The sounds of children's laughter and lively, dinnertime chatter filled the dining room in the Tachibana's home. It was any regular Friday night. Haruka was having dinner with Makoto's family before he slept over. It was a much better atmosphere for the stoic teen than an empty house where he cooked only for himself and spent the night alone, only communicated with by Makoto's text messages.

The twins were rowdy as usual, maybe even more so now that Haru was there. He always tended to be a subject worth much attention when he came over, and the twins only left him alone when they were too tired to do anything but go to bed for the night.

"So, Haru," Makoto's mother started off, a sweet smile that was shared by nearly every family member on her face, "Have any plans for the break that's coming up?"

It was the middle of summer, and with a few days off from school; it was the time that the Tachibana's went camping. Makoto witnessed Haru's face fall slightly at his mother's question, knowing Haru hated whenever he went away and left him alone.

"No. I don't have any plans," Haru responded as he continued eating. Makoto reached down below the line of the table and touched Haru's hand gently.

"Well," Makoto's mother said, exchanging knowing looks with her husband and her eldest son, "Makoto has mentioned this several times in the past... We would love if you came camping with us. Makoto said you would really like the area," she said, smiling across the table at Haru.

Haru looked up in surprise, some rice falling from his chopsticks and he immediately looked up at Makoto. Makoto had a soft smile on his face and a hopeful look in his eyes. He felt the excited stares of the twins across the table as well and he knew he couldn't say no, not that he even wanted to.

"Okay," he said, giving a nod, a small smile gracing his lips, "Thank you for inviting me, Oji-san, Oba-san." The twins cheered loudly at his acceptance and immediately began chattered excitedly about all the fun they were going to have.

"Haru-chan, there's a really big lake at the campsite! And a beach! And cliffs and you can see all the stars at night!" Ran informed, her words going by faster than Haru could absorb them all.

"I call Haru-chan to share a tent with!" Ren called out.

"Hey! No fair! I want to share a tent with Haru-chan! And Haru-chan only wants to share a tent with me, right Haru-chan?" The twins looked at Haru with begging eyes and their parents laughed from across the table.

"Haru can share with whomever he wants," Makoto's father cut in.

"Makoto," Haru said immediately, squeezing the hand that was still on his under the table.

"What? Why with Onii-chan? Why not with me, Haru-chan?" Ren started to blubber.

"Because you talk in your sleep, stupid," Ran shot back.

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

"Alright, alright," Makoto cut in, effectively stopping the brewing altercation between the twins, "Don't worry, you'll get to spend plenty of time with Haru, even if you don't share a tent with him," he said gently. Ren and Ran nodded solemnly at their big brother's words before going back to their dinner. The rest of the meal continued with sparse talk as usual, but Makoto's hand never left Haru's, not that he was complaining.

"Hey, Haru?" Makoto asked into the darkened room later that night, "Are you asleep?"

"No."

They were lying in Makoto's bed, pressed close together to accommodate for the small amount of room for two teenagers. Makoto's arms were wrapped around Haru's torso, and Haru was curled into his chest.

Blue orbs opened to look up at Makoto, meeting his green eyes, bright in the dark.

"Are you excited about coming with us camping?" Makoto asked, his fingers playing absently with Haru's hair, still slightly damp from their bath.

"Mm," Haru nodded in response.

"Sorry I didn't tell you we were planning on asking you. I wanted it to be a surprise," Makoto murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of Haru's head.

"It's okay," Haru said quietly, "As long as I get to spend lots of time with Makoto." Makoto smiled, giving Haru a gentle squeeze.

"I'll try my best to make sure that happens," he said teasingly. He felt Haru smile against his chest and his fingers stopped moving in Haru's hair, preferring to just hold Haru close.

"Go to sleep, Makoto," Haru said, trying to sound exasperated, but not quite pulling it off. Makoto laughed softly into the dark and he nodded.

"Good night, Haru-chan."

"Eh? Haru-chan? You're not going to be here during break?" Nagisa cried desperately the next school day at lunch, his coral eyes wide in disbelief, "But you're always here Haru-chan! Rei-chan and I were going to bring you to the movies with us! And we were going to go swimming together!Haru-chan!"

"Where are you going, Haruka-senpai?" Rei asked, ignoring Nagisa's apparent heartbreak at the news.

"With Makoto," Haru answered simply as he continued eating his lunch, not even bothering to look up at the younger members of the swim club.

"Haru is coming with my family and I on our yearly camping trip," Makoto informed genially from where he was seated next to Haru, "The twins are very excited."

"Really?" Nagisa gasped, "That sounds so fun! Can we go camping too, Rei-chan?" He asked, turning his wide, shining eyes to Rei.

