Chapter Three: A Family That Never Was

A/N: Okay this chapter is featuring the twins. It'll be hard to write because I originally wanted a triangle… hmm… but then it'll turn serious unlike the light funny story I planned it to be. Oh well, read on and tell me what you think.

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"Haruhi! Come in here!" Tamaki's voice boomed over the speakers in the maid's lounge. It was a large room full of couches and desserts. Even his maids have it better than I do… Haruhi eventually did get up after Tamaki's voice yelled over the speaker five more times, each time more whinier than the last.

"C'mooooon, Haruhi! You'll make daddy sad…"

She finally stumbled into his room and said, "You're not my dad!"

Tamaki stared shocked at her. He was playing one of the old versions of the Legend of Zelda, on pause. He paled instantly and asked, "I—But I want to protect you…"

Haruhi's gaze softened slightly and she sat down next to him on the bed. "I know you care a lot, senpai… but you can be as protective of me… as a friend."

The boy looked at her and pouted all of a sudden. "It's Tamaki-kun." He sighed and looked out the window, "Does it really bother you that much?"

"Eh… not as much as it bothers my Dad. I guess it doesn't matter that much. Sorry… I was just frustrated because someone kept yelling at me during my break time!"

Tamaki cowered in a corner and changed the subject quickly, "I'm late for lunch with my dad but I really don't want to end the game now!" He pointed to the screen. "I'M ONLY 3 CASTLES AWAY! Sososos! All you do is move Link to that castle, over there." Pointing, he directed the rules like a child but with a firm determination. "And once you enter it, it'll automatically save!"

"… You called me up here to keep an eye on your game!"

"Well… it's considered a special honour! I would never let someone play a game for me!" With that, Tamaki rushed out the door, but not before squeezing Haruhi in a tight hug. She was left dazed and confused with something she didn't know how to do.

And it hurt. Haruhi, always wanting to solve problems, was dumbfounded looking at the pause screen. She had never played any video games before and never wanted to. I can't believe this is part of my job.

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"We should've called." The younger one stated to his older (not by much) brother.

"This is Tamaki we're talking about. He'll be glad to see anyone. Living by himself, forbidden to see his family. He would be grateful that we visit."

Kaoru was silent for a minute and then said, "That was harsh, Hikaru."

"It was the truth."

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Haruhi was scared. What was she going to do now? She was trying to find the castle and she wondered if she could ask for help in the game. So she went up to a dark shadowy figure, hoping that the game could ask for directions, but instead, a sign came up that said GAME OVER.

But Tamaki wouldn't get mad at me, would he? He's never gotten really mad at me before… but he trusted me with th--! Oh shut up… it was just a game. He'll get over it. And Haruhi dismissed the issue. Of course, in the back of her mind she still worried. But why would she worry? Did she care if Tamaki was mad at her? It would make him leave her alone for a while but… something hurt inside. It was dull and numb but she could feel it with every beat.

Just as she was about to leave, Antoinette came running in with a long grey rope in her mouth. Haruhi jumped up and tried to get it away from her but the dog thought they were going to play and ran around Haruhi in circles. Haruhi grabbed onto one end of the rope and tried to tug it away from her. No such luck. Antoinette ran and ran until well…

Haruhi was tied up. She screamed and tumbled over on the bed. Haruhi had hoped the rope would not stop her circulation since it was tied from her elbow to over her mouth. At the moment, she was just thankful she could breathe.

Antoinette expected more. She jumped up and down waiting for Haruhi to get up. But of course, she couldn't. After a while, the playful mutt got bored and went out looking for other maids to terrorize.

After some struggling, Haruhi became very tired and gave up. She closed her eyes and thought about how in hell did she get herself into the strangest mess. And at the moment she opened her eyes, Hikaru and Kaoru walked into the room.

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"WHAT THE HELL!" Hikaru screamed and Kaoru just watched with widened eyes. This was their story: The loveable twins went up to visit Tamaki. The maids said he would be back shortly and said they were free to wait. So the loveable twins went up to his room only to find the sweet Haruhi, tied in a thick rope, wearing a maid's outfit. Her cheeks were flushed and she looked dead tired.

And full of bad timings, Tamaki walked in shortly after them.

"Haruhi! Are you alright!" But before Tamaki could get a step near her, Hikaru flung him across the room and yelled out, "YOU PERVERT! WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!"

