When I posted chapter 19 of this story FFN bugged out and did not send the notification emails. Make sure you have read chapter 19 before reading this chapter!

"Now, the shing about bushiness is ya' gotta be TOUGH!" Junko explained to the Miki's as she balanced a wine glass in one hand and pointed a finger at them with each drunkenly enunciated word. "When the carsh'ds are on the table, there'sh no room for being nish!"

The Miki's were long time friends of hers so while conversations like this were rare, it was not altogether a new experience. They knew Junko had few flaws outside of occasionally not being the best at handling her liquor, and patiently waited for a break in her rant. "And another shing!"

Miss. Saotome from school had been invited to the new years party at the Kaname's as well, and found herself in a conversation with Hitomi's mother. Apparently she and Hitomi's father were in the process of a divorce, which may not have been a great topic for the party atmosphere, but since Saotome had also just split up with her boyfriend they ended up engaging in a conversation with each other about what jerks men could be.

On the other side of the room a couch and a love seat were pulled towards each other for everyone else to sit. Madoka sat in the middle of the couch with Sayaka and Homura on either side of her.

Kyoko and Mami were on the floor with Tatsuya, playing with him and engaging in whatever conversation they could get out of the toddler. They both were completely enthralled with him, and he seemed to be enjoying the attention. Though, he seemed particularly fond of Mami as most of his focus stayed on her.

Over on the loveseat Hitomi sat with Kyosuke. Months ago, when everything first started, things between Sayaka and them had been pretty awkward for a while. That no longer seemed to be the case however, as she had honestly completely moved on from it, and was back to being great friends with both of them. She had Kyoko now, after all, and whenever she would hear Hitomi complain about captain oblivious on their walks to school she knew that everything actually worked out best in the end.

Sayaka looked over to Kyoko who sat on the floor with her legs crossed and a big smile on her face as she tried to feed Tatsuya a pocky stick. Kyoko could be a lot of things, but oblivious was not one of them. She was very receptive to other people's feelings, almost annoying so sometimes, even if she often tried to pretend as if that were not the case.

"Want one?" Kyoko said to Tatsuya with a big smile on her face, as she pushed a pocky stick up from the pack and tried to offer it to him. Kyoko only managed to distract him away from Mami for a brief moment though, and as soon as his little fist snatch up the stick he went right back to focusing on her.

"Maaaa- Maaaaa!" Tatsuya giggled, apparently trying to say Mami's name.

Kyoko folded her arms and grinned humorously. "Well, looks like Mami finally managed to find someone after all," she laughed. "Never would have guessed you like 'em so young, though. Geez Mami, I can't believe that's what you are into!" and she laughed some more.

Mami tilted her head with a smile. "Kyoko, I know you are trying to be funny but that is rather crude, don't you think?"

Kyoko just grinned and shrugged her shoulders.

"Seriously though Mami," Sayaka chimed in. "You better be careful! If my little brother-in-law's first word ends up being Mami I'm going to be totally jealous!"

"Um, brother-in-law?" Madoka asked.

"That's right!" said Sayaka as she threw an arm over Madoka's shoulder and pulled her in tight. "Don't think that just 'cause I'm going out with Kyoko that means you're off the hook! You are still my wife, you know!"

Madoka could not help laughing as she unsuccessfully attempted to push Sayaka away. "Come on Sayakaaa! Cut it out!" she complained, though she was laughing and her complaints only seemed to egg Sayaka on more.

"No way! I'm never letting you go Madoka! You're all miiinnne!"

On the other side of the couch Homura coughed into her hand and seemed to have sunken into a rather dark demeanor, not at all amused by Sayaka's antics.

Kyoko noticed this and grinned widely as she said, "Hey Sayaka, you better be careful over there, looks like Homura's starting to get jealous!"

"Hey!" Sayaka said, finally releasing her grip on Madoka though she still kept an arm over her shoulder as she gave Kyoko a scowling expression. "Shouldn't you be getting jealous too?"

Kyoko just grinned and shrugged her shoulders with the pocky stick between her teeth. "Naaaaa, you know me, I'm good about sharing!"

Sayaka returned the grin as she pulled Madoka in tightly once again and used her other hand to ruffle her hair a bit. "Then how about coming over here and helping me make Homura really jealous?!"

"Sayaka, seriously stop!" Madoka laughed. "Now you really are taking it too far!" Despite her words, she seemed unable to stop giggling.

