“Okay,” Kumiko sighed. “Lisa, why don’t you take yourself over into the kitchen while Me and Cole talk with...me over here.”
Lisa nodded as she and Jason now guided teen Lisa into the kitchen. Kumiko was now left with the surly Asian teen in front of her. Teen Kumiko frowned as the three made their way into the living room. “So what do you want to talk about,” teen Kumiko grumbled. “I mean I could give you some fashion tips or relationship advise or something cause you look like you could use some.”
Kumiko gritted her teeth as she gazed at her obnoxious teenage self. Unfortunately for her the girl was the spitting image of herself at 16. She recalled just how unfiltered and uncoothe she had been as a teen. This Kumiko was exactly like her...and it was driving her crazy.
“No I’m good Kumi,” she grumbled. Kumiko sighed heavily as she now looked up at her husband. “Listen Kumi why don’t you tell me about yourself. I’m interested to know what things are like where your from.”
Teen Kumiko shrugged. Although unsure of what to tell this version of herself she figured she would start at the beginning. Over the next 20 minutes she talked of her timeline. One where she was Mika’s twin sister with Shiro as her older brother. Kumiko listened intently as the teen gushed about how her friends had found a magic ring that not only controlled reality but age as well. Adult Kumiko listened intently, smiling at times when the girl talked. This Kumiko had been part of things from the very beginning, something adult Kumiko had not experienced. Listening to the girl adult Kumiko wished she had been their at the beginning as well.
“So I do have a question for you,” teen Kumiko asked. “What made you fall for Cole of all people?”
Kumiko stared dumbstruck at the young teen before turning towards her husband. “Well,” she started. “Cole...well I mean look at him. The guy is like a living breathing Captain America. What’s not to love.”
“I guess,” teen Kumiko grumbled. “If you like that thing. Personally I mean how did you not end up with an athlete or model or a famous actor or something your in the fashion industry.”
Kumiko laughed as she listened to her teenage self. “Tried That Trust me when your older you’ll realize this is much better.”
“I do have a question if it’s okay,” Cole asked. Teen Kumiko nodded as she looked at the former Marine. “Well,” he started. “I was just curious if their was a version of me in your timeline. I mean their seems to be versions of everyone else but I haven’t heard anything about me.”
Teen Kumiko gave Cole a struck look as she now thought about the Cole in her timeline. “Well yeah there’s a version of you,” she said. “I’ve met him a couple of times. He’s 21 and is enrolled at West Point. Personally I think he’s too serious. Always with the yes sir no sir stuff, such a bore really.”
“Like that some version is older than you babe,” Cole grinned at his wife. “But Seriously West Point not the Marines? Gonna have to have a talk with that boy.”
Kumiko and her teenage self giggled as they looked at Cole. As they were laughing they could here the cries of a baby coming from the playpen nearby. “Damn,” Kumiko sighed. “Probably hungry.” As she slowly stood she looked down at her teenage self, a smile slowly crossing her face.
“Hey Kumi,” she smiled. “You want to see him?”
Teen Kumiko gawked as she nervously stared at the playpen. “Me!?Why!?!”
“Well,” Kumiko started. “You came here wanting to know about us and vice versa. If you want to know why my life is like this you should probably meet the thing I’m most thankful for.” The young teen slowly nodded as she cautiously approached the playpen. As she looked down she could see the chubby infant cry softly, looking to be picked up. “Go ahead Kumi,” adult Kumiko said. “Pick him up.”
Teen Kumiko had never been good with kids, rarely holding an infant and never babysitting. Looking down at the small boy though something drew her to him. Carefully she now bent forward cradling the boy in her arms. “Wow,” she whispered.
Tommy stopped crying as he felt himself being picked up. Blinking his eyes the boy curiously gazed at the young teen, at first unsure of who this was. Slowly though the boy began to smile, no matter her age the boy recognized his mother.
“Hmm guess your a natural,” Kumiko smiled as she looked at the bewildered teen. Teen Kumiko gazed up at her adult self unsure of what to say. For some reason things became clear as she held the boy, all the ideas of she had of what her life should be as an adult seemed to evaporate. She could understand now why her adult self settled for this life, it was perfect.
“Do you,” She stammered. “Do you mind if I hold him for a little bit?”
Kumiko smiled, nodding at her teenage self. Settling into her husbands embrace she could see her teenage self happily holding her son.
“Babe why you let her hold Tommy,” Cole asked. Kumiko smiled, placing a small peck on her husbands cheek. “Trying to talk to...well...teen me is impossible,” she smirked. “I was too thick headed. I was always more emotional. The best way to get through was to pull on my heartstrings.”