Author's Note: I can't believe that I have put off writing this story for an entire year! I sincerely apologize for the prolonged wait. I do hope that this chapter was worth waiting for and I thank crestoflight3 for reviewing the last chapter. And a Merry Christmas to you all!

Circuits

Nostalgia

From that moment on, the Kamiyas grew to become fonder of their robotic servant. So much so that Matt was asked to accompany Tai and Kari to several of T.K. and Davis's games to watch and cheer them on. He even went with the family on outings or assisting the Kamiya children with their hobbies.

Soon, the Christmas season was fast approaching, but there was a feeling of longing, for this would be the first Christmas without Yuuko.

On one particular afternoon, Tai and Kari went out to meet up with the other Digidestined for another Christmas party at Davis's, leaving their father alone with Matt. While the siblings walked on to their destination, Tai noticed his sister frequently looking back towards the apartment as it was growing fainter and fainter in the distance. But she quickly freed her mind of potential doubt that was threatening her the renewed trust of her father once their friends caught sight of the two.

Meanwhile, the apartment had fallen into a somewhat complete silence other than Susumu occasionally turning the newspaper in search of an article. He looked over the printed text, watching Matt add the finishing touches to the Christmas decorations.

The malice that the older man once held against the artificial servant seemed almost foreign to him. And no longer blindsided by his grief and fury, Susumu was beginning to see Matt's value to his family.

After he was done, Matt turned and began to sort and clean out a closet, when he happened upon an old stuffed animal. Picking it up from out of the pile, he gave the toy a closer inspection.

It was a rabbit, but its limp form scarcely held together by the exposed seams. Its coat was caked from years of dust and there were even some thinning patches on its face. The rabbit's thread whiskers were twisted in hard, tiny knots and the pink coloring of its bent ears had faded into a pale gray.

Susumu was surprised. "I thought we lost it when we moved from Highton View Terrace."

"Highton View Terrace?" Matt repeated.

"That's where we used to live," the older man explained, "before it was attacked…"

Susumu sighed heavily, as the nostalgia of happier times rekindled into his thoughts.

...

Three years after the birth of their son, Susumu and Yuuko were now anticipating the arrival of their second child.

Yuuko placed a hand on her growing belly. Six months into her pregnancy, she gazed at the items seated on store shelves for the growing family was now buying last minute baby items and were anticipating many more gifts from relatives and friends for the upcoming baby shower.

And then, she saw it.

A stuffed toy rabbit.

Picking it up from the shelf, she took notice of how soft its coat was.

"How about this for the new baby?" she asked, holding the toy bunny out for Tai to see.

The bushy-haired toddler made a face.

"Nuh-uh!" he said, shaking his head wildly, "How about a soccer ball?"

She chuckled, "Tai, I don't think so."

"Why not?" the boy asked in a somewhat whiny tone.

"Babies need soft toys to play with, sweetheart," Yuuko explained, "soccer balls are too rough."

Tai groaned in defeat, but then asked, "Can babies play with goggles? Like mine?"

"I'm afraid not, Tai." she replied, turning to her husband.

"Son, how about feeling the rabbit's fur?"

The couple smiled as they watched their son's tiny hands glide across the toy's furry body, his brown eyes widening with surprise.

"Can…can this be a present for the baby from me?"

"Of course, Tai."

When Kari was born, the toy was almost always by her side, keeping watch as the then-infant girl slept, even after receiving the stringed whistle on her fourth birthday, but the rabbit was quickly lost following the family's move to Odaiba.

...

Matt's glass eyes scanned the aged toy over once more and turned to the older man, "Mr. Kamiya?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think that Miss Kari misses her toy?"

Susumu was caught off guard by the robot's question and was puzzled on how to respond.

As his mind scrambled to make words, the widowed man saw something in Matt's eyes that he could not place. It wasn't a look of intimidation but rather, a look of knowing compassion and finally seeing it for himself, Susumu thought back to his wife and children, wondering if this was the reason why Tai and Kari felt so determined to bring Matt home.

"W-well, Matt," Susumu began, "I'm not really sure if she even remembers…"

…

As the sun was beginning to set, the Kamiya siblings were returning home after a festive game of cards and hot chocolate and reminiscing others of how much the Digital World had changed each of their lives for the better.

"It's almost the same." Kari said, stopping suddenly.

"Huh? What is?" asked Tai, taking a few steps back towards his younger sister.

"Matt," she replied, "he's changed us…"

"Well, he did help us out with Mom and all, so I guess…"

The Bearer of Light shook her head.

"No, Tai, it's more than that," she continued, "Since Mom's death and bringing Matt back home, you, me, and Dad…we've become stronger…as a family…"

…

When Christmas Day finally came, but once the gifts were passed around and opened, sadness washed over the family.

Although Susumu and his children knew that Yuuko had passed on, there was still a feeling of denial and that at any moment, and she would come and participate in the Christmas merriment.

Christmas was one of Yuuko's favorite holidays, aside from making her own version of "fruit cake" and other Christmas treats to leave for Santa, she enjoyed the company of her family.

"I-it's just not the same without Mom." Kari said, her voice quivering slightly.

Tai nodded, pressing his lips together as he felt a lump in his throat begin to form.

"After all those years I've spent with her," added Susumu, "I still expect to see her."

Kari could feel the tears forming in her eyes once more but through her veiled vision, she caught a glimpse of another present sitting under the tree, completely overlooked.

Curiously, she went over and picked up the gift and seeing her name inscribed on the package, she opened it.

And she gave a surprised gasp.

It was her old toy rabbit, only now it looked completely brand new.

Kari's eyes glowed with joy as she held the old rabbit like she did as a small child.

Tai was confused. "But who?" he questioned, turning to his father.

Then it hit him: Matt. He then looked to see the artificial blonde enter the living room.

Kari immediately went up to the cyborg, hugging him tearfully.

"Thank you, so much, Matt!"

"You don't have to give me anything, Miss Kari." came Matt's stoic reply.

She shook her head, releasing the android from her embrace. "But, I have," she said, reaching into her pocket, pulling out a small wrapped gift of her own and placed it into Matt's hand.

He looked at the present and then Kari for a brief moment and opened the tiny endowment.

Inside was a photo of Kari, her brother, their father, and Matt himself.

"Merry Christmas, Matt," the short haired girl said with a gentle smile, "from all of us."

…

When night fell, Matt sat in the living room, contemplating the photograph that he had received. After all that had happened, the Kamiyas considered him as part of the family. Putting the picture down, he slowly got up from the couch and turned his attention to one of the Christmas décor he had set up weeks earlier: the Christmas tree.

The lights that circled it shimmered and blinked in the dark basking the room in a soft, gentle glow. Even the ornaments and garlands seemed to have a special warmth about them. And as his glass eyes took in the beauty, his memory banks activated, shifting from memory to memory: His first day with the Kamiya family, caring for Yuuko and for her children when she died-

Then suddenly, Matt fell to the floor.

-To be continued.