Miu races to the door as soon as the clock strikes 8:00am. As expected, Hawks is right on time; she figured he would probably be right behind the door, might have even been waiting a few seconds before the time he promised to see her.

"Morning babe." Hawks leans on the doorframe, eyes sharp and roving freely up and down Miu. "Love the apron. Were you cooking?"

"Just finished breakfast." Miu smiles more easily each time Hawks pays her a visit. She opens the door wider to let him in and hurries to the table. "You mind orange juice? My coffee maker broke."

"Did you toss it?"

Miu nods and fills up Hawks' glass before moving to ladle scrambled eggs on the plate set out for him. "Yeah, but it's okay, I'll just get a new one next paycheck. I saw a pretty nice one in that shop, you know the thrift store across the road? I get the best deals there."

Hawks makes himself comfy but doesn't take off his shoes or coat. He only has about an hour to hang around and he wants to spend it munching on delicious homemade food and mindlessly staring at Miu's pretty round face.

"You know, I can just get you a brand new one."

Miu kisses his chin as she leans over to place a plate of sausages by the eggs. The stubble lightly scratches her lips and she can't help giggle. Hawks loves to hear that sound. It's beyond cute and it sounds best when he's the one who made it happen.

"Thanks, but I don't need you to do that." Miu has become more comfortable with casual affection, but it seems whenever Hawks tries to do things to help around her home, Miu's first reaction is to stiffen up and politely refuse.

"I want to. I am your boyfriend."

"Well that doesn't mean you have to pay for everything."

"I can though and if you ask me, you should be getting paid more for all you do at your nanny job."

"I make enough." Miu sits down and begins to butter her toast. "You work hard for your money too. You help me more than enough."

Hawks takes it upon himself to pay for everything on their dates, bring food for Miu to make, and has even signed checks for minor repairs around the complex that otherwise wouldn't have been taken care of for months or longer. Miu is more than appreciative, but she can't help feel off about it since Hawks never asked her permission.

Thankfully the media hasn't been trying to portray her as some gold digger, but Miu still gets worried over the gossip that circles Hawks about their new relationship. The hype has died down, but the public's interest is steady and Miu still gets calls and emails asking for her to answer questions and make statements. She ignores all of them and Hawks barely responds on the subject. All anyone knows is that he and Miu are as happy as can be; Junko was blown over by the news of Miu's new relationship, but she supported them one hundred percent, especially considering Hawks was the one who saved her daughter from an awful mistake.

Miu didn't go into too much detail, but she had come clean and personally called her mother to explain everything at Hawks' prodding.

Hawks was so generous and considerate of Miu, she couldn't get irritated with him taking it upon himself to look after her like he did. Junko had always thought it a shame more men weren't like that; she cared a lot for Kaito, but even she confessed she was glad to see Miu with someone who seemed to have so much going for them, someone put together and thinking of the future. With her blessing, Hawks only became more forward in his attempts to integrate himself into Miu's daily life.

Not that she had any problem with that. Miu was grateful for every little thing Hawks did to show he cared.

"So why does this feel so...sneaky?"

At the thought Miu instantly chided herself.

"You okay princess? You got a funny look on your face." Hawks asked through a mouthful of cheesy eggs.

"Hawks, are you going to get me a coffee maker even if I say not to?"

Hawks nodded. "Yep."

Miu frowned and the light grin faltered on Hawks' face.

"Miu what's wrong?"

"I don't need you to."

"But I want to."

"Well I don't want you to."

"Why?"

Miu struggled for an answer that didn't sound silly. "I don't like it. You're not even listening to what I want."

"What, you don't want a coffee maker?" Hawks asked. "Look, did you ever think you're feeling weird about me helping out because you have this idea you don't deserve it?"

Miu considered this; it definitely sounded like her.

"Maybe."

Hawks moved closer to Miu and held out a piece of toast to her lips. "Well the best way to get rid of that is to just accept it when people do nice things for you. You shouldn't feel weird if someone who loves you wants to give you presents or help. I'm doing it because I think you deserve it. I want to make my princess happy."

