"Cheers!"

Yukiko and the detective boys shouted energetically as they clinked their beer-sized glasses in the air for a toast. They gulped their whole glasses down together afterwards, and made some satisfying groans as if they were drinking alcohols. Except, there were only fruit-flavoured carbonated drinks in there– thanks to Ai's supervision.

Chiharu was also cheerfully mimicking their gestures with her own small plastic glass, while Ai who sat beside her joined the whole event with her usual cool expression.

It was a Friday night dinner held by Yukiko to celebrate Ai and the others' successful enrollment to the university of their choice. Although the truth was that she just needed some little social activities to entertain her soul, still, the detective boys were so eager about it when they received the invitation. There was nothing wrong with having a little party anyway since their exam week had over and all, they thought. Hence, the over-merriment in the Kudo Residence this evening.

The results to their entrance exam were out yesterday and as predicted, Ai was accepted in one of the most prestigious universities in Japan– the one that had quite a long history in the medical and research field. All the while, both Ayumi and Mitsuhiko were enrolled to the same university, continuing their twelve years record of being schoolmates– now collegemates. They were both aiming for the education field and for the business economics field respectively.

Everything was perfectly in place for each one of them.

What seemed to be the least expected ones, however, was the too-good-to-be-true Genta's full-time employment as a trainee cook at the popular unagi don restaurant he often went to. As surprising as it was to the rest of the gang, they now learnt to never underestimate the true power of one's passion. It looked like his love for grilled eel could really conquer everything, including the wrath of his mom.

"Don't you drool when you're serving the customers, Genta-kun." Ayumi joked.

"And don't forget to treat us once in a while." Mitsuhiko continued.

And just like usual, Genta retorted to all of their remarks with his typical sulk while everyone continued to throw their laughs at him.

Shinichi joined them not long after that when he was finally home. All together on his hand was a big strawberry shortcake he bought on the way back. A celebration would be less complete without a celebratory cake, or so his mom told him on the phone before he clocked out. With one more additional participant and food, they could hardly keep their voices low for sure.

Ai could only sigh at their childishness from afar as she stood by the fridge to get another bottle of drink. She smiled enjoying the sight, nonetheless. Their total carefreeness never failed to amuse her, particularly Shinichi's. It always tickled her how he could be so bubbly sometimes despite his true age, that without her realizing, she was staring at him too intently. It had been a while since the last time she witnessed him do silly things together with Chiharu like this. It was heart-warming somehow.

Yukiko's eagle eye didn't fail to catch that, of course. She noticed the longing transpired on Ai's gaze and the soft smile that shyly appeared on the corners of her lips. So, smirking to herself, she used this chance to approached her quietly from the side.

"You miss them, don't you, Ai-chan?" Her almost whispering voice startled Ai. The strawberry blonde turned her head, flustered, only to find her mother-in-law chuckled back at her. "Don't you think it's time for you to move in back here, to this house, hm?"

Ai's look was now filled with astonishment; she was enthralled by Yukiko's words. Indeed, she didn't know until she saw it for herself a second ago that she missed her little family, as well as those times they spent together. Their weekend outing to supermarket, or their evening dinner they used to have everyday. Those ordinary simple things that the three of them always did together as a family had now become too precious to her memories.

And to think that the gossip had relatively subsided considering the mass number of Shinichi's devotees, perhaps Yukiko was right. There shouldn't be anything to be worried about if she returned to the house now, should there? It was almost spring, and it was only a couple of weeks away before her graduation. So it would be just like what she had promised him, that this short-term separation would only last until then. Right?

"I too, really miss cooking and going on a shopping spree together with my daughter-in-law~" The ex-actress pouted while hugging the ex-scientist by the shoulders. Ai could only roll her eyes in return to her coaxing.

Really, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, huh?

This situation suddenly reminded her of the thing that Shinichi said to her earlier this week during their 'unfinished bed talk'. It was a thing related to their wedding ceremony that had been occupying her mind ever since then. Not to mention, the way he tempted her to agree on his suggestion was… irresistible.

But as much as she was intrigued by the idea of exchanging eternal vows with the love of her life, there just seemed to be something that was troubling her. Something that wasn't exactly there, yet it had been at the back of her mind like a moth. She wasn't sure what it was though.

