Denki and I grew closer over the next few weeks, I was more comfortable, I could open up better, and it seemed to make him sweeter.

Jiro had us playing different places every other week. We've performed in a few bars, some parties, and some other events in town. She was good at this, she's a great musician and band manager.

Over Christmas break, she decided we should take a break, I think mainly because she's taking a trip with her family. Dad wanted to do something fun for the holiday but he ended up having to work like he does every year.

Since we didn't go out of town, Emi thought it would be the perfect time for our families to meet and invited Mio, dad, and me over for dinner.

It's an understatement to say I'm nervous about it. Mio knows Emi gave me condoms and I'm afraid she'll say something.

"Calm down," Denki sighed as I paced back and forth in his room, "She won't say anything. Think of how your dad will react when he hears she's known for months we had condoms and shared a room."

I shrugged, "He'll be so mad at us and your mom that'll be the last thing he focuses on."

"Okay," He nodded, "But, we didn't do anything, we didn't even share a bed."

I sighed and sat in his computer chair, "I know."

He grabbed my hands, "Hey, calm down."

I took a deep breath, "Okay, I'm calm."

He smiled, shaking his head, "You're not, but thank you for trying."

I couldn't hold back my laugh.

He leaned forward, kissing me lightly, "It's going to be okay. If I have to do time I can only hope you'll wait for me."

I rolled my eyes, "My dad is not going to put you in jail."

He shrugged, "He's a big, bad, detective. He has power."

"He's a puppy. He doesn't have a bite."

He raised a brow, "Then why are you so worried?"

He has a point.

Denki smiled as he stood, "Before everyone is here, I want to give you your gift."

I was shocked, "Really? Are you sure? We can wait."

He nodded, reaching into his backpack, pulling out a small box in yellow wrapping, "I want you to have it now. Besides, once everyone is here it's only going to be chaos."

I agree.

He handed me the box, sitting on the bed, "I hope you like it."

I could tell he wrapped it himself, the edges are jagged and not well taped. I felt the smile form as I tore away the paper, opening the box.

It's a locket, a gold heart with a lightning bolt in the center. It's beautiful.

"Open it."

I nodded.

My jaw dropped, the picture in it was from our show on Halloween when I kissed him on stage.

I felt a tear fall.

"Maki!" I heard him panic, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you cry!"

He wrapped his arms around me, tightly, squeezing, "I'm so sorry, I really thought you'd like it."

I wrapped my arms around him, "I do like it, dummy. I love it."

He let out a chuckle, "You scared me, I thought you hated it."

I shook my head, pulling away, "Put it on me, I want to wear it."

He latched the necklace around my neck, kissing my shoulder, "I'm glad you love it."

I stood, wiping the tears, "I wasn't planning on giving you yours until after dinner but I can't wait."

He shrugged, "I can wait."

I shook my head, "I'll be back."

He was confused as I left. I ran down the hall to Emi and Daisuke's room, going into Emi's closet, grabbing his gift, I'm so glad she let me stash it here.

I set it outside his door and peeked in, "Close your eyes."

"Why?"

"Please?"

He sighed, "Fine."

I walked in, hiding his gift the best I could behind me, I stopped in front of him, reaching up, lightly kissing his lips.

He smiled, "Are you my gift?"

I shook my head, stepping aside, revealing his gift.

His jaw dropped, "You're kidding, right? No way, how did you afford this?!"

I smiled as he picked up the yellow guitar, "I saved every bit of money I could from gigs and did extra things here and there for dad. I even did a few shifts at your parents' shop."

He raised his brow, "How?"

I shrugged, "I did it on guys' night so you wouldn't know. Look at the detailing."

His eyes scanned over the guitar, the fretboards are custom with lightning bolts and on the curve of the butt of the guitar, I put a sticker of a badger and an eagle chasing each other in a circle.

His smile grew bigger, "Maki, you shouldn't have! This must've cost a fortune!"

I shrugged, "My dad pulled in a favor with the crafter. Apparently, my dad made a bust and recovered priceless things of his and said he'd owe him."

Denki set the guitar down on the bed before scooping me up, spinning me around, "Thank you so much! I love it! Maki Kagayaku you are the best girlfriend on the entire planet."

I couldn't stop giggling as we spun, "Okay… okay… put me down and try it out, the guy said it needs to be tuned, I had Jiro clean and inspect it to make sure it was good but she didn't have a chance to tune it."

He sat on his bed and started messing with the strings, "How long have you had this here? I didn't even know."

I shrugged, "I called your mom when I saw the work this guy did and she thought it would be a great idea and offered to help."

He was surprised, "You have my mom's number?"

I nodded.

He shook his head and started to tune the guitar.

His mother came home an hour later and smiled as she came in, "Oh, did you love it?"

Denki nodded, "I did."

She smiled at me, "And what about you? Was the necklace a hit?"

I nodded, twirling it around my finger, "I love it!"

She clapped, "I'm so happy! Maki, will your father be here soon? Daisuke is almost done cooking."

I nodded, "He and my sister will be here soon."

She nodded, kissing both of us before heading out.

Denki set the guitar down, "Thank you so much, you didn't have to get me such an amazing gift, really."

I shook my head, "Stop, you deserve it."

He raised a brow, "I do?"

"Denki," I sighed, climbing into his lap, hugging him tightly, "You've been amazing to me every second you've known me. I've been difficult, stubborn, and closed off, you've been so patient."

He kissed the top of my head, "Maki, my Buzzy Beautiful Sunshine, thank you."

