A/N: Thanks so much for your wonderful support! I hope this final chapter is alright - it's my old writing style, lolz.

Disclaimer: I don't own LCDO nor the song I miss Us by Kenny Loggins.

Chapter 3

All that we have lost

Has all come back as love

I know that's what family is about

Still I miss…

The cerulean haired violinist's mouth opened but no words came out as the weight of the truth dawned on him. He was only their father in name and blood…but not in responsibility.

"I won't allow my wife to go through with the divorce!" he resolutely said.

The older man clinked his glass, glad that his layman's reasoning had struck a chord on the violinist's heart. "Tha's the spirit, man! From wha' I 'eard from ya, ya missus and ya are soulmates, doncha' ever forgit that!"

Len got up from his seat and took out his wallet. "How much do I owe you for the drinks and the good advice?"

The man waved him off. "N'need to, mate. Jus' one thing though…"

"What is it?" Len curiously asked as O'Reilly rummaged through his cupboard to bring out a CD. Len recognized it as the latest album he produced when he collaborated with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. So…this man had recognized him…from the start…

"Could ya please autograph this for me grankid? The lil' boy's a huge fan of ya…loves your playing 'specially Ave Maria – like angels singin', he tol' me…I bought it for his birthday nex' week…" The request was said in a sheepish manner, very different from the loud tones initially.

"Your grandson plays the violin?" Len asked as he signed "With best wishes" and his name onto the track list inside the CD.

"Weel…nah, he don't. Violin lessons too steep for me family. E'en if me missus and I chip in with me sonny and his missus' money, the lessons may'n only las' abou' two months. And tha' ain't considerin' th' instrument i'self," confessed O'Reilly.

Len was deeply humbled. Being born in a well to do family, music fees and lessons weren't a problem for him but for the bartender…He took out all the banknotes in his wallet – sufficient for a violin and a few months of lessons – and handed it to the older man. "Here, please take it."

"But it's all ya monies, mate!" O'Reilly protested, looking frightened even at the amount of cash Len carried.

"Do you have a piece of paper?" Len asked, ignoring the protests and the bartender scuttled to get him one.

The violinist jotted down the name and contact number of a fellow violinist – Thomas Willoughby. "Just tell Thomas you know me." He passed O'Reilly the paper.

By now, the older man was gaping like a fish. What was the violinist doing? Had he flown off his rocket? "But…but…," he feebly protested.

Len looked directly at him. "It's nothing compared to what you've taught me – how to be a good father. Thank you."

O'Reilly rubbed his head. "Mate, I made th' same mistake ya did 'cept me missus not leavin' me. Me sonny and I burnt bridges fo' almos' tweny years before we finally patch'd up…I was damned poor an' needed money so I toiled an' toiled…Me son din unnastand why his ol' man din spend time with him…," he told Len in pure honesty.

If Kei or Noriko did that to me… Len awfully thought. Clasping the bartender's hand in a firm handshake, he repeated, "Thank you."

It was the right time to return to Japan.

Len got on a flight that afternoon with gifts for his children and wife but most importantly a serious, heartfelt promise.

Sunday mornings free and easy

Lazy days and endless evenings

I know we'll survive

But it is eating me inside

And I miss lying in your arms till morning

With nothing on our minds but making love…

Yes, Len reflected, he had been too cowardly and obstinate to see why Kahoko had been furious with him. After what the bartender had told him, he just wanted to go home and hug his family tightly. His conscience was eating at his soul…And he missed Kahoko's warmth next to him…

Immediately after landing and obtaining his bags, he grabbed a taxi home, feeling a slight tinge of anticipation at meeting Kei and Noriko.

The sounds of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto greeted him as he jingled the keys into the main door of his house. The tones are really clear…Is it Kahoko playing? he wondered as he stepped inside and headed to the sound proof music room.

There he was greeted by the amazing sight of Kei playing the violin prodigiously while Kahoko and his sister were the spectators. Once the last note had been vibratoed, both females clapped loudly…to be joined by a male "Bravo!"

"Daddy!" Kei ran and hugged his father, unintentionally poking Len with the violin bow as he enveloped Len, still gripping onto his violin.

"Daddy's back!" Noriko joined her older brother, not wanting to lose out on the affection scale.

Len discreetly glanced at Kahoko seated on the piano stool, looking cold.

Deep inside, Kahoko was feeling a tumult of emotions when she saw her husband. She knew she loved him, as wretchedly career-minded as he was. When she signed the divorce papers, it had taken her an iron will not to break down crying in front of the lawyer. I have to rebuild my life…I can't always be thinking about him…she had told herself.

But it was difficult. Kei was a minature Len with blue hair and a violin prodigy while Noriko was red haired like her but played the piano well – no doubt the music genes were inherited from Len. And the sleepless nights she spent in their room alone until she had to move to their guest room…Putting up a smiling front for their two innocent children who didn't know anything yet…

"Kei-chan, I'm very sorry I couldn't make it for your performance," Len apologized, bringing Kahoko's thoughts back to the present.

"It's okay, daddy. You'll see me perform in more concerts next time!" Kei chirped.

