By unspoken agreement, everyone stuck to light-hearted subjects during lunch. After, they moved to the library, to the pair of couches facing each other. Haruhi sat next to Mori, across from Akira and Kazumi, Mori's mother.

Kazumi addressed them first. "When you asked to meet us, Takashi, you said it was important. What is it?"

Mori took a breath. "You know that I was planning on asking Haruhi to marry me, but not until New Year's Eve. Something changed, and two days ago I asked her and she said yes. Please, make no mistake; we have discussed this, and we both love each other and want to marry for that reason."

Kazumi took a swift intake of air. "You fill me with foreboding. What has happened?"

"Haruhi is two months pregnant. No, I am not the father, but I know who is and I knew from the beginning of the incident. I place no blame on either of them. I am willing and eager to raise her child as my own with our name."

Haruhi watched them digest what Mori told them. She sat in silence as they thought through all the implications. She fought with herself not to show her discomfort. Haruhi felt really bad about what she was asking of his family.

Akira eventually asked, "Who is the father?"

Mori bowed to his father. "I am sorry, Father, but we will not tell you. It is for the best to keep it this way."

Akira continued. "Does he know?" Mori shook his head. "Will he know?"

"Eventually. We're not sure when we're going to tell him, though," Mori replied.

"Will he try to claim the child?"

Mori shook his head. "That is extremely doubtful. I would say definitively that he wouldn't, but people can sometimes surprise you."

Akira looked at Mori. "If it is a boy, do you believe there would be any issue with him as your heir?"

"No, Father, and yes, I have carefully considered that question."

There was silence for a minute. Haruhi guessed that Akira was finished questioning Mori.

Kazumi focused her gaze on Haruhi. "You truly wish to marry my son?"

Haruhi gave her own bow. "Yes, ma'am. With all my heart."

"You truly believe you will be happy with him? Not just short term, but for the rest of your lives?" Kazumi continued.

Haruhi smiled. "Yes."

"And you are willing for this child and any future ones to be raised as Morinozukas? Are you willing to accept the name of Morinozuka?"

"Yes, ma'am. It would be an honor for my children and me to be a part of your family and to share your name."

Kazumi smiled. "While the circumstances could be better, we are glad to have you join our family."

Mori squeezed Haruhi's hand. She turned from the smiling faces of his parents to his own smiling face. She had been so nervous, and now she was so happy. She had been accepted, welcomed even, in spite of her situation. For the first time, she thought that maybe, just maybe, things would turn out better than she had first anticipated.

"Have you told your father, yet?" Kazumi asked Haruhi.

Haruhi shook her head. "No," she said with a quick glance at Mori. "We're going to try to talk to him tonight. He should be home early if he hasn't taken a double shift."

Akira cleared his throat. Mori and Haruhi turned to him. "If you need to keep this a secret for a few more days, it might be best for Satoshi not to know just yet."

Kazumi covered her mouth, but Haruhi could hear a small snicker escape in spite of her efforts.

Mori closed his eyes. "That… might be for the best." Haruhi was confused, but she decided to leave it until they were alone before she asked about it.

"Ah," was the only reply.

…

The silence in the car as Mori drove to Haruhi's apartment was peaceful. She appreciated the rest before having to deal with another stressful scene. Eventually, though, she broke the silence. "Takashi, I'm just curious, but why are we keeping this from Satoshi-kun?"

"He can't keep his mouth shut," Mori replied with a wry smile. "Even if he doesn't have all the facts, he will announce his own interpretation of things. And his most common companion is Yasuchika. In spite of Yasuchika's distaste of speaking to Mitsukuni, he won't pass up the chance to gloat that he knows something before Mitsukuni does. Father knew that since we haven't spoken to Ranka-san yet, then we definitely haven't told Mitsukuni. Father knew that it would be better for us to tell him when we are ready, rather than for him to find out through Yasuchika and Satoshi. It would hurt him too much."

