Kyoko took Maria for shopping in a gadget store, she wanted to buy a tablet computer where she can download an app that will allow her to compose a song, so that, during her free time, she still work on it. Although Maria's still a kid, she knows more about these things than her.

"Onee-sama, this" the child pointed a slim 9.7inches, glod tablet. "This is the brand that I've been using! And I downloaded lots of dating simulation games! The storage capacity is quite large."

"Hm. Is that so…" She mumbled. Kyoko also recognized the brand, it's the same brand of what the beagles were using. Maria called the sale's lady and asked if they could try the unit. The sales lady smiled at them and showed them their desired gadget, she explained the latest features, how to use it, warranty, and whatnot.

"We'll take it." Kyoko announced, smiling at the lady.

"Okay ma'am." The sales lady handed her some papers to fill up for the warranty. After the actress paid it, they went to grab some lunch, before going back to LME. Kyoko gave the kid a 'Tsuruga Ren' key chain, she was ecstatic, to her amusement.

"Now I can carry Ren-sama whenever I go!" She exclaimed, hugging the actress. She kissed her cheeks. "Thank you one-sama~ you are the best!"

"Anything for you, Maria!"

"She's very happy when she's with her." The man on the other line said, his father just sent a video of his child with the girl that Maria looked up to greatly.

Lory chuckled. "I know. She's the one who opened Maria's eyes and heart. She's the one who made Maria understand you."

"…"

"…"

"Father." Lory startled when his son suddenly spoke up.

"What is it?"

"She can become Maria's ideal mother. She loves her, and Maria loves her too."

"Oi, what are you sprouting about?"

"I wanted to meet her. I wanted her to become Maria's step-mother, I know she will take care of her like her own –"

"Kouki." Lory growled, cutting him from whatever he wanted to say. "Mogami-kun still seventeen, a minor!" He reminded him. "And do you think she will agree to that ridiculous proposal?" He asked incredulity.

"If I will explain properly to her that I don't want Maria to grow up without someone whom she will look up to as a 'mother', maybe she will consider."

"You're impossible! Stop that kind of thoughts. I won't allow it." Lory seriously stated. The father and son talked about different things before Lory hang up the phone. He stare at the video playing on his laptop, it was Maria kissing Kyoko's cheeks. "She indeed will become a great mother someday, but it's not to Maria…"

Kyoko was silently reading Box R's script in LME's Love Cafe. "So 'Natsu', on the outsider's point of view, she lacks nothing – lovable parents, surrounded by everyone, talented, and yet she's unsatisfied… What the heck's wrong with this girl?!" Kyoko heaved a sigh as she continue reading the script when she heard a familiar voice that she never heard for a quite some time, whined.

"I am soooooooo bored! School's not fun either! Really, Japanese has no originality! Celebrating Halloween, starts knocking into Japanese home asking for candy, what's the fun in that! Even if it's welcoming a foreign culture, there should have a limit! Did you even see the people from the west celebrate Buddhist Festivals?" She asked the new LME employee, who happened to past by the bored kid.

"N-N-No Ma'am."

"See? But look around us, grown-ups love to celebrate Christmas, but Christianity is not our major religion! Geez!" Maria huffed in annoyance, crossing her arms.

"Maaaaria~~"

The kid's face brightens "Onee-sama!" She threw herself at her for a big hug. "I miss you!"

"I miss Maria too!" She squeezed the girl. "So, what makes you so grumpy early in the morning?"

"Huh! I'm talking about how Japanese people should have originality in having a party, not just to copy from western culture!"

"Oh? You hate parties? But I'm sure President holds parties at home, right? Especially that the 24TH is fast approaching."

"What parties?"

"On the 24TH of December...?"

"From a long time ago, I decided that December 24TH is not to be celebrated at home. Because I am not a kid." She said bluntly with a bored expression.

