I am not abandoning this! I have the last few chapters mostly finished. Just making sure it flows right and doing last editing and the story should be done soon. Thank you for those who have stuck by this. I am so sorry that it took so long to get back to this. The muse died and it was really hard to resurrect. Please enjoy this chapter and I will try to get the other chapters done ASAP.

Akito turned to include Alana in their conversation with a wide smile. "Alana, I just wanted to thank you again. You've really helped bring Momiji out of his shell." Akito told her gratefully. "He…he has always shown a façade of being bright and happy." Akito's smile turned a bit melancholy as she looked towards Momiji who joked with Haru and Rin across the room. "It's more real now and it's so wonderful to see."

Tohru nodded in agreement. "He seems so happy!"

Alana blushed lightly. "I try to keep him happy."

Akito gave her a wink and smirk. "I can tell you that you definitely do." She excused herself to go to Shigure where he held Kaiya who was just starting to fuss.

Alana watched her go with a smile, admiring the way she and Shigure were so in sync with the needs of their child. When she turned back to Tohru, she had the same look on her face as when they had first met. An uncomfortable look of concentration as she worked up her courage or tried to find the words to address whatever she wanted to tell Alana. Alana decided to wait her out as she glanced around the room at their families. Tohru was an interesting character. She seemed to mean a lot to so many of the Sohmas, everyone had given her big hugs and seemed genuinely happy to see her, but she was shy and awkward around them still. She was kind but unsure of her welcome almost. Alana wondered about her past, wondered how she had fallen in with the Sohma family, how she had come to know them all. Momiji had given her the impression that prior to a few years ago, maybe even around the time Tohru had appeared in the Sohma's life, they had been isolated and solitary. She wondered if somehow, Tohru was the reason the family had begun to open up to others. That must have been a burden… Alana thought before Tohru interrupted her thoughts.

"Momiji is so happy with you." Tohru blurted and then blushed bright red. Alana looked at her curiously and waited to see what she meant by it, as it almost came out like surprise, that Momiji could be happy or that she could make him happy. "He had retreated for a while after…after Kyo and I moved away." A thoughtful frown crossed her face and she looked off at the far end of the room before looking at Alana fiercely. "He is one of my best friends. I don't want to see him hurt."

Alana took a moment to respond. She felt a faint stirring of anger at the way Tohru was talking, but she tried to calm herself before replying, it was coming from a place of love for Momiji. "Momiji means a lot to me." Alana told her bluntly. She wasn't quite sure where Tohru was going with her comments. They sounded confrontational which Alana couldn't understand. "I love him, but we are two different people, adults. We will argue, we will fight. One day it is even possible we will break up. But it will not be because I didn't love him enough." Alana told her firmly. She loved Momiji, she was happy with him and as far as she could see, he was happy with her, this she was certain on.

Tohru's eyes watered a little bit at the sincerity she could hear in Alana's voice and she nodded. The conversation came to an abrupt end at that point as Kyo popped up at Tohru's elbow to tell her it was time to leave.

Alana walked away feeling unsettled by Tohru's behavior. First talks of curses and now Tohru interrogating her about her feelings for Momiji.

Then Alana remembered the way the others had talked to Momiji about Tohru and thought maybe that was the reason. He loved her, maybe even had been in love with her at one point. Just because ultimately, she had fallen in love with Kyo, it didn't mean she didn't love Momiji in her way and want the best for him.

So maybe that was it. Tohru knew how she'd hurt Momiji and was trying to watch out for him. Awkwardly, Alana chuckled, it was like the nicest shovel talk ever if you thought about it that way. Alana saw Momiji looking around as he talked with Rin and when he spotted her, his smile grew and eyes lit up. Alana felt warmth fill her chest as she made her way to his side. She spoke the truth to Tohru, she really did love him.

The party wound down not long after that. Momiji and Alana leaned against each other as they tiredly made their way back to their house after seeing her family off at the gates to the compound with promises to come over for dinner that weekend. Momiji was still flushed with pleasure at the obvious pride in him and love for him from his family. He had been so detached lately, that he had forgotten the bonds that he had with the younger generation and the bonds that had been building with the older generation. If nothing else came of his relationship with Alana, and so many things already had and were, reconnecting with his family was worth anything.

They staggered into their house and collapsed on the couch, leaning together and cuddling, just enjoying the ability to be together in the quiet after the party. "You've got a wonderful family." Alana told him quietly, threading her fingers with his.

"They are pretty great." He paused and let out a deep sigh. "I wish we had always been this close."

Alana rolled her head back to look at him carefully. "You've mentioned before that you weren't always close. Can I ask why?" She hoped he would feel comfortable enough to share but knew that sometimes things were too painful to share even with those you were close to.

