Summary: Maki, Nico, and Dia spend a day at home.

Maki woke up, with familiar aches and cramped muscles. She'd fallen asleep in the rocking chair. In Nico's bedroom, next to the crib Nico's family had brought here for Dia. Dia looked as comfortable in this crib as she did at home. Maki glanced to the bed, wondering what Nico sleeping looked like tonight. It looked like Nico had woken up and wandered somewhere else. With the blackout curtains, Maki couldn't be sure what time it was. Dia usually had a very regular sleeping schedule but the past few days had been tiring for everyone. All the heightened emotions had been making her restless. Rin had mentioned Dia crying more than usual before actually settling down.

The bedroom door opened, Nico quietly returning. Maki stood, her actions as silent as Nico, signaling to the door. With a nod, Nico backed out of the door.

"Hey." Maki whispered, once she'd shut the door behind her.

"Hey." Nico grinned, surging up on tiptoe to kiss Maki.

Maki stepped closer. Nico's hands slid around her waist and instead of breaking the kiss, Nico pulled Maki even closer, one hand raising to swoop through Maki's hair, around her ear, tickle the back of Maki's neck. Maki shivered and pulled back.

"Too much?"

Maki glanced down, twisting a curl

"It's all right, Maki. Nico's not in a rush." Nico kept a hand on Maki's waist but opened a space between them.

"Not too much. It's just..." Maki smiled, "I'm too practical. Dia will probably wake up soon."

"And demand attention from her Mama." A wink. "Nico totally gets that."

"I'm really not fun when I'm hangry."

"Ah. Well, let Nico fix that." Nico had Maki's hand, pulling her toward the stairs, "Mama made muffins, super healthy muffins, chock full of raisins and bran and cinnamon. And Nico can scramble some eggs to go with them. Do you think Dia will give you 15 minutes for breakfast?"

"Maybe." Here in the hall, Maki could see that it was past dawn, "Rin said she was restless, but she seems settled."

"Tired." Nico yawned, "We all are."

"Yeah."

"Let's get you food."

Maki tugged Nico back, a hug, letting her weight rest on Nico for a quiet moment. Felt natural. And Nico didn't falter or cough. Maki closed her eyes. Maybe she could have this for just a few minutes before Dia demanded everyone's efforts.

###

Nico watched as Maki devoured the food in front of her, letting Maki get through it before asking questions.

"So is Dia a fussy eater?"

Maki shook her head, spooning more scrambled eggs onto her plate, "She gets in moods. But she's willing to try nearly anything."

"That's good."

Maki shrugged. "But then there's the keeping an eye on EVERYTHING she puts near her mouth. Especially when she's on the move. Tora's the same. I think they have races to give me and Rin heart attacks."

"Competitive mothers, competitive daughters."

"Probably." Maki was now picking apart a muffin, casually.

"Did you breastfeed for long?"

Maki stiffened, wondering if Nico was going to judge her answer, but when she saw nothing but concern and curiosity in Nico's eyes, she relaxed. "I was really determined to keep it up for at least 18 months…"

"Are you still?"

Maki shook her head, "The first three months were amazing; I wasn't going in to the hospital, Dia was so small and changing so much every day." Maki smiled at Nico, eyes tearing, "It was the most intimate feeling, my daughter, this beautiful new being, in my arms, so near." A sigh as Maki leaned back, "But then I went back to work part-time and trying to fit in time that worked for me, for Dia, or at least pump milk, those moments lost that…sense of magic." A soft smile Nico wanted to snap a pic of for a screensaver, "There were still those moments, and nothing was going to stop me from a full year of breastfeeding, but Dia liked solid food and I was just getting more frustrated with the nanny and scheduling…so not so much after her first birthday."

Nico reached out to take Maki's hand, "You're an amazing mom, Maki. Dia's so happy. And healthy."

"Yeah." Maki squeezed Nico's hand, "I want her to be able to stay in that safe zone as long as she can, happy, and not worried about anything more than where's Tsuki."

"Squad goals," Nico pulled her chair closer, "I always made sure to stay upbeat for my siblings. They were so young when my dad died. I didn't want them to only remember a gloomy childhood."

"Did you?"

