A/N: I hope you guys like the last chapter! Sorry, but Haruhi won't find out exactly what she's suffering from just yet. Next chapter, though, okay? But You get to know now! Though there will be family moments, and some kissing, okay?

Disclaimer: No I don't own it. I write fanfictions, not mangas. And the characters aren't mine… (

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Flashback

Chapter Seven: Innocent Love

"All these moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain."-Anonymous

"Everyone can reach back to one summer and lay a finger to it, finding the exact moment where everything changed."-Sarah Dessen –That Summer

A brown haired woman was waiting in the doctor's office. She was flipping through a copy of the daily news, at the sound of her name, she looked up.

"Fujioka Haruhi? Ah, yes, Dr.Wong is ready to see you now." Haruhi walked in to the office, and sat on the appointed chair.

"Ahh, Haruhi, it's been a while since you've last come here," Dr.Wong said as he came into the room. He was a jovial man, kind of thick around the waist, but very kind. "How are the children?"

"Fine, Dr.Wong. But I just wanted a checkup. There have been some strange things going on…I've been feeling so tired lately…"

"Oh, that's nothing, probably spending too many days at the office. Or stress, nothing to worry about," Dr.Wong said, scribbling things down on his clipboard.

"True," Haruhi agreed. "But there's something else. Lately I've been… coughing up blood." Dr.Wong instantly put his clipboard down. He was no longer smiling.

"Okay, I'm going to check your blood pressure, and your breathing." Haruhi was slightly alarmed, her doctor rarely acted so serious.

"Just as I thought. Slight wheezing, elevated blood pressure, higher heart beat." Dr.Wong was talking to himself. After that, he asked Haruhi a question. "Have you been experiencing weight loss at all?"

"No, I haven't really." Haruhi replied. Dr.Wong turned to her, he was concerned, that much she could see.

"You should have come in earlier, or gone to the hospital, or something! How long have you been coughing blood?" Dr.Wong asked her roughly.

"Well, all week…"

"All week! You should have come demanding to be seen, but you just held it in. Look," Dr.Wong sighed. "I know you're stubborn about being sick, insisting that you're fine when you're not. But it won't help anyone! I'm bringing you into the X-ray Room, I'm taking a look at your heart and lungs." Dr.Wong went out the door, coming back with a nurse.

"Kiyo will help you get into the change of clothes. Meet me in the X-ray room when you're done. And with that, Dr.Wong swept out of the room.

When the X-ray was done and Haruhi was back in her own clothes, Dr.Wong met her in his office.

"The X-rays will be back in a day or two. I expect you back in my office on Tuesday at 6:00. You got that? And don't treat this like a cold or flu. This could be dangerous." Dr. Wong sighed. "Take care of yourself, okay? Drink lots of water, eat healthy food. And most importantly sleep. Okay, Haruhi?"

"Okay, Dr. Wong, I'll do that. Do you know what is causing me to feel so sick?" Haruhi asked, she was about to leave.

"Well, I have my suspicions, but we'll know when the X-rays come whether I'm wrong or not. Ja ne, Haruhi." And with that, Haruhi walked out of the office, leaving the doctor in his chair. Dr. Wong out his head in his hands.

'I wanted to tell you, but I don't know how. How can I say that you might have lung cancer?'

Dr. Wong sighed. This was the price of being a doctor. Though there were the good times, there were a lot of moments when it was just bad news.

Haruhi drove her car into the garage at her apartment. 12:30, the appointment took longer than she thought it would, with the X-Ray and everything. 'I wonder why Dr. Wong looked so worried.' But Haruhi shrug it off. She would get her answer on Tuesday. Right now she was wondering when Kyoya would get there.

Meanwhile, the very man Haruhi was thinking of, was having a very different appointment in an office in the Ootori mansion.

Kyoya was standing stoically in his Father's office. It used to be his favorite place to be. But that was before he learned there were more important things than business. Kyoya kept his expression schooled, but what his father was saying to him made him feel… Happy… Which was an unusual expression to describe how he usually felt with his… father. The feeling was ethereal, he could almost think what he was hearing wasn't real. It was just that abnormal…

"…I hope you will marry Fujioka Haruhi. One of the children will be heir to the company after you, it is only suitable for you to have an active role as their father. Haruhi seems to be excellent material for a wife and future daughter-in-law." At this, Yoshio Ootori smirked. "As was demonstrated in the way she defended you at the Ouran Festival that one year. Also, your children seem to have abnormal levels of intelligence." Again, Yoshio smirked, and it was not cold like it usually was. "Must be a family trait," and if Kyoya had known better, he might have thought it was humor that was in his voice.

