Mic grinned evilly at her sister before both winked and bolted in opposite directions. Mic tore downstairs back to the kitchen; she quickly put the kettle on to boil and grabbed a tray for the sweets the boys requested. Rummaging in the Tupperware containers for some cookies Mic spied a solitary piece of cake sitting in the glass dish; it was the last piece of strawberry angel cake. After a moment's thought she added it to the tray for Honey, he seemed to always eat the cakes or candies with strawberries in it first. Smiling to herself, Michaela decided to spoil him a little and let have this final piece. "You are such a softie; Honey eats plenty of cake at the club. He doesn't need more." Rashel said coming into the kitchen.

"Do you want it then?"

"No."

"Well then let him have it." Mic snapped adding lemon iced sugar cookies, and a handful of others to the plate.

"Kettle's boiling." Rashel said turning away.

Dashing over to the pot Michaela added the desired leaves and let it steep, while she put another plate of cookies and some Dove chocolates on the tea tray. "Do you always move like you're on fast forward? Don't you have an off switch? I'm tired just watching you."

Mic just grinned as she poured the tea into a china pot and placed six cups upside down on the tray. "I'm missing something… Oh milk, honey, and sugar duh." Grabbing the last items Mic hefted the heavy platter and grinned. "We all set upstairs?"

"Yup! Now let's get back up there to see how she reacts."

Both girls hurried to the second floor anxious to set the plan in motion. The boom box sat patiently in front of the bedroom door waiting for the next step. "You stay here while I deliver the food, I have an idea."

Rashel raised an eyebrow and gave Mic a mocking surprised look. "You? Have an idea? Well that's a first…"

Mic narrowed her eyes and her mouth pinched into a tight line. "You are so lucky my hands are full, and that you can out run me." She growled.

Rashel simply threw her a cheeky grin and a wink as she grabbed the boom box off the floor and leaned against the wall. With a snort of indignation she moved down the hall to drop off the goodies for the boys. "Here we are, the best homemade sweets this side of Tokyo."

Honey and the twins jumped up from their seats and pounced at her like starving puppies. "Get off or I'll spill the tea all over you!" Mic warned holding the tray close to her chest to stabilize it.

"Sorry Micci-Chan." Michaela stiffened at Honey's use of her nickname, and everyone noticed.

Realizing his mistake Honey covered his mouth with both hands, a flush reddening his face. "Sorry! I forgot you don't like that name, I didn't mean to!" Shoulders still tense Mic shook her head and placed the tea tray on the coffee table.

Haruhi poured herself a cup of tea, as the twins and Honey descended upon the cookies like locusts. Her smile was tight and more than a little fake looking when she replied. "It's alright Honey, just don't do it again."

Kyoya glanced up from his book at her tone. "I don't understand, Via-Chan calls you that all the time, yet you don't chastise her for it. Why?" Haruhi asked taking a sip of her tea.

Michaela closed her eyes for a moment and gave a deep sigh, "It was a name Vivian gave me when we first met, and it used to annoy the hell out of me. It still does really, but it became a joke between my mother and her about how wound up I used to get over it. The name Micci became reserved for their use only, and with my mother gone… it makes it difficult not to associate the name with my mother and what I lost. So try not to use it… please, for me?"

Honey looked close to tears as he clutched his rabbit, the twins, Haruhi, and even Kyoya gave looks of sympathy to the still grieving girl in front of them. However the moment of silence was interrupted by a loud sniffle, Tamaki had tears streaking down his face as he launched himself at Michaela. The boy latched onto her shoulders in the most uncomfortable hug she had ever been forced to endure. "That is so sad! I'm so sorry Michaela-Chan, we never knew! It must have been so hard for you and your sisters, you are so brave!" Tamaki rambled on for good minute more with Michaela patting his back awkwardly.

Her face screwed up in distaste at his closeness. She, just like Vivian and Rashel, didn't like to be touched by strangers; however her reason was worry over pick pockets. She did grow up with the best of them just around the block, so she learned a thing or two about how quick one could lose their wallet. "It's fine, really. I just don't like anyone using Micci." She squirmed out of Tamaki's grip and grabbed an oatmeal raisin cookie from a plate.

Munching on her cookie Mic leaned against the arm of the sofa and watched the game on screen for a few minutes. "Where is Rashel? Didn't she go with you?"

"Now that I think about it she probably can't find her PJ pants or something else silly, I'll go get her." As Mic made her way out the door Haruhi caught her hand.

She said nothing but she gave Michaela a look that spoke volumes; she knew the pain of loss, and the burden of responsibility. She was telling her she was not alone, and that she would be there if she needed someone to listen. Mic felt her shields shift; with that one look and comforting smile Haruhi had gained a loyal and protective friend for life. With a nod of gratitude Mic left to complete her plan with Rashel.

"What took you so long?"

"Just a slight set back, now c'mon!" Grabbing her sister's hand, she trotted down the hall to an empty bedroom a few doors down from Vivian's.

After a quick perusal of the windows Michaela found what she was looking for.

"What are you doing?" Rashel asked when she threw open the glass doors to the balcony.

"Setting the mood, are you coming?"

"Out there? Are you out of your mind?!"

