The 2003 Astro Boy Story, A Winter Wish

[Alittleacorn]

This story is going to be posted in several parts as it is 16 pages long. Currently I have not checked the entire thing over, so only 2 parts of what i've done will be post for the time being.

[I]-A Winter Wish-

Upon the crumbling bridge, the boy struggles to his feet as he staggers on forth, carrying himself towards the man who retreats further back with every step gained.

“Leave this place at once! I order you!”

A burst of electricity is fired from the jagged ring, slamming into the boy with such a force he is propelled back. He cries out as pain overwhelms his entire mechanical body, clutching a hand to his chest over the gapping hole of melted flesh and metal, where an exposed heart whirrs rapid.

It takes every ounce of energy within the trembling boy to pull himself back up.

“P-Please, let me help you!”

Explosions rip through the facility, threatening to bring the ceiling down on creator and creation as rocketing temperatures from rising pool of molten steel, bursts the pipes bind on the walls. The man grits his teeth, applying pressure on the ring as he fires another warning shot at the boy. The bolt slices through his cheek, sending shockwaves up and down his metal skeleton with lethal volts.

“LEAVE!”

The boy stumbles, losing sight in one eye, with warning signs flashing up in the other. They tell him his body can take no more of a beating, but still he keeps going, continuing to approach the man within sight of his failing vision.

“No! I-I won’t!”

The weapon trembles in the man’s hand as he aims to the boy open chest, knowing full well to shoot would put an end to the creation he has put so much love into. His fingers remained poised on the trigger, stalling from where he stands.

He is cornered and has no where else to run.

“Stay back! BACK!”

His every word is ignored.

Even as the building begins to fall apart around them, the boy does not give up and turn away. The pain unbearable, he walks on unbalanced legs, stumbling once more as the dying sight in his remaining eye distorts and flickers out. His limbs grow weaker, mind numbing into a distant haze as the precious energy that gives him life starts to bleed out from his ruptured heart.

Nothing…was going to stop him.

Drawing near, the boy reaches out through the dark; searching for the man he can no longer see. His hands come to find their way to a waist, sliding round to rest upon the man’s back, and slowly, the boy brings his creator into his arms, hugging him gently.

“Don’t die, I forgive you…”

Blind eyes filled with so much sorrow, the boy lays his head against the man’s chest, addressing him by the title in a broken plea; that frees a tortured soul.

“Father...”[/I]
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Astro’s family had always been a strange one, but he would have it no other way. Zoran was his sister, Atlas like his brother, Yoko an aunt, Pluto an uncle, Nora a grandmother and Doctor O’Shay…for a long time he’d been like a foster father to him, and even to this day Astro looked up to the man as his second father. Nothing would change that.

A year ago today, Astro’s family had been incomplete, but now after so much, the last piece had joined the jigsaw that made up his young robot life.

He couldn’t believe his luck.

Pulling back the curtains to his bedroom, the Astro gasped in at awe at the surprise to await him beyond the window. It’d been snowing a few days before, but more had fallen in the night’s passing, for now the entire courtyard and the world beyond it were blanketed in a fresh layer of snow, and it was still falling in heavy clusters.

“Wow…” Hands and button nose pressed up the glass, his large brown eyes gazed upwards where billions upon billions of snowflakes seemed to fall in slow motion from the sky. Snow on Christmas day...If it weren’t for being in his rocket jammies, he would have been out there like a shot by now.

“An early bird again I see.”

Peering over one shoulder, a grin brightened on Astro’s face as he waved over to the man standing within the shadows of the open doorway.

“Father, come take a look at this! It’s really coming down!”

A cup of freshly brewed tea hooked within his fingers, the one he called father entered the bedroom and came join him at the window, where they looked out at their little winter wonderland.

Tenma’s release from prison had been 3 months before, but was still clear in Astro’s memory as the day it had happened. Not even the news crews to arrive uninvited had stopped Astro from running towards his creator for a long needed hug. Frequently he had visited Tenma in prison, where many of their conversations were housed within in a boxed cubical, with a wall of glass between them and a set of phones the only means of communication.

It'd been frustrating on Astro, having 100,000 horsepower at his fingers tips and yet being unable to use it to break in. If he could've so without any consequences, Astro would have smashed the glass in a nanosecond, if it meant he could just sit with him. It was laws and regulations, and his own conscience that stopped him…although they hadn't always in the past.

His father never spoke much of his life in that place, most often he’d said because there was little to speak of…although, he had mentioned with a faint smile to his lips that the food was rather tasteless, the reading material unimaginative and not one inmate or single guard could challenge him to a satisfying game of chess.

Those days were far behind them, but Tenma wasn’t entirely a free man. The bulky tag strapped to his wrist was testament of this. The stone walls and visiting hours might be gone, but he was still a prisoner in his own right.

But not all was bad, they had each other. Plus the chess games matches were a lot more competitive, athough their skills in the kitchen however needed a little work. Apparently...neither one could cook.

“Isn’t it cool?”

“Hm…” was all Tenma replied with, as he took a light sip of his tea. His enthusiasm wasn’t strongly felt as Astro’s, but he could see the appreciation for nature’s gift on his composed features. It made Astro wonder the last time his father had watched the snow without it being in the midst of a war.

“Do you think it’ll be like this all day?” He asked in a voice buzzing with excitement.

“A probability, yes” his father said while he studied the skies overcast in heavy white clouds. “It would be wise to leave early today, before the roads become impassable.”

