"...I'm so sorry, Homura-chan, because of the nature of your wish, the strings of fate have tied us together so tightly...I can't change your wish without changing my own..."

They both know what she means, and they both know her mind is already made up; there is no option of turning back.

"...Then take me with you, Madoka."

Hesitance as a spark of happiness is quickly pushed down; she's a Goddess now, she can't be selfish.

"...Are you sure, Homura-chan? I..."

Hands reach over to cover her own.

"You said that you've seen everything—all the timelines and lifetimes I have been through. Do you think I would even let you disappear without me, Madoka?"

She smiles to herself, already knowing the answer, yet hearing it said brings tears to her eyes all the same.

"...Thank you, Homura-chan... For everything that you have done..."

Hands grip her tighter and she's gifted with the rare sight of Homura smiling.

"Let's go, Madoka. To wherever you need to be."

"Mm... let's go Homura-chan. To our new home."

A flash of light, and then they are gone.

/

"Homura-chan~ I'm back."

Slim fingers slip a bookmark through the pages as lavender eyes peering through red rimmed glasses glance up.

"Welcome back, Madoka."

"Mm," Madoka makes a noncommittal noise, quickly moving to join her at the small table in the middle of the room, the ends of her white gown trailing in after her.

"Would you like some tea?" Homura asks even as she places her book down, already moving to stand.

"That's okay," Madoka tells her, waving her off. "I can get it myself.." She makes no effort to do so however, and places her head onto the table. "Maybe after I rest for a bit..."

"Mmhmm," Homura replies.

Without missing a beat, she continues her walk to the kitchen located in the back of their room.

With her eyes closed, Madoka can hear the gentle tinkling of dishware as Homura putters about. A content smile washes over her face.

She's half asleep when she hears something placed besides her head. Eyes open to stare at a steaming cup of tea and a giant slice of strawberry cake.

Childish excitement manages to push away her weariness, and Madoka sits up with a small grin as she reaches for the fork.

"Itadakimasu!" she says, fork moving to cut into the cake.

Her eyes close as she savors the first bite.

"Mmm...you've gotten a lot better, Homura-chan. I think your skills are up to par with Mami-san's now," she mumbles, eyes opening to continue to shovel the sweet dessert into her mouth.

Homura shrugs lightly, letting the compliment bounce off her. "I have had plenty of time to learn."

She watches as Madoka all but inhales her cake.

Homura's hand reaches for her novel with slight hesitance. "There's more, if you'd like?"

Madoka licks her fork clean once she's finished with the last piece.

She shakes her head. "No, that's okay. You can send it over to the kitchens for the others to try."

"...Are you sure?" Homura asks, tilting her head slightly. She knows that strawberry is Madoka's favourite.

"Mmhmm," Madoka agrees as she finally reaches for her tea to take a sip. "You're making something else, aren't you?" she asks, grinning widely. "Smells like chocolate... maybe toffee..."

"...Yes."

"Need to save room for that. It's—"

They both feel it, the tug from far and beyond. Madoka quickly sets her cup down.

"Save me a slice, okay?" Madoka reminds her as she rises to her feet.

"Of course."

"I'll be back, Homura-chan."

"Have a safe trip, Madoka."

Homura watches as Madoka vanishes into nothing, and like always, her heart clenches slightly. She slowly relaxes, reminding herself that Madoka will be back soon.

She thumbs open her book, fingers gently brushing against the red ribbon that lays across the middle, before her eyes search for where she had left off.

/

"...Homura-chan?"

"Yes, Madoka?" she glances up from her book, a different one this time, and can see Madoka is fidgeting with the dishware on the table.

Goddess or not, she still had habits of 'Kaname Madoka' and Homura can see and feel the hesitance coming off of her in waves.

Something she hasn't seen in a while. "...What's wrong?"

"Mm... It's just..." Madoka shakes her head and the nervousness disappears. "...Are you really happy here, Homura-chan?"

The book is gently lowered to the table, red ribbon marking her place, before she closes it with a snap. It's a question she has heard before—many times in fact, but it has been a while since the last.

Her brows furrow lightly. "...Did you visit them again?"

Madoka flinches, ever so slightly, but Homura sees it because she sees everything about Madoka.

She readjusts her glasses, sighing softly. "Madoka... of course I'm happy here."

"But..." Madoka glances up, blinking when there's a finger suddenly pressed against her lips.

Homura is half out of her seat, arm extended as she frowns.

"No buts," Homura tells her. "I am happy here because Madoka is here. Wherever you are, is where I want to be; to be able to stay with you for eternity is more than a wish come true."

She gently removes her finger and sits back down.

Despite all her knowledge and the fact that she's supposed to be a Goddess, Madoka feels something warm bubble in her chest. She finds herself unable to stop the blush on her cheeks.

"...Homura-chan really says some embarrassing things sometimes," she mumbles.

Reaching for her book, Homura glances at her, and nods. "Because Madoka is stubborn and won't believe me unless I say things like that."

Madoka looks at her, and suddenly there's a smile on her face as she laughs lightly. "Homura-chan... you're too cute sometimes."

Madoka grins wider when she notices Homura deliberately holding the book too close to her face; she can still see the red on the tips of Homura's ears however.

"Homura-chan?"

"Hm..."

"I—"

There is it again and Madoka barely holds back her pout. "I'll tell you later."

"...Have a safe trip, Madoka."

"Mm... I'll be back, Homura-chan."

The room always feels empty when Madoka leaves, and Homura stares at the now vacant spot for a while longer, before finally lowering her novel.

"Madoka... are you happy?"

Her quiet question is left unanswered as the walls whisper nothing around her.

\\

When she glides through the doorway of their room, her greeting dies on her lips as she notices the sleeping figure curled next to the table. A discarded novel lays at her side, dark black hair pooled around her; a sharp contrast against her white dress.

Her expression is peaceful as she sleeps.

Once Madoka settles in next to her, she gently brushes her fingers across her cheeks and forehead. Red rimmed glasses are plucked off for better access, and the reaction is almost instant. Lavender eyes flutter open, unfocused as she peers up in confusion.

"Morning, Homura-chan," Madoka tells her, voice almost teasing.

The stare lasts for a whole minute, neither side relenting, before Homura blinks as she finally remembers.

She sits up quickly, Madoka moving to accommodate her as she tries to locate her glasses.

"Here, Homura-chan." The familiar glasses are slipped back into place, and her eyes quickly adjust to the thick lenses.

"When did you get back?" Homura asks as she struggles to clear the sleepiness from her mind.

