My darlings, I am so happy to present chapter 36!

Alright, so I have to thank my reviewers, as always! Many thanks to Half-Angel-Writer, radioactivepenguin13, Draycos, and Startime101 for reviewing my story. Thank you all so, so much!

And I feel horrible. Last chapter I got some favorites and alerts and I forgot to put them in. I'm a horrible person T_T.

So many thanks to my readers who favorited/alerted, who are alyxsandria and I'm Shexy And I Know Itt. Sorry guys...I meant to put that in last time and forgot.

This is yet another pointless, fluffy filler chapter. Next chapter is interesting. I hope you enjoy it!

{Winter Vacation, one week before Tori and Maria's return home}

"Maria, what are we going to do when we get back to see mama? You're going to be without Kyoya for two whole weeks! What are you going to do?" I shrug.
"Tori, I'm sure the both of us can be mature enough to not freak out while we're separated. Neither of us are really that clingy. Sometimes Kyoya can be, when he wants to spend time together, but it's never anything so over the top as...you and Tamaki." She sighs sadly, and I see the look on her face. She's not too happy at the mention of Tamaki.
"I don't think...I don't think Tamaki even sees me any other way than his friend. No matter what I've said or done I haven't been able to convince him to let go of Haruhi. It seems he was stuck on her before I even came along. I think it's a lost cause." I smile at her sadly.

We're sitting in the living room reading. Well, I am. Tori's staring off into space, a sad look on her face. She's been looking that way since vacation started, and though I haven't really had the chance to talk to her about it, it worries me. Kyoya's been keeping me busy, unfortunately. Now that we're both sitting here, it's time to have her tell me what's going on.

"Why do you think it's a lost cause? The Tori I know doesn't give up on her love interests so easily." I say, and she manages a small smirk at that. Good, I've lifted her spirits some at least.
"Because every time we go out and do something, or whenever I'm with him or talking to him...at any point in time it's always 'Haruhi this' and 'Haruhi that', and I'm getting so frustrated! I don't want to give up...I really, really like him! But I just...don't think there's room for me." I sigh, thinking for a moment. I don't really know what to say. I'm in my own relationship and it's working out just fine. So I don't really know what to tell her.
"Tori...Tamaki does have a one track mind. But I think you've been trying too hard. Why don't you try pulling back from him for a while and see if he notices? If Tamaki gets upset because you aren't paying as much, or even any, attention to him then go for it. If he doesn't really notice, then I'd say give up. I'm sorry to say this, Tori, but Tamaki is dense beyond words. You have to do drastic things to get him to see the smallest bit of light. So...don't give up just yet, okay? I think you can turn things around. You've just got to believe in yourself and try. I believe in you, so why can't you believe in you?" She looks at me, and then after she absorbs my words, smiles.
"I think this vacation will be a good way to do that. I'll ignore him and his text messages the entire time we go on this trip. Let's see if he gets upset or not." She says, her deviousness coming through. That's the Tori I know. She wouldn't give in without a fight.

I smile at her and go back to my book. I don't even get the chance to get to the bottom of the page when the doorbell sounds. I put the bookmark in and stand. Who could it be? I was sure we weren't having company today. I get to the door and open it, and there in the cold is Kyoya.
"Oh, Kyoya. Come in!" I say as I step to the side. He walks in and I shut the door. It is freezing out there, so I'm glad I'm wearing jeans and a sweater.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" I ask, and he hangs up his coat.
"I have something to tell you."
"Okay, shoot. What is it?" I ask as we walk into the living room.
"My father is going to be in Las Vegas through the New Year. He has told all of our family to come along. But after we get there, there's nothing for any of us to do. My father has business with the head of a company and his meeting is for him exclusively." I nod.
"Okay, and what does that mean?"
"That means, if you'll have me, I would like to spend Christmas with you and your family." I freeze at this for a moment. Tori looks at me in surprise.

Just what does he want by coming and spending Christmas with us?

"...I don't know. I'll have to call ahead and ask my mom. One second and I'll do just that." I say, pulling my phone from my pocket and wandering from the living room back to my bedroom. I sit on the bed and look at the time on the wall. It should be mid-morning there. Hopefully my mom is awake since it's late afternoon here.

"Hello?" I hear my mother's voice and smile.
"Hey mama!"
"Oh, hi sweetie. What's up?"
"Well, I have some news."
"Don't tell me you're not coming home for Christmas."
"No, it's not that. I'm coming home for Christmas but...well, my..."

I haven't told her I'm dating someone yet. I wonder what she'll say.

"Your what, dear?"

"My boyfriend wants to come stay with us for Christmas." I say. It's silent on her end for a moment, then speaks.

