Summary: Experience Nishikino Maki's first and last live televised interview.

Nishikino Maki wanted to still be in their honeymoon hotel suite bed, with Yazawa Nico sprawled, arms out, legs tangled between Maki's legs and the sheets, a few dark, silky strands of hair in Maki's mouth. But no, here there were, television station green room, 7:30 a.m. in the morning, Nico getting every personal detail she could about the family of the makeup artist working on her. Apparently, the oldest daughter, 13 years old, was a huge Nico Ni fan. So Nico was signing everything in reach.

Singing in public had always made Maki nervous enough, but this, knowing she was about to be interviewed, live, in front of an audience, made her jitters so much worse. Nico - and Umi - and Eli - and Rin - had tried to talk her out of it, but Maki was stubborn. If Nico was going to announce to the world that they were married, Maki was darn well going to be there as proof - and a brake on Nico revealing too many details of their private life. Then she could go back to the apartment in Shibuya no one knew existed and hide. Maki met her own worried eyes in the mirror as her makeup stylist, who she had learned nothing about, finished off the lipstick gloss, and managed a determined nod before standing. Nico was by her side instantly, sliding her arm through Maki's, glancing up with an sweetly encouraging smile.

"Just let Nico take the lead." A completely outrageous wink and Maki could feel her cheeks burning. So much for sweet.

"Nico-chan...don't…" okay, so she sounded a bit desperate as her voice quivered but Nico in charming her public mode was...Maki shook her head, stiffened her shoulders, unclenched her fists. Best not to think about it.

The reporter, a young woman, seemed friendly. Nico and Maki were seated in comfortable white swivel chairs with a small table between them and mugs of water handy.

Then the questions started."So Maki, are you thrilled by how fast Nico Ni's career is taking off?"

"Sure." Maki's palms felt clammy. How did such a small audience have so many eyes?

Nico's eyebrow twitched.

"Did it surprise you?"

What kind of question is that, Maki thought, frowning as she answered…"Nico-chan works so hard...she deserves this, she's always caring about what her fans think, always taking time to make them smile."

Nico relaxed a little. Even if Maki was nervous, this was the company line.

"Does she make you smile?"

Another stupid question, what Nico did for Maki went beyond smiling, how could she describe how she felt, how much Nico had given her…

"Maki?" Intrusive reporter.

"No."

Nico dropped her mug, then rushed to deflect. "Nico is sure Maki means that Nico doesn't just make her smile…."

"Okay." Maki leaned over to pick up Nico's mug, missing Nico's slight grimace.

The reporter switched subjects, "So Nico, what's married life like?"

Nico gleamed at her interviewer. "Nico appreciates being able to leave the recording studio or go offstage and then head home for a meal with her favorite person in the world. It helps Nico be at her best for her fans every day."

The reporter decided to try Maki again, with an easy question. "So Maki, with Nico having so many fans, are you happy to be her number one fan?"

"No." Maki snapped, thinking about all the girls who'd been packing Nico's concerts.

Nico swiveled in her chair, as did the reporter, both staring at Maki. The audience went silent.

"I mean...well...there's…" Maki started twirling a strand of hair. Nico winced.

Maki thought she heard Nico's teeth grind. If so, being able to do that while smiling enough for both of them was impressive.

"My wife is very modest." Nico leaned back, trying to pull off ease.

"No, I'm not Nico-chan." Maki leaned forward, trying to catch Nico's attention, to get a wink or a smile.

Nico rolled her eyes at the reporter in a "she said that, not me" way.

The reporter went for the big question, sure to take viewer's minds off Maki's awkwardness, and turned to Nico, "Do you think being in a same sex relationship will affect your popularity?"

