A/N: I want to thank everyone for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers. Family time was great, but I am also happy to be back at home. I was so excited when I saw the response I got on this story! Both sets of grandparents have great love stories and I plan on writing a story for the other set as well. Enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 2 – Reasoning

"Is it true Haru-Chan?" Hunny asked over the phone. Tamaki had called Kyoya the day before and informed the Shadow King of Haruhi's answer and word spread to the other hosts. All of them were a little confused about what happened since the couple seemed so perfect… granted, it was almost too perfect, but they seemed so right for each other. What went wrong? Instead of depending on Tamaki or the others for answers, Hunny went right to the source. He knew if Haruhi had really broken things off with Tamaki, she had to have a good reason.

Sighing, Haruhi plopped down onto her futon and lay back, "It is." She had been expecting calls from everyone, actually not Mori since Hunny and he would talk, but from everyone else and in the past 24 hours this was the first call she had received. Maybe the others hadn't heard? However, if Hunny knew, the others had to know as well.

Hunny frowned and looked across the room to where Mori sat on the couch listening in on the conversation the eldest host had on speaker. Finally, the blond questioned, "But why?"

"Hunny-senpai, I just wanted more. I thought it would be alright to stay with Tamaki even though I knew I wasn't in love with him, but I realized that I wanted what my parents shared. Years after my mother passed away, my father still loves her, longs for her, and wants her to be at his side."

There was a slight pause before Mori asked, "What made you change your mind?" He, like his shorter cousin, knew that she would not have done this without a lot of thought and consideration. Haruhi did not do anything spur of the moment. Hell it took her a while before she finally even accepted Tamaki's affections, granted she is dense, but she also wanted to be sure that no one else would be hurt in the process. So for her to deny Tamaki's proposal, she had to have a good reason.

Haruhi felt herself sighing again. Would they understand if she explained it? The only way to know for sure would be to explain everything. These two people were her friends, and even though she had not been able to explain it all to Tamaki (okay maybe she didn't try hard enough to do that), she needed to explain it to someone… them. Taking in a deep breath, she exhaled and began her story, "Well this isn't something that just happened overnight. I have been feeling like this for a while now, but I was always able to brush it to the side. Then I saw and heard something that wouldn't allow me to do that any longer."

"What?" Hunny asked a little breathless, already getting wrapped up in the anticipation.

"About a month ago, the night before the anniversary of my mom's death, Tamaki and I got into a huge fight because I asked him to give my father and me space the next day. My dad might have accepted the fact that Tamaki and I were together, but there were still issues and my dad wanted this anniversary to be just us since we hadn't been spending a lot of time together. Tamaki took exception to it all and said that since he was a part of my life and my dad had to get used to him being there, he should be able to be there with us and for me as well. I asked him to drop it and he finally agreed, but I knew he was upset and I could understand his feelings, and yet, I couldn't give into him. My dad doesn't ask that much of me and he was right, we hadn't been spending a lot of time together, so I felt like this was one thing I could do for him. You know?"

"We understand," Mori stated and Hunny readily agreed. Tamaki had done everything in his power to get Ranka to like him and yet the red headed cross dresser still didn't appreciate everything Tamaki had to offer; of course forcing himself on the father would not exactly put him in the good graces of the parent either.

Clearing her throat, Haruhi continued, "Like I said, it has been something I have been pushing to the side for a while now. That argument kind brought my feelings and questions back to the forefront, and honestly, I kind of felt like I needed the small break and some time with my dad. The next morning, I woke up early so that I could make lunch and stuff for when we visited my mom's grave, and found my dad talking to my mother. I had seen him talk to her a few times, but this time I really stopped and listened to what he was saying…"

Flashback…

Haruhi woke up and walked into the kitchen so that she could make lunch for she and her father, but stopped when she heard his voice. It sounded so lost and sad. Sliding down to the floor, she sat on the floor and remained hidden and just listened.

"My beautiful Kotoko, it seems like an eternity since I have held you or talked to more than just your picture. Well, I guess it has been since our little baby is now 20 and dating someone. I've talked to you about him before… Tamaki Suoh. He is a good man that loves our daughter passionately, but I wish she knew that it took more than passion to make a relationship last and work. You and I didn't have much time together, but we were happy. I wish you were still here, still by my side. I loved you so much, and even to this day I still love you. Sometimes I long for the day that I can be with you again, but I know that I can't leave our daughter just yet. Not many people find the one true love of their lives that will capture their heart and soul, holding it for all eternity, and I was lucky enough to find that in you, even if it was only for a short period of time. We had some very good years together though and I don't regret one moment we spent together. If Haruhi had that with Tamaki, I think I would be more accepting, but I can tell that she isn't sure of something and I don't know what it is. I want her to have everything in life, and although I cannot give her much physically, she deserves to have a love that stands the test of time and will last through the good and bad times. If she has that with him, then I will be satisfied, but I don't think she does. Oh how I wish you were here so that you could talk to her about all of this. I wish you could have been there to see her grow up. She reminds me so much of you. Not only in her looks, but her personality, her drive, and her tenacity. She is going to make a great lawyer; you would be proud of her. Of course, you would be proud of her no matter what field she decided to go into, but I know you are smiling down upon her right now for going into the legal field. She wants to be just like you and I think she is. Kotoko, you were always the only one for me. I know I have had other lovers, but no one compares to you and I only have them because I feel so lonely sometimes. Whenever I am with them, I think of you. I know that might make me a bastard, but I can't help it. I want you here with me and every day since we have been separated, I reach out to you and only feel air where you should be. Even if you would have lived until 100 and had stayed with me, it would have never been enough time together. I hope Haruhi feels that way about Tamaki because anything less isn't fair to anyone and can cause more hurt and pain later in life. I just don't want her to regret a single moment of her life, to question love, or to settle for less than everything. She deserves it all, just like you did. Sometimes I wonder why you chose me, but I was blessed the moment you said you would be mine."

