Summary: Nico's excited about teaching Dia to drive, but Dia seems a bit too calm.

Everyone was home in the Kurosawa household, enjoying a cool Spring afternoon, having tea outside in the garden. Ruby and Maki had their heads bent over a game of backgammon, Nico was curled up on a bench, smiling at her two favorite redheads, and Dia was leaning against her favorite tree reading.

Ruby laughed as she rolled the doubles she needed for the second time in as many turns and Maki groaned theatrically, not fond of losing even with her daughters. Nico wondered if there would be a comeback from her determined wife and turned to their firstborn.

"Now that you're 17, Dia, we'll have to start thinking about teaching you to drive. Guess I should take the NicoMobile out and make sure it's running properly." The NicoMobile was a Daihatsu Copen mini sportscar with a custom pink paint job and a top of the line stereo system older than both of their daughters ages added together.

Dia froze but didn't look up from her book. Maki watched curiously as Nico got more excited, up on her feet, organizing things around the tea house. "I remember when I taught Cocoro in it. Every Yazawa has learned how to drive in it, even…" Here Nico bounced behind Maki, "your Mama."

That got Dia to look up from her book. As Maki rolled her eyes and prepared for the usual "you're a Nishikino, Nico-chan" rant. But Nico didn't stop to breathe in her enthusiasm.

"We used to go for drives all the time, when Nico wasn't on tour and your Mama needed a break from her books. So Maki-chan practiced for her license under my extremely responsible tutelage." Nico hugged Maki, who muttered something about distractions, saying that sort of thing with a straight face, and misdefining responsible. Nico ignored it all. Dia was still processing. Ruby continued to plot her next moves.

"Really?" Finally Dia spoke, sounding shocked.

"Really." Nico kissed the top of Maki's head as the redhead fumbled the dice, "Maki learned a lot in that car."

Maki blushed at high school memories she was NEVER sharing with her daughters. Cocoro and Cocoa already knew too much thanks to an eavesdropping habit. Time to swerve the conversation out of Nico's control, "There's no rush for Dia to learn, Nico-chan. There's bikes and buses. And I don't mind driving her around when she needs it."

Dia closed her book and picked up the tea tray, ready to take it into the main house, "No rush at all, Mom. Isn't the car in Tokyo, anyway?"

Ruby's rolls continued their streak and she gleamed happily as she took her last piece off the board, "I win, Mama!"

"I want a rematch." Maki grumbled as Nico cheered for Ruby, car talk forgotten for a moment.

The next evening, Maki had asked Dia to accompany her on the koto so they could practice a traditional composition she'd been working on. When Dia had decided to learn a Japanese instrument, Maki had decided to trade her Western flute for a shakuhachi so she and Dia could bond over music.

For an hour, the two of them played together, working over the piece, Maki taking Dia's suggestions on the best way to solve a few of the less smooth sections. When they took a break, Maki stood and stretched. Playing a flute was so different from the piano. Picking it up again was always a challenge. But she treasured the chance to create something together with Dia, while Nico and Ruby were in the kitchen, putting together a family feast for the evening meal. Maki would never get tired of these rare, quiet weekends she and Nico could spend with their girls. Too soon, Dia would be off to college.

"Dia?" Maki sat down next her daughter, fidgeting with her flute.

"What's wrong, Mama?" Dia picked up on Maki's hesitancy and wondered what was bothering her.

"Why don't you really want to learn to drive?" Maki blew a few quick notes, not making eye contact.

Dia played a few notes to match Maki's.

"I won't tell your Mom, if you're worried about that. You can talk to me." Maki offered, putting an arm around Dia's shoulders.

Dia paused, then took in a deep breath and turned, looking straight at Maki, "Do I have to learn on the Copen. It's so tiny and..." Dia frowned, "cutesy."

Maki snorted, doubling over, her grip on her daughter tightening, Dia being pulled along with the movement. "You don't...want...to..drive...the Nicomobile?!"

"Ruby couldn't talk about anything else last night, how excited she'd be when she was old enough, how 'adorable' it was." Dia leaned into her mother, "And I...I love Mom…"

"I know you do." Maki smiled, hugging her daughter.

"And I love hearing her stories...and I loved when I was a child and she drove me to Tokyo to fashion shows in it." Dia fidgeted, beginning to retune the koto.

"But you don't want to be the next Yazawa to learn in it." Maki glanced toward the house, wondering how to smooth this over.

"No." Dia's answer was muted but firm. "None of my clothes would work."

Maki didn't laugh as hard as she would have if Nico had said that. And Nico would have said that...and had, about many things. Just not the NicoMobile. Maki kept her response to a slight grin and a soft chuckle.

Dia glanced up, green eyes worried under her bangs, "Mama?"

"We'll talk to your grandmother. And maybe Santa-san. Surely we can come up with something."

"Really?"

Nico's voice came from the house, perky as ever, "Come on in, you two. We've made most of your favorites."

Which meant Maki was getting some form of pasta and Dia was getting her favorite matcha and chocolate pudding dessert.

Maki stood, pulling her daughter up with her, "I promise. I'll take care of it. Just humor your Mom for now."

Dia nodded earnestly and Maki let her lead the way into the house while Maki considered if a nostalgic drive in the Copen would put Nico in a good enough mood that Maki could suggest that her parents wanted to to give Dia a new car for Christmas. She'd have to talk to Rin about hosting a sleepover for Dia, Ruby, and Kaito soon. The children hadn't gotten together for a few months and that would give her an evening free to persuade Nico.

And with another road trip in Nico's beloved (and adorable, not that Maki would tell Nico or Dia that) sportscar planned, Maki bounded toward the house, ready for a taste of Nico's food made with love. And tomatoes.

A/N: I'm about 2K into the next Casual Lunacy chapter, it's too hot, politics here is full of f*c$wits, and I needed something fun. So I wrote this.

Vroom ; )