A/N: Welcome Back. I'm sorry it's been a long time since I've done these, but I think I have a good clip running on these newer ones I'm going to post over the next few weeks, plus a few more that I'll do that will allow the Persona-verse to breathe a little. I'll post 2 tonight and then one every 2 or three days.

This first piece is the one that I hinted at for a long tome...but I've NOT posted this for so long since I wrote it and referred to the events herein...for one reason or another not having anything to do with the quality of it...that it may have become a "Noodle Incident" with you guys (Read tvtroopes if you don't know what that means), but I've never intended it as such.

Basically, Charles had a meeting with Hikaru, Yukiko's Father the day after Charles had his first kiss with Yukiko...We pick up here where Chapter 21 left off...

"Ground Chuck"
Charles/Hikaru
April 23, 2011

Junes Food Court

Charles snapped his fingers at Yosuke and Chie, whose faces were still glazed over. "Yosuke? Chie?"

Charles had just told them a few minutes before that he had kissed Yukiko the previous day. However, they apparently expected him to blurt it out. Or the fact that it had happened.

He hadn't meant for them to hear. They were arguing because Yu was dating Ai and Yosuke…from what Charles could infer, but Chie could not, was that Yosuke thought Chie had a crush on Yu. And this was no mere crush…It was full blown love…or so Yosuke thought.

But then they had apparently finished talking and Charles had blurted out what had happened and not only did they hear…they also had been gobsmacked.

Charles was now trying to get their attention…but it's like they went into the Blue Screen of Dumbfounded. He thought.

Then his cell rang. It appeared to bring Chie and Yosuke out of it…which annoyed Charles even more.

Charles then said, "Moshi Moshi…" Then decided he'd never do that again after Chie and Yosuke stared at him for doing that.

"This is Amagi Hikaru," The stentorian voice said. "I need to see you at the Inn, Charles. Please do not delay." It appeared that something was disturbing him…which made Charles's stomach turn cold.

"Hai! I will not, Sir…" Charles said. Then the call disconnected.

"What's that about?" Chie asked.

"I don't know…but I shouldn't delay…" Charles said. "Are you guys…?"

"We'll be fine Chuck, we were just shocked you'd blurt it out like that," Yosuke said.

Charles smiled. "Yeah, well…maybe I also felt the need to tell someone outside of Yu and Ryotaro…" Then he left.

Amagi Inn

Charles sat in the office Hikaru and Mariko shared with dread.

Charles had been there for 15 minutes. Hikaru was looking at him with stony eyes. Charles was trying to not look afraid, but he knew that that was doomed to failure.

So instead he just tried to at least not look away.

Dammit, He knows I kissed Yukiko…I don't think Ryo told him…maybe Yukiko did and thought he'd be all right with it and instead he's pissed. Understandable…but why is he not saying anything…or when he says my given name…he's restraining the urge to call me by my last name…? Charles thought.

Finally after a silence that seemed to span centuries, Hikaru said, "Thank you for coming so swiftly…"

"Y-You're welcome, Sir…" Charles said nervously. He expected "J'ACCUSE!" as the opening salvo…not the only compliment he figured he'd get.

"Do you know why you are here?" Hikaru said, with restraint.

"I…I believe so…" Charles said.

"Good…because I'm disappointed…" Hikaru said.

"I understand, sir…I overstepped my bounds in kissing your daughter…" Charles said.

"I'm afraid it's more complicated than that…or have you conveniently forgotten…?" Hikaru replied with an edge.

"Forgotten what, sir?" Charles said with honest confusion.

"Do you think me for a fool, Waldo? You know what you did!"

"I kissed her…I understand as a father you wouldn't want a random boy kissing your daughter without approval…but I don't know of anything beyond…"

"You made my daughter cry!" Hikaru said.

"I…I did?" Charles said.

"You were there when it happened, were you not?" Hikaru said.

"The kiss yes, but …she never cried… if she did, it was after I left…" Charles said.

"So now you're trying to cover your lie with another lie," Hikaru said.

"Sir…I would never to anything to hurt Yukiko…" Charles said as bold as he could.

"I trusted you… I allowed you to see her…and this is how you show your thanks?!"

"Sir…when I left, I went into the elevator and waved goodbye and I remember she and I were smiling…that's it," Charles said, trying to rein in his anger. "I would never do anything to make her cry…"

"I don't believe you... you made her cry and ran away to try to cover for your mistake, assuming she wouldn't say anything!"

"Sir…if she cried while I was there I would not have run…I would have done EVERYTHING and ANYTHING in my power to comfort her and make her feel better."

"Any boy would say that…" Hikaru said.

"She wasn't crying when I left!" Charles pleaded.

