The "hi" was what did it, was what finally got her eyes to leak. Rede.

The one kid that wasn't hers at all, last time, but had called her Mom anyway. Because he'd needed a Mom and he'd gone back to the lab with a gun and a prayer and he was alive.

Rikku pulled back so she could swipe at the tears with the back of her hand. And then give him a firm kiss on the forehead and smile at him.

"Hey, kiddo," she said gently. "Good to see you again." She couldn't say how much.