As I post this, my head is screaming at me in protest. This is the longest chapter of any of my fanfictions, and, I hope, one of the most meaningful. Enjoy.

My father was a partner for the law firm Burns, Tyrell, and Viola. He was a meticulous man who was always well groomed and well dressed, never being seen out of the house without his suit and slicked back pompadour that I thought made him look weird. He was staunchly traditional. He married my mother long before he had sex with her, and definitely before I was concieved. He demanded that my mother stay home and play the housewife. I always suspected that my mother resented that, but if she did then she never complained about it.

He and my mother lived in a small apartment in the city while he was working his way up the ladder. He won a lot of accolade for being popular with juries, before he had been with the company for ten years he was made partner.

Not long after that I was born, and mom told me that he was ecstatic to find out I was a girl. He wanted to name me Shizuru, after his grandmother, and so I was born Shizuru Viola. I remember him not being around that often, his work often taking him away for weeks at a time. This only made me happier to see him whenever he was around, and he was always a bit more doting on me because of it.

He just so happened to have been home the first time I brought Natsuki around. The ensuing conflict would also see me meeting Natsuki's mother, Saeko Kuga, and learning a great deal more about Natsuki than I knew before.

-IPR-

It was three months after the winter dance and the weather was just starting to warm up. I remember because Natsuki started wearing those short skirts I used to like so much, and she knew it too because she would take any excuse to bend over when I was around. I would blush and look away, and she would smirk and walk away making me run to catch up with her. Those were good times.

She had started to eat lunch with me in the cafeteria, which earned us many dirty looks, but I didn't care. I was just happy to be eating with her. If she was affected by it, then she never said a thing to me. What she didn't like was when I would lay my head on her shoulder, but when we were alone you should have seen how affectionate she was. She was a brat like that.

Anyway, we had been dating for the three months since the dance and my parents were going to take me out to dinner at a fancy restaurant for my grades and I decided that I wanted Natsuki to be there. So when she sat down to eat with me I held her hand and she started to squirm. "Natsuki, would you like to come to dinner with me tonight?"

"Dinner? Just the two of us, because I know what I want to eat." She raised her eyebrow in that adorable way she did and I chuckled, though I didn't really understand what she was saying. A couple of years later it would make me all hot and bothered.

"No, my parents are taking me out to eat because my grades are good and I was hoping you'd want to come along. You can meet my parents."

Natsuki squirmed a bit more, she always got nervous at the mention of my parents. "I don't know, do you think your parents will like me?"

"I like you, they have to like you." Pretty sound reasoning, I thought, but I was young and I couldn't have predicted my father's reaction. "Come on, you'll do it if you love me."

She blushed the cutest shade of red. "Okay, I'll go with you, but that doesn't mean I love you or anything."

I let go of her hand when Haruka and Yukino sat down across from us. "Hey, Viola, Kuga."

Natsuki nodded her head in the common greeting between them. "Armitage." Natsuki and Haruka had started to develop a bond between them. I always joked that it was because they both acted like boys. Haruka would get mad. Natsuki never did, I think she knew that it was true.

By now they, along with the entire school, knew of our relationship. Haruka seemed indifferent, as if we were just another couple. Yukino seemed jealous, seeing in us the relationship she wanted with Haruka. "So, was I the only one who thought that math test was way to hard."

"Maybe you should try studying, Armitage. It works for the rest of us." Natsuki looked up from her lunch just long enough to say that, then returned to casually picking at her food. She never ate much, even when I would cook for her she would end up just picking at what was left of her food until I took it away from her and finished it off. Since I had missed breakfast that morning, I did just that.

"That's easy for you to say. You're dating one of the best students on campus."

"For your information, I've never asked her to help me study." She hadn't, and it would have irked me if her grades were low, but they weren't. "I even got a perfect grade on my last literature test."

