Golden 4

"We're all mad here", the phone intoned in a classic cartoon cat voice, with a maniacal chuckle.

Shota was cleaning up after dinner and happened to be up to his elbows in soapy water right when his cell phone buzzed on the table. His head snapped up, his eyes widening in alarm.

Hitoshi snickered and set the plate down that he was drying. "Holy shit, she really has you jumping."

"Who does? Who does?!" Eri bounced up to them from the table, her arms filled with their empty cups.

"Ah... nobody. I mean, you don't have to worry about it." He deliberately forced himself to go back to scrubbing the pan he had dropped in the sink.

Eri put the cups on the counter beside him, her eyes huge. "Daddy, is it the girl you've been seeing?"

Shota glared at Hitoshi, who looked back at him with an air of contrived innocence. "What?"

"You ... later." He bent down, smiling. "Yes, I've been seeing someone. But it's..." He struggled with trying to put into words something suitable to tell the young girl. "You don't have to worry about it," he repeated lamely.

"I'm no-o-ot," she said firmly, drawing out the word and frowning at him. "But you never tell us about her! This is the first time ever you've gone out so many times."

Shota rinsed the pan and handed it absently to Hitoshi. "Are you worried I'm not going to spend as much time with you?"

"No!" She stamped her little foot with an expression of irritation on her pale little features. "I want you an' her to be happy, like when you got us!"

His eyes widened and he smiled and nodded at her, though his throat had tightened up and he was close to tears.

Hitoshi saw this and set his towel aside, extending a hand to his sister. "Hey, I think we helped enough for one night, huh? Isn't your favorite kitty show coming on soon?"

Eri squealed happily and let him lead her away so their father could get himself under control. After wiping ineffectually at his eyes with his fingers, he sighed and walked over to check his messages.

Cheshire: Hey, you want to give me an okay on the dress I bought for Friday?

His affirmative reply was immediate; his stomach fluttering with excitement at the idea that she wanted his approval. Her next text popped up on the screen as a photo and he scrambled for the nearest stool to sit down when his legs failed to support him.

Oh. My. God!

She was gorgeous.

The dress was sparkling with rhinestones and sequins, artfully placed so there was just enough attention drawn to the tasteful bodice. It was a slender, floor length piece that flared at the waist to accent her well-rounded hips. And it was black and gray, the colors he had told her he liked last time they had gotten together.

Baby: You're beautiful! Are you wearing that right now?

Inwardly he cursed at himself for simpering like a fool, but he was astounded. He hadn't seen her in formal wear before and the effect was breathtaking.

Cheshire: Yeah, I bought it but then got nervous ♡

Baby: No need, Ches, you look amazing. I can't wait for the exhibit!

Cheshire: You're so sweet, baby. I'm glad you like it :3

He shook his head in stunned disbelief once again and texted that he hoped she slept well tonight. She responded quickly back.

Cheshire: I already miss your arms around me when we nap together, but I can be brave. ;3 Good night, Shota.

He blinked down at the phone, his ears burning.

"Hey, you're blushing," Hitoshi commented from where he stood at his father's side.

Shota jumped and snapped the phone face first down on the table. "Hitoshi!"

"Aw, c'mon, dad. I wouldn't look. Trust me," he shuddered. "I don't need to see anything that would scar my tender young mind."

"Please," Shota snorted. "You came home with a hickey last night that you haven't quite mastered using makeup to hide. You're far from innocent."

"Dad!" He yelped indignantly.

"Oh, shut up. Here, get in the bathroom and let me show you how to apply it better."

"Uh... that would be kinda weird."

"What?" He said drily. "You want to learn, don't you?"

Hitoshi scratched his messy purple hair and then shrugged, the mannerism mimicking Shota so much the older man smiled. "Well... okay."

Later that night when he couldn't sleep, Shota lay in bed looking up random dresses to see if he could find the one she bought. It was either out of date or hand sewn, and he highly doubted the latter as that would likely be out of her price range. Giving up - he figured he probably just couldn't find it -- he scrolled through eBay for awhile until he had an idea.

Shota's gray eyes grew large, and an equally huge smile stretched his lips. He chuckled to himself as he thought of how pleased she would (hopefully) be at the gift he had just thought of. He splurged on her and ended up spending far more than he originally planned, but he was pleased with the results.

He'd pick them up tomorrow before heading over to get her for their date.