Eve of Yazawa Nico's 19th birthday. Location: Ayase-Tojo apartment
Nozomi was lounging on her couch, debating whether to have another bite of Nico's birthday cake. Leaning on Eli was probably going to keep winning, especially as Eli kept taking pauses to kiss Nozomi's ear.
"I'm surprised you didn't get an apartment, Nicochi." Nozomi drawled lazily, letting more of her weight collapse onto Eli.
Nico shrugged, putting down her sparkling water, "Nico has more important things to do."
"But you're so busy with your debut song, between that and taking care of your siblings, you must have no time to be alone with Maki-chan."
Nico glared, then glanced over her shoulder toward the kitchen where the redhead in question was making tea. But whatever Maki's private opinions were about the amount of time Nico had to spend with her, she smiled at Nozomi as she set the tea down on the table, "Nico-chan and I are fine." Then Maki slid close Nico, her hair teasing Nico's nose. "Without Eli egging Umi on, the new group has a lot fewer rehearsals than μ's. So Nico and I have breakfast a lot."
"That's not the same as eating a midnight snack together." Nozomi decided to feed Eli a bite of chocolate cake. Nico and Maki rolled their eyes in unison.
"Speaking of, we'd better head out. I've got a curfew." Nico took Maki's hand.
Eli spit out chocolate cake crumbs, "You've got a curfew?"
Nico snarled, "Nico needs her beauty sleep."
Nozomi waved her fork in Maki's direction, "And Nico's mother doesn't trust a certain redhead."
"T...T...That's…" Maki spluttered.
"Actually true," Nico pulled Maki up, smiling wearily as Maki's expression soured at Nico's betrayal, "Thanks for the cake."
"Any time, Nicochi. And if you need to borrow the apartment…" Nozomi offered.
Maki was lost in Nico's eyes for a moment, seeing love and worry equally mixed, then the redhead smiled, "No thanks, we're good."
Eve of Nishikino Maki's 18th Birthday. Location: The Nishikino manor
Maki, taller, baby fat gone from her profile, stomped her foot in a not so very adult fashion as her parents sat calmly on the couch in the media room.
"I'm an adult now. If I want to marry Nico-chan, I will." Her voice was a brittle roar and her parents could hear the tears in it.
Her mother spoke calmly, "No one is saying 'Don't marry, Nico." We love Nico. But she's about to leave on her first international tour and you shouldn't get married because you're afraid of losing her."
Maki's arms crossed over her chest, the set of her jaw carved in sullen anger, "That's not why."
Her father weighed in, also speaking carefully, but firmly, "Marriage is about establishing a home and a family. Nico could be touring for years. And neither of you is even living in a ward that even allows same sex wedding certificates yet."
"We'd love it if Nico stayed here when she's not touring. That's not a problem." Maki's mother countered with another practical argument. "It will be convenient. You can get used to each other."
"I don't want to get used to Nico. I want to marry her." Maki turned away from her parents, fists clenched at her side, hiding tears.
"There are so many considerations, being hasty is just setting yourself up for potential failure. You still have years of schooling. And responsibilities." Her father was starting to sound grimmer.
After a few moments of silence, Maki stood taller and faced her parents with a bow, "Thank you for your advice." Her face contorted, as she was obviously holding in an angry rebuttal. "I will let you know what" and here her voice deepened with confidence, "we decide." Then she strode to the door, thankful she'd already put everything she needed in her birthday present, a sports car from the new Toyota GR line.
After midnight, Nishikino Maki's birthday Location: roof, Otonokizaka High School
Maki pounded up the stairs, running off some of her frustration with her parents. She felt like a first year again, eager for the start of rehearsal, anxious to see if she could catch the interest of a pair of ruby eyes that sparkled constantly, see that smile. Three years had only made her daily fonder of Yazawa Nico, who matched dynamism and caring in measures far mightier than her size. Maki had texted Nico from the car, upset, wanting to meet and Nico had suggested the school, giving Maki the keycode she'd gotten, calling in a favor owed by Kotori and Umi. Maki had agreed, this was too private a conversation for the Yazawas' apartment. The Otonokizaka rooftop was a fitting place. So many of the best things in Maki's life were rooted in the time she spent there.
