Hello! It's been a while but this was a hard chapter, I'm starting to run out of ideas, the reviews I have had have helped me a lot, I've also had a lot of story alerts, 14 in a chapter (*dances*) and most of them with no review (*cries*) Without your opinions I have no idea what you want, this story just started out as a small idea and I need guidance to develop it otherwise I'm scared it will end too suddenly and you will all be left thinking 'WTH? That was awful.'

Join the review revolution people! Let's get this fic to 100 reviews before it's all over!

Huni bounded into Haruhi's bedroom at eight in the morning, surprisingly cheerful for someone who's not a morning person; maybe it was something to do with the early morning cake sessions, 'Merry Chri-,'

Mori placed a hand over the smaller boy's mouth; Huni looked up at him so Mori released his hand but placed a warning finger over his lips. The two cousins slowly backed out of the room.

'Isn't that so kawaii?' Huni whispered, indicating to the scene they had just witnessed.

Mori nodded placidly.

'What's kawaii?' a voice behind them made them jump, 'and what were you doing in Haruhi's bedroom.' Kaoru stared accusingly at his two senpais, he had woken up early as he usually did at Christmas but left Hikaru to sleep a while longer.

Mori quickly rammed a hand over the younger twin's mouth and Huni made exaggerated shushing noises. Kaoru shouted muffled protests and tried in vain to pull his senpai's hand away. Huni and Mori exchanged a look, there was only so long they could cover for Haruhi and Kyouya.

Huni sighed, 'I guess we can let you in on the secret,'

'Secret?' Kaoru asked bright eyed but quietly once Mori removed his grip.

'Only, if you promise not to tell Hika-chan,' Huni warned. Kaoru looked uncomfortable until Huni told him, 'he'd be upset if you did.'

Kaoru looked confused but Huni just gestured for him to come to the door of Haruhi's room, Kaoru followed him and peeped around the open crack. His eyes went wide and he quickly pulled his head away to look at Huni, looking for answers.

'Are they? Does she? Does he?' Kaoru floundered in unfinished questions. He knew the two got along but not that well, at least they were both wearing clothes.

'Hai,' Huni smiled cheerfully, 'cute, ne? But you see why Hika-chan can't know.'

Kaoru nodded, 'he'll have to find out eventually but like this probably isn't the best way,' then the three of them walked down the hallway silently and went down the stairs to eat breakfast, Kaoru broke the silence just before they opened the dining room door, 'are you both okay with this thing with Haruhi and Kyouya-senpai.'

Huni nodded and beamed, he had played a little part in the matchmaking himself. Mori nodded slightly, 'Haruhi is important,' it was like all of his views and feelings were placed into one sentence.

They all loved Haruhi in different ways, maybe they would prefer it if Haruhi loved someone other than Kyouya but if giving her to another was the price for her happiness then it was worth it. She was an important person in all of the hosts' lives and hopefully there would be a time in the not too distant future when Hikaru and Tamaki would see that.

~.~.~.~.~

Haruhi opened her eyes slowly after hearing noises from the corridor but all she could see was the white of Kyouya's shirt. She tensed before remembering the night before and smiled, she didn't know when he had finally put down his work but she had succeeded in getting the big idiot to sleep.

When she tensed Kyouya reflexively pulled her closer to him, she shuffled slightly to look at his face. He was deep asleep by the looks of it, the usual hard expression on his face had softened. He had forgotten to take his glasses off the night before so they lay askew, covering one eye but the other lens was hidden by his dark hair. Haruhi slipped them off and leant over to place them on the bedside table.

'Where do you think you're going?' Kyouya pulled her closer and muttered into her hair.

'Nowhere, I was putting your glasses on the table,'

'Fine,' he mumbled and seemed to fall asleep again. Haruhi lay still for a few moments, she would have been content to lie there for some time longer but she knew there were certain people who would be wondering where she was and possibly barging in.

She tried to shuffle downwards and escape, Kyouya opened one eye and glared sleepily at her, 'nowhere, you say?'

'I heard people moving around in the corridor, do you want Tamaki to come in here? I think we should get up,'

Kyouya look reluctant, 'I'll kill him if he does,' Haruhi stared him down until he gave up then they both sat up, 'fine.'

