Summary: Dates get arranged and Dia's quiet time gets interupted. Plus, roommate talk.

Nico arrived at her house, still muttering about how her morning with Maki had ended. Which was not productive. Or helping Nico get into a place where she could show up bright and Nico for the afternoon audition her agent had scheduled. Not enough time to cook her way out of this mood so Nico decided on her other option, and started cleaning. But there wasn't much to deal with. She'd left all the dishes at Maki's. Maki probably didn't know how to run a dishwasher. Oh right, they probably had a housekeeper. How had Nico managed to land in the social circle of LA's queer social elites, close enough to have Maki and Ohara Mari fighting over her pasta? And how had Maki managed to stay so pure? Maki's angry-hurt, almost tearful, expression before she stormed toward the house kept digging into Nico's feelings. Nico sighed and reached for her phone.

N: Hey, Gorgeous. Take a nap and Nico will take you out for a dinner DATE after work (✿ ‿ )

No immediate response.

N: Maybe I can convince you this was a bad dream v(*'-^*)ｂ

M: Maybe ┐(ﾟ～ﾟ)┌

M: You'd have to be SUPER convincing.

N: So, dinner? You and me. Us?

Lots of typing bubble...then a real response.

M: (^^)b

Nico could work with that. Now for a shower.

###

Eli glanced at her phone. A text from Nozomi.

N: Should I bring the chocolate cake to your house? (*｀▽´)_旦

E: Only if you bring enough for Nico. She likes deconstructing recipes.

Eli's phone pinged. She reached for it.

Nozomi sounded amused, "So, you have a roommate on the premises. Are you still in the mood for LA's best chocolate cake?"

"Uh yeah." Nozomi obviously didn't know Eli well enough yet as that was all Eli would be thinking about until she got a taste.

Eli knew there was no way she could feel Nozomi breathing in her ear, but it warmed up as Nozomi spoke. "You sound eager. So shall I pick you up in an hour? Or are you busy?"

"Not busy, had a brunch with Kanan instead of rehearsal. She told me lots of stories about your friend Yoshiko. And she brought Ponchiki left over from …

Eli paused. Nozomi didn't know about CRAAVI. Hanamaru had told her Yoshiko had a cryptid related reading group.

"Their last reading group."

Eli could almost hear the winking disbelief in Nozomi's tone, "It's an underground speakeasy, isn't it?"

Eli blinked. If Nozomi were actually going to press her on…

"Never mind. I'll keep grilling Hanamaru for information. I have other plans for you."

"Oh really?"

So much confidence from Nozomi; Eli liked that. "Besides, after you eat this cake, you'll tell me everything about you."

Eli sighed. "Probably. But only if you promise not to freak."

No hesitation on the other phone, "Sure."

Eli wondered if she should just blurt it out, well, say it calmly. Hey, I have really bad hair issues once a month. Hey, lately I seem to be more angry and bitey than usual. Hey, sometimes, I fetch. Hey, you smell REALLY good. Hey, my werewolf grandmother told me never to tell anyone until after we were married in the church and had children. How many do you want?

How do you start that conversation? Eli didn't. "Give me two hours. I need to do a few things."

"Whatever the pretty lady needs. See you then."

"Whatever the pretty lady needs." Well, Eli decided, the best chocolate cake in LA wasn't a bad place to start.

###
Dia was curled up in a blanket on the balcony, turned sideways in her chair, watching the ocean curl and uncurl. Tea was steaming next to her and everything was quiet for just a few moments. You was wrapped up in a hoodie, napping on a sofa. Mama was getting ready to meet Mom for dinner and maybe get the life Dia remembered back on track. Her grandmother was also sleeping after a night shift at the hospital. And Dia was missing her sister. She hadn't talked to Ruby in days. Being here in back-then Malibu, alone but surrounded by family that didn't recognize and familiar places that weren't the same was enough of a disconnect to keep her head aching. Maybe she should have stayed for the CAT scan. Dia picked up her tea. Lukewarm. Of course. Nothing was exactly the right place, person, or temperature. Dia chugged the now cloying mint medley and considered flinging the cup as far as she could. Instead Dia dropped it when a soft voice startled her.

"Hey." You was leaning against the house, fair hair sleep and wind tossed, bright blue eyes friendly.

"Good afternoon."

"Yeah, that too." You leaned over the balcony, seeing where the cup had landed. "Hope that wasn't a family heirloom. Didn't bounce."

Dia gritted her teeth. "It would have been fine if you hadn't arrived unannounced."

You ducked her head slightly, eyes now burning with mischief, "Should I wear a bell?"

"Are you a cat?" Dia took a minute to look You up and down. No whiskers or ears. Could probably leap pretty far with those legs. Seemed like the lands on her feet type. "And even if you were, I'm sure that would just turn into an even bigger distraction when you bounced all around the place and broke things."

You dropped into the chair Dia had vacated, yawn stretching herself fully awake. "I'm probably more schnauzer than Siamese."

