A/N - I totally suck for not updating this. I know right? But hey, here's an update at last! I plan to finish this story if it KILLS me... which it may do. Anyway, as usual lots of love should go to 'impersonal' for being a wicked beta and smexxifying all the crap I throw at her :D You rock LPB. Thanks as always to everyone who reviewed the story so far... we're nearly there... so bear with me. Anyway, without any further ado, here is your chapter. - VR

CHAPTER 7 – MAMA, I'M SORRY

"Don't pout."

Setsuna's voice cut through the kitchen as I sat opposite her. My arms were crossed over my chest, as I sat in my maroon and green plaid school uniform, and my pout was expertly in place on my face. I huffed and stuck out my bottom lip further, Setsuna giggled and bit her lip before leaning forward and checking over my shoulder.

"You are so fucking adorable, hime."

I shuddered as she spoke. We had found out a few days previous, that when Setsuna cursed (into my ear, and with that slightly husky edge to her voice) while we were making out... it had a profound effect on me. Namely, causing my legs to turn to jelly and bringing a heat to the pit of my stomach that, I couldn't fight. Not to mention, causing an indefinable amount of wetness to occur somewhere I had no control over. I squirmed and crossed my legs at I sat at the breakfast bar on my stool. Setsuna's eyes still bore into me and I looked away, the pout never leaving my face.

"I don't see why you have to take him..." My voice trailed off as I mumbled.

Setsuna kept close to me, and smirked.

I had spent the past twenty minutes privately pouting at her after Michiru-mama and Haruka-papa informed me that the winter fashion show in Tokyo started tonight, and less than five minutes later Setsuna had called up Taiki to accompany her for the night. So, here I am with my bottom lip out and my eyebrows deeply furrowed.

"Jealous, hime?"

I sent her an un-amused glare and she stifled a giggle by biting her lip once more, "Don't be. It's just for work. I told Taiki that it would look good for the press..." Setsuna lowered her voice and brought her mouth to beside my ear; her warm breath working its magic and causing me to shudder with every exhalation she took. "I mean, how it will look if I turned up with my best friend's daughter and started feeling her up in public. Oh, the scandal."

She pulled her mouth away from my ear and she paused as her lips brushed my cheek.

I gave a pathetic squeak, "What about Michiru-mama and Haruka-papa?"

Setsuna smiled and kissed my jaw-line gently. "I heard their car starting up a few minutes ago... they're gone for the day."

My breath shortened and before I could think, I felt familiar lips plunder my mouth and an eager tongue brush against my lip. I opened my mouth without a second thought. I felt her velvety tongue touch my own and I shuddered before releasing a gentle moan and reaching my arms up to wrap around her neck. My body heated once more with the simple pleasure of my skin touching hers.

Nothing ever felt like this. Nothing had ever felt so good.

"It's just me guys, I forgot my -"

S-shit!

My eyes widened and I leaped away from Setsuna, panting heavily and I'm sure my face was as red as a freaking tomato.

Michiru-mama.

I could hear Setsuna breathing heavily and then the steady sound of clicking heels across the kitchen. They stopped just short of me.

SLAP!

The sound of skin colliding harshly with flesh made me wince as I turned my head to the sound. Michiru-mama stood there, chest heaving, her hand clenched into a fist beside her and Sets stood still, her face turned away and I could see a large red mark on her cheek.

I whimpered.

"I knew it! How could you, Setsuna? How could you?! She's our daughter!"

There was still a silence; I instantly turned my head to the hall, dead sure I'd find Haruka-papa standing there, foaming at the mouth and ready to kill Setsuna. Setsuna was silent and she didn't even move a muscle. Michiru-mama didn't even look at me but kept her gaze fixed on Setsuna's red eyes.

"I have to tell Haruka."

That was when my body kicked into action. I launched my body across the kitchen and blocked the only exit from the kitchen. Blue looked at me fiercely and red eyes looked at me quizzically.

I shook my head and I took in a deep breath. "P-p-please... don't."

Michiru-mama looked at me and shook her head pitifully. "Hotaru... I have to. This... you two... it's so wrong. Setsuna cannot lead you astray like this!"

Michiru looked incredulously at me after seeing I wasn't going to be moving any time soon. She looked over to Setsuna then back to me, expectantly. There was silence and I knew I had to talk or else this would all be over, and I can't lose her.

"Mama... please. Don't."

Michiru-mama's eyes look at me in concern and... disappointment? I'm pretty sure disappointment is there. "Why, Hotaru-chan?"

I'm silent for a moment. I need to take a deep breath in order to calm my nerves and shaking body.

"I... don't know what Haruka-papa will do, that's why."

Michiru-mama shook her head and looked at me, no emotion was in her eyes at first. "No, Hotaru... I mean... why."