The innocence and sweetness of his son pulled at his heart…Len couldn't feel more blessed as he hugged his son tighter until Noriko, not wanting to be outdone by Kei again, tugged at her father's coat and he hugged her as well. They inherited Kahoko's nature…

Seeing this intimate family scene, Kahoko fought back a lump rising in her throat. Could she really carry on with the divorce when it was obvious her, no, their kids, adored him?

After distributing his presents, Len took his kids to their room before heading down to meet his wife. He held a gift box out to her as he approached her but she didn't accept it. "Kaho, honey…"

The red head stubbornly looked outside towards the garden.

"Hino, look at me!" Len's voice was like the times when he was cold to her back in Seisou.

Kahoko turned her head slowly. "What is it, Tsukimori?"

"I'm not signing the divorce papers. I'm not divorcing you. You're my wife, Kaho and you'll always be." There, he had said it all in one breath. It sounded so easy after a month of stalling.

"How dare you! Why are you ruining my happiness?" Kahoko felt her blood boiling. So, after a thirty days of hiding away in London like a sniveling coward, Mr High-and-Mighty Len finally came back to say he wasn't going to divorce her? She had expected him to sign the papers and leave!

Len got onto his knees, evoking a gasp from her – just like when he proposed to her – and took her limp hands. "Honey, I'm sorry."

"That's what you always say! I'm only thankful our children are such angelic beings who don't throw tantrums because you promised to see their performances but didn't!" Kahoko pulled her hand away to brush back a tear.

"That's because you're their mother…You taught them how to be understanding, how to never look down upon people…I fell in love with you because of your nature…" Len felt his heart bleed when he saw how his wife was controlling her hurt emotions. I've been a selfish bastard all along…

"Sooner or later Noriko and Kei will be growing up and they might no longer be so understanding. If you're going to never turn up when they need you for moral support, what's the point of being their father in the first place?" At her own harsh words, she finally broke down and sobbed.

"Kahoko…" Len wrapped his arms around her, cursing himself more. "I won't do it anymore…I've come to realize that family is more important than career…I guess…I'm used to my parents' performing lifestyles…"

"Remember the second concours, Len? The one where some students sabotaged you? Your parents were there to watch you…I…I just want the same for our children, Kei may act happy that he is able to perform well and receive his teachers' praises but sooner his smile will be gone and he finally starts wondering why you're never there for him. Noriko is still in kindergarten but next year she starts elementary school and she'll have performances, parent-teacher meetings…" Kahoko's voice faded. She felt really emotionally exhausted.

How could he forget that concour especially? The time when Kaho was trying her best to break down the closet doors whilst he initially did nothing because he thought it was pointless – but she didn't give up…And also after his release, the competition at that stage was over and yet she was the one protesting that he hadn't had his turn yet…Both his parents had told him it was alright, but he secretly couldn't forgive himself because he felt he let his parents down…

I'm embarrassed to admit it

But I still want to be your everything

I know all that life has given us

Is way more than enough

I just live you too much

Baby most of all

I miss us…

"Honey, please…I'm begging you to please give me one more chance? I love both Kei and Noriko and I love you…Please…Please don't give up on us…," Len pleaded, his voice cracking as tears filled his eyes.

It seemed like eternity to him when Kahoko finally nodded and he grabbed her, holding her tightly like a prized possession. The scent of the lavender perfume she normally wore invaded his senses like a much needed drug and he inhaled deeply. "Thank you, Kahoko…"

When he released her, he took a good look at her as his fingers ran through her silky vermillion hair. "Kaho…," he breathed with longing as his lips crashed onto hers ad his arm tightened around her waist. God, he had missed her and he was one lucky fool to get her back after almost losing her.

"Eww…mummy and daddy are kissing!" Peals of childish laughter broke husband and wife apart as they stared stupefiedly at their children.

"Can't we have some privacy, hmm?" Len jokingly asked.

"Privacy's in the bedroom!" Kei said in his best grown-up voice and trying to hide that scene from his sister by covering her eyes while Noriko elbowed him, making Kahoko giggle in Len's arms at their children's antics.

Later that night, after their love making session, Kahoko propped herself up and fingered the locket which Len bought her – the design was of a smiling sun. "Len…why isn't your gift music designed this time?"

Len smiled tenderly at his wife. "Because you're like the sun to me. Without the sun, there is no life…Without you…I have no life. Open it, honey…"

Kahoko undid the clasps to see four faces of the Tsukimori family smiling at her. "Oh, Len…" she leaned over and kissed him.

He playfully wrapped his arms around her and pulled her below the blankets to produce a melody only known to them…

Tomorrow, he was going to cancel his concerts until January…and ring up Thomas Willoughby to inform him that all the violin classes for young Jim O'Reilly would be sponsored by him.

But darlin' I can't help myself

I just love you too much…

For now, Len was going to be the best father and husband to the kids and Kahoko. What was money and career if you didn't have a wonderful, loving family to share it in the first place?

Finè – The End


A/N : I hope you liked the ending of this story (hopefully it wasn't too sappy). Please do review or critique so that I can improve :D Arigato!