"Mm, just a little bit ago."

Homura nods even though Madoka can see that she's still trying to catch up.

"Would you like some tea?" Homura mumbles softly.

Madoka smiles. She always did like catching Homura off-guard. It was the only time the real Homura, the one that she had met so many timelines ago, would finally show herself.

"Actually, a nap doesn't sound too bad."

Homura nods. "I already made the beds, so—"

"Nope," Madoka tells her as she moves closer to slip her arms around Homura's thin waist. "A nap right here sounds good."

Before Homura can protest, Madoka pulls her down, the both of them sharing the one pillow that Homura had occupied earlier.

"M-Madoka...?"

The nervousness in Homura's voice makes Madoka hold her tighter. "Hmmm?"

"..."

Madoka shifts lightly, making herself comfortable. She sighs softly as her eyes close.

"Madoka...?"

"Hmmm?"

"...Welcome back."

"I'm back, Homura-chan."

/

"Ahh, a place with anything we can ask for, yet why am I not surprised to see you off by your lonesome self?"

A brief glance is her only acknowledgement, before she reaches over and turns the page.

"Hey heyyy, I went through all the trouble of trying to find you and this is how you greet me?"

"...Miki Sayaka."

"Yo!" she gives her a playful salute and a wink, which Homura promptly ignores, earning her an exasperated sigh. "Even after all this time, still the same old anti-social transfer student. You'd think spending eternity with Madoka would loosen you up a bit..."

She flips the page again. "...Did you need something, Miki Sayaka."

"Heyyy now," her voice sounds a lot closer, "after so long, I think it's about time we started calling each other more informally, don't you think? You can call me 'Sayaka-chan.'"

"..."

"And I'll call you 'Homura-chan.'"

"...Please don't."

Sayaka grins and takes a seat across from her at the table. "Really? But it kind of suits you, don't you think? Shy and clumsy Homura-chan... those glasses of yours just reminded me how you used to be. Where's that adorable Homura-chan, hm? Did the scary Homura hide her somewhere?"

The book is snapped shut, and placed onto the floor. "...Would you like some tea?"

Sayaka blinks at her in surprise. She shrugs. "Sure."

"There's cake as well," Homura informs her as she stands.

"Did Homura-chan take a page from Mami-san?" Sayaka smirks, leaning back against her arms.

Homura hesitates. "...It reminds Madoka of home."

"Ah..." Sayaka watches her thoughtfully as Homura expertly maneuvers over to the kitchen.

In a few minutes, a cup of tea and a slice of carrot cake is slipped in front of her.

"Thanks."

Homura nods and reclaims her usual seat.

"This is pretty good," Sayaka tells her after she takes a few bites. "Is there someone here in charge of the food? How does that even work here?"

"There's a master kitchen that everyone has access to though you can request a kitchen for your own room, if you prefer. Meals are taken whenever, but most of the girls here tend to follow a set schedule. You'll have to ask Madoka about that."

"Huh," Sayaka says, hands reaching for her tea. "Why am I not surprised you still don't play nice with the others?"

She takes a sip before turning back to her cake.

Homura shifts her shoulders slightly in a half shrug. "I have no reason to communicate with anyone else."

Sayaka points a fork at her, immediately pulling it back when she notices a piece of cream on it falling off. "Whoops. Tissue, tissue."

Homura watches as she cleans her mess, pushing the used napkins to the side once she's done.

"Anyways, as I was saying, you should be more friendly, you know? Spending an eternity by yourself doesn't really sound like fun. Aren't you already tired of being alone?"

Homura merely gathers her book back into her hands, and thumbs through to her last marked page. "I am not spending it by myself," as Sayaka opens her mouth to refute that claim, Homura continues, "I remain here because I am waiting."

"...Waiting? For what?"

"For Madoka to return from wherever she has gone to."

Sayaka slowly lowers her fork back onto the plate. "...How is she, anyways?"

"Hm?" Homura keeps her attention on the book, eyes glancing to Sayaka briefly.

"I mean... She's... It's been..." Sayaka's shoulders droop, and she places her hands onto the table. "...I can't believe I forgot her."

Lavender eyes flicker to her direction. "...It was her wish."

"She was.. IS my best friend. To forget she ever existed..." Hands tighten into fists.

"Mm... Once again, it was her wish. Her existence had to be erased as she became the embodiment of hope. Not even her family remembers her."

Takkun was slowly growing up and losing his memories as well.

Sayaka slams her fist into the table. If it wasn't magical, it would've shattered under her strength.

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" she demands.

"No."

Homura's bluntness has the anger in Sayaka deflating quickly. She sighs. "You... You're still the same. Which means that Madoka is probably the same—even under all that."

Homura nods. "She is the same, yet at the same time, not. It happens to anyone who experiences eternity."

Sayaka finishes her cake quietly, and Homura returns to her book.

"Hey, you never did answer."

"Hm."

"Who baked this cake?"

"...You never asked that."

Sayaka sighs. "Well, I'm asking now. She could probably give Mami-san a run for her money. If... no, I guess, when Mami-san gets here, it'd be interesting to pit the two of them together."

Homura flips the page slowly. "...I have no interest in participating in a battle against Tomoe Mami."

"Eh?" Sayaka takes a sip of her tea as Homura's words fly over her head. It takes a moment, before her eyes widen and she spits out a mouthful of liquid onto the table. "Since when could you bake!? I remember you burning water!"

Homura calmly places her book down and starts wiping the mess with napkins pulled from nowhere. "Time is limitless here, Miki Sayaka. Mastering anything is easy when there is no beginning, and no end."

"Huh..." Sayaka appears thoughtful as the table sparkles clean once more.

"Homura-chan~ I'm back~" a familiar voice calls out.

As Madoka steps through the doorway, her eyes are immediately drawn to Sayaka.

She offers her childhood friend a smile. "Sayaka-chan! So you managed to find her."

"H-Hey, Madoka," Sayaka waves awkwardly, still not used to the taller and more adult-like Madoka that stares back at her. She had noticed earlier that she's now as tall as her, though still not as filled out.

"Did Homura-chan offer you cake?" Madoka asks as she takes a seat at the table, immediately noticing the plate. "She makes the best, don't you think? Maybe better than Mami-san, though I guess you would know if that was actually true or not?"

"Welcome back, Madoka," Homura greets her. "I'll get you your tea and cake."