Michaela just grinned and climbed over the rail, it was a bit cumbersome with the stereo but not impossible. Within minutes she had crossed over two more sets of balcony railings and decorative outcroppings to Vivian's room. Rashel stood back at the first rail and scowled at her sister. "You are insane." She commented drily.

Mic just shrugged and set the CD to repeat on coyote howls. For some reason Viv was terrified of the sound of coyotes howling, and if she reacted to Mori like Mic and Rashel were hoping, then this would get so much more interesting. A quick peek in the window showed Vivian sitting straight up in the bed eyes wide with fear, and her already pale face had gone white. Mori, who had been sitting next to her and reading a book while she had clung to one arm, was now staring rather confusedly at her then the window. She couldn't hear what was being said but could tell he did ask her what was wrong. Whether or not she had answered was lost from her quick dive under the covers, pressing them over her ears tightly. Mori became even more confused, the crinkle in-between his brows growing deeper, then took on a new emotion as he glared at the window but Mic had already seen enough and disappeared over the rails and back to the other room. However, not before setting the timer on the music player to stop playing after about twenty or so minutes.

"How did it go?" Shel asked.

Mic gave a cheeky grin and a thumbs up. "She trusts him. We are set, but... isnt she going to get mad at you for playing games with her?"

"No doubt, but she'll stay mad at you longer." Rashel pointed out with a wink.

Michaela's face fell. "Aw crap... I'm going to have to make a lot of chocolate to get her to forgive me, aren't I?"

"YUP!"

"Great." She muttered grumpily.

Once they got back to the gaming room Tama was furiously trying to kill a drake that was being stubborn about dying and he only had the main character left. They hadnt made it to the couch before he died, only a blow or two away from winning. "NO!" Dejected he sulked deeper into the bean bag chair and passed the controller.

Now it was Hika's turn and he quickly took over and went to work killing the monster. "You guys do costume day's right?" Michaela asked getting comfortable in her coveted corner of the L couch.

"Yeah, why?" Hikaru asked as he passed the controller back to his twin.

"Well, since we've been singing at the club, boys as well as girls are coming to hear us, and we were requested by a guest to sing something to express how she felt to her crush." Mic explained.

"And the song we chose would go great with a one of your costume sets."

"Which one?" It was Tamaki's turn but he turned it down to focus on the conversation.

"The fancy suits. We could make a great mafia day with them."

Tama, Haruhi, Honey, and the twins looked interested in the idea but Kyoya was more skeptical. "That might insult certain members of our class, and sounds tasteless."

Shel and Michaela sent him a glare, but he merely returned the favor and went back to his book. "Maybe not. They remind us of the nineteen twenties and thirties American gangsters, and if we say as such what's to be insulted about?"

"Plenty I imagine."

"Oh stop being such a sour puss; it's just a couple of costumes, it's for fun! You do know the mean of the word fun don't you?" Rashel snapped her irritation on full display to the group.

Kyoya raised an eyebrow at her as the rest of the club watched. "Yes I know the meaning of the word. You and I simply have different definitions of it."

Mic snorted, he had a point. Their idea of fun at the moment was to terrify their sister into gaining a new protector; namely Mori. Speaking of which, I wonder how that's going?

Mori-sempai had been sitting on the strange girl's bed for a few minutes before growing somewhat bored, and looked for something to preoccupy him until Via-chan released her rather strong grip on his arm. A book with a bright cover caught his attention, it didn't really appeal to him but it would do. A few pages in an odd howling and yipping could be heard through the balcony doors. "Huh? Coyotes?" No sooner had he said the word Vivian sat bolt upright in the bed fear and panic on her face.

"What is it?"

"Nothing!" She squeaked before yanking the covers over her head and pressing the fabric hard over her ears to block out the sounds. Turning to glare out the window he thought he saw a shadow move on the landing and had no doubt that someone was playing a cruel joke on Via-chan. Grumbling his irritation he got up to see if he could find the source of the howls and silence them, for Viv was trembling so hard under the covers that he could feel her temors through the quilts. As he moved to get up she latched onto his arm. "Please... Please dont leave." Her voice was muffled but he could hear the terror in them, he would have to have a serious talk with her sisters.

He leaned back against the head board when a flash of white caught his attention. Headphones. Grabbing them and the Ipod, from the bedside table he nudged the covers back and placed them in front of Vivian. When she didnt take them Mori cocked his head to the side to see her face better; she was squeezing her eyes shut tight and small whimpers were escaping her mouth. "Vivian-sama... Vivian-sama look." Her eyes slowly blinked open and saw the Ipod.

Looking up at Mori she stopped trembling and reached out for the headphones. Quickly placing the buds in her ears she pressed play and let the music drown out the howling. Again she looked at Mori-sempai and gave a weak smile before ducking her head back under the covers. That smile, broken as it was, had opened a door that Mori-sama had thought he had shut forever, but ah the wonders a smile can do.

A/N: Hope this is worth the wait, I know it's been forever but after getting some very special reviews from my followers, I decided to re-watch the Ouran series and get my inspiration back. It worked, and I am very thankful to all the people who gave me support by reading my story, reviewing it, and understanding my reasons for stopping. This is dedicated to all of you special people. (LOVE!)