"By the way, Ai-chan." Yukiko broke her trance. A very mischievous grin was plastered on her mouth. "Would you tell me how far you've gone with Shin-chan?"

"Yes?" Ai confusedly asked.

"Oh, don't you play dumb with me." Yukiko smiled excitedly, still circling her arms around the strawberry blonde's shoulders. Her mood was all flowery as she whispered to her. "I know he visited you some time ago, only to go home the next evening wearing the exact same clothes."

He was staying overnight at your place and skipped his work the next day doing 'stuffs' with you, wasn't he? Was what got into the ex-scientist's processing brain.

At those implied words, Ai almost dropped the bottled drink in her hands. Her face was so flushed, not sure if it was due to the embarrassment Yukiko's remark brought to her, or to the sudden lack of airflow in her lungs.

"Well, I'm just saying. Tee-hee!" Yukiko winked at her, innocently ended her teasing with her playful sticking out tongue.

She was just in time for Ayumi to finish slicing the cake. So, having her name called, Yukiko took some dessert plates from the cabinet and slipped away to join with the others at the table. She was wearing a very satisfied smile on her face, leaving Ai stumped and bewildered.

What was that again?

.

.

.

The evening went by in a flash while everyone was busy enjoying the small party. With the moon being so round up there in the sky, and Chiharu letting out wide yawns in every two minutes, they agreed that the time had come for them to finally call the night. Lucky that there were more than two hands to help, so cleaning up their after-party mess only took nothing but a little effort. Before long, the detective boys were already crowding the genkan, ready to go home.

"See you next time, Chii-chan." Ayumi patted the little girl's head.

"See you next time!" Chiharu tried to mimic the goodbye words back to Ayumi before they giggled together.

"Thank you for having all of us, Yukiko-san and Shinichi-san." Mitsuhiko politely said.

"I'll make sure to bring some liquors the next time you invite us!" Genta grinned, which earned him some light scolding from the others. They were reminding him about his age that was still not applicable to drink alcohol even though he would be a working young adult soon.

They were as high spirited as ever as they went their way out through the door. Ai was the last one to leave, following the teenagers from behind like she always did. But when she was going to take a step out, she was stunned at the feel of two small hands hugging her left leg so tight.

Turning around, she found it was Chiharu who held her feet. She was showing her sad and teary eyes; she was on the brim into crying yet she was still trying to detain it.

"Mamma, stay!" She said– or rather, ordered– with her shaky voice. She squeezed her beautiful bluish-purple orbs shut while she clasped her hands more strongly around her adoptive mom.

The three people who were left by the entrance froze, stupefied by her sudden uttered whim.

"Oi, Chii…" Shinichi speechlessly muttered.

"Pwease…" But Chiharu whined. She was being persistent.

Ai's heart sank instantly watching her adopted daughter getting queerly clingy to her out of the blue. Never once did she see her act this spoiled before or did she hear her ask for something selfish. Even when she told her no to having an extra snack that she really loved, Chiharu would always be a good girl and obeyed.

So, looking at how the little toddler meekly pleaded for her to stay, Ai's conscience went limp. She squatted down to look at Chiharu in the eyes, cupped both of her cheeks, and brushed the tip of her thumbs to wipe her almost falling tears.

"Okay, mommy will stay." She said, smiling.

It took less than a split second for Chiharu's face to lighten up. Her cheeks became as rosy as she grinned from ear to ear upon hearing Ai's reply. Shinichi was relieved that the little girl was back to become cheery only after a few words from his wife. Meanwhile, despite the sympathy that she felt for her granddaughter, Yukiko couldn't help suppressing her smile from getting too wide. After all, she was very much thankful that this unexpected ordeal happened as soon as she planned to persuade Ai to move back in the house.

Oh my, what a luck! she said to herself.

The night routines in the Kudo Residence went by naturally like how they had always been before the young couple's separation. In which, Ai would help Chiharu getting ready for bed and tucked her in, before she finally retreated to their bedroom to get her own things done– or to get pulled by Shinichi under the fluffy blanket.

Except that the one last thing didn't seem to follow the script tonight.