Most cars had the capabilities of flight, but not only had his father's car been rendered flightless, it was bugged to track it’s every movement. Just one of the many things they’d adapted to.

“Right!” Astro nodded eagerly and hurried off to leave his room “I’ll go recharge!”

“Don’t run.” Tenma said with a mild sternness, and Astro called back a quick “Sorry!” as he left the room in a very, very brisk walk.

And so they both got ready for the big day ahead, with a couple or so more warning to the ecstatic robot, who couldn't stopped himself from running about th plac, as if his energy cells were made of candy cane. Some might consider this temperamental, but after Astro had tripped over countless times, knocked over a vase and accidently got his head stuck in a wall, the rule ‘no running’ would apply in any parents books.

The house just been refurbished too, so busting it up was not in their best interests.

When they had finally eaten (burning many slices of toast in the process), recharged, washed and dressed into their warm winter clothes, Astro had offered to his father the neatly wrapped Christmas present he’d kept secretly tucked under his bed. He was surprised to be met with a politely refusal, agreeing it best to wait until they were at Dr. O’Shay’s home, where it was revealed Astro’s own Christmas present resided.

“But I wanna know now!” the boy robot exclaimed unable to stay put as his hopped up and down like a pogo stick. “Come on, gimme a hint! Please?”

“If I were to tell you, it wouldn’t be surprise now would it?” Tenma said amused as he fitted on his trench coat and hat. He then reached for the little red coat hanging up on the peg and helped his son into it.

“Well, maybe you can tell me anyway! I can act surprised!” Astro suggested hopeful, but to no success.

His father could go within certain jurisdictions in the city, but only with an arranged escort. It wasn’t a terrible thing…since Astro was that escort. If his father had got him something in secrecy, it would’ve been with the help of Dr. O’Shay, which explained why it was over at the computer scientist’s house, maybe all nicely wrapped up and…

…And then, the mental image blew up in a cloud of smoke when a sudden thought crossed his electronic mind.

“It’s not another sister, is it?” Astro questioned as two Zoran ran rampant inside his active imagination. His father’s only response was to smile and speak in more riddles while he finished buttoning up his little coat. He said nothing more about the present, to Astro’s disappointment.

With everything they needed packed in the back trunk, the car's windows were de-iced the car and the driveway cleared, with a little help from a pair of rocket feet of course. And soon father and son were off, rolling down the snow paved blocks of Metro City as they listened to the radio, its channels switching from Christmas songs to classical music at every track’s end.

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(Next Part Soon)

[Androids101]

That has GOT to be one of the best fanfiction I've ever read. Excellent work!

[AprilSeven]

Yuppers, from ALittleAcorn come mighty oaks of great fan fiction!! Happy Christmas Eve everyone, and thank you, Lisa!

I wanna see my GIFT!!

[Alittleacorn]

They made a few stops along the way, as so Astro could drop off presents to his friends and wish them a quick merry Christmas. Tenma stayed in the car each time, not because it was warm but because he did not do well in the company of others, or rather they did not do well in the company of him.

When Astro first told Alejo, Kennedy and Abercrombie he was moving in with his father, he thought they took it pretty well…until they crashed into the house with the Quadra Rider later that same day, in another foiled rescue attempt to free their robot friend who they believed to be brainwashed by the ‘Lunatic’. It’d taken a lot explaining on Astro’s behalf before he managed to talk them into putting him down, after carrying him halfway across the neighbourhood. Their parents had not seen the funny side.

Their reactions, with all things considered…were a lot nicer than the rest of the world had been. Publicity was fading, but reporters still asked at any chance they got alone with the boy robot, why he was living with the mad man that tried to wipe out humanity.

“We’re family; and family sticks together. They don’t abandon each other!”

The world was a beautiful place, but sometimes…it could be a cruel one. They just didn’t understand Tenma, like he did.

It took less than hour to deliver the rest of the presents, crossing paths with Wally the detective, who was busy spending his Christmas investigating the whereabouts of a missing chi wow wow named, Muffin-Chan.

........

Lastly were newly wed Delta and Epsilon, whom Astro had accidently sighted kissing under a mistletoe, attached to a headband that Epsilon had cheekily slipped over the off duty cop’s head...until he quickly ripped it off and shoved it behind his back, upon seeing the bobbing head of pointy haired robot spying on them through the frosted window.

If robots could blush, Delta’s fuming face would’ve turned bright red.

“I think I know who we are” Astro said as he smelt the piping hot Christmas pudding on his lap, a gift from his teacher Mrs Meoki that she baked straight from the oven, “Santa Claus!”

“Hm…the role is far too jolly for my intellect, if they say so myself” Tenma state with a sense of pride to his words; that had for some reason sounded hilariously to Astro’s ears. Not even the hand he covered over his mouth could stop him from what he said next in a fit of giggles.

“Then you can be Rudolf!”

His father’s reaction was a mixture of things, but none of anger.

They were due to be at Doctor O’Shay’s house in another half an hour, almost 3 blocks away...yet, there was one last place they needed to go.

The snow had all but stopped by the time they pulled up at the cemetery. Together side by side, they journeyed through the pillars of stones, imprints fresh in the snow from others family to have come visit their departed loved ones. And after a minute of walking, Father and Son came to a stop, in front of the small grave.

Maybe…Astro was mistaken when he said their family was complete. In reality, there were was one important piece they would never get back.

“Even after a person has passed away, a part of them continues to live on in the memories of others. It is those memories we cherish deeply in our hearts and what helps us forward to catch the future.”