"Thank you, Homura-chan," Madoka tells her with an affectionate smile. She turns back to face Sayaka. "Have you had a chance to look around, Sayaka-chan? I hope you like how I decorated your room... I wasn't sure if you'd prefer it to look like the one you had at home or to change it up a bit. Just tell me if there's anything you need, and I'll fix it."

"Ah," Sayaka scratches her head nervously. "It's alright. I mean—I like it! A lot. Y-Yeah..."

Madoka stares, expression curious. Her attention is temporarily diverted as Homura places a cup and a slice of carrot cake in front of her.

"Thank you, Homura-chan," Madoka murmurs, before she turns back to Sayaka. "Sayaka-chan?"

"Eh? Ah?" Sayaka looks like a deer caught in headlights.

Madoka frowns. "...I'm still the same, Sayaka-chan. You don't have to be so nervous around me."

Homura nods wisely, once again seated as she takes a sip of her own cup of tea. "Yes, the same Madoka is still there, the one that sometimes trips over her too long gown, or the one—"

"Ahh!" Madoka quickly gets up from her seat, finger pointing at Homura. "Homura-chan is being mean! You promised you'd never mention that to Sayaka-chan and the others!"

Homura places her cup down onto the table with a light clatter. "Mm... I never remember promising such a thing Madoka. I only agreed that I would try not to mention it."

Madoka shakes her head vehemently. "Nope! You definitely promised! I remember!"

This time Homura frowns at her. "...I did no such thing. There you go again, misusing your powers—"

"Hmph," Madoka turns away from her, sitting to start on her cake. "I don't need to use my powers to remember that, Homura-chan."

"Madoka—"

Their argument is interrupted as Sayaka finds herself laughing at their exchange.

"Y-You definitely are the same Madoka," Sayaka grins, wiping the tears from her eyes. "And Homura... you've changed. You've gotten softer."

Homura looks away as Madoka throws Sayaka a smile; she's glad to see that Sayaka is finally relaxing in front of her.

"Welcome home, Sayaka-chan," she tells her warmly.

"I'm home, Madoka!"

\\

"Huh... nice place you got here."

From her position on the floor, Homura first notices a set of familiar red boots. Her eyes continue up, past the red magical uniform and finally landing to the owner's face.

"...Sakura Kyouko." The surprise is evident in her voice and Homura sits up, placing her book next to her as she regards the girl carefully. "I would've thought you to be the last of the group to arrive..."

Kyouko easily clears the distance between them and with a grin, she grabs Homura in a headlock and immediately musses up her hair.

"W-What are—S-Sakura Kyouko!"

Homura suddenly finds herself able to breathe again as Kyouko lets go, dropping into the seat next to her.

Lavender eyes watch her warily as she fixes her glasses back into place. Once that is done, her hands start working on her hair.

Kyouko grins. "You know, I always thought you'd be the last to go."

Homura blinks, hands lowering to rest in her lap.

"You always had that mysterious air about you, you know? You were weak at first, but there was something about you... Like you could take on the world and still fight no matter how hard things got..." Kyouko shakes her head. "Imagine our surprise when we learned you were the first to be taken away by the cycles... Idiot."

Not quite sure how to react, Homura remains staring.

She remembers Madoka mentioning how she existed in the new world as well, but she has no clear memories of that.

Kyouko places her arms onto the table and rests her chin in her hands.

"...And now that I'm here, I finally remember everything..." Kyouko sighs. "I always did believe there was a Heaven...but," she glances around, "I assumed it'd be unobtainable after... everything."

Homura nods.

"Anyways," that familiar fanged grin locks back into place. "Someone told me there's delicious cake waiting for me if I find you, and since this is Heaven it better be the best I have ever tasted!"

"... You are the same as ever, Sakura Kyouko..."

"Nope!" Kyouko shakes her head. "No full names here in Heaven, Homura. Kyouko is fine."

"..." Homura ignores her request, standing to retrieve the tea and cake.

"Hurry up, Homura!" Kyouko calls out as she watches her walk to the kitchen. "I'm starving here! I just might turn into skin and bones waiting for you."

Homura sighs to herself, reluctantly moving a little bit faster.

Soon, a steaming cup of tea is placed in front of Kyouko, who promptly ignores it as she dives into the slice of creme brulee cheesecake. She devours it within a few minutes, immediately shoving the empty plate at Homura once she's done.

"More."

She polishes off half the cake by herself. Homura knows she can keep eating, and she's slightly surprised at the constraint as Kyouko finally stops, and pats her stomach in satisfaction.

"I take it it was to your liking?" Homura asks as she looks up from her novel.

"Yeah, pretty good. Guess I won't be missing Mami's cakes for a while if this is what you have to offer here," Kyouko tells her with a grin. "Did you make that yourself?"

"Mmhmm," Homura nods.

Kyouko smirks and leans forward. "You know, I had this really good apple cake once... Mami could never get close to what I remember even though her cakes were still really good. You think you could give it a shot?"

Homura glances at her briefly. "...If you remember how it looks and can describe the taste, I can try."

Kyouko blinks in surprise. "Seriously?" She laughs to herself. "You've... you've changed, eh, Homura? I think this place has been good on you."

Homura doesn't reply, attention turned back to her book.

"Hey."

"...yes?"

"...Sorry, for everything."

She lowers her book. "...What are you apologizing for?"

Kyouko leans back against her arms to stare up at the night sky that serves as the ceiling. "You know, you're supposed to repent for all your sins and stuff before they let you into heaven. But... I didn't even remember what I did... until I came here." Kyouko shakes her head. "You've... faced a lot of challenges, you know? And I never did once make it easy on you. So, I'm sorry for that."

"Hm." Homura turns back to her book. Her fingers brush against the red ribbon and she pauses. "...There's no need for you to apologize, I myself have—"

Kyouko lowers herself onto the floor, her loud sigh interrupting whatever Homura was about to say. "Whatever, things like that don't really matter now, do they? You forgive me, I forgive you. It's all the same. We're already in Heaven, right?"

Homura nods even though she knows Kyouko is no longer looking at her.

"Yeah..." she agrees softly. "Heaven..."

/

"...Homura-chan?"

She lowers her book, immediately looking up. "Welcome back, Madoka."

"...I'm back," Madoka tells her.

Homura stares at her curiously, watching as Madoka makes her way into the room, arms behind her as she hides something.

Homura slips her bookmark into the pages, and shuts the book before placing it aside. She completely diverts her full attention to Madoka, who takes a seat with her arms still hidden.

She waits patiently for her explanation, and knows it has something to do with the sadness that Madoka is also trying her best to hide.

"...I saw Mami-san earlier."