"You're letting me have a future with Haruhi?" Kyoya asked, shocked. This was almost too good to be true, first Haruhi, then his father, were giving him chances.

"Yes that is what I've been trying to say. Your brothers seem bent on bachelorhood now that they know they won't get the company. Your sister Fuyumi seems to be taking her time as well. And, to be blunt, Fujioka Haruhi would make a welcome addition to the family, considering her wit and intelligence. She did raise two children with practically no outside help except from her father, who could be unreliable sometimes."

"Our meeting is over Kyoya. Yes, you can finally have a life with your Fujioka Haruhi." And with that, Yoshio stood up, patted his son on the back, and left the room

Kyoya was stunned, and happy, usully not two emotions that one would string together. He could finally live his life the way he wanted, with no threats dangling over his head or over others. He could really have a life with his children, and most of all… with Haruhi. Kyoya looked at his watch, 12:10, if her started now, he could get to Haruhi's in time.

Kyoya started to walk out of his father's office, when he was stopped by Tsukino, his maid. "You finally going to go after Haruhi?" Tsukino asked, her hands on her hips. Little did either of them know, someone else was listening to their conversation while pretending to dust a Rene vase.

"Yes I'm going after her. Both my father and Haruhi have given me another chance, and I'm going to take it." Kyoya smiled slightly, and left the room, leaving a shocked 50 year-old maid behind.

Tsukino wiped her eyes. "Well it was about time you did something for yourself Kyoya. About time," Tsukino said softly.

Haruhi was at the door of her apartment, unlocking the door and letting a sigh of relief. Right on time, Kyoya wasn't there yet. And she felt relieved until she heard…

"Haruhi," Kyoya's voice called out to her. Haruhi jumped, looking at the dark-haired man before her. "Why did you go out, you were expecting me weren't you?"

"Uhhh," Haruhi said. For some reason she didn't want to reveal that she was at the doctor's office. "Well, I wanted to get some lotion, but uh… they were out. Do you want to come in with me?"

"Okay," Kyoya said. But he was looking at her suspiciously, as if he didn't quite believe her at all. Right when Haruhi opened the door, a voice yelled out, "otou-san, okaa-san!" Kyouko was a black-haired blur as she shot herself at Kyoya, reminding Haruhi awfully of Hunny.

Though following at a slower pace, Kyoya followed his sister, and looked up at his father and mother, though he was still keeping his distance. "Kyouko," Haruhi said gently to her daughter. "If you don't let go of otou-san, he can't come in to have visit with us."

"Okay," and with that, they all went into the apartment.

"Okaa-san, me and Kyoya already ate with Grandpa, so we don't really need lunch." Kyouko said sheepishly.

"Well, I don't need lunch, what about you, Kyoya?" Haruhi was answered by the man when he shook his head.

"Do you two want to come play in the park with me and your otou-san?" Haruhi asked. She was answered quickly by Kyouko who immediately said "Yay!" But Haruhi was looking at her son, waiting for an answer.

Kyoya looked up at his mother, staring her straight in the eyes. He them took a glance at his father over her shoulder. After that, he finally looked at his sister, who was nearly bursting at the prospect of being allowed to play in the park. Kyoya sighed, and Haruhi could see that he was weighing his advantages and his disadvantages. In this case there were two options. He could refuse to go, because he really didn't like his new father. Or, he could go and make Kyouko happy. Then again, it was one of the only days of the week that the two siblings could have their mother for themselves. 'I guess I will have to go with the logical choice, but I won't like it.'

Kyoya took a deep breath and muttered, "Fine I'll go… But I don't have to like it." Both Haruhi and Kyoya (adult) let out breath that they didn't even know that they were holding in. Meanwhile, Kyouko was yelling out in a very Hunny-like fashion, "Yay!!! Okaa-san and otou-san are going to play with me and Nii-san!!! YAYY!!!"

And this was how, many minutes later, the little family of four were at the park once again. ( Haruhi's father had been suspiciously absent).

The park was empty, no one really bothered with it anymore. Everyone was too busy at home watching t.v. or something along those longs to just go outside and have some fresh air. What those people didn't know was how rewarding it could be: To watch a child play.

Haruhi was spending time with Kyouko, going up and down the slides, then swinging on the swingset. This left Kyoya and Kyoya alone together. Obviuosly, one disliked this far more than the other, although he didn't show it. Kyoya was climbing on the monkeybars, even though his father told him to be careful, Kyoya ignored him.