That was what Dr. O’Shay had told him years ago, when he’d been taught about the cycle of life and death. Often it made Astro wondered if part of Tobio still lived on inside of him. They’d never met, but the connection they shared was stronger than that of Siamese twins, unbreakable even from the grave.

He was sad he never had the chance to meet him…but in exchange for his life, Tobio had given Astro the greatest gift of all. What it was to feel alive. That’s why; he would always have a special in the heart and the memories they shared.

For Tobio was, and always would be...his big brother.

To his knees, Astro got to work on cleaning the grave of snow and any old sodden leafs to have fallen long from the cemetery’s bare boned trees. Once he was done, rising to study the glistening droplets to run down the white pearl marble etched in gold, Tenma stepped forward and placed the boutique of flowers down on the earth.

After Astro had said what he needed to, he left his father to be alone for a while. He remained at a distance in the meantime, watching from afar while he watched the grieving man put a hand to rest on cold soil and bowed his head. His mouth moved, saying something, but his voice was out of earshot range.

Astro, curious as he’d been, never once switched on his sensitive hearing to listen in. Whatever he had to say, it was not for Astro to hear…but Tobio, and Tobio alone.

Eventually when it felt as if the sands of time would never flow again, Tenma joined him at the path’s end. Reassurance in his young face, the boy robot held up a hand to his father’s larger one…and felt a great surge of inner peace when he clasped it firmly in his.

And back to the car they went, driving off to the place Astro had once called home…

(Part 3 Next...)

[Alittleacorn]

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In an office bathed in amber sunlight, hands slam down onto a desk in a burst of fury.

“I forbid it!”

The boy flinches from where he stands.

“But doctor-”

“No buts! It is out of the question!

The wise professor pulls out from his seat, tiny eyes clouded in thoughts of fury as he paces back and forth, unable to keep still.

“I knew I should’ve never of gone to that trial, this was his plan all along wasn’t it!? Crawl his way out of prison so he can follow through with his absurd ambitions!”

The boy shakes his head, desperate for the man to see sense.

“You got it all wrong! It’s what I’m asking!”

Shock casts itself upon the professor at that very moment. He stops in his steps, gazing on at loss for words.

“You mean to tell me, Dr. Tenma didn’t put you up to this?”

Once again, the boy quickly shakes his head.

“No, it’s my choice! I-I…I hate visiting and then leaving him to come home, its lonely there, more than the prison is! There’s nobody to keep him company. What if he does something and I’m not...”

The hands out in front of his fist chest clench tightly, insecurity taking hold.

“Don’t you see doctor? I can’t just leave him there alone!”

Anger gradually gives way to composure, and the man turns away. Towards the window he goes, both hands grasped firmly behind his back as he stares out over the city cast in the setting sun.

With a sigh, his eyes close.

“In that case…the answer is no.”

“Doctor!”

The wise professor does not listen as he continues, his voice seeking obedience from the child.

“My word is final, Astro. You are not moving in with that madman, the risk is too great!”

The distant cries of the city seep into the office, where human and robot stand forth, frozen like statues in a park.

Slowly, fists tighten at the young boy’s sides, his posture straightening with strength as he looks up from his metal boots, determination and hurt burning in his eyes.

“Don’t…call my father a madman…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the time both reached the top of the stairs (shovelled free of snow and salted over) Dr. O’Shay was already there waiting for them, his cheery yet wary smile greeting them on arrival as he stood by the open doors.

“Astro! It’s good to see you!” he happily said, moving aside, “Come in, come in!”

“Hey there Dr. O’Shay!” Astro said as he poked his head out from the tall stack of presents, “Merry Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas to you too! My, that is a lot you have there!” O’Shay commented with a chuckle, and directed the young boy robot to the living area, “How bout you go put them under the tree with all the other presents and we’ll open them later.”

“Gotcha!” Astro nodded and did as he was told, while trying to hide the little sad look to bloom on his face. He really wanted to open them now!

While he was setting presents down on the floor, Astro spotted in the corner of one eye the plump nose doctor approaching his father. “And…cough, a Merry Christmas to you, Tenma.”

“Likewise, Doctor” he answered smooth and collective as the two men held a watchful gaze over one another. Even after all this time, the tension was still there.

They now might stand on the same side, but their views on the coexistence of humans and robots differed significantly from one another. Dr. O’Shay trusted Tenma no more than he liked the idea of Astro living with him, as he still saw him as the man to mastermind the rift between humanity and robot kind…and the dominating father to have deactivated his own robot son when he repelled.

“Life’s all about making choices, isn't that what you always taught me doctor? To do what's right in my heart?”

It had taken much talking to pursue Dr. O’Shay into letting him go. After all these months he stilled called Astro at least 3 times a day, 7 days a week to make sure the little robot was still all in one piece….yet, Astro saw this as a vast improvement from the 10 calls a day and night, along with dropping in on unexpectly from out of the blue.

Even now, he noticed Dr. O’Shay would address him on every meeting or visit by ‘Astro’ as though testing he responded to his name, and not Tobio’s.

There wasn’t to be a repeat of events, Astro trusted his creator that much. Sure Tenma wasn’t a changed man and he still believed even now robots superior, but he wasn’t about to go and make his beliefs of an all Mecha race a reality, nor was he about to erase his memories again to make him Tobio. Everyone…deserved second chances, and so did his father.

Astro had forgiven him, why couldn’t Dr. O’Shay..?