"Did I what?"

"Only remember a gloomy childhood?"

Nico snorted, "I was too busy. And surrounded by so much love. Cocoro, Cocoa, and Cotaro and my mom are Nico's first and biggest fans. Nico remembers so many concerts and so much cheering. They were the best audience. Still are."

Maki could feel Nico's energy surge as she thought about her siblings, her family. Maki wanted to be that for Nico too.

"I'm a big fan."

"You've got some catching up to do." Nico giggled, "But you are Nico's sexiest fan. And you made sure Philly is Nico's favorite city."

"Not Chicago?"

"Nico's always loved Chicago." The chair scooted even closer, "But sometimes, you need some place new to appreciate."

"And that's Philly?"

Nico leaned in, her eyes locked on Maki's lips, both remembering the same moments in the hotel room, wanting to embrace the flare of want when their lips brushed, "And you."

###

A blanket spread on the floor, Nico sitting in front of an open tub, pulling out clothes to show to Dia, and Maki, leaning forward on the couch, taking the clothes that Dia or Nico handed her.

"I can't believe my mom kept so many things from all of us." Nico held up a sweatshirt with a 25 on it, to see Dia's reaction. Dia grabbed for a sparkly white hat with a fake fur bobble instead. She pulled it on, then burbled at Maki.

"Very pretty, Dia."

"That was Cocoro's favorite hat when she was Dia's age. Cocoa could never manage to keep one on. If she didn't lose a hat, she lost a shoe."

"What about Cotaro?"

Nico smiled, handing Dia brown corduroy overalls, which Dia pushed to the side.

"He always wanted to wear the same thing, every day. Nico had to do a lot of laundry."

Nico leaned Maki-ward, back against the couch, leaving Dia to crawl over to the tub, turn it on its side, and tilt it so everything spilled out. She then started to make three piles. Maki reached down, letting her fingers sweep through the softness of Nico's sable locks.

"That must have been rough."

Nico shrugged, "Family is everything. You do everything you can for them. That's what Mama taught us." Nico said that softly, watching Dia.

Maki wondered what Nico was thinking. But that question seemed dangerous. "What was your Dad like?"

"He has green eyes, like Dia." Nico pushed a shirt closer to Dia with her foot. Dia shook her head no. Nico chuckled. "He was…he is my inspiration. He taught me about making people happy, about making Mama laugh, about how important being there to make people smile was."

Maki slid off the couch, forcing Nico to move out so that Maki could sit behind her, wrapping her arms around the smaller woman. "He sounds amazing."

"He was. We'll have to be sure to tell Dia stories about him."

Dia heard "stories" and stopped. "Read?"

Nico shook her head, "Just stories, no books, Nico wants to tell you about…her father sometime, show you pictures."

"Read." Dia crossed her arms, frowning.

"She is stubborn." Nico leaned back into Maki, pulling Dia into her lap with an arm and a hug, Is there a book handy anywhere? Nico likes this cozy mood."

Maki reached back, "There's The Rice In The Pot Goes Round and Round. Hanayo must have sent it with Rin."

"RICE!" Dia shouted.

Maki squeezed Dia's cheek gently, "Obviously Hanayo has been brainwashing you."

"GrrrrrrTora." Dia looked around.

"Tora can come over tomorrow, if your Mama and her mamas want that. Today," Nico said this proudly, "We are having a Nico Maki and Dia family day. Now, hand Nico this book."

Maki did.

Nico scanned the first few pages. "Oh, it's like the song. We can sing it."

Maki giggled, I guess we can."

"Cool." Nico nudged Dia, "Ready, Dia?"

Dia wasn't sure what she was agreeing to but then Nico started to sing "The rice in the pot goes round and round" and Dia joined in with some free form syllabification.

###
Dia had eaten, bathed, and was now well into afternoon nap time. Maki had stopped outside the door leading to Nico's second floor deck.

"Breath of fresh air?"

Nico shook her head, "Telescopic lenses."

"Can I just pay them to go away? I have my checkbook."

Nico giggled, " Nico hasn't tried that. Money might not work as motivation though. The ones that aren't masochists are probably sadists. Why else would you stalk someone for weeks?"