Before I could respond, the doorbell rang.

I took a deep breath and stood.

We made our way to the living room as Emi let them in. I hugged Mio and dad, "Hey."

Emi bowed to dad, "Hello, Mr. Kagayaku, it's so nice to finally meet you."

Daisuke bowed as he came in, "Finally."

Dad bowed, "The kids have been dating for months now, I can't believe we haven't met yet."

Emi smiled, hugging me, "But we're meeting now! And I must say, we love your daughter, if I could kidnap her, I would!"

Dad smiled, "I'm glad you like her so much."

Daisuke motioned to the dining room, "Come take a seat, I'll bring out some drinks. Denki?"

Denki nodded, going to help him.

Dad sat down between Mio and I and looked around, "You have a lovely home."

She smiled, "Thank you, I'm sure your home is much nicer."

He shrugged, "I would also like to say I think you raised a good, polite boy. He's been nothing but good to my little girl."

Emi shrugged, "He must've gotten that from his dad, I'm a heathen."

I shook my head, "I wouldn't say that… you're animated."

Emi waved her hand, "Oh hush, let me think I'm still the cool chick I was twenty years ago."

Dad smiled as he sipped the water Daisuke set in front of him, "So, how did you and your husband meet?"

Emi smiled at Daisuke, "We met at an oldies concert. I hated him at first, he was loud and annoying but not too long after, we were at a car show and both wanted the same tool so we went in half and a half and decided to share it. I fell in love shortly after."

"That's cute." Dad looked warm-hearted.

Daisuke and Denki began to bring out the food.

Emi waved her hand, "So, tell me, how did you meet your late wife?"

Dad sighed as Emi passed the food, "She was on the rise in the opera world and I was in the academy dreaming to be a detective and I was assigned to her to guard. I used to be very serious, no sense of humor but my Kameko was so full of life and she brought me out of my shell even with the reluctance on my part.

One day, she was attacked but I stopped them before any harm could come to her. We ran away together and eloped and not too long after, we welcomed the girls."

Emi clapped, "That's so cute! I love it, I bet she was a wonderful woman, I wish I could thank both of you for bringing such a wonderful young lady into the world. She's done wonders for my boy and I just can't get enough of her!"

Dad let out a laugh, "I know the feeling."

Emi looked over to Mio, "And you, you're beautiful."

Mio bowed her head politely, "Thanks."

Emi glanced at me before looking at Mio, "Do you sing, like Maki?"

She shook her head.

Dad sighed, "She can be shy."

Emi nodded, "I understand."

Daisuke was about to sit down but, "I almost forgot." He ran back to the kitchen and came back out with a plate of fries, "Maki, your favorite."

I felt myself start to drool, "Thank you."

Emi winked at me, "Okay, everyone, dig in!"

There was light chit chat as we ate, mainly between dad and Denki's parents.

Mio smiled, enjoying her food, "Man, this is so good, and I was so sure I wouldn't like you when you gave my baby sister condoms."

I froze.

Denki became rigid.

They wouldn't have heard her if they were still talking but it got quiet right as she spoke.

Mio looked up from her food, shocked everyone was staring at her, "Did I say that out loud?"

Dad's eyes darted from Mio to Emi, "You did what?"

Emi shrugged, "I gave Maki a strip of condoms when they went on the ski trip."

Daisuke sighed, "I thought I told you not to do that."

Emi rolled her eyes, "It's not a big deal. I know what teenagers were like back when I was that age, I'm not condoning it I just want them to be safe if they decide to do anything."

My dad cleared his throat, "But, you gave condoms to my daughter? Why not give them to your son? Why MY daughter?"

Emi shrugged, "Denki wouldn't have taken them. He would've been too embarrassed. I knew Maki would. I didn't want my son to not take them because he was embarrassed and didn't think he'd need them only to end up needing them."

My dad looked at me, "Maki…"

I shook my head, "We didn't need them, dad. We didn't do anything."

Dad looked over to Denki who was shaking with fear, "Denki…"

Denki glanced up, "I'm sorry for my mother sir! She meant well! I promise. I'm sorry."

Dad looked back at Emi who shrugged again, "You overstepped."

She sighed, "I do apologize for that. I love Maki as she was my own child. I know I could never replace your wife, but I want to be there for her. Hell, I might trade you, kids."

Dad let out a laugh, "Okay, look, our kids like each other very much…"

"Love." Denki interrupted.

Dad raised his brow.

Denki's face turned red, he didn't mean speak up, "Umm, I'm sorry, it's just, I love your daughter, sir. I don't just like her, I love her."

I felt warmth in my heart.

Dad glanced at me before smiling, "Our children are in love, so, I think we're going to be in each other's lives for a long time, can we agree you aren't going to do things like that again?"

She nodded, "I won't… without notifying you first."

Dad sighed, "Oh god, you remind me of my Kameko."

Emi waved her hand, "Oh hush, you flatter me."

Daisuke held Emi's hand, "I apologize for my wife. She doesn't think before she acts sometimes and even if I advise her, she doesn't always listen."

Dad nodded, "I understand."

I looked over at Mio, that could've gone so much worse.

She let out a nervous laugh, "I'm sorry guys."

After dinner was over, we said our goodbyes, and I went home with Dad and Mio.

Dad sighed, "I guess you could be dating someone with a worse family."

I smiled, "So, you like them?"

He nodded.

I felt relieved.

I love Denki and I want us all to get along. This could've gone so wrong with Mio's slip but it didn't. I'm so thankful.