Mai was not a chef. Not by any stretch of the imagination. Well, if instant ramen and miso soup fresh out of a cardboard box counted (and according to Ayako, they didn't), then one could consider Mai a food connoisseur. Despite the fact that Oliver's entire cooking repertoire was on the same sad level as Mai's (the pair's shared knowledge could barely fill a teaspoon), he wasted no time lecturing her on how her diet was hardly suitable for "someone like her".

"Someone like me, huh?!" She growled.

Oliver pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"An adolescent, Mai. One still developing into adulthood. One whose biology requires more sustenance and rest due to a rapid increase in growth," Oliver over-enunciated each word as if scolding a frenzied toddler.

"Oh, yeah? What about you, Mr. room-service-and-takeout-menus?" Mai put her hands on her hips and pouted.

Oliver, totally unbothered, sipped his tea and asked, "How is the Matsuyama case report going?"

So, he had won that round. It was only after several days of muttering about "Nosy-Naru", Mai realized his reprimand was his way of expressing concern about her welfare. Which only annoyed her. To the point that she loudly confronted him about his hypocrisy in front of the SPR Irregulars. Oliver reluctantly agreed that the two could work on eating (actual) meals together. Mai suspected it was only because she dented his pride in front of their colleagues, but she wasn't going to overthink Oliver willingly opting to care for himself.

Just because Mai and Oliver honestly attempted to learn more about basic cooking, didn't mean they were successful. The crime-scenes alternated between Mai's flat and Oliver's. The two quickly found out that Oliver had the almost-psychic ability to burn water, while Mai's impatience may (or may not) have caused a case of salmonella. Even if they managed to finish making a dish without a concerned neighbor giving them a "friendly check-in", the result would be so unappetizing that the two would end up going out to eat anyway. Thus, began their bi-weekly dinner dates. Which slowly began including lunch breaks at work. It was during such a 'lunch date' (to-go food eaten at Mai's), that Oliver proposed the unthinkable:

"At this rate, we should just move in together."

Sitting across from him, Mai paused with her chop-sticks half-way to her mouth. Her eyes bulged and her jaw hit the floor. Oliver leaned over her kotatsu and gently closed Mai's mouth for her.

"You can not complain about being called a monkey when you make faces like that," he scolded.

"H-h-how could you suggest that so casually?!" Mai gasped.

Her chopsticks were almost thrown down, and her appetite vanished. Oliver tilted his head to initiate his innocent act.

"Your face looked ridiculous," he said.

Mai hid her burning face in her hands, "Gah~! You know what I meant!"

Oliver gave the slightest laugh at Mai's expense. He grabbed one of Mai's hands and turned his attention to his food.

"You have managed to take away so much valuable time from me through these escapades, that my research could not possibly suffer more."

Mai squeezed Oliver's hand. "Oh~, so this is all about benefiting you, is it?"

He smirked, "Naturally."

"Well… who's to say I won't be more of a distraction living with you? Are you willing to risk that?" Mai asked.

Oliver's smirk softened into a smile. One that made Mai's pulse halt.

"I am," he answered.

It was ironic, Mai thought, that what moved her and Oliver's relationship forward was their inability to eat and cook like adults; now she was helping his parents prepare one of the fanciest meals she had ever seen. Oliver was sitting in the family room, "reading". In actuality, he had been staring at the same page for a good while. It didn't take the ever eagle-eyed Luella long to notice.

"Noll, why don't you come in and join us?" She called out.

Oliver chose then to return to his reading facade.

"Naru! If you do not help, you will not eat!" Mai yelled.

Oliver responded by turning a page.

Luella sighed good-naturedly and turned away to scold Martin for putting food in the oven before it was properly pre-set. Mai pouted and stopped stirring her cake batter. Even though she had to swing open the loud kitchen doors to march towards him, Oliver didn't seem to notice her. That was, until a sugary glop fell onto his nose.

Oliver swiped a finger across the gritty batter on his face. He glared up at the giggling woman he thought he loved. Wasting no time, Oliver set his book down and shot upwards. He gently but firmly brought Mai's face to his own and kissed her. The kiss was broken up by Mai's uncontrollable laughter from the fresh smear of chocolate batter on her cheek. Oliver's lips quirked up, then returned to normal as he saw Martin approach them.

