Author's note: Ignore the happy birthday thing on the picture lol. Anyways, last one shot of this series. Hope you enjoyed the massive shit show that it was. hahah Moving on with my life now xoxo

Word Count: 2222

***

It was spring...and spring brought about full blooms of cherry blossoms all across Japan, giving the streets a beautifully scenic touch to a usually busy country.

Mai was busy tending to some leftover dishes from this morning's breakfast, scrubbing at the hardened food while humming happily to herself. She glanced out the window before her, watching the cherry blossoms sway in the cool breeze, which brought about a serene smile.

He was coming home today.

Despite his family's wealth, and not to mention her own, they had decided from the beginning they wanted to live a relatively simple life, one without maids running around the mansion, butlers asking if they needed anything every ten minutes. They were well off; they made good money...but they wanted a home...not just a house.

If he was coming home...then her brother was too. Mai smiled, wondering vaguely how Haruka was doing since Masato had been gone as long as her own husband.

I should call her later...Mai mused.

After a moment, she realized she was idly rubbing over her stomach, flat though harboring something entirely thrilling. Mai pat her abdomen gently, eagerly awaiting to tell her husband of the news.

She turned her gaze over to the next room on her right, and her smile turned into a grin.

A small figure waited patiently at the front window, oranged-tinged hair bouncing in excitement.

"Naoko, sweetie..." said Mai. "What are you doing...?"

The small child, all of about six, turned her head, her cerulean eyes bright with enthusiasm.

"Waiting for daddy!" she replied brightly before returning her head to face the front yard. She had dragged a kitchen chair to that window, having been sitting there for the last hour...waiting for her father to come home from his two week long absence. Mai was actually surprised with how diligently Naoko had been watching the driveway, on the lookout for anything that would give a sign of her father's return.

He had just been busy with his group. Even after all these years, it was amazing that Starish could still reunite on occasion and electrify Japan once more with their music.

Mai smiled at her daughter and quietly finished up the dishes.

"Wouldn't you like to dress up for daddy? It could be like a welcome home surprise!" she suggested as she dried her hands. It was really more of a way for her to get Naoko to stop watching the driveway and to help pass the time until her father came home.

At this, Naoko lit up more than she was already beaming.

"Uwa!"

The child stood up quickly and ran over to meet her mother who was putting away the last of the dishes. Naoko gripped the end of her Mai's shirt in earnest, bouncing on her toes. It took her a moment to find her voice because she was so excited at the notion of dressing up.

"Do you think daddy would like that?"

Mai grinned, tucking some of Naoko's long, honey-blonde hair behind her ear.

"I think daddy would love to come home to you all dressed up."

Mai took her daughter's hand but Naoko was a step ahead and was already pulling her mother up the stairs to her room.

"Mommy! Can I wear the white dress daddy bought me the last time he came home?" Naoko asked, tugging forcefully on Mai's hand. "Ooh, and can you do my hair all pretty too? Oh, oh, oh!"

Mai laughed just as they reached the top of the stairs. "Of course. I'll even put a few ribbons in your hair too."

She didn't think she had ever seen her child look so ecstatic as Naoko looked now, running into her room and gathering all that she wanted to wear in a child frenzy. She was talking at light speed, most of which Mai could not understand or decipher, and picked up any sort of clothing that piqued her interest from her dresser. Most of it didn't match, because Naoko wanted to wear all the clothes she thought was pretty...but not necessarily made for matching each other.

Some items included the white dress in which her father had brought home about a month ago on a visit home, a pair of long red socks, her light blue "princess shoes," and a French beret that was maroon.

"Baby," Mai laughed as Naoko shoved it all into Mai's arms. "You can't wear all of these things."

Her daughter stuck out her bottom lip in protest. "Aww...but why?"

Mai squat down to be at eyelevel with Naoko.

"Because then that would be too much pretty. Daddy likes when things are simple...like the white dress."

Mai held up the small outfit, one with lace trimming and ribbons in the front. Naoko looked thoughtful for a moment, before agreeing reluctantly.

They set about dolling up Naoko, having her change into the dress and pull on white socks, ones that stopped at her knees. Shortly after, Mai took her daughter to her own room, to the master bathroom and had her sit down on the counter.

As Mai began to braid long, white ribbons into Naoko's hair, her daughter had fallen rather quiet, a rare thing to occur.

"Mommy..." she said finally, glancing at Mai through the mirror before her.

"Yes, honey?"

Naoko suddenly looked bashful. "Will you dress up too?" her daughter asked, catching Mai off guard. "I think...I think daddy would like to see his princesses look pretty."

Mai could not help but smile. He always called them his two princesses.

She glanced at her stomach in the mirror. And now he may have another...

"I think that's a good idea, Naoko!"

***

Ren stared out the window with a listless expression. It had been a long few weeks, though it felt like months. Not that he minded; it was nice being on the road again with Starish. Their tour had been pretty hectic thus far, keeping Ren away from home more than he would have liked.

Mai was always very supportive though. She never complained of his absence, but only welcomed him home with open arms like she had for years. Thankfully, Ren had been able to be a major part of Naoko's life up until about six months ago, when the touring started initially. They were playing double shows in some cities and they were booked with interviews and tv appearances.

Ren sighed. At least he'll be able to have a few days respite to regain his strength and just be with family.

The taxi was turning into familiar streets now, and Ren sat up, knowing he was close to his destination.