"Oh... is that so...?" Maria is a weird kid... When I was on her age, I really looked forward to Christmas... "By the way, speaking of 24TH, isn't that Maria's birthday?" She reminded her cheerfully.

Maria's expression turned dark. "I have decided that I will not celebrate my birthday for life. It's mother's death anniversary."

Kyoko's blood runs cold. Crap! I forgot...

"And… maybe… something bad would happen again if I make a selfish request like, to come to my birthday party…"

I see… it means… her mother was hurrying back to Japan for her birthday… in order to grant her daughter's only wish… Kyoko was thinking on how to cheer up the child… Hmm… What should I do? I want her to enjoy the day she was born but not in a form of birthday party… Ah! That's it!

"Maria…" The kid slowly looked up to her. "Come closer… Actually, I really want to try this activity."

The kid only gave her a questioning look. "You said that Japanese people has no originality right? Then, I never heard of some country that usually did this…" Kyoko leaned and whispered to her ear.

"Eh…?" Maria curiously stared at her.

"Since I came up with the idea, the host would be me, but being by myself, it's going to be tough… So… can you help me out?"

Kyoko sheepishly smiled at her.

"Me…? What do I need to do…?" Maria asked reluctantly.

"You… plan to make the kid do manual labor…?!" Kyoko whipped her head to the new comer, who took the seat next to her.

"MOmmmpf –" Kanae immediately covered her mouth, stopping her from her energetic greeting.

"I've been listening to your conversation, and you're thinking about these troublesome things again, Mo!"

"It's not troublesome, it's actually fun!" Kyoko defended. "And besides, Maria only needs to write invitations and help me create a new recipe for the food that everyone will enjoy!"

"Invitations…?" The kid still doesn't know what kind of party she's planning. She only told her about having fun, and lots of food.

Kyoko nodded. "Let's write… 'Please attend the party I'm holding on the 24TH! Because 'with you by my side again this year, I'm blessed', I wanted to say 'Thank You.'" The actress suddenly became excited. "And then food! We're going to make our own food! Cakes, various delicacies, and whole loads of them all prepared to welcome the guests!"

The two watched the girl in awed as different kind of food keeps appearing in her mind. The more she talks about it, the more moved she is. She even talked about fairies…

"And everybody's having a great time togetheeeeer~~~!"

Maria gaped, flustered. She was moved by her imaginations too.

"Maria, do you… hate this kind of party?"

The kid finally smiled and shook her head. "I love it!"

"Ya~~y! Now that we've decided, let's start! There's two weeks left before the 24TH! First, we must write the invitations!"

"Ah! Yes, onee-sama!"

"Moko-san, I'll hand out your invitation, so make sure to come okay?"

"Ugh! So troublesome. Why's my schedule's not packed?" Kanae grumbled. The Love Me member number two felt that there's a very hurt face behind her back. "Argh! Mo! I know! I'll go! It'll be okay if I go, right?! You're such an annoying girl!"

"Yay! My best friend is coming! I am so grateful to you Moko-san, 'cause if you weren't here, then I'll be the only one who'll be wearing that curse uniform!"

Kanae's face flushed in embarrassment. "Shut up! Mo!" I think it's a bad idea butting in their conversation earlier. I better go home quickly!

"Onee-sama, what should we name the party?"

"That's right, let's call it, 'Thank You Everybody' party?"

"LAME!" Kanae immediately objected. "Hey! If you don't change, I won't turn up!"

After Kyoko's taping from Dark Moon, she immediately went back to LME, and in Love Me Section room, Kyoko and Maria started to have the list of the people they wanted to thanks. Kyoko wrote Ren's name first, while Maria wrote her grandfather's.

"You're not going to invite your father?" She wondered, after she read her list.

Maria shook her head. "Because father is always busy with work, even if I send him an invitation, he probably won't come."

Kyoko looked at sullen child. "But… you really want to see him… right?"

