"Lori! It has been too long! Look how you've grown! I'm sorry I missed you at Ouran yesterday; I was playing hooky and had someone standing in for me. If I had known it was you coming to sign the final papers I would have been there!" Tamaki's father said when I appeared in the front hall.
"It is so good to see you again, Mr. Suoh." I smiled and bowed in greeting.
"Oh please do not be so formal with me! I knew your family before you were even born, you're practically family." He told me, engulfing me in a hug.
"Ah… right…" I hugged him back, still a bit nervous.
"Shall we head to dinner?" He smiled looking from me to Tamaki.
"Sure! Where are we going, Dad?" my friend asked excitedly.
"It's a surprise. Just for Lori!" His dad teased, causing Tamaki's face to drop and start to whine. I giggled slightly at their behavior, happy to see my best friend getting along so well with his father. It had been awhile since I had seen a good father-child relationship. I kept my smile plastered on my face, trying not to think about my stepfather or even when I was little and my own father was still alive.
"Oh, Lori! I found this for you, in case you get cold." Tamaki said as we approached the front door. He held up a fur wrap he had been holding and smiled at me.
"Ah, thank you so much! I completely forgot that it's starting to get cold here!" I smiled back at him, blushing a bit as he gingerly placed the soft material over my bare shoulders.
"You look just like your mother." Mr. Suoh smiled sadly at me.
"She would be so happy to hear that!" I said, forcing a large grin to distract from his knowing gaze. Tamaki didn't know anything about what had happened to my mother and I was hoping to keep it that way for at least a little while longer. I didn't want to see the same sadness in him that was currently in his father's eyes.
"After you, my princess." Tamaki bowed slightly, holding the door open for me. I blushed a bit at his actions before stuttering out a thank you and walking out into the cool air. Tamaki's father repeated the same action with the door to the limo and I couldn't help but giggle at the similarities between the two men.
"Thank you so much for inviting me to dinner with the both of you, Mr. Suoh!" I said as the limo drove away from the mansion.
"It is my pleasure! I know how excited Tamaki is to have you staying with him. When he was little, you were the only thing he would ever talk about."
"Th—That's not true!" Tamaki shouted, his face turning a bit pink. I smiled a bit before bowing deeply in my seat.
"Thank you so very much for allowing me to stay in your home. I am so sorry I didn't ask for permission from you directly." I said. I stayed in my bowed position until I heard the older Suoh laugh. I looked up, a bit confused by his reaction.
"You are more than welcome in our home at any time and for as long as you desire to stay there." The older man smiled at me. I felt as though a heavy weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I had to admit that I was worried that I was invited to dinner to be asked to leave the house and find somewhere else to live. I smiled brightly at Tamaki's father and thanked him once more as the limo pulled up to the restaurant.
"Oh! Is this that new French place?" Tamaki asked as he climbed out of the car.
"Of course! I thought Lori might like something that reminds her of home!" Mr. Suoh replied, following his son out. I followed the two gentlemen, taking Tamaki's extended hand to help myself look graceful as I exited the vehicle. We were standing in front of a beautiful French-styled building covered in ivy. For a moment I really felt like I was back in France. Back before everything went to shit…
"It's beautiful." I smiled as we walked inside. Even the inside of the building looked very Parisian.
"Only the best for the best, my dear." Mr. Suoh said, placing a hand on my shoulder and smiling at me from the side – Tamaki's favorite technique. I suddenly felt an arm wrap around my waist and pull me away.
"Leave her alone, Dad!" Tamaki whined, holding me close to him. I blushed as Mr. Suoh laughed before greeting the host who would show us to our table. My friend wouldn't remove his arm from my waist as we walked into the restaurant. My face turned a bit darker as he held me protectively. I suppose he really didn't want me to leave the house in a dress like this one. I couldn't help but notice everyone staring at us as we walked to our table.
"Here you are, Monsieur." The host said, gesturing to our table. It was next to a large window that overlooked the city.
"Oh wow…" I whispered, amazed by the view.
"Princess," Tamaki smiled, bowing slightly as he pulled out the chair with the best view, "Please sit here."