That means that the blonde will be visiting here soon... but, that also meant...

"...Takkun's gotten so big now."

That Madoka visited her family.

"...How are they doing?" Homura asks.

Madoka gives her a watery smile. "Very good. Mama and Papa look the same as always and they're still getting along great."

Homura nods and places her hands in her lap. "Madoka—"

"And then," Madoka interrupts her as she finally reveals what she has hidden.

A bottle of alcohol is placed atop the table and Homura stares at it blankly.

"Mm. I made a promise with Mama that I would drink with her when I turned 20," Madoka explains.

Two empty glasses are suddenly besides the now opened bottle.

Madoka gives her a smile. "Drink with me, Homura-chan?"

Though her appearance has never changed ever since making her wish, Homura knows she has lived a long time, and has since passed the age limit.

She nods lightly.

She has never had alcohol before, and watches with interest as Madoka pours the amber liquid into the cups, filling them halfway, adding a few ice cubes after.

"Mama always drinks this at home," Madoka tells her as she pushes a cup towards Homura.

She can smell the strong waft of alcohol and it makes her nose twitch, but she obediently gathers the cool glass in her hand and holds it up.

"Cheers," Madoka smiles.

They clink their glasses together.

Tentative sips and Homura hides her disgust a lot better than Madoka.

"Nn..." Madoka shudders at the taste. "How is it, Homura-chan?"

"...Bitter."

Madoka nods, lowering the glass onto the table. "...I wonder why Mama likes drinking this so much...? She said this is how adults cope, because the older you get, the harder it is to bounce back from things..."

She knows why, but she still doesn't quite understand.

"Mm..." Homura takes another sip, this time keeping the liquid in her mouth as she swishes it around, trying to acclimate to the bitterness.

She now knows to expect the burn of the alcohol as it slides down her throat, and blinks when she tastes a hint of plum in the aftertaste.

"Do you like it, Homura-chan?" Madoka asks her curiously.

"...It's interesting," Homura replies, watching as Madoka peers into the cup.

Just as she's about to take another gulp, Homura places a gentle hand on hers.

"Take a small sip, and keep it in your mouth for a little while before swallowing slowly."

"Mmm..." Madoka follows as directed.

She makes another face when the liquid goes down, but she's surprised when her tongue hits that taste of plum.

"Huh..."

Homura stares down at her cup, expression thoughtful. "...I think, adults must like alcohol so much because it reminds them of the things they experience in their daily lives... Like alcohol, life is very bitter, and day by day, their complaints, their shortcomings must be swallowed. But, maybe if they stop and drink a little bit slower, they're able to appreciate things they may not see hidden in the background..."

She looks up to see Madoka giving her a fond smile. She blushes, eyes suddenly concentrated on her cup.

"...That sounds like a good reason, Homura-chan," Madoka says softly.

Homura nods, and takes another sip. The alcohol makes her stomach warm, and she glances over to see that Madoka has already stopped drinking.

Madoka catches her gaze and gives her a sheepish smile. "I think it'll take a while to get used to... you can keep drinking if you want to, Homura-chan."

Homura shakes her head and places the glass down. "Madoka."

"Hmm?"

"...Are you happy?"

Golden eyes turn to her. She can only blink as she sees the kindness in them.

"...If I told you I wasn't, what would you do, Homura-chan?"

Homura stares, face serious. "I'd do anything to make you happy, Madoka."

"Mm..." Madoka closes her eyes, smile still on her lips. "But what can you do, Homura-chan? You still have your magic, but you can no longer go back in time." Eyes open and she finds Homura watching her closely. "The only one who really has power here is me, Homura-chan... You'd have to go against me to do anything."

She can see the internal debate in Homura's eyes, the way her body tenses as she tries to strengthen her resolve.

Madoka isn't afraid, however, and she merely moves over from her seat until she's sitting right in front of Homura.

"Homura-chan...?"

"...?"

"...You'd do anything to make me happy...?"

A nod.

"Really...?"

"Of course."

"Mm..." Madoka glances down briefly and leans in closer. "Anything...?" her voice is soft and if it wasn't for the quiet of the room, Homura would need to strain to hear her.

"Y-Yes...?"

"Then... kiss me, Homura-chan..."

Madoka watches as Homura immediately leans back, away from Madoka, face red and eyes wide in shock.

"W-What?" she stammers out.

Madoka pouts at her. "You said you'd do anything, Homura-chan."

Unable to form proper words, Homura merely chokes on air as she continues to stare at Madoka.

"Were you lying, Homura-chan?"

Homura gulps nervously. "I-I was... I mean... t-the... y-your..."

"Homura-chan?" Madoka leans closer.

As Homura scrambles to get away, her hand slips on her book, effectively sending her tumbling onto her back.

Seizing the opportunity, Madoka is straddling her in a split second.

"Homura-chan...?" she peers down at her.

Homura turns her head, scrunching her eyes shut. "Y-Yes, M-M-Madoka?"

"...When I said I saw everything about you... I saw everything," Madoka tells her as she places a gentle hand to Homura's cheek, stroking it softly. "I've been waiting for you to make a move, but you've been content with just being by my side even though I know you want more... Homura-chan...?"

"..."

"...I don't mind if it's Homura-chan..."

Lavender eyes open in surprise, though she shudders when she notices how close Madoka's face really is.

"I'm not moving until you kiss me, Homura-chan."

"..."

"Mm... you're too shy, Homura-chan. I—" Madoka growls—actually growls— when she feels that tug. She throws Homura a glare when she sees her sighing in relief. "...we will continue this when I come back."

And then she's gone.

Homura sits up slowly. She places a shaking hand over her face, pushing her glasses up slightly to rub her eyes.

At most, she had been expecting to fight Madoka, willing to face hell and fire to win.

Out of everything, she did not expect this.

Her face burns.

She's not sure how long she's sitting there, trying to calm her heart, but a familiar voice suddenly interrupts her thoughts. Her head snaps up as Mami walks into the room.

"...I'm sorry for startling you. I've been calling you for a while..." the blonde offers her a hesitant smile and approaches the table. "May I sit here?" she inquires politely.

Homura clears her throat, readjusting her glasses as she tries to compose herself.

She nods. "Y-Yes. I... would you like some tea? There's cake as well..."

Mami gives her a charming smile. "That sounds divine, thank you."

"I-I'll be right back," Homura tells her as she stands to head to the kitchen.

Mami nods and spends the time waiting looking around the room curiously. The alcohol on the table has her wondering, but she decides it's none of her business and disregards it.