She presented the paper with her grade printed neatly on the top of the page in red ink beside the phrase, Excellent work, Natsuki. What really struck me about the page was the perfection of her handwriting, especially the way she curved her letters. "You write so beautifully, Natsuki." I couldn't help but exclaim, causing her to blush again.

"I've studied penmanship since I was a little girl. I always found it relaxing, even when my mother was being overbearing. I could just sit in my room and write to my heart's content." She had gotten this dreamy look on her face, like she was picturing a perfect time in her life.

The bell rang as I finished what was left of Natsuki's lunch. The four of us walked to the door together and I gave Natsuki a quick kiss before we went our separate ways. This was the worst part of my day. "I'll see you after school, honey."

"See you later." My hand slipped out of hers and I watched as she turned a corner. I made my way happily to my next class. Reito cut me a dirty look when I sat down, but I was too happy to care. I would be having dinner with my girlfriend tonight.

-IPR-

As had become my routine, I stood with Natsuki near her motorcycle after school. "I'll be by around six, if that's okay. That's enough time to get home, shower and change before we meet up."

"That sounds good. I'm really happy that you're going to dinner with us. My parents are going to love you like I do."

"That might get awkward." Her classic eyebrow raise told me she meant something different. I chuckled, even if I didn't truly understand it's meaning. She leaned over and kissed me when the familiar black car pulled up. Her eyes looked over as we kissed, but she didn't stop like she normally would. She put her arms around me and I melted into her embrace.

The black car honked but she still didn't stop. Finally she let me go and grabbed her helmet. I struggled to catch my breath and calm my nerves. "I'll see you tonight, bella." She closed the visor on her helmet and kicked her bike on. This seemed to calm the men in the black car, because they merely followed quietly after her as she pulled onto the street and drove away.

My heart soared, though whether that was from the deep kiss or our planned evening I wasn't sure.

I stood at the curb waiting for my mom with, what felt like, a ridiculous grin on my face. At least that's how my mom described it. "Are you excited for tonight, sweetie? You have this ridiculous grin on your face."

"Mom, is it okay if I invited a date?"

She looked confused at first, but her face gradually shifted to excited. "Absolutely, is it that Reito boy? Your father wouldn't shut up about him."

"No, mom, her name is Natsuki."

Her face shifted dramatically from one of barely contained excitement to one of near fear. "A girl?" Her voice was quiet, as if speaking the words would add power to them. "Are you a lesbian?"

That was the first time I had ever heard that word. The first time of many. "I don't know what that is?"

"Are you attracted to girls?"

I had never thought about it like that before. It just felt natural to be with Natsuki. "I guess so."

I noticed her hands shake as she held the wheel, her voice shook a little as well. "I don't think it's a good idea if she comes to dinner."

"What? You were okay with it when you thought it was Reito. Why should Natsuki be any different?" My mind simply could not understand the difference.

"Look, if it were up to me I would let you be with whoever you wanted. I'm sure this Natsuki is lovely, but your father will not be so forgiving. You should call Natsuki when we get home and tell her that she can't come."

"But..."

"Shizuru." She snapped at me, which she did so rarely that it caught me off guard. "Do what I say. Call her when we get home."

"No, mom, she's my girlfriend and I want her there."

My mom could tell that I was serious and she relented. "Fine, but you'll have to deal with your father. Don't come crying to me after he's hurt your feelings." Before that mom had always been there when I had to deal with my father. In just a few short hours I would wish she had been there for me again.

-IPR-

It was nearly six and I was dressed and ready to go. I wore this red dress that I had bought the last time me and mom went shopping and I had even put on makeup, something that I almost never did. I had put on a pair of heels and had tied my hair back into a ponytail.

I was sitting in the living room waiting for Natsuki to show up. I didn't look it, but I was nervous. My talk with mom in the car had left me shook up and I was worried. I heard a familiar engine buzz and shortly after a knock on the door. I ran to the door to answer it and Natsuki stood on the porch wearing a pair of faded jeans and a t-shirt, her riding helmet under her arm. "Hi." She sounded really nervous.

