A/N: This is in Michiru's Pov.
The house was too quiet for a Friday evening. Haruka was asleep on the couch, book over her face since she fell asleep reading for her school assignment. How that girl could sleep so much? I couldn't help but wonder as I flipped through the channels on the TV.
Then I heard a crash come from upstairs which I immediately went to investigate, only to find Hotaru in my art studio and a small canister of paint spilt across the floor.
"What are you doing?" I asked as I walked into the room, earning a fearful look from the girl.
Sometimes it was easy to forget how she was treated before since she was so happy most of the time however in moments like this she just looked so broken.
"I….Wanted to….paint like you do." She admitted, looking down at the paint that oozed across the floor.
"How about we clean this up then we'll work on something together?" I suggested then chuckled and added "even better….I have an idea."
It didn't take long to convince Haruka to help out, though she was still half asleep. Though of course, when I told her what I knew about what happened she relented and came to help.
"Okay…give me a mop….some water and a brush. You to go….do whatever." She stated, ruffling Hotaru's hair as she walked past her.
"Come on Hime-chan, we'll go paint."
I knew that she didn't entirely believe my words but she slowly reached out and took my hand, though felt my heart break because I could feel her trembling.
I lead her to the kitchen and cleaned a space off at the table.
"I'll go get the supplies." I stated before quickly doing just that.
She looked terrified when I returned then generally surprised when she saw that I did have the paints and other art supplies in hand.
"Now what did you want to paint?"
We spent around an hour painting without incident. However suddenly Hotaru's arm knocked a small jar of acrylic paint over, the bright red goo staining the front of my shirt.
Hotaru's eyes widened when she saw this and she looked like she was ready to bolt and it hurt that she was still afraid of me over some things.
"Why you…." I growled out, suddenly having an idea and instinctively she closed her eyes, though she only squeaked in surprise when she felt me wipe some of the liquid over her face.
"Time for me to get some payback." I chuckled as she looked at me, curiosity replacing the fear as she grinned suddenly.
By the time we were done there were more paint on us than the paper and we both needed a bath.
"Let's go get cleaned up." I laughed after we were both well covered in multi colored paints.
"You're not mad at me?" she asked, causing me to sigh.
"Of course not! We were both playing weren't we?" I retorted tickling her as I picked her up and carrying her toward the bath.
"Oh my….Did a rainbow explode?" Setsuna teased as she walked past us.
"Basically!" I replied.
I made sure to fill the tub with a lot of bubbles before we both got in.
After we were clean—and Hotaru had caused a wave of suds to drench me—we rinsed and got out.
"Hey mama? Can you read me a bedtime story tonight? You make the different voices better than Papa." She asked after we had gotten dressed and were heading downstairs.
I grinned at that, usually did tell bedtime stories because Haruka was just awkward with making up stories….although she was better at playing pretend for long amounts of time.
"Whatever you want firefly." I replied just as we walked into the living room, only to find that Haruka and Setsuna was cooking in the kitchen.
"I see you two finally got the mess out off of yourselves." Setsuna laughed, kneeling down in front of Hotaru to whisper something to her that made the little girl giggle.
"What did you put her up to?" I asked, though Setsuna just shook her head at me and grinned.
I just shook my head in amusement.
"Want any help?" I offered
"Nah, you help or fix dinner every day. You and Hime-chan just go play or something and let us do the cooking." Haruka stated, kissing me on the cheek before ruffling Hotaru's hair.
"Can we play that game that Papa and I always do?" Hotaru asked me, grinning slightly.
"Okay but you'll have to teach me how. I've never played it before, I've only watched you two before." I answered and she smiled brightly before pulling me toward the hall closet where we kept the games since Haruka had gotten a sort of tradition started of a games night on Fridays.
After playing games for about an hour Haruka walked in, leaning over me and watching our game.
"After your game dinners ready." She stated.
"What's for dinner papa?" Hotaru asked, barely looking up.
"Hayashi rice….and I baked brownies for desert." Haruka replied, watching us as Hotaru made the winning move once again.
"Man Michi, you really suck at this game!" Haruka stated, causing me to laugh.
"Oh bite me." I retorted, standing up and adding
"Come on Hotaru, let's go eat then we can come play some more."
During dinner I saw Haruka and Hotaru sneaking desert but both Setsuna and I just shared a look and let them.
"Be sure to eat what's on your plate." Setsuna stated, though she had to try to hide her smile as the two blushed slightly.
Hotaru knew that Setsuna wasn't mad over something like that, nor was Setsuna trying to be strict since she was more or less nonchalant about it.
"We will Setsuna Mama!" Hotaru replied, causing all of us to laugh.
"Well that's better than calling me grandma!" Setsuna chuckled.
Hotaru just giggled at that and continued eating, a comfortable silence settling over us.
I saw how relaxed Haruka was, sitting between Hotaru and I at the round table. She was chatting with Hotaru about her day at school.
"How's that song you were working on coming?" Setsuna suddenly asked me, calling me out of my thoughts.
"It's going good. Though I can't for the life of me get the bridge right!" I replied, kind of in shock since it had been a long time since anyone had cared about what I did.
"It'll come to you. I heard you playing the other night…it sounded amazing." Setsuna replied and I felt my face grow warm.
"thanks." I managed to squeak out.
Not even my parents had complemented my music before…not since I was a child.
"She's right, it is. Maybe you can play for us once you're done with it?" Haruka added and Hotaru glanced up at me
"Will you mama?"
I couldn't say no to that.
"Alright….but only once I am done with it." I replied, earning a wide smile.
After dinner Hotaru and I washed the dishes—well more like she handed them to me—while Haruka dried and Setsuna put them up.
It amazed me how Setsuna let Haruka tease her without becoming angry, something that I wish I could have done with my own parents.
"Can we sleep downstairs tonight papa? Like we did before but with everyone?" Hotaru asked Haruka, confusing me and making Setsuna laugh.
"Sure. But you might want to ask your mamas first!" Haruka replied.
"Can I ask what you even mean?" I asked, while Setsuna nodded
"You know that pillow fort thing? She wants all of us to do that." Haruka explained, grinning and a smiled.
"okay." I agreed, wondering where that idea had come from.
Late that night after Hotaru was asleep between Haruka and I my mind began to wonder, especially toward how my parents would think of me if they knew that I let my girlfriend move into the house that my father had given me.
I didn't notice that I was crying until I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"You okay Michiru?"
I almost jumped at Setsuna's voice though she just smiled slightly.
"Yeah, it's just…my mind is running wild tonight. I must look like such an idiot right now." I replied, sitting up while being careful not to wake Hotaru or Haruka.
"No you don't. Why don't we go somewhere else and talk?" she suggested sympathetically.
We headed toward the kitchen and she put on a pot of tea.
"You've been off all day. You're usually cheerful…but today you've been a bit distant." She stated, surprising me by the concern in her voice.
"I was just thinking about how different our families is. My parents would swear we are spoiling Hotaru because honestly…they would never do any of what we do with me. I might sound ungrateful but…" I began but she cut me off, gripping my hand.
"No, it's normal to want to spend time with loved ones. But you have us now….a new start and if you need to talk you come to one of us." She stated, pulling me into a hug.