Finally calm and more or less back to her normal self, Homura returns, setting the tea and cake in front of Mami. She removes the alcohol from the table, and when she comes back the second time around, her hand is holding another cup of tea.

She settles into her seat, before she sips at her tea calmly.

"Mm..." Mami seems to be enjoying the snack. "This cake is very good. I've never had it before, what is this called?"

"...Fachertorte. It's an European recipe."

"Ah." Mami reaches for her tea. "It pairs really well with this blend. I hate to admit it, but I think you're better at baking than I am..."

Homura shakes her head, and gestures to the many bookshelves lining the walls. "They're just recipes I follow... nothing special."

Mami smiles at her as she takes another sip. "Now, no need to be shy, Akemi-san. I have experience with baking, and I know a good baker when I see one."

Homura remains quiet.

The conversation drops and they enjoy the camaraderie as they drink their tea in silence.

Cup almost empty, Mami sets it down, and gives Homura another smile. "That was delicious, Akemi-san. Thank you."

"Would you like a refill?"

Mami shakes her head. "No, thank you. I plan on heading over to the kitchens soon to help out with the meals."

Homura nods.

"Akemi-san?"

"Yes, Tomoe Mami?"

The familiar naming has Mami smiling lightly. "Perhaps we should discard formalities considering where we are, Homura. You can call me Mami."

Homura glances at her, instantly reminded of Sayaka and Kyouko, and their similar words.

Mami folds her hands onto the table, and clears her throat. "Now, what seems to be bothering you, Homura?"

Homura jumps slightly in panic, but remembers her state of confusion that Mami had walked in on. She shakes her head, not at all wanting to admit her rather embarrassing situation.

"...I'm sure it has something to do with Madoka." Mami knows she has hit the jackpot when Homura visibly flinches. She places a hand to her chin and peers at Homura curiously. "Did the two of you have a fight?"

Homura debates briefly. Did they? No... it wasn't really a fight... She shakes her head again.

"Ah, perhaps I worded it a bit wrong. Did you two have a disagreement?"

Homura pauses, before nodding hesitantly.

"Hmm," Mami taps her chin thoughtfully. "Well, if it's the two of you, I think it'll all work out somehow."

"I'm back~" a familiar voice calls out as a figure rushes into the room.

Homura turns wide eyes towards the entrance.

"Mami-san!" Madoka gives her a smile. "It's good to see you."

Mami nods. "Yes, it's good to see you again, Madoka."

"W-Welcome back, Madoka..." Homura greets her automatically.

Madoka immediately zeroes in her, completely disregarding Mami.

"I'll be right with you, Mami-san," Madoka says distractedly as she approaches Homura who's now staring at her with fear in her eyes. "Homura-chan... don't make that face, please."

Madoka takes a seat in front of her, hand reaching to cup her cheek.

Homura flinches and Madoka's lips tug into a frown. "... I know you want this, Homura-chan."

Homura closes her eyes and shakes her head. She tenses when she feels a weight against her forehead as her glasses are pulled away.

"...Homura-chan? Please open your eyes..."

She hesitantly cracks an eye open, and finds herself staring straight into Madoka's golden ones.

"...You know? I want Homura-chan to be happy too..." Madoka whispers softly. "After all you've been through, all I want is for you to be finally happy. I want you to be selfish, to tell me what will make you happy. Can you do that, Homura-chan...?"

Homura blinks and is surprised to find her vision even more blurred from the tears in her eyes.

"I-I..."

"Hmm?" Madoka gives her an encouraging smile.

"... I want Madoka to be happy..." Homura tells her. She blinks and a tear runs down her cheek.

Madoka reaches up to wipe them dry. "...you know what will make me happy, Homura-chan..."

Homura swallows nervously and more tears appear. "...Your family..."

"...Is doing fine without me."

"Y-You should be there with them..."

"Mm, but who would be with you then, Homura-chan?" Madoka asks as she gently brushes more tears away.

"I..."

"Hmm?"

Homura closes her eyes. "I...want to be with you forever, Madoka..."

"...we're already here, for eternity, Homura-chan..."

Homura nods.

"But are you happy with that?"

Her eyes open and she finds herself trapped in Madoka's piercing stare.

"...are you satisfied that we remain as friends...?"

Homura hesitates and shakes her head. "N-No..." she mumbles.

"What do you want, Homura-chan?"

"I... I don't know..." the confusion is evident in her voice.

Madoka knows this is because for all that Homura has experienced, she's still the same naive and innocent girl on the inside.

"We can just take this one step at a time, Homura-chan."

"O-Okay..."

A pause.

"...Can I kiss you, Homura-chan?"

"..."

"A 'welcome back kiss?'"

"..."

"Homura-chan?"

"...O-okay..."

Madoka smiles to herself. "Okay, I'm going to kiss you now, Homura-chan. Okay?"

"...O-Okay..."

Madoka leans in closer and Homura shuts her eyes as she feels something soft brush against her lips. It lasts only for a brief moment, before the contact is gone.

"See, that wasn't too bad," Madoka tells her as she slowly opens her eyes. "Mm... later on we'll move on to more adult kisses," she grins as Homura blushes. "When you're ready, of course."

Homura stares down into her lap. "Madoka—"

There it is again.

Madoka sighs softly, but brightens as a thought occurs. "Do I get a 'have a safe trip' kiss?"

"W-What?" Homura blinks in surprise, but Madoka merely gives her another chaste kiss on the lips. Her glasses are then slipped back into place.

"Sorry, Homura-chan, we'll practice more later. I'm looking forward to the 'welcome back' kiss though," Madoka tells her with a wink.

She pulls away and disappears.

Homura zones out as she recalls Madoka's soft lips. Her eyes widen as she glances around.

The room is completely empty, and there's no trace of Mami anywhere. She must have left earlier, hopefully before anything had started.

Homura presses her hands against her cheeks, trying to will the embarrassment away.

/

"Hey, Homura?" Pause. "Eh? She's not here?"

Homura peeks out from further inside the kitchen to see Sayaka looking around in confusion.

"...Yes?" her quiet voice still manages to carry across the wide room, and Sayaka looks up.

"Hey, there you are. I don't think I've ever seen you anywhere else but in front of that table," Sayaka states as she strides on over. "What are you making this time?"

"...Pudding," she answers gesturing to the multiple amounts of cups lining the counters.

"Wow..." Sayaka blinks at just how many there are. "Made enough for everyone, eh?"

Homura nods and continues to fill the cups with the pudding mixture. "Did you need something?"