Hitomi's hands had been fidgeting together through the whole scene and it seemed she had finally lost her ability to keep her composure. "N-not only are girls loving girls… b-but… polygamy?! Th-thats too much!" Her hand clasped at the sides of her face in her classic Hitomi-expression. "It's a double dose of forbidden love!" Then she exasperated and fainted into Kyosuke's arms. Kyosuke just held her with a perplexed expression on his face, apparently unsure of what to do.

Mami looked up from playing with Tatsuya and asked, "Is she ok?" with some concern in her voice.

"Her?" Sayaka grinned, pointing a thumb over to Hitomi and keeping Madoka trapped in her embrace. "Yeah, don't worry, she'll be just fine."

Homura, on the other hand, did not seem to be entirely fine. Her hands clutched into fists at her knees as Sayaka continued to mess around with Madoka. The darkness that had come over her seemed to radiate off her like an aura which sapped light out of all the space immediately around her. That is, until someone unexpectedly threw an arm over her shoulder and trapped her in a headlock.

"Shhhooo! How'sh mah favorite daughter-in-law doing!?" said Junko with a drunken slur, waving Homura back and forth under her arm.

Homura's dark expression instantly turned to blush, and it seemed the tension from a moment ago was already completely forgotten.

"Ya'know what I like about chu?" Junko asked, poking a finger at Homura's chest. "You're awrays keepin' it cool! Ya' know waht I mean?" Homura apparently was at a complete loss for how to respond and just allowed herself to be swayed back and forth while she held a blank expression on her face.

Madoka put a hand over her face and said, "Oh mom… you're drunk!" She finally pushed Sayaka away then got up to take her mother by the shoulder to try and guide her away.

Tomohisa saw what was going on and went over to help his daughter out. "I got it from here," he said as he took his wife by the arm, and he and Madoka shared a good humored grin with each other.

"Wah? Wa'sh the problum? Ish a party!" Junko laughed as she was guided away. "Par-tay! Par-tay! Par-tay!"

Madoka just laughed to herself, shook her head, then went over to the snack table to grab a few things before returning to the group. On her way over she noticed Miss. Saotome and Hitomi's mom had gotten rather close, and even caught Miss. Saotome brushing Miss. Shizuki's hair to the side with an adoring smile on her face.

Hm, they seem to be getting along pretty well. I'm glad Miss. Saotome found a new friend! Madoka thought, not thinking much of it beyond that.

At the snack table, she went right for the plate of cupcakes Mami had brought over, but as her hand reached out to it she stopped and frowned. She looked down at the empty plate and she realized there was nothing left but some crumbs and little bits of icing.

"Oh no… they are all gone already…" Madoka said to herself, sighing sadly.

Then she heard a voice. "What is the matter? Madoka Kaname?"

She looked up and realized Kyubey was now sitting on the snack table, staring up at her with his beady red eyes.

"I-it's terrible!" Madoka explained, "I came over to get a cupcake… I-I wanted to get one for Homura-chan too… but…" She looked down at the empty plate and shook her head pitiably.

Kyubey stood up and padded over to the plate, joining her in looking down at it. "It is only natural that it would turn out this way. In the end, there simply were not enough cupcakes to go around. It was always going to end up like this."

"B-but… th-that's horrible!" said Madoka, clutching her hands at her chest. "It's not right!"

"You know, it doesn't have to be this way," said Kyubey, suddenly looking back up to her. "If you wanted, you could easily change this outcome."

Madoka stared back at him, her eyes widening. "Y-you mean… s-someone like me can really do something to help?"

"Absolutely! You hold inside yourself the power to change this fate! All this despair, all this tragedy, all this hunger! YOU could change all of it! Just make a contract with me! And become a Magical Girl!"

"W-well I…"

"If you like, I could make it so that you and your friends are never without cupcakes ever again!"

Madoka sighed, searching deep inside herself for the answer. When she found her resolve, her gaze returned to the incubator with her eyes beaming powerfully. "Alright, incubator. I have chosen my wish! I wish that-"

Homura wasted no time coming over and snatching Kyubey up by the back of his neck. "Down boy," she said as she carried him out of the room.

Of course, only Madoka and the Magical Girls in the room could see Kyubey. Thus, Tomohisa wondered why Homura was leaving the room so suddenly. "Is she alright?" he asked Madoka. "Where is she going?"

