The doorbell rang, and his mother opened. Her eyes went wide as she saw the son she hadn't seen in years. A smile bloomed on her face.

"Mike!" She wrapped him in a tight hug that threatened to crack his ribs.

When she finally released him, she stepped back, "You've grown. Come in, come in."

Mike stepped inside the home he used to know. His older brother looked up at him from the couch, his look disinterested, before looking back to the vidscreen.

"You're just in time. Dinner should be ready any moment." His mother told him.

Mike nodded and took a seat at the table a couple spaces away from his father.

His father looked up at him, grunted in disinterested, and looked back at his holofeed.

The smell of cooked meat filled the air as his mother entered once more, a plate laden with slices of terran beef. Mike raised an eyebrow.

"Beef all the way from Terra?" He asked.

His mother smiled before placing a slice on his plate, "special occasion."

She bent closer and whispered to him, "it wasn't my choice what happened back then. I... didn't know he was planning that, and after it happened, it was too late."

Mike nodded and watched as his mother filled his father's plate, and ran another one out to his older brother.

"You're back." His father stated, "Why?"

"Because mom asked me to come." Mike replied, cutting into the beef.

"We don't need you here, you useless waste of space." The father told him. He spoke as if he was discussing the weather.

"Mother invited me here, and I'll be here, and I'll at least be staying for dinner." Mike retorted.

"Not a minute longer, then." Hos father demanded.

"Now, Steve, that's no way to treat our son." His mother warned him.

His father grunted in response and turned his head back to his holofeed.

Mike's communicator chimed, showing a picture of a tall, red skinned woman with dark black hair. The contact picture was of the two of them dressed nicely at a gala they had attended together.

Her message, however, was anything but fancy. It spoke of exactly what she wanted to do with him, and what ideas she had gotten since last time. Unfortunately, Mike had forgotten to take his communicator out of hologram mode, displaying his messages for both his parents.

He blushed red at the salacious message.

His father's face turned purple, "You slept with a Hadikin?"

Mike looked his father straight in the face and took a deep breath, "first, her name is Lilith. Well, technically, I would need another set of vocal chords to pronounce her real name, but she goes by Lilith. Second, we've been married for five years, now. Third, you lost the right to comment on my personal life when you kicked me out seven years ago."

"Dear, I'm sorry I missed the wedding." His mother glared at his father, "I hope I can meet her."

His father scoffed, "they can all go back to that hell planet Hades, or whatever it's called for all I care."

Mike stood, "Coming here was a mistake. I can see that now. I don't need or want you in my life. You have been nothing but a tormentor for most of it, and that hasn't changed. I have my life to live, and a business to run. So, if you'll excuse me, I'll be going now."

He walked out the door back to his ground transport.

"Mike!" His mother rushed out to meet him, a plate of apple pie in her hand.

"I'm... sorry." She said, handing it to him. Her eyes shined with tears, "please don't shut me out. I'd... like to get to know you again. And if that includes... Lilith, I'm alright with that."

"We'll see." Mike told her, taking the pie and stepping into his transport.

The pie tasted bittersweet in his mouth as it drove away to his waiting shuttle. Perhaps one day he'd forgive her.