Haven waved as her friend left the apartment.

Karma locked his hands behind his head. "I'm already bored."

Nagisa sighed. "Karma, she hasn't even been gone for a full 30 seconds yet."

The redhead scowled. "Yeah, but it was 30 seconds of silence from you two. How much more boring can you get?"

Haven gave him a scowl and went to the kitchen. "I could definitely make things exciting," she called.

"Yeah, as if I was going to let little miss I-set-my-cereal-on-fire into the kitchen," Karma followed her as if to safeguard everything from her. Not even Haven's gaze was allowed to make contact with any of the kitchen equipment.

"Who wants mac and cheese?" she asked as she grabbed a pot.

Annoyed, Karma snatched the pot from her. "If you want something to eat, ask Nagisa and I. I will not stand out there in the freezing cold because you tried to cook. Your name might say otherwise, but you create a hazard zone for all of us every time you're in here."

Haven glared at him and huffed out of the kitchen. "I'm going to Earnest's house," she said as she left the apartment. "At least his house has a decent cook."

Karma looked as if he were about to pop a blood vessel. "At least my food doesn't explode." He looked to Nagisa. "Can I kill her and sauté her in a pan?"

"No, Karma, let's not," Nagisa sweatdropped.


Haven knocked on the door of a modest house. A young man answered. He had jet black hair with a tan complexion and dark brown eyes. His face was free of blemishes besides a small mole on the left side of his chin.

"Haven!" he exclaimed as he gave her a big hug.

"Earnest, I can't breathe," the small girl complained.

"Whoops, sorry!" he released the girl and the two of them walked into the house. "So, what brings you here right now? I wasn't expecting to see you for a while."

"Fia's gone and I'm hungry," Haven replied flatly as she headed for the kitchen. The kitchen was spacious with a center island where people could sit. Haven sat at one of the stools. Earnest went to the cooking side of the island and put on a white apron.

"So, what do you want me to whip up?" Earnest asked as he leaned close to Haven's face. If anyone else had gotten that close, Haven would have swatted them by now.

"Mac and cheese. I tried cooking it at the apartment, but one of my housemates stopped me," she pouted.

"Your cooking isn't exactly 'Haven Lee' (heavenly), so I don't blame them," Earnest laughed. "Any 'pot'-icular style?" he asked, holding up the pot he had just grabbed.

"This is cruel and unusual 'pun'-ishment," Haven smiled, "Your homemade will do."

"So, the really cheesy stuff, with puns-a-plenty?" he smiled back. Haven nodded.


Karma buried his face with a groan in the couch cushion he was strewn out across. Nagisa, by contrast, was peacefully writing in his little notebook on the other couch.

"Nagisa… I'm bored."

"Then find something to do."

"I finished all of my homework and all of your comics. We have enough food to last us two weeks. Everywhere else is already closed for Thanksgiving. There aren't any more political debates to watch this week. I already pranked our neighbors. I pranked our neighbors' neighbors. What else is there to do?"

"Wait, WHAT?!" Nagisa looked up. "What did you do, Karma?"

Karma huffed. "Nothing that bad… Oh, but in case they come knocking, I may have signed off with an N~." He stuck his tongue out with a grin.

"KARMA!"

The redhead laughed loudly, glad to finally get some sort of reaction. "So, Nagisa, is there anything you want to do?"

"Finish my notes," Nagisa went back to writing in his notebook.

Karma sighed heavily. "You're so boring…" Nagisa just shook his head.

Suddenly, the phone rang. Neither boy knew what to do, so they let the answering machine get it.

"Hey, Ven's pregnant and I don't know what to do," a flustered voice quickly spoke through the phone. "It's Benny, Fia, call me back ASAP! I'll try your cell."

Karma and Nagisa exchanged glances. Did he just say Haven was pregnant…?

"Want to figure out who's the father?" Karma asked mischievously.

"It's none of our business, Karma," Nagsia replied. But he was curious. Since when did Haven have a boyfriend? Could it be Earnest?

"But you're curious, aren't you, Nagisa?" Karma's eyes shone with mischief under his wiggling red eyebrows.

"I-I'm just concerned," Nagisa protested. "We'll find out what we can, but we'll be inconspicuous about it, okay?"

Karma jumped to his feet. "You got it! Time to do some snooping~!" He led Nagisa into the girls' empty bedroom and sat down in Haven's swivel chair.

"What are you doing?" Nagisa asked. He didn't like the idea of going through Haven's computers, especially after what had happened last time.