Maria nodded. "I really want to see him, even if I know that father is busy with work, I still wish he could drop everything and come to see me… But I'm so afraid of making this kind of selfish request again. What if father's plane will crash again?" She explained sadly. "So it's better not invite him at all."

The two continue doing their tasks when suddenly, Lory burst in the room, wearing a Santa Claus costume, riding an exhausted reindeer.

"Hohohoho! Mogami-kun, Maria! I heard that you're a party on the 24TH!" He exclaimed excitedly. "If Maria wants to hold a celebration on the 24Th, then I'm not holding back!"

Ugh! Hold back...? Did he even know the meaning of holding back? He's the King of Parties! Kyoko amusingly thought.

"I'll lend you my help in this too!" He announced.

"Grandfather..." Maria grumbled "First, we're not holding a Christmas party or anything like that."

"Eh? Then what kind of party the two of you are you hosting?"

"Ah… That… Actually it's like… saying 'Thank You' to the people that we wanted to thank."

"Oh? A 'Thank You' party?"

"Yes." Kyoko smiled. "We want everyone to enjoy the party together, and feel our gratitude. Right?" Maria smiled and nodded.

"Then, I'll lend you my help in this! I want have a lot of people to thank, too!" He excitedly informed them.

"You can't grandfather!" Maria annoyingly exclaimed. "Because you are also on my and onee-sama's invitation list! Organizers cannot participate!"

"I've been invited too?!"

"Of course! You are the VIP of all the people I want to thank! If grandfather didn't exist, then father and I wouldn't be here in this world either."

"I'm… so happy… so touched…" Lory sobbed. "I understand... Then, this time I'll honestly and truly be a guest to be taken care of..." Lory felt homey from what Maria said. "Where's the venue?"

Kyoko and Maria shared a look, they haven't found a venue yet.

"Err… we're still looking for it." Kyoko sheepishly scratched her head.

"Then, at least, use the villa!" He informed them.

Kyoko glanced at Maria, she wanted to hear her opinion about holding the party in her home.

"Okay!" The president was delighted at his granddaughter's approval. "Ah! Grandfather! Can I stay at onee-sama's home tonight? We're going to make samples for the food that we wanted to serve!"

"Of course, you can!"

Kyoko widened her eyes.

"Eh? What…?"

"Ren-samaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~~~~!"

Kyoko was thinking for a way on how to decline Maria, when she heard the child squealed that echoed in the lobby. The two are on their way to buy some ingredients when they bumped into the actor, together with his manager.

The child ran towards the actor, wanted to be carried.

"Maria-chan!"

"Ren-sama! Listen, listen! Onee-sama and I are hosting a party on the 24TH, and tonight, I'll be staying at her place!"

The actor looked at the actress, who has a concerned expression on her face, asking for help.

"That's great." Ren smiled at the child on his arm.

So… it's… okay…? Kyoko unknowingly tilted her head.

"Where are those admirable ladies?" The employees start whispering when a man with a cane, beard, and wearing a monocle entered. "Where are those ladies who are hosting a party?!" He asked again.

Kyoko and Maria looked at the commotion when they heard him looking for them.

The mysterious man caught their eyes. "There you are, Ladies!" The said ladies have a deadpanned expression. "I am 'Daddy Long Legs', and I heard that you are holding a 'Thank You' party! In a stressful world such as this, children like you are admirable! No matter what, let me extended a hand to help you!" He suddenly announced.

"Err…"

"And I will not take no as an answer!" Then he suddenly handed Kyoko a black plated credit card. The girl accepted it unconsciously. "Buy everything you wanted for the party! I want you to enjoy it to your heart's content!" And he turned his heels on them. "Cheerio!"

"That was… the president, right?" Yashiro asked confusedly.

"That was the president's idea for sure." Ren seconded.

"What should we do?" Kyoko asked the child.

"Proceed as planned! We now have enough money!"

"Alright!" Kyoko bowed at the two men. "We're heading first." Maria waved at the actor, and Ren waved in returned.