Haruhi smiled, 'I'm going to have a shower, I'll see you downstairs in half an hour so don't even think of switching on that laptop,' Kyouya looked at the petite girl who was picking up a towel, her back to him. A smile appeared on his face; she defied him and told him what to do without even blinking. She wasn't like most girls he knew; first off they didn't think for themselves, they had no need to, they weren't all stupid but Haruhi actually used her intellect but she also cared for people.

In the world Kyouya grew up in it was different to Haruhi's, people didn't care, not even in families. Especially the Otori family, if it could be called that, it was more of a title really. Whatever concern was ever shown was never for the person in need's benefit, there was always some merit behind it.

Why does Haruhi think I'm any different to the rest of them? I do everything for my own benefit, don't I? Although there were a few incidents I can't explain myself. He remained thoughtful but picked his glasses up from the side table and left before Haruhi found him staring into space like an idiot.

~.~.~.~.~

'Oh dear lord,'

Huni, Mori and Kaoru stood still, staring at the sight before them in the living room.

'What's going on?' Hikaru came in behind them eating a waffle, he quickly fell silent.

'Do you like it?' Tamaki asked excitedly, he was sitting next to the Christmas tree and he was completely wrapped in tinsel. At that moment Haruhi and Kyouya came into the room, Haruhi took one look at the silent teens then glanced around the room.

'Wow,' was all she stated.

'It's good isn't it?' Tamaki looked like a puppy, hopeful and eager.

'It looks like Narnia threw up in here,' was her answer. Everyone in the room started to laugh; Tamaki tried to retreat to the corner and cry but ended up tripping over the tinsel he was encased in and stayed spread on the floor in tears.

'Or maybe a Disney explosion, honestly, why do you need three trees and what's with all the fake snow, isn't there enough of it outside for you?' she smiled and leant down to help Tamaki out of the tinsel mess, when he managed to sit up, he looked at her with big sad eyes.

'I-I only wanted to have a good Christmas,' his lower lip started to wobble again, Haruhi bit her lip and looked away from the puppy eyes, 'Grandma won't even let me sent mama a Christmas card so I've never have a fun Christmas.'

'What would make you feel better,' Haruhi sighed, giving in, Tamaki's eyes immediately lit up.

'Don't do it Haruhi!' the twins called in mock horror.

'Well...' Tamaki smiled at her, 'I was hoping you would wear this,' he produced a red Santa dress from nowhere. Haruhi stared at it in horror and Kyouya smirked from the other side of the room.

'No way in hell senpai,' she shook her head and got up, walking away to where the others were now sitting and eating a light breakfast that had been set out on the coffee table. She felt eyes boring into the back of her head but didn't want to turn and see where they were coming from, she sat down in between the twins, opposite Kyouya but still felt the eyes, but right behind her.

'But Haruhi~,' Tamaki whined in her ear, causing her to jump and nearly spill her tea over herself, 'please?'

She stood up scowling and snatched the dress from his hands, without looking at him she walked away from the table towards the door.

'Don't forget the hat!' he called. Haruhi turned around and glared at him before leaving the room. She looked down at the dress in her hands, at least it's soft, she thought although it did make her feel any better.

'This is going to be fun!' Huni piped up happily, 'when Haru-chan gets back we can open presents as well,' Huni turned to Kyouya and gave him a weird grin, Kyouya raised an eyebrow at the smaller boy but he just giggled and turned back to chat to Mori.

After a few minutes Haruhi came in wearing the Santa dress with black tights underneath because, as Haruhi put, 'the skirt was perversely short', she sat down in her original seat with her arms folded and shot Tamaki a look, 'happy now?' Tamaki nodded a mumbled something incoherent while blushing.

'You look so pretty Haru-chan!' Huni exclaimed. Mori nodded in agreement.

The twins both leant in and nuzzled her cheeks, 'you're our cute little Santa now.'

'I don't get how this is a Christmas outfit, it's nowhere near warm enough for winter,' Haruhi sulked quietly and consoled herself with a bit of smoked salmon, she caught Kyouya's eye, he seemed relatively impassive on the outside but she knew for a fact he was laughing at her on the inside.

'Can we open presents now,' Huni looked at her hopefully.

'Sure, I don't know why you're asking me though, I thought Kyouya was the mother here,' Haruhi looked back at Kyouya with her own smirk.

