Sunday Early morning

[heromaniac]

It had taken some time, but both of the kids had finally seemed to understand that this was a different and safe Momoko and that was a different but safe Fandom Island. Over lunch, they'd discovered that both children were refugees from the Fandom where Vampires had taken over and they were now living in Tokyo City with the Momoko who'd been to

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[momokodomo]

Alex didn't answer for a second, but gave her a sort of hard-to-read look.

Eventually he spoke. "Sometimes." The sort of vague answer that didn't really tell anyone anything.

[heromaniac]

"About the island?" Momoko was stepping carefully, here. "I do have nightmares sometimes. From when I was in the war in Glacia."

[momokodomo]

"War?" Alex shook his head. "I don't know if Momo would come back from a war." On her worse days she was barely holding on already. No way she needed to go get involved in a war.

[heromaniac]

"If she's the me I remember, she'd have saved more people," Momoko contradicted him. "I wasn't able to do much direct combat. Mostly guerrilla stuff and recon until the very end."

[momokodomo]

Alex's eyes narrowed.

"Don't pretend you know her."

[heromaniac]

Momoko was more than a little startled at that. "I don't.... I just... remember a few things."

She took a deep breath and let it go, trying to change the subject a little. "Were you with her on the island?" Momoko didn't remember him, but she had no idea the time frame of her stolen memories.

[momokodomo]

"No." For a second, it had looked like he might not answer, but he did eventually shake his head.

"I might have seen her at some point, but we didn't know each other until... after."

[heromaniac]

"Oh." And here she was thinking that had gotten his Momo all the fierce protection. "I'm glad."

...

"I mean, I'm glad that you did meet. After. You both deserve a normal life after that place. And it sounds like you care for each other a lot. That's got to be a big help to you."

[momokodomo]

"Is that what you think's going on?" Alex challenged.

[heromaniac]

"It's what I'd hoped?" Momoko turned to lean against the sink, suddenly feeling defeated. "I thought maybe it was because you felt I was trying to take her place."

[momokodomo]

Alex rolled his eyes. "How could you? You don't even know us. And we don't know you."

Though he didn't seem to have much of a problem with Jaime.

[heromaniac]

"I don't think I could. I wouldn't even try. I just want to be your friend, make sure you're safe and not scared, warm and fed and happy for as long as you're here and as best as I can. I want to be able to say to your parents that you are okay."

"Sorry." She shook her head. "Usually the kids that visit treat me like I am their mom. I've never thought about it before."

[momokodomo]

"So, what? You're feeling sorry for yourself?" Alex was trying to sound tough and dismissive, but something in her tone did remind him of Momo, so his tone was a lot softer than he'd intended.

[heromaniac]

"Actually yes." Momoko giggled suddenly at that. "Stupid, huh? I'm totally jealous just because you won't let me take care of you." She wiped a stray tear from her eye. "I can't even sleep over it, worried that I'm somehow hurting you two."

[momokodomo]

"Well," Alex looked suddenly awkward. "Don't cry about it. We're fine." It'd take a lot more than some nosy woman who looked like Momo to hurt him or Del.

[heromaniac]

"Thanks. That helps." She wiped at her eyes again. "I was going to go for a short flight before everyone woke up. Try to get my smile back. Do you fly?"