"Only the best for the best." His father repeated, pulling out his own chair and waiting for me to be seated before sitting.
"You both know how to make a girl feel special." I giggled, sitting as Tamaki pushed my chair in for me. The two men smiled at me as they took their seats.
"Please order anything you would like. I was thinking of getting a bottle of Bordeaux for the table if you both would like some. After all, what is a French meal without some French wine?" Mr. Suoh said.
"That sounds fantastic. It has been awhile since I've been able to relax with a good glass of wine." I smiled. Bordeaux was always my favorite.
…
The meal passed by slowly – traditional for Europe – with several courses and some amazing wine. I was so happy I couldn't really control myself. I couldn't stop smiling. The company was great; the conversation was light and fantastic; the food was unbelievable. I couldn't remember the last time I had felt this happy.
"Tamaki, why don't you go call the driver and I'll pay the check?" Mr. Suoh asked once the meal had come to an end.
"Alright. I'll be right back." My best friend replied with a smile before excusing himself to use his cell phone outside. Once Tamaki was out of earshot, his father spoke to me directly while handing his credit card to our waiter.
"You haven't told him, have you? About your mother?" He asked. My smile faded a bit at his question.
"No, I just know how sad he'll be. I can't stand to see him upset. He always looks like a kicked puppy when he's sad. I couldn't tell him that she died… I didn't want to cause him to look that way." I replied, looking down at my lap.
"He really does have a certain look when he's sad." Mr. Suoh chuckled slightly.
"I meant to write you, I wanted to thank you for the flowers and the money you sent. It was just the perfect amount for me to get out of that house and start my career." I bowed gratefully.
"You're welcome. Tamaki's mother and I tried so hard to convince your mother that that man was a monster, but he fooled her. I just wish he hadn't treated you so badly when she wasn't there."
"H—How did you know how he treated me?" I asked, my eyes growing wide in shock. I always tried to hide the bruises that my stepfather had left on me; I couldn't believe that this man had noticed.
"Tamaki told me. He once said that he was worried something was wrong because you were always saying that you had fallen or run into something but that he never saw you behave in such a clumsy manner. I simply worked it out from there." I smiled sadly down into the last of my glass of wine.
"You really have a brilliant son." I told him, looking back up at him.
"I think I'll keep him around." Mr. Suoh winked with a grin, "I always thought that you two would get married one day. I still kind of hope it. For his sake, and for my own, honestly. You would be so good for him and I would just love to have you as a daughter-in-law!" He gushed a bit, smiling brightly while signing the check that had been returned.
"I think you would make an excellent father-in-law." I grinned back, giggling slightly.
"The car is almost here." Tamaki said, walking back to our table, "What are you laughing about?" He was confused as to our amusement.
"I hope you like Lori, son, because I think I've just chosen her to be your future wife!" Mr. Suoh laughed.
"You father and I are too close for me to be gotten rid of." I giggled.
"I—I guess that's alright with me." Tamaki blushed. Before I had a chance to tell him I was just kidding, I felt a small tap on my arm. I turned to look down at a little girl, no older than seven or eight, standing there with a nervous smile.
"Excuse me, aren't you Lori Robin?" She asked, her mother standing not to far behind her.
"Yes I am!" I smiled brightly, putting on my charm for a young fan.
"W—Would it be alright if my mama took a picture of us?" She asked timidly.
"Of course it's alright little one! What's your name?"
"I'm Sakura! Thank you so much!" She bowed as I stood and crouched down to her level.
"It's so nice to meet you Sakura!" I replied before smiling at her mother's camera. After a few pictures were taken, the little girl and her mother bowed in thanks.
"Lori has fans of all ages." Tamaki smiled, standing next to his father.
"I suppose so." I giggled, blushing slightly at being recognized by a fan.
"Shall we head out? I assume you two have homework you should be doing?" Mr. Suoh grinned.
"Oh yah… Schoolwork…" I sighed.
"I'll help you!" Tamaki smiled before extending an arm to escort me out of the restaurant.