Haruhi stopped listening and very quietly went back to her room for a little bit. She needed to think about everything her father had said and give him a moment with her mother.

End Flashback…

"I have thought about everything since I heard all of that and realized that I want that. I want what my parents had. I want it all and I don't want to look back and regret anything. I don't want to choose Tamaki now and hate him later, or for him to hate me later. We both deserve more than that. I love him, but I'm not in love with him and I know he isn't the one I should be spending my life with," Haruhi wrapped up her explanation wondering if her friends understood her reasoning just a little.

There were several moments of silence before Hunny spoke, "We understand, Haru-Chan. You should not settle for anything less than your total happiness."

"He's right," Mori concurred. After listening to her explanation, he could very easily understand her reasoning behind the breakup and could not blame her. If he had heard the same speech from his own father, it would make him seriously think about what he was doing and his future; and he would have probably come to the same conclusion. However, it was not going to be easy in regards to the group dynamics. Hikaru and Kaoru as much as they teased Tamaki, still considered him one of their close friends, just as they did Haruhi. Tamaki was Kyoya's best friend. In other words, this was going to be a very difficult situation to navigate.

"So what are you going to do now?" Hunny asked.

Haruhi shook her head, "I don't know. You two are the first people to call me. I'm not really expecting Kyoya-senpai, but I figured at least Hikaru and Kaoru would call me. They haven't. What I don't want is everyone to draw a line in the sand and to pick sides. I think we can all maintain our friendship even if Tamaki and I are no longer a couple; well, I do, but not sure everyone else would agree."

Grinning, Hunny declared, "I think we can too, Haru-Chan!"

Mori added, "Yah."

There was some ruckus in the background and then the blond spoke to the girl again, "Haru-Chan, my mother wanted me to be sure to invite you to Satoshi and Chika-Chan's welcome back party next weekend."

"Has it already been a year? I'll be there. It will be good to see them again," Haruhi smiled. The younger siblings of Mori and Hunny had gone off to study abroad their first year in college much like the elder siblings had done, and now that they were back, they would be attending university in Japan. Since meeting the younger duo, Haruhi had become somewhat friends with the because of her friendship with their brothers, and although they weren't extremely close, it would be nice to see them again; however, she did have one concern, "Will the others be coming as well?" She would still come, but at least if she knew ahead of time, she could be mentally prepared.

"Not that I'm aware of," Hunny answered. As far as he knew only Haruhi had been invited to the party and that was only because Chika and Satoshi actually got along with her. His younger brother didn't exactly see eye to eye with the other hosts.

"Okay, I was just…" she paused.

"We know," Mori said.

The three friends talked for a little longer before Hunny and Mori had to get off the phone. It had been nice to talk to them and know that they didn't judge her or look down upon her for making the decision that she had. It gave her hope that a future with her friendships still intact was truly possible. Walking into her living room, she lit some incense and stared at her mother's picture, "Mom, please help me. I don't want to lose them, but I can't be with Tamaki any longer. I want what you and dad had. Help me find the one for me."

Elsewhere…

Hikaru and Kaoru were sitting in their studio in their mansion and not getting any work done. They had heard the news about the breakup and although part of them could not believe it, it was something they had suspected might come sooner or later. How were they supposed to act? What were they supposed to do? Tamaki had sounded so despondent and they wanted to be there for him, to help him like he helped them, but did that mean they would have to let Haruhi go? They just didn't know right now and decided to give it a few days to calm down before they reached out to anyone.

When Kyoya had gotten the visit from Tamaki the day before, he had been shocked. For all his wily ways of knowing everything, he never saw this coming. His best friend was depressed and hurt, and Haruhi in a sense was to blame, but was she really? She had to have a reason, but until Tamaki left Kyoya's home (the blond had stayed the night and had taken up short term residence on the Shadow King's couch), he could not call Haruhi to get the story. Kyoya had to know because he hated not knowing everything, and it could mean the difference between keeping a friendship or letting it fall by the wayside.