When Kyoya was having a break on the monkey bars, Kyoya Ootori couldn't help but ask, "Why do you hate me so much?" At this, Fujioka Kyoya looked down at the man who he tried to hate, no matter who he was.

The smaller Kyoya glared down at him, "You weren't there when we came. You weren't there when we needed you. You weren't there when okaa-san was crying. Kyouko doesn't even know about when okaa-san cries only me: And I can't do anything. You never did anything that fathers should do. I wouldn't even care if you were a hobo, even if you just there. You aren't my father. Not now."

Kyoya stood there, looking at the boy who refused to accept him. 'He's right. He's absolutely right. And if our roles were switched, I would have said the same thing.' And the he thought. 'I made Haruhi cry, and I was never there to even help her through it. I instead come back three years later, to ask for forgiveness. Meanwhile she was struggling with a difficult job. And our two children. In truth, I shouldn't even be a father.' Kyoya sighed. He was deceptive, analytical, and yet, Kyoya found that he could not even build a defense against one four-year old boy. His son.

While Kyoya was lost in his thoughts, Kyoya continued to climb the monkeybars. But he grabbed them as if he was angry at something. But, unbeknownst to both of them, two pairs of eyes looked at them from the bottom of the slide. Kyouko turned to her mother slowly, sighing. "Kyoya doesn't like otou-san, does he, okaa-san?" at this, Haruhi turned to her daughter, and sighed as well. Really, they were alike in so many ways. All except for the eyes. Those onyx eyes.

"No, Kyoya doesn't like his otou-san very much. But maybe he will learn to like him. In time. He is very stubborn. Must be a common trait in men, right Kyouko?" Haruhi smiled at her daughter, and Kyouko laughed. All was right again, because you had to believe that it would all be alright in the end. You'd never be able to go on if you thought that everything was going to fail. And, deciding this, the two, mother and daughter, went back to sliding down the slide. Tickling each other all the way down.

Meanwhile, on the men's side of things, the situation was still pretty tense. Kyoya was still determinedly trying to ignore his father, while climbing monkeybars. The man watching was waiting for his son to make the first move. That was one of the drawbacks to being a Shadowking, he supposed. He watched and calculated while others made moves around him. Although it was an awfully lonely life.

Suddenly, when Kyoya went to reach up and climb another bar, he slipped, starting to fall. Kyoya winced, closing his eyes, expecting to have a first-hand introduction to mother Earth, but he didn't. He opened his eyes, finding him nestled surprisingly nestled in strong, warm arms.

Shocked honey-brown eyes met onyx ones. Kyoya asked his father. "Why, why did you do that? You could have let me fall?" Haruhi and Kyouko were running at the two boys, father and son, but Haruhi told Kyouko to be quiet. This would obviously be a father and son bonding moment. It would not do to interrupt. This was something they had to do on their own.

Kyoya looked down at his son in minor surprise. "I did it because I wanted to, I have to. I'm your father aren't I?" Kyoya gently set his son down gently on the floor, kneeling until he was looking into his eyes, Kyoya said in a serious tone, "I may have not been there before, but I'm here now. I want to be a father to you, to Kyouko, will you give me that chance?"

Everyone was silent. This was the crucial moment. The one thing that would decide if father and son would bond, inseparable. Or, be divided forever, it all hinged on a little boy. Haruhi prayed. 'Please, make him realize what his father is trying to say. I know how Kyoya can be stubborn about revealing his emotions. I hope our son, will make the right choice.'

In a small voice, Kyoya stated his decision. "I accept you… otou-san."

Many things happened at once. Haruhi let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding, and restrained the urge, barely, to fall on her knees. Kyouko was celebrating saying things like: "Yay! Kyoya loves otou-san!" Or, "We can be a real family now!"

Meanwhile, Kyoya picked up his son in his arms, and said, "Thank you."

Kyoya smiled at his father, it was the first time he even cracked a grin in the man's presence, but now he was smiling fully.

After playing some more, not just separately, everyone was too tired, and decided to go home.

Dinner was peaceful, and entertaining with the story of how Kyoya and Haruhi met at the Supermarket the one time. That was when Kyoya first thought that Haruhi could be someone he would love. Although, he didn't tell the kids that piece of information.

When it same time for the kids to go to bed, the announcement was greeted with groans and complaints. But, with a promise of another story and a song, Kyouko and Kyoya were finally persuaded to go to bed.

