Chapter 1: Thunder...

Kyōya's vision cleared and she was draped across his chest. "Kyōya…" She sang as she rest her chin on her. "Kyōya… it's time to get up." She sang again. "You wouldn't want to miss your birthday, would you?"

She slid down his chest and he saw a wicked smile he was unsure sweet little Haruhi could possess. "If you miss your birthday present, don't whine about it later." She pulled the blankets over her head and he gasped as he was embraced by the sweet sensation of-

BZZZ! BZZZ!

Damn alarm! He picked it up and threw it across the room, shattering it against the wall. He got up and sighed. Another cold shower, he rubbed the back of his neck.

And Ouran was no help, which was no surprise. It never was. The work was dull, it didn't tax his mind at all. Which meant it could wander. To this morning. And that damn dream. So come the end of the day, and Host Club, Kyōya was crabby to say the least.

Haruhi could tell he was having a not-so-fantastic day. Something the others either didn't see or chose to ignore. The topic of discussion today: when they would go to the beach. Not just any beach, a private beach. She had nothing to offer the conversation, so she turned her attention to the young man with glasses next to her.

"Kyōya-sempai, is everything alright?"

"Fine." He snapped.

She sighed. "If you say so. Everything is done on my end of things. May I go home now?"

"Sure." He continued with his typing.

"Okay. Thanks. And," she took a deep breath, "you can talk to me about anything that's bothering you." She patted his shoulder, and left.

And here they were. At the beach. Kyōya had to make a 'working' trip, just so that she wouldn't be the only female there. Just so that he wouldn't go mad. And then she had to go climb that damn cliff. He let Tamaki go after her, after all what could he gain by chasing after her. But she was pushed and the entire club held their breath waiting for that idiot to catch her. Kyōya's heart ached when he saw him carrying Haruhi out of the ocean, because in that moment he wished that he was holding her, cradling her head against his neck.

But an idiot is always an idiot. Haruhi could take care of herself, she always had in the past. Everyone seemed to know that except him. But she was being idiotic too. All of them were worried, it didn't matter if she could take care of herself or not. And while the snapping crab legs were humorous, she was missing the point. He sighed and went to his room to try to get some work done on his latest acquisition. He couldn't lose focus, not now when he was so close. But when his bedroom door slammed open and Haruhi rushed into his bathroom, he couldn't help but laugh a little. She ate too much. But then he heard her starting to retch and he almost jumped to her rescue. She stumbled out of the bathroom and he couldn't help himself. She didn't even flinch when he was on top of her. Damn that girl for seeing through him. He sat up and contemplated his next move. But that was when the idiot decided to barge in, with Haruhi in his bed and himself shirtless. Here's the damn lotion, you moron. Now get out. He heard thunder in the distance and heard the mattress spring move ever so slightly. But Tamaki was determined to stay, and he was determined to get him out, so he shoved and he pushed and eventually Tamaki was out of his room.

Just then, a bright flash and a loud rumble filled the room. He heard a squeak and a rustle of blankets before he turned to see Haruhi fleeing into the cupboard.

"Haruhi-ch-" There was another crash of thunder and a squeak. Interesting... He put on his shirt, not wanting to cause any more trouble than he already had. "You should come out."

"I'll get through it. Just like I always do. Go back to your work." She mumbled through the door.

He rubbed his temples and sighed, already dreading the massive headache he would have in the morning. She really was a pain, wasn't she. "Just like you always do, huh?" He grabbed the door handles. "Here's the thing… Things aren't the same now as they were back then." He threw open the door and bent down to her level. "You aren't alone now, you idiot." He yanked her up out of the closet and placed her on her feet between him and the bed. A crash of thunder again and Haruhi made a break for the bed. He grabbed her hand and pulled her close. "Didn't you hear me?" He held the back of her head. "You aren't alone. Lightning flashed across the sky and thunder rumbled again. Haruhi couldn't stand anymore, her knees gave out and the feeling of falling started to encompass her. But his arms never gave way, and he never let go. He just fell with her.