"Eh," Sayaka shrugs.

She takes a few seconds to look around the kitchen. It's the first time she's actually stepped inside and it's a lot bigger than she thought it would be.

"Nothing really, just some of the girls wanted to go to the beach... thought maybe you'd like to come."

"...I see." Homura acknowledges her request, but continues her arduous task of pouring.

"Guess you're a bit busy?" Sayaka asks after a moment.

"Just a bit."

Sayaka sighs. "Alright, I'll tell the others. Well, at least the pudding will make them feel better that they were once again rejected by the Goddess's wife."

There's a pause as Homura barely manages to keep the hold on the pot.

She turns slowly to Sayaka, frown on her lips "...What did you call me?"

Sayaka smirks and places her hands behind her head. "That's what everyone calls you. Have been calling you—even before I came here. 'The Goddess and her loyal subject.' 'The Goddess and her wife.' 'The Goddess and her mysterious lover.' The list is endless."

There's a clank as Homura sets the pot gently onto the stove, careful not to spill the contents.

She places a hand to her forehead. "...What..."

"See what happens when you don't go out?" Sayaka grins as she starts exiting the kitchen. "There's sooo many rumors floating around—don't tell me you didn't expect this? A place with just girls... it's like the perfect place for gossip and rumors to begin."

Homura shakes her head.

"Anyways, I'll tell them the ever diligent wife is too busy preparing dessert for tonight~ So they'll forgive you. See you!"

"W-Wait..."

Sayaka is already gone though, and Homura lowers her head in exasperation.

\\

"Yo~ Homura? Homura?"

Kyouko enters the room, blinking in surprise when she finds it empty. She scratches her head in confusion and if it wasn't for the slip of paper in her pockets, she would just come back later.

She heads towards the kitchen, but finds that empty as well.

"Really? I didn't even think she ever moved from that spot," Kyouko mutters to herself as she exits the kitchen. "Hm... now that I think about it, I've never seen the rest of this room. They gotta sleep somewhere, right?"

A quick check and her eyes immediately spot a door in the far left wall, hidden from view from the middle of the room, but visible from the kitchen.

"Ah ha," Kyouko snaps her fingers and grins to herself. "She's gotta be in there."

As she approaches the door, she frowns and hesitantly places a hand on the handle. "I mean... it's not like she's busy, right? Or... hmmmm... well. I'm pretty sure Madoka isn't here... so they can't be doing anything..."

She shakes her head.

"Whatever."

Without further preamble, she twists the doorknob, muttering in her head that if Homura really wanted privacy she would've locked it, and then she's pushing open the door. She doesn't know what she had been expecting, but she blinks as she stares into a plain hallway that has four doors, two on each side.

"Hmm... Okay. So now I gotta find which one she's behind. Geez, why couldn't you just be baking or something? But then again, that's kind of why I'm here... Ah... Sayaka's right, I talk to myself too much."

The first door she opens is their bedroom—shared, but she's not surprised. There's two beds, one with pink sheets that look untouched, another one with purple sheets and various plushies scattered around. She shrugs and closes the room, not at all interested in the fairly muted decor.

She tries the next door that sits directly across.

It's another plain room, filled with various sets of things, and boxes.

Kyouko closes that door after a quick glance.

The next room has her staring in surprise—it's lined with an assortment of weapons—submachine guns, pistols, and she's pretty sure she recognizes a rocket launcher in there hidden amongst the grenades and bombs. There's also a note on the front, written in pink handwriting that reads: 'Look but do not touch.'

Kyouko is fairly certain these are Homura's collection of weapons she had once used to fight Witches.

"..." She shakes her head and gently closes that door, afraid that anything too loud might set off traps or something.

Which now leaves the last door in the hallway.

"Alright... if you're not here, Homura, I have no idea where you're at," she mutters as she walks over.

Nodding to herself, she twists the handle and pushes it open.

There's a pause as she glances back to the hallway to make sure that yes, she's in the correct place.

She shrugs, and steps inside.

Or, more like outside.

As her boots take her down a cobble stoned path, her head turns to look around at the random fauna lining the large garden. There are Cherry Blossom trees that are in full bloom, orchids and lilies and roses scattered all around. There's also a small lake with a red coloured arch bridge over it; she briefly wonders if there's fish in there. She continues onwards, noticing that there's a hollow 'tock' sound every so often. As she approaches the lake, she realizes the sound is coming from a piece of bamboo that fills with water, before emptying and see-sawing down to hit a large rock nearby.

"Huh... this place... is so..." she pauses as she tries to think of a word. "...old-fashioned?" She nods. "Yeah... weird though, thought Homura loved that giant clock thing in her living room."

She crosses the bridge, her boots clicking on the wooden surface and leading her further in. She continues following the path, and soon, her ears pick up a sound that reminds her of twinkling crystals or glass.

A continuous winding road lined with vibrant green shrubs, and finally, she's close enough that she recognizes the sounds she hadn't been able to place. They remind her of the hymns they had sung in their church.

The path opens up, and she finds herself in a large clearing with Homura right in the middle, sitting in front of a pure white, grand piano.

Whatever song Homura had been practicing echoes away as lavender eyes stare.

Kyouko pauses, wondering if Homura will be angry at her for intruding on a very private place—but to her surprise, Homura merely shifts a few papers around, and then turns her attention to Kyouko.

"...Sakura Kyouko."

"Yo, Homura," Kyouko tells her as she continues in until she's right in front of the piano. "I didn't know you played?"

Homura gives her that shrug again—that one that she always gives whenever someone mentions something about her.

"...Did you need something?" Homura asks in that quiet voice of hers.

Though Homura is looking, Kyouko can tell that she is not really paying attention. She tiptoes slightly to peer over the piano, where she can see that Homura still has her fingers poised atop the keys.

Returning to a relaxed posture, Kyouko nods, before digging through her pockets. A slightly crushed piece of paper is pulled out, which she holds out to Homura.

"What is this?" Homura asks, hands reaching.

Her eyes quickly skim the words and she looks at Kyouko for further clarification.

"Well," Kyouko tells her as she points. "They're orders."

"..."

"This is probably why you haven't been baking much, eh?" Kyouko runs a hand across the smooth surface of the piano. "Anyways, some of the girls, especially the younger ones, have been really sad that the Goddess's wife is no longer making cakes..."

"..." Homura stares at the paper once more, and then back to Kyouko. "Tomoe Mami can fulfill these requests, if I'm not mistaken..."