"How do you put up with it?"

"It's pretty easy to lose them when I know when and where I'm going." Nico fidgeted with the curtains, "Haven't had anybody's daughter to protect."

"Oh." Maki sighed. "Sorry."

Now Maki's hands were in Nico's, "Do not apologize. Or feel bad. Nico is so glad you and Dia are here. This will all calm down."

"Not what Mama says."

"Your mother is…" Nico forced herself to swallow a rant, "not helpful in some situations."

Maki raised an eyebrow, "How much of that was censored."

"All of it." Nico said through clenched teeth.

"I don't care if they get a picture. I want some air." Maki opened the door, stepped out, dragging Nico with her, sticking out her tongue, wagging her head at all angles, then throwing up her arms and shouting. "Go home losers."

Rolling her eyes, Nico dropped into a chair, "Happy now?"

Maki leaned over the railing, searching for invaders or glints of lenses, "Yes."

"Nico is glad for you."

###

Nico shouldn't be surprised that pizza was the dinner choice of both Maki and Dia, with Italian wedding soup for her. Chicken broth and its healing powers for the win. Dia had put Tsuki on the couch with a piece of pizza on a plate and they were watching the Lilo and Stitch TV show. Nico was eating soup, and Maki was sitting on the floor between Nico and Dia, leaning into Nico's leg, humming along. Dia dropped her crust in front of Tsuki, lowered herself off the couch, and moved in front of the screen, turning to face her audience. Nico paused the show. Dia pointed to Stitch and began a series of incomprehensible syllables that had serious meaning for her. She glared at her mother when Maki moved up to sit next to Nico and made Tsuki fall over. Maki sat Tsuki up, then leaned to whisper to Nico, "Rin is always afraid there'll be quizzes, but Tora understands."

"Does she watch a lot of teacher things? Maybe she thinks she's a teacher. Maybe she needs a whiteboard."

Maki tilted her head, watching her daughter gesture, "She'll do this in front of anybody. She's not shy at all."

Nico felt proud at that. Dia standing confident, obviously delivering gold star toddler level content.

"She's got a lot of energy."

The whispers didn't bother Dia. Tsuki seemed to be her chosen audience.

"Yeah, but just wait, there'll be a crash, probably soon."

"And then do you tuck her in for the night?"

"Yeah, talk about the day for a few minutes, read her a story, make sure she's comfortable."

"Fall asleep in the rocking chair." Nico teased.

"Maybe tonight, I'll fall asleep somewhere else."

Nico slid her arm behind Maki's shoulders, "I know a place."

Maki kissed Nico on the cheek, "Feels inviting."

"Good."

Dia had paused, but only to save breath for her next chapter of exposition. From the gestures, it seemed to be about surfing. They would definitely have to go somewhere with an ocean and a beach as soon as it was warm enough, Nico decided.

###

Dia had rejoined them on the couch, grabbed Tsuki, and curled up next to a pillow, barely keeping her eyes open.

"You were right. Energy crash right on time." Nico said, looking over Maki's shoulder.

"I'd better get her to bed."

"Let me." Nico jumped off the couch, moved to Dia, and bent to pick her up in a graceful flow of motion. Fit. Nico was fit and kind and smart and funny and caring and recovering quickly and Maki was here, in her house, becoming more and more aware of the many many good things Nico brought to a relationship. Nico paused for a moment, Maki wondered if Dia might be too heavy, but Nico just drew Dia in, snuggling her close against her chest, her entire attention on the sleeping child. Nico was blinking, she looked away, and Maki caught the brief edge of a haunting shiver as a hollow, lonely shadow dimmed Nico's megawatt glow. Then the bright smile was back, and Maki wrote off her odd feeling as Nico's lingering illness.

Nico whispered something to Dia, kissing the top of her head. Then she tucked Dia into an easier position for stair climbing.
"Let's go to bed."

"Sure." Maki didn't know if what happened next would be cuddly, crazy, or conversational, but she did know that here, safe in Nico's house, with their daughter nearby, was where she wanted to be.

A/N: Business of theatre stuff is a little crazy, but I missed this. So here you go. Author continues to be a raging sentimentalist. But you knew that ; )