So, Tamaki and Hikaru went at it. And what I mean by that is that Tamaki tried to explain while Hikaru threw random objects at him. Meanwhile, the more efficient Kaoru, was releasing Haruhi.

Kaoru and Haruhi tried to make peace between the one sided fight and explained everything. But still Hikaru didn't apologize and Tamaki ended up in his corner again. Before awkward silences and stormy clouds could ruin the friendships, Haruhi was summoned to laundry duty. She left the boys glaring at each other.

"Why are you so dense?" After a long five minutes, Hikaru was the first to speak.

"Whaat?" Tamaki was still sitting in his corner, putting on a cute, innocent, I-don't-know-what-you're-talking-about face. But of course, this was Tamaki and he really didn't know what they were talking about.

"Why do you feel the need to defend yourself?" Hikaru asked, ignoring his question.

"Well I don't want you to scar my beautiful skin…"

Hikaru was on the verge of beating him to a bloody pulp. "THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT! SHIT, YOU ARE DUMB!"

And the Princes' eyes widened and he pointed at him. "HIKARU SAID A HARSH WOOORD!"

"OH JUST SHUT UP! WHY DO YOU KEEP DENYING YOUR FEELINGS FOR HER! DO YOU DO THAT JUST SO SOMEONE COULD TAKE HER AWAY?"

There was silence.

Tamaki had become solemn. His eyes darted to the window, hoping the sunlight would hide his emotions.

"She… she doesn't. It's… different." Tamaki started mumbling. "I'll never get close to her. I don't have a reason to. I'm a popular guy. I'm a pretty guy. I can make a lot of girls fall for me. I don't have an excuse to be close to her. But if we were family, if the Host Club was one big happy family… I could get close. Because families are supposed to be close."

Tamaki cradled himself and looked to the ground. He had never admitted something like this. He didn't know half of what he was saying. But at the same time, it became so clear. So clear that it scared him. And he envied Hikaru, because his feelings were always so blatantly clear. He always showed it. Tamaki was one to show emotion, but his own personal feelings were a different matter. The family was broken.

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Tamaki had found Haruhi outside, walking along the grassy garden. The twins had left after Tamaki's confession. They left him with his thoughts and warm feelings that could only be frozen by her rejection.

"Haruhi…"

She turned around and felt instantly nervous, "I'm sorry about the game!"

". . . What game?"

"Um... nothing. Nothing. Where are the twins?"

"They went home." He looked past the hill and remembered an old oak tree that sat there. "Walk with me"

Not that he gave her much of a choice since he grabbed her arm and pulled her away. His expression was different and Haruhi suddenly didn't know what she would expect from him. After knowing Tamaki for a good year, she thought she saw every side of him. But she didn't know what she was going to see now.

They arrived at the promised, very old and dark brown tree. It beamed with wisdom and solitude. All the fresh gardens were intimidated by it and so it stood alone, apart. But it was good because Tamaki knew they could talk here.

"Are we friends?"

"What?" Haruhi was surprised at the question. But she would have to respond. Though she did think about it for a long time. Haruhi thought about him and their "adventures" with the Host Club and turned to face him with a smile, "Of course."

Tamaki beamed, relief filled him. "And friends are close to each other, right?"

Haruhi tilted her head, confused but nodded anyway. If he was speaking in general, friends should grow to be close.

The boy lifted his head to see the grand tree and the mini sunlight that came through the leaves. Happiness filled him and he looked back down at her.

"What?"

"Well, then I don't see a reason I have to be your dad anymore."

"… You were never my dad." Haruhi looked at him incredulous and Tamaki fell over.

"I meant… I meant as in I won't call you daughter anymore."

"Oh." Haruhi looked thoughtful for a minute and then said, "Why did you call me your daughter? I hadn't known you that long."

Tamaki smiled a true smile. One that made Haruhi's lips twitch into a smile and something in her heart fluttered. Her cheeks became hotter than usual and she wondered if it was unexpectedly warm today.

"Because I just wanted to be your friend." Not the exact truth but it'll do for now. His true feelings would take time to explain. Maybe another day… those words would come out his mouth and she would accept them. Tamaki will be wishing on a shooting star that maybe, just maybe, she'll say them too.

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A/N: Okay! A serious chapter. I guess I can't mix love and comedy for too long especially when the lovers don't even know it themselves. So this might be more fluff :3. The next chapter is about when Ranka finds out about where Haruhi's really been working…