Kyouko grins. "It's like, with that apple cake I told you about; Mami's baking is good, yeah, but it's not the same. A lot of them are really used to your cakes..."

"...I can give Tomoe Mami the recipes."

Kyouko waggles a finger. "Still not the same. They want to taste the ones you bake. Face it, Homura, you got some fans here."

Homura places the paper down onto the piano, brow furrowing at the list. "...This is more than needed for everyone here."

Kyouko smirks. "I'm surprised you even know how many people are here—I don't think I've seen you out there once."

Her words are accusing, but Homura doesn't rise to the bait. "I generally know how many there are... or Madoka tells me."

"Huhh... anyways, well, the reason why there are so many cakes is—everyone wants to have a party soon."

"...a party," Homura repeats, almost for confirmation.

"Yeah. A party—in heaven. You know, the younger ones... even though this place has like everything, it doesn't have everything, you know? And some of them have a harder time adjusting... We got to talking, and found out that some of them have never had a birthday party, either. Ever."

Homura sighs softly. "I see... and when is this celebration?"

Kyouko grins at how easily she had accepted; she always knew that under Homura's hard exterior was soft jelly. "I'm not sure. Maybe in a few days. Will that be enough time for you to prepare things?"

"...I can make them whenever. I just need a set time."

"Hmm," Kyouko looks at her curiously, wondering how much access Homura still had to her time powers considering everyone kept most of their magic when they came here. It would explain a lot of things. "The sooner, the better."

Homura nods. "Alright... I can finish everything by tomorrow. Is that all?"

Kyouko thinks. "Ah. Right, and... well, we were discussing birthday presents and stuff..."

"I see..."

"And... well..." Kyouko trails off, knowing that this is the hardest part of her assigned task.

"...What is it?"

"...they kind of want you to attend. You and Madoka."

Homura blinks. "...why?"

Kyouko tilts her head back, not at all surprised by the clear skies that hang overhead. "Well... you know how I said you have fans? I really wasn't kidding... You know how Madoka is kinda like, the Ultimate Goddess here? Because of your relationship with her, you are also kinda like, the Ultimate Goddess's...ultimate person... thing."

"..."

"And thennn..." Kyouko continues with a shrug. "To have the two most important people here to attend their celebration, would be the 'Ultimate gift,' or something. I'm not sure, but they really want you two to attend. I think they just want to confirm that you exist."

Homura lightly presses down on a key, frowning. "Madoka... will go. She loves parties... though there's a chance she'll be called away..."

"Yeah," Kyouko nods. "And you?"

Homura closes her eyes, fingers splaying over the white keys. Her hands expertly run through the scales even though she doesn't press hard enough to make a sound.

"I make no guarantees," she eventually tells her as her eyes open.

"Hmm... well, on the day of, I'll be sure to come here to pick you up." Kyouko replies with a grin.

Homura glances at her briefly, knowing that she isn't lying. "Hm."

Kyouko yawns suddenly. "Man, this place is really relaxing. Mind if I take a nap here for a bit? For the travel back?"

Homura hesitates.

"You can play, the sound won't bother me."

"...Alright."

Kyouko throws her another grin. "Cool, thanks, Homura."

Homura ignores her, slipping the small paper from Kyouko safely into her dress pocket, before staring at the sheet music resting atop the music rack.

She closes her eyes briefly, letting the tranquil sounds of the garden wash over her. She opens her eyes and positions her hands to the correct keys.

Kyouko smiles from under one of the nearby trees, easily losing herself to the haunting music that surrounds them as Homura expertly plays.

/

"Thank you very much, Homura," Mami tells her with a smile. "I know I made copies before, but they somehow keep getting lost in the kitchens."

Homura stares, finding half truths in her words, but the fact that Mami still remains in front of her tells her she is also here for another reason.

"Did you need anything else, Tomoe Mami? I need to get back to my preparations, as do you..." her voice trails off.

Mami tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear, the only indication of her nervousness, and gives her another smile.

"Well, I was just wondering how you're doing," she explains. "The few times I have dropped by, unfortunately you weren't in the main room."

And they both know she's polite enough not to wander further in, unlike some people.

"Hm, but," Mami gives her a wider smile, "I can see that my worries were for nothing. You seem happier, Homura. It looks good on you."

Homura blinks as she mulls over Mami's words. Is she happier?

She thinks to Madoka and her usual blank face softens.

She smiles lightly. "...I guess I am."

"Good," Mami nods. "You know, in our original world...I was worried about Madoka and her wish; it was, and still is such a heavy burden... And even though, we're here, and Madoka is a Goddess now... I can't still help but see the same naive girl I took under my wing all those lifetimes ago. But..." she grins this time and winks at Homura. "I'm not sure what it was, but I knew she'd be okay. And now, I understand why."

Homura's brow furrows lightly. "...What do you mean?"

Mami remains smiling that mysterious smile. "I'm glad that there's someone here that Madoka can be selfish to. We all know that she loves everyone and everything equally, but you... you are special to her, Homura. And I know she is the same to you." Mami bows lightly and turns around with another wink. "I'll leave you be for now. I need to make sure that Kyouko hasn't decided to eat all the food in my absence. I hope to see you at the celebration!"

Homura watches as she waves, before hurriedly walking away, no doubt truly worried about Kyouko and the bottomless pit that she calls her stomach.

She shakes her head, but there's a smile on her lips as she heads back inside.

\\

As she sifts the flour into another bowl, hands snake around her waist, and there's that familiar warmth as a body slides up against her.

"Welcome back, Madoka," Homura tells her as she glances behind her briefly, before continuing with her task.

"I'm back, Homura-chan," Madoka murmurs softly into her ear. "Mm... Homura-chan smells like strawberries..."

"Are you sure it's not the bowl of strawberries nearby?" Homura counters dryly. "Or the strawberry cakes surrounding us...?"

Madoka smiles to herself, face pressing against Homura's neck. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure. You know how they say each person has their own individual scent? Homura-chan's is strawberry... Mm..." Her eyes open, and she grins. "I bet you taste like strawberries too, Homura-chan..."

Hands gripping the metal sifter pause. She turns to meet Madoka halfway as she leans in close, lips pressing against lips. Madoka takes the lead, deepening the kiss. When she finally pulls away, they're breathless and like always, Homura's glasses are crooked and her face is flushed.

"...Well?" Homura asks curiously, readjusting her glasses.

Madoka licks her lips. "Mm... I was close... you still taste sweet, but... chocolatey."

