Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club.
The zoo outing was just the first of many outings, just as dinner at Kawari had been. Kyoya and Haruhi took every opportunity to take the children to parks for bike riding and picnics, amusement parks to ride roller coasters and explore, and recreational centers so they could swim and ice skate despite the increasingly dreary weather.
On a particularly fine day in the middle of November, Kyoya asked if Haruhi wanted to take the children on a picnic at a local butterfly garden. She thought that was a wonderful idea, but Hunny's family was supposed to be joining them for lunch. He extended the invitation to the entire club. Hunny loved the idea. Mori was more than willing to come to town with his family since he'd received enough notice. Kaoru's family would also be joining them. Hikaru was the only one missing. He was at a shoot in Spain.
With so many in attendance on short notice, Haruhi did not attempt to make the picnic lunch for everyone. Kyoya arrived outside the mansion and once again Risa was rushing toward the car. She was getting better and faster at buckling herself in. Maybe Kazuki was onto something. She was growing, and it was important for her to learn to rely on herself a bit. He started for the front door, but Haruhi and Kazuki exited the house, ready to go. Kyoya smiled. The picnic basket Haruhi carried was nearly as big as her.
"Did your chef appreciate you letting him make this?" he joked with her as he took the oversized basket.
"Yes. He did. I still don't understand why he gets so anxious when I'm in the kitchen."
"He's not used to it yet. Most great ladies of great houses don't prepare their own meals. They tell their chefs what they want and when and expect it to be there as arranged."
"I can't do that. Not all the time. And I make him food when I make everyone else food."
"You make your chef food?" his eyes narrowed in confusion. Who…? Right. Haruhi does.
"It's only right. He puts in so much hard work and I like to show my appreciation with more than just a paycheck."
The ride to the butterfly garden was lively. Risa excitedly told Kyoya about her upcoming school year. She was going to Ouran Elementary and would have the same teacher as Kazuki did. She was going to get a pink backpack that looked like a teddy bear. She went on and on the entire trip as Kyoya listened, enraptured by the little blonde's enthusiasm.
Haruhi, ignoring her daughter's ravings because she'd been listening to them since she'd enrolled her three days ago, watched Kyoya. He seemed interested in what Risa was saying and he responded in a gentle tone. In general, she admired how he was with her children. Hikaru had never really taken much of an interest in the kids, especially Risa.
Why am I comparing him to Hikaru? She thought, shocked at her train of thought.
Changing the subject within herself, she told herself he took an interest because they were Tamaki's children.
Kyoya and the Suohs were not the first to arrive at the butterfly garden. They met Kaoru, Hayame, and Toichi in the parking lot. They waited for the others in front of the entrance so they could all go in together. Within twenty minutes, Hunny, Reiko, Fumiko, and Sachika arrived, shortly followed by Mori, Hisa, Hiroki, and their newborn, Rin.
The garden was beautiful and the butterflies enchanting. The children were instructed not to touch the butterflies, but could otherwise run around as much as they liked. Toichi and Hiroki, both three, tried following Kazuki and Fumiko, but were quickly left behind by the older children. Risa took charge of the younger boys and gave them the giraffes she bought them at the zoo. The bribery worked, and they followed her and did her bidding.
The adults, meanwhile, sat on blankets extended on the ground, eating and catching up. They cooed over the nine-month-old Sachika who was crawling all over the place. Kyoya noticed the way the others looked at him and Haruhi, but they hadn't said anything. Not yet, at least.
"Haru-chan. It's great you and Kyo-chan are friends again." Hunny piped up, breaking into the topic.
"I agree. It's much better this way, I think," she offered.
Her answer didn't satisfy the group's curiosity. If anything, it raised more questions. They wanted to ask so badly, but they didn't want to overstep. As far as they knew, the renewed friendship between Haruhi and Kyoya was fresh and fragile, and they didn't want to say something that would start another feud. Haruhi seemed oblivious to the line of questioning.
"I need to go to the ladies' room. Haruhi, Reiko, Hisa, would you join me?" Hayame inquired. With that, all the fairer sex left the men to discuss manly things and watch the baby.
Once out of earshot, Hayame built up the courage to ask Haruhi what they'd all been burning to ask, "What is going on between you and Kyoya?"
"What do you mean?"
"You and the kids showed up here with him."
"And he hasn't left your side. Not until now since we've dragged you away," Reiko interjected.
"He looks at you. You look at him. Never at the same time," added Hisa.
"I still don't know what you're talking about. Kyoya and I are friends. We've spent a lot of time together, but we've had a lot to catch up on."
"It's more than that, though. There's something else there," Hayame stated.
"No. Just friends. Now will you drop it?" Haruhi said, irritated. How could they think Kyoya and I are together? Is there something on his end?
***Meanwhile***
Once the women could no longer be heard, Kaoru was the first to break, "What is going on with Haruhi?"
"Whatever do you mean, Kaoru?" There was no way Kyoya was going to give these guys a straight answer. It's not like he could, anyway. There were mysterious feelings on his end, but he and Haruhi really were just friends.
"The two of you showed up here today together," Kaoru answered.
"Haru-chan and I had plans for a play date for the kids, and she changed them because you asked," Hunny pointed out.
Mori remained stoic, but regarded Kyoya with suspicion that would have made him cower if he were not Kyoya Ootori.
Kyoya pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. His face revealed no emotion. "Nothing is going on. We are friends."
The guys continued to harass him and he remained calm. They heard the girls' laughter approaching in the distance, so they changed the subject. The group finished their meal and joined their children running around the garden. Even Kyoya loosened up and chased Toichi and Hiroki, whose little legs couldn't carry them fast enough and giggled uproariously when Kyoya caught and tickled them.
As they were saying their goodbyes, Kaoru wished Kyoya a happy birthday. He was going to be out of town, as he always was on Kyoya's birthday, due to another Fashion Week show. Kyoya thanked him, as he always did.
Before Kyoya got in the car, Mori approached him. He led the shorter man away to speak to him away from where Haruhi and the children sat.
"Kyoya. If you and Haruhi are friends, you are friends. If you become more than that, be careful. It takes a strong man to deal with his own grief, an even stronger one to deal with someone else's." Kyoya nodded and Mori walked away. Have I become that transparent?
"When's your birthday?" Kazuki asked when Kyoya got in the car. "I heard Kaoru-sama wish you happy birthday."
"My birthday is next week, November 22, Kazuki-kun."
A/N: Apologies for the belated update. A death in the family resulted in an unexpected three-day trip two states away and my computer didn't go with me. Thank you again for all of your kind words and positive reviews.
MollyMuffinHead - I understand the feeling of wanting to read updates as quickly as possible, but also wanting to savor them, knowing that eventually the story must end. As far as Haruhi's security goes, I really hadn't thought about it much. She isn't the head of Suoh Corp, though she does work closely with her father-in-law, who is the head, on some major projects. I don't recall Tamaki having guards around him, or any of the other members for that matter in the anime or manga, but it's late and I've been on the road for six hours and have not consulted the manga. She would probably turn down 24/7 protection detail if her father-in-law suggested it, anyway.