With her last word, she stressed her tone and she sent a seething glare to Setsuna. I felt pain once more as my eyes rested on Setsuna to see the red mark now on her dark skin. I winced. The urge to rush over to her and comfort her was flooding up into me. I dragged my eyes away unwillingly and found myself faced with empty cobalt eyes.

Michiru-mama shook her head and looked at me.

"You two... you really have..." she took a deep breath, "feelings for each other, don't you?"

I looked up and my eyes locked with ruby red eyes. Setsuna said nothing but I knew what her silence meant.

Yes.

"We do."

Michiru-mama closed her eyes, her face contorting as if someone had just sucker-punched her in the gut. She shook her head and I could see her gulp nervously.

"I... don't know what to say, Hotaru. This is so..." She trails off but I knew what word she wanted to use.

Wrong.

I shook my head in response. "It's not wrong... I... I l-l-love her."

My cheeks flushed a deep shade of red – I just knew it, and both the adults in the room snapped their attention to me.

Both sets of eyes set with shock.

I averted my gaze from them and then I heard Michiru-mama shuffle as she was most probably smoothing out her skirt after my uncomfortable, awkward and downright embarrassing confession.

"And do you love hi - her, Setsuna?"

I almost broke my neck snapping my head to attention at Michiru-mama's question. Setsuna was staring Michiru in the eyes, and I have no idea how much time passed in silence but it seemed an eternity.

"I do."

My heart soared as Setsuna said those words but I couldn't shake off this feeling of impending doom that was nagging me at the back of my mind.

"How did this even freaking happen? How long has it been going on?" Michiru-mama's voice was full of pain and curiosity and it hurt me to hear my mother sound so... upset at me.

At my choices.

At what I had done.

"Since the day Diana was here, when we were all at the pool... and how did it happen? It just did."

I smiled gratefully at Setsuna as she spoke – for both of us.

Michiru-mama glared at her. "It just happened? How does it just happened Sets?! God! I knew something was up when Diana asked me if – Oh my God, Hotaru! Diana!"

I closed my eyes and decided that was the best way to speak to my mother... her reaction – well, I'm not sure I could handle it to be honest. "She... knows."

I heard my mother gasp and I opened my eyes to see her leaning against the kitchen countertop. She was shaking lightly, clearly all the shock had just settled in.

"And Chibiusa?"

I simply nodded, knowing now her eyes were on me.

"Taiki?"

My eyes were drawn to Setsuna as she shook her head. Michiru let out a long, bitter chuckle and turned to face me, her eyes darted between Setsuna and myself. Before Michiru-mama could say anything, Setsuna took in a deep breath and spoke quietly.

"It's all for show. He doesn't need to know anything. All he knows is this is just a favour to me. He might have feelings for me... But I don't feel that way for him."

"No... Sets, you feel that way for our daughter! Your daughter, dammit! The one you helped to bring up!"

"I feel the way I do just for Hotaru. She doesn't have a label like my 'daughter' anymore. She's just Hotaru. And...I love her."

I tried to fight the smile that tried to form on my face but there was no point fighting it. A fully fledged grin broke out across my features and I could feel my body become warm – just knowing she loved me.

God, I didn't want this feeling to end.

"Have you..." Michiru-mama trailed off and her eyes searched mine.

I tilted my head in confusion before blushing furiously at her connotation. So much for that lovely warm feeling never ending, eh?

"N-n-no!" I sounded so squeaky and I swear I could see Setsuna trying to stifle an inappropriate giggle at my defensive 'squeak'.

Michiru-mama let out a relieved sigh, after looking into my eyes – clearly searching for any trace that I was telling her a lie.

She wouldn't find any.

We hadn't... been that intimate. I had wanted to but Setsuna didn't think we were ready for that step just yet. I was immersed in the thoughts of flesh when my Michiru-mama's voice brought me out of my reverie.

"... You have to tell Haruka."

The thoughts were nice while they lasted. I no longer had control of my tongue or my mouth, words began sputtering out, making no sense whatsoever.

"Wh-whu-what? No! She'd kill us!" I began shaking my head only to feel the presence of my green-haired love by my side.

"Us? No, she'd kill me! That's a bonafide fact!"

Michiru looked at us and pursed her lips. "You brought this on yourself. You knew this would happen. It's called a consequence. Haruka has to hear it…and accept the consequences that come with... " Michiru-mama's eyes flittered over me then Setsuna once more, "this."

Her jaw clenched and I felt a little of myself crumble inside; my mother thought we were immoral. Wrong. I had to change her outlook on me and Setsuna. My head was shaking as I trembled with nerves.

"I'll tell her!"

Setsuna looked at me like I had grown another head and Michiru-mama just raised one fine, aqua eyebrow in shock. "J-just not yet. But soon! I will..."

My aqua-haired mother looked at me questioningly, "I need to talk to Diana first... she... won't be happy."

