Author's Note: Besides my apologies for the nutty preview of this chapter, I hope this chapter is most enjoyable … for a little … more of food fights …okay, maybe not…but something like that…teehee…

Chapter 15

Day One, Creuset, and an Argument

"What?! Erika, why did you do that?!" Lacus said as calmly as she could toward her excited daughter.

Lacus stared at her daughter from across the dinner table, her eyes wide in horror after she had revealed the news to her that she had personally invited Kira over for the break to help take care of her. Not knowing about the bet, Erika smiled joyfully at her mother.

"He wanted to come, too! See, mommy? Now you can go to work and I can stay home with Kira!" she laughed. But the thing that Erika didn't know was, Lacus was also excused from work. Lacus groaned.

"Erika, I don't have work this week…" she said running her hands through her hair. "How could you do that without asking?"

But Erika still did not find anything wrong with her act, she only smiled even wider. "Yay!! Then we can all play together! We can go to the movies and then the park! WEEE!!"

Lacus stared at the clock and it was five minutes past six, she sighed heavily. Erika had even invited him for dinner. Kira would actually be living in their home for a whole week, a week that Lacus knew she'd dread especially with the little game of Fllay…she knew that Rau would be watching her like a hawk.

But she couldn't think of anything to avoid Kira and she didn't want to send him home seeing her daughter so happy. She'd hate herself forever if she made Erika cry by making Kira go home. So she simply shrugged her shoulders and got out of her seat. "I guess I'll go make the guest room then."

Erika had her fork up in the air as if motioning Lacus to sit back down. "Nanny already did it!! She was very very happy when I told her like mommy is when Kira would used to visit us … when I was littler.."

Lacus laughed. "Alright, finish your food and I'll give you your bath."

Erika laughed along with her mother. "Yay!! Mommy's smiling! Mommy's smiling!"

Lacus stared at her confused. "I always smile Erika."

Erika shook her head in denial. "Wrong! Mommy's been very sad lately."

"Erika…" she stared at her with her eyes widened until the doorbell rang. Erika's nanny speedily came out of the kitchen to get it until Erika called her back and ran to the door herself and there was Kira Yamato standing at the doorway.

Erika joyfully pulled him in, but when she turned around to see her mother, she was gone.

"Mommy?" Erika looked around as Kira settled his duffle bag down. He also wondered where Lacus had gone.

"Let's go look for her, Erika," Kira said as he closed the door behind him and took Erika by the hand. She looked so confused and then looked back up at Kira.

"I'll ask nanny to get you dinner first…mommy said I should finish eating, too, so she could give me a bath…" she said pulling him gently toward the table, making him sit in the seat next to her plate. "I'm sure nanny is in the kitchen…"

Erika left Kira in the dining room by himself as she entered the kitchen and she found her nanny at the stove. "Nanny, have you seen mommy?"

Her nanny looked toward her and gave her a smile. "Ah, no, I haven't…she's probably upstairs. Don't worry, she'll come down soon to welcome your guest. Why don't you give Mr. Yamato his dinner now?"

Erika nodded as she took the plate and looked around the kitchen. "Are you sure she's not in here?"

Her nanny laughed. "Now why would I lie to you? You better hurry up, you don't want that to get cold."

Erika looked around the kitchen once more and then walked out of the kitchen.

"Is she gone?" a muffled voice from behind a cabinet and under the sink said. Nanny sighed.

"Yes, Lacus," she rolled her eyes as Lacus stumbled out of the huge sink and out onto the floor.

"Thanks," Lacus said, slowly getting up.

The woman looked back at Lacus with wonder as she continued to wash the dishes. "You know, men are supposed to hide under the sinks, the women go up and hide in the bathroom."

"I know, but I couldn't think," Lacus said rubbing her head. "What am I supposed to do? I can't be near him, but I'm supposed to take care of Erika and Erika's always with Kira…so…"

"You have no choice but to be with him, so get in there and finish your dinner. I cooked your favorite, you know," nanny said, becoming annoyed.

"But I can't! I mean, it's not that I hate him or anything like that, but I can't be …" Lacus paced back and forth in the kitchen, trying to keep her voice low.