Nico shifted toward Maki, blowing her a kiss, then looked right into the camera, "I don't care. And why should it? We need to stop asking that question. Nico Ni sings her heart out to make EVERYONE who needs it smile. Maki is the person who makes me smile. There is nothing fake about Nico and my fans know that. They respond to that. So Nico is honest with them. Love is love. And Nico is Nico. Nico Nico Ni." Nico's voice echoed confidently throughout the studio as she introduced even more people to her signature gestures. "I'm not the bravest person, but with Maki, we want to help the world change for the better, to set an example. It's what we've been doing TOGETHER since the day she helped convince me to join μ's."

Maki wanted Nico's hand to be close enough that she could crush it with affection. Nico was glowing. AGAIN. And Nico was hers.

"So Maki, how do you feel about sharing your obviously adoring wife with her fans?"

Maki felt the hairs on the back of her neck raise, she knew Nico and Nico was about to say something that would…

"Nico wouldn't mind sharing her adoring fans with her adorable wife…"

"No." Maki thought it was good that she'd managed not to say 'gross' but the anger flashing deep in Nico's eyes made her think otherwise. She stumbled, "What I mean...Nico's fans...I have my own…"

Nico snorted.

"Oh that's right, you've kept up your composing career, even after μ's."

Maki could work with this. "Yes, that's right. Actually," and here Maki tried to relax a little, "The album I wrote for A-Rise paid for our honeymoon. I don't want to use my parents…"

Nico started coughing.

"Do you need some water, Nico?" Maki offered her mug.

"Thanks." Nico glared meaningfully.

The reporter continued. "So you're writing solo songs for Tsubasa Kira, but not your wife. Is keeping home and work separate part of your relationship's success?"

Maki went pale. She hadn't told Nico about that yet.

"You're doing what?" Nico spun.

"Tsubasa Kira just announced her first solo single this morning. Your wife is producing." Very helpful reporter.

"Maki?" Nico's voice sounded brittle.

"Um…we just started planning...I wanted to…" Maki mumbled.

"So do ever you plan to collaborate with your wife, Nico?"

Maki decided to intervene in the snowball to avalanche progression, "Nico's team is already the best. She doesn't need me."

"Assuming Nico survives this interview," pause for a laugh from the audience, then Nico continued, too brightly, "Maki and I will certainly be discussing collaboration." Nico smiled, but Maki knew it was only for the public, "After all, Nico is Maki's number one fan." Nico leaned over to kiss Maki's cheek.

"And there you have it, pop's newest power couple and at such a young age, Super Idol Nico Ni and her wife, producer, composer, and college student Nishikino Maki, visiting us here in Seattle for a few days, honeymooning during Nico Ni's first international tour. Tomorrow night, Nico heads up to Vancouver. Will you be accompanying her Maki?"

"No." Maki winced at the word. "I'm flying back to school."

"And working with Kira Tsubasa."

Maki groaned internally. This was at best a disaster. Nico's eyebrow was twitching like static on a tube TV.

#########################

Finally back in the green room. Nico had disappeared to talk to the reporter and producer. Five messages from Rin. Maki collapsed on the couch and listened to the first.

"NO." Rin shouted, then snort giggled for two minutes, then hung up. The second was the same. Maki erased the other three. Umi had sent a text.

U: Memorize this: "Nico makes me smile every day and I'm proud to be her number one fan." Sometimes it helps to physically write things out, many many times.

More texts.

Nozomi: Oh, Maki, never change (* ´艸)゛

Eli: Are you all right?

Honoka: Tell Tsubasa-san I said hi (*●⁰ꈊ⁰●)ﾉ

Hanayo: It will be all right, Maki ʕ ⊃･ ◡ ･ ʔ⊃, Nico-chan loves you.

Kotori: Your outfit was so pretty.

Maki smiled at Kotori's message. At least she'd gotten something right. She wondered whether Nico would be more upset about Tsubasa or Maki tanking the interview. Both. Nico could be extremely mad about both. Well within her skillset.

A/N: This half wrote itself in my head last night when I was trying to sleep so enjoy! Hope your Halloween was more trick than treat.