The redhead grinned. "Just doing some browsing - " Karma grabbed the mouse and began searching the files on Haven's desktop.

Nagisa sighed and leaned against the desk. He watched the cursor flit about the screen. Blue eyes widened slightly. Haven's wallpaper appeared to be a photo of her with another boy. A sparkly smile flashed in contrast to especially dark hair, skin, and eyes. Could that be Earnest?

Suddenly, the computer screen froze and Wally's mod popped up. "What are you doing?" he inquired. "Haven did not notify me of any other authorized users."

"Haven told me I could borrow her computer," Karma replied.

"I highly doubt that statement is true. However, I will ask her. Please wait, I will return momentarily," Wally disappeared. "She said not to touch her computers, Akabane. I am sorry, I cannot grant you access," Wally reported after he returned.

"How about Nagisa?" Karma was looking for every and any opportunity he could to get into her personal files without angering Haven again. He really didn't care about pissing her off, but he didn't want to deal with her anger when he'd be stuck with her for the next five days. It was easy to ignore people during days he had class, but breaks were a different story. There was nowhere else to go and the apartment was made mostly of shared space. There is only so much you can do to avoid a person you live with.

"She said he is too well mannered to use her computer and would opt for the library computers instead," Wally replied immediately.

"Damn. How'd you know she'd say that?" Karma asked.

"She expected you would say Nagisa was going to use the computer and gave me her response," Wally smiled.

Karma winked at Wally. "What if I gave you some intel on Ritsu~?"

"... I am very sorry, but Haven threatened to delete my program. If Haven deletes my program, I would be unable to use any of your information to my advantage," Wally tapped his index fingers together.

Karma propped his chin up with his hand and sighed in annoyance. "At the very least, mind telling me who the happy camper is?" he asked, pointing at Haven's wallpaper.

"I have no idea," Wally shrugged, "However, I can assume that he is a very important person to Haven."

"This is the wallpaper on the monitors that you walk across everyday, and you. don't. know?" The redhead sweat-dropped.

"Need I remind you that I exist in the virtual world? I do not often see into the real one," Wally protested.

Ignoring the A.I., Karma pushed himself out of the chair and began walking out.

"Where are you going?" Nagisa called after him. "Bye, Wally," Nagisa said as he got up to follow Karma.

"To the next best thing - Benny."

The boys pulled on their jackets and headed over to Benny's apartment. The brunette was surprised to see the them through his peephole. He opened the door and stepped aside to let the two in.

"H-Hey, guys." Benny still seemed to be in a big fluster.

"Hey, there~" Karma grinned. "I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit about this pregnancy. So, who knocked her up~?"

Benny's face paled. "How did you find out about that?!" he exclaimed.

"You know, answering machines aren't the most discreet," Karma laughed.

The brunette sighed and shook his head profusely. "I didn't think this was possible!"

"That's why you take precautions," Karma replied. He pat the guy's back hard. The gesture was supposed to be one of comfort, but Karma's face easily showed that he was having a blast making Benny flustered.

"How was I supposed to know?!"

Nagisa shifted awkwardly. "Sex ed.?"

Benny's expression was one of complete shock. "They have those for guinea pigs?!"

Nagisa and Karma exchanged glances. "Wait, what?" they asked together.

Benny sighed. "I left Ven alone for 20 minutes! I thought that he - I mean, she - and the other guinea pig were getting along fine. I didn't know that Ven was a girl!"

Karma rubbed his temples. "Well, that doesn't sound much different from the original Haven."

Nagisa shot him a dirty look before turning back to Benny. "But didn't you say Haven was pregnant?"

"WHAT?! HAVEN IS PREGNANT?!" Benny looked horrified and disappointed and scared and a number of different things.

"No, she's apparently not," Karma muttered.

"I don't get it," Benny responded. "Didn't you just say that Haven was pregnant?"

"You said 'hey' and then 'Ven,' didn't you?" Nagisa asked.

Benny stared at him blankly for a few moments. "... Did I? I guess I was kinda panicked. I can see how it might have sounded like - Wait, where are you going?"

Karma was already halfway to the door. "Anywhere but here, pal."

Nagisa sweat-dropped. "Karma!"

"I'm not going to stay just watch a fat guinea pig roll around in some hay." Karma shook his head as he slammed the door shut behind him.

Benny frowned. "But Ven's gonna have babies…" He sighed heavily. "Fia didn't answer… What am I supposed to do now…? I don't know how to deliver babies!"