"I thought you said she knew?"

My mother's voice had a cold edge to it and I winced before nodding. Now was the time for honesty. "She does. And she's using it against me to stay with her." I looked up and saw Setsuna seething with anger – she would probably try and hurt Diana for doing that to me.

My other mother however, looked at me with empathy.

And for a moment, I was convinced she didn't hate me as much as I thought. I gave a weak smile and she closed her eyes. She looked over to the door and sighed heavily. "I'm giving you two choices Hotaru, Setsuna. You either break this off and we all ignore this ever happened... or... You both tell Haruka. And soon. I'm giving you till New Year. If your father doesn't know then I will tell her."

My body froze up at the ultimatum but I nodded. That gave me plenty of time. I found myself nodding absent-mindedly for a few moments.

Seconds later, the front door opened and the sound of my other parent whining became apparent, breaking up the tension in the air, if only for a second.

"Miiiichi? C'mon, how long does it take to find a bag? We're gonna be late at – oh, hey guys... hime shouldn't you really be on your way to school?" My father spoke in a chiding tone but she had a hidden smirk – she was always one for rule-breaking.

"H-hai. I was just g-going now."

Haruka-papa quirked an eyebrow and looked worriedly at me.

"Stuttering? Oh my, hime, something bad must be up." She chuckled gently and I laughed nervously back.

Setsuna began moving after me and I heard Michiru-mama speak in a rude tone to her. "And where are you going?"

I heard a deep intake of breath. "I'm taking Hotaru to school."

I turned around in time to see Michiru-mama shaking her head and leading Haruka-papa towards me. "I don't think so, Sets. It's on our way, we'll take her."

I sent Setsuna a helpless stare before Haruka-papa began shaking her head. "Michi, no, we don't have time to now... we need to get to that meeting and now."

Haruka-papa gave her stern look, and indicating there was no arguing here. I heard her sigh and open the door in a huff. "Fine, Sets can take her then."

Michiru-mama stormed out from the house and Haruka-papa grinned nervously before scratching the back of her neck. My blonde parent approached me and ruffled my hair. "Women... are so confusing. I'm in the dog house for sure. Anyway, hime, sorry but we are in a rush. We'll catch up later tonight eh? See you, hime-chan," My father kissed me on the forehead and I was almost brought to tears from the unreserved dam of love I felt from my Haruka-papa.

"Love, you Hota. Ja ne, Sets!"

Haruka-papa swiftly made a move for the door, intent on getting on with her day. I watched her as she swiftly made her way down the front steps to the car. Setsuna silently made her way behind me but I could tell she was there. Her scent was mesmerising and I took in a deep breath before looking over to my aren't again as she began reversing out of the drive in her sports car – with Michiru-mama glaring at us the entire time. I sighed and turned to Setsuna as soon as they were out of sight.

"What if she tells her?"

Setsuna shook her head at my question and embraced me, my arms instantly finding comfort as they locked around her waist. Her arms went around my neck and crossed behind my neck, she lifted one of her hands and I felt warmth once more as her hands began caressing my hair and her fingernails lightly scratched my scalp.

"She won't hime, I can tell. But... what are you going to do now?" I pulled back and looked into concerned crimson eyes and I felt a light blush go across my face – the heat in my cheeks was a clear indication.

"I... I have to talk to Chibiusa."

A green eyebrow rose in question, I buried my face into the crook of Setsuna's neck and found solace once more, "Then we'll go and see Diana".

Setsuna gently broke our embrace and looked me deep into the eyes.

"Diana?"

I could still see the anger from earlier. I nodded sheepishly and placed my hands around Setsuna's waist once more. "Yeah... Chibi's my best friend... I need her to help me right now. Once Diana's dealt with... all I need to worry about is Haru-papa."

My eyebrows furrowed and Setsuna raised a finger and she gently ran her finger over my frown – erasing it quickly. She grinned and tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ears. "You have really grown up hime, I am so proud…" She lowered her mouth to my ear and whispered huskily, "And a little turned on." After all we just went through, she could feel like that?! How does she manage to –

My thoughts stopped as soon as I felt warm, full lips pressed against mine. I moaned out loud – knowing my parents weren't here. I felt Setsuna smile and so did I. She took advantage of my good mood by gently putting her tongue in my mouth. I instantly brought my own over hers and enjoyed the taste of her.

She tasted like strawberries.

God, she was all mine. And I was all hers.

I was so immersed I didn't hear the sound of our unlocked front door open. I didn't hear a thing until the person who had opened the door decided to screech out loudly. A familiar and unusually angry tone accompanied the voice I only ever associated with comfort, love and compassion.

"What the fuck, Hotaru!"

Oh shit.

A/N 2 - DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNN... Yeah, a little cliffie. Hehe, R&R if you made it this far ;) - Ja ne! - VR!