Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story but the idea and the title.

A/N: Lots of people to thank this time around. Thanks and kisses to Cardcaptor Eternity for the support, Georgia Haight for the encouragement, Katcin Lee for being the first to comment on the Creature (I love that character), v1786 for just being sweet, and Lysia Croft for everything! Oh, and Audrey, for just being you. I love you guys!

"Ami?"

The blue-haired girl looked over the top of her notebook. "Hai?"

Hotaru sat down beside her on the couch. "Is there a way to stop a black hole?"

Ami smiled gently at the younger girl. "Don't worry, Hotaru. We're not going to let that thing win."

"But… is there a way to destroy it?"

"Not that I know of. Our best chance right now is to siphon off some of its energy. That's what I'm working on."

Violet eyes flickered to her feet, and Hotaru whispered, "I wonder…"

"Hm?"

"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking aloud."

"They found another body," Haruka announced, coming through the front door. "Two, actually. Both sucked dry, just like the girl in the park."

"How terrible!" Ami cried, shuddering. "Where did you find that out?"

She smirked. "I know where the police like to go for lunch. If you dawdle in just the right booth over your meal, someone will always say something interesting."

"Oh, Papa, you sound just like a spy!" Hotaru giggled. "Did you learn anything else?"

"The sandwiches were too dry today, and the waiter was very rude."

Michiru came out of Mamoru's kitchen with a consoling grimace and a cup of tea. "Spying is hard work."

"Arigatou, love," Haruka sighed, kissing her cheek. "Where is everyone?"

"Jadeite and Rei got into another fight, and Rei stormed out, saying she was going to get drinks, after kicking Jadeite in the knee of course, and then Jadeite stormed after her saying he was going to get cookies, which is strange because Makoto left just a few minutes earlier to get cookies herself. I don't know why everyone thinks we need so many cookies," Ami mused. "Anyway, Usagi fell asleep on the couch, so Mamoru put her in his bedroom with Luna and Artemis, and then he, Setsuna, and Zoisite went to the college library to maybe pick up more books. Kunzite and Minako took my computer over to the portal to get me some new readings, and because I think they were bored and felt useless. Nephrite fell asleep on the floor." She pointed helpfully over the back of the couch.

Haruka looked wide-eyed to Michiru, who shrugged and murmured, "You did ask."

"Remind me never to do so again."

"Who is going to watch the portal tonight?" Hotaru asked suddenly.

"We are, sweetheart," Michiru said.

"Just the two of you?"

"No. Jadeite thinks it takes more than two people to watch it, so it will be us and Setsuna."

Her "daughter" looked down at her hands in her lap, apparently lost in deep thought. Concerned, Michiru went to her. "We'll be very careful, I promise. Everything will be alright, Hotaru."

Twilight eyes rose to her, and the tiny girl smiled. "I know."

"Though I will admit, the thought of spending the night in that apartment is a little disturbing," Haruka muttered.

"Now, love, we've faced things far more frightening than that."

SLAM!

"What in the?" Nephrite shot up off the floor, eyes wide, hair standing up everywhere.

Jadeite marched into the apartment, threw a package of cookies on the table in front of the couch, and stormed into the kitchen.

BANG!

Rei stormed in, flung two bottles of soda onto the table beside the cookies, and marched into the bedroom.

"Do they have to slam! bang! everywhere they go?" Nephrite demanded, shoulders slumping and eyes closing tiredly. "Gods, I though we were under attack!"

"We might be yet," Haruka reminded him dryly. "It's only noon and they're already working themselves into a full fledged war."

"I can hear you!" the combatants shouted from their respective retreats.

"Good!" she yelled back.

"He is the most stubborn!"

"Me? In two lifetimes I have never met anyone more pigheaded!"

"SHUT UP!" Nephrite bellowed. "For the love of Sol, I'm exhausted, my head hurts, and if you two don't knock it off right the hell now I'm gonna throw you both out the window! You're not gonna survive that fall, my friend!"

"Why is everyone yelling?"

Usagi stumbled into the living room, as disheveled and sleepy as Nephrite, blue eyes only half open, blonde hair sticking to her cheeks. She wobbled over to the couch and collapsed beside Ami.

"And why is Rei beating up Mamo-chan's pillow? Ooh, cookies!"

Smiling with sweet innocence, she opened the box, then fell into a frown. "Oh, they're all broken."

"Tadaima!"

Makoto quietly closed the door behind her, and smiled around, holding up a bag. "I didn't know what everyone wanted, so I got an assortment."

"See? Quietly walks in, doesn't start yelling…This," Nephrite announced wearily, pointing at her, "is why I love you."

He disappeared behind the couch again. Ami rose up onto her knees to peer over the back, and shook her head.

"Unbelievable. He's asleep."

Makoto smiled tightly, ducking her head. "He probably never even woke up. He was just talking in his sleep."

"Oh, Mako-chan," Michiru murmured, touching her wrist.

"What's wrong with Mako-chan?" Usagi demanded, rubbing her eyes. "What's going on?"

Haruka took the box from Makoto, opened it, and held it out. "Just have a cookie."