Summary: Nico has a quiet day, for Nico.

Nico could always tell when someone took her picture. Whether she was asleep or in a meeting or behind her menu at a five star restaurant. This time, she woke up out of a sound sleep, to the weight of Maki on her shoulder and Eli in the doorway of her bedroom gleaming at her. Maki hadn't stirred at all, deep in some dream that had the best, charmingest smile on her face. So Nico couldn't even yell or growl at Eli. She just quickly slid out of bed, a quick kiss atop Maki's adorable tousled hair and then shoving Eli into the hall, down the hall, and into her office.

"Nozomi's going to love that."

"FIrst you send it to Nico, only Nico, then you delete it." Nico sat in her desk chair, leaning forward, arm on the desk.

"Nope."

"It's a HIPPA violation to share any medical information with your wife."

Eli laughed, "Ooops, forgot to be your doctor when I snapped that pic."

Nico shook her head, "I'm not winning this one, am I."

"Already messaged it." Eli flipped her phone to show Nico Nozomi's response.

Nozo: Adorable (⁎⁍̴̛ᴗ⁍̴̛⁎)

A second text popped up.

Nozo: Taking a HOT doctor to bed with me is my favorite cure §ԾᴗԾ§

"Don't read that."

"Too late."

Eli frowned.

"You showed me your phone."

Eli pouted.

"Oh, just reply. Nico can wait."

With a grin, Eli sat in the other chair, took a selfie and typed quickly. Then she switched to doctor mode.

"How are you feeling?"

"Doesn't hurt as much when I breathe. Less wheezing. More energy."

"You know, too much activity will set you back."

"Thanks, Mom, but Nico can manage her own love life."

"Your mom stayed last night until you were asleep, didn't she."

"Shut up, Eli."

"All right, let me listen to your lungs and then we'll get your morning dose in you. How's Maki holding up by the way."

"She's fine."

Eli held the stethoscope to Nico's chest, Nico breathing deeply, shuddering at the chill of the medical instrument. "Much clearer. You'r emakim good progress."

"Nico is healthy."

"No headaches."

"No."

"Good.'

"Hey, Eli." Nico sounded hesitant, a rarity.

"Yeah."

"When will it be safe to move Dia in?"

Move Dia in. That was pretty serious. Eli thought. No wonder Maki's mom was in meltdown mode. Lack of access to her grandchild would bring out all the controlling Nishikino tendencies.

"You should be okay. Wear a mask if you're going to hold her. I'll drop off some surgical ones. But if Maki feels comfortable, she's probably the best judge."

"Nico has masks."

Oh that's right. Nico had Japanese anti germ and allergen habits that excused her habit of attempting to disguise herself by masking.

"Then you're set. Let's get some food in you before you take your meds."

Nico glnaced at Eli's bag. "You didn't bring Nico breakfast."

"Actually, I did." Eli grinned, "There's blintz batter and fresh blueberries in your fridge. You're getting the best friend breakfast treat."

"Ooh, Nico will come downstairs for that."

"Do you want to wake up, Maki? She might freak out if you're not there."

"She was pretty soundly asleep. Nico hates to wake a sleeping beauty." Nico slid her arms through Eli's, "You can give Nico some tips on 14 month olds."

"Make their mother feel secure."

"Nico knew that one."

"You'll do fine. You helped with Cotaro."

"He already liked Nico."

"I thought everyone liked Nico. Why are you so worried about Dia?"

"What if she thinks Nico's stealing her mother?"

"Yeah, dating a single mom can be tough. But Dia will know if Maki's comfortable around you and that will help."

"So, pay attention to Maki?"

Eli laughed, "Pay attention to Maki. AND figure out how to bribe Dia. But don't spoil her too much."

"She likes Nico's singing."

"There you go. That's something very Nico. You'll be fine."

"Nico is charming."

"Nico is charming."

Nico is hungry. Where's Nico's BFF blintzes?"

Ei laughed and let Nico lean on her as they moved to the kitchen.

###

Nico had only seen Maki in the morning a couple of times, but once was enough to fall in love with the way Maki woke up with her gorgeous red hair tangled in amusing clumps, that Maki would forget to deal with until confronted by a mirror. She must have just rushed downstairs when she woke up and found Nico gone.

"Wake me up." It was a harsh snap, covering fear. Maki glared at Eli, "You should have sent her back to rest."

Eli shrugged, "Food and medicine seemed a better idea."

Nico grinned, 'Eli's making blintzes. Nico rates."

Maki slumped into a seat, "How are Nico's vitals?"

"Nico's vitals are fine." Nico poked Maki's forearm, "Don't talk to Eli, talk to Nico."

Maki turned her head, blinking sleepily, and then grinned, "Hi, Nico. I like your bed. It's comfy."

Nico had Maki's hand in hers, kissing the palm, "Good morning, Maki. Please be in Nico's bed every morning."

Eli coughed.

Nico tilted her head, "Leave the blintz batter, go back to your wife."

"Almost finished."

"Good." Maki slid closer to Nico, "I"m hungry."

"Eli said it'd be okay to have Dia here." Nico slid an arm around Maki, "If you wanted that and felt comfortable."

"She's fine at Rin and Hanayo's."

"Nico wants you to feel at home."