"Hi." I sounded just as nervous. "I'm glad you came, I really wanted you to be here."

She walked past me into the house. As she walked by she gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. "I wanted to be here for you, I'm just nervous about meeting your family. Hopefully they understand."

Understand what? That's what I wanted to ask, but before I could get the words out my father came down the stairs. "Your mother told me you had invited a date along. I had assumed to see the young Kanzaki boy here with you." He approached us in his suit and tie and stood before Natsuki. I had never before or have I since seen her look so intimidated by another person. "I'm Shizuru's father, Masato Viola, and you are?"

If she was apprehensive she did a very good job of keeping it out of her voice. "Natsuki Kuga, I'm your daughter's girlfriend."

"A close friend then?" His voice was more insinuating than asking.

"No, her girlfriend. I'm in love with your daughter, sir." Hearing that made me both happy and anxious. It made my father just angry.

"You're WHAT?!" His bellow tore through the house like a storm. My mother stood at the base of the stairs, but, like she told me, she didn't get involved. "You dare to come into MY house and corrupt MY only daughter. I've raised Shizuru to be a good girl, not some deviant."

I had heard enough of my father berate Natsuki, so I stepped in. "Dad, that's enough. I invited Natsuki over to meet my family, not get insulted and yelled at. I'm sorry if you don't approve of us dating, but that's how it is."

My father wouldn't relent, however. "Not under my roof it isn't. I refuse to allow you to see this girl."

Natsuki sighed. "Shizuru, maybe I should just go."

"No." I was already worked up. "This fight is going to happen one way or the other. I'd rather have it out now." I grabbed Natsuki by the arm and felt her pull me to her. "I want to be with her, dad, and you can't stop me from seeing her."

"You're right, Shizuru, I can't. What I can stop is letting you live in my house. You want to be with that she-devil, then leave." His voice was no longer angry, but determined. Natsuki froze and my mother covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

I was still angry, however. "Fine, then I'll just stay with Natsuki."

I pulled Natsuki out of the door with my father and mother just staring on. When the door slammed shut I could hear my mother crying and my father's angry shouts. Natsuki was still stunned. "I knew this was a bad idea. It never works out."

I threw my arms around her neck and she held me by the waist. "I really need you to be strong for me, Natsuki." I buried my face in her chest and tried to stop myself from crying. After the adrenaline wore off I realized what had just happened. "Please, be strong for me."

Natsuki kissed me on the forehead. "We can go to my apartment. There's food, so we can eat there." I nodded and Natsuki put her helmet on my head. We walked over to the bike and she got on first. I hesitated. "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you."

I got on the bike behind her and held on tightly. "Don't you need a helmet?" She shook her head and kicked the bike on. Something between the vibration of the bike and my proximity to Natsuki sent a curious feeling through my legs and up my stomach.

She pulled out of the driveway and onto the highway. The speed frightened me at first, but I trusted Natsuki and, before too long, I found myself enjoying the feel of the wind rushing past.

We rode for nearly thirty minutes before we got to Natsuki's apartment, an efficiency in a small building nestled between two other apartment buildings that seemed run down. Her apartment was on the second floor so we walked up the stairs. Natsuki never rode elevators, she would always say, "Why use the elevator when there's a perfectly good set of stairs right next to it?"

Then I would always respond, "Why do they put stairs next to a perfectly good elevator?"

This time, though, there was no conversation. I was too exhausted from the ride and before we got to her apartment I felt like my legs would just fall off. She opened the door and let me through first. "This is my place. It's not much."

"Actually, it's my place." Natsuki threw her arm around me and stepped in front of me so she would get attacked first. I found it romantic. A lighter lit up in the dark sitting area and lit a cigarette. "I do pay the bills after all." The voice felt oddly familiar, like a more adult Natsuki.