In an attempt to break the ice, Tenma nonchalantly offered out the Christmas pudding he’d been holding the entire time.

“Season's greetings.”

“Oh…why, thank you” Dr. O’Shay said accepting the gift with some surprise to his tone “My, I didn’t know you could cook Tenma.”

“Nor did I…” His father replied and Astro suppressed a chuckled, pretending not to hear. Maybe with time, they would see eye to eye.

Drifting out from the kitchen in a decorative Christmas apron and wearing a party popper hat, the service robot appeared.

“Merry Christmas Nora!” Astro said with a wave.

“Oh good day to you dear” She replied politely in an elderly manner as she can be glided on over. Without even the slightest bit of hesitation or fear, Nora held out her robotic hand, her large bionic eyes smiling, “A pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Tenma.”

“…The pleasure is all mine” his father said slowly, and shook her offered hand.

As tiny as it was, Astro could see the change in his behaviour. Although they differed in color and personality, Nora’s appearance was identical to the Nora robot that had cared for Tobio once-upon-a-time, and had been at the heart of a feud to separate father and son.

That Nora robot had long since been reactivated upon Tenma’s request to Dr. O’Shay (since certain laws reframed him working in robot mechanics ever again, he wasn’t even allowed to help Astro recharge) and the old service bot had found itself a new home with another family.

However good his father might be in disguising his emotions, his silence was loud enough to say he wasn’t comfortable in the robot’s company.

O’Shay had noticed this too, and quickly swooped in to save the day “N-Nora, why don’t you take this and serve it up for when Mrs Yuko and her husband arrive?” he said, offering the service robot the Christmas pudding.

“Certainly, I’d be delighted” Nora replied kindly and carried the pudding all the way back to the kitchen to carry on with the cooking, completely oblivious to the moment that’d passed.

“Astro!” wearing a Santa Claus’s hat on her head, the hyperactive Zoran came sliding down the banister of the winding stairwell, running towards her brother at full speed.

“Zoran-whoa!” He laughed with open arms as he caught her in a twirling hug. He was just thankful he’d set the presents down before hand, or there would’ve been one mega mess.

“Did ya miss me?!Didya?Didya?Didya?” Zoran asked happily as she bounced in circles, leading Astro around for the ride.

“A-Ah, Zoran!” He complained, though was just as glad to see his little sister again, “Come on, cut it out!”

Living in two separate households, the siblings didn’t see each other as often as they once did. Sure they could visit one another and hang out, but it was different from living under the same roof where they saw each other everyday. Going to different schools and Astro being busy at the Ministry didn’t help their situation much either.

He never thought he’d say it, but he missed his little sister wreaking havoc on his life, from messing up the kitchen, chasing her around the city to fighting over the TV remote. He even missed those times in the middle of the night, when she’d sneak into his room and hog the bed, because she was afraid of the thunderstorm clashing outside their window and believed he’d protect her if any hit the house.

Secretly…Astro had a small phobia of lightening too, but never would he admit that. Big brothers; aren’t supposed to be scared.

“Did you get me anything?” Zoran asked as she set her eyes on the many new presents, that she begun to poke and prod at, “Are they all for ME?”

Astro laughed “Haha, not all of them-hey don’t shake that!”

Later on with their coats hung up, Tenma left with Dr. O’Shay to his study mentioning they needed to discuss some matters in private. In the meanwhile the two siblings were left alone to catch up, all while inspecting their presents more thoroughly (Astro chuckling in surprise when he saw Houdini perched on the star at the top of the Christmas tree). He refused the temptation to scan the presents for what was inside, otherwise, where would the fun be in that?

…He didn’t find any from his father; Astro had checked all the labels. Was it someplace else?

Then right on schedule, as the clock struck ten, a knock sounded at the front door.

(You're gonna loooove the next part )

[Alittleacorn]

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“Coming!” Astro called and hurried on over to answer. And when he did...the pink flamingo robot Momo came trotting on in, carrying a sack of presents in his small strong beak.

Slow to follow, toddled in the young woman wrapped a thick duffle coat, with her rosy cheeks aglow under her large woolly hat and scarf.

“Hi Mrs Yuko!” Astro said cheerfully, giving plenty of room for the secretary to step in from the cold. Zoran who’d been distracted by her presents finally realised the woman was there and leapt to her feet. “MERRY CHRISTMAS!” she screamed at the top of her voice, causing poor Houdini to fall off the tree bewildered.

“Merry Christmas Zoran!” Yuko laughed light heartedly, and then turned to the other sibling, giving him a hug the best she could in her current condition. “And you, how’s my little man holding up?”

Astro knew that if she’d rephrased her words, it would’ve been ‘Has your father been up to any world domination schemes as of late?’ but he was used to these questions by now and didn’t mind them. They only asked out of concerned for him. How could he be angry at somebody for caring about him?

“Systems are functioning normally!” Astro assured as he returned the embrace, being careful not to hug the woman too tightly. “Are the both of you okay?”

“Yep, just fine.” The secretary said as she pulled away, giving the boy robot a wink. “We’re both in safe hands”.

Mrs Yuko hadn’t been at the Ministry of Science, for the last 2 weeks but not because of the holidays. The reason dated back to several months before in Dr. O’Shay office one late evening. When Astro had offered to help with paperwork Mrs Yuko was far behind on, which wasn’t like her at all, considering she was best timekeeper in the whole of the company and possibly the city. But on that day the strain had really begun to show on the woman, that even Astro could tell she wasn’t herself.

