Returning the Goods ( Mischa )

[Astrid Sudeki]

Today was a bad day. Just all around crappy. Spike was probably going to kill her for what she had done, but she had made a deal with Super Bitch and as much as she hated to do so, she had to uphold it.

So, here she sat, in the park, in one of the less damaged areas with the Katashi twins running around in front of her as she kept a close eye on them. She had not spent much time with the kids while they had been in her family, and though she had always kept tabs on where they were, she was not entirely sure what to think about them or what to do with them.

They were kids...sure...But they were also Katashis....that right there created conflict in her mind. She didn't care if they were four years old and clueless to the ways of their mother and the rest of their family...they were still destined to become what those before them had been. Right?

She bit her lips, eyes watching as the two sat down in front of her upon the grass, Aiden a good size bigger than Kazumi and had a personality just as big. Kazumi on the other hand was shy and quiet. From the time Astrid had arrived to pick them up, she had been hiding behind Aiden and allowing him to talk for her whenever somebody spoke to her.

Not to mention she looked just like her Mother, right down to those startling blue eyes. Aiden apparently got more of his looks from his Father...whoever that might be.

Shaking her head, she leaned back, letting her eyes drift to the area around her and then back to the two as they played some little game...Aiden being the boss here, telling Kazumi what to do, how to play and everything else in between. The boy was smart, she gave him that. His knowledge seeming a bit advanced for a four year old...Every now and then those dark green eyes would turn to look at Astrid and a smile would light his face.

He was such a happy boy, pretty much every time she saw him he was smiling. The girl? Not so much. Sure, she was happy as long as she didn't think anyone was looking, and she even talked when it was just her and Aiden, but when it came to being around others...she always seemed so withdrawn and pulled into herself.

Almost made Astrid feel bad....Almost.

Sighing heavily once more, she looked down at her watch. She had texted the number Kev had given her awhile ago. Not sure who the hell it belonged to, but knowing that even though Kev was a bitch she wouldnt hurt the kids....So whoever it was, had to be trustworthy...she assumed...she hoped...Or else Spike would have her head.

"Its probably that stupid security guard of hers..."

Muttered to herself as she rolled her eyes and went back to watching the twins play their little game.

[Mischa Badoer]

Mischa sighed as she slid her aviators on as the sun gleamed through the wind shield. She had recently got the text from an unknown number where to pick up the kids. Unluckily the number wasn't completely unknown... Mischa knew full well who it belonged to.

Astrid and Mischa have a past. A small one, but still existent none the less. She remembered confiding to the girl about her problems with Kevala... the girl knew her and seeing as how she was on the trip to pick up the twins... you can tell Kevala wasn't the biggest fan of this girl either. Apparently the Italian girl had a knack of fooling around with the wrong people.

She pulled in to a parking lot near the specific park and hopped out of the car not bothering to remove her sun glasses. She walked towards the only group that was present... two children and one female. Mischa's heart pounded 5 times every second that passed by as she saw the two children. They had looked like they have grown a lot since she had seen them last. Children had the tenancy to grow like weeds... especially when it felt like forever.

A large smile as she approached them... her gaze strictly on the children as to avoid the awkwardness that may ensue. Mischa was sure Kev didn't like having to send her to Astrid after she knew about their little run in.... but someone needed to get the kids.

"Kazy... Aiden?" Mischa would say in order to get their attention as she knelt down to their level. Last she saw the two it was before she committed herself into rehabilitation. Kevala had given them away in Mischa's absence. It hurt a lot... she looked at those children as if they were her own. Aiden holding the spider-man plushy that she had given him... the same plushy she had for years.

"You guys remember me?" her eyes were tearing up like no other. She could only assume Aiden would have a bright smile on and run into her arms to give her a hug. She looked over to Kazumi and watched as she looked rather shy... The small girl would approach the two embracing.. but probably out of security with her brother.... Mischa would extend her left arm and scoop up the girl giving her a hug. She wasn't sure if they still remembered her... or if they would even still consider her a mother... but my God did she ever miss them.

[Astrid Sudeki]

Astrid was lost in thought at the moment that she heard Aiden giggle and seemingly get up to move away, a little whimper from Kazumi indicating that to indeed be the case as she spotted the small girl hop up to chase after her brother.

A little tension forming in her muscles as she quickly looked who it was that was here, and had garnered their attention, the voice that sounded all too familiar and making the bottom of her stomach drop out...

Mischa..

Why in gods name?

Oh....

She literally felt a headache coming on. The realization of what this all meant had her baffled. Eyes watching as Aiden flung his arms around Mischa and hugged her, Kazumi reluctantly doing the same as she was ushered to before quickly making little grabby motions with her hand for her brother.

"Mommy! We misseded you!"

Aiden giggling as he clutched his toy and pulled back, that little face lit up with delight as he looked up at her with those big green eyes. Kazumi on the other hand had already retreated back behind Aiden, her little hand fisting in his shirt as she hid her face partially against his shoulder, peeking up over such with those icy blue eyes and through a mess of dark curls. Not a word uttered.

"Really? You are back with her?"

She sounded astonished. Which she was. Was this girl asking for it or something? No good came out of being with that Katashi bitch....None what so ever.

Pushing herself up to stand to make her way toward the group. Kazumi eyeing her slightly as she bit seemed to be thinking something, though what was anyone's guess.

[Mischa Badoer]

Oh how just simply hugging them made her feel like her old self. She sniffled slightly as she parted with them...looking both into their eyes. It was ridiculous how much they are looking like their parents... assuming Aiden looked like his dad.... who ever that was....

"Really? You are back with her?"

Mischa flinched when she heard the other girl. Mischa would look up with sympathetic smile more so to signify a "whoops". She would stand up and dust off her knees before answering the girl.

"Um... Yeah... I am.... married actually..." she was hoping there would be no hard feelings. Mischa had considered finding her and maybe starting something more with the girl... but it just wasn't in her. Deep down she must have known that no one would be right with the exception of Kevala... But yeah.... Mischa didn't know if the girl had a crush on her or not.

"You know... Look.... I'm sorry about that one night.... It wasn't fair for me to do that.... I was upset and needed comfort of someone really nice.... kind of took advantage... so..yeah... sorry... but I want you to know... Kevala is probably better than what you may think she is..."

Of course she was going to defend her. Mischa would look to the kids and give Aiden some orders.

"You and your sister get your luggage..we're going home pretty quick."

Thought the conversation would be better discussed without young ears.