"Mom? What are you doing here?" She flipped the light switch and I saw her mom for the first time. She was wearing a simple outfit, pants and a shirt, but she had the same blue hair and emerald eyes that Natsuki did. I remember being scared of her. I wonder if that's how Natsuki felt meeting my parents.

"Your babysitters tell me you're being good. Attending school every day, not getting into fights but they've also told me that you've been seeing somebody. I guess this is her." She stood up and approached, "Hello there, my name is Saeko Kuga. I'm Natsuki's mother."

I looked her in the eyes and found them to be mirthful, slightly easing the tension I felt. "Shizuru Viola."

She stopped right in front of me and cupped my chin in her right hand, holding her cigarette in the other. "You are lovely, Ms. Shizuru. Far to lovely to be seen with a vagrant like my daughter."

"Mom." Natsuki's voice showed irritation.

"What?" Saeko played innocent, "I'm merely stating that she is a lovely young lady and your intentions are far from gentlemanly."

"I assure you, Ms. Kuga, that Natsuki has been nothing but a gentleman."

Her smile caught me off guard, I always thought she smiled like a shark. "No need to be so formal, you can call me Saeko." She turned to Natsuki, "Well, are you going to leave your girlfriend and your mother hungry? Or can you not cook?"

Natsuki turned beet red and looked like she was going to burst. I decided to intervene. "I can cook for the three of us. Come on, sweetheart, let's see what you have to eat." I took her arm and pulled her away to the kitchen. Saeko smiled as she went to sit back down.

I opened the fridge and started pulling stuff out to make sandwiches. Some lunch meat, lettuce, tomato and a jar of mayonnaise, the last of which got Natsuki excited. "Thanks, Shizuru, my mom has this way of getting under my skin. It's always been like that." Natsuki opened a loaf of bread and I started putting mayo on them. "Extra for me, I love mayo."

"More than me?"

Natsuki smiled and playfully shoved me. "Not while my mom's here," She leaned close and whispered in my ear, "but no, not more than you." She planted a soft kiss on my cheek and the room suddenly got hotter.

I finished the sandwiches, making a few too many for just the three of us, then me and Natsuki carried them out to the table where Saeko sat. "So you invite her over and she cooks for you? How's that fair?"

"Mom." Natsuki was practically grinding her teeth as we sat down. "Shizuru just got into a fight with her father and she's staying here for now."

"Oh, what did you two fight about?"

I grabbed a sandwich and took a bite. "My dad doesn't approve of us being together." I slumped in the chair, "I don't know what to do about it."

Saeko finished her sandwich really quickly. "Just give him time. He'll realize that you're more important to him than this fight and let it go." She looked at Natsuki almost sadly. "I learned that one the hard way."

A look passed between them and I knew that a barrier had been breached. "Anyway, what brings you here, mom? Shouldn't you be in D.C. right now?"

"I came by to see how my daughter was doing. I never get to see you anymore, except through the pictures I get every day. I don't like what you're doing with your hair these days. You should wear it down, you have such beautiful hair." She did have beautiful hair, and I never cared how she wore it.

"It's good to know that you're still scrutinizing me. Even from so far away." She ate her sandwiches quickly as well. A Kuga trait? Perhaps our children will eat their lunches while I'm still making them. I chuckled as I mused quietly to myself. When I returned to the present I noticed two pairs of green eyes on me. "Are you okay, sweetheart?"

I shook the dream away. "I'm fine."

"You're probably tired from the drama. You can lie down on my bed if you like." She pointed me to her bedroom. When I opened the door and walked in I was surprised at how clean the place looked. A dresser drawer was open and a piece of silky fabric peeked out. I couldn't help myself.

Inside the drawer was a veritable collection of lingerie, I was happily surprised to see a more feminine side of Natsuki. Until now all I'd seen was the motorcycle riding, sarcastic girl that she was at school. I lay down on the bed, thinking of Natsuki in lingerie as I drifted to sleep.