He soon found out why as they’d been in close proximity at the desk, organising the documents into their correctly labelled folders, when he’d stopped what he was doing.

“What’s the matter, Astro?” Mrs Yuko had asked at noticing the distant look on the boy robot’s face. Slowly he had set the files down and turned to her…then like that, Astro had grabbed her round the middle, pulling her body close to his as he pressed an ear to her stomach.

“A-Astro? What on earth do you think you are doing!?” Yuko had demanded, unable to remove the arms of the 100,000 horsepower robot from her waist, “Unhand me this instant young man!”

An unwelcome hug it might have seemed, what Astro had really been doing was listening to the inner workings of her body, where his enhanced hearing capabilities had picked up…the faint palpitations of a tiny heart, beating alongside Mrs Yuko’s.

When he’d told her about this, asking "Did you eat somebody Mrs Yuko?" Astro had watched in semi confusion as the secretary’s face paled with a quivering lip…

THUMP

And she collapsed on the office floor in front of him.

Mrs Yuko had fainted.

It was on the day, that Dr. O’Shay had sat the little boy robot down and told him all about the birds and the bees.

“How’s the baby doing? Is he gonna be born soon?” Zoran quizzed as she bounced on over like a little ballerina, joining along Astro to help the heavily pregnant woman out from her coat.

“Heh…he’s a girl, Zoran. And yes, any day now” Yuko said with a fond rub of her tummy.

“A girl? Oh my gosh! OH!” And fireworks lit up in Zoran’s eyes at seeing Momo and the bag of presents he held. The flamingo barely had time to chirp in horror before the girl chased him off into the house, disregarding anything her brother or Mrs Yuko said.

Some things, just never change.

Hanging up her coat, Astro glanced over at the partly open doors “Say, where is…”

“My hubby? He just left on urgent business. There was an emergency call from the clinic; some guy’s appendix’s burst.” Yuko explained as she stretched the burdened muscles and bones in her back, giving a weary sigh “Ironic really; and here I am ready to pop.”

Astro smiled as he shut the front doors completely, “Guess even surgeons can’t catch a break huh?”

“You said it” Yuko nodded in agreement. She looked to the boy robot, and smiled “Now, could you be a gentleman and point me in the direct of the little girl’s room? Nature calls.”

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Helping Mrs Yuko along, Astro escorted her to the bathroom on the second floor and left her alone to do her business, while he went off to chase down his little sister pony riding poor Momo all over the place. Eventually upon all four’s return downstairs, O’Shay and his father were waiting, their strenuous faces entailing of the long debate two men had shared…Astro hadn’t used his special abilities to listen in, he hadn’t liked what he heard the last time he did.

After much begging from the over exerted Zoran, claiming her Kororo would die if she didn’t get to open her presents soon, they all gathered round in the living room and begun the ritual of exchanging and unwrapping gifts.

The awkwardness, set in again…

Though they all tried to pretend everything was perfectly normal, it was oblivious to Astro things were not. Dr. O’Shay kept smiling too much, Mrs. Yuko’s was bit a fidgety and Zoran’s happy bubble had popped suddenly, while Tenma...his father, opted to stand rather than sit on snug sofas with everybody else. He was an onlooker, observing from a far, but not connecting with the group, the same as he’d been those painful years before.

A shadow in the dark, his presence felt but never seen.

And then…

“M-Mr Tenma sir?”

Astro turned his attention away from the hand held console he’d received from O’Shay, as he and everyone else looked across to Zoran, now standing over by his father.

“I-I, I gotcha something” she said, looking skittish as Houdini on her shoulder as she held up a small gift with shaky hands, “H-Here!”

Zoran had never thought fondly of the Tenma, in fact she had once said:

“He’s the baddest, meanest person in the world! Don’t chu see Big Brother! He’ll make you forget me and we’ll never see each other again!”

She had her stowed away in one of his suitcases when he’d made the big move into his new home, about the same time Dr. O’Shay had called in a panic, saying Zoran had vanished and he couldn’t find her anywhere.

Missing sister…plus heavier luggage, Astro had put two and two together. Although he’d promised he’d be okay and there was nothing to worry about, to this day Zoran still didn’t like the living arrangements or Tenma.

So, it took a lot of courage for his sister to be doing what she was now. A positive sign she was on the way to making amends.

Taking the gift, Tenma carefully torn open the colorful wrapping paper from where every end was bind by tape. And carefully, he pulled out a wooden box, bearing a varnished shine to it's surface. It was simple in its design, but nice all the same.

“Open it” Zoran insisted with a small meek voice.

Tenm took a moment’s pause to study the box, and then pulled open the lid…the lack of reaction, was not what Astro expected.

Slowly, his father reached reached into the box…and held up a smoking pipe.

A plastic...smoking pipe...

“I-It’s blows bubbles!” Zoran explained quickly talking over herself, “I wanted to get you a real one, but the casher man said I couldn’t, cause he said I was under age, and then he said smoking’s bad for you and said lots of other stuff too, so I said I’d get that instead and he said okay.” She finally ended her speech, nervously looking down at her hands as she poked her fingers together. “H-Humans like bubbles don’t they?”

A long silence hung in the air, heavy and morbid, as all attention was focused on Tenma.

…

He laughed.

It wasn’t a laugh made of from wicked deeds or from a wave of insanity, but a real honest laugh, warmed by the sense of humor he’d not tapped into for a long time. Never in all his time...had Astro heard his father laugh so much. It was music to his ears, meaning more to him than any thank you could.

