A/N: I hope everyone is staying warm and having a good week. Not everything is a bowl of cherries for the hosts, but life is still good. Now that Hikaru has his triplets home, all is right with the world… and poor Tamaki has suffered greatly in this series, along with the others. Even Mori, Hunny, and Kyoya took some hits. I was trying to think of how best to end this story, and I honestly wasn't sure. I was thinking about writing one last chapter, but I believe this will be the end of the story. For everyone that has stuck with me throughout this series: thank you. It has been a lot of fun to write and to count the hits. For this last chapter, I will put the counter at the end so that we can include this chapter in the tally as well. Thank you to mtnikolle for keeping track of everything for me since Bitter 1. If you would like to continue to see snippets of the hosts and their families' lives, check out 101 Uses for a Shinai. One of the one shots even shows Akio as an adult. Thank you to everyone for all of your support, suggestions, reviews, and for reading. See you next story.

Epilogue

Sitting beside a fire in the library, Haruhi hugged her youngest child closer to her chest as the little one snored quietly (no doubt dreaming of the next time she could beat up her Uncle Tamaki, dear reader). Although there was a chill in the air on this spring day, it was still beautiful outside with the sun shining and the sakura tree on the verge of blooming. A tree they had planted the day they brought Akio home from the hospital.

Mieko had woken up this morning with a fever, and Haruhi had decided to stay home with her instead of going into the office since she had nothing urgent to deal with away from home. Her child needed her, and quite honestly, she wanted to spend the day taking care of her baby. It was days like today that she actually considered what it would be like to have another baby… and then she would remember everything that happened with Hikaru's triplets and she realized that three was a nice round number. It may not be even, but it was perfect (plus dear reader, she was also kind of afraid of the twins bringing in another medium to try and exorcise the demon within her. While pregnant with Hikaru's children, she was doused with holy water… and then the redheads who were at fault were disappointed when nothing happened. Both of them got a shinai to their backside by Akio and were literally thrown out of the house by Mori, both landing on their heads. Akio also got is shinai taken away when jumping up and down in excitement at seeing his father act, he accidentally hit Hunny in the head twice. Until he calmed down, he wasn't allowed to have it inside the house).

Kissing her daughter's forehead, her nose tickled by the strands of black silky hair, the mother smiled. So many things had happened through the years, and there wasn't one moment she regretted or would change. Not even the stupid duels Tamaki challenged Mori to in high school. In some weird way, those duels and challenges helped to bring everyone closer together; and they created some great memories. And (now this may sound odd dear reader) it also proved to her that no matter what they faced, Mori would always fight for her – for them (not that she needed the proof, but it was nice confirmation).

All of the hosts had grown up and now had children of their own, and the student population at Ouran Elementary would soon be swelling with additional students. Would they rule the school like their fathers had? Probably. Akio, Hitomi, and Mitsuo already did, and she could the others following in their parents footsteps, especially Kichiro Ootori. He was Kyoya all over again – and the kid was only in kindergarten with Mieko. Another Shadow King. Was Ouran ready for that? Probably not. No one was ever really ready for a Shadow King, but they would get used to it. The part Mori was having a problem with (dear reader, Haruhi thought it was sweet), Kichiro had pulled the former wild host to the side a week ago and explained he would be marrying Mieko when they were older. It wasn't something the father wanted to think about just yet and didn't appreciate it when his wife laughed in bed that night as he told her what had happened.

Sometimes it felt like just yesterday that she had ventured into that "what should have been abandoned" music room and found the Host Club. They had been standing there in position ready to greet their guests and she had been ambushed, resulting in her breaking a vase. It may have been an expensive mistake (and dear reader, she still felt like she wasn't the only one to blame), however, if it wasn't for that vase, she wouldn't have found this group of guys that had become her closest friends in the world, and she wouldn't have Mori, the love of her life. People often said the world worked in mysterious ways, and she believed that wholeheartedly. Being a commoner, she shouldn't have made it into Ouran, and yet, she passed the scholarship test with flying colors. She shouldn't have become friends with the hosts, and yet, they had found something in each other – something they all needed. Her and them. So many things had happened, and they had all led her to where she was today: holding her now five year old in front of a fire her husband had built for her.

"What are you thinking about?" Mori walked into the room carrying a mug of steaming tea and handing it to his wife. He had been standing at the door staring at her for at least five minutes. He loved to see the different expressions appear on her face as she looked at their children or stared off into space, lost in her own little world. Scooping up his daughter, he sat down next to his wife and cuddled both of them closely.

"Thank you," Haruhi said after a sip of tea as she snuggled into her husband's side a little more. This man was everything she never knew she wanted until she had it. A wonderful father, he was there for his children, encouraging them and protecting them; and when they did wrong, he was there to punish them and guide them to the right path. As a husband, he loved her and supported her, and was always there for her when she need him most. He always seemed to sense what she needed and when, and every day she found herself falling more and more in love with him. From the moment she first laid eyes on him to today, she had been drawn to him; and now she savored the days they shared raising their family.