-IPR-

I awoke when the bed shook and warm arms wrapped around me. "Sorry, did I wake you?"

"It's okay."

I snuggled closer to her and lay in comfort until her phone rang. She got up and answered. "Hello?" A pause. "Yes, she's here." She sat back down on the bed and handed me the cordless. "It's your dad."

"Hello?"

"Hi, pumpkin." There was an awkward pause on the line, like we were both trying to jump across a chasm and we didn't know if either of us would make it. "Look, I may have overreacted. Just come home, darling. Let's talk about this."

"Is Natsuki welcome?"

Another silence, the chasm widened. "Yes, she's welcome. Just come home."

"Okay, I'll be home soon. Love you, bye."

I hung up the phone and handed it to Natsuki, who was already putting her shoes on. "So, you're going home?"

I nodded, and we walked silently out to her waiting motorcycle. The ride back home wasn't as exhilarating as the ride to her apartment, the weight of the coming conversation was weighing on me. After almost a half an hour we pulled up to my house and I slipped off the motorcycle and my legs buckled out from under me. Natsuki caught me and held me until I could stand again. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was so tired."

Natsuki merely shook her head as we walked to the front door. My hand stopped on the knob for a full minute before I turned it and opened the door. My mother and father were sitting in the living room waiting for me. My father spoke, his deep, throaty voice sounded relived. "Sit down, Shizuru." I sat down across from them. "First, I'm sorry for yelling at you. It just caught me off guard, learning about your ... preferences."

Natsuki sat down beside me, she took my hand in hers and squeezed it. "I'm sorry for yelling too, dad. I just got so caught up in the moment."

"It's okay, Shizuru, it was my fault. I just want you to be happy, love. You're my only daughter." He turned to Natsuki. "And if you're the girl that my daughter has chosen, then I should get to know you."

Natsuki nodded, "I would like that, Mr. Viola."

We all stood and my father gave me a big hug, then shook Natsuki's hand. I noticed a small smile in the corner of her mouth. "I'm exhausted, and I have a big case starting tomorrow. Goodnight, darling."

"Goodnight, dad." He walked upstairs and left only me, my mother, and Natsuki in the living room. "Thanks, mom."

"I didn't have anything to do with it. He just realized that you're more important to him than the fight. Goodnight, sweetheart." She kissed me on the cheek then gave Natsuki a hug. "Goodnight, Natsuki."

She followed my father up the stairs and left just me and Natsuki in the living room. I yawned and she pulled me into a hug. "You look tired, sweetheart. You should go to bed." She kissed me, a slow deep kiss that said all that needed to be said between us.

I walked her to the door, "Good night, Natsuki. For what it's worth tonight was a lot of fun. I like your mom."

"I guess one of us has to." She chuckled as she left the house. "Good night, bella. I'll see you in school tomorrow."

I watched her walk away before closing the door and heading up to my room. I fell into my bed and passed out almost instantly. That was a long day.

-IPR-

A timer beeps on the desk and Al hits the alarm. "Well, Shizuru, our time is up for today. But I'd like to schedule you for early next week, if that's okay with you?"

"That's fine with me."

Shizuru gets up and shakes Al's waiting hand. He feels some metal around one of her fingers. "Are you married, Ms. Viola?"

"I am, his name is Thomas Franz. He's a good man."

"Do you love him?"

Shizuru looks away, "I love our daughter."

"Oh, you have a daughter? What's her name?"

A shadow of a smile crosses Shizuru's face. "Natsuki Viola. She has my name and hers."

"I'll see you next week, Shizuru. Take care."

She leaves the office and a tall, blonde haired woman stands up. "So, how did it go?"

Shizuru smiles darkly, "I'm going to get you back for this. You know that, right?"

Haruka puts an arm around her. "Come on, Yukino is having a get together. You'll feel better with a few drinks in you."