After the story, Kyouko was already asleep, but Kyoya was awake and still looking at his parents. He held his parent's gazes in his own, very serious one. "Otou-san, Okaa-san…" Kyoya began, obviously this subject would be very important. He had waited until after his sister was asleep to voice it. He took a deep breath as if preparing himself, " Okaa-san, Otou-san, now that we're together… When will we be a family again?"

Haruhi gasped despite herself, and Kyoya looked what seemed to be a mixture of shock and happiness. "I…I mean that… now we're a family and all. Will okaa-san and otou-san be getting married? And-And… Will we be able to stay together in one house, so we can be together all the time?"

Haruhi's mind was reeling. But she guessed that this question would have had to come, sooner or later. In almost all senses, they truly were a family. Except in the legal ones. Kyoya and Haruhi were never married before, and Haruhi still wasn't sure if she could marry him. Marriage was a lifetime commitment, wasn't it? Haruhi didn't think she could survive it if Kyoya chose to break that commitment as well.

Kyoya was shocked, but with the shock came a fierce longing. He still hadn't proven himself to Haruhi, he was so focused on gaining Kyoya's trust. But oh how he wanted to. How much he wanted to finally be with them as a family, in every sense of the word. But how could one explain their situation to a four-year-old? How could he explain that he had betrayed their mother, and was trying to gain their trust? How could he explain that he felt he hadn't even proven himself to be a worthy father yet?

What Haruhi said next shocked Ootori Kyoya more, and him love her more at the same time.

"I don't know, Kyoya. I don't know when, we will become a family," Kyoya was very pleased that Haruhi did not add an "or if" to the sentence. That meant he still had a very good chance.

Haruhi sighed, and looked straight into her sons eyes.

"I don't know if your otou-san and I will ever be married. But rest assured, you will always have a father no matter what goes on between me and him. Now, go to sleep,"

with that, Haruhi kissed her son gently on the forehead, and rose to her feet as he closed his eyes.

After leaving the room, Haruhi put her hand on Kyoya's shoulder. "I need to talk to you." Kyoya only answered with a nod of agreement.

They proceeded to the living room. It was already a room of memories for the young family. It was where the children first met Ootori Kyoya. It was also where he was introduced as their father. It was the place where Kyoya and Haruhi had their first kiss since the… incident… and the living room was about to see the making of yet another important moment for the Fujioka and Ootori families.

When they were finally in the sanctuary of the familiar room, Kyoya finally got the opportunity to ask the question he'd been waiting for. "Did you really mean what you said back there. What you said to Kyoya?"

Haruhi turned to him, sighing. "Yes, Kyoya. Even if… Even if we can't be as close as we used to be… You will still be their father." Haruhi smiled slightly. " Even when we were dating… I always thought that you would make a great father. And I guess I was proven right." The last sentence was spoken so softly, that Kyoya could barely hear her.

"What about the other question?" When Haruhi just looked at him confusedly, Kyoya finally made his other point clear. "Will you ever accept me in that way… Would we ever get married?"

Kyoya could see that Haruhi tensed, and then she sighed, loosening up. Finally, she looked up into his eyes, and it almost seemed like she was close to tears.

"Oh Kyoya. I myself don't know the answer to that question. Could you please give me time?" Haruhi leaned forward slowly until her head was nestled in his shoulder. She wrapped her arms around him. She didn't care what anyone thought, she needed this. That one question had brought back so many memories. So many hopes for a future that were never fulfilled…

Kyoya felt shame fill him as he felt Haruhi's tears soaking his shirt. He wrapped his arms around her, rubbing circles into her back. 'Kyoya, you fool. You hurt the one woman you love. And now I don't know if I can ever get her to be with me. To spend a lifetime with me. It's what I want but… If it would make Haruhi happy, I would leave as well…'

Before Kyoya could voice his thoughts aloud, however, Haruhi beat him to it. "You know," Haruhi whispered softly. "I always dreamed of it, even when we weren't sating yet. I dreamed of having an "Ootori" attached to my name someday." Haruhi took a deep breath, sighed, and escaped the security of his shoulder. Honey-brown eyes met onyx ones as she said, "But I don't know now. I get the feeling that I don't know anything anymore, and that to you I'm just a baka." 'And I'm afraid. So afraid that I'll come to depend on you more than before. Afraid that you will never need me as much as I need you.' Though this one thought, Haruhi did not voice aloud.

"I mean, I still love you. I told you I love you. But marriage… That's forever, isn't it? That's a life commitment. And Kyoya, you've never let me believe that you could fulfill that life agreement," Haruhi finished sadly. When she was done, she turned back around again, her head down.

