A/N: Alright. Hi, friends! Look, I know it's been a rough couple chapters. So, how about a breather? This week is a nice chapter. I promise. It's very sweet and very pure and also casual promotion for what I do every Monday on Tumblr. So, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go make some lunch. I'm hungry and need to sustain myself. Love you x

Hard to believe I've been here a week. A whole week of me waking up in my own bedroom. A whole week of me waking up at home. A whole week away from my penthouse. A whole week out of Japan away from my friends. I'm actually kind of impressed. No one has tried to contact me since I left. I haven't gotten a single text, a single call. Nothing. It's weird when the host club understands and respects my boundaries. I'm not complaining, though. I miss them, though. I'd be lying if I said I didn't. Him on the other hand? My feelings remain unchanged.

Then again, I haven't turned my phone on since the night I came back from the hospital. Maybe they have tried getting a hold of me. But I can't…I don't have the heart to turn my phone back on. It's still incredibly fragile and I didn't need that. I didn't need the pity and the boo-hoo bullshit. And as much as I'd appreciate it, I don't need Mori calling me, asking if he needs to beat the shit out of a certain someone I've suppressed from my mind for the last week. I wonder if he would…No. I wouldn't want someone taking the satisfaction away from me.

Although, on a much more positive note, Daddy was out of the hospital. At this point, I'm just happy he's alive. I don't care about anything else anymore. Daddy's still breathing. He's still alive. After hearing he got shot, my mind instantly went to Mama. I didn't need to lose another parent like that. I deserved better, dammit. And having my uncles here isn't the worst thing in the world either. Even though I knew why they were here. They were my impulse control. Even though Daddy said everything was smoothed over in the Bronx, that didn't mean they were totally safe. For them. Especially if my pissed off temper were to roll through town. Uncle Tony and Uncle César kept me from doing that.

But this morning felt different. This morning felt like the morning where I needed to go blow off some steam. And where better to do that than in the ballroom? I loved that ballroom more than most things. That was my happy place. It brought me back to much happier times. Where Mama was still alive and she'd spin me around until I got dizzy, fell to the floor, and laughed my ass off about it. Even though I've been back home for the last week, I was starting to get itchy. I wanted to get back on the silks. Because where better to level my head out than the closest I'll ever get to flying?

Dare I try to work out a routine for the Viper Pit here? I mean, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but the thought of going back to Japan right now made me queasy. Especially to a shit hole like the Viper Pit. Eww. But it's the only place I get paid to do silks. I can't be mad at that. I loved what I did. And I used to love the reason I did it, but…Well…Things change. People change. Sometimes, people show their true colors and are found out to be pieces of shit. But that's not going to sully my appreciation for my art. All I needed was a song.

I put my phone on shuffle and decided to go with the first song to pop up. I needed something high energy. Something that says I'm about to fuck someone's shit up. Because honestly? That's the mood right now. I grabbed an energy drink out of the fridge and threw it back with no problem. Although, when the first song started to play, I immediately got nauseous. Nope. Not doing that. Fuck, I hate that he ruined the Gazette for me. Because Shiver's a damn good song.

But the next one…The next one was strange. Because it was one of those songs I never thought to do a silks routine to. It wasn't loud or high energy, but that didn't make it any less good. Nope…Not feeling it. Sorry, Tiny Dancer. Not happening today. But then, some distorted guitars came up. The Bitch of Living from Spring Awakening…Don't look at me like that. I can appreciate showtunes from time to time, too. A clever masturbation metaphor, but that one's not doing it, either.

"Show me how to lie," the speakers barked out, "You're getting better all the time. And turning all against the one is an art that's hard to teach…"

Yes. This one. I said I needed high energy. And God fucking bless the Offspring for coming through. I hopped up into my foot locks and did every flip and spin I could manage. I needed something to get the anger out. I needed something to act as a catharsis. And as much as Carrie Underwood helped back in Japan (I know. It's weird for me to think about, too.), I needed something different in here. I needed something that would finish me off and make me feel like I could punch a hole in a wall. I didn't want to punch a hole in the wall. I wanted to punch a wall in my (possibly) ex-boyfriend. I needed those screeching guitars in my ear to make things all better. And all better, they did.

"Holy shit, kid," Uncle César stood in the doorway as I started to come down, "You've gotten better at that since I last saw you."

"Thanks, Uncle César!" I chirped, running on pure adrenaline, "I've been getting in a lot of practice with the silks lately. Did you need me for something?"

"Not me," he clarified, "Your dad's looking for you."

"Really?" I wondered, "For what?"

"I don't know," Uncle César shrugged, "He just told me to come and get you."