"Mamma! Dadda! Me! Sleep together!" Chiharu barged into her parents' bedroom eagerly, startling Shinichi who almost threw his phone to the floor because of that. She was hugging her favourite plushy in one hand and holding Ai's hand on the other, all dressed up in her cute pajamas.

Questions started to arose inside Shinichi's head one by one.

Wasn't she supposed to be in her own bed by now? Yet why was she holding Ai's hand and followed her here? And did she say 'sleep together' just now?

"Chii wants to sleep with us tonight." Ai told him nonchalantly. She knew what he was thinking just by watching his baffled expressions, so she cut him short before he rained her with many inquiries. "Don't ask me why or how because I'm not sure myself."

She had tried tucking her in her own room but it didn't work somehow. Chiharu kept nagging her to let her sleep with them tonight. This was the first time ever that Chiharu asked her this, not to say, she was being so insistent as well. So she gave in and brought her here with her.

Having his mouth shut before he could even utter a word, Shinichi grimaced dryly. He had no other choice except to agree and let Chiharu go into the bed with them. The little girl ran and jumped immediately onto the bed once she got the permission, taking her spot exactly in the middle between her parents.

Ai followed her to the bed after she dimmed down the lights, while Shinichi pulled the blanket over them. Both of them sighed, feeling at loss as to what came into this daughter of theirs. Still, they tucked her in with a goodnight kiss on her cheeks that made her giggle happily.

"Dadda, stowy pwease." Chiharu said as she snuggled up to her plushy. Her eyes were twinkling in excitement like those glimmering stars in the night sky.

And so, Shinichi awkwardly complied.

Slightly reclining himself on the headboard, he cleared his throat and started his phrase with a once upon a time as any bedtime stories should. It was the only phrase coming out from his tongue that was the closest to a storytelling though. He went somewhat astray in the middle of it, unaware that he was changing the course of the plot into one of the cases he once solved.

He got a warning hot boring stare from Ai for that. But he realized it too late, for Chiharu had fallen asleep before he could properly fix its plot back. A mix of pride– for successfully brought his daughter to sleep– and guilt– for telling her a real crime story– were shown on Shinichi's sheepish grin.

Ai shook her head in reply, but she chuckled in the end. She couldn't truly get mad at him when all he did was only expressing his passion for mystery, could she?

"Why don't you continue the bedtime story for me?" She slowly leaned forward– hovering over Chiharu while trying not to disturb her sleep– and tugged him closer. She kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Good night, Tantei-san."

She whispered as she rested her head comfortably on the pillow. Soon after, she closed her eyes and let the slumber took over her brain. A hint of pink shades appeared on Shinichi's cheeks out of nowhere. He touched the spot where her warmth still lingered on his skin, then he smiled watching the two girls sleep so soundly beside him.

Oh well, this wasn't so bad either.

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.

.

What they thought would only be for one night, evolved into two. Then it turned into three and before they realized it, a full week had passed. Tonight marked the seventh night that Chiharu whined to Ai so she would stay in the house and let her have a sleep-together in her parents' room.

Yukiko was the most delighted ones among them all upon this whole thing, since there were no more reasons for Ai to not return to the house for good after this. On the other hand, Shinichi was restless. After all, his creative juices were so much drained to create appropriate bedtime stories for his beloved adopted daughter.

In addition to that, he had to bare with not having his wife for himself at night for seven nights in a row. This was a mental torture, he felt. For she was literally only a meter away from him, yet he couldn't do anything to– and with– her because Chiharu was in between. This was way much worse than when they were separated by two gates and some block walls for months.

However above all those tormenting moments, he was more perplexed at the little girl's recent behaviour changes. It was a thing that Ai had taken a notice as well, that Chiharu was getting more and more dependent on them than she used to, especially during sleep time.

"Just what has gotten into her?" He sighed as he lightly poked Chiharu's left cheek with his forefinger. The already sleeping little girl squirmed a bit at his touch.

"Can you please not disrupt her nice sleep?" Ai pinched the back of his hand quickly, stopping his small action that might wake Chiharu up.

"Ouch." He suppressed his protest and retrieved his hand back, rubbing the stinging spot with his other hand.

