Ma was sick.

She was quite fine this morning when she gave me a kiss-goodbyes. Actually, I was the only one – aside from Da of course – who received a kiss at home since I'm still suspended from class. I thought it was cool at first because you can do anything you want until I realized it sucks. Not even a sibling to play with or a friend to hang out with.

Only Poppy and Galahad kept my company.

While I was in my room to patch up my toys, I heard the opening sound of our iron gate. Imagine my surprise when looked at the window and saw Ma's car. I was so happy and excited that she was home but puzzled when Aunt Peabody gave her an arm to walk straight. Da was even standing behind them, just a few steps away from Ma.

I could hear Ma saying something to Poppy as I ran to the foyer and barely registered how her voice sounds horrible. When I was about to greet her, Da suddenly swiped Ma off her feet and carried her in his arms.

"Ma, are you okay?"

My sudden question broke their commotion.

Ma looked so pale with red puffy eyes and chapped lips. I remembered her sneezing during breakfast but not alarming enough to expect that it would lead to worse in a matter of hours.

"Don't you ever undermine me in front of my son for carrying me like an invalid!", Ma croaked.

"You bloody listen or you'll let my son see me how I can shove a soother on your throat!" Da snapped back.

I looked at my parents who were obviously angry with each other.

Aunt Peabody led me to the lounge while Da held Ma securely as he brought her upstairs. Poppy followed them after he fetched a medicine kit from his bedroom. We didn't hear any uproars above but we have a definite picture of what was happening there. As they said, Ma hates medicines

I tugged Aunt Peabody's sleeve."What happened to Ma?"

"She got mild flu but don't worry, she'll be alright. She needs plenty of sleep and food."

A few minutes later, Da and Poppy went downstairs in a hushed voice. I ran directly to Da and asked the same question.

"What happened to Ma?"

He picked me up as we went back to the lounge.

"Ma's fine. She needs to rest. By tomorrow, she'll be back to normal.", Da answered with a smile.

Da, Poppy and Aunt Peabody were talking about something I couldn't understand. They were all sporting a very worried expression and based on their actions, I was something not usual.

"Da, is Ma going to be okay?"

They immediately stopped talking. Aunt Peabody and Poppy eyed each other before they gave me a thoughtful look.

"I think Junior is our solution."

"I'm not Junior!", I pouted at Aunt Peabody who just laughed at my demise.

Da explained to me that Ma was so adamant to go to work despite her illness. She didn't want to sleep or take her medicines - no surprise there - and when they explained to her that she will be cooped until further notice, she went mad.

Poppy said that she was having a tantrum.

Since they were sure that Aunt Peabody couldn't hold Ma down, they considered me as their last resort. They said that I was one of Ma's weaknesses.

They were even thankful for the timing of my suspension much to Da's disgruntlement.

They briefed me the rules of the game:

Number One – never let Ma leave the bedroom.

Number Two – never let Ma hold any link' or communication devices.

Number Three – never let Ma skip her medicines and meals.

I am going play the Primary. Da will be staying in his office to monitor while Poppy will prepare the food and medicines. Aunt Peabody, on the other hand, will leave to finish Ma's work.

"Is this like an undercover assignment?", I asked them with glee.

"Well, of course, little Officer Roarke." Aunt Peabody ruffled my hair. "So, are you willing to take this mission?",

I clicked my skids as I made a salute "Sir, yes, sir!"

Da and Poppy laughed heartily.

I pushed my parent's bedroom door slowly as I slipped inside.

Ma was lying on the bed with the same horrible look yet calmer expression. She half-opened her doe eyes and gave me a worried face.

"Ma's sick. You'll catch my flu if you stay here."

"I'm strong, Ma.", I responded as I climbed on the duvet and snuggled beside her. She was quite warm.

"Ma, are you okay?"

She hummed. "Ma's not well today, but after some rest, I'll be fine. Sorry if I made you worry."

I shook my head as a reply. I never noticed Galahad was sitting near the bedpost until he strutted and sat on my ankle. I guess he was also worried for Ma.

"Did your Da sent you here to guard me?" she asked.

"No, he didn't." was my abrupt reply.

"Uh huh? You know that I can detect lies."

I almost forgot that Ma was the best cop in New York. Feeling busted, I giggled and hugged her for forgiveness.

"Ma?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you still mad with Da?"

"No, I'm not," she sighed as she raked my dark hair. "Ma's not in the good mood that's why I quarreled with him. But I love your Da so much, same as you."

"And we love you too so much."

I really like getting snuggles. When one of us gets sick, Ma would always stay in our bed until we fell asleep.

When Da was sick one time, she allowed us to sleep beside him, and at the same time guard him, just like how Da was doing to Ma.

When the notion suddenly struck me, I sat bolt upright. "You're not going to the hospital, right?"

There was a flash of fear in Ma's eyes but immediately disregard it. "Ma's not going there, definitely not. I'll just treat it like some sort of a bed rest. Just like before."

Bed rest?

"Ma?"

"Hmm?"