"No, Nagisa," Rei sighed, "You know I don't like camping," he gripped.

"You're so lame, Rei-chan," Nagisa huffed, turning back to Haruka and Makoto, "Are you guys going for the entire break? It's going to be so lonely!"

"Yes, we are," Makoto admitted, "But you have Rei to spend time with! And Rin! And Gou!" he supplied.

"Gou-chan and Rin-chan are going away too!" Nagisa wailed, "I'll be stuck with Rei-chan the entire time!"

"Oi! I thought you liked spending time with me!" Rei shot back.

"Of course I do! I'm just teasing, Rei-chan," Nagisa said, launching himself at Rei to wrap the taller boy in a hug. Makoto laughed quietly while Rei struggled to free himself from Nagisa's clutches.

As much as he loved spending time with their friends, he was looking for ward to spending time alone with Haru, and his family. He turned to Haru, giving their clasp hands a gentle squeeze. Haru looked up at him with questioning eyes and Makoto merely smiled, which Haru returned.

"Alright, that's everything," Mr. Tachibana said as he closed the back of a very full van.

It was impossibly early in the morning, with the sun having just risen. The sky was dyed a light pink from the earliness of the day. Makoto was glad they left so early. The twins would be quiet for at least a few hours, and he was a pretty good morning person.

He had taken the liberty of going to fetch Haru while his mother got the twins ready and his father packed the truck. As expected, Haru was in the bath, waiting for him, a sleepy look on his face. Makoto had laughed good naturedly when Haru had told him jokingly that he didn't like camping already.

Haru wasn't a morning person. In fact, the only things that could prompt him to wake up in the morning were usually Makoto's influence or the knowledge that he could take a bath as soon as he got up. Nevertheless, Makoto had gotten Haru out of the bath, made sure he had gotten dressed, and allowed him to make them each some breakfast, which turned out to be mackerel on toast. Makoto didn't mind. Haru's mackerel was good, and he hadn't had time of his own to eat yet.

After locking up Haru's home and getting his supplies, they made their way back to Makoto's whereupon they finished packing the car, managed to get the twins in without too much whining, and then they were off.

The ride was several hours, and within the first twenty minutes of travel, the twins and Haru were asleep again. Makoto pulled Haru close to him, letting the black-haired boy rest his head on Makoto's broad shoulder for comfort. He wasn't tired in the slightest himself. His excitement was enough to keep him awake.

Haru woke up a few hours later and they ate lunch together, talking quietly and sharing hidden kisses. Makoto was glad they were in the back most seats of the car so they could have some sort of privacy. Unfortunately, the twins awoke around lunch too and their quiet world was interrupted almost instantly by giggling and story telling to keep the two children occupied.

Finally, they reached the campsite area. They parked the car and then were burdened with the task of carrying all the supplies to their designated area. Makoto knew Haru was already enjoying himself. The blue-eyed teen was busy looking around, taking in the area and Makoto couldn't help but to smile at the look on his boyfriend's face. They fell behind the others with the promise to catch up, the twins having run ahead with Mr. and Mrs. Tachibana.

"Do you like it here, Haru?" Makoto asked, reaching to take Haru's hand, intertwining their fingers as they walked. Haru nodded, fitting his hand into Makoto's as he gazed up at the sky through the trees.

"Where's the water?" He asked.

"The lake is a little ways away from the camp site, Haru. But it's late, so we'll go there tomorrow, okay?" Makoto said, laughing at Haru's priorities.

It wasn't until late at night, when they were zipped up in their tent, that Makoto and Haru could be alone again. When they reached the campsite, they had to help set up tents, make dinner, and keep Ren and Ran occupied and make sure they didn't run off. It was exhausting to say the least, and all Makoto wanted to was sleep for a decade. He was nearly asleep when Haru's voice broke through his consciousness.

"Makoto."

"Nn? Haru?" Makoto asked, looking over from his sleeping bag.

"I'm cold." Makoto smiled gently, sitting up to move closer to Haru, pressing his chest again Haru's back and holding him close.

"Is this better?" he asked softly, his hands rubbing Haru's forearms slightly to warm up the chilled skin. The campground did get a little chilly at night, and Haru had only brought t-shirts to sleep in.

"Yes," Haru responded, leaning back into him and sighing softly, "Much better.

"Good," Makoto murmured, letting his eyes fall shut again, "Tomorrow will be fun. Good night, Haru-chan."

"Night."

Notes: I don't plan on this having any more than five chapters. I've had this idea since episode five because wow cute. Thanks for reading! Comments are always appreciated! Stay tuned~