Within ten minutes, his house pulled into his view. He barely waited for the car to come to a complete stop before opening the door. He grabbed his small duffel bag and shut the door, having paid the driver five times the amount of what was due at the beginning of the trip.

The car pulled away from the street and Ren quickly made for the front door. If it didn't look so silly, he would have ran the several feet just to get there faster.

He wanted nothing more than to see his princesses again.

Ren turned the handle after having unlocked it and pushed open the door. There wasn't the usual "daddy!" that he heard when he came home from trips...which left him a bit confused.

Naoko always waited for him when she knew he was coming home.

Ren stepped inside, shutting and locking the door behind him. He went around the corner, the house entirely too quiet; were they not home?

He dropped his bag in the living room and went to go call upstairs...but in second thought, he remained quiet, in case Naoko was taking a nap.

Just as he turned around the second corner to the stairs, he stopped in his tracks.

And there his princesses were, both grinning brightly down at him from halfway up the stairs, and both holding small bundles of flowers picked from the garden in the backyard.

Both were wearing simple, white dresses, matching each other with satin ribbons weaved elegantly into their hair. Ren was fairly sure his heart skipped a few beats at the sight of his wife, looking as beautiful as she did from when he first fell in love with her, if not more. And...the mere fact of her silver wedding band around her finger seemed to please him in ways he could not describe.

"Welcome home, daddy!" his daughter cried a second after his appearance. She leapt for him, catching him off guard and nearly knocking the wind from him.

Ren held Naoko tightly, laughing his deep tenor laugh as she went on in a series of questions if he thought they were pretty as princesses should be.

Mai smiled down at her two most precious beings, the third being within her now, the most warm feeling enveloping her. She sat down on one of the steps, watching her husband spin his daughter around for a moment and telling her how much he missed her.

"You are the most beautiful princess to ever walk the earth, Naoko," said Ren, kissing his daughter's forehead. "Well...you and your mother."

Naoko grinned and leaned over in Ren's arms, rubbing her nose gently against his for an "eskimo kiss."

"We wanted you to see us as pretty as real princesses are. Are you happy?" Naoko asked brightly.

Ren smiled at her, his eyes glanced over to Mai.

There was an unspoken, but clearly felt look in his eyes, one that Mai would swear by. It conveyed love...deep love...love that she could feel deep within her soul without him ever having to say a word.

He turned his gaze to Naoko. "Happiest I've been since I've left you, princess," he replied honestly. "But let me say hello to mommy too, baby."

"Kay!"

Ren set his daughter down finally and approached the stairs with an adoring smile. Mai giggled briefly as he remained on a step a few lower than hers.

He gently took her left hand into his and kissed her fingers gently, cerulean eyes gazing into hers the whole while. Mai, despite how long she had been married to him, blushed just slightly at his charming chivalry.

"Hello, my lady," he whispered once he pulled away from her hand. "It has been far too long since we last met."

At this, Naoko giggled as well seeing her mother's amused grin.

"Far too long, sir," said Mai with a smile. "We princesses have earnestly awaited your return. We thought you have forgotten us."

Ren climbed the last few steps, hovering over Mai, who still sat elegantly on her own. "I do apologize, princess," he replied with a velvet tone, face leaning close to hers. "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you...?"

Mai glanced down at Naoko at the bottom of the stairs, watching her parents avidly, as if her father was the dashing prince coming to sweep his lover off into the sunset.

She gripped the front of his open button down and vest, pulling Ren towards her lips. Mai kissed him for a long moment before pulling away.

"I have something in mind," she replied, somewhat seductively. "I shall explain further to you tonight..."

An attractive smirk came to Ren's face but he said nothing. Naoko was still young and therefore, did not understand quite what her mother was alluding to.

"Daddy!" Naoka cried before he could speak. Both he and Mai turned their gazes to their daughter.

"Yes, sweetheart...?"

Naoko bounced on her toes again, squealing in her excitement.

"I'm going to be a big sister!!!"

Somewhere, Ren's brain seemed to malfunction...stop entirely, he couldn't be sure. Shock engulfed him and he turned his widened gaze to his wife, who was smiling affectionately up at him.

"...she wanted to be the one who told you," Mai laughed, kissing Ren's lips to soothe him from his surprise. "But yes...I'm pregnant."

Ren finally blinked, before collapsing into a sitting position beside Mai. Both women stared at him, wondering if he was going to pull out of his blank state of mind.

"...Ren...?" said Mai after a minute. "You okay...?"

He had taken the news of Naoko's coming in the same manner so Mai wasn't entirely shocked to see this reaction.

"I...don't..." he started to say, but after a second, his flat expression turned into a smirk. Mai furrowed an eyebrow, confused as to why he was looking at her this way.

"Does your brother know yet...?" Ren asked, already knowing the answer.

Mai blinked now. "What? Uh...no. I haven't told anyone except Naoko."

Ren stood up very abruptly.

"Who better than to tell him than me...?" he said, smiling wryly at his wife. After a moment of confusion, she laughed lightly.

"Must you torment him?" she sighed, though smiling. Ren winked before kissing her lips briefly.

"I am happy," he whispered simply to her, kissing her again. "The happiest."

And with that, Ren went to find the house phone, having also scooped up Naoko into his arms, to call Masato. This left Mai to shake her head in amusement on the stairs.

"I love you!" called the pair of highly opposite voices from the kitchen. Mai giggled.

And I love you.