Key:
italics: thoughts
Warnings: The flashes from Haruka's past are abusive. If you don't want to read this then you can either skip this chapter or don't read the flashback parts.
Haruka felt her heart stop beating for a second as her mind registerd what her father had just said. Ever since she could remember she had hoped that he would say those words and now, finally he had.
"Dad..." She began, chokeing back a sob that threatened to excape her throat.
"You don't have to say a word." He stated before pulling her into a tight embrace.
Meanwhile Setsuna and Michiru shared a knowing look.
"Looks like things are going to get better." Michiru stated and the time gaurdain nodded though she replied in a grave voice, "there will be a few bumps along the way."
Michiru, who knew that Setsuna couldn't exacly tell her what kinds of problems that the blond would have to face she knew that it would be something testing for the masculian girl.
"Can you tell me how bad it will be?" The gaurdain of Neptune asked softly and the older girl sighed "Hotaru, go play in your room until we call you." she ordered the young girl who was sitting at the counter, looking at them worriedly.
"But Setsuna-Mama!" The seven year old began, obviously wanting to know what was going to happen to her 'Papa' however a stern look stopped her from continueing.
"Please do as I ask." Setsuna retorted, her voice revealing no anger though her breif look protrayed otherwise.
"Yes Ma'am." the child whispered as she walked past both of her mothers, thinking that the older of the two was upset with her.
Setsuna sighed as she watched the downcast figure slowly make her way out of the door. Wondering why the child was so upset by the requeast.
"She thinks you're angry with her...Maybe you should go talk to her before she gets too upset." Michiru suggested, as if reading the green haired woman's mind.
"I will, However first I must answer your queaston. All I can tell you is that she will need all of us, including her father to be there for her." The time gaurdain replied before she headed off to find her adoptive daughter.
Michiru was confused by this explaination.
who could it be if its not her father? Her Mom? probably not...her mother hardly spoke to her even when Haruka was hideing her sexuality. Maybe a cousin? I know she don't have any siblings so it can't be that. Who could it be?
Sighing the blue haired teen gave up and desided to see how Setsuna and Hotaru were getting along.
Haruka flinched as she felt the set of strong arms wrap around her gently, shocked by the guesture but also feeling releaved by it at the same time.
"Why?" She asked, her tears finally finding their way down her cheeks as she inhaled the musky scent of his cologne, the same that she always wore.
"Why what?" her father asked softly, knowing well what she was speaking of however he didn't want to face the brutal realaity of how he had treated his daughter as she was growing up.
"Why are you holding me? You always said that being sentamental makes people weak." The blond whispered, not really wanting him to let go but feeling the need to point out that he had always brushed her away when she was young.
"Haruka, I know I can't heal the wounds of the past however I can start being a father toward you...but only if you want me to." The man replied, his own voice thick as he spoke.
"I always wanted you to act like a father toward me but all I ever got was pain! Pain and sorrow!" Haruka yelled, pulling away from him and closeing her eyes in an attempt to block out the memories that were replying themselves in her head.
Flashback:"Papa! You're home early!" A six year old girl with long blond hair exclaimed, running to greet the tall man who she had taken her looks after.
"Shut up brat! I'm only home because I forgot my lunch today!" The man snapped, ignoreing that the little girl had stopped dead in her tracks and hung her head as tears began to drip down her cheeks. End Flashback
"All I ever wanted was you to actaully Treat me like a father and you never did! Remember when I would greet you when you got home? You treated me like I had the plague! Sometimes when you were in a drunken stuper you would even hit me!" Haruka growled, sinking to her knees as sobs and memories overwhelmed her.
"Sweetheart, Please...I know that I have hurt you...And if I could I would go into the past and fix all of this. But I can't do that Haruka, why can't you see that I really do love you?" her father whispered as he knelt beside of her, a hand resting on her shoulders in an attemp to comfort her.
"if you love me then why did you never say it back?" The normally aloof teen whispered as she met her fathers gaze, the tears spilling down her face harder now.
"Ruka...I..." he began however he could only think of one thing to say, so he said it.
"I was a fool Haruka, a fool who took out his problems on a defenseless little girl."
The blond girl just shook her head as she recalled one time that he had struck her out of pure hate.
FlashBack:
"Mom, Dad...I have something I need to tell you." a younger version of Haruka announced nervously as she walked into the silent liveingroom.
"What do you want now Girl?" her father snapped, not even looking up from the newspaper he was reading.
"I have something I nedd to tell you and Mom...Please try to understand." The thirteen year old whispered as she took a seat on the far end of the couch, the one farthest away from her parents.
"Spit it out! We don't have all day!" her mother stated and the young girl sighed and glanced at them both before beganing to speak.
"You remeber Elza Grey?" She stated, her voice comeing out just about a whisper.
"That girl from your school that you're always calling and running our phone bill up." her mother stated, her voice as cold as the artic waters.
"Uhm..Well...She wants to me to take her to the movies tonight...As in a date." the nervouse girl stated, feeling slightly sick as she mentioned this, hopeing that her parents would somehow approve.
"What? A date? With another girl?" her mother screeched, not wanting to believe what she was hearing from her only child.
"Mom, Dad...I...I'm attracted to girls." Haruka managed to whisper, fear causeing her hands to shake as she waited to hear her parents reaction.
Her father was the first to acknowledge what his daughter had said, though he done so in a furious manner.
"NO CHILD OF MINE IS GOING TO BE A BLASTED DYKE!" he exclaimed, quickly getting to his feet.
Haruka sat with her head hung, she knew they would not be pleased with this information however what happened next she didn't expect.
Her father struck her, causeing her to fall onto the floor.
"I'll teach you how to be normal! Stupid Carpet muncher!" he yelled, as he grabbed the nearest thing that he could reach.
Haruka knew that if she tried to raise she would just get hit again, probably ten times worse than before. However when she felt a sheering pain run across her back she couldn't help but try to rise and get away from the monster she called father.
As she lay there, accepting the harsh treatment.
End Flashback.
"you didn't always just beat me while you was drunk...When I told you about Elza and my sexuality you freaked. Then to make it worse you kicked me out of the house...I was only thirteen! I'm just glad that I was taken in by Michiru's cousin." She retorted, Pulling away and allowing the pent up rage she had always had toward the man show in her expression.
"Father, I forgive you but it will take time for me to trust you again." The sixteen year old stated, as she turned to walk up the stair, however he gently took hold of her arm to stop her.
"Will you have dinner with me tomarrow night? You and your family?" He asked and with a slight smile Haruka nodded.
"I think that would be nice." she replied.
Mr. Tenou paused as he left the house, tears beganing to form in his eyes. He could finally forgive himself for what he had done to the only person in his life that had ever loved him unconditionly.
"Goodnight Haru." he whispered before he got into his car and pulled out.