Little did Haruhi know, Kyoya had dreams of his own when they were together. He had envisioned honey-brown and onyx eyed children. Wedding wings, and warms nights in bed. But he guessed that the children had come sooner than he had expected. Kyoya sighed. 'I guess it's time to tell her that I'm serious. It's time for her to be able to believe in me. I don't think I gave her enough evidence to base dependence on me. But I will prove myself.'

Kyoya slowly turned Haruhi around, and tipped her chin up, forcing her to look him in the eyes. "I know," Kyoya said softly. "I love you. I hurt you, I know that, too. But please, I want us to trust each other, and become as close as possible. Even if we will never get married, I would be willing to stay by your side." Kyoya moved his face closer to hers, so that their lips were only inches away. "Do not worry. I will not fail you like last time. I will never fail you. I will be there for you, even if it were Hell that was standing in my way." And with that, Kyoya sealed the deal with a kiss.

Haruhi moaned in his lips, and tangled his hair in her hands, trying to bring him closer to her. Those were the words she had wanted to hear. Not exclamations of unfounded love, and not even promises. She had wanted to hear statements, things that Would happen, no matter what. Kyoya had just said what she had longed to hear so much. When his lips had met her, Haruhi could finally prove that she was complete. There was no one else. All she had to do was see if Kyoya could prove himself as a choice for marriage. In her mind, they were already a family. Father, mother, son, and daughter.

Kyoya could barely restrain himself from telling in happiness in a Tamaki-like way. She was silling to give him a chance as a husband! At that moment, almost all rational thoughts left his mind, the only thing lingering was the pleasure in the kiss they shared. She tasted like honey. And salt, probably from the tears shed earlier. Kyoya promised that, is he could help it, that Haruhi would never have a reason to cry again.

Reluctantly, the couple broke from the kiss. Kyoya had to take deep breaths, and straighten out his clothing, and unruffled his hair. Obviously, Haruhi was just as aeager for a kiss as he was.

"You have to leave, don't you?" Haruhi muttered finally. Although Kyoya was pleased to hear a hint of regret in her voice. "When can I see you again?"

Kyoya thought for a minute. Considering that he had to take over a company on Monday, his sister was coming on Tuesday, and he had to brief his Father on the developments, he couldn't meet with her as soon as he would like. He finally decided. "Wednesday. Wednesday night at six, I'll pick you up. I'm kind of busy the rest of the week. But this time, just me and you, okay?"

"A date? You're proposing a date? Wow, the only time I thought to hear those words, was when I was a teenager. You humble me Kyoya, so, of course, I will accept." Haruhi laughed a bit, smiling at him.

Kyoya laughed too. It was rare when he felt… happy… but he was now, one of the many times that day, actually. "I know it sounds corny… But it got you to agree, didn't it?" The two laughed again, and for a while, it seemed that they were just teenagers again. People who had yet to face the cruel onslaught of the real world.

"So I'll see you on Wednesday, at six?" Haruhi asked, as if to clarify a few points.

"Yes, but I'll still miss you. Sometimes I wish taking over a company could just be a bit more easier," Kyoya shrugged. "But I guess that's how it is," Kyoya smiled down at her.

"Well then," Haruhi said as she leaned her face forward. She was smiling also. "In that case, why don't we make this one worth it?"

"Yes ma'am." Kyoya replied as he closed his eyes for the kiss.

Meanwhile, in a richly furnished office in a building in Tokyo, a doctor put his head in his hands and was crying softly.

This is what Wong Iruka hated most about being a doctor. Being right about the bad things. In his shaking hands, he held the results for an X-Ray and one for a blood test. He looked at them sadly. There would be no changing the reality in what those papers showed him.

He did not know that the person he was thinking about, was being loved passionately. If he did, the regret might have been too great for him. How was he to know that the innocent love of two people could be timed so mercilessly? And so Dr. Wong sighed, putting the folder away for another day. Putting it away and maybe hoping that the information would erase itself. But it would not be so.

Dr. Wong knew in absolute certainty, that the information that he had just seen, would change Fujioka Haruhi's life forever. Little did he know, Ootori Kyoya's life would be changed as well.

Fujioka Haruhi:

Lung X-Ray results: Cancer Positive.

A/N: Yes!!! I'm done the chapter!!! Man it took me a long time to think through. But, thankfully, I kept my promise and it has been updated in less than 18 days!!!

Yes!!! I know you're upset that she has cancer…

BUT WAIT!!! There is going to be an alternate ending!!!!

Which will come later on when I update….

Ja ne!!! And thanks for Reviewing!!!

XDXDXD