Maki flung the door open. Nico was standing a few feet down, staring at the Tokyo skyline, sable hair loose, long pink coat wrapped around her.
"Nico-chan." Maki rushed to wrap her arms around Nico, lifting the smaller woman off the ground.
"Whoa, Maki-chan. What's wrong? Did something happen? Tell Nico." Nico hugged Maki fiercely, ready for whatever Maki needed. But Maki shook her head, knowing Nico could feel it and just wanting to be held for now, before she had to say anything.
Nico steered them to the edge of the roof, sitting them down, her hands caressing Maki's cheeks, "What's the matter, Maki-chan? Who upset you on your birthday? Nico will take care of them."
Maki struggled to hold back the tears the gentleness in Nico's voice was urging on. So she remembered her parents and the unforgiving look on their faces, the conservative, know nothing about their daughter look that demanded Maki put the life she'd been dreaming about on hold for practical considerations. And she remembered how angry she'd felt.
She flew across the rooftop, arms flung out to the side, voice loud and shrill enough to be mistaken for an alarm siren, "They just don't understand, Nico-chan. I'm not afraid. I know you have to go on tour…"
Nico was about to ask who "they" was, but then she realized Maki was probably ranting about something her parents had said. She wondered what Maki and the elder Nishikinos had been arguing about, they seemed to exist mostly in a nest of amicable support, as long as Maki stayed on track with school and college and taking over the hospital. None of that had anything to do with Nico's tour.
"Is this about your birthday?" Nico wondered, puzzled, maybe something happened in rich families at eighteen, papers being signed, property being transferred? Had Maki's parents refused something?
"Yes." Maki turned, lavender eyes glowing even more against the red of crying, hair crazy from wind and temper. "I'm an adult now. If I want to get married, I can."
Nico's heart stopped, probably literally, at least that's what it felt like to her as Maki continued, "I'm not afraid because you're leaving, I don't want you sharing my teenage bedroom with me, and I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING. WE'RE GETTING MARRIED."
All of Tokyo heard that. Nico stared at Maki, a glorious comet as she raged around the roof, determination etched into every line of her profile. The echoes died down, and Nico stood in awe, amazed once again by the tempestuousness of the best person she had ever met, the kindest, the truest, the hottest and once, again, along with all of that, the silliest. And once again, it was breathtaking how in synch they were.
And Maki continued ranting, oblivious to any reaction Nico was having, pulling a jewelry box and a ticket envelope out of her pocket, waving them at Nico, "Matching rings. Tickets anywhere you want to get married, paid for with the money I made composing that album for A-Rise."
Nico couldn't help it, she was still stuck on Maki standing on the roof of their high school and in the first real act of her adult life, shouting "WE'RE GETTING MARRIED" so all of Tokyo could hear it. Before even asking Nico. So very Maki. So very very impulsively, irresistibly Maki. Which made Nico chuckle. Fondly, which unfortunately confused Maki who stopped, not breathing, suddenly looking small and scared.
"Nico-chan?" It was a whisper as the tears began to gather. "Don't you want to."
"Maki-chan," Nico bounced to where her first love and the most beautiful woman she'd ever seen was suddenly about to collapse in tears, "Silly, silly Maki-chan." Nico took Maki's hand, putting the tickets in her coat pocket, grasping the box she'd been carrying around for days, "Nico just meant that, traditionally, someone goes down on one knee." And Nico knelt in front of Maki, grinning as Maki, once again, stopped breathing, but behind madly blinking, tear dashed eyelashes, there was suddenly hope, "presents a ring,' it was a small diamond, in a thin gold band, but Nico knew Maki didn't care about anything but whose hands were offering it "And says, after many many rehearsals in Nico's head, "Nishikino Maki, you are the only love, the only lover, the only partner for me. No matter what happens from here, I want it to happen with you." And here Nico couldn't resist a wink, "You have my heart, you know you can't say no to Nico so" Nico stood, as she slipped the ring on Maki's finger and shouted "WE'RE GETTING MARRIED." And then, Nico searched in her other pocket for something and pulled out a key, turning Maki's hand over, resting it gently in her palm and closing her fingers around it, "We have an apartment in Shibuya. Want to see it?"
Maki opened her hand, staring at the key, "Nico-chan, how?"