Haruhi nodded her head even if he couldn't see it. "I wouldn't want to do that to him." She then started to remember her few interactions with Satoshi. She remembered when everyone found out that Mori and Honey were going for separate degrees. Mori had been so tired and had been very out of it for that week. Satoshi had come to his own conclusions as to why he was acting that way. "But now that you've mentioned it, I remember how Satoshi-kun is. I understand why we're not telling him yet."

Haruhi eyed her apartment as they pulled up. The lights were off, so her father wasn't home yet, but he should be soon. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back. She was so nervous about telling her father everything. What will he think of me? How mad is he going to be? She felt Mori take her hand. She tilted her head to look at him. Seeing the concern, encouragement, and unconditional love in his eyes gave her courage. She smiled and squeezed his hand. "Well, we may as well go up and wait."

Mori gave her a sweet kiss as soon as she was out of the car. He kept his hand on her back all the way inside, giving her support. She appreciated all the more just how wonderful Mori was. She felt so lucky to have his love. She gazed at him in contentment, wrapped up in his embrace. "I want to make sure you know that I love you. Thank you for everything." She received another sweet kiss and even sweeter smile.

"I love you, too," he replied.

With that, they talked about simple things, mostly where they were in their classes, until Ranka came home.

They stood up when he walked in the door.

"Hi, Dad," she said as soon as he was inside.

"Hi, honey. Hi, Mori-kun," he replied wearily.

Haruhi heard his tone of voice and felt bad that they were about to drop this on him. "Are you busy? Takashi and I have something we need to talk to you about."

Ranka came and grabbed her hands. "What is it? Are you pregnant? Did you get hurt?" he gushed in overdramatic panic.

Haruhi closed her eyes in pain. "Dad, please, stop." She opened her eyes again to plead with her father. "Just let me tell you."

Ranka blanched and whispered, "Haruhi…" He closed his eyes for a moment, seemingly steeling himself for whatever news she had to tell him. He dropped in the chair across from them. "Alright, give it to me."

"Dad, do you remember the graduation party I went to with the guys a couple of months ago?" Ranka nodded his head. "Remember I told you that we had had a mini bachelor's party for Kyouya-senpai?" Ranka again nodded his head. "Well, everyone had had quite a bit to drink, me included." Ranka glared at Mori. Haruhi shook her head. "Kyouya-senpai – " Ranka whipped his head to look at her, shocked. Mori took her hand in both of his. She took a breath and started again. "Kyouya-senpai and I were the last ones awake. We… well, we did something that I'm not proud of." She started to shake a little. Her dad was going to be so mad at her. "We – We – " But she couldn't continue. Mori hugged her just as the tears started to fall.

"She found out two days ago that she's two months pregnant." There was a terrible silence. Then, Mori continued. "Ranka-san, I hope you know that I love your daughter very much. I want to watch over her, protect her, provide for her, for the rest of my life. I asked her to marry me and she accepted. I'll acknowledge her child as mine."

Ranka was still silent for a long time. While Mori and Haruhi waited for his response, Haruhi finally calmed enough to sit up, but she couldn't look at her father.

"So this is your answer?" Ranka was unusually calm.

Haruhi looked up at him. However, he wasn't looking at either of them; instead, he looked between them at the back wall.

"Both of you, this is your solution?" he asked in his still calm voice.

They nodded to him. "We're marrying because we love each other," Haruhi said simply. "We're just speeding it up a little."

"And you have no reservations about marrying Haruhi, now that you've found out about this?" His voice was still unchanging. Haruhi was getting nervous about it. What is he thinking?

Mori shook his head. "I knew all along." Haruhi gripped his hand.

Ranka looked directly at Mori. "Are you really ready to accept and love another man's child?"

Mori stiffened a little. "First, it's Haruhi's child, too. I could not help but love any of her children. Second, it's not just another man who's the father. Kyouya is a close friend of mine. He's almost like a brother to me. And no, it won't cause problems between us. I understand him, and he understands me."

