They were in the back of the car, on their way home after having to leave Kim-Corp and the launch party. The city flashed past them as they sped towards the outskirts, and Yewon was sitting in the back, feeling slightly smug that the night had gone perfectly. Sunmi’s word had gotten to her, and she has had her best coders working around the clock to fix the bugs. They were fixed, for the most part, and still in time for the Friday launch that Yewon had insisted on. “I was thinking that maybe we could go out for breakfast tomorrow before you leave,” Sunmi said hesitantly. “I’d like that,” Yewon agreed. The rest of the car ride passed in silence, and it was getting late by the time they got home. Yewon followed Sunmi inside and, after fussing over Angkko for a moment, she headed over to the staircase. “Wait,” Sunmi called after her, causing Yewon to turn around, arching an eyebrow at her mom. “I was- we should have a drink. To celebrate.” “Celebrate? It was just a new operating system, it’s not that big of a deal,” Yewon said, laughing dismissively. “Oh...well I think it deserves some recognition,” Sunmi said, her smile faltering as she replied. “Wasn’t that what tonight was for?” Yewon laughed quietly before saying. “Fine. Let me get out of this dress. I’ll be two seconds.” She didn’t wait for a reply, she just carried on walking up to her bedroom, quickly changing into her PJs before remerging. Yewon walked into the living room as her mom walked in with two glasses and a bottle of champagne. “Dom Perignon?” Yewon asked, raising her eyebrows in surprise. “Mhm. Twenty years old,” Sunmi replied, handing the bottle to Yewon. “Quite the celebration,” Yewon snorted, popping the cork and taking a glass from Sunmi to fill it up. She filled the other one up for herself and set the bottle down on the coffee table, before sitting down on the couch. “To you then,” Sunmi said, smiling at Yewon as she raised her glass slightly. “Right,” Yewon mumbled, taking a sip of champagne. “Actually, no.” “No?” Sunmi replied, arching an eyebrow at Yewon. “I just- the past five days...they’ve...uh..I don’t know. But I think it’s been good for me...and maybe for you too. For both of us,” Yewon muttered. “That’s...I don’t know, means more to me than some stupid software.” “I’m glad you think so,” Sunmi said with a small smile, and Yewon sipped her champagne as she shrugged self-consciously. She rarely overshared, and never with her mom, and if things were like they used to be, Yewon would’ve been mortified at revealing that she actually cared. Then again, if their relationship was like it was before, she would have never found herself in this situation, to begin with. They chatted while they drank their champagne, refilling the glasses when they got too low, and Yewon was surprised to notice that she was having a real conversation with her mom, and she was enjoying it. Somewhere over the past five days, things stopped being polite and distant and turned into genuine interest and a more relaxed feeling around each other. Sunmi disappeared into the kitchen to grab some food, returning a few minutes later with some snacks. She set them down on the coffee table as she watched Yewon hover near a piano in the back corner, trailing her fingers over the top of it. “Do you still play?” Sunmi asked, sitting back down. “No, not for a couple of years now,” Yewon replied, lifting up the cover to expose the keys. She her fingers along the keys, not using enough force to make a sound. “I remember when you stopped playing because you said it was a dull, outdated instrument,” Sunmi laughed softly. “And that you wanted to play the drums because you used to listen to that racket you called music.” “And then you told her the drums weren’t an appropriate instrument to play,” Yewon laughed at the memory. “But dad convinced you to let me get a drum set anyway, and then I played it twice and got bored. I took the piano back up during college, for a while, but I guess I got too busy for it.” “You never did have much tolerance for things you weren’t interested in,” Sunmi mused, “I do miss the sound of you playing though.” Yewon smiled at Sunmi, before sitting down on the bench and playing a chord. She recalled one of her favorite pieces to play when she was younger and spread her fingers across the familiar keys. Yewon ran through the first part of the piece, laughing as her fingers stumbled over the keys, she was a little rusty. She cut off halfway through, covering the keys once more and returning to the couch. “I prefer to listen to composition these days, I guess I’m not as good as I used to be,” Yewon said, shrugging as she plucked a grape off the plate and popped it in . “You should go and see Yiruma when he comes here. I hear he’s fantastic live,” Sunmi said. “He is. I saw him play when I was in Tokyo last year,” Yewon explained. “Tokyo? For the tech convention?” Sunmi asked. Yewon nodded, smiling at her mom. “I have