"Well?"

"Hmm? Oh, I was just thinking about how lucky I am."

"Hn," he grunted and leaned down to kiss the top of her head. "I think I am the lucky one. I have you and our children."

"Did you think we would be sitting here like this today when we met?"

"When we met? You mean when you walked into the room?"

"Yes."

"No."

"Really?"

"I thought you were a boy at first. There may have been something about you, but I wouldn't have asked you out and I wouldn't have married you, and last time I checked, men can't have babies. So… no."

Snickering, Haruhi nodded, "You're right." She sobered and asked, "Did you think you would still be friends with the others?"

"No. I knew that Mitsukuni and I would still be friends because we were family and I was his protector. We grew up together, but we both felt like after we graduated we would have nothing to do with the others beyond what was necessary for business relations."

"Really?"

"Many things changed when you joined the Host Club."

She hadn't been fishing for compliments and decided to change the subject, or at least push past that comment. "And now we are all still friends."

"We are."

"And our children beat up Tamaki."

"They do."

"And Kichiro…"

"No."

"He couldn't have been serious. They are only five."

"No."

"One of these days she is going to grow up and get married."

"Not today or tomorrow. No."

Haruhi still found Mori's reaction hilarious and giggled. "At least you know his parents well and they are our friends. And you know Kichiro."

"No."

Patting his chest, she placated him, "Alright, no for now." Although, she couldn't guaranty anything in the future. Kichiro and Mieko had been close since they were born and were best friends. If things continued, the brunette could picture her husband walking her youngest down the aisle towards Kyoya's son.

Mori groaned. He still didn't want to think about his children growing up, getting married, and having babies of their own. He wanted them to stay small a little longer. However, children never stay small and his oldest was now 14, while Hitomi was now 10. They were growing up before his eyes. Where had the time gone? He and Haruhi had met and had started dating almost twenty years ago, and yet, it felt like they were still those newly in love teenagers that were still getting to know each other while their friends tried to interrupt. Maybe that was because nothing much had changed in twenty years. The others still came over, he still had to rescue Haruhi from Tamaki and the twins, and they were all still friends. It was a feat he never thought possible before meeting the brunette next to him, and now he couldn't imagine a peaceful and quiet life – it would be too boring without the interruptions and others barging in when they wanted. Granted things had settled down since the others had started having children also, but in a sense nothing had changed at all. Just the day prior, Tamaki had run into the house out of breath carrying his four year old son, Shoichi. He had been told to watch the little tyke since the nanny was sick and Yumi had to go somewhere with her mother. Instead of asking a maid or other servant for help, he rushed over to get Haruhi and Mori to help him because he had never watched his son alone. Yumi had always been with him (dear reader, it was probably a good thing he had been holding Shoichi because Mori heard someone rush in without knocking and almost attacked). Yes, things were still hectic, but he wouldn't have it any other way.

A small moan pulled their attention to the little girl in her father's arms. Rubbing her eyes, Mieko looked up at her parents and mumbled, "Can I eat pudding with Kichiro?"

Mori's eyes darted to his wife's who appeared as if she was trying to hold in her laughter. Shaking his head, he answered, "No. You are sick. You don't want to get him sick, do you?"

"No. But can I still have pudding?"

Unable to stop the small bark of laughter, Haruhi said, "I'll go get you some." There were times when she swore Hunny had somehow inserted his DNA into her children. If it wasn't for the fact that they looked just like she and Mori, she would have questioned the hospital about switching babies on her.

As soon as her mom left the room, Mieko asked, "Daddy, can you put a pony in my hair?"

"Yes, but wait until your mother gets back. While you eat pudding, I will get your brush."

"Okay!"

He could see that her cheeks were still red with fever and if putting her hair up in a ponytail made her happy, he would do it (dear reader, he would do it regardless if she was sick or well). Kissing her cheek, he once again thanked kami for blessing him with his family. He had a wife he loved and had not been forced into an arranged marriage, had three wonderful children, a slew of nieces and nephews (between his family and friends), and friends he knew he could depend on no matter the situation. Life didn't get much better than this. And as he played with his daughter's hair after she finished her pudding, he wished for many more days like this in the future (minus the sick part).

A couple of days later, everyone was at the Morinozuka home with their children. Looking at all of the children playing and everyone having a good time as they mingled, nobody could deny this was paradise and with fourteen children between them, they had they happily had their hands full. As all of the adults converged together to talk, Haruhi had an announcement to make (one dear reader she had never expected to make again), "Takashi and I are pregnant again."

The twins looked at Mori from head to toe, "We didn't realize Mori had a uterus."

"You two devils! Stop teasing my little girl!" Tamaki shouted.

The years may have passed, but sometimes it still felt as if they were still back in high school.

A/N2: Hit counts (final): Tamaki – 101, Hikaru – 46, Kaoru – 61, Kyoya – 4, Mori – 4, Hunny – 4.