"I didn't understand a word of that, dear. It was in Japanese. English, please." I sigh angrily. Why did I do that? I'm too nervous right now. Come on, Maria, just breathe.
"Mama, my boyfriend was wondering if it was alright if he spent Christmas with us." There. I said it. Now I just have to wait and see what she says.
"Well, sure! I don't see why not! Is his family coming?"
"Yes, they're going to be here in the states for Christmas and New Years' so he would like to spend that time with us."
"Well, what about his family?"
"Uh, no. No, mama, he's...filthy rich. His father's going to be there on business and he's requiring the entire family to be there."
"Oh. I see. Well, I certainly wouldn't mind meeting the boy. I'm surprised you haven't told me. This is a pinnacle point in your life, moving on from what happened two years ago."
"Yeah, I know! You'll love him, mama. He's amazing." I tell her. I really am excited and happy. I really do want my mother to meet him.

My father, on the other hand...well, I suppose that's going to be interesting. I just hope he doesn't do anything to embarrass me.

"Well, I look forward to meeting him. He sounds like a very nice boy, and you sound very happy. I'm glad that you've found someone you can trust. I'll see you next week, alright?"
"Yep, next Monday! One week from today."
"Alright hun, I love you. Be safe and have fun, alright?"
"Yes mama. You too! Tell everyone we miss them!"
"Haha, alright hun. Love you."
"Love you too. Bye!" I hang up after this, and then smile.

"So I'm amazing? Why can't you tell me these things to my face?" I flush and turn around suddenly.
"Oh! Hi. I didn't know you were standing there. Wait, you understood what I was saying?"
"Maria, you should know by now who you are talking to. I do many business dealings in the United States. We learn English in school here, as well. Yes, I can understand you." I flush in embarrassment.

"Oh...okay. Well, as you heard, my mama would be happy to have you over for Christmas. Are you sure your family won't mind?"
"I have acquaintances close to where your family lives in Arizona. I'm certain that my family won't mind if I'm staying with them. Everyone has their own agenda when we go to the United States. So no, they will not mind." I nod.
"Alright. Well, as long as they don't mind I suppose it's fine. After all, Christmas is a family holiday." I say, and he nods his head slightly.
"True as that may be, sometimes business gets in the way." I shrug.
"Well, I always thought that those who were higher up didn't work at all anywhere near holidays. Trips to the Bahamas and the like."
"Well, my family has no need for that sort of thing. My father is practical, if nothing else. Flaunting wealth is ugly to him if done so improperly as taking vacations more days out of the year than are worked." I nod with a small smile.
"Well, good. That's a good way of looking at it." I say, and he nods in agreement.

Well, this will make for an interesting Christmas. I'm not ashamed of anything my family has to offer, but we don't live in a mansion back home. Our home is quite small, actually, and with Tori and I gone it gives our mother much more room. However, with us coming home for the holidays, the room is about to become even smaller. I hope Kyoya doesn't mind things being a little cozy. I prefer things to be cozy, since that's the way I've always lived my life. How he adapts to my family, well...that's a whole other ball game. My family is super crazy. At least, my father is. My mother's about as blunt as anyone I've ever met, and it's something I share in common with her. My father is about as mature as a four year old even though he's 47. My mother at 42 sometimes can't help wondering when she married a four year old and whether she was drunk at the time or not. I always giggle at this, though secretly I wonder the same thing.

This will be one hell of a Christmas. Hopefully I can get my normally festivity-deprived mother to break out the Christmas tree, stockings, and the whole shabang for this Christmas. She hates everything to do with holidays, so getting her to do anything of that sort will probably be a doosey. But I have confidence in myself.

"Kyoya, when you say spend Christmas with my family...what do you mean by that, exactly?" He stands there for a moment and thinks.
"I suppose that would include spending Christmas Eve with your family as well as Christmas Day. If that is what you want, of course. I can certainly make other arrangements if your family has something else in mind." I nod, thinking a little. So he'd come all the way to our home...spend the day, then leave...come back again, and then leave? Well that sounds really stupid. I guess we'll fly by the seat of our pants then and see how it goes, no matter how stupid that sounds.

Haha, Maria's so funny. I would hope Kyoya speaks English. He's in the business world by birth...and he's Japanese, so...well, it's kind of a given. And he knows German too. Because it's one of his favorite subjects, thanks to Miss Bisco Hatori's bios on her characters.

And Draycos, I did not know that Kyoya got a kitty in the series! I'm just now on volume 15, and so far I haven't seen him get a cat...so I didn't know. I've probably either missed it or haven't gotten to it yet. But thank you for telling me! It's something I an incorporate. This is why I have readers! Haha thanks love! :D

Much love and many thanks, y'all. I'll be back with the next chapter soon!

~B-chan