"Ok," I caught my breath for half a second, "Where is he?"

"Downstairs."

I thought for a second or two, "He's in the parking structure?"

"Last I heard."

"Ok," I took a quick shower and grabbed another energy drink out of the fridge. The more caffeine I could pump into my body, the better. I had been home for the last week, but I'm still running on Tokyo time. Come on, body. You're home. Get used to being home again. Either way, I got in the elevator and took it down to the parking structure. Sure enough, Daddy stood in the open space where no one ever parked. This part was practically abandoned, "Hi, Daddy."

"Hey, princess," Daddy smiled a bit, "Took you long enough. I sent César to get you half an hour ago"

"What are you doing down here?" I wondered, "We haven't been down here since I started learning about how the family worked."

"That's kind of why I wanted you to come down here in the first place," he admitted, "You know what sounds like a good idea?"

"What?" I laid my head on his shoulder.

"Something I'm sure we both could use," Daddy thought, "I could stand to go a couple rounds…What about you?"

"You seriously invited me down here for a fight?" I gasped, "Daddy, are you fucking high? You just got out of the hospital! We're not bare knuckle fighting down here."

"You're probably right," he taunted me, "I mean…Even though I just got out of the hospital, you still probably couldn't take me."

"Excuse me?" I scoffed, "I seem to remember winning a few of those fights, Daddy. Don't try to give me that bullshit."

"Well, well," he smirked, "Look who's got the sensitive temper today."

"I usually have a sensitive temper," I reminded him, "Have you just met me?"

"I think I met you about…" Daddy thought back, "Almost…Seventeen years ago? Some hospital in Williamsburg? Sound about right?"

"I'd think so," I rolled my eyes. Good to see that gunshot didn't screw with his head.

"Come on, Reila," he begged, "Please? We'll fight just like the old days."

"Really?" I remember how we fought in the old days. It'd be Daddy throwing himself around and pretending it was me doing it. Until I got a little older and I started developing muscle. Then, we scrapped for real. But even then, he never went all out on me. He didn't have the heart to, "Just like the old days?"

"Promise."

"Well…" I walked over to the roll of tape laying on the floor and started taping up my knuckles, "If it's going to be like we did in the old days, I don't see why not."

"Wonderful!"

Daddy threw the first punch, sufficiently knocking me off my feet. I did my best to regain my footing, "What the hell, Daddy? That was a cheap shot."

"Oh, come on," he poked at me some more, "Get up, Rei. I raised you better than that."

"No," I threw a pop to his shoulder, making sure to avoid his ribs at all costs. He doesn't need to go back to the hospital because of me. Although, he was quick and blocked me, "You didn't raise me better than that. You trained my ass better."

"That's my girl," Daddy beamed with pride, holding his hands up, "Give me a quick one, two."

"K," I threw a punch into the palms of his hands without hesitation, "Do you mind if I show you something I learned from a friend of mine?"

"Go ahead, baby."

It's too bad I didn't have my kendo staff here. I missed kendo. But I had the next best thing. I had a long piece of pipe instead! I gave it a couple spins and then, got Daddy in the backs of his knees. Thank you, Mori. It was enough to get him to the ground. I sat on the tops of his legs, "Told you. I can occasionally win a fight between us."

"Who said I'm down for the count?" he whined.

"Really?"

"Alright, alright," Daddy laughed, "I got it. I'm down. That's all from your kendo class?"

"It's a good way to cap off my day," I kissed his cheek, "Don't worry…You still got it, old man."

"Aww…" he gushed, "Thanks, Rei. I needed that. Speaking of things I could use…"

"What do you need?" I wondered, getting up from his lap.

"Care to explain to me what the fuck happened with you and Ritsu?" Fuck…I was hoping he'd forget about that.

"What is there to say?" I sighed out, resting my head on his shoulder, "He broke my heart, Daddy. I gave it to him and he shattered it to pieces. He was cheating on me."

"What?" Daddy looked at me like I was on drugs, "No…Ritsu? Really? He does know you could kill him with your bare hands, right?"

"That didn't seem to matter," I choked out, "Apparently, he's engaged to some chick named Sayori, too. So, chances are, I was the side bitch."

"No, no, no," Daddy hugged me tight, "You are nobody's side bitch. You're main event, baby girl. And you know it."

"Thanks, Daddy…"

"There's probably a logical explanation for this," he figured, "I mean…To see the two of you together…I've never seen either one of you so genuinely fucking happy. It was almost gross to watch. I got diabetic from watching you two."

"I doubt it," I sighed out, "He…cheated on me. That's not exactly something I can forgive so easily."