"Now, Lacus, stop being so dramatic. So he took a couple of wrong turns in the past…looks like he wants a second chance to me. So why not give him one? You wouldn't have Erika if it weren't for him, afterall," nanny winked.

Lacus blushed as she turned to nanny. "That subject is off-limits!"

"Oh? Who says?" she mocked.

"Sometimes I wonder why I keep you here…" Lacus sighed as she crossed her arms.

"I'll get some water for you!" Erika said chirpily, her voice coming through the door.

Lacus froze as she stared toward the door. "No, it's okay, I'll just get it myself," Kira said as Lacus heard the creak of the chair as she desperately looked around the kitchen for a way out. She stared toward nanny, but she simply ignored her presence.

"You were never here…I know," she sighed. "I still say you should just come clean."

"B-But…" Lacus widened her eyes as she heard footsteps and the slowly roll of the doorknob. She shrieked mentally and saw the opposite door and escaped through it as Kira got in the kitchen. She sighed in relief.

"Here ya go, Mr. Yamato. Enjoy," Lacus could hear through the door as her nanny spoke.

"Oh, well, thanks," Kira responded.

"Mommy!!!" Erika cried out as she saw her mother against the door. Kira looked up as to the new door in front of him.

"Guess she finally found her," Kira laughed as he approached the door. Nanny whistled as Kira walked slowly toward the door.

"No, Erika, I'm not here!" Lacus said waving her arms at her but Erika only called Kira louder.

"KIRA!! I found her!!" Erika called out brightly as the door opened behind Lacus and she fell back, to find herself looking up at Kira as he looked down at her.

Lacus laughed nervously. "Hi?"

"Hello," Kira laughed. "What are you doing down there?"

Lacus slowly got up as she cleaned off her skirt and looked at Kira. "Nothing. Nothing…" and then Lacus immediately turned to Erika. "Ready for your bath?"

Erika nodded happily. Lacus began, "Okay, then let's—"

"I'll take responsibility for that," Nanny said coming in between them. "Come on, Erika."

"But tonight was my turn," Lacus said pitifully.

But her nanny simply gave her a wink. "Well, it's not polite for someone to keep their guests waiting. You go have fun. Let's go, little one."

Erika stared back sadly at the two. "Don't play any games without me!!"

Lacus waved with a defeated smile as they both hopped up the stairs. She sighed heavily as she turned around and headed for the dining table. "I see you haven't finished dinner yet," she stated plainly as she sat in the chair across from his. Kira sat in the opposite chair as well, settling his glass of water down.

"Nope…" he replied.

They both ate in silence, but Lacus simply found herself poking at her food again. She stared at the clock. Is it the end of the week yet?

Sighing heavily, she took her plate and walked slowly toward the kitchen.

"Not going to finish your food?" Kira blinked as she passed.

"I lost my appetite," she said boredly opening the kitchen door and throwing away her rations.

Kira stared down at his plate and saw that he only had a bite left. So he hurriedly gulped the last bite down and rushed into the kitchen placing the plate down in the sink as Lacus cleaned the dishes.

"You can go sit down, I just need to finish this up…" Lacus said staring downward at the plate. She felt like she had been cleaning for hours.

"No, it's okay. I-I'll help," Kira stumbled to say as he grabbed a dry towel and dried the clean dishes stacking them upon each other.

"If you insist," Lacus said, her voice dull and flat.

It was quiet between them with only running water and the clanking of the dishes heard with Lacus' sighs here and there. Kira noticed she seemed to be acting different than at the skating rink. He slightly remembered that she was a bit … meaner.

"Hey, Lacus…"

"Yes, Kira?" Lacus said continuing to stare at the last glass and handed it to Kira. She walked past him and took a couple of the dishes he had dried opening several cabinets.

Kira thought of something to say but nothing came out of his mouth and he ended up saying the worst thing he could say. "Nevermind."

Lacus sighed again. "Okay." She took the glass from Kira and placed into its cabinet. She began cleaning up the sink and drying everything up. She looked at the clock, only ten minutes had passed. She groaned.

"You don't want me here," Kira said softly as he passed her. Lacus stared at him and without thinking…

"How'd you know?" she said as if it was nothing. Kira stared at her, his violet eyes wishing they could speak to Lacus.