'Haru-chan can be mama now,' Huni smiled and tilted his head to one side, 'that makes sense right, she is a girl.'

'What does that make Kyouya-senpai then?' the twins asked.

'He should be the father!' Huni said happily.

'What does that make me?' Tamaki whined.

The twins grinned evilly, 'that must make you the daughter, you act enough like a little girl.'

'I do not,' Tamaki whined in a high voice, tears threatening to spill yet again and it wasn't even midday yet.

'Presents,' Mori rumbled, grabbing everyone's attention.

'That's right! It's time to open presents,' Huni hurried to the largest of the three trees, it looked like there must have been at least one extra limo to carry all of the presents from Tokyo. Haruhi wondered when the mountain load of presents had been hidden all this time. Then she remembered something.

'You're all going to have to wait until later for me to give you your presents,' she said, settling down in an armchair closer to the fireplace with a good view of the tree.

'Wha, why?' the idiot brigade complained.

'You practically kidnapped me so I couldn't pack anything could I?'

'You have a point,' Kaoru nodded.

'Could you bake me a cake instead Haru-chan? Huni asked hopefully.

'Haven't the chefs prepared lots of cake for you anyway?' Haruhi asked.

'Yup, but I like Haru-chan's cakes, they're special,'

'Whatever you say Huni-senpai,' Haruhi smiled then watched as the hosts opened presents, it turned out that they'd even left some presents behind. The only ones they'd brought were the 'smaller' ones. This included boxes bigger than Huni-senpai.

Haruhi was quite happy to stay by the fire and half-read one of the books her father had bought her. She sipped on the buck's fizz a maid had passed around only peering up when there was a loud exclamation or her name was called.

At around one in the afternoon the twins appeared on either side of her and plucked the book from her hands replacing it with a box, it was labelled to her from the Hitachiin brothers.

'Will you open our presents now?' they smiled, leaning in closer, Kaoru wondered if it was annoying Kyouya but when he glanced at him he didn't seem any more bothered than usual, 'don't forget that it's Christmas so no matter what you can't return the gift.'

'Haruhi sighed, tugging gently at the ribbon the box, 'I guess that means it's expensive.'

The twins shrugged, 'only by your standards.'

Haruhi muttered something too quietly for them to hear but undid the silk ribbon and lifted the lid. Nestled within white tissue paper she found a small red iPod from inside with matching headphones, Hikaru suddenly looked embarrassed.

'We put some songs on already,' he explained, 'I added the ones you listen to during the thunderstorm in Karuizawa because you said you liked them.'

'And I remembered bands you mentioned,' Kaoru added.

'Thank you,' she gave them a genuine smile, 'and it was sweet of you to remember.'

Hikaru blushed but grinned devilishly, 'do we get a hug then?' she didn't really have a choice as the two were already squeezing her to a level almost identical to Tamaki's hug of doom. She held the small device in her hands, thinking how light and fragile it felt, she hoped she wouldn't break it.

Tamaki shuffled up to her next with his carefully wrapped gifts, 'I wanted to give you my present first,' he muttered sulkily, Haruhi rolled her eyes and took the presents from his hands. She unwrapped the first one and looked up at Tamaki with a blank expression on her face.

'Two dresses in one day? What are you trying to do, kill me?' she lifted it up to look at it, it was relatively simple. It was pale blue with a dark blue ribbon around the waist tied at the lack in a medium sized bow. There was a faint design of sakura blossoms on the top half of the dress with petals falling to the bottom which reached to the floor, 'it is nice,' she admitted, the fabric was soft and light as well, 'where am I supposed to wear it?'

'I was thinking you could wear it to the masquerade ball we're hosting at the end of the school year*,' he grinned.

'Ok, only because it's a present and it's not frilly,' she laid the dress down and folded it neatly, placing in on top of the box with the twins' gift.

'I can't wait until the ball,' Huni piped up, 'a masquerade ball sounds like so much fun!'

Kyouya agreed silently, he was watching the whole present giving process silently and he hated to admit he was frustrated that the twins and Tamaki practically groped Haruhi and she didn't seem to notice, either that or she wasn't bothered. While he was thinking Haruhi was opening the second gift from Tamaki.

