Haruko held Suzu. She'd already begged and pleaded with her daughter to stop crying and go to sleep. Haruko was getting frustrated. Suzu was teething which was causing most of her fussiness. Haruko had also woken her up for dinner and that had not pleased the baby.

"Suzu, please stop crying," Haruko tried again.

"Momma, is Suzu hurt?" Hiro asked as he watched his sister wail.

"Her teeth are coming in," Haruko explained.

"Teeth like mine?"

"Yes Hiro." Through her frustration, she smiled at him. He always tried to understand what was happening. "You went through this too but you didn't cry like she does." Haruko looked at Suzu and then back at Hiro. "Can you go get ready for bed? Your father should be home soon." Hiro nodded and Haruko hoped she was right.

Shunsui stood at the door. He could hear the screams through it. He sighed afraid that it was going to be another long night. His daughter had a beautiful voice when she wasn't screaming. Her chatter was almost like a song. Shunsui opened the door and wondered how long it would take to quiet her tonight. He wanted time with his wife alone. He found Haruko in the baby's room and he walked over and lightly kissed her. "Do you want me to take her?"

"Eventually. Hiro's ready for bed but he's waiting for you. You can have her after that."

Shunsui kissed Haruko's cheek then went to his son's room. Hiro was sitting on the floor looking at a book and making up a story to go with it. He wasn't able to read the words so he let his imagination tell the story.

Hiro looked up from his book. "Daddy!" Shunsui smiled and hugged the boy. "Suzu's getting teeth like mine."

"That's what I hear." Shunsui picked up Hiro and put him in bed. He grabbed the book Hiro had been reading and Shunsui read it to him. He tucked Hiro into bed and went back to his daughter's room. Shunsui took Suzu from Haruko. She continued to wail but started to quiet down some. "I'll put her to bed."

Haruko walked out of the room and it didn't take long for Suzu to stop crying. Shunsui rocked her and she soon feel asleep.

He found his wife curled up in bed. She was already asleep. It seemed his plans for some time alone would have to wait.

"I have no idea how Shunsui does it. He can quiet her with just a look." Haruko looked at Ame who was holding her son.

"Haruko, they have a bond that you never will. They share a birthday. She'll be Daddy's girl."

Haruko sighed. "Yes. She will be." She already was. It was Shunsui who could make her smile. "What can I do to make her love me?"

"Just love her Haruko." Ame smiled down at her son. "Remember when you were at the Academy and you were afraid Hiro wouldn't know you?" Haruko nodded. "Your son loves you. I'm sure Suzu does too."

"I hope you're right." Haruko looked at her friend. "How have you been doing? I hardly see you since you had Ichiro."

"I cherish every day. I almost lost my husband." She laid Ichiro in his crib. "Something like that gives you a whole new perspective on life."

Haruko smiled. "How is Jushiro doing?"

"Very well. He only has to go for treatments once a month instead of every week." Ame smiled. "It brought us closer together."

Haruko held her daughter. Suzu cried and screamed. Haruko rocked her but it didn't help. She tried everything she knew to quiet her daughter. At her wits end, Haruko took a breath and began to sing to her daughter. They were songs her mother had sung to her when she was a child. Suzu stopped crying and listened.

Shunsui stood in the doorway and watched Haruko put their daughter to bed. He could hear her humming. Haruko turned and saw him. She pulled him out into the hallway. Wrapping her arms around him, she kissed him. "Both of our children are asleep," she whispered to him.

"How did you manage that with her?"

"I sang to her."

Shunsui smiled. "You never sang to me."

"I'll sing for you tonight if you want." She smirked at him. Shunsui picked her up and carried her to their bedroom where she sang for him.

Haruko and Shunsui walked through the senkai gate. Haruko wanted to buy a present for Suzu. They walked into a toy shop.

"Are you going to get something for Hiro too?" Shunsui asked. They tried not to play favorites between their children.

Haruko shrugged. She hadn't really thought about it. "I want to get her something to help her sleep." They walked around the shop looking at the various stuffed animals.

"Can I help you find something?" the clerk asked.

"Do you have any musical stuffed animals?"

They followed the clerk as he led them around the store, looking for such a toy. He knew he had seen them before. He couldn't remember where they were. Finally he spotted it.

"Ah! Here we go. Looks like this is the last one." He handed Haruko a pink bunny with a tag that said musical. She wound it up and listened. The melody was sweet and one Haruko vaguely recognized.

"It's perfect."

That night as Haruko got Suzu ready for bed, she pulled out the bunny. Suzu was fighting sleep. Just when her eyelids would droop, she'd open them again. Haruko laid her in the crib and picked up the bunny. She wound it and laid it next to Suzu.

"Is she..?" Shunsui asked quietly as he walked over to Haruko.

"She's fighting it." The bunny played through and when it stopped, Haruko reached down and wound it again. Before it was done, Suzu was asleep and Haruko and Shunsui were beginning to enjoy a nice warm bath.