Miu let the tender words sink in and nibbled the toast held out to her. She felt foolish for making a fuss over something normal couples did for each other all the time. After all, how many days did Miu spend baking treats or preparing to go snacks or making sure Hawks' favorite foods were available during his visits? Not to mention the shelf quickly being stocked with movies he liked or the fact Miu had bought new sheets and extra pillows for when he stayed over. Miu did Hawks all these things without even being asked and he never rebuffed her.

"I'm sorry Hawks. It's not that I don't-"

"Hey, say no more. I don't mean to pressure you."

"No I know that. Hawks, you've been great." Miu moves her chair closer and puts an arm over him; Hawks' grin grows comically wider as she lays her head against his shoulder and sighs in content. "I wish I could just be normal. I still feel guilty over never showing Kaito how much he meant to me when we were together. I don't want to make the same mistake again."

Hawks nods stiffly. "Yeah, I get it."

Miu hears the change in his tone. "Hawks?"
"Miu, I've been meaning to ask: you do consider me your boyfriend, right?"

Miu nods without hesitation and pecks Hawks chin. "If that's okay."

"Because I want things to be serious. I think I'm falling in love with you." Hawks' fingers card through her somewhat messy hair; Miu had been so busy getting breakfast ready she didn't have time to fix herself up as much as she would have liked. But Hawks doesn't care. He thinks she's adorable with bed head or smoothly conditioned locks. Miu doesn't need to put in extra effort to make a good impression.

"Do you really mean that? I mean, are you sure?" Miu asked carefully.

"I do. But I need to know you can see yourself with me for the long run too."

"I'd like that." Miu confesses tentatively, her nerves being soothed by the hand stroking her head. Hawks smells faintly like leather and a musky, sharp scent of some new cologne. "You know, the more time I spend with you, the more stupid I feel. If I died before-well, I guess technically if I hadn't fallen I wouldn't have met you at all…"

"Maybe. Maybe we were meant to meet each other." Hawks says casually.

"That's a nice way to put it." Miu beams and Hawks feels his heart swooping low in his chest. But he can't enjoy this moment, not wholly.

"Miu, are you still in contact with Kaito?"

Miu blinks. "Not really. I mean, we talk a bit, but-"
"Oh. I see." Hawks' hand stills and Miu feels guilt stab at her conscious.

"But it's not like that. I mostly just vent and we catch up a bit."

Hawks' expression is blank; no, it's cold. His insides feel frozen even with the hot anger coursing through his veins. He's not mad at Miu though.

"Does he contact you first?"

"Not usually." Miu admits. "I'm sorry Hawks, but it's really not like that. I don't want to get back together with Kaito. I just…"

"No, it's fine. I get it, he was a big part of your life."

"Well, he was." Miu says.

"I just thought if you don't like me doing things for you, you'd at least be okay with venting to me."

Miu looks almost panicked. "Oh no, I do want to talk to you. Hawks, I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to shut you out or anything. I wasn't really thinking even."

Hawks says nothing as Miu peers into his somber face; he can see the way her eyes search for any sign of forgiveness or understanding past the hurt.

"Tell me the truth. Do you not want me doing stuff for you because you don't want Kaito to think we're serious?"
"No!" Miu replies immediately. "I swear, that's not why!"

"So you just feel more comfortable talking to him?"

"No, I-well, I-"

"Miu, I can see why this is a lot to take in, but I don't want you giving this guy the wrong idea. And I need to know what's going on." Hawks sighs.

"Nothing is going on with me and Kaito."

Hawks pauses and Miu holds her breath; she never meant for this to happen or to make Hawks feel worried.

"Do you need to talk to him?"

Miu shakes her head. "No, but-"
"But? He's your ex, isn't he?" Hawks speaks like he's genuinely confused with Miu's response. "Babe, I don't think I'm asking for much...I want to be the only guy in your life."

Miu's breath catches in her throat as Hawks presses a kiss to her temple and snakes an arm around her waist. His voice retains it's usual warmth, but the low tone mixes in a hint of a promise with the kisses he trails lightly down her neck.

"I don't want to share my princess. Okay, Miu? Will you just come to me from now on?"

Hawks is so good. Too good. But how can Miu say no?