"I'm sorry to hear that, sweetheart," Daddy kissed the top of my head, "You want me cut him?"

"No…"

"That's very mature of you, Reila," he praised, "You're handling it well."

"And you're overestimating me here," I clarified, "If you're the one to cut him, it takes all the fun out of it for me."

"There's my girl," Daddy awed, "I was starting to worry about you."

"It concerns me that my violent tendencies are what make you think everything's ok with me." Come to think of it, they're all probably on break by now. I bet if I turned my phone on, it'd be going off like crazy. But I don't want to deal with that…Not right now.

"Tell you what," he gave me a nudge, "Why don't we go get lunch, just you and me?"

"I am kind of hungry…"

"Besides," he took my hand, leading me back to the elevator, "I know how you work. You eat your feelings, Rei."

"You are not wrong," I agreed, "Did you have something in mind?"

"What about that little ramen place you like uptown?" Oh, Daddy…I know you're trying, but that's not a good place for me right now.

"Not really feeling like ramen," I shook it off, "I could do with a shit ton of Mexican food, though."

"Oh, baby girl," Daddy threw an arm around me, "Do I have just the place for you…"

"Where's that?"

"There's this food truck your uncles and I used to go to when we were just starting out," Daddy remembered, "Oh, Reila…It was the absolute best…I haven't thought about it in years. I'm pretty sure the lady who ran it retired, though. And her daughter took up the truck. But that was one of those places where you could go get a burrito the size of a newborn baby and a big ass horchata, slap a five on the counter, and still walk away with change. Abuela was the best…"

"Abuela?" I wondered, "Extended family?"

"Sort of," Daddy nodded, "She was a sweet lady, too. I wonder if she's still alive. Fuck, she was a hundred and ten when we were younger. And that was probably…twenty years ago? Yeah…Because I got involved with the Old Man three years before you were born. I got involved with the Old Man, I met Mama, we got married. Then, you came along."

"You were only with the Old Man three years before I was born?" I gave him a look, "Really?"

"Yep," he confirmed, the elevator opening up on our first floor, "A lot of life happened in those three years, though. Wouldn't trade a second of it for the world. I miss those days."

"What days?" Uncle Tony stood in the kitchen, digging in the fridge.

"The good old days," Daddy smiled, "Hey, do you know if Abuela's food truck is still in operation?"

"I'm not a hundred percent sure," Uncle Tony cranked his head back, "Ay, César!"

"Que?" Uncle César yelled back. Oh, it's good to be home.

"Sigue existiendo el camión de comida de Abuela?"

"Creo que sí. Su hija tiene eso."

"Gracias!"

"So, she does," Daddy beamed, "That's what I thought. Rei and I are going to get lunch. Don't burn the place down, boys."

"Didn't plan on it," Uncle Tony promised.

"I know you didn't, Tony…" Daddy knew better, though. Daddy always said he could give Uncle Tony a glass of water and a couple minutes alone. We'd end up having to call the fire department somehow.

The two of us left my uncles alone and scoured Williamsburg for this one food truck. What Daddy failed to realize was that in a place like Williamsburg, every corner had a food truck on it. Finding his golden food truck won't be easy. Or so I thought. Outside this little grocery store sat a bright green food truck. And I have never, in my near seventeen years on this planet, seen Daddy so fucking happy, "Hola, hermosa."

"Daddy?" I worried, poking his shoulder, "Are you going to be ok?"

"I'm not sure," he swooned, "If I broke down in tears right now, would you promise not to make fun of me?"

"No."

"Hey," Daddy shoved me, "Do you know how much Mama and I came to this food truck while she was pregnant with you? So much."

"Mama, too?" I figured someone like Victoria would make sure her refined daughter wouldn't dare eat food that came out of a food truck. She's too good for that. But never too good for the street rat she fell in love with.

"Oh, yeah," he went up to the window, "Hi."

"Hi," the woman smiled. Only for her eyes to damn near fall out of her skull, "Oh my god…Frankie!"

"Arabella," Daddy awed, "Look at you…"

"Look at you!" she gasped, "How are you? I haven't seen you since Vanessa was pregnant!"

"It has been a while…"

"Clearly," she gushed, glancing over Daddy's shoulder, "Who's this?"

"The one Vanessa was pregnant with," he threw an arm around me, "This is Reila. Rei, this Ari. She's a peach."

"Pleasure," I gave her a nod.

"You, too," Ari seemed sweet. And…Well…She was one of the first to feed me in a way. I can't be too mad at her, "So, Frankie, what can I get you?"