Dia glared, then stepped to the railing, pointed straight down, and hissed, "Then fetch."

You doubled over with laughter, Dia leaned back, crossed her arms, and rolled her eyes.

And then Maki crashed the party, looking tall and put together in loose gray plaid trousers, with an off the shoulder pink rose appliqued gray knit sweater. She had a black jacket swung over her arm. "How are you feeling, Dia?"

"Fine. Not much of a headache."

"Remember anything about why you're in LA, yet?" Maki's question was gentle.

Dia shook her head, for fear of what she might say if she attempted to answer.

Maki sounded hesitant, "Nico wants me to have dinner with her, but…"

Dia smiled, "It's okay. I don't want to be a burden, Nishikino-san. You're being very generous." Dia's chest constricted as she continued, her voice wavering, "You don't even know me."

"I'll take Dia down to the precinct I work with, after your Mom says it's okay for her to drive around, and see if we can find out anything from fingerprints or facial recognition." You offered.

Maki's amethyst eyes, kind, held Dia's, "If that's what Dia wants to do."

Dia jumped at the opportunity to get away from the beach house snowglobe, chunks of memories settling down around her after Yoshiko's shaking, "That sounds like a really good idea. Maybe somebody will have found my passport. We can talk to the embassy."

Maki quirked an eyebrow, "That sounds very efficient for post head injury behavior."

Dia shrugged, "Habit."

Maki chuckled, "All right, well call me if you need anything. Mama will give you the keycode for the front door."

"Thank you, Nishikino-san." Every time Dia bit back a Mama, this surreal fever dream got darker.

"Call me, Maki."

"Thank you, Ma...ki."

You saluted, "I'll take good care of her, ma'am."

Maki just nodded before she stepped back inside. You immediately pulled on Dia's borrowed sleeve, " She gives us the door code and she doesn't even like me. Are your parents always that trusting?"

Dia collapsed into the seat next to You, "Mama is."

"Rich people privilege."

Dia shook her head, "Sadly no. Most rich people I know trust no one." You was gifted with a gentle smile. "It's that rare quality, true kindness. My sister has it too. They believe in people. It's amazing."

"What about you? And Nico?"

"We believe in them." And ruin anyone who hurts them, Dia added to herself.

###

Eli, in a marled blue and white cowl knit sweater dress, was on her way out the door as Nico was on her way in.

"Hey, Roomie!" Eli grinned, leaning against the kitchen island. "Your house tonight, if you want to stay in. All you can eat ice cream."

Nico, with an adventurous glint Eli had never seen before, shook her head, "Nah, Nico has a dinner date."

"With the feral DJ?" Eli didn't snarl. Progress.

"Her name is Maki." Nico preened, "and Nico is going to treat her to the second tastiest pasta sauce in the world."

Eli, her mood bubbly, scream faced, hands on her cheeks. "You're going to take her to Gianellis'?. Weren't you at her mega million dollar mansion just last night? You think Gianellis is going to impress her? Our neighborhood pizza place?"

Not daunted, Nico threw off a grand bow. "Nico will impress her." An easy shrug as Nico adjusted the collar of her checked, flared shirt dress. Eli occasionally envied Nico's confidence. "Pretty dress. Good choice, Eli. You off to rehearsal?"

Eli curtsied at the compliment. "Nozomi's taking me for 'LA's best chocolate cake.'" To impress me, Eli added to herself.

"Chocolate, huh. Let me know when you want me to best woman for you."

"It isn't a date." Eli said it too fast, too loud.

Nico's eyebrow zoomed upright as Eli's lie deflated between them and nervous and chatty Eli took over, "Okay, I don't know what it is. I might want it to be a date, but then what do I do about...and how do I tell her...how do you start that talk...and I just can't have three kids appear."

Nico's expressions swirled until confused took over, "Huh?"

"Nothing." Eli shook herself, "Just some stuff my grandmother always said. I've been giving myself pep talks all day and," Eli bopped her temple, "It's confusing up here."

Nico put her hands on Eli's shoulders, pulling the taller woman closer, "Just go with your gut, Eli. If you trust Nozomi, TRUST her."

"But…" Eli's eyes had the look they had when the power started blinking during a midnight thunderstorm.

"You trusted Nico."

"I trusted Nico." Eli unclenched one pinkie's worth of tension.

Nico nodded, encouragingly, like Eli was a small child repeating her abc's. "Now trust Eli."

Eli exhaled, "Okay."

"Good." Nico pulled Eli in for a hug, "Now get out there, Ayase. We're too good looking to have been single this long."

"Title of your sex tape." Eli laughed and centered her skirt as Nico released her.

Nico winced, "Don't tell jokes. Just look pretty. And sanitize any toys."

"NICO!" Eli shoved Nico back, but Nico was braced for that reaction and danced back, hands at her temple, wickedly grinning.

"Don't forget to Nico Nico Ni when…"

Eli bolted, slamming the door behind her.

A/N: May has seemed like a decade. How are you?