Momiji was quiet for a few minutes as he thought and then looked down into her eyes. He wanted to share the past with Alana, he wanted her to know about the curse and the pain that it had brought. He didn't think she could fix anything, there wasn't anything to fix, the curse was broken and the family was working hard to become friends...family. But she would be able to soothe the last of his pain and hurt, like aloe over sunburn. "We will need to go meet with Akito. I want to tell you, but it would be best if Akito was there for that conversation."

Alana studied him for a moment and nodded. "As she is the head of the family, that makes sense." She leaned up and kissed him gently then stretched her arms over her head and let out a large yawn. "But, I won't be offended if she decides she doesn't want me to know." She reassured him and then got up and tugged him to his feet. "Let's get some sleep. I have work in the morning and feel exhausted."

Momiji chuckled and stepped up to Alana's side and held her hands as they walked up the steps. He tugged her close and kissed her gently as they reached her room. "Good night."

"Good night." She whispered, her cheeks flushed and her heart full.

~Art of Love~

The next few days passed as their routine had developed. Alana would go to work and anytime she went to play the piano, Momiji joined her. The days ticked down to the ball and the day of their meeting with the department heads at Makoto and Alana was feeling a bit nervous. Momiji was trying to help as best he could with her anxiety, but inevitably, he would join her in her nerves, thinking about how he was also going to be on stage, playing his violin for strangers as well.

With a deep sigh, Alana tucked herself into Momiii's side. They'd just returned home from visiting her parents' house for dinner. It was nice, her parents had actually done a lot in settling their nerves. Her mother had competed nationally and so had experience performing in front of crowds. It had definitely helped to have an adult be able to support them and understand their nervousness.

Alana idly played with Momiji's long dexterous fingers as he used his free hand to flip through the channels on the tv for something to watch as they relaxed. Her eyes wandered around the room and lit upon a little bunny figurine on one of the bookcases.

"Hey Momiji?" Alana started, tilting her head back to look up at him. "Why are bunnies your favorite animal?"

Momiji stiffened for a moment, looking mildly terrified. Then he relaxed and shrugged but Alana could tell it was forced. "I always thought they were very cute and liked their soft ears and fluffy tails."

Why…does asking about bunnies upset him? It's not a crime to like little bunnies. Maybe he was bullied for it a lot when he was younger? No…Hiro was able to joke about it with no issue. "I'm sorry I upset you." Alana said quietly, ducking her head back into his shoulder so she didn't have to see his face and the upset on it.

"No!" Momiji cried turning and lifting her head to peer into her eyes. "You didn't upset me. I'm sorry I reacted like that." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "It's…it's really hard to explain."

Alana sat up more fully and grasped both his hands in hers. "I know there is some Sohma family secret, Momiji. I know there is a lot that I don't know. I'm not upset that I can't or don't know these things. I just wish you would tell me if it's something you can't or won't talk about. I would rather you tell me that it's something I can't know, then for you to lie to me."

Momiji looked at her with wide eyes. "Sohma secret?" He whispered softly, as if saying the words louder would cause the world to shatter.

Alana shrugged a bit uncomfortably. "I am around you often. I hear things between your cousins occasionally that probably aren't meant for my ears. You and I had even talked about one day approaching Akito to share some things with me, including why it was only recently that you guys were able to get along." She shook her head, sending her hair flying around her. "But I don't know nor care what it is. I just want you to be happy." She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. "If you can tell me, I am happy to know. If you can't, just know that I am here for you and I love you."

Momiji stared at her for a moment, then darted forward and pressed his lips to hers, he threaded his fingers into her hair and tugged her tightly to him. She melted beneath his lips. Momiji pressed her back onto the couch and they lay pressed together, legs tangled as they devoured each other.

Momiji leaned back to take a breath, steadying himself above Alana and watched her pant as she tried to catch her own breath. Her eyes were glistening with love and passion beneath him and such deep empathy for him. He felt his heart catch in his chest. He wasn't sure what he had done to deserve this understanding, beautiful, caring woman. He'd been lonely, he'd been hurt, and he did try to be kind, but he wasn't sure he deserved someone who cared so deeply for him and trusted him so completely when he wasn't telling her everything about him or his family.

"Momiji?" Alana whispered, looking up at him and running her fingers along his cheek and bringing his attention back to her and the present.

"I love you Alana. I want to share everything with you." His voice was soft, almost breaking in emotion.

Alana drew him down to her, pressing a kiss to his forehead and resting his head on her chest as she snuggled him to her. "I love you, Momiji. I am ready to share anything you want. And I will wait for you to be ready for all of it." She held tightly and ran her fingers through his hair, making no further comment and only humming soothingly when she felt his tears begin to soak into her shirt.