"You can give me a tour later. Unless your mom's stopping by again." Maki leaned in to Nico as Eli put three plates down and a platter of blintzes.

Eli glanced at Nico, "Your mom keeps texting me."

"Tell her Nico's fine but needs a day off from visitors." Nico sighed, "I already told her that. Moms are…"

Eli's quick glance to Maki made Nico pause, "The cutest."

Maki shook her head, "Smooth."

"Nico is the smoothest."

"These are excellent." Maki announced mid chew.

"Eli, give Nico the recipe. I've never seen her eat anything besides pizza."

"Liar."

Nico chuckled, "Nico is building Maki a legend. Hot heiress runs on cold, cash only pizza in the morning."

Maki bit into another blintz, "Correction: Bubbling blueberry blintzes."

"Nico's secret." Nico winked.

###

They were in Nico's office, Nico in the center of the room, Maki hovering in the doorframe.

"Nico doesn't need an office down the hall from the bedroom." Nico opened her arms, "This could be Dia's room."

Maki's lips were set to neutral, near frown. Nico knew this conversation wasn't going well, but how to rescue it.

"We could paint the walls together, whatever you think Dia would like. Disney characters, sea creatures, Hawai'i scenes."

"Sure."

A quick move wasn't going to work, no matter how certain Maki had been when she arrived with Nico's passcode. Mother and daughter were used to a routine and that routine did not include Nico. Remembering Maki ordering her to leave Dia's room, Nico winced. But Maki hadn't noticed. She was looking around at the walls, lost.

"Why don't we pick up Dia and take her back to your home. She probably misses you telling her a bedtime story."

Maki's smile was wry, "I might miss it more than she does. Rin does sound effects."

"Nico can help with that."

Maki sighed, "I'm not ready to talk to my mother."

Nico slid to Maki, pulling her into an embrace, "So we sneak in, keep the curtains closed, and eat dinner by candlelight."

"What about the car?"

"Rin or Cocoa can drop us off."

Maki giggled. "They'd get along."

Nico nodded, "Yep."

Maki's eyes narrowed. Doctor mode. Nico was getting used to the switch, "Are you well enough?"

"We pack Nico's meds, if anything goes wrong, there's this hot doctor who makes house calls."

Maki did not look convinced.

"You go to Rin's, pack up Dia, then have Rin drive you back here and pick up Nico. Nico will nap."

A pause, "That's a good plan."

"Don't sound so surprised. Nico can fix anything."

Maki smiled. "Lucky me."

"Exactly."

Maki kissed Nico. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"I'm tucking you into bed. And going to get Dia."

"Bring back soup too."

###

"Mama!" It was a loud cry, waking Nico up. Opening her eyes, she saw the tall silhouette of Maki in the doorframe. What time was it? She hadn't meant to sleep that long. The antibiotics were really knocking Nico out. How many more days. 3? Eli had said it was the standard way to punch out the bacteria responsible for pneumonia.

Maki was shushing Dia, her attention totally focused on the child in her arms. Nico, sitting up and watching the scene, understood why so many mother-child scenes had been painted throughout history. They had their own glow, their own world, a connection woven in blood and time and worry and joy and love.

"How are you?" Maki asked softly, adding Nico in to their world.

"Tired. Antibiotics are wiping me out."

"That happens. I'm glad you slept." Maki brought Dia to the foot of the bed, "Dia wanted to come up and see you."

"Hi Dia!" Nico waved. "Nico missed you."

Dia burbled out a string of syllables.

Nico looked to Maki.

"Dia always has a lot to tell me after she spends time with Tora."

"Rin and Hanayo should bring Tora over so we can watch a movie when Nico gets better."

"Sick." Dia pointed.

Nico held back a laugh so it didn't turn into a cough and reached for a surgical mask. "Nico is getting better. Your Mama and Eli are taking good care of me."

Dia raised a dubious eyebrow, an echo of a frequent Maki expression, forcing Nico to laugh her way into a cough. "She's definitely your daughter."

"Mama?"

"Nico's being silly, bun."

Nico looped the mask around her ears. "Anybody got a hug for Nico?"

Maki considered for a moment, then nodded, sitting close to Nico and putting Dia down between them. Then she leaned over and pulled Nico into an embrace, loose enough that Dia wasn't squished.

"Bzzzt" Nico felt a small hand against her rib cage. She let Dia push her back, Maki doing the same, their shared glance amused.

"Need some air, bun?" Maki asked.

"No." Dia announced, turning to face Nico, with the most serious of faces.

Nico sighed. For a moment, warmth and family had wrapped Nico in the best of healing blankets, but now she was confronted with a frowning toddler, protecting her mother.

"Mama." Dia crawled into Maki's lap, "Read."

"In a few minutes, Dia. Nico needs her soup."

"Book."

"It's okay. Nico can eat soup on her own."

Maki mouthed a "sorry" over Dia's head. Nico smiled.

Making sure Dia was watching her, Nico went full energy "Nico Nico Ni," making Dia giggle, "You take care of your Mama and Nico will be right back."

Dia nodded.

Nico wondered exactly how stubborn her daughter was.

A/N:

Howdy! A quick chapter to get back in the flow and offset the horrors in the news.

If you are in a difficult or dangerous place, I hope this brings you solace.