"Geez." He sighed. "You really are afraid of storms." He loosened his arms just the slightest and she whimpered. "I'll be right back. I promise." He grabbed a blanket off his bed and came back to her. He pulled her into his lap and wrapped her in the soft white blanket he had grabbed. "You can stay with me until the storm is over." He said before he covered her ear with one hand and rubbed her back with his other. He eyed his laptop longingly, but he knew that until the storm was over he wasn't going to be able to go anywhere. That wasn't the only reason, though. This would probably be the only time he would ever be able to hold her. So he would relish in this time, even if the storm ended in only a matter of seconds. However, the storm didn't end, it only got worse. And she started crying. And soon his shirt was soaked. But he didn't care. He would treasure the way she felt in his arms, the way she smelled, the way she held onto him. He had to fight what he wanted, to push his true thoughts to the back of his mind, but if he could just hold her a little while longer, then it would be worth it. All the dreams, all the showers, they would all be worth it.

Soon, however, the shaking stopped, along with the whimpers and the small squeaks. He looked down and noted that Haruhi had fallen asleep. "What a pain…" He sighed. But at the same time, it felt nice. To hold her in his arms as she slept, to know she trusted him completely, it was a strange sense of pride for him. He doubted she would fall asleep with Tamaki or the twins anywhere near her. She may have done this with Honey or Mori, but he noted that she approached them even more differently than him: like they were family or something. She would feel safe with one of them, but Kyōya felt like it would be different with one of them.

Just at that moment, his door opened and light flooded in, revealing the rest of the host club.

"KYŌ-"

"Shut up." He glared at the blonde idiot. "She just fell asleep."

"But why are you holding her?" The twins asked in unison.

"She's afraid of thunderstorms." He looked down at her. "She was in here when the storm started and attempted to hide in my closet."

"Yes, but why are you holding her Kyōya-chan?" Honey tilted his head in his signature way.

"Because she was scared." He pushed a strand of hair out of her face. "And as you know she's so used to being alone. She needed someone to show her why we were all mad about the cliff. That she has people who worry about her now."

"She didn't know we-" Tamaki started to ask the obvious.

"She was so confused as to why you were mad at her." He looked at his (even though he would never admit it out loud) best friend. "The rest of us had to explain it to her."

"Mmm." Mori added.

"But why wouldn't she know." Tamaki looked at the sleeping girl.

"Because she's always been like this." Kyōya explained. "She's always taken care of everyone, but she never has had anyone to truly take care of her."

"But she has Daddy now!" Tamaki cried loudly.

Haruhi let out a little mewl and nuzzled into Kyōya's chest. "Shut. Up. You. IDIOT!" Kyōya hissed and glared at him. "Do you really want to wake her up?" The rest of the group looked at him with jaws hanging down. He sighed. The thunderstorm wasn't letting up. "Someone hand me my damn laptop?" He asked the group, but looked to Mori, knowing he was the only one who would actually do something about it.

"Haaaa?" The twins looked at him like he was an alien. "You're going to work with her in your arms?"

"No, no, no!" Tamaki went into full prince mode. "With a maiden in your arms you have to express your undying devotion!"

"Does she have anything cute to snuggle with?" Honey developed flowers around his head. It was hard, sometimes, for Kyōya to remember that Honey was older than he was.

"Here." Mori passed the computer down over his shoulder. "And its plugged in."

"Thanks." Kyōya took it and placed it in front of him. "Can all of you get out now?"

"And leave you all alone with my precious daughter?" Tamaki exclaimed.

"Yes." Kyōya opened his laptop and quickly typed in his password.

Mori grabbed the twins and started to pull them out. Honey took Tamaki by the hem of his shirt and started pulling. When Mori noticed the lolita having some difficulties, he gave the twins a shove, came back, and dragged Tamaki out by the collar. He stopped at the table by the door and tossed the glassesthtat were resting there gently to Kyōya. They landed right next to his computer, making almost no noise as the landed on the thick carpet. Mori gave him a single nod and continued to pull a resisting Tamaki out of the bedroom.

Thanks… Kyōya thought, as he shifted Haruhi around in his arms a little and started buying shares.