"Then maybe I should go," Kira shrugged.

Lacus' mind then went to Erika screaming at her for not keeping Kira around and she regretfully ran in front of him. "If I let you, Erika would never forgive me. Can you please just stay for her sake?"

Kira blinked at her. "Alright."

Lacus exited the kitchen and entered the dining room as she cleared the placemats and other silverware and she bent back up, Kira approached her with an unusual look on his face. "Let me do that."

"I'm fine, Kira," Lacus blinked her eyes dreamily until Kira caught her hands and took the dishes from her.

"You should go up and check on Erika," he smiled brightly.

Lacus stared at him as he passed and disappeared into the kitchen. "I guess…" she mumbled and walked up the stairs with a frown on her face. Things weren't at all going the happy way …

She slightly opened the bathroom door and she found that Erika was already getting her hair blow-dried. "I'll take it from here," Lacus laughed as nanny turned around, surprised to see her. By the look on Lacus' face, the maid bowed to her and handed her the brush and dryer.

"Where's Kira?" Erika yelled over the noise of the hair-dryer.

"Downstairs," Lacus said as she continued to brush her daughter's hair.

"Does mommy not want to play with Kira? Nanny said it was betterer to leave you two alone," Erika said innocently as she stared at her mother sadly. "She said it would make mommy and Kira closer."

Lacus stopped the blow-drying and bent down to her daughter's height. "Now why would you want that, Erika?"

"Nanny says mommy and Kira used to be good friends, now nanny says your enemies. How come mommy?" Erika frowned. Lacus smiled brightly at her and stroked her hair back and took her by the hand.

"Come on, Kira's waiting," Lacus laughed as she put away the dryer and then walked out the door. Calmly, they both strolled down the beige-carpeted stairs, passing the maple wood banisters that had a shine showing the hard work that nanny had put into the house for the past years. Kira was sitting on the couch, lied back, with his eyes closed. Lacus stood to the front of him and Erika looked at her mother. Lacus nodded with a giggle. Erika quietly snuck up on Kira and tickled his sides.

Kira woke up with a jolt and stared at the mischevious brunette as she blew raspberry at him. "You snooze, you lose!!" she taunted with her hands in the air as Kira got up immediately, chasing the little girl around the house. As Kira passed Lacus, she simply sat on the couch and brought her legs up and sat in Indian-style as she watched Kira and Erika chase each other around the house. She broke out laughing as Kira grabbed Erika and swung her around, placing her on his shoulders. Lacus clapped happily.

"You're caught, Erika!!" Lacus said as Kira slowly walked toward Lacus and took Erika off his shoulders, handing her to Kira as if she weighed nothing. Lacus took her with a smile and placed her on her lap. "What would you like to do now, Erika?" Lacus laughed as she noticed her daughter's angry face. She huffed.

"He's too fast! Go get him, mommy!" Erika said, pointing angrily at Kira who crossed his arms and smirked as Lacus slowly turned around to face him.

"Yeah, go get him…or is Lacus Clyne all out of steam?" Kira said pointing his finger in front of her face. Lacus took Erika off her lap and got up slowly. She tied up her hair with the tie around her wrist and gave Kira a face that he, in his whole nearly twenty years of knowing her, had never ever seen.

"You better start running," Lacus grinned as she broke out into a sprint for Kira and before he could even utter a word, he had ran off, making turns here and there and whenever he looked back, Lacus would always be in an at least foot reach of him.

"Dammit, when the hell did she get so fast?" Kira panted as he skidded for another corner and found himself in the living room again. Taking a swift glance at Erika, he found that she was jumping up and down on the couch with her arms up and she was yelling happily.

"Go, mommy!" she screamed out as Lacus seemed to have caught up with Kira and snatched the shirt of his arm. Lacus crossed her arms triumphantly as she turned to look at Erika who somehow jumped off the couch and looked up at her mother who took her in her arms. Erika turned toward Kira who was panting in exhaustion. "Beat that, Kira Yamato!!!"

Kira closed an eye as he bent back up slowly and Lacus only grinned at him. "If you forgot, I won all my track races."