Madoka just shrugged with a grin and said, "Um… bathroom?"

"Where are you taking me?" Kyubey asked Homura.

"Relax, we are just going out behind the toolshed for a moment," she told him as they crossed the threshold into the hallway.

"This is so illogical! Don't you realize how pointless-"

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard it all before. This is the third time just this week, you know."

A minute later a loud bang was heard from somewhere outside, and everyone in the room jumped. The adults all looked amongst each other, all thinking the same thing. Mr. Miki spoke up and said, "That sounded like it was a-"

"Sounds like someone out there is celebrating a little early!" Mami quickly shouted with a laugh. All the adults took a moment but ultimately seemed to accept that explanation, then shared some laughter and returned to their conversations.

Mrs. Shizuki had been startled enough by the blast that she had jumped into Mrs. Saotome's arms. They were now blushing as they held each other and stared into one another's eyes.

A moment later Homura reappeared in the doorway; brushing off her hands with an accomplished look on her face and no Kyubey in sight.

The rest of the night went by without a hitch. Kyosuke put on a small performance with his violin, which everyone applauded and agreed was very good. Sayaka was happy to hear it too, her wish is what gave him back the ability to do that after all. She also realized when she saw Hitomi hug him and congratulate him afterwards, she was actually quite glad to see things working out between the two of them and that they were both happy.

Homura ended up on the loveseat with Madoka, now being sure to keep an arm around her and refusing to give her up again for the rest of the night. Tatsuya eventually fell asleep in Mami's arms and Kyoko and Sayaka sat on the couch together. When it was a minute before midnight everyone at the party migrated to the back yard and counted down the last ten seconds of the year together. As soon as they reached zero they all cheered and fireworks started lighting up the night sky.

After everything was done and the party was dispersing, Miss. Saotome said goodnight to Hitomi's mom, discreetly slipped her a piece of paper with her phone number, and said they should get together again some time. Mrs. Shizuki smiled and agreed.

Kyoko and Sayaka, along with Mami, all decided to have a sleepover with Madoka and Homura but everyone else was now heading home for the night. Before the Miki's took their leave, however, they went over to Sayaka and Kyoko who were now on the loveseat together.

"Hey, so guess you are leaving now?" Kyoko asked.

Mr. Miki gave one of his warm smiles. "Yes, before we go we but wanted to give you something."

"Huh? Give me something?" Kyoko asked, then noticed Mrs. Miki was holding out a small box with a ribbon wrapped over it.

"Yes," said Mrs. Miki, "we picked a little gift up for you. It is a thank-you present for helping Sayaka take care of the house while we are away."

"Oh gee, thanks a lot! You didn't have to get me anything, though," said Kyoko as she took the box. She looked over to Sayaka who gave her a smile.

"Sayaka actually gave us a hint on what would be a good present for you," Mr. Miki explained as Kyoko started undoing the ribbon.

When Kyoko finished unwrapping it and opened the box, a slightly puzzled expression came over her face. Once it registered she grinned and let out a laugh. "Haha! Awesome!" she said as she held up a gift certificate for a certain produce store which she loved shopping at.

Mrs. Miki rolled her eyes, "I personally wanted to get something with a little more class, a nice neckless perhaps, but Sayaka insisted that you would appreciate something like this far more."

Kyoko laughed again, "Oh yeah, this is awesome! I mean, this is good for at least two weeks worth of food from there!" her eyes suddenly turned to stars as her mind ran through the possibilities of foods she could buy. Sayaka gave her shoulder a nudge to bring her back to reality. Kyoko set the coupon back in the box, smiled, and said, "Thank you very much!"

"You're welcome," said Mr. Miki, "I'm glad you like it."

"Oh!" Kyoko reached into her back pocket and pulled out her box of pocky. She flipped the lid open and held it out to them. "Want some?"

Mrs. and Mrs. Miki glanced at each other, raised an eyebrow, then accepted the offer.

"Thank you, dear," Mrs. Miki said as she took hers. The two of them with pocky sticks in their mouths looked kind of silly, and then when Sayaka snatch one up too they all shared a laugh together.

The next morning all of the girls were gathered at the breakfast table, including Junko who was nursing her headache and occasionally letting out a pained groan. The only one missing from the table was Mami who opted to help Tomohisa with preparing breakfast in the kitchen.

