"I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun."

~Mr. Darcy upon realizing he was in love with Elizabeth Bennett (Pride and Prejudice)

Tamaki knew something was wrong the minute Haruhi didn't come to the Host Club meeting. He glanced at each of his friends in turn, wondering if they knew where she'd gone. Finally, he voiced his concern. "Has anyone seen Haruhi?"

Mori-senpai and Honey-senpai shook their heads.

Kyoya didn't look up from his ledger. "I haven't seen her."

The twins shrugged and shook their heads. "She wasn't in class today," they said in unison.

"What?!" Tamaki gasped. There was only one reason Haruhi would miss a club event (well, two, but Tamaki highly doubted Haruhi had taken an impromptu vacation in Europe), and he needed to make sure she was all right. What if she's sick? he thought. What if she got run over by a car? What if her father got in a car accident coming home last night and died, and she's at the hospital, weeping over his cold, lifeless body? Stay calm, Haruhi! Daddy's on the way to rescue you!

Tamaki jumped up and ran out the door, just barely remembering to call out, "The Host Club is cancelled for today!" before leaving the room.

~\*/~

Hikaru rolled his eyes. "Why so worried, m'lord?" he muttered to the retreating back of their club's "king."

Eyebrow raised, Kaoru spared a glance at his brother.

Hikaru stiffened. "What? He could've just asked what was wrong with her. It's not like she didn't tell us. She's our friend, too, you know."

Kaoru merely shrugged. He had realized that recently Hikaru's temper seemed to flare hotter and hotter the closer Tamaki grew to Haruhi. I wonder what'll happen when Tamaki realizes how he truly feels about her. . .

~\*/~

By the time Tamaki had reached Haruhi's apartment, he had almost convinced himself that Haruhi had just lost track of the days instead of getting injured miles from her house. He sighed and knocked on the door.

When she didn't answer the door, Tamaki's worry reared its ugly head. He bit his lip. What if it's true?! What if she really is out, mourning the loss of her father? Oh, Haruhi, you should never have to go through that! You've already lost your mother! Brows furrowed, Tamaki rapped sharply on the door. "Please answer, Haruhi! I'm here for you! You don't have to be alone!"

~\*/~

Two thumps on the door jerked Haruhi from her sleep. She sat up and rubbed her eyes, groaning with discomfort. The thumping continued, causing the pain in her forehead to spike. With a cry, she clutched her forehead and curled up in the blankets once more. So intent was she to block all noise that when the sounds of the door finally hushed, she did not notice at all.

Seconds later, the pounding on the door returned, accompanied by a wail. Haruhi groaned. She stood slowly, wobbling uncertainly, and shuffled to the door. She had to stop a few times and hold onto the wall to wait for the dizziness to pass. When she finally made it to the door, she heaved a sigh of relief. After opening it a crack, she was struck by the sheer brightness of the sun.

In agony, Haruhi sank to her knees. Now it's so much worse! Instantly, warm arms grabbed her and lifted her in the air. She vaguely realized she was tucked against someone's chest and wrapped in strong arms. She blinked slowly. But that can't be right. Her mind felt sluggish. Then who…?

Pressed against the chest of whoever it was, Haruhi could feel the rumble of that person talking softly, just quietly enough that her pain did not increase. The words she heard made no sense, as though they were a jumble of sounds mixed together. And yet, somehow, the feeling of warmth pervaded her, slowly enveloping her in its comfort. She found herself being tucked back into her blankets.

A hand, blissful and cold, touched her forehead. The person spoke once more. Eyelids drooping, she was barely able to register the word "sweet" before sleep claimed her.

~\*/~

"Sleep well, my sweet daughter," Tamaki whispered. Lifting his hand from Haruhi's head, he stood. Okay, so she doesn't have a fever. . . So it must be just a migraine of some sort. I've heard of things like that. He sighed, relieved Haruhi wasn't a moment, he pulled a chair next to her bed. With a fond smile, he swept her hair off her forehead.

Haruhi's lips twitched, but she did not wake. Her grip on the blankets tightened.

Tamaki smiled at that. The terror from finding her crumpled in a heap by the door had finally begun to wane. "Ma petit," he murmured softly. At least now he knew why she hadn't come to classes today. And nothing's wrong with her father, and she's not dying!

A thought hit him suddenly. Eyes wide, he sucked in a breath. She looks so cute! There was something so lovely about Haruhi's face right now. Her short hair lay about her face in a way that reminded him of a halo. In that instant, Tamaki remembered the shock of when he had realized she was a girl and how insanely adorable she was.

And it's perfectly normal for a father to think she's cute, no matter what the twins say. He brushed aside the nagging feeling that something was wrong about that statement. After all, any father would be proud to have her for a daughter. It's only normal to think of her like that and to want to hug her all the time, right?

. . . But what if they're right, an—No. Tamaki shook his head as if to banish the pervading thoughts. Deep down, he knew the "family" he'd made of the host Club wasn't truly real. And yet, there was something so satisfying about having a structured group of people who actually cared about him, who wanted what was best for him instead of just what would benefit their families. And he loved them all deeply, enough to give up anything in his life for them.