He overlooked their closeness in favor of a warning.

"You two should wash your faces, less you face Luella's wrath," he said.

Oliver nodded and took Mai's arm, guiding her to the closest powder room.

"Will your mom be mad at us?" Mai whispered, lightly scrubbing her left cheek.

"He was joking," Oliver murmured, "Besides, you were the one who started it."

"Only because you refused to help!" Mai exclaimed.

Not wanting to waste more energy than he already had with what he deemed to be a stupid conversation, he quickly kissed Mai's cleaned cheek, and walked out of the bathroom.

"Someone's very affectionate today…" Mai grumbled from beside Oliver.

He hesitated, then relented with, "...I have been thinking…."

"...About what?" Mai asked a bit apprehensively.

"Ah! There you two are. I didn't want to start without you," Luella said, ushering the couple into the dining room.

And Mai was left without an answer.

It was Mai's sixth dinner with the Davises, but Luella could have been tricked into thinking Mai had always been there. Sure, for the first few hours Mai was twitchy, her English stuttered rather than spoken; but with her comfort came confidence. Her warm atmosphere brought with it an unexpected, but nostalgic, glow; one the Davis household had unconsciously ached for. Not to mention how gifted the young lady was!

Martin would return from his office, his hands shaking with excitement, speaking in tongues about Mai's psychic abilities:

"...And during astral projection she was able to give a worldly object to a conscious person! She transferred raw matter, Luella!"

Luella would laugh at his enthusiasm, while being equally excited herself. On the night after the Davises took their reluctant son and an awestruck Mai sightseeing, Martin and Luella were getting ready for bed. Luella was brushing her hair with deep concentration etched on her face. Martin sighed and put down his book.

"What is it Luella?" He asked.

"Hm?" Luella snapped out of her thoughts.

Martin chuckled knowingly.

"You had the look on your face. Nothing good can come from that," he teased.

Luella smiled gently, "I was just wondering."

"Hm, you know how dangerous that is," Martin said.

"So is reading in dimmed lights, Martin."

Martin acknowledged her with a smile. He grabbed her shoulder and squeezed it lightly.

"What is it that's bothering you, dear?" He asked.

Luella sighed, "Noll is lying to us."

"He better not be! Otherwise we did a lousy job raising him."

"Well… not lying per say. He is just not being upfront with us."

"Ah, that sounds more like him," Martin nodded sagely, "But what brought this up?"

"I saw Noll hold Mai's hand today."

"Lu," he sighed, massaging his temples.

"I know, I know. We've discussed this…"

"Look," Martin spoke gently, "If Noll is interested in Mai, he will tell us when he's ready. The fact that Mai happens to be a nice young woman has you fantasizing wildly."

Luella sighed again.

"I just can't… there is this feeling that keeps pestering me," She said. "Though, perhaps you're right… I only want him to find love. Goodness knows he could use it."

Luella finally got herself under the bed covers next to her husband.

Martin shrugged.

"There is no need to apologize. We both want what's best for him. If I hadn't known you for so long, trust me, I would assume your reveries were harmless. Thankfully, I know you better," he kissed Luella's cheek, "I don't want you to set yourself up for disappointment."

"Thank you," Luella giggled, "You know me too well."

Martin smiled wryly, "I hope so. However, I never will understand why you have always been so eager to be a mother-in-law or a grandmother. The second Gene showed an interest in dating you were ecstatic."

"You could say I want to achieve as much as possible, as soon as possible. Can you blame me? Our boys are so extraordinary, I simply want to catch up!"

Mai yawned, again.

Luella could no longer take it, "Mai, luv, why don't you head off to bed? Don't feel obligated to chat with us."

Mai smiled gratefully. "I am sorry. I do not mean to be rude."

"Nonsense! Being tired is a natural state, don't apologize."

Oliver smirked. "Being rude has never stopped you before," he said.

Mai snorted. "Says the guy who has never heard of 'thank you'," she murmured.

Luella chuckled and motioned for Mai to leave, "Have a good night's rest, Mai."

Mai stood and bowed, "Thank you for the food!"