"Luis said that his mom was on bed rest because of the baby and that she was always at pains. Were you having pains when I was a baby?"

Ma tilted her head as if contemplating "Hmm, I think not. I was more like irritated because I couldn't get up without some help."

"Ma?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Were you happy after giving birth?"

"Very. My happiest moments happened in my life."

"Were you also happy before that?"

"Not as happier as now."

"Then, then, before us and Da, were you also happy?"

She was silent for a moment before answering "Ma was sad during those times, buddy. My job is only my life, and even with your Granda, Grandma and Auntie Mavis, I was living all by myself. When your Da came along, he made several changes - no, wonderful changes in my life. So here I am."

I feel sad for Ma. Like Da, she didn't like sharing her stories about her childhood days. But now that I somewhat knew the reason behind why, I decided not to pry further.

Poppy gave a beep on the house intercom as a signal that Ma needs to eat and drink her medicine. Since I was the only one permitted to enter the room, I made sure that I followed my mission to the tee.

Good thing Ma was cooperating.

We watched some screens afterward until Ma lulled herself to sleep. Lowering the volume, I moved closer to her side and took a short nap, only to be roused when Ma wriggled out for a toilet.

Instead of heading back to sleep, we began to talk about mundane things like school or stories about my baby days.

Ma wasn't aware that she was very chatty when sick.

"How did you and Da meet?" I asked curiously.

"It was during a funeral." she sighed as if reminiscing something. "While your Da was busy chatting with his friends, I was sitting alone there in a pew few rows behind them. And when our eyes met for the first time, I was like 'geez, he's the most handsome man I have ever seen'."

I rolled over laughing. "Da told me the same thing! He even told me that you brought him for an interrogation!"

Ma's brows shoot up "He said that?!"

"Yup!" I nodded as I munched my fries. "He told me that you were the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, and didn't care if you were a cop. He even said 'I want to marry her' or something like that."

Ma gave me a deadpan glare. "Are you flattering me, young man, as a way to make me forgive your father after what he did to me today?"

I bit the inside of my cheeks "I don't know what you're saying, Ma."

The entertainment news that was flashing on the television immediately caught our attention.

It was a stolen shot of me and Da eating a slice of pizza as we sat on a bench near Central yesterday. We were waiting for Ma's end shift so we brought her a box of pizza to appease her wrath after my suspension.

I frowned indignantly when I read the description. "Why are they calling me Junior?"

"That question is yet to be answered." Ma chuckled. "Why do you hate it?"

"Because it sounds like a moniker for brats." I huffed with displeasure. "As if they are considering me as special because I'm a Roarke and my mother is Dallas. I mean, I don't mind them calling me Roarke in school, but sometimes I wish they will use my real name. It's not like it's unpronounceable, right?"

Ma scooted me closer then ruffled my hair "I feel you. It's like me being called as Roarke's cop all the time."

We paused momentarily when an idea struck.

"It was Da's fault!" we laughed in unison.

Ma's fever went down to normal.

Afraid to disturb Ma's state, I slowly left the bed and tip-toed towards Da's office. It seems that he was busy reading some papers.

"I won a fifty.", I declared as I jumped on his lap.

Da looked at his desk clock. "You still have two minutes left."

"Ma's snoring and there's no way for her to get up now," I said as I held my palm. "You owe me this time, Da."

He ruffled my short capped hair playfully. "You're trying to beat your own father in placing bets, aye? It must be in the blood."

He was about to add something but paused when he noticed Ma's movement on the screen. We could hear her tiny whimpers on the speaker and painful cries like she was hurt.

Without second thoughts, Da deposited me on his chair then rushed hurriedly to their bedroom. I followed him discreetly and saw how he held Ma tightly as he whispered some soothing words of love and affection.

It wasn't my first time to witness such heartbreaking sight.

I went to the kitchen and asked for a glass of milk.

"Ma had a nightmare." I confessed to Poppy. "Again."

I felt the warmth of his arms when he wrapped it around my body, and the callous of his thumb when he wiped my tears from my cheeks.

This was the reason why we always sleep beside Ma whenever Da was away. No one in the house ever talked about Ma's dreams, and I believe it was something that most people want to forget.

If only it was easy to forget...

"Poppy?"

"Yes?"

"When I grow up," I sniffled as I buried my head in his neck. "I will protect Ma from her nightmares."

After I calmed down, I went upstairs with a tray of warm milk.

It was a house rule to always knock on closed doors, especially bedroom doors.

I haven't lifted my knuckle when Da took the tray from my hands and ushered me inside.

"Ma, are you okay?" I asked as I crawled beside her.

She planted a kiss on my forehead. "I'm alright, buddy. Did I scare you?"

I shook my head. Looking at her face closely, she was happy and fine. Not even a trace of pain and suffering were found on her expression.

I sighed with relief.

After Ma finished her milk, Da took her glass then flashed me a sly grin. "I guess it's time for our big brother here to know our little surprise."

I did not get what they were talking about until Ma reached for my hand and placed it on top of her tummy.

I groaned inwardly.

"Not a girl this time, please."