"No. She was and you're lying…"

"I'm not lying…I love he…"

"YOU'RE LYING AND I WANT THE TRUTH OR I'LL POUND YOU INTO HAMBURGER!" Hikaru yelled.

But then Charles, after hearing that, curled up into a ball and started crying and shaking.

"Please…don't hurt me…I'm telling the truth…Please, Sir…I would never harm Yukiko…" He said over and over as the tears fell down his face.

…

And inwardly, Hikaru felt terrible.

After Mariko had talked with Yukiko, she had explained what had happened about the kiss that she had witnessed and what she had discussed with Yukiko… And the fact that Yukiko was crying because she felt terrible for unintentionally scaring him when she had pushed him off.

He had listened, and stated no harm had been done. But then he and Mariko wondered if Charles had been there…would he have abandoned Yukiko, or would he have stayed?

They weren't fools…They both knew Charles and Yukiko loved each other. And they actually approved of the relationship…so long as Charles was not like any of the other boys who had come calling.

But the experience of Yukiko crying…even though it was in sympathy for his pain that he carried with him…they wondered if his fear would have overridden that love.

So Hikaru decided to test Charles, after much thought. He felt that if Charles didn't care…he would end the relationship then and there…because there was nothing that would have made Charles different from the other boys in that instance.

But here…Hikaru realized he pushed too far…

"I'm sorry…I didn't know I made Yukiko cry…I'm sorry…I didn't know I made Yukiko cry…" Charles now said over and over.

He traumatized the boy with a threat that made most respectfully run the other way. But Charles… He was begging for mercy.

Hikaru was a gentle soul deep down. He never liked the idea of hurting people. Which is why it was surprising when he became angry.

Though to be sure, it was a rare occurrence. Hikaru had not been angry in actuality. He had put on an act to get Charles to confess something that would prove to Hikaru whether or not Charles was worthy to date Yukiko…he was pleased to see there was something that pointed to worthy.

But that was overshadowed by Charles's fear.

"I don't want to be Ground Chuck Waldo…" Charles said, still crying and shaking.

If this were any other time, place, and situation…Hikaru would put a strong, supportive hand on Charles's shoulder and help him to calm down…but he couldn't do that…because there were others in the Inn who knew Yukiko had cried due to Charles…and didn't know the circumstances.

So it was up to Hikaru, in order to save face…to go into the other legitimate direction… The Carrot and the Stick.

"Charles…You do not have to fear…your reaction has proven to me…you are not lying…"

Charles looked up. "You…you believe me now?"

"I cannot disbelieve you…" Hikaru replied. "In addition…I stated when I let you see Yukiko on the 19th that I owed you twice over…once for rescuing her from the media, and once from rescuing her from the kidnapper…Therefore… All debts have been repaid."

"But sir, if I have done no wrong…why are you invoking the…"

"The second debt…? Simple. You still made my daughter cry…You did not intend to…but for most fathers…that is still a crime which can make them decide not to allow the boy to see their daughter…if out of nothing else than not wanting to see said daughter upset again."

"I…I understand, sir," Charles sniffled. "But I would NEVER do anything to hurt Yukiko…"

"See that you keep to that…because otherwise…I WILL make meat out of you…" Hikaru bluffed. He had no intention of harming Charles…But he wanted the empty threat to keep Charles honest.

"I will, sir, I promise." Charles paused. "May I please see Yukiko?"

"Why do you need my permission…?" Hikaru asked.

"Perhaps…if nothing else…so I can let you know I wish to apologize to her…as well as you…"

"Me? Perhaps I came on too strongly…but I would do anything to protect my family…"

"I understand…but since you are Yukiko's father…any injury to her is an injury to you and her mother, your wife. I cannot in good conscience only apologize to Yukiko…without also apologizing to the ones who care about her. I'm sorry I caused pain and trouble for your family."

Hikaru was surprised. He thought what he did was unforgivable…but Charles's contrition was so sincere… He really DID have Yukiko's best interests at heart.

And so now…I believe I have found my future son-in-law…someone who would take care of Yukiko…and take her best interests to heart.

"Apology accepted…Yes, I believe Yukiko will be expecting you anyway…But please take care to apologize to Mari-chan if you see her…"

"Hai, Hikaru-sama…" Charles said bowing. Then both of them shook hands.

Hikaru watched Charles leave his office and then thought upon the day's events.

I should not have done that to him…but a father must always be sure…in regards to a potential son-in-law. And I believe that Charles will be perfect for my Yukiko.

…

Because he will always want to make sure she will never cry again because of him…

…

I just hope someday if he learns the truth he can forgive me for making HIM cry. Hikaru thought.