A/N: Here it is: the sequel to Two Roses for One Princess! This most likely won't be as long as TRFOP was and it'll probably be fluffier too, just a head's up. Also, if you're going to read this but haven't read Two Roses for One Princess yet, PLEASE read that first! Otherwise the plotline of this story might not make sense. Enjoy the sequel and please don't forget to review! :)

Disclaimer: Ouran High School Host Club belongs to Bisco Hatori. The only things I own are my original characters and the ideas in this story.

Life After High School

Chapter One: Here's to the Rest of Our Lives

Looking at the photo on my living area table, I smiled. It was taken on the last day of my first year at Ouran Academy with the members of the school's Host Club. They were not only the subject of every girl's desire at Ouran, but they were also my best friends. There was another photo on the table that featured me with my arms wrapped around the neck of a boy with amber eyes and messy red hair. We both had smiles on our faces, and if you looked closely you could spot the diamond engagement ring on my right hand.

The boy was Kaoru Hitachiin, and he was my fiancé. We had started dating during our first year, and at the end of that year he had proposed to me. I know that most teenage relationships don't last, but our relationship kept getting stronger over the years. By our third year we loved each other even more than when our relationship began, and we were more than ready to get married.

"Mistress Valerie, your guests are starting to arrive." Akemi, my maid, announced.

"Okay, I'll be right down." I smoothed the blouse and skirt I had chosen to wear and went downstairs. Earlier that day I had officially graduated from Ouran Academy, and my graduation party was about to begin. Most of the Host Club members had already graduated by then, but we still kept in touch and got together whenever we could.

My dad was standing in the foyer ready to greet guests along with my best friend Katie. She had yet to graduate given that the school year in the States didn't end until June, but she really wanted to be there for my graduation and the party afterwards. However, I knew that that wasn't the only reason she wanted to come visit.

"So Katie, you excited to see Kyoya again?" I teased.

Katie blushed but nodded. "You bet I am. It's been forever since we saw each other last." Ever since they'd met at my seventeenth birthday party, Katie and Kyoya had been inseparable.

I looked at the clock and saw that it was exactly when the party was supposed to start, and the doors opened to reveal the line of luxury cars pulling into the driveway and the people walking up to the house.

"Val-chan!" As soon as he'd come in, Hunny jumped on me in a hug, making both of us laugh. He hadn't changed one bit!

"Hey, Hunny!" I laughed. Calming down I smiled up at the man standing behind him. "Hello, Mori."

Mori smiled and took me in a gentle hug, which was probably the last thing one would expect from such an imposing figure. "It's good to see you, Valerie. I've missed you."

"Same here." As soon as I said that, Tamaki and Kyoya arrived. Tamaki scooped me up in a hug and kissed me on the cheek, and even Kyoya gave me a hug when he saw me. I then shooed him off to reunite with Katie, and they hardly left each other's side for the entire party.

"Hey Tamaki, is Haruhi still coming?" I asked as everyone who had arrived so far greeted each other.

"Why yes, she should be right behind me…" Tamaki's face paled when he saw that said person wasn't there. "Haruhi's gone missing! But I thought she was here with me!"

"Don't worry, Tamaki, I'm right here. I just had to take a phone call." Haruhi shook her head and embraced me. "How're you doing, Valerie?"

"I'm great. It's wonderful to see you again, Haruhi!"

"Oh, that's a relief!" Tamaki sighed. "Haruhi, please let me know where you are next time, you scared me half to death!"

"He hasn't changed." I shook my head.

"Yeah, no matter how much older he gets he's still as scatter-brained as ever." Haruhi agreed and we laughed. She gave me a kind smile. "I really wish I could take some more time off, I've just been getting swamped with cases to look over." Haruhi had started her lawyer training during the school year, taking her normal classes and classes through a law college to get a degree faster. Just before graduation she'd been offered some on the job training at a really prestigious law firm in Tokyo. When she'd told me she'd been given that opportunity I was thrilled.

"It's okay, I understand. Other than that, how's the training working out?" I asked as we headed out into the garden with the others.

"It's going really well. The call that I took just now was from the law office. They've told me that I seem to have a real knack for law, and they want to hire me as soon as my training finishes."

"That's awesome!" I hugged her, but my face fell when I realized something. "Unfortunately, I have no idea what I want to do. I want to have a job instead of just depending on Kaoru for money."

"What about being a professional photographer? You'd be really good at that, I've seen your photos."

"That's worth considering." I nodded.

"Hey, everyone!" Two male voices greeted us simultaneously, and we knew exactly who they belonged to. I jumped up and ran over to greet the two who had just arrived.

"You look wonderful, Val." Hikaru grinned as we exchanged hellos. "Glad to see our fashion lessons have stuck with you."

"Oh hush, I was never that hopeless!" I stuck my tongue out at him and we laughed. The Hitachiin twins were already making names for themselves in the fashion industry as up-and-coming designers. They'd presented their first collection at Tokyo's fashion week earlier that year, and the fashion industry went wild for it.

"There you are." Kaoru Hitachiin smiled and held out a bouquet of orange roses to me. "Congratulations on graduating."

"Aww, thanks Kaoru." I blushed and hugged him. Right in the middle of the hug we shared a kiss, which made the others laugh and whoop. "You guys are so full of it!" I laughed when we pulled apart.

The party lasted well beyond the time that the invitation said it would end, but nobody really seemed to care. We just sat around talking, laughing, and just enjoying each other's company. I couldn't believe just how lucky I was to have had this many close friends for as long as I did. I didn't want to be considered "popular" in school, I just wanted a few close friends and that was exactly what the Host Club members were to me.

We were all so close that Kaoru and I wanted as many of them as possible to be in our wedding party. I was planning to ask Katie and Haruhi to be my bridesmaids during the party, and I had also asked Kanako Kasugazaki to be one. She and I became friends after the Host Club had helped bring her and her fiancé Torhu Suzushima together. One year later she'd asked me pass along her thanks to the club, and after I'd agreed we started talking and quickly became friends. Fortunately she eagerly agreed to be one of my bridesmaids when I'd asked her.

So far, the wedding party consisted of Kanako, Tamaki, and Kyoya. I watched as Kaoru pulled his twin aside to talk to him, because I knew exactly what was going on.

"Hikaru, we've been through a lot together and I really value how close we are, so I want you to be my best man." Kaoru said. I couldn't hear Hikaru's reply, but given the tight hug they were sharing I knew Hikaru had said yes.

"Haruhi? Katie? Can I talk to you guys for a sec?" I asked, coming over to them.

"Sure." Haruhi nodded. "What's up?"

"Haruhi, I was wondering if you'd like to be one of my bridesmaids."

She smiled. "Absolutely, I'd love to."

I then turned to my best friend. "Katie, will you be my maid of honor?"

"Of course I will!" Katie exclaimed. "You have no idea how happy that makes me."

"And you guys have no idea how happy I am that my best friends are all going to be there for the wedding." I smiled and the three of us shared a group hug. Friends were one of the most important things a person could have in life, and I couldn't have asked for better ones.