Pretty soon, everybody else had joined in too, finally able to breathe easy and have a good time...all for except for Zoran, who looked very confused.

“W-What’s so funny? Heeey! Stop it!”

It was when, Christmas really found home in their hearts.

(Part 5 later, only 4 more pages to goooo O.O)

[Ghost]

Very good and well written. Keep going.

[Alittleacorn]

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With a buzz of happiness in the air, the rest of the presents were unwrapped. Dr. O’Shay was grateful for the electronic diary from (that shouted recorded message reminders if he was a second late with his schedule) from Mrs Yuko.

Mrs Yuko was thankful for the matching teddy bears she’d received, one blue and one pink from Zoran (who hadn’t known at the time if the baby was a boy or a girl.)

Zoran was overly ecstatic with the pink Hello Kitty dress and bag she’d got from Nora, who was pleased with the tub of body wax and oil she and Momo had exchanged to last them the half the year round.

While Houdini…was just happy to peck at the plate of cookies and grow fat.

As for Tenma, Astro was finally able give him his Christmas present; a rare collection of records from the 20th century, that he’d carefully selected to his father’s taste in classical music…with a little help from an uncover robot friend of his. In the study back home, there was a well preserved record player that he would often listen to, so Astro knew it was something he might like.

The affectionate pat to his metal scalp made him feel on top of world, knowing he’d picked right.

Mrs Yuko’s husband’s later join them, just in time for the big Christmas feast, telling all of the tales of the operation he had just performed and others before that, right down to the gory details. Astro hadn’t minded since he loved hearing about the anatomy of all living creatures and robots alike…but for some reason, every other human at the table was suddenly put off eating their food. All apart from Zoran who was too busy blowing energy bubbles with what she tasted, as she stared mesmerised by the doctor with hearts in her eyes,.

"Girls" Astro thought.

Managing to all gobble up the food from their plates, they had Christmas pudding for dessert, that Dr. O’Shay had once again compliment Tenma for being delectable (with Astro trying his hardest not to burst out laughing in the process). They later got a call from Reno who was spending the festive holiday over with Princess Abby in her country where it was still the early morning. The ex-circus performer had cried in exasperation upon hearing snow had fallen back in his homeland.

“Man lucky! It’s boiling hot out here, I’m sweating buckets! Say, you wanna trade?”

“Buckets of sweat?”

“Yes I-no the snow you idiot!”

Detective Tawashi popped over for a visit too, however his real purpose for being there was to check on Tenma (something they had to visit the station daily for, but today was an exception) to be sure the man was not up to his old tricks…to which his father had humorously added.

“My apologizes Detective, if I knew you were coming I’d of brought my magic cards.”

The detective hadn’t found it amusing, but he couldn’t refuse when Astro offered him the last slice of pudding, to show there were no hard feelings.

Leaving the grownups to their chitchat and alcohol (except for Mrs Yuko making do with grapefruit) the two siblings adventured out into the backyard. They did all sorts of things from building snowmen to making snow-angels in the ground, every one imprinted with their funny pointy heads, so they knew which had been done by whom. But nothing could top Astro from playing his most favourite winter activity of all.

“SNOWBALL FIGHT!”

In no time at all, the backyard became a war zone with snowballs flying everywhere, each growing larger in size with every throw as brother and sister duelled it out.

…Until, a giant snowball as big as the house landed on the siblings from the sky and crushed them both. And when he and Zoran did manage to tunnel their way out, they saw two laughing robots floating above.

Pluto and Atlas.

Their visits were brief, Atlas having to take off first since he had snuck out from some expensive (quote ‘boring’) banquet his dad was hosting and he needed to get back before absence was notice…but not before challenging Astro to a race around the skies of Metro City. Both tied, as per usual, and fought over which was victor, as per usual.

Pluto’s stay was fortunately much longer, just long enough for Zoran to run inside to give the green giant the huge scarf she’d spent all December knitting. He didn’t exactly need one (since most robots couldn’t feel the cold) but Pluto had been grateful for the gift. The same could not be said about the flower patterns and hearts knitted onto each patch, however Pluto was used to being decorated in flowers by now from Zoran and commented it’d make him look less frightening to people.

If he'd really meant it as a joke so not to upset Zoran however...would forever remain a mystery.

“Astro?” up by the back door, Tenma was waiting, “Come inside, if you please.”

With a complying nod, Astro left his little sister playing on the swing set with Pluto sat nearby, giving her little pushes whenever she asked to go higher. Inside, everybody had gathered to stand in the living room, watching with growing smiles on their faces as Astro set foot on the scene.

“W-What’s going on?”

Like a giant curtain opening to an opera theatre stage, they parted ways to where the Christmas tree was aglow…

Below it, now was a large red box wrapped in a green bow.

Astro had gotten so carried away in the spirit of things; he’d forgotten all about the surprise!

The hand on his back gave him encouraging push forward. Nervous he glanced up at his father, pointing to himself,

“For me?” Astro asked, and Tenma nodded, coupled with the trace of a smile on his lips. He said nothing else.

“Go on, Astro” said the slightly tipsy O’Shay, who’s cheeks were flushed from drinking too much brandy. Nora and Mrs Yuko coached him on with their eyes, trying not spill the secret as they giggled to amongst themselves…while Mrs Yuko’s husband was busy looking at the P section of ‘Names for Baby Girls’ book, completely not with them.

