelled Mimi.

"What is it?" he said wiping the sleep from his eyes.

"The kidnaper! He sent Lily's ID bracelet!"

"What?!" he shouted, wide awake. Mimi riffled through the rest of the newspaper, to try and find something else.

She stopped, when she saw something written in bright red letters. It was still wet, and smelled awful.

"If you ever want to see Lilly again," read Matt "we'll make a trade. The life of your daughter, for the life of your soon to be wife."

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