"There must be something that is bothering her." She said, replying to his previous question. "Only, she doesn't know how to say it in intelligible words to us."

"If that's really the case, then what could it be that is bothering her?" Shinichi argued.

Both of them fell into silence, thinking of some postulations that might connect to their little girl's oddity. Still, their smart brains hit the wall eventually.

Chiharu's muffled little voice caught their attentions just then. They saw her stir in her sleep, while mumbling some words that they couldn't get. They would've thought she looked cute if only her expression hadn't changed from smiling to frowning. They noticed how her breathing became faster and heavier, and tears started to pile up at the corner of her shut eyes. It was as if she was sobbing for having a very terrifying dream.

It sent Shinichi and Ai's minds into a heed; worries were clouding their heads. Babies and toddlers tended to have bad dreams when they were overstimulated during the day, they knew. But this was different– their parental instincts told them so. A hunch kicked in immediately, urging Ai to check Chiharu's body temperature. The room was filled with the beeping sound of the thermometer some seconds later, confirming her assumption.

"She has a fever."

The newly information gave them a slight relief. It was probably the early symptoms of a cold, which was fairly common for small kids and toddlers to get infected during winter. However, the time seemed to stop at once when their ears finally caught up to what Chiharu had been mumbling all this while.

"Dadda… Mamma… Stay…"

The relief Shinichi and Ai felt a second ago instantly vanished into the thin air, all together with their breath. It was as if they had just been struck by a huge bombshell that came out from the toddler's mouth. She kept mumbling those three words, sounded pitiful and grievous.

And the more they listened to Chiharu's repeated mutterings, the more angsty their hearts grew.

For they understood that it wasn't them whom she was calling. It was them, her deceased parents, whom she was seeking right now.

The dots inside their heads were connecting by themselves right away as they recalled the past week's events related to their toddler. Although they weren't verbally discussing this to each other, their holding stares and expressions were enough to tell one another that they came up with the same conclusion.

The reason why the little girl went clingy to Ai all of a sudden. Her motive for acting cute and adorable when asking Shinichi to give her bedtime stories. The reason why she wanted a spot in the middle of their bed and a sleep together with them for seven nights in a row.

It appeared to them that all of those were because deep down in her heart, she missed her deceased parents greatly.

Realizing that, Ai sensed a pang of guilt in her chest.

It suddenly clicked in her mind that this was actually the thing that had been troubling her these past couple of weeks. It was the thing that was weighting her decision to follow with Shinichi's idea of having their wedding ceremony.

Because their marriage was all started only as a convenience to pull off Chiharu's adoption requirements. It would never happen if Ran hadn't left that will before her death, or if the Araide couple hadn't gone on that trip and had their ill-fated accident. In other words, her and Shinichi's marriage only existed because Chiharu had lost both of her parents at a very young age.

With that said, what right did they have to make things between them more realistic than it already had?

Shinichi was also aware of that almost forgotten fact; he felt a sting in his heart.

He had been befriending Ran for almost his whole life. She was his childhood best friend, the girl whom he once was in love with. Despite their failed young relationship, she still remained as someone important to his life.

Yet, how could he nearly overlook her existence now?

As Shinichi and Ai kept their stares to each other, they could slowly see pain and remorse starting to crowd their hearts. There were no words entailed nor actions required to explain the heavy air surround them. Only by looking deep into each other's souls had they come to understand perfectly well the stupid mistake they both had made.

That they could've figured it out earlier, the hinted feelings that Chiharu had been trying to show through her small unusual quirks.

That they could've realized it sooner the over-stress she had to deal with for getting tangled up in her adoptive parents' separation.

And that they should've remembered it long way before this happened, the approaching date of her real parents' death anniversary.

Now, in between their mixed up feelings and twisted consciences, a simple question ensued: what in the world should they do now to make things right?

They were losing its answer.

Author's Notes: Worry not, readers! I'm still alive and I'm still updating this fic– though not as soon as I thought I would (haha).

I hope you enjoy this chapter. And as always, please give me your reviews and comments. Happy reading!

Disclaimer: All characters of Detective Conan are belong to Aoyama Gosho. I don't own any single of them.