Ranka closed his eyes and again sat silent for a while. Again, Mori and Haruhi waited for him to speak.

"Have you told him, yet?" he asked when he opened his eyes.

They shook their heads.

He looked sharply at Mori. "Are you going to tell him?"

They nodded their heads. Haruhi answered him. "Yes. No matter what, he'll figure it out, that he's the father, but we'll tell him before we tell anyone else that I'm pregnant." Haruhi noticed Ranka only gave her a quick glance.

"We'll do it soon," Mori added.

Ranka looked at Mori again. "Are you really okay with this? This is a hard path you're choosing to follow."

"Yes, absolutely and always," was Mori's unequivocal reply.

"And do your parents support this?"

"Yes."

Haruhi was a little confused and hurt that Ranka kept his attention focused on Mori. She had expected her dad's anger, but not his disregard.

"Dad…" she whispered, hoping to have him turn his attention to her.

"You have my blessing. I hope – " Ranka's voice broke. He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry. I just need some time to myself."

Mori stood up, bringing Haruhi with him. "I understand. Haruhi can stay with me." He hesitated before continuing. "Ranka-san, please don't say anything to anyone about this, at least who the father is or isn't. With Kyouya – "

But Ranka waived him silent. "I understand. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." He wouldn't look at either of them, though.

Haruhi was really hurt and confused, now. Is he really sending me away from him? Is he rejecting me? "Dad?" she called beseechingly.

Ranka shook his head. "Honey, I love you. Nothing will change that. I just need to be by myself right now."

Mori murmured in her ear. "Let him have some time. He's had a bad shock."

Haruhi didn't resist as he led her back out the door. She took one last look at her father. He was bent over and had tears running down his face. As they were walking away, she could hear her father sobbing. Tears were running down her face, too. She hadn't wanted to do this to him. She had always wanted to make him proud of her. Now… She stumbled a little on the steps. Mori quickly swept her up into his arms. She buried her face into his neck, sobbing uncontrollably. She didn't stop when he placed her in his car; she didn't stop when he picked her back up; she didn't stop when he laid her in his bed.

But when he got in beside her, and wrapped her in his arms and the warm blankets, the tears finally gave way to sleep.

…

When she woke up the next morning, she felt miserable, physically and mentally. The first thing on her mind was her father. She had disappointed him so badly. She had hurt him so badly, and he had acted as if he hated her. She felt like crying, but the tears wouldn't come. Her eyes were sore and puffy, and her nose was almost painfully stuffed. She thought a hot shower might help her out. She opened the door, not paying much attention to the noise in the living room. She glanced over automatically and got a shock.

"Kyouya-senpai…" she whispered. She hadn't expected him to see him. To be sitting there talking with Mori. It was too much. After what she had experienced last night with her father, she couldn't deal with it. She immediately felt weak and heard a soft roaring. She faintly heard Mori calling her name but she couldn't respond. She felt him pick her up and put her back in bed. She covered her face. He caressed her head murmuring apologies to her for not warning her. It took a few seconds more before she could talk; now the tears came. "I can't," she whispered, shaking. "I can't. Not now." She curled up against him.

"It's okay. He only came by for business." He held her close.

"Haruhi? Are you okay?" Kyouya called from the doorway.

She clutched at Mori upon hearing his voice. She didn't know how to answer that without lying, and being called on it. She didn't want to admit the truth and couldn't pull herself from Mori's chest.

Mori spoke instead. "Kyouya, could you give us a minute?" Haruhi heard the bedroom door close. "Haruhi, I'm so sorry. I didn't think that you wouldn't know he was here. I thought you would hear him when you woke up. He came by to discuss some business and I couldn't turn him away."

Haruhi held onto Mori. "I can't. I can't tell him. He'll hate me, too," she sobbed.

"Haruhi… no one hates you. It was – "

Haruhi didn't want to hear any platitudes Mori might have told her. "My dad does," she said, cutting him off. She remembered exactly how her father had treated her last night. Mori held her closer and started rocking her. "And Kyouya-senpai will, too."