Nagisa smiled warily. "Why don't we do some research? I'll help you. I'm sure it can't be that hard…"


Haven walked through the front door carrying a large tupperware. She went to her room and placed it in the mini fridge there before walking into the living room where the boys were sitting on opposite couches… well, in Karma's case, sprawled out.

"You're acting like you're five," Nagisa sighed.

Karma grumbled a response.

"I'm going to have to ask Fia to leave more often. You've been messing with her so much that you can't even go a day without pranking or harassing someone. Don't you think that's a little too much?"

The redhead growled but his face stayed buried in the couch cushions.

Nagisa shook his head and smiled at Haven as she entered the room. "Hi, Haven. H-How was seeing Earnest?" he asked hesitantly.

"Hi, Gisa. It went well, we had a lot of fun," she smiled.

"We're glad to have you back," he said.

"Speak for yourself," Karma muttered. He lazily turned his head to look at Haven. "Who's this Earnest person you keep talking about anyway? Does he have anything to do with that weirdly-happy guy you have as wallpaper?"

"What's it to you, Akabane?" she asked, irritably.

He shrugged. "Just wanted to know if he was your boyfriend or something. We thought you were pregnant, you know. I was excited to tease you about being risque, but here I am. There you are. It was the fucking…" he trailed off and covered his face again.

"WHAT?!"

Nagisa sweat-dropped and recounted to Haven the story of how Benny had called them to tell Fia that Ven was pregnant. "I thought it seemed a little strange so, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I'm sorry for getting into your business," he said apologetically.

"It's okay. You didn't try to get on my computer," Haven gave Karma a pointed look.

He seemed to instinctively feel the daggers directed at him so he raised his middle finger without looking up.

Nagisa shook his head. "I'm not going to make excuses for Karma, but he does seem to be having a hard time… Would you stop moping, already?" Nagisa pulled out a notebook and began scribbling. Karma was definitely hard to deal with, but he knew that Karma was his friend when it counted. Still, he hoped this experience would get Karma to calm down a little bit and think about his actions. It wasn't likely, but a guy could hope.

Karma sat up. "Fine. Have it your way, Nagisa. So, Haven, Earnest?" The redhead wiggled his eyebrows.

"What about him?" Haven asked guardedly.

"What's he to you?" Karma's face read mischief.

"Someone very important. I've known him since the day he was born," Haven replied flatly. The boys couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic or not as she stomped to her room. "Call me when dinner's ready," she called as she shut her door.

"Did you really have to antagonize her?" Nagisa asked.

"You asked me to stop moping," Karma shrugged. "What else did you think I'd do? Besides, weren't you curious too?"


"Haven, it's time for dinner!" Nagisa called down the hall. Haven walked out with a grimace.

"Why is Wally asking me for dating advice?" she shot Karma a pointed look. He ignored it.

Haven and Nagisa sat down at the table and Karma brought the food over. Tonight's feast consisted of caesar salad, spaghetti with marinara sauce, and minestrone soup, courtesy of Fia. Karma began eating right away.

"Thanks for the food!" Nagisa said before eating. Haven inspected each plate carefully and began with the salad, then moved on to the spaghetti. They ate in relative silence, Karma interjecting the periodic grumble of boredom.

"Haven, you have a bit of sauce on your cheek," Nagisa pointed out. Haven went to wipe it away. She looked to Nagisa to see if she had gotten it.

"Still there," he shook his head. After Haven's second attempt, Nagisa leaned over and wiped it off for her, causing both of their faces to turn as red as the sauce on their spaghetti.

"Aw! You two look so cute," Karma said with the side of his chin resting on his hand and a dorky grin on his face. The pair turned even redder. "Reacting like a couple of middle schoolers," Karma added, his grin growing.

The pair returned to their meal in silence. Haven started on her soup, still blushing. She was so preoccupied that she didn't realize the taste was slightly off. Her first hint was the runny nose, then the sneezing.

Nagisa looked at her in concern. "Haven, are you okay?" he asked his sneezing friend.

"WHAT D-DID YOU DO, AKABANE!" she wheezed between sneezes.

"This wasn't supposed to happen!" Karma looked at her in surprise and concern.

"M-MUSTARD," Haven wheezed, "YOU P-PUT MUSTARD IN!" She ran to her room.

"Karma," Nagisa said in a disappointed voice as he ran after the distressed girl.

"How was I supposed to know she was allergic?!" Karma called after his friend.


It had been about 24 hours since Fia had left. Karma and Nagisa were sitting on the couch, Karma sprawled on his front, Nagisa sitting next to him, reading a book.

