A/N: Reading your reviews reminds me every day that this is the reason I write fanfiction. This story is for all of you, and since you requested it, I had to write it. Can you imagine the hosts as grandparents? Sometimes it is hard to believe, but after writing the Bitter series, it became a lot easier to visualize because we started in high school and went through marriage and kids. Now their kids are starting their own families. Enjoy the final chapter of this story and thank you for all of your support.

Chapter 2 – The Wedding

Standing in the room and looking at herself in the mirror six months after her engagement, Mieko could hardly believe she was the same person who liked to wear her jeans, practice kendo, and remain true to her tomboy persona. Completely opposite from her sister. Hitomi loved to wear dresses, played with dolls as a young girl, and loved doing her makeup and hair, which absolutely thrilled her Uncle Hikaru and Uncle Kaoru; while on the other hand, they got a little frustrated from time to time with Mieko and constantly told her, "You are just like your mother." She never took offense and believed it to be a huge compliment. It wasn't that she didn't know how to do her hair and makeup, and she could present herself as a perfect lady when the situation required it, but she would prefer to forego makeup and wear comfortable clothes… just like her mother.

Now as she stood in front of the mirror with a flurry of activity around her, she stared at the image before her. Her Uncles Hikaru and Kaoru had designed the dress specifically for her big day. An A-line satin dress that just barely grazed the floor, it had a high neck and no sleeves. It buttoned up the back starting at the top of her buttocks and ended right below her neck. The back of the dress had a cathedral length train and a T-shaped back to offer her elegance and comfort; and it fit her like a glove. Her long black hair was pulled back into a fancy curled ponytail, which was thrown over her right shoulder, and the base of the ponytail was adorned with pink lilies – her favorite flower and color, and probably the most feminine thing about her according to some of her friends and family. There was no veil, one wasn't needed, however, around her neck hung a strand of pearls her father had given her that morning when she woke up to bunny pancakes (just like he would make when she was a kid, and she loved them just like her sister before her) and fresh squeezed orange juice. The pink colored pearls were the perfect complement to her wedding dress, and on her ears hung the matching earrings that came with the necklace. Fastened to her wrist, was a simple jade bracelet that her grandfather Ranka had given her when she had gotten engaged. It may not match and some might even say it wasn't fancy enough, but she could think of wearing nothing else on her wrist for her wedding.

Her mother appeared in the mirror next to her and she smiled at the woman who had been her mother, friend, mentor, and idol. Haruhi had always been there for all of her children and still managed to be a successful lawyer, eventually starting her own practice, and Mieko could think of no better person to emulate than the woman who had given birth to her and her siblings.

"You look beautiful," Haruhi spoke reverently. Her daughter had always been lovely, but there was always something about a woman on her wedding day. She was so happy for her little girl, and although Mori was still having a hard time letting go of his youngest daughter, the mother of the bride knew he couldn't be prouder or happier for his little girl. Kichiro had grown into a wonderful good-looking young man… and in many ways was Kyoya all over again, except he was more open to relationships from the beginning, unlike Kyoya who had to learn in his teens. Kichiro never felt like he had to fight for his father's love or compete against his little sister, Sakura, to be the next heir… or anything else. He was confident, but not cocky, and he was every bit the Shadow King his father was. And that was alright because Haruhi and Mori both knew that their daughter would always be his priority and his only love. She had been for so long now that it would have been weird to see both children end up with someone else.

"Thanks mom – for everything," Mieko returned. "Do you think he'll like it?"

"I think if he doesn't, he's an idiot and I've never known an Ootori man to be a fool."

Snickering, the bride said, "Uncle Kyoya would disagree with you. He said his brothers could be big fools. Not so much now, but when all of you were still in school."

"Uncle… huh. I guess he won't be uncle anymore."

"I guess it would be weird to call him uncle when he will be my father-in-law."

"Only a little."

Mieko giggled some more, "It took Hitomi almost a year to stop calling Uncle Mitsukuni uncle."

"I know. And if you listen really close, sometimes you can still hear Mitsuo call your father Uncle Takashi or Uncle Taka, but only when he's nervous about something."

"Really? I guess I hadn't noticed. It's not like daddy would do anything to him or anyone else though."

"You really believe that?"

"He would?"

"Your father can be quite protective and there were a few times when he had to prove a point while we were in school. He always used it as a last resort though."

"I know he fought Uncle Tamaki in a few duels, but I thought those were… embellished."

Haruhi shook her head as her voice shook with amusement, "No. No exaggeration or embellishment. In fact, the duels didn't stop until after I got pregnant with Isao. I think that was the last one. With each of you kids, Hikaru, Kaoru, and Tamaki tried to battle for naming rights. They actually tried it once with Kyoya, but… well let's just say Kyoya got to name Kichiro and we got to name all four of you."

"Did you hear that Emi is pregnant?"

"She is?" Shaking her head, the mother looked almost forlorn as she turned and looked at one of the bridesmaids in the room as she muttered, "I wonder if we can put Tamaki into a coma until after she delivers."

"Why do you say that?"