"Haruhi, your dad doesn't hate you and neither will Kyouya. Your dad was just shocked last night. He just needs time to absorb what we told him. He'll eventually be okay. He doesn't hate you. He loves you. Kyouya will be shocked, too, but he'll be fine. I'm sure."

Haruhi shook her head. She still clutched tightly to Mori, crying. After a while of simply being held, the tears stopped.

Mori leaned back a little. "Do you feel any better?"

Haruhi sniffed. "A little. I'd like to go take a shower."

Mori helped her stand but still held her in his arms. "That sounds like a good idea. But when you're done, I think we need to tell Kyouya." She looked up at him in horror. Mori rubbed her back. "Think about it. He's probably feeling hurt from your reaction and worried about you. He has to know that something is going on. It'd be better to talk to him before he can investigate on his own."

Haruhi didn't respond for a bit. She didn't want to deal with Kyouya immediately after the fiasco of last night. But Mori had a point. She sighed and nodded. Mori kissed the top of her head and left. She went to get some clothes to change into in the bathroom and noticed that she only had one more clean outfit. She felt depressed thinking about it. She didn't want to have to face her dad to get the rest of her stuff. And was she supposed to be living with Mori permanently now? She decided that she'd talk with Mori about it later. She didn't look up as she scooted into the bathroom.

She took longer than necessary to get ready, postponing the inevitable. Eventually, she knew she couldn't put it off any longer. She took a big breath before she opened the door. Both men looked over at her when she appeared. She was extremely nervous. She sat next to Mori and looked at him, wondering what he's told Kyouya.

Mori kissed her on her forehead. "We've wrapped up our business," he answered as if he read her mind. "Are you okay?"

Haruhi nodded. She glanced over at Kyouya nervously. "I'm sorry, Kyouya-senpai, for earlier."

"Haruhi, don't worry about that," Kyouya replied. "But I'd like to know what's going on. This isn't like you." He sounded calm with a slight hint of concern to her ears.

She bit her lip and glanced down. What to tell him first? "Takashi and I are getting married."

She winced at Kyouya's swift intake of air. "This is fast. I'll assume you want to…" She looked up at him and quickly nodded her head. "Then, what made you so upset?"

She wrung her hands, and glanced up at Mori when he took them in his. He nodded his head, and she gathered her courage to say what she needed to. She took a deep breath. "I'm two months pregnant."

Kyouya stared at her, wide-eyed. He sat back in his seat and expelled his breath in a rush. "You're sure?" Haruhi nodded her head. "Who – who is the father?" he asked shakily.

She knew why he was asking; he couldn't know how far or how quickly her and Mori's relationship had progressed, couldn't assume it was his. Haruhi felt the tears come again. She knew she was about to totally fuck up his life. She couldn't look at him. "You are," she whispered.

Kyouya stared, silent, at her for a moment before dropping his gaze to the floor. "I am so sorry, Haruhi. This is my fault."

"No, senpai, it's not just your fault. It's mine, too," she said quietly. She felt miserable that this had happened to them.

Mori hugged her. "It's both and neither," he said to both of them. "It was an accident. Sometimes, things happen." Everyone sat in silence for a while. "I think this is something that we all need to think over before we discuss it."

Kyouya nodded his head. "That… sounds like a good idea." He collected his stuff.

Mori called out to him before he reached the door. "Kyouya," Kyouya turned. "The get-together is in a couple of days. We should talk before then."

Kyouya nodded his head. "I'll give you a call." And he left.

Mori sat with Haruhi for a while after, just holding her. She basked in his comfort and calmness. "Was it as bad as you feared?" he asked eventually.

She sighed. "No. I don't know why I thought he would hate me." She berated herself for her silly fears. She knew her father loved her, even if he was really hurting right now. And she knew that Kyouya wouldn't hate her. She knew them better than to think so.