With a helpful nudge from Momo, Astro walked on over to the tree and gingerly sat down, unsure if he was shaking from excitement or fear. Maybe a mixture of both.

Every time his father had presented a gift, things always took a turn for the bad; first with Tobio and then with himself back in the Antarctic. There would be no new robot body inside, yet past endeavours left him worried on opening it up. He could try scanning, but that did no good because whenever he scanned his body gave off an electrical sound, they’d know he was using it.

He had no choice than to stay visual.

Inquisitively Astro studied the box from top to bottom, side to side, seeing nothing out of the ordinary about it...when…

“Huh?” Slowly he traced his fingers over the tiny indents on one side. There were the small holes cut into it, to let air into the box?

Something inside moved.

Astro jumped.

“You going to keep us waiting all day Astro? Not like you to get scared over a box” Mrs Yuko teased as Zoran toddled in from outside, asking what everyone was making a fuss about, timed with the whoosh of jets outside from Pluto’s departure.

Circuits sprouting butterfly wings in his tummy, Astro pulled on the bow and ribbon instantly fell away. With a deep breath of air into his artificial lungs, he lifted off the lid…and Astro's jaw dropped, gasping at the little tail wagging furball to look up at him from inside.

“A PUPPY!”

And with a tiny bark, the dog launched itself at the boy robot. He was quick to react, catching the fluffy bundle as it landed on his chest as it scrambled up, licking his face as if it were covered in doggy treats.

“N-No stop! Stop! That tickles! That tickles!” Astro cried with fits of laughter as he was slobbered in baby puppy drool.

Ever since he’d seen a family playing fetch with their dog in the park, Astro had always wanted a four legged companion of his very own. No matter how much he’d begged Dr. O’Shay for one, the man’s answer was a straight out no…for Astro was only 3 days old from his reactivation, with the psychological age of an infant. Not the ideal time to be taking on responsibilities walking a dog when he’d just learned to walk him self.

Now Astro couldn't believe it. It was a dream come true!

“Hahaha! Thanks dad! This is the best present ever!” the boy robot said, managing to pluck the puppy off from him, still continuing to wriggle happily in his grasp.

“He’s so CUTE! Zoran squealed bouncing over next to him, as she gave the puppy a stroke. “What’s his name? Does he have one?”

Tenma lightly gave a shake of his head, smiling all the while “No, I believed that right to be should bestowed on Astro” he said proudly and looked to his son “don’t you agree?”

“A name huh…” Astro raised the puppy up to eye level, watching it as it watched him back with a happy bark.

Lucky was too common and Patch was too fitting to those very patches on its fur, what he needed something special, something that represented the puppy in its heart.

He thought of how springy it was…how it’d startled him from inside the box…

“I got it!” Astro announced, chuckling as the puppy licked his nose, “I’ll call you Jump, how bout it boy?”

“Bark!”

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Final part coming.

[Astronomical girl]

ITS CUUUUUUTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEE!

[Alittleacorn]

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That was the thing about Christmas, people spent weeks to months preparing for it (from buying presents for loved ones, to putting up decorations and planning a feast that could feed an entire army) that when the joyous day finally arrived, it was over before they knew it. For Christmas after all…only came once a year.

But that’s what made it, so special.

After playing a competitive game of ‘I gotcha your handheld game! Nah! Nah! Nah! Nah! Nah!’ and watching a string of family films, he and Zoran had dozed off together on the sofa, with little Jump flopped on his back between them, tail wagging even in sleep.

When Astro awoke later on, Mrs Yuko and her husband were leaving with their said farewells to Dr. O’Shay. Astro hadn’t opened his eyes, not wanting them to know he was listening, plus, he was still very sleepy.

During that point of drifting between the boarder-line of the wake and sleeping world, he’d overheard his father and Dr. O’Shay in the kitchen. For the first time no spite was in their words as they talked like mature adults, and for once…they agreed on something.

“Why don’t the two of you rest here for the night? It’s been a long day and it would be careless to drive home in these weather conditions, the roads are by far not safe.”

“…I’d be happy to oblige.”

“Wonderful then, I’ll inform Nora to set up the guest room for you!”

“...Many thanks.”

A hidden smile lifted the corner of Astro’s mouth, to which the two never saw…he hoped.

Eventually, the TV on its lowest volume was switched off, the curtains were drawn and the last of the dirty dishes were cleaned up as preparations were made for bed.

The spot next to Astro on the sofa shifted as Dr. O’Shay picked up the snoozing Zoran, whispering a gentle but proud goodnight to Astro (who he still believed to be asleep) before carrying his sister to bed; with the beating of wings from Houdini to follow suit.

A hum of electronics drew close as Nora approached, commenting with a soft voice what a dear Astro looked curled up on the sofa with Jump. The same as Dr. O’Shay had done to Zoran, Nora leaned down to pick him up, her metal claws touching Astro's side to tickling results when-

“That’s alright.”

The familiar tap of well shined shoes journeyed over to where they were…and Astro remained still as can be, as the pair of warms arms enveloped him and he was lifted up from the sofa.

“I’ll take him...” Tenma told the service robot, as he cradled his son safely to his chest.

And up the stairs he carried Astro to his old bedroom, the sound of the newly awakened Jump quick to scamper on after them. All the while the boy robot remained motionless like a sleeping child should; knowing that if he were to make even the slightest bit of movement, the game would be up and he would have to walk the rest of the way to bed.

While Astro rested there, eyes fully closed and his head leaned against his father’s broad shoulder, something came back to him. A memory not long after he was born...