Kira sighed. "I guess that slipped my mind…"

"Okay, enough, children, the younger girl has to go to bed," Nanny said coming into the room and Lacus put her down.

Erika sighed and looked up to Kira and Lacus. "We can play again tomorrow, Kira."

Kira shrugged. "Okay. Good night, Erika."

"What? You're not going to tuck me in with mommy?" Erika said surprised. Kira blinked surprised.

"Tuck you in? But I'm not—"

Lacus placed a hand on his shoulder. "Kira will come, too, Erika," she looked toward him then and let go of his shoulder. As she passed him, she paused once more and turned around to face him. "Please don't disappoint her again."

"Disappoint? But how?" Kira blinked until Lacus turned around and walked up the stairs and he followed obediently.

He followed them, taking a left, and then into another hallway. The nanny switched on the lights as they passed through the long hall and soon came to a door that had another door straight across from it. The nanny turned around and Erika paused as Lacus walked toward the door to the right and the nanny took the door on the left.

"So I'll leave it you, then, Ms. Clyne?" she smiled brightly. Lacus shrugged.

"I guess I have no choice."

"G'night, Nanny!" Erika said reaching for her for a hug and she bent down and hugged her back. She then stood up and straightened her back and bowed to Lacus and Kira.

"Sleep well, sir, and to you, too, madam," she said ever-so politely.

"Ready for sleep?" Lacus laughed as she waved off Nanny turning to Erika.

Erika shook her head up and down and Lacus opened the door for her and she ran into her room and plopped on her bed. She scurried under her covers and closed her eyes as Lacus kissed her on the forehead. "Did you brush your teeth?" Lacus asked.

Erika nodded.

"Wash your face?"

Erika nodded.

"Go to the bathroom so you won't have to get up in the night?"

Erika nodded.

"Did you finish all your chores including your playroom in the far corner that is still very messy?" Lacus raised an eyebrow. Erika puffed.

"Mommy!"

"I told you this morning. No clean play area, no bedtime story, and Kira goes home."

Erika frowned. "Okay, okay, I'll promise I'll do it tomorrow."

"Which story would you like me to read?" Lacus said eying her small box of books in the corner.

"Can Kira tell me a story?" Erika said turning to Kira who was standing by the door. He blinked.

"Me?"

Erika nodded happily. "Kira's writer! So Kira can just make up a story!"

"Erika, I don't know, maybe you should just let your mommy read you one…"

"Oh, please!!!" Erika said fussing under the covers and Lacus laughed as she turned to Kira.

She gave him a baby smile and clapped her hands together. "Oh, pretty please!"

"Lacus…" Kira scratched his head and sighed. "Fine, fine…"

"Yay!!!" Erika laughed joyfully as Kira sat next to Lacus on the bed and he began his story with a fairytale about a princess trapped in a cage and just minutes after the story started, Erika was fast asleep. Lacus stroked her daughter's head and got up as the bed made a small creak. Kira looked toward Erika fondly and then got off the bed. He walked speedily out the door and Lacus closed it. She made a sigh.

"You sure know how to put a girl to sleep…I'd have to read at least three stories…" Lacus smiled as she headed for her room at the other end of the hall.

Kira scratched his face. "Err…so I'll see you in the morning?"

Lacus looked at him from the corner of her eye with a slight smile. "Good night, Kira."

Kira grunted his response and they both headed for their rooms. Lacus sighed as she closed her door behind her and fell back against it. She placed the back of the palm on her forehead. "How am I supposed to hide the fact that Kira will be leaving with us for a whole week……"

---

"Oh, what a predicament Ms. Clyne is in…" Rau chuckled as he passed the large house and continued walking. As he turned the corner, his cell phone automatically rang. He grinned as he looked at the number appearing on it. "The project done?" he simply said. "…Of course, I won't mind…No, she has no idea…neither does Zala…no…yes…your decision…mm-hmm…yes…oh, alright…I'll be waiting…good night…" and he hung up. "It'll be another long week …" he said with his arms behind his head.

Author's Note: I finally updated. Sorry, sorry, I had this chapter already done but I never got to go online. Sorry. Sorry. Fairly short. I'll make the next chapter longer…more events…teehee