Nightingale awoke the next morning, a calm relaxed feeling flooding her body. She rolled over and found Shigure wide awake, a smile on his lips. "Good morning, my love." he greeted her and pulled her in for a kiss.

Nightingale grinned up at him. "Good morning. How long have you been awake?"

Shigure thought for a moment. "Not long, about forty-five minutes."

"And you've been in bed the whole time?"

"Of course, I like watching you sleep. You look so peaceful and relaxed, like all the tension just leaves your body. That and you are extremely beautiful." He answered and kissed her forehead.

Nightingale smiled and snuggled close to Shigure. "So what time is it?" she asked.

"Ten." Shigure answered.

Nightingale suddenly jumped out of Shigure's arms and the bed. "I'm so late!"

"Late for what?" He asked.

"I was supposed to be Ayame's shop an hour ago for a fitting and so Dad can see my dress!" She answered as she opened a drawer frantically searching for clothes.

Shigure got up and came behind her. He gently grabbed her shoulders and turned her around to face him. "Calm down. Take your time to get ready. I'll call Aya and your father and let them know what's going on. I'm sure your father doesn't want you stressing out and Aya will understand. I'll take care of evrything."

Nightingale looked up at him and smiled. "Okay."

Shigure grinned and kissed her forehead. Then he grabbed his robe and headed down the stairs. He picked up the phone and dialed Aya's number.

"Hello!" came Aya's cheerful voice.

"Hello Aya." Shigure sang into the phone.

"Oh, Shigure! Is something wrong? Nightingale was supposed to be here in an hour ago."

"Oh, nothing is wrong. She just over-slept. She'll be there as soon as she's ready."

"Oh, I am so glad to hear it. I was getting worried. I have to go. Bye Gure!"

"Bye, Aya." With taht Shigure hung up the phone only to pick it back up again. He now had to call Nightingale's father.

He dialed the number and soon heard Mr. Green's deep voice. "Hello."

"Hello, Mr. Green, it's Shigure."

"Is Nightingale alright?"

"She's fine. She just slept in a little late and I was just letting you know since you were supposed to see her dress today. She'll be there soon."

"Okay, thank you."

With that the conversation was over and Shigure hung up the phone. He turned around to see Nightingale coming down the stairs. She was wearing an orange dress and crying. "What's wrong?" Shigure asked rushing over to her and pulling her into his arms.

"This is the only thing I could find that fits and it was too big last year." She answered.

Shigure did his best to hold his laughter in. "It's alright. It's natural. Besides, this dress looks lovely on you."

She pulled back and looked up at him. "You really think so?"

"Of course. Now, why don't you get something to eat. Tohru made pancakes."

"Okay." Nightingale said and then headed to the dining room. Tohru served her the pancakes. "Thank you Tohru."

"You're welcome...Nightingale." Tohru said, using her first name.

Nightingale smiled at the young girl. Then she began eating the pancakes. "These are delicious." When she finished she looked around the room. "Where's Mimi? She's supposed to be coming today."

"She's still asleep." Tohru answered.

Worry creased Nightingale's forehead.

"Is something wrong?" Tohru asked.

"Mimi only sleeps late like this when something is bothering her." Nightingale said. "I had better go and see what's wrong." She then got up and headed up to her sister. She opened the door and found Mimi lying wide awake in the bed. Nightingale walked over and sat down on the bed. "What's wrong?"

Mimi looked up startled. She quickly slaped a smile on her face. "Nothing."

"I've known you all seventeen years of your life. I know when you're lying and when you're upset about something. Now tell me what's wrong."

Mimi sat up. "I...I went to see Raven yesterday." Then she told Nightingale what Raven had said. "Could she have been right? Were we such aweful children, that our mother couldn't stand us?"

"No, she left because she does love us." Nightingale replied.

Mimi looked up at Nightingale. "What do you mean?"

"She knew her own selfishness and knew that she couldn't be a good mother. So she left. Leaving us is the one unselfish thing she has ever done. It proves how much she really does love us."

Mimi looked up at her older sister. She sat up and hugged Nightingale. "Thank you, Sis."

Nightingale wrapped her arms around her sister. "I love you." Nightingale simpply told her sister.

"I love you, too." I don't really feel so sad anymore...about Mom. Not when I have an awesome big sister, who has stepped in...and filled the role of my mother. Mimi thought.

Shigure stood in the doorway and watched silently. He smiled. She's going to be such a wonderful mother. He thought. Then he headed back downstairs. He looked in the living room to see Kyou and Tohru cuddled up on the couch, asleep. This family is headed for a bright future. A wonderful and happy future.