Tamaki Suoh, at the age of 26, is a multi-billion dollar entrepreneur on a steady rise to the top who helps the less fortunate by founding amazing schools nationwide.

Takashi Morinozuka and Mitsukuni Haninozuka ages 27 are tycoons in the world of child entertainment. Mitsukuni is currently the founder and chief designer of USAGI Toy Company, and his cousin Takashi serves as the brains of the operation that keeps the company afloat.

Kyouya Otori at 26 is known for his mastery of many fields and seamless utilization of his family's technical knowledge to prompt medical breakthroughs.

Kaoru and Hikaru Hitachiin are world renowned fashion designers at the young age of 25. The brothers have successfully take over their parents' business and have expanded its reaches to appeal to the everyday woman.

Haruhi Fujioka. Age 25. Daycare teacher.

Shortly after her high school graduation, her father passed away leaving Haruhi to reevaluate her priorities. Although the Host Club often offered to help, her pride stopped her from becoming dependent on them. The summer of her 18th year, she applied for a job at a local summer camp to support herself. She quickly found herself falling in love with becoming a caretaker. The loss of both of her parents left her wishing she could feel the bond of a family again, and she found that the children she took care of filled a void in her heart and gav her the comfort she needed. A few years and a degree in Childhood Education later, Haruhi was hired by Ouran Daycare Facilities.

Sighing, Haruhi set down the tabloid she had been flipping through and resumed supervision of the napping children. For months these sketchy magazines were her only update on the extravagant lives of her former classmates aside from the occasional update from Tamaki and his father, her employer. Ever since he 'incident' after college graduation, Haruhi simply found it too awkward to see her old friends and too painful to see him.

Years of devoted commitment, placing his needs before her own, giving him all she had and more were wasted. In return all she was given was betrayal and humiliation.

"I'm going to invite her."

"I doubt that could end well." Kyouya disagreed. "She made it very clear that she needed time to herself."

Tamaki's brow furrowed and he held his face in his hands. "Don't you think a year is long enough?" his muffled voice sounded strained, reflecting Kyouya's feelings as well. "Look Kyouya, we all miss her. We just aren't the same without her. The group can't function when one of our own is missing."

Everyone had been tense since the natural host left. The interactions between the remaining friends were always awkward and forced. The conversation was superficial and meaningless. All the former hosts wanted o know what happened to make Haruhi want to leave, but the only man who knew for certain refused to discuss it. Mere mention of her name ws known to set him off. He was a time bomb with an inevitable explosion.

"We need her back."

"What about Hikaru? We can't hurt one friend to help another!" Kyouya fought to keep his frustration under control. Tamaki was right, they needed her back, but how?

"If she comes back Hikaru will fall apart again. Aside from him, Kaoru will be torn between his brother and fiends and Mori and Honey won't want to see any of their friends turned against each other. What makes you think she will even want to come back? She has a life now, without us. We should just move on."

A heavy silence fell between the two.

"She's obviously just as hurt as we are. We're just as important to her as she is to us."

"Then why has she completely cut everyone off?" Kyouya asked unable to understand how their makeshift family went to hell in a hand basket.

"Ask Hikaru." Tamaki responded stonily.

"You know that isn't fair..."

"I'm not some naive teenager anymore. I understand that Haruhi valued her friendship the same way I did ever since she lost Ranka. She doesn't have a family anymore, of course we're important to her. As stubborn as she is do you really think that something petty could have caused this?"

"Regardless, I don't think it's fair to blame Hikaru. He's been hurt by this too."

"There is a difference between blaming someone and just wanting them to admit that they were wrong."

Kyouya sighed. "Fine. But how do you suppose we get her to the party?"

Again, silence.

"Did you kow that she works for Ouran Daycare?"

Kyouya waited to respond, trying to figure out where this conversation was going.

"Have you been in contact with her?"

Tamaki smiled nervously. "Aside from occasionally stopping by...no. But I wouldn't exactly catch her off guard by calling."

"All this time?"

Tamaki simply nodded, suddenly terrified by the resurgence of the Demon King.

"What haven't you been telling me?"

Hours later, Haruhi found herself alone in the Daycare preparing to close. She knelt on the floor sorting through Lincoln Logs and Legos as her mind began to drift. She would often dream about her host club days when she could live simply with her father and drama free friends.

She remembered him.

She remembered him asking her out on their first official date. She smiled thinking of how often he would tell her he loved her, as if he were afraid that she'd forget. Then she recalled why things between them ended. What would happen when he thought she forgot, or when he forgot that he was supposed to be in love.

"Haruhi!" Tamaki yelled as he barged inot the daycare facility. Telling Kyouya that his communication with Haruhi was limited to a sporadic phone call or visit was a blatant lie. Almost daily he'd drive her to work, take her to lunch, go on the occasional weekend outing, or at the very least, stop by after hour to say hello. He couldn't stay away and he knew that she needed to see him too.

He arrived to see her with her back turned as she absentmindedly cleaned the floor, seeming not to have heard him at all.

"Haruhi." He repeated louder, firmer, praying she hadn't zoned out again.

Her head snapped to face him, eyes wide wet with budding tears, confirming Tamaki's suspicions. Wordlessly, he settled in next to her to help her clear the floor. In a matter of minutes their task was completed and Tamaki could feel his companion growing uncomfortable.

With a quick glance at his watch Tamaki asked "It's only 6:15. Come to dinner with me." He stood up and reaching for her hand, brought her up to join him.

"I don't know. The last time you invited me out for dinner you tricked me into eating snails" She admitted with a grimace.

For the briefest of seconds Tamaki blushed guiltily. "If I promise no escargots will you come? It's Friday night and neither of us have work tomorrow. Besides, there's something we need to discuss."

Temporarily taken aback by his sudden seriousness, Haruhi nodded in agreement.

"Great!" Tamaki sighed in relief.

Just what exactly is going on? Haruhi mused. She of all people knew that if anything, He hadn't outgrown his flair for the showy and spontaneous. There was no way of knowing where this would lead.

With a shy smile, she followed her friend out of the building, deciding that it wouldn't kill her to let loose a little too.