Homura smiles, and gestures towards one of the counters lined with cakes that are missing slices: her trial batches.

"Help yourself to a slice. I would get it for you, but..."

Madoka places one last kiss on her neck, before she steps away. "No need, Homura-chan, I know you're busy."

She eagerly makes her way towards the cakes and her eyes rove around, trying to figure out which one looks the most appealing at the moment.

"Which one should I eat, Homura-chan?"

"Hm?" Homura turns to her, and stares at the cakes briefly. "The one in the 3rd row, the 7th from the right. You haven't had that one in a while."

Madoka counts the plates and points at a 3 layered cake that is coloured brown, pink and white and covered with chocolate icing.

"This one?" she asks, waiting for Homura's confirmation.

"Mmhmm," Homura agrees, attention turning back to the flour once she sees Madoka lifting the correct cake.

Madoka carefully extracts a slice, and places it on a nearby plate that Homura had most likely used earlier to taste test her food.

"What's this one called?" she asks curiously, cutting a small piece with her fork.

"Neapolitan."

Madoka thinks for a moment. "No wonder it looks familiar. This is one of the first cakes you made." She takes a bite, letting the three flavours mesh on her tongue. Her eyes light up at the rich yet not too overbearing taste. "MMm... Homura-chan, why did you stop making this? I remember really liking this."

"Yes, and I did make it quite a bit," Homura comments without turning around. "People starting complaining though, if you remember. Since you only eat a slice, at most, with every batch, it was always up to the other girls to finish it... They wrote you a very polite yet firm letter, if I recall..."

"Ehehe," Madoka gives Homura a sheepish smile. "I do kind of remember that."

"I still have the letter, if you'd like to see," Homura offers.

Madoka sticks out her tongue. "Mm... but it's been a while since I've really seen you baking this much," Madoka points out as she turns around to grab another slice. "Kind of reminds me of when we first came here."

Homura is quiet, absorbed in her mixing. Madoka finishes her second slice just as quickly, placing the plate back down onto the counter when she's done.

She watches Homura for a moment.

"You should've used the master kitchen instead. It's much bigger," Madoka tells her as she once again attaches herself to Homura's back. "I was there earlier. Everyone was having fun prepping for the celebration."

She leans forward and rests her chin on Homura's shoulder, watching as deft hands mix and stir.

"Hm."

Madoka closes her eyes, relishing in their shared warmth. "Are you going to go? It's turning into something amazing. I hear they're going to set up a fireworks competition."

"...Please tell me Sakura Kyouko is not in charge."

Madoka grins, eyes still closed. "It was Sayaka's idea actually. Maybe you should give them some pointers in mixing gunpowder? They might end up losing limbs. It won't hurt, but regrowing them is still rather unpleasant..."

Her hands slip under Homura's apron, running up her sides and the other girl jumps slightly at the touch.

"What's wrong, Homura-chan?" Madoka teases as her hands gently glide up and down; she knows that Homura is plenty ticklish and her thin dress hardly provides any protection. Her grin widens.

"M-Madoka," Homura shudders and tries to pull away. "I-I'm a bit busy—!" she yelps and almost ends up spilling her bowl of sifted flour if it weren't for her quick reflexes.

She turns around, giving Madoka a rare frown.

"I'm sorry, Homura-chan," Madoka tells her and tries to placate her with a kiss on her neck. "Forgive me?"

Homura is unable to stay mad at Madoka and merely sighs.

"The—" Madoka cuts herself off.

Homura turns around fully and places a kiss to Madoka's lips. "Have a safe trip, Madoka."

"Mm," Madoka leans in again for another kiss, before she finally pulls away. "I'll be back, Homura-chan."

Another smile, and then she's gone.

Homura immediately misses the warmth, but she shakes her head to clear her thoughts.

She still has at least two more sets to make, and despite this being Heaven, these cakes definitely did not bake themselves.

/

As quietly as possible, she tiptoes into the room, eyes watching the sleeping figure carefully. When she's close enough and about to grab her, an arm shoots out and grabs her own, and she finds lavender eyes peering at her.

"Sakura Kyouko... what are you doing?" Homura lets go and sits up, immediately fixing her hair as per habit.

"Nothing," Kyouko tells her with a grin as she watches Homura for a moment. She seems tired—which is strange in itself, but she shrugs that away. "Today's the celebration."

"Hm." Homura still seems half asleep as she blinks owlishly at Kyouko. "And?"

"And I came to pick you up."

Homura stares at her blankly.

"You still asleep?" Kyouko asks as she snaps her fingers in front of Homura's face.

She flinches at the sound, and leans back to put some distance in between them.

"It's okay, Kyouko," Madoka says as she appears through the doorway. "I'll bring Homura-chan along after I wake her up."

Kyouko starts at Madoka's sudden entrance. If she knew she would be back so soon, she wouldn't have bothered to make the long trip here.

"Sure. See you two there," she tells her as she stands, thoughts already thinking about the piles of food being prepared outside.

Madoka nods and waves to her as she exits the room. A smile flits onto her face, and she turns back to Homura who is now rubbing her eyes tiredly.

She had barely made the deadline trying to finish all those cakes.

"I'm back, Homura-chan," Madoka says, immediately making her way over.

"...Welcome back, Madoka," Homura mumbles.

She suddenly finds Madoka leaning above her.

"Homura-chan?" Madoka presses herself closer, hands slowly trailing up Homura's leg.

"H-Hm?" Homura's eyes widen when Madoka leans in to kiss the side of her mouth. Distracted, she vaguely feels her glasses pulled off, and hears the clatter as they're discarded onto the table.

"Activate your magic for a bit..." Madoka tells her, voice low and breathless.

Wordlessly, Homura does as told.

When time clinks back, Madoka has a satisfied grin on her face.

"Are you awake now, Homura-chan?" she asks, sitting up to readjusts her dress.

Homura nods, brushing her hair back into place, before she straightens out her own clothes.

Madoka hands her her glasses and she slips them back on.

"Let's go, the others are waiting for us. I can't wait to try Mami's new dish... she's been on this Italian kick lately and I heard Kyouko teasing her earlier, calling it the new 'Tiro Finale.'" Madoka laughs lightly and even Homura smiles at the familiar phrase.

Madoka stands, offering a hand to Homura.

"Thank you, Madoka," Homura accepts her hand, and she's easily pulled up to her feet.

"I'm really excited about the fireworks!" Madoka tells her as she rushes them out of the room.

Homura makes a noncommittally noise of agreement, content on letting Madoka lead her to their destination.

whew. edited