Haruhi lifted his head as he heard someone on the stairs leading to their second floor apartment. Haru stood, helping her brother up and waited by the door, left hands behind their backs, counting down. As they got to zero, the door opened and the twins tackled the newcomer, yelling, "Pack pile!" Harry and Kyouya stood and went to the pile on the floor and jumped on the pile too. They were Pack, so they got in the pile rather than deal with a pouty Haruhi, moody Ranka, and a pissed off Haru.

When they were seated again, and introductions were out of the way, Ranka turned to Harry. "Where's our Teddy-bear?" he asked, referring to Harry's godson and ward who had just turned four.

"At his grandmother's 'till next month while we move his things to my new place."

"Good," the Harus said together. "I miss my son," Haru continued. Hani gawked at her and Taka tilted her head slightly in confusion. Ranka glanced at his son, then turned to Harry inclining his head.

"I'll start off with my life story after dinner, no use putting anyone off their food. We were just waiting for you, Ranka."

They moved to the dinning room and sat while the couple brought in the food. Ranka and Harry sat at the ends while Hani sat to Ranka's left, Taka next to her cousin, and Haruhi beside her. Haru sat nest to Harry and across from her brother while Kyouya sat beside her. They ate while chatting though Haruhi and Taka didn't speak.

When they were finished, they went back to the living room. Then Harry spoke. He spike of his placement with his aunt and uncle, his room under the stairs, his surprise to find-on this eleventh birthday-that he was a wizard and his parents weren't drunks but murdered by an insane wizard. He described his seven years at magical school and his adventures. Then he told of the Last Battle.

"I was taken prisoner by the Dark Lord and put in a holding cell where I was free range for all Death Eaters to do what the wanted." Haruhi pulled his legs up and curled into a ball, leaning on the end of the couch. Harry sent him a worried look, but continued.

"Whether it was torture or their sexual pleasure, I was used by all but my school enemies; Draco Malfoy and Severus Snape.

"One night, they all came in, the Dark Lord too. With them they had a mew captive. They had taken him from London and knew that he had strong magic. When they found out he was a werewolf, they tried to recruit him. He, of course, knew better than to follow strange men in black robes with white masks," Harry said with pride. Then he grew serious. "They tortured him worse than I had ever had. I got spells that caused pain and encouraged insanity, but those don't work on werewolves. They used hot irons, blades, whips, broke his bones, made special potions. We heard each others screams. They were horrible, but as long as we heard them, we knew we weren't alone.

"Because he was the new fascination, I got time alone to plan and gather my strength. When I had a plan, I told him about it. See, we had cultivated mind links from knowing each other so well...it helped us remain sane."

"It was the worst night when he finally thought up the last of the plan," Haruhi cut in, eyes glazed, staring at the wall with a blank face. Hani looked at him sharply-horrified that anyone could go through that and be as ok as Haruhi was.

"When I told Haruhi about the plan, he told me about his pack mate coming in two days time. We would align the two plans to make a get away. Sure enough, the Dark Lord had and honored guest; two of them. He delighted in showing us to them and offered us for their entertainment. The Lady chose me while her companion chose Haruhi. They led us to their room and once the place was warded, they jumped on Haruhi," Harry finished with a smile.

"My pack had come for me and the plan was working," Haruhi mumbled, though everyone heard him.

Harry barked out a laugh. "Yes, it was working. Until on of the Death Eaters decided to ask if he could join in on the fun with the Lady."

"Three seconds to grab his wrist, three to break it. Forty to knock him out, another two to snaphis neck. Then the Death Eaters swarmed," Hruhi said blankly in a monotone as he started to teremble again. Taka put her hand on Haruhi's knee and slowly rubbed circles on it, helping the boy calm.

"The Dark Lord came to see what was happening," Harry continued with distant eyes. "The only option left was to kill or be killed. The four of us defended each other. In the fray the Dark Lord was vanquished. Soon only two Death Eaters remained. They helped us, gave us potions to heal and said Japan would be the best place to recover."

"But Harry had Teddy to think of now that he was free. Kyouya found us a place to stay while Harry traveled the world to forget. But I can't forget! They're always there clawing at me, burning me!" The shaking was back, but Taka's hand couldn't keep him calm anymore. She gathered the boy to her, placed him in her lap, arms going going around him loosely so he could easily escape from her grasp. Instead of pulling away,he leaned into her and calmed noticeably.

"After that," Harry continued, watching Haruhi carefully, "it became known that I was Haru's mate; that is, the only one who can calm the wolf when no one else would be able to even look at her. The only one she will ever love, her other half. Taka's head snapped up, and she understood exactly what Haruhi and Kyouya had been talking about earlier. Her Haruhi was afraid he wasn't enough for her, that he was too broken. Harry nodded at her, confirming her thoughts, before continuing. "Long distance relationships are hard, but they're worse when one of them has creature blood and another has never had love before. But we gave it a shot. We became pen pals and got to know each other before rushing into anything that could cause problems in the long run.

"After a year, one of the people I thought was a friend slipped me a love potion, Normally I can fight them off easily, but this one was highly illegal and deadly if even one drop too much was added. I went to my old Potions Master for help. He gave me the antidote and advised me to cut all ties with Britian. It was a long time coming so I took hes advise and came here to be with my mate, our son, and her pack."

Hani raised his hand. When 'allowed' to continue he asked, "Is that your real son? Is it Haru's child too?" Haruhi chuckled tiredly beside him. "We'd have to go back to the war and all the battles to answer that one."

"Which will have to wait until next time," Haru cut in, giving her brother the LOOK. "You have to be up early tomorrow so we can find a safe spot in the woods." Her brother nodded, but had no energy to get up. Taka looked questioningly at Haru. "Last door on the left."

Taka nodded and slipped one of her arms under Haruhi's knees, keeping the other around his shoulders with her hand resting on his waist. She got up and took him to the room Haru had indicated. His head rested on her collar bone, eyes closed. She didn't leave when she layed him on the bed, but carefully lay next to him and cuddled him close to her.

"You're still going to be my friend?" he asked quietly. She looked into his eyes as one of her hands twined their fingers together.

"I'm your mate," she answered. Haruhi whimpered softly, unsure whether or not this was a rejection. "I'm not going anywhere." He let out a woosh of relief and Taka pulled him closer, kissing his forehead.

"Stay? Just 'til I fall asleep?" Taka kissed his forehead again and began to rub the knots from the boy's back.

"You can't get rid of me, Haruhi. Not even if hell freezes over. I'll stay with you for as long as you want me," she whispered in his ear.

"Be prepared to stay forever, Taka. I need you too much to let you go," he slurred sleepily.

"Sleep. I'll visit day after tomorrow when you're done running around in the woods and having fun."

"Having fun my ass," he muttered "it's painful as hell."

"Goodnight, Haruhi."

"G'night Taka."