to stay ahead of my competitors.” “Well, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who’s more innovative than you. I don’t think I ever told you, but I’m proud of you for getting the company back on its feet. You did what I couldn’t, and I’m grateful for you...for stepping up,” Sunmi told her. “He really ed things up for us, didn’t he?” Yewon said, grimacing as she drained her glass. She rolled her eyes as Sunmi tutted at her language, smiling as she reached the bottle. “I’m not sure if you’re talking about your father or your brother,” Sunmi laughed bitterly. “I think that applies to both of them.” “Mm, I guess so,” Yewon mumbled in agreement. “I guess the bar is pretty low for me then, huh? Is that why you suggested to the board that I become CEO? Like, no matter what, I couldn’t be that bad...all things considered.” Sunmi shook her head, laughing slightly, and Yewon found herself joining in. “Well, you’re not wrong, but I never doubted your ability to run a company. You were always smarter than Bogeun,” Sunmi told her. “I know,” Yewon said smugly as she sipped her champagne. It was after midnight when they both made their way upstairs. Yewon hadn’t intended to stay up so late, but she found herself enjoying the stories Sunmi told her about her childhood, and the patients she had treated, and things about Yewon’s childhood that she was too young to remember. It hit Yewon that she had never really had the chance to get to know her mom, and she listened with interest as Sunmi talked. Murmuring goodnight to her mom, Yewon walked up to the third floor and slipped into her room. She laid there for a while taking in the things she had learned about her mom, trying to reconcile the two versions of Sunmi in her head. Yewon’s last thought before she went to sleep was of Eunbi, and she drifted to sleep off wondering what Eunbi was doing at that exact moment. ~ ~ Yewon found herself sitting near the window of one of the more expensive restaurants her mom had known as she had breakfast with her mom. Her flight wasn’t for another hour or so and she found herself relaxing as she read over the menu. A waiter approached with their drinks and Yewon murmured her thanks as she set down a glass of orange juice and a cappuccino in front of her. “Are you ladies ready to order?” he asked, smiling at Yewon. “May I please have the spring garden omelet, thank you,” Yewon said, handing over the menu while Sunmi told the waiter her own order. “So, I’ve...been thinking,” Sunmi said, taking a sip of her tea. “Oh?” Yewon murmured, arching an eyebrow at Sunmi as she waited for her to elaborate. “Well...I- it hasn’t been so painful for you, has it? Coming home I mean,” Sunmi asked, uncertainty flashing across her face. “No. No, it hasn’t,” Yewon admitted. “I’ve actually found that I have some good memories too...they just got lost in all the bad, and I’m...well, glad. I’m glad that I had the chance to remember them.” “Good,” Sunmi nodded, “I’m glad that you don’t think too badly about the place.” Yewon stared at her mom, frowning slightly in confusion. “So...uh..w-was that it? That’s what you were thinking about?” “Well, no,” Sunmi said, caring slightly. “I was wondering how you would feel about coming back?” “Coming back?” Yewon echoed, frowning again. “When Eunbi comes home. I would like it very much if you would come and visit again, perhaps with her next time,” Sunmi told her, another uncertain expression flickering across her face. “Oh! You want me to visit again,” Yewon said, “I thought-” “Don't worry, I’m not asking you to move back home,” Sunmi laughed quietly. “I just- I’ve missed you. I haven’t felt this happy in a long time, and I’m so thankful that you came here. It’s meant more to me than you know.” “I...uh..yeah. Of course, I can bring Eunbi,” Yewon said, giving her a small smile. “I’m sure she would love to see where I grew up. And...well, I would like to come back again too.” Sunmi smiled back at her warmly, reaching out to quickly rest a hand on Yewon’s before withdrawing it. “Thank you,” she murmured, and Yewon nodded. Things were far from perfect, but Yewon meant it. The past few days had gone better than she had expected; a testament to Sunmi’s word that she would try and mend their relationship. Neither of them wanted to jump straight into the deep end, but they both acknowledged that the other was at least trying, and that was enough of a reason for Yewon to agree to come back. Anyway, it would be a long time before Eunbi was home, which gave Yewon a lot of time to figure things out with Sunmi. She was sure she would see her again before coming back for another visit. ~ ~ The driver was carrying her bags to the car. And Yewon hovered near the front door as she waited to say goodbye to Sunmi, watching Angkko sniff one of the bushes nearby. As the trunk was firmly shut, Sunmi appeared, smiling slightly at her daughter. “All set?” she asked, and Yewon nodded as she returne