Summary: Nico is finishing two weeks of travel. Her daughters have prepared a birthday surprise.

"Mom MOM MOM did you open your present!" Seven year old Ruby's excited voice bounced around the hotel suite where Yazawa Nico, fresh out of a long, hot bath, was dressed in a fluffy pink robe, sitting up against pillows.

"No, Ruby, I'm just giving them to her now." Maki rushed into the camera view, waving a rectangular package.

"Birthday presents are a breakfast activity, Mama." No one could chide Maki like her firstborn, Dia.

"We were both traveling, bun. I didn't want to meet Nico in the airport, then hand this over in the middle of hundreds of people."

"Bzzzzt." Maki's excuse did not soothe Dia.

Nico was giggling like a fiend.

"Your Mama is taking care of Nico's birthday just fine. And I listened to both your voice messages right away." Nico leaned in close to the camera, puckering to land a kiss on the two parts of the screen where she could see her daughters. "Nico loves you both so much. We'll be home soon."

"Auntie Cocoro is taking us to see Boa tomorrow. It's her 20th Anniversary live." Dia flipped back to eager.

"That'll be such a great show! Make sure you tell Nico everything."

"We will, Mom!" Ruby's bright eyes gleamed, "But open your present, c'mon, Momma."

Nico chuckled, "Hand it over, Maki-chan. You know Nico can't resist her babies."

Ruby squealed and rocked.

Nico ripped the wrapping paper, revealing a photobook, with Dia and Ruby on the cover, microphones in one hand, plushies in the other, caught mid song, with hearts and candy and cutesy animals all over the backdrop.

"It's our first album, Mom." Dia pushed forward as Nico flipped through the pages in awe. Ruby and Dia had kitchen photoshoots and camping photoshoots and playing with piles of plushies photoshoots. They'd been busy while she'd had two weeks travelling. "We know you collect all your favorite K-pop albums and merch so we made you a Ruby and Dia…"

"It was Dia's idea, Momma. She's so smart. And Mama helped us with the pictures and the music."

"Just a little," Dia interrupted, prideful again. "Ruby and I already know a lot about what Idols sing. We listen to you. Then Ruby and Mama and I listened to some of the Muse songs and asked Aunt Umi for help."

Nico read the tracklist: The Cutest Mom, Sweet Potato Camping, Happy Birthday, Pancakes and Pretty, and Stars and Good Night Stories.

Nico looked to Maki and mouthed, "You did this?"

Maki nodded.

Nico started tearing up.

"Mom, are you ok?" Ruby was always the first to respond to emotions gathering.

"Mama, what did you do?" Dia snapped.

"Your mother is fine. She just misses you two." Maki flumped on the bed, "But for her birthday, I ordered her favorite dishes, we're going to eat, and watch a movie. Why don't you sing one of the songs for your mom. That'll cheer her up."

"Mama's smart. How about Happy Birthday?" Dia turned to Ruby. Ruby shook her head, pulling Dia in as she whispered.

After a couple of minutes of consulting, Dia stared at the camera, "Are you ready?"

Nico nodded, "Nico is always ready for the cutest daughters in the universe to sing."

"We're going to do Pretty and Pancakes, since you should have birthday surprises with breakfast." Another glare at Maki, who was very used to Dia and just snuggled closer to Nico, her arm dropping around the Super Idol's shoulders.

"It's all right, bun. I'll make sure your mother's happy with her day."

Dia nodded, fierce gaze softening as she and Ruby got to their feet, turned in to each other, and began mimicking Nico pouring pancake batter into pans.

"This is amazing, Maki. Who did their choreography?"

"They did."

Tears now running freely down her face, Nico cheered, "Nico has the cutest, talentedess daughters in the world, Nico Nico Ni."

Now Dia and Ruby turned to the camera, flipping imaginary pancakes while singing about pretty strawberry pancakes for pretty strawberry eyes.

"Did you write that?" Nico whispered.

"Nope."

"It's giving Nico a breakfast craving."

"We could order some…after." Maki nipped at Nico's ear.

"Mama!" Dia registered romantic moods growing between her parents faster than a thermometer registered a drop in temperature. "We are going to do Stars and Good Night Stories next. But we need to finish."

Maki pulled back slightly from Nico, "We're listening, bun."

Ruby and Dia ended with a flourish and double Nico Nis.

Nico bounced up on her knees. "Nico loves it. Sing the chorus with me. Pancakes and pretty. I flip for strawberry sweet. Sweet and sunny, dipped in honey, bunny bunny, berry berry, bunny bunny, berry, berry, I flip for sweet and strawberry." All three had their hands up, doing little bunny bops, as their voices blended.

Nico's smile was the SuperNico Family Special Sparkler. Happiness glowed. "That's adorable. Nico's best birthday present ever."

Nico ignored Maki's pout.

"Nico will listen to the rest of the songs on the CD later. You girls had better rest up if Cocoro's going to take you to the concert tomorrow."

"Yes, Momma."

"We'll call you tomorrow."

"Okay, Mama."

"Make sure you get sleep." Nico was going to make sure Cocoro knew that even though 9 year old Dia would insist she didn't, she would need a nap before the concert.

"Yes, Mom." Ruby waved.

Dia frowned. "I know that."

Of course, Dia did. Nico was so frustrated sometimes by her eldest's daughter independent streak, but Dia was Dia and exactly perfectly cute, even if she'd picked up prickliness from both parents. Ruby's sweetness soothed it over, as long as Nico and Maki kept an eye on Dia's domineering tendencies.

"Good night, Dia, Ruby." Maki leaned forward, ready to flip down the laptop screen. "We…"

Nico joined in, "... love you. See you tomorrow."

Nico rolled back into Maki, presenting the photobook, as Maki shoved the laptop off the bed, "Nico is so spoiled."

"Nico is so loved." Maki said firmly.

"You love spoiling Nico."

Maki inhaled, her nose in Nico's hair, "I love being near Nico. No more shows and travel for awhile, right?"

"No." Nico slid her arms around Maki's waist and squeezed, "Nico has to recharge."

Maki was shifting, restless, not relaxing into Nico.

"What is it, Maki-chan? Is something wrong?"

"Want my birthday present?"

"Can't it wait. Nico was about to unwrap some…thing else."

"I think you'll want to see it." Maki slid another rectangular package out from under the pillows.

"What is this?"

"Open it."

Nico could see the blush on the tips of Maki's ears, not quite as red as her hair. Now she was really really curious. A quick tear and Nico had another photobook in her hands, Maki, draped in cloth clinging to curves and not covering much else, winking at the camera, amethyst eyes smoldering, DARING! In bold, red lettering below her, as if it were a couch.

"Who took this photo?" Nico felt a surge of protectiveness.

"Timer, silly." Maki had a sly grin as she leaned across Nico, effectively pinning her to the bed, but her eyes stayed shy, not meeting Nico's.

"Oh."

"Happy Birthday, Nico-chan." And then a familiar tune hummed and an unforgettable voice skipped to breathily sexily sing mid chorus…

Are you ready, are you ready?
(Come here, challenger!)
Are you ready, are you ready?
(Hesitation's a no-no!)
Are you ready, are you ready?
(Don't give up, how boring!)
Are you ready, are you ready?
(Hesitation's a no-no!)

Nico had learned not to hesitate in these moments, Maki near and nervously bold. Room service could wait. What couldn't was Nico's all time favorite any day activity, kissing Maki silly.

A/N:

Total fluff for Nico's birthday. I hope the sentiment makes up for the delay : )

Have been sick but getting back in writing mode. Hope your season is going well. Anybody else watching the Women's World Cup?