He’d been carried through the Ministry of Science, wrapped in nothing a the white lab coat smelling faintly of his father’s scent, as he’d listened to the beating of his heart and the steady intake of breaths. Voices had whispered in from all around from co-workers, gossiping amongst themselves of their disgust for the man who’d built a robot to replace his dead son.

Astro’s young mind was unable to understand what was spoken back then, yet the anger spat in their cruel words had sparked fear in the boy robot’s heart, and he’d buried deeper into the lab coat, in a feeble attempt to escape it.

Despite all to be said that day…not once, had his father let him go. He'd held him close, protecting the precious bundle wrapped in his arms with such security, no one could've torn father from son if they had dare so tried.

In those dark times of an apocalyptic war, Astro used to think back to that memory, wondering what had changed Tenma, his loving father, into the man that dreamt of becoming a god in a new world, wanting his 'Tobio' to be ruler of it.

In truth, his father hadn’t gone anywhere. Through all the heartache he’d given Astro, Tenma had still cared the robot son he’d created, looking out for him on numerous occasions, even when Astro wasn’t aware of it.

That’s what he had finally realized in Plant 7, when his father had hoaxed the detonation switch and the destruction of the Ministry. Every word he’d said, was a lie to try and get him to come back. Not as a robot king, but as the robot Tobio he had foolishly deactivated so long ago out of fear. Tenma had wanted a chance to be part of his life again, not an enigmatic figure, and so took the only course of action he knew how, by force.

All done…out of love, the same love any parent felt for their child, the love that made them willing to give up everything to protect them, even with their very own lives. But what parents often didn’t realize, was that their children were capable of the same sacrifice.

Astro might have a new name and a new life to go with it, but a part of him was still the robot Tobio that Tenma had given life to. The son he'd taught to walk, to talk and everything else too. As that robot Tobio, and as Astro, he wanted his creator to be a part of his life, not out of the picture.

Remaining by his father’s side, was the only place he wanted to be.

The back of Astro’s head came to lye against a soft pillow, as duvet was slowly drawn up to his chin. While he was being securely tucked into bed, he felt Jump hop up, settling himself down by the boy robot’s legs with a tiny puppy yawn.

With a whispered goodnight for pleasant dreams, a kiss was planted on the boy’s head. And it was only afterwards, upon hearing his father was about to leave, did one of Astro’s large brown eyes crack open.

“Father?”

Tenma paused at the open door, the light from the landing overcastting his form as he looked over with not a hint of surprise at his robot child for being awake. Maybe, he had known the entire time.

Smiling cheekily, Astro pulled out a book from his old hiding place beneath the pillow, and raised it up before his face.

“Read me a story?”

The man stared but for a moment…and then chuckled lightly with closed lids, going over to join the boy at his bed side.

“Very well...”

And so was Astro whisked away into the land of nod, his father’s voice softly carred off into his dreams with the tales of Peter Pan….

[I]So stay in my memory
You can hide out there
Don't take all my thoughts today
So I can start to begin again...[/I]

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“Father...welcome home...”

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The idea of this story was to capture both the English and Japanese version in one...no not really, it just came out that way lol, but great how unplanned stuff works

Astro's personality is a hint of this. If you put both versions from the 03 dubs together they are very different characters. English dub Astro is much more tougher with 'let's rocket!' while his Japanaese counterpart is younger and more 'catch the future!' so getting the blend of tough kid with his innocence in there was fun to do. I made them two of the same person =3

The introduction uses a part of dialogue from both dubs. In English when Astro he says 'I forgive you' in the Japanese he says 'Don't die, father' (and you even see his arms glomp his daddy :cry both have an impact so I decided to join them together.

Also whenever I looked at that scene I got the hint that the animators wanted to put some robot gore in there. Astro gets blasted with that Kura ring thing and smoke comes comes off his chest but nothing, given they weren't allowed to, just like Atlas couldn't have his arm blown off (grrr :d oh so I wrote to how I'd of liked to have seen it, even keeping where Astro gets fired at. Though the blinding Astro idea, well, just watch that scene next time where he goes to his dad, at points his eyes have that sad vacant look about them, I had to toy with that. XD

Anyways, MOVING ON. Sorry to go on with that part, I just love that scene from the show.

Delta and Epsilon I couldn't resist hooking those two up as a married couple (they look so good together). I thought about it ages ago that if I ever wrote 03 i'd do that. I got my chance!

Yuko being pregnant I had to do! Sort of as a cute quirt and to show that time isn't standing still, same reason for Delta and Epsilon.

If it wasn't hinted enough, yeeees Yuko's hubby was Black Jack XD but did you guess who their baby is hmmmm?

Zoran blowing energy bubbles is something she does once in the Japanese version. She tastes some chocolate and her body glows before releasing the energy as a giant bubble. I can't believe they censored that (I think) but it also told you the reasons she and Astro sleep is to process all data for that day and remove what's unneeded, just like what us humans do.

Oh and the Peter Pan book at the end, was a hint to the cut episode called Enternal Boy, that was all about Neverland and which Astro showed great interest in.

Think the important factor for me though was getting the father son happy ending they needed, and nomnom the people up in charge of censorship. Apparently hugging is a crime.

In all this was a tricky one to do, fact I said it was 16 pages...turned into 22! AH! O_O

Anywho thanks everyone for all your comments they fill me with such wuv x3.

One more story to go now set for New Year. All I'm saying it's time to visit the world of Black and White.