"Ari…" Daddy stared a hole through her, "Has my order ever changed as long as you've known me?"

"Valid point."

"Make it two," he ordered.

"Can do," she agreed, "Seven even."

"Shit…" Daddy felt his pockets, "Rei, you got any cash on you?"

"Yeah," I rolled my eyes, paying for lunch, "Pain meds got your head fuzzy?"

"A little." Alright. I can let that one slide. He grabbed our horchata from the window, "Here, princess."

"Thank you," I missed horchata. Not something I could really find in Japan. Fuck, it's good to be home.

"Here, Frankie," Ari handed him two silver bundles of joy, "Come around more often. I'll tell Mama you send your love."

"Abuela's still alive?" Daddy chirped, "Absolutely send her my love!"

"She's only ninety, Frankie," she giggled, "She'll outlive us all, you know."

"That's for damn sure," he gave her one last wave and we took off again. Oddly enough, we ended up on the front stoop of an older building up the block. I…I had to ask.

"Daddy," I wondered, indulging in this beautiful burrito. Holy shit, this was wonderful. Next time Ri…Never mind, "Of all the places we could sit and eat in this area, why are we here?"

"Feeling nostalgic," Daddy admitted, "You see this building, Rei?"

"Yeah…Kind of shitty, if you ask me."

"Reila…" he gave me a little swat, "I used to live in this building. Me, your uncles, and Abuelita. A piece of shit two bedroom apartment. But look at us now. Your uncles are at our penthouse in a much nicer part of Williamsburg. Abuelita has a beautiful villa in Barcelona."

"Not that the trip down memory lane isn't nice," I told him, "But is there a point?"

"Things were shitty for a while," Daddy put his arm around me, "But with a little time, they got better. And you will, too. The shit with Ritsu will work itself out. Don't worry."

I love this man. The only one who could never break my heart, "Thanks, Daddy."

"I love you, sweetheart," he kissed the top of my head, "Hey, I was thinking. You want to go see Mama before we head home?"

"You think I could go see her by myself?" I winced.

"Of course, baby," Daddy left me alone, "I'll see you back at home, ok?"

"Ok." If anyone could help me get my head on straight, it'd be Mama. Daddy helped. Daddy helped a lot. But something about talking to Mama put me at ease. I walked back to the cemetery alone. Hi, Mama…It's been…Eventful, to say the least. The boy I introduced you to? I don't think we're a thing anymore. Someone tried to kill Daddy. Shit's been miserable, Mama. I could really use a hug…

"Rei!"

What the hell?

"Rei!"

"Rei-chan!" No fucking way…

I turned my head and noticed not one, not two, not three, but seven bodies waiting for me. Probably the seven faces I could stand to see the most outside of any family. Well…I couldn't really say outside of family. Over the course of the last year and a half, they've practically been my family. And as exhausting as they can be, as exasperating as they can be, as much as they lack any sort of boundaries, I'm so fucking happy to see them. Without another thought, I threw my arms around all of them. And I didn't care. I was in the middle of the greatest group hug I so desperately needed. You sent them for me, didn't you, Mama? You knew how badly I needed this. Thank you.

"Wow, Rei," Hikaru wondered, "We weren't expecting to see you in a cemetery."

"At least you're on the living end of it," Kaoru shrugged.

"Who were you here to see?" Tamaki asked nervously. Fuck, they know. Of course they know. That's a Kyoya thing. Kyoya knows everything.

"Who else?" I scoffed, "I went to go see my mom. It's not like I'd be here to see Daddy. You guys just missed him."

"So," Haruhi crossed her fingers, "He's ok?"

"Yeah," I nodded, "Daddy's alright. It's going to take a hell of a lot more than just a gunshot to take him out. He's lucky, though. A few inches higher and he probably would've been gone. What the hell are you guys doing here?"

"We came to see you," Honey attached himself to my leg. Not that I'm complaining. I couldn't be mad at that sweet little face.

"Then," Hikaru and Kaoru treaded lightly, "What was going on with you and Kas…"

"Nope," I cut them off, "That's not a rabbit hole I'm ready to go down quite yet. We're not doing that. But it's starting to kind of get a little too cold here."

"You know, Rei," Tamaki draped an arm around my shoulders while Mori looked me over. He was one of the few people that I could solely communicate with in glances. We had a system. But I shook my head a little. And I saw his heart shatter in his eyes, "We've never seen your house."

"We've never even seen New York, Tama-chan," Honey pointed out.

"He has a point, Tamaki," Kyoya agreed.

"Fine," I groaned, "Come on. You guys might as well come to my house."

"Yay!"

I love you, Mama…Thank you.