Rewritten Past

Yue set her cup of tea down and said, "You were never really 'there' even when you were home, were you, Sis? You were always thinking about work and finances and how to make ends meet that you didn't even see your own son slowly forced to grow up in front of you... Did you?"

Mei swallowed. It looked like she wanted to reject it. Like she wanted to say she was there. That she was present for Alex.

But Yue could see the truth in her eyes. She knew it. Mei knew it.

Ever since Alex had been born, Mei had just been going through the motions of being a mother. She had been happy, yes. She had been fulfilled at playing the role of a doting wife and mother.

But Mei had never really been ALEX's mother. Just 'a' mother.

And the reason for that...

Yue quietly clenched her hands over her knees, holding them against her ripped jeans. Deliberately restraining herself. Even so, she couldn't stop herself from saying it. "...You regret it, don't you? Giving up your future for his sake. His and Brother-in-law?"

Mei stood up and said, "That's not-! That's not true! I chose this! I chose to have Alex! I chose to be a mother and a wife. I don't resent it-"

"But you didn't WANT it either. At least, not when you had Alex. You do now though. Right? That's the difference." Yue reached over and plucked a brownie from the tupperware, eating it.

Soft, moist. Although it was cold, Alex had made a recipe that was still easy to chew and eat even if it was left out. A thoughtful consideration for his mother, who would probably forget to eat unless food was out in plain sight. And a high calorie snack to make sure she was fed properly.

'Even now... you still think of her as a mom too, huh, Al?'

Alex called Yue 'Mom' now. But he still called Mei 'Mom' too. Just like a child, he was insisting on keeping both. Having his cake and eating it too.

Yue wasn't jealous. She understood. A child would always yearn for their parents.

But Alex chose her. Yue, not Mei. He thought about Mei, but he had drawn the line in the sand.

After all, Mei hadn't chosen Alex. She had chosen to be a 'mother' and a 'wife' over herself. But she had never chosen Alex properly.

If Mei had, she would know why Alex was like this now. If Mei had, Alex would never have thought of Yue as his motherfigure. If Mei had, Alex would still have cried at being forced to stay with Yue and probably never befriended April.

But Mei didn't choose Alex. She chose her 'duties' instead.

And this was the result.

The utterly selfless and unconditional love that a child should have had towards his parents had become limited in scope. The innocence that a young boy like Alex should have had was nowhere to be seen, replaced by ruthless survival instincts and competence. But even more than that...

The dedication, devotion, and affection that Alex should have had towards his parents had been clearly replaced by a distant filial duty instead. Not quite love. Not quite affection. Just... understanding. Deliberate respect. But that was all.

Yue sighed and handed a brownie to Mei. "Sis. Eat. Sit down."

Mei was quiet. Then she took the brownie and sat back down. She subconsciously placed her hand on her baby bump and murmured, "It wasn't supposed to be like this."

"I know." Yue let out a wry smile. "I remember. The two of you thought you could have it all."

The image of that time was still clear in Yue's mind. The optimism and faith that both Mei and Wang had upon hearing that they were expecting. Wang declaring he would make it big by starting a business so they could raise up their child together without stress. Mei saying that she'd just take a gap year before going back to school.

And then the failure after failure wearing both of them down afterwards.

Failures that, without either of them realizing it, had slowly bloomed a quiet resentment and weight from Alex's presence.

Yue had always seen it. But she thought it would get better. She never thought it would end up like this.

Mei quietly ate the brownie and said, "Does Alex hate me, Yuyu?"

Yue paused and looked at Mei. Genuinely looked at her.

The put-together older sister she remembered was nowhere to be seen. That smart, beautiful, and always successful young woman... she was gone. Instead, there was just a trembling tired woman who looked like her world had crumbled.

Yue couldn't help but notice the irony of the situation. Right now, Yue had everything Mei was supposed to have. A successful career, money, a doting son...

And Mei had what their parents thought Yue would go through: married young, pregnant, and nowhere in life.

Just three months ago, Yue would have held it over Mei's head. She would have laughed at her and said it served her right. That her know-it-all sister finally got the karma she deserved.

But right now, after living with Alex, after meeting Serena and April, after her entire world had changed...

Yue reached out and gently placed her hand on Mei's arm. "It'll be okay, Sis."

Mei sniffed and looked up at Yue with glimmering eyes. "Will it? I- No, both Wang and I failed Alex so much."

"You did. But he doesn't hate you. He still cares about you and Brother-in-law. Even if he..." Yue hesitated. But then she said, "Even if he chose me, he still is choosing to be part of your lives. And he's excited for his baby sister."

Mei wiped her tears away. "That's... true." She let out a trembling smile. "He is, isn't he?"

Yue nodded, smiling back at Mei. "Besides. It isn't like we live out of state. You could visit anytime you want. And we can visit too. Heck." Yue laughed and said, "Alex might start showing up every day to bother you and the baby when she's born."

Mei laughed as well, wiping away the rest of her tears. Then she put a hand on her belly and said, "That's right... Alex did say he wanted a baby sister. There's no way he wouldn't be part of this baby's life."

"Right. So don't worry, Sis. Alex doesn't hate you. He's just..." Yue trailed off, trying to think about how to describe Alex's situation. After all, it wasn't like she could say that he loved her more than Mei. Even if it seemed to be true. "...Still growing up."

Yue decided on that answer instead. Because it was true.

Alex WAS still just five. And while he seemed more mature than anyone his age had a right to be, he WAS still a kid. It wasn't like the relationship between him and his parents was ruined. It was definitely on shaky foundations, but it could still be fixed. Especially since everyone involved was aware of how it had been messed up from the start.

Mei sighed. "I suppose that's true. Alex... My little boy isn't quite so little anymore. He can think for himself now." She let out a teasing smile. "And how can I blame him for liking his cool auntie over his boring mom?"

Seeing that Mei was feeling a bit better, Yue teased back. "Well, I can't help being amazing. I AM a star actor, you know? I'm even a Power Ranger now."

Mei blinked. "You are?"

Yue blinked as well. Then she laughed. "Oh! I didn't tell you, did I? I got the role as the Pink Power Ranger in the new show."

Mei let out a genuine smile. "That's amazing, Yuyu!"

Yue smiled back and started talking, catching up with her older sister.

It wasn't quite the same. There were still a lot of things unsaid and pushed off for now.

But, at least for now, the two of them could talk and interact as close sisters again.

Time would fix things. It always did, after all.