Kyoko had her chair turned towards Tatsuya and laughed along with him as they played a game of peek-a-boo. Sayaka and Madoka were across from each other having a conversation which Homura would occasionally chime in on, usually for the sake of taking some subtle jab at Sayaka as she innocently sipped her coffee. Homura would never outwardly admit how much fun it was getting Sayaka riled up, if not for the simple fact of how easy it was. Besides, she had to pay her back somehow for all those foolish "Madoka is my wife" comments she would always make.

In the kitchen they had reached a calmer stage of the cooking process and Tomohisa took the chance to thank Mami for the help. "Thanks for giving me a hand in here, Mami. Sorry to take you away from your friends like this though."

"Not at all!" Mami responded cheerily. "I am the one who offered after all. Besides, I am having a lot of fun doing it! You know, I live alone so I usually do not get to spend mornings with people like this and I am just happy to be a part of the atmosphere."

Tomohisa chuckled, "Well, please feel free to come over more often then. Especially if you will be helping with the cooking. I really appreciate the help." and he gave her a wink.

Mami laughed, "Alright, deal! I will be sure to take you up on the offer."

Then the phone began to ring and Tomohisa's head came up from tending the stove. "Huh, now who could be calling this early in the morning?" He then turned to Mami and asked: "Would you mind watching this for a moment?"

"Of course!" Mami said with a smile as she took over his place at the stove.

Tomihisa picked up the phone and said, "Hello?" There was a moment of silence, then, "Homura? Oh, yes she is here. Just a moment." Homura, having heard her name, glanced over to him. "It's for you."

"Hm." Homura stood to go receive the phone. She wondered who it could be. Anyone who could possibly be calling for her was currently in this room so she really had no idea. "Yes?" she asked after taking the phone from Tomohisa, who then went back to cooking breakfast with Mami.

There was no answer on the other side of the phone so Homura asked again. "Hello?" Then, the caller on the other side of the line finally spoke, and her face grew dark.

Madoka caught a glimpse of the intense shadow that had come over Homura's eyes before she turned away and lowered her voice to speak into the phone again. "How did you get this number?" she said with a sneering whisper.

Sayaka and Kyoko had started on one of their rounds of bickering until they also noticed the concerned look on Madoka's face, then they each looked over to Homura and got the idea something was going on.

"Well I don't want to talk to you! Don't ever call here a-" She paused, listened, then abruptly shouted: "It's too late for that!" and slammed the phone back onto the receiver. She stood there, staring at the phone with her intense eyes until it caught up to her that everyone in the room was now looking at her.

Madoka's hands clasped together nervously and she asked, "H-Homura? Is everything-"

"Everything is fine." She straightened her posture, cleared her throat, then said "I'm going for a walk." She then turned and very quickly started leaving the house.

Madoka instantly got up and followed after her. "Homura? W-whats wrong?" Homura had already slipped on her shoes and was pulling on a light jacket as she left the house. Madoka fumbled with her own jacket, and then stumbled into her shoes as she followed Homura outside. She bent down to unbunch the heel with her finger while walking down the front steps. "Homura, wait!" she called again.

Homura walked quickly, hands buried deep in her pockets and it was unclear whether she was ignoring Madoka purposely or was just too deep in thought to take notice. Madoka eventually caught up to her, "Homura!" she got in front of Homura and pushed against her to force her to stop. "What's going on!" Madoka said, trying to catch her breath.

"It's nothing, so don't worry about it," she said, glancing away.

"No! You can't do that!" said Madoka, partially shouting it at her. "Don't shut me out! If something is going on you have to tell me!"

Madoka would have taken Homura's hands if they were not buried in her pockets, so instead she grabbed her by the sides of her arms. "What happened?" she asked again, and when Homura still would not respond she asked: "Who was that on the phone?"

Finally, Homura let out a resigned sigh, paused, and said: "It was…" She closed her eyes and her entire body tensed up as she gritted her teeth and forced the words out. "It was... my... father…"

To be continued…

-Atomyst

This is the end of this story, but there will be a sequel. I will talk a little more about it when I post an afterword in the near future, so keep your eyes open for that! For now I will just say that the sequel be titled "Any Colour You Like" and will focus on Madoka and Homura's relationship as opposed to Sayaka and Kyoko's. Homura's father will also be involved as a catalyst for the plot.

Thanks for reading! For updates on progress with my fics and what I am doing come visit my twitter account-

At /atomyst_fics or find a direct link in my profile!