When I woke up it was just getting dark out and the smell of Setsuna's homemade spicy curry was oozing its way upstairs causing my stomach to groan in protest and forcing me to get out of bed and rush downstairs, almost tripping on the bottom step.

"Don't hurt yourself." Mom laughed as she walked into the room just in time to see me crash into the end table and caused the potted flowers to crash to the floor.

"Damn! Sorry I'll clean it up!" I exsclaimed but she only laughed.

"Ruka, You haven't eaten much in days go have dinner I'll clean up." she retorted, smacking me lightly in the back as she brushed past me.

"No...you cooked...I should at least clean up my mess." I replied softly however she only rolled her eyes and then retorted with a chuckle.

"Then you can help me wash dishes...I'll clean up."

I knew not to argue with her after that or I'd end up wearing half of my dinner. Which is one reason I grew to love her so much, she would always have a playful way to handle everything—though it still embarrassed the shit out of me—even if it was the fact that I ended up in trouble at least twice a week.

"Okay Momma." I replied and she gave me a odd look, which I assume was because I never called her anything but Mom or her name.

"What?" I questioned and she smirked then answered

"Nothing Haruka."

I chuckled and made my way past her, earning a light cuff against the back of the head.

"There's Salad in the fridge!" I heard her call after I had entered the kitchen.

I was on my second bowl of curry and rice when mom came in to join me, taking a seat across the table from me before she asked

"So how was last night? Did you finally tell Michiru that you like her?"

I felt heat crawl into my face as I nodded, now not taking my eyes off the table until I heard her chuckle.

"Did you kiss her?" she teased before adding "Sorry...out of line. I know Nosy old woman."

I laughed at her statement.

"You're not old...you're just older than me." I argued and she smiled.

"well aren't you trying to be sweet...You're not getting out of cleaning out the garage." Setsuna stated in reply, though her tone wasn't serious at all.

"Mom...we've been cleaning that thing out for over a month now and we've never did it yet." I reminded her, trying not to laugh.

She scrunched up her face at this and then wadded up her unused napkin to throw at me.

"Oh shut up." she chuckled as I tried to dodge the projectile, managing to almost fall out of my chair in the process. Mom's laughter filled the air when she saw this.

I tried to act angry but that didn't work...I ended up laughing just as hard as her.

After dinner Mom turned to me and asked with a smirk "So what all happened yesterday? You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to."

I wished that I could have just teleported out of there at that moment, however I only could sigh and answer

"Michiru, Hotaru and I had lunch at her place then we went to the park and Michiru told me about a bunch of dicks finding my journal and that they told everyone I liked her. She asked me out then all three of us went back to her place because Hotaru fell and got a bit messy and was in desperate need of a bath."

She gave me a look and motioned to the cross necklace that hung around my neck.

"And where did you get that?" she requested softly, a small thin smile gracing her face.

"Oh this? Its something Hotaru got for me." I answered and Setsuna laughed lightly.

"Are you sure it wasn't your girlfriend?" She teased, brushing a piece of her jade hair out of her face.

"Mom! Shut the hell up!" I exclaimed, blushing and she laughed softly.

"Sorry love...Continue your story." she retorted and I chuckled and sighed.

"Anyway Hotaru seriously was upset later that night and Michiru and I bunked with her for the night but she woke up again and I took her downstairs to watched tv until she fell asleep again and evidently Michiru and I became parents to an abused kid." I continued, noting the smile on my mother's face.

"You slept together?" she joked then added—after my blood-pressure probably climbed to two hundred- "relax I was teasing. I'm glad that you're happy now."

I couldn't help but smile at her comment, I could see the pride in her gaze and for a moment I had to advert my eyes so that I wouldn't blush again.

"Thanks Mom and We did not sleep together like that! I'm pretty sure that I couldn't do anything if I wanted to do. We had a squirmy little girl clinging with both of us." I retorted and she chuckled.

"Haruka...I trust you and I am glad that you have taken Hotaru under your wing. She really needs someone strong to turn to and you've shared a lot of her negative experiences. You are the one who will be able to talk to her about everything and comfort her." She replied, the love in her voice obvious as she spoke.

"I know Mom...I feel so bad for her. She was so scared to even wake us up because she had a nightmare that left her in tears." I said, my voice thickening with emotion.

"Ruka, you'll be the best person for her and seeing you laugh and play with that child and seeing how you made sacrifices for the little girl." Setsuna stated with a smile before she got up and walked over to my side of the table and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.