"Your Uncle Tamaki is special and tends to overreact to everything. The only time we didn't see him completely freak out is when your Aunt Yumi delivered. However before that, he was a wreck during the entire pregnancy and we were all kind of hoping she would never have any more children."

"But then she had a girl and three more boys."

"Believe me I know. Your Uncle Kyoya always had a sedative handy just in case it was needed."

The bride started to laugh and grabbed her side, "Yep that sounds like him. I think I remember him freaking out a few times, but not all the time."

"By the time Yumi delivered baby five, he was a lot calmer."

A knock at the door halted the conversation and soon Kaoru poked his head through the open door, "Everyone ready? Five minutes until show time." Grinning from ear to ear, he walked into the room and nodded, "You look perfect, Mieko. Kichiro is going to go crazy when he sees you."

"Thank you, Uncle Kaoru," she replied, the pink on her cheeks intensifying.

A flurry of activity started up again. All of the bridesmaids making sure the bride was ready and her dress looked perfect before doing a quick mirror check on themselves. Hitomi was her matron of honor, and her bridesmaids included Emi, Yasuko (Chika's daughter), Katsumi (Kaoru's daughter), and Harumi (Hikaru's daughter). They were all ready for the ceremony, and Mieko was ready to become Mrs. Kichiro Ootori. In her mind, nothing had a better ring to it than Mieko Ootori.

Another knock sounded at the door and Mori was allowed entrance while everyone left the room in order to give the parents and bride a few moments alone. People used to believe the former wild host was stoic and didn't show many emotions, but if they had seen him today right now, or at Hitomi's wedding, they would have changed their tune. Tears glistened in his eyes and the smile on his face showed the world how happy he was for his little girl. It was hard to let her go, just as it had been his eldest daughter, but it was comforting to know she would not be far from him and that she had chosen an exceptional husband.

She could feel her own tears prick her eyes and tried to force them back, preventing their fall. "What do you think daddy?"

Nodding, Mori answered, "You look like an angel." She was his only child who still called him daddy instead of something else, and he never wanted that to change. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, while his thumb wiped away a stray tear from her other. This was little baby, his little girl, and today she would become another man's wife. He could remember all of the times he had to stay up with her through the night because of a fever, when he had to fight invisible monsters under the bed, playing with her hair because she wanted him to, cooking for her, changing her diapers, teaching her the way of the sword, and every cut, scrape, booboo, and bruise. His little princess was now a grown woman and was on her way to joining her mother's firm as a new lawyer. Where had all the time gone? It seemed like yesterday she was five and stood on his feet as they danced in the living room; and yet, one day she was asking him to put pig tails in her hair and the next she was doing her own hair and putting on makeup. He never wanted those times to end, but it was time to let her leave the nest and allow her to fly on her own into her new life. He had been much the same when he had to walk Hitomi down the aisle and he thought it would have been easier this time – it wasn't.

"Thank you daddy," the bride beamed, her smile lighting up the room and her father's soul.

Haruhi pulled her daughter in for one last hug before she left them and whispered, "We love you, honey, and are so happy for you." She kissed her daughter's cheek and then left the father and daughter alone in the room.

"If ever you aren't happy or need us…" Mori began, his voice a little choked with emotion.

Mieko patted her father's shoulder, "I know. You and mom will always be there for me. Love you, daddy."

"I love you too." He pulled her into his arms and gave her a firm hug, kissing the top of her head.

Kaoru returned and informed the duo that it was time.

"I'm ready. Come on daddy, Kichiro is waiting for me." Tucking her arm into her father's, they walked out of the room together, and then the first man she loved escorted her down the aisle towards her groom.

No one could deny that the couple loved each other with their whole hearts, and the ceremony was perfect… for the Host Club. Tamaki started wailing that another of their children was getting married and they were getting old, but that it was a good thing they still looked good. Kyoya turned around and gave him "the look", which if the blond had been paying attention would have shut him up, but he wasn't, so he got a slap across his face from his best friend. Hikaru and Kaoru started to laugh, causing Haruhi to turn around and give them the death glare. They gulped loudly and shut up. And this was all during the exchanging of the vows. Eventually the officiant stated in a loud, clear voice, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Kiss complete, he said, "May I present Mr. and Mrs. Kichiro Ootori!" The applause were deafening and everyone was ecstatic for the new couple.

The reception was almost as eventful as the ceremony when the twins teased Tamaki and he ran after them and into the cake. However, anticipating this might happen, Haruhi had made sure the first cake wasn't the actual cake and was only a decoy… thankfully.

Happiness and love filled the room; and although there might have been a few hiccups, neither the bride nor groom cared. In their eyes, this was normal, this was their family, and this was how it should be. Together they hoped they had even a fraction of the happiness their parents and uncles had. Their friendships had continued through the years, and the loves that they had found in their spouses had set the example of what all of the children hoped to find in their other halves. Kichiro and Mieko believed they had found it in each other, and now they would spend the rest of their lives continuing the legacy their parents had begun.

A/N: The slap had to be done since this is the Bitter series after all. Lol.