Mori kissed her forehead. "It's been a stressful few days. How about we relax for the rest of the day and as much of the day tomorrow as possible. Then, we'll be ready to see everyone in a couple of days."

She sighed. "I hope so, because relaxing sounds really good, right now." She nuzzled into his neck. "If I'm staying here for now, I'll need to go back home to get some more clothes. I only have a few outfits." She thought for a moment. "We haven't discussed anything, like when we'll get married, where we'll live, what if – "

Mori cut her off with a soft, slow kiss. "We'll talk about it tomorrow."

"Mmmm… ah, okay." She blinked slowly at him. He chuckled at her. She blushed as she realized he got her sidetracked so easily. "Anyways, do you mind if I borrow your washer?"

He grinned at her. "No, that's no problem."

She smiled shyly back at him. "Thanks." She thought about getting up to get the work done, but he felt so warm and comfortable. She snuggled further into him. "Maybe in a little bit." She felt his soft chuckle more than heard it, and felt him reach for the t.v. remote.

…

Haruhi decided that she would cook supper, no matter that Mori thought she should rest. She had rested for most of the day. The only time he let her up was when she was doing the laundry. She had washed his clothes with hers because it was more practical, but she blushed at how... domestic it was, like she already belonged in his daily life. And now she was cooking supper for the two of them. Granted, it wasn't the first time she's cooked for him by a long shot, but the act seemed to take on new meaning with everything else included.

She plated the food for them and handed Mori his. They moved to the table to eat. Haruhi sat staring at her plate, not moving to take a bite.

Mori noticed. "Is something wrong?" he asked. Haruhi opened her mouth to say what was on her mind but hesitated, unsure of how to say it. Mori focused all his attention on her. "What is it?"

Haruhi took a deep breath. "How long am I staying here? I mean, I don't want to impose on you, but…" But if Dad isn't letting me come home, I don't want to go anywhere else. It would be too awkward living with anyone else…

Mori seemed to understand. "You are welcome to stay as long as you want. I like having you're here with me, especially the past few days. I like being able to care for you." Haruhi felt better hearing that, but she still didn't want to be a burden. "How about you? I know it's been stressful, but do you like being here?"

Haruhi couldn't let him think otherwise. "Yes, I love being with you." She hesitated for a moment before admitting her reservation. "I just don't want to get in the way or be a burden to you."

Mori stared at her for a second before answering. "You are not a burden. Ever. Please, stop thinking that you are. I love you. I want you with me. I'm happy to have you with me. I know you've always been independent, but you need help now. Help I want to give you. That's what marriage means. We help each other."

Haruhi looked down, humiliated. "I hate that I need help. I hate that I am causing all these problems."

Mori interrupted her. "Haruhi, you're not causing all that many problems. The ones that occur, we will handle. Together." He paused and studied her. "Does it really upset you that much that you need me to help you? Are you sure you really want to marry me?"

Haruhi was shocked at his words. Is that what I have been telling him? That I don't want him? That I don't want to marry him? "Oh, god. No! That's not what I meant. I want to marry you. I want to be with you. It's just…" She paused, unsure of the words to say and then found them. "It's just I'm not contributing anything. You're doing everything for me, but I'm not doing anything for you."

Mori smiled at her, looking relieved. "You've done plenty for me. Believe me. And for the next few months, you're going to have a lot of work just growing that baby. If you want, you don't have to leave. You can move in permanently. Or at least until we decide if we're going to move to another place. I'd feel better if you did. And please don't worry about equal work. We have a lifetime to balance it."

It finally sunk in for her. It really ISN'T so bad to need his help, she thought, wonderingly. And he's right; we'll balance everything out together. I need to stop worrying about it. I need to let it go. Haruhi smiled at him. "Well, if you put it that way…"

Mori reached across and squeezed her hand. "I do." They stayed that way for a moment before he said, "Do you think you can eat, now?"

She blushed and nodded her head. He released her hand and they both returned to their meal.