Spray in the air, drizzle of rain, surf frothing over the toes of Maki's shoes. Greyish clouds leaving only an occasional break for stargazing. The kind of night when gloomy moods washed ashore and lingered. Maki frowned, thinking about her youngest daughter, just back from Hokkaido, bringing with her the clouds influencing Maki.

As if summoned, Maki saw Ruby walking toward her, sensibly attired in a cute raincoat with reflector patches.

"Mama!"

Maki hastened her steps, "Did your mother send you?"

Since a late summer bout with pneumonia, Nico had been more critical of Maki's urges to walk into storms.

Ruby shook her head, glancing away.

Maki continued her stroll down the beach, letting Ruby match her pace. The ocean surge was a dull white constant in motion against the horizon. "Not too many stars tonight."

Ruby glanced up. She'd grown up by the ocean. She could read weather by sight and smell. "There'll be a break soon, Mama. It won't storm."

Maki nodded.

"Mama?"

"Yes, Ruby?"

"Can I ask you something?" Ruby hesitated, "About you and Mom?"

Ruby had been dating fellow idol Kazuno Leah for months now. Maki had found Ruby's self launch from the coziness of a nesting child to the frictions of a dating young adult more stressful than anything else in her adult life. Ruby was too young. Nico teased Maki about her pursuit of Nico at the same age Ruby was now, but Ruby was her baby. And dating Leah seemed difficult for her.

"Sure."

"How did you let her go?"

Maki stopped. What did Ruby mean?

"I didn't."

No." Ruby bit her lip, "I mean when Mom wanted to tour. And you were in college. How did you let her go…"

"Is Leah going pro?"

Ruby shrugged, "Maybe. She's really unhappy at school. And Sarah wants to keep Saint Snow going. They have offers."

Dia, a more obsessive parental figure in Ruby's life than either Maki or Nico, had stepped back to give her some independence. Kazuno Sarah had not done that with her sister, determined that the Saint Snow sisters would have a joint destiny as the first priority in their lives.

"Nico-chan's dad, your grandpa, died when she was young."

"I know." Subdued Ruby.

"So Nico-chan never wants anyone to feel as alone as she did after."

"What do you mean?"

Maki sighed, running her fingers through her damp hair. She would be starting to shiver soon. Nico would scold her. And then feed her warm things. But this seemed the right place for this conversation. Venus broke through the clouds, a bright omen.

"Nico-chan never really left…"

"What do you mean…she always says you were both so busy…"

"We were. But we also made time together our first priority, ahead of anything else. People said we were naive." Maki had still not forgiven those comments. "Nico signed with an agency that let her build up her career doing shows near Tokyo, guesting on things, so she could stay near her family and me. And I didn't let the school or my parents pressure me into packing my schedule." Maki squared her shoulders. "And I'm very fortunate. Nico-chan and I wanted to be together as much as we could, to have a family, and we had the means to do that while growing our careers. It wasn't easy."

"Sarah thinks I want to keep Leah-chan away from her."

Maki chuckled, drawing her daughter in for a hug. "You know better than anyone about protective older sisters."

"I just want Leah-chan to be happy."

"I know."

Ruby sniffled.

"Sarah hates me."

Maki ignored that. Emotional panic, doubts to be steered around, not acknowledged.

"Be patient. With both of them. Let the clouds do their cloudy thing," Maki pointed up, having noticed a clearing chunk of sky, " but remember the stars are still there. You'll see them."

It was a good, hopeful silence as they counted the sparkling suns revealed in the night above them. Ruby was optimistic in places where Maki was practical but the stubborn streak ran true. Recently, friction had been abundant. Tonight, they were in harmony, moods clearing.

Ruby grabbed Maki in a tight hug, "I love you, Mama."

Still her baby. "I love you too."

A/N: Promptober prompt was Stargazing and I missed this AU.