I want to thank gabicg93 for helping me with this chapter since I had gotten stuck on what could happen.

Michiru woke up, thanking whatever gods existed that it was a saturday and she didn't have to deal with the music industry or interviews today. Sometimes she wished that she could just give all of it up, though she knew that she had Hotaru to think about.

Suddenly she heard a crash come from downstairs, causing her to groan and get up.

What child gets up before twelve on a sunday?

She thought as she headed downstairs, only to pause and bite back a chuckle when she saw what had caused the crash in the first place.

Hotaru was in the kitchen, attempting to set the table, the air smelling like she had left bread in the toaster for too long and a broken bowl lay on the floor.

Michiru watched the girl struggle to clean up the mess for a few minutes before clearing her throat rather loudly, only to cause the girl to almost drop the broom she was attempting to use.

Michiru winced at the sudden sound, chuckling as she walked over.

"That was mean Mama."

Hotaru pouted, crossing her arms over her chest though this only prompted a smile from the woman.

"Sorry, but I couldn't resist."

She chuckled, ruffling the pouting girl's hair before sweeping the shattered glass into a dustpan.

"You didn't have to do it though." Hotaru muttered, obviously irritated by what her mother had done.

"Just like you didn't have to try to make breakfast this morning, silly girl."

Michiru retorted playfully, grabbing the little girl from behind and spinning her around, earning a giggle in response.

"What are you doing up at this hour on a sunday anyway Taru?"

Michiru asked, setting the child down after a few minutes of horseplay.

"Your birthday is coming up soon and I wanted to learn how to make breakfast so I could surprise you."

The child admitted, earning a small chuckle from Michiru.

"As lovely as that sounds, I've already got the best gift in the world."

Michiru answered, earning a confused look from the child.

"What?" Hotaru asked softly, obviously confused and hurt by this.

"You….you're the best thing that could have happened to me."

Michiru answered, watching as tears welled in the little girl's eyes before she found herself almost knocked backward by the young girl, who wrapped her arms tightly around the woman.

"I love you Hotaru."

Michiru stated, lifting the girl up into her arms, letting the little girl burry her face into the crook of her neck.

"Love you too Mama."

Michiru moved them to the living room, taking a seat on the couch until Hotaru had stopped clinging to her. Sometimes the child's maturity let Michiru forget exactly how young Hotaru was and just how the effect of losing her parents five years ago still lingered.

"Remember what I promised we'd do today?" she asked after a while, causing the little girl to look up in surprise.

"You said we'd go to butterfly garden!"

Hotaru recalled, excitement filling her eyes.

"Right."

Michiru answered with a grin before adding

"Let's go clean up your cooking experiment first though, okay?"

She asked, earning a giggle and a nod.

"Maybe we should go out for breakfast too."

Hotaru commented, earning a laugh from Michiru who ruffled her hair.

"Sounds like a good idea...I don't think either of us could manage to eat this toast...though I have to say...it's better than what I did the first time I tried to cook."