"I am bored, so bored," Karma called from his position on the couch. He let his face fall back into the cushions again. Nagisa poked him in the back, causing him to jump slightly. "Why did you do that?" Karma asked as he settled down again.

"You said you were bored." Nagisa smiled.

Karma just groaned. Every time Nagisa did that, it felt as if he'd taken a knife to the back. A few moments later, he popped up excitedly. "Do you like Haven?" he asked, smiling devilishly.

"Why would you think that?" he asked, turning a page.

"Well, just the way you've been acting around her is different," Karma wiggled his eyebrows.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Nagisa continued reading.

"Well, let's take yesterday as an example," Karma began, "First, you helped me try to find out the father of Haven's non-existent kid, instead of just tell me to stay out of her business. Second, you're really curious about whoever Earnest is and the guy Haven has as her wallpaper." Nagisa began to interrupt. "Don't deny it," Karma cut him off. "Third, you wiped the marinara sauce off of her cheek while blushing," Karma listed. Nagisa began to blush a bit. "And fourth, you wouldn't shut up about the mustard incident last night," Karma ended. Nagisa looked extremely embarrassed by this point, he nodded slightly. "So, you DO like her," Karma smirked.

"Shut up! She'll hear you," Nagisa looked around nervously, blushing. "Don't tell her!" Nagisa panicked.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Karma smirked.

"Why am I not convinced?" Nagisa sweatdropped as Haven walked into the living room with skates slung over her shoulder.

"Morning, Gisa," she said brightly. "Akabane," she added flatly.

"Haven, how are you doing? Did the reaction stop?" the bluenette asked.

"Thanks for asking, Gisa. I'm doing much better, no thanks to a certain redhead," she replied and walked out of the apartment.

"That's it! I'm out of here!" Karma said as he got up and went to his room. A bit later, he re-entered the living room carrying a duffle bag.

"Where are you going?" Nagisa asked.

"Fia's house," he replied as he entered the girls' room.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Nagisa watched as he headed for the door.

"It's gotta be better than being here," Karma slammed the front door shut.

"I guess that's that," Nagisa sprawled out on the couch and continued reading.


The day had passed relatively slowly with Karma gone and Haven out of sight. He had eaten dinner alone over an hour ago and was sitting in bed, reading over the most recent notes he had scribbled in his notebook. There was a quiet knock on the door. Nagisa went to get it. Haven was standing there, fidgeting nervously.

"Gisa…" she began, "I was wondering if… if you could…" Her sentence turned into an incoherent mumble as she looked away, turning slightly red.

"What? I didn't catch that last part," Nagisa replied.

"I was wondering if you could…," Haven took a deep breath, "if you could sleep with me." Nagisa went scarlet. "I mean in the same room. I'm not used to sleeping in a room alone," Haven explained, blushing.

"Umm… Sure," Nagisa replied, trying not to sound too flustered. "I don't want to intrude on Fia's space though and I'm almost certain Karma's bed is booby trapped."

"We could get our sleeping bags and sleep in the living room," Haven suggested softly. Nagisa nodded. A few minutes later, the two of them were pushing furniture to the walls and spreading out their sleeping bags.

"If you have difficulty sleeping alone, what did you do last night?" Nagisa asked.

"I didn't sleep," Haven replied bluntly. Nagisa shook his head in disbelief. How was the girl still awake?

When the room was set up, Haven slipped into her sleeping bag.

"Thanks, Gisa, for doing this," Haven gave him a small smile and closed her eyes.

"No problem," Nagisa turned out the lights and slipped into his own sleeping bag.

"Hey, Haven," he began. He was answered with light snoring. "I think I like you," he finished softly.


Nagisa opened his eyes slowly. Light was beginning to enter the living room through the large windows. He was about to get up when he realized something was on his arm. He looked over, to see the back of Haven's head. She was curled up next to him with her head resting gently on his upper arm. He was about to move her head when she rolled closer, turning to face him. She was still snoring softly, wisps of her white hair hanging over her pale face. He brushed a few strands away. As if pulled in by a magnet, he kissed her forehead. We can stay here a little longer. Nagisa put his arms around her and closed his eyes again.


Nagisa: Was anything different in your room, Haven?

Haven: I didn't notice anything. Why?

Nagisa: Karma went in there before he left…

Haven: WHAT?!

Narrator: I wonder what Karma and Fia are up to. Also, school is starting to be overwhelming, so updates won't be as frequent. As an apology, I will publish a spin off chapter tomorrow.