Nico ducked her head so she was looking into Maki's eyes, "Is that a yes? You know to" Nico stepped back, hands making a bullhorn around her mouth, "WE'RE GETTING MARRIED."
Maki grumbled and picked up Nico, swinging her around in a circle, "I thought I couldn't say no to you."
"Nico wants to make sure." Nico pulled Maki into a kiss, feeling the tears running down Maki's cheeks. "Let me take you home."
"Nico-chan." Maki's hug nearly crushed Nico, but neither of them minded. Nico was marrying a future doctor. Anything Maki broke, she could fix.
Eve Of Nishikino Maki's 30th birthday Location: Kurosawa Household
Maki had meant to do this two years ago, but children...so many things Maki and/or Nico had meant to do, but children...Maki smiled as she closed the screen to her daughters' room, so many precious things they hadn't meant to do as well with the two little miracles in there. Nico had just returned from a tour, and was sleeping off exhaustion, but with the girls asleep now, Maki was going to wake her up. It had been a busy, lonely six weeks as Nico finished off contracted tours she'd postponed when she was pregnant with Ruby. Maki's mother had moved in for a month to help with the babies and Cocoro had just gone back to Tokyo yesterday.
Maki glanced at her left hand. People were always so surprised that her jewelry was so simple: one thin gold band with a small diamond, one braided gold wedding band. But they represented everything that mattered to her, Nico, independence, commitment. So many memories were threaded in those two circles that Maki wouldn't have traded them for crown jewels. Nico still occasionally called her silly for getting wedding bands while skipping the proposal, but Maki realized that once again, like everything since she'd met Nico, no matter how things might have started, everything worked out perfectly. Nico had put her savings into an engagement ring and the initial payment on a tiny studio apartment. And remembered to propose.
Maki took the box out of her pocket, removing the ring inside, a thin gold band with a small ruby. She could have bought Nico a much more spectacular ring, but this one, this one was perfect. Exactly like the woman asleep in their bed.
Maki slid the screen open, whispering "Nico-chan?" into the darkened room. Now for the only birthday present she ever wanted, time alone with her wife.
"Maki?" Nico sounded raspy and tired, but Maki's heart fluttered like it had the first time Nico said her name, "I love you."
"I love you too, Nico-chan." Maki slid into bed, Nico nuzzling close. Maki started to say the words, but suddenly felt shy, and silly, and yes, there was that damnable blush as Nico got near enough to kiss her, ruby eyes sparkling. Maki grabbed Nico's hand and clumsily slid the ring on, mouth open, no words coming out. Nico hesitated, reaching to turn on the light, staring at her fingers. Maybe she should have brought a more impressive one, Maki suddenly worried.
"Maki-chan…" Nico's voice was soft, shocked.
'Happy proposal anniversary." Maki grinned, confidence renewed by the wonder in Nico's eyes.
Nico shook her head, another Yazawa Nico quicksilver recovery to amaze the girl who'd fallen head over head for a twintailed imp, "You still haven't learned anything yet, Maki-chan." Nico crowed, mischief brightening her worn voice, "You're supposed to ask the girl to marry you before you put the ring on."
"Nah, that part's boring." Maki teased, her lips brushing Nico's cheek, "I like this better."
"Really, because Nico remembers having a breathless audience when I proposed." Nico brought Maki's left hand to her lips.
"But Nico's the number one idol in the universe." Maki giggled, "You fascinate."
"Every day." Nico kissed the palm of Maki's hand and a shiver went through the redhead as she imagined where Nico's lips would wander from there. "But Nico's heart is always home here with you, my love, in your care."
"That's all I want." Maki breathed shakily as Nico reached her elbow.
"Good." Nico's teeth nipped the skin, playfully, "Because Nico didn't have time to pick out a birthday present."
Maki reached behind her for a pillow, "You know there's a penalty."
Nico flipped herself across Maki, "Not if I wrestle you for it." Her lips were now on Maki's collarbone as her hands reached for the pillow. Maki tilted them both back to horizontal, rolling through kisses as they landed. Nico was still all the present Maki ever needed.
A/N:It seems I haven't done one of these in too long so this bit of fluff hijacked my brain. Enjoy!
*goes back to whistling Christmas tunes*