And it was only natural that he should treat them like a family when they were the closest thing he'd ever had to one since coming to Japan. But what if. . . What if he had this all wrong?

But he couldn't be wrong. After all, Tamaki loved Haruhi just as any father would. He wanted to spend all his time with her, learning about how she looked at things, about her likes and her dislikes, about her hopes and dreams for the future. That's normal, right? He wanted to be with her, making her laugh, enjoying life with her for all eternity. And isn't that what a father would do for his daughter?

Or . . . oh, wait. Would a father have all those feelings, exactly? And Tamaki didn't feel quite this level of protectiveness for any of the other club members, and the twins were also supposed to be his children. He gulped. Maybe something was wrong with him.

He gazed down at Haruhi's still face and began to gnaw on his bottom lip. Man, he was in trouble.

~\*/~

When Haruhi opened her eyes, she noticed the pain in her head had faded to a dull ache behind her right eye. She raised a hand to rub at it absently and noticed that her body felt much heavier than usual. After mentally preparing herself for movement, she lifted her head.

Someone was slumped over her, breathing softly. Somehow, the thought didn't frighten her as much as it should've. She could barely make out a head of blond hair. Haruhi smiled. That explains it.

Tamaki-senpai must've come to check on me after school. Haruhi vaguely remembered texting Hikaru and Kaoru to let them know she wouldn't be at school today. They must've told the rest of the guys, she thought.

Haruhi winced. He must've been pretty worried if he decided to come check on me.

Tamaki stirred then and sat up. His violet eyes widened at the sight of her.

She grinned. His hair was mussed by sleep. He looked so out of it, blinking and yawning. It was . . . almost kind of cute. Struck by the thought (and wondering where exactly it had come from), she asked, "Are you all right, senpai?"

Tamaki froze. After a second, he blurted, "Am I all right? Are you all right?!"

Haruhi grimaced, massaging her temples.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean to hurt your head. Are you feeling okay?"

She nodded. "It hurts a little but not as much as before." Truly, the pain was almost gone now.

Tamaki sighed in relief. "Oh, good."

"So, how long have you been here?"

Tamaki checked his watch, saying, "Only about seven hours now."

Haruhi bolted upright in bed and instantly regretted it. Her head began to throb once more. "What?! What time is it?"

He shrugged. "About six o'clock."

Her head was spinning. ". . . But that means you must've gotten here around 11?" Haruhi was indignant. What about school? What about his responsibilities?

Tamaki merely shrugged.

Haruhi glared at him. "You didn't have to give up school to come see me! What if you missed an important lesson or something? And what about the Host Club?"

He smiled softly. "I couldn't let you be alone! What if you'd been hit by a car, or your f—" at her bewildered stare, Tamaki swallowed and continued on. "I'm just glad you're all right. Besides," he added with a wave of his hand, "the Host Club's meeting is cancelled for today."

Haruhi blinked. He'd dropped everything to come check on her. In a way, it was kind of sweet. Now, that's not to say, she reminded herself, that it's not annoying . . . but in a sweet way. He really does go out of his way to show that he cares. . .

"You're worth it." Tamaki's hesitant words broke the silence, almost as if he had heard her, or if he had worried that the quiet meant she was upset.

Haruhi looked at his lopsided smile and realized he wasn't trying to "host" her. His words weren't meant to flatter. He was like that, she decided, saying whatever came to mind in that genuine way of his. She was never quite sure how to take him in moments like this. After a while, she just nodded.

Suddenly, Tamaki frowned. "So, that was a migraine?" he spoke the word slowly, as if he were afraid that he was saying it incorrectly. At her nod, he continued. "Is it common among the peasants? I think I heard about the housekeeper getting one once. Do commoners catch them frequently?"

Hie question was so full of innocence that she had to grin. "No, not everyone gets them, but sometimes they run in the family. My mom used to have them a lot before she . . ." Haruhi trailed off. "Anyway, I usually just keep the room dark and maybe take a painkiller, but this one was a lot worse than the last one."

Tamaki enveloped her in a hug. "I'm really glad you're okay," he whispered.

~\*/~

"But you know who she told, Boss? Us!" Grinning, Hikaru jerked a finger in between him and his brother.

Kaoru winked. "Guess that means she cares about us more than she cares about you, doesn't it?"

Their smirks reminded Tamaki of a cat about to catch its prey. He could feel his face grow hot with anger. "So what? She knew you were in the same class! Of course she texted you! As though he were watching the scene as an outsider, he was instantly aware of how much he was babbling and yet could find no way to stop himself. "And . . . and your last name starts with an H, so it'd pop up first in her contacts, anyway. And if—"

Haruhi let out a laugh, effectively cutting off his words more efficiently than anything Tamaki himself could've. After wiping tears of laughter out of her eyes, she lay a hand on his arm. Her big brown eyes were full of mirth.

Tamaki instantly felt the heat of his ire fade, replaced by a completely different kind of heat. His face flamed. It was then that Tamaki Suoh knew he was well and truly screwed.

Hi! I've always loved this pairing! :3 Enjoy!

Edit: I wrote this story for a certain scene, and I just realized I never even added that scene. Oops. Time to write another story, I guess. . .

Soli Deo gloria!

~LHDD