"Thank you for helping," Martin said. He sent a meaningful glance towards Oliver, resulting in everyone but the former laughing.

Mai left for the stairs, then turned around as if she forgot something. She ran to Oliver's side and squeezed him tightly. She then walked to Martin and Luella and embraced them, too.

She called out, "Good night, everyone!", and ran her way back to her room, as if distancing herself from the Davises would make her embarrassment dilute.

Before either of his parents could react, Oliver broke the silence.

"After we are done here I have to talk to you two."

Martin recognized the question in the statement.

"Of course, Noll. What is it?" He asked gently.

"It will take a while. We should clean up first," Oliver said, standing up and gathering dishes.

Martin stood also, and began helping his son.

"We have this under control, Lu. How about you wait for us in the living room?"

Luella readily agreed. Although patience was not her strong suit, she felt the heaviness of Oliver's inquiry without him having spoken it. Her knowledge on exactly the kind of trouble that Oliver would need their help in worried her. She could forsee herself needing a seat. Or a drink. Or both. Ibuprofen, perhaps.

The father and son walked into the living room.

Martin initiated the subject knowing that Noll wouldn't (not twice in one night, anyhow).

"So, what is it that you need to tell us?"

Luella thought Martin was being far too broad with his question.

Oliver stood straight. He curtly walked towards a window and without turning to face his parents asked, "...What do you think of Mai?"

Luella had already been asked, so she figured the question was directed at her motioned for Martin to speak.

"Her abilities are, well ...unprecedented. Astral projection in of itself is fascinating. But phasing solid objects through to another solid body, all the while Mai isn't corporeal? It's incredible! Not to mention her near-empath abilities regarding dreams and intuition‐-"

"‐-That's not what you want to hear, is it Noll?" Luella asked pointedly. "You already know all this."

Oliver's mouth twitched slightly. The jig was up.

"Obviously," he said. Though he didn't specify which he was agreeing to.

"Mai is a very warm young lady. I think she doesn't realize how much she brings out in others… but why? You clearly already have made up your mind on her. You wouldn't have brought someone here if you didn't think of them highly."

Both Oliver and Luella made a habit of not repeating themselves, yet they in this conversation they both did. Meanwhile, Martin's mouth was wide open: he was torn between scolding his wife for backtracking on their late-night discussion, and vocalizing his agreement with her.

"Mai and I have been seeing each other for a year and 3 months," Oliver said wryly.

"I knew it!" Luella laughed.

While Martin's mouth was still uselessly agape, Luella stood and walked towards Oliver to hug him. Of which, he accepted with one arm.

Martin's mouth decided to work again.

"I would be a liar to say I didn't have my suspicions…" he smiled at his son, "Although, hearing it from you makes me even happier."

Luella released Oliver and turned to her husband.

She sighed melodramatically, "To think you said I was going delusional!"

"N-now that's not what I meant in the slightest. I just know how you get yourself too excited about things that-" Martin spluttered.

Oliver cleared his throat, effectively gaining the attention of his parents.

"That was not what I wanted to discuss with you two," he said.

Martin thought he must be suffering from heart palpitations. His mind immediately jumped to one word.

"She's not pregnant, is she?" Luella gasped.

Martin nearly choked. "Luella."

Oliver pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"No, that's not it."

Then what? Martin and Luella's faces asked.

"...I think Mai is interested in getting married."

Luella began crying happily and Martin nearly fainted.

...

He asked her in their new apartment, she was making tea. Oliver got his answer in the form of a dropped kettle and incomprehensible stutters. It took a few days for Mai's face to turn back to a normal shade, but the ring felt as if it had belonged on her finger.

AAAAAND THAT'S A WRAP!

Wooh, I could go into the gritty details of why this took so long.

I started uni, I was bed-ridden for 2 months (not deadly enough to be excused from classes, mind you), then I get home for the holidays only to get sick again….

But I think I'll be generous this time. Anyways, I seriously can't thank y'all for the amount of support I got on this... this thing. It's like cotton candy, really. The fluff will rot your teeth away, and it's full of empty calories to hold you over until the gods take pity on us and give us another anime season. Or Hell, a reboot. That'd be the day.

Thank you all and see you next time! (≧ω≦)ゞ