The two commuted from LME to Maria's favorite convenient store. Kyoko was reading the list while Maria was putting the item in the cart.

"Since it's only a sample, we should only buy moderate amount." Kyoko informed the kid.

"That's true…"

After buying the necessary ingredients, the two went to the 'Arts and Craft' section to buy the necessary materials for the invitation.

In the taxi, Kyoko was nervous on how Maria will react if she saw that she's living together with man she admired so much, that even thinking of marrying him.

"Wow! Onee-sama you live in the same condominium complex as Ren-sama?" Maria exclaimed when they stopped at the familiar place.

Kyoko nervously chuckled. "Y-Yeah..." The actress can see the child's excitement as they ride the elevator. Kyoko enter the passcode and when she opened the door, she let Maria entered first.

"Wow, onee-sama! Your place is so huge and nice!" She exclaimed in the living room.

"Thanks…" The actress went to the kitchen first to settle the items that they bought. "Maria, what do you want for dinner?"

"I'll eat anything that you'll prepare!"

"Alright." She went to the kitchen and starts preparing for their dinner while Maria stays in the living room and turned on the TV. After several minutes, she's almost done with the dish when the child ran to the kitchen staring at her with wide-eyes, in shock and surprise, she was about to asked what happened when Ren entered.

"I'm home."

"Oh…" Kyoko mumbled in understanding. "Welcome home."

"EEEH?!" Maria exclaimed loudly. "You and Ren-sama are living together?!"

Kyoko softly nodded. "Yes." She whispered.

"Then why grandfather never told me?" She pouted.

"Because he didn't know about it either." Ren answered, kneeling to her level. "That's why Maria-chan, let's keep this a secret from him, okay?" He coaxed the child with a bright smile.

"Mm." Maria nodded, and beamed at him. "I approved because it's onee-sama, but if it's another woman, I will get angry."

Kyoko sighed in relief, and Ren hugged the kid.

"Dinner's ready."

"Ren-sama, just wait and relax while we set the table for dinner." Maria ordered.

"Okay."

Ren watched the two, and his chest felt warm as he imagined them as his family, Maria being their child.

The actor blinked, and felt his face hot.

What am I thinking? He thought, scolding himself, but he can't deny fondness that he felt from within, with the idea of having a child with the woman he loves so much.

Ren watched Maria with a smile, as she decorating the invitation in the living room. She refused his help, for he's a 'guest.'

"Ren-sama, do you love onee-sama?" Maria suddenly asked. Kyoko was in the kitchen already making the samples.

"Yes, with all my heart and soul." He directly answered.

"Are you in relationship with her?"

"No… Not yet…"

"Eh? What took you so long to ask her out?"

"I want everything between us to be perfect…"

The child pouted. "Fine. I will give up on you, then. I can't be compared on how amazing she is. She's like a fairy godmother."

Ren softly smiled at her. "I know."

"You won't hurt her, right? You won't make her cry?" Maria seriously asked.

"There's no perfect relationship Maria-chan, but I can promise you that there will be more happy moments than sad ones, and I won't intentionally hurt or make her cry." Ren assured her, looking directly in her eyes, the actor took her questioning seriously.

Maria slightly gaped at him, it was the first time she saw him with such serious and honest expression, and then she gave him an approval smile.

"It's dooooone~~" They heard the head chef, Kyoko, chimed from the kitchen. Maria stood up and went to the kitchen. The kid's eyes sparkled at the beautiful decorated delicacies.

"Ren-sama, come here! Come here! Look!" She waved at him from the kitchen, and Ren obliged.

"Oh…" He gasped softly. "It's surely going to be a very good party. I'm looking forward to it."

The ladies both smiled brightly at him.

"Yes!"

[A/N]

Skip Beat! 253 is out! XD

Errors? Typos? Just ignore them for now... I will review it later~

xOxO

- BSOL