FINALLY! I'VE UPDATED!!!!

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Chapter Ten: Just Another Manic Monday

"Mondays suck…" Lumina sighed as she ate some of her scrambled eggs.

Romana sipped some tea and nodded her agreement. Sebastian, who was serving the freshly-toasted slices of bread, nodded as well.

Over their grumbles of exhaustion, Sophia's cheerful humming could be heard as she handed the bacon over to Sebastian, who in turn served it to the two seated ladies.

"What's she so happy about?" Romana whispered.

Lumina leant in closer to her grandmother. "Kai comes back tonight, grandma…" she replied.

"It's just another Manic Monday," Sophia murmured, "Don't wish it was Sunday, 'cause Kai comes home today, and it's going to be a fun day."

Romana stuck a finger in her mouth is disgust; no one was that perky on Monday morning, and when people were, it just pissed off the normal people who were annoyed at having to wake up early.

"Miss Romana…" Sebastian scolded her, handing her a fork.

"Boo," Romana murmured in annoyance, "You never let me have any fun… fun-sucker…"

Lumina drank some orange juice, rolling her eyes heavenward. "Well someone needs to keep you in check, grandma…"

Lucky for everyone present, Romana did not hear her granddaughter's comment.

Sophia danced over to the table and plopped down a basketful of croissants. She picked one up and danced out of the room. "I'll be back after dinner," she sang, thankful to Romana for giving her the day off.

Sophia proceeded to dance out the Villa's front door, twirling in tune with the song that played over and over in her head.

She felt so weightless; as if nothing in the world could bring her down. Songs about love and happiness flooded into her mind, and she sang them out in a joyous voice.

She loved her life; loved the world.

She'd never felt better.

Dancing into the Blue Bar, she was met by a half-asleep Muffy who was fluffing her golden mane absently.

"Hi-hi Muffy!" Sophia sang, plopping herself down on a barstool, "How are you doing on this wonderful morning?"

"I'm about to get my period, I only got five hours of sleep last night, and I'm pissed as hell," Muffy said in a monotone, "You?"

"It's delightful you feel that way," Sophia sang, "I'm great… Perfect, really."

Muffy sighed and retreated into the back. A few moments later she returned with a hand painted banner with the words 'WELCOME BACK KAI!' painted artfully on it with the nicest shade of violet.

Sophia smiled and helped Muffy hang it up over the counter. "Say thanks to Nami for me," Sophia said when they were satisfied with it's position.

"Already did," Muffy said irritably, "She said not to get used to it."

Sophia giggled and glided out of the Blue Bar, the wind caressing her gently, the Spring/Summer sun beating down on her, warming her.

Yup, she definitely loved the world.

She danced into the Inner Inn next, and after saying hi to Tim she glided upstairs and knocked on one of the doors. One, two three… four, five six……… seven eight nine ten!

After ten knocks a muffled groan came from inside and the door opened, revealing Rock in his trademark pink pajamas. Sophia laughed every time she saw him like this, but Rock was too tired to care.

"Do you know what time it is?" Rock asked her, usually energetic eyes droopy and half-closed with exhaustion.

"Yes," Sophia sang, making Rock cringe, "It's ten thirty on a beautiful Monday morning on the day your best friend comes back! You promised to help prepare for the party, remember?"

Rock grunted and trudged towards his closet, after which Sophia gave him some privacy and danced down the stairs; two at a time. She almost tripped and had a painful fall, but that didn't faze her, as she just kept on dancing; oblivious to Tim's cries of 'Be careful' and 'Are you okay?'

Yes, love was a wonderful thing…

Sophia had started calling it love after a screaming fit in her room. After getting the cookies she ran up the stairs and just screamed into her pillow; letting go of all the joy, loneliness, resentment; she just let all her feelings, even those that didn't have anything to do with Kai, out… and when she was done, her mind was so clear, and behind where all the doubt had been, there was the answer, and she'd screamed that into the pillow too.

She was, to put it simply, in love with Kai.

And she had never felt any happier.

Sure, every now and then she'd just lie in bed and wonder if Kai could ever love her back, if he would come back, if he really meant what he'd said. But soon, all her troubles would be simply washed away by the overwhelming joy she'd been feeling since she made that next morning that only seemed to double with each day that passed.

She couldn't stop thinking about him; whenever she'd be thinking of something, she'd somehow start thinking about Kai.

It was maddening… and yet so… wonderful.

And she loved him even more for making her feel so happy.

And that was why she was throwing him a party.

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Urk... Too much... fluff... too short...

Yeah, I know. On a later chapter, you'll see why I'm using so much fluff... the drama will begin soon.

R&R!