When she had removed the paper she picked the book up, the cover was a plain dark red with a photo stuck under a thin plastic cover of all of the hosts including her. She opened the cover and flicked through the pages, there were more pictures of her and the hosts as well as pressed flowers and stickers of Usa-chan and Kuma-chan.

'Everyone helped me put it together; it's a scrapbook of your time with the host club. There's some space at the back so you can add more,' Tamaki showed her eagerly.

'I put the stickers in!' Huni announced.

'We coordinated it,' the twins said together.

'I found the pictures,' Kyouya added.

'And Takashi helped Tama-chan stick them all in,' Huni spoke for his silent cousin who merely nodded and smiled.

'It's so when you become a famous lawyer you won't forget about us,' Tamaki told her.

Haruhi laughed, 'I would never forget about you guys,' she flipped a page and raised an eyebrow, 'when did you take a photo of me sleeping?'

'It's our turn Haru-chan!' Huni interrupted before they had to explain that it was only one of many pictures. Mori handed her a present wrapped in silver paper, it looked like Huni had gone wild with stickers as they were all over the paper. At that moment he was bouncing up and down excitedly, 'your dad helped us.'

She looked at Huni and Mori in confusion but they just urged her to open it. She opened it with difficulty; she had to remove pink rabbit stickers just to pull back the paper. When she finally reached what was inside she pulled out another book. When she saw the cover she smiled softly.

'What is it?' Hikaru asked curiously and peered over her shoulder, Kaoru closely followed, 'is that you and your mom cooking?'

'Yeah, it was when I was three we were baking a cake for my dad's birthday,' she touched a finger to the picture before opening the page, 'it's one of my earliest memories,' she muttered then fell silent, looking through the pages.

'We wanted to make your present extra special so we had all of your mom's recipes put into a book. Takashi's dad has a friend who is a publisher who was happy to help us,' Huni chatted, Haruhi nodded absently but continued to look through the glossy pages. Her father had obviously found a load of pictures from when her mother was alive and given them to the two cousins as well as the papers with the recipes on, messy from being used so often.

When she eventually looked up she smiled widely and hugged Huni and Mori in turn, 'thank you.'

'There's something else for you to see when you get home as well,' Huni said. Haruhi tried to ask him about it but he point blank refused to tell her anything.

'I believe it's my turn now,' Kyouya spoke, Haruhi looked up and was surprised to see he was standing in front of her, she wondered how he got there without her even noticing, 'it isn't as sentimental as some of the gifts you have received but we both know I am not a sentimental person,'

'Thank you, Kyouya,' she smiled, letting her hand just slightly touch his when she took the box from him.

It was simple to open; she just pulled off a stick label with her name on it in delicate lettering and lifted the lid. She was surprised.

How did he know? I've never said anything, Haruhi thought, Kyouya smiled, 'it wasn't hard to work out.'

The laptop was the same red colour to match the iPod the twins had bought her, her name was engraved into the bottom corner on the right in a silver metal, 'you're going to have teach me how to use it,' she muttered lifting the top and hovering her hands of the fresh keyboard. It was shiny, Haruhi wasn't into flashing jewellery or shoes but she did like shiny things... just not in the same way a normal girl would. She closed the lid and sighed.

'I can't return any of your insanely expensive and generous gifts but I can tell you all put a lot of thought into it, thank you everyone,' she had smiled so much already that day that she felt like her cheeks were burning but she was happy. Her father always worked so it was the first Christmas in ten years she had spent with people she loved.

*phew* that took forever to write, some bits I'm happy with but others were a bit sketchy and I thought there was too much dialogue, at least I got over 3000 words. I wanted all of the presents to be cute but it was really hard. . It is actually true that Haruhi wants a laptop in the manga but she doesn't say or ask for one. I like shiny too *o*

*Would that be a good time to end the fic, or before, or after, with a glimpse of the future? I know everybody likes them with all their mushy fluffiness.

Notes:

Image of Haruhi's nightmare Christmas dress is on my profile.

The idiot brigade consists of Tamaki and the twins

Buck's fizz is a cocktail containing champagne/sparkling wine and orange juice, is nom ^^

Hint for the next chapter if you could be bothered to read this stupidly long A/N (which I apologise for) is: mistletoe MUAHAHAHAHA.