Chapter Two

"This is my room!" Marc led Marcus to the small room as he opened the sliding door carefully. "Mommy and I share a room cause our apartment is small."

"It is not small." Haruhi said. "Go brush your teeth and get ready for bed."

"Ok." Marc rushed off to go get ready for bed.

Marcus looked around the apartment before walking past Haruhi to the kitchen.

"Do you have a problem with how we're living?" Haruhi questioned as she saw Marcus holding the broken cabinet door.

"What are you doin' with the money I'm sendin' you?"

"Paying for Marc's schooling and his cram school." Haruhi said. "And I've used it to buy him brand new books for his other lessons."

She heard him click his tongue and sigh heavily as he pulled down a coffee cup.

"He's a smart child and he's going to grow up to be a lawyer like me." Haruhi said simply. "He's going to get ahead of any rich person who looks down on us."

"Just stop with that bullshit, ok?" Marcus sighed.

"It's true, I know for a fact that all of my friends look down on me," Haruhi said. "They're only keeping me around because I'm their "commoner pet"."

"Are you still on that dumb shit?" Marcus hissed. "You have got to be the dumbest smart person I ever met. If they really looked down on you they'd called CPS the moment they saw how you're livin'. Just because you think everyone don't have anything else to do with their live than to worry about you not bein' rich doesn't mean you gotta poison Marc with that lame brain ideology. They don't fuck with you not because you're poor but because of your poor ass attitude and you pushin' 'em away."

"You know that isn't-."

"Mommy! The paper keeping the hole in the wall to the neighbor's house fell!" Marc called out.

Marcus glared at Haruhi. "Use the next check to find a house. He's not gonna keep livin' here as long as I'm alive."

"We don't need your money!" Haruhi argued. "Marcus, we don't need help. We are fine here. Sure, it's old but I've lived here since I was a kid and it's not that bad."

"The place is fallin' apart! He could tetanus or lead poisonin' from all the paint chips everywhere!" Marcus snapped.

"Mommy!"

"In a second Marc!"

"Mommy!" Marc cried again as he ran and hid under a table. "The bathroom floor is filling with water!"

Marcus glared and pushed past Haruhi. He walked over to the hall closet and pulled out a red toolbox. Marc saw him roll up his pants legs and sleeves before he entered the bathroom. A few moments passed and eventually the sound of rushing water stopped.

"Grab the biggest bowls and pots you got!" Marcus' irritated voice called.

"Alright." Haruhi went to the kitchen and grabbed the biggest pot she had and went into the bathroom. She stopped and looked at the floor. "It's going to take days to clean this."

"Your rusted pipe finally burst." Marcus told her. "Either get it fixed or move because y'all ain't got no bathroom now."

Haruhi sighed. "Fine."

"Mommy!" Marc called. "The kitchen's flooding again!"

"Marc! Go grab your bags and put all your clothes and your favorite toys and books in em!"

"Ok." Marc said as he went to go pack his things.

"Where do you think you're taking my son?" Haruhi asked. "We're fine here. I can fix things or we can go stay with my dad."

"I'm takin' my son home with me. He'll have his own bedroom and running water that don't flood the house. Your dad is in Karuizawa, take him there and he'll miss school." Marcus told her simply.

"Fine, but I'm going too." Haruhi growled and stomped off. "Marc make sure to grab all of your books."

"Ok mommy." Marc said.

"And what makes you think you're welcome in my house?" Marcus asked her in English.

"I don't know...because your parents don't hate me." Haruhi said. "Your dad is fine with Marc and I visiting."

"Like I said, my house. Not the family house."

"If I am not welcomed at your house then Marc isn't going there." Haruhi said. "He stays with me."

Marcus growled. "What the fuck ever, just stay outta my way woman." He turned away from Haruhi and went to find Marc.

"Marc, when we get you unpacked it's straight to bed with you." Haruhi said to her son as they walked into the house. She blinked and pulled Marc close to her when she saw two large women running towards them.

"Move!" they pushed Haruhi out of the way and began cuddling Marc.

"Wha! Big ladies!" Marc cried in fear. "Save me mommy!"

"Marc! You don't remember your grandma and aunt?" Anne-Marie giggled as she cuddled the boy more.

"Aww what a cute little baby!" Stella said with a smile. "You must know me, I'm the nice aunty."

Marc shook his head. "I don't know you big ladies." he said softly. "I want to go back to my mommy please."

"Marc, c'mon I'll show you to your room." Marcus said with a smile. "And be nice. The lady with the thighs is my mom, your grandma. The lady with the chest is my aunt."

"Oh…" Marc said as he looked at the two women and bowed. "It's nice to meet you obaa-san and Oba-san. I'm Marcus Ray Fujioka Jr. I hope you two will be nice to me and my mommy."

"Marc, they're family. You ain't gotta be formal." Marcus told him as he picked him up.

"Call me granmere sweetie." Anne-Marie gave him a smile that radiated warmth while she cut Haruhi a piercing glare.

"And call me Aunty Star." Stella said as she smiled though behind her back she was telling Haruhi in sign language not to move.

Marcus shook his head and carried Marc up the winding staircase. When he left the two women stood and stared at Haruhi.

"I'm sorry for the intrusion." Haruhi began.

"Not another word young lady." Stella said. "You hurt crawdad all these years."

"We know everything that you've put him through Haruhi. Everything. Don't think you'll get a pass just cause you gave us our little dragon egg." Anne-Marie said.

"You're also lucky that Ichiro didn't drag your ass back to Japan when you ran off for two years." Stella said. "What you've done is horrible. Marcus wasn't there for Marc's first steps or his first word."

"To think we believed you when you told us that you'd never do anythin' to hurt him."

"I didn't mean to hurt him and I sent videos of Marc's first word and steps to you guys to show him." Haruhi said. "It wasn't like I kept it from him."

"But you did." Anne-Marie said. "You don't get it because you were there with him but being there in the moment is a whole different feeling from watching a video of it. Especially when you know you might never get the chance to experience it for yourself. We showed him the videos but it was like we just shot him in the heart all over again."

"And you took that away from him for what?" Stella asked. "Because you assumed, he cheated on you?"

"He did." Haruhi said. "He was with Yvonne and told her not to leave his sight...he even went home with her."

Anne-Marie sighed. "Yvonne was the daughter of one of our allies. Someone put a hit out on her and the head of that family wanted eyes and ears on her at all times. So Marcus was put up to task. He wasn't sayin' that out of love but out of obligation. If she died on his watch then that would've meant a war between the families."

"I... I didn't know that." Haruhi said softly.

"Now you do, and you ruined your relationship with everyone, and you've kept your son away from his father for 7 years because of your mind thinking the worst of Crawdad." Stella said. "And then the way you've treated your friends...especially Chupa and Lapin...telling them to stay away from Marc."

Anne-Marie shook her head. "They all tried to tell you. Marcus tried to tell you in front of all of us so many times, but you wouldn't listen." She grabbed her things. "Only you can fix this but he's so jaded now I doubt you can."

"You changed him into something he's not." Stella said grabbing her jacket and purse. "And honestly it's gotten so bad that he's being jovial to an Ootori. So fix it now. I want my Crawdad back."

Haruhi sighed softly and didn't say anything more as she watched the two women leave. She looked up at the staircase and could hear Marc laughing. She began heading up the stairs and walked to the room she heard Marc's voice. She leaned against the wall outside the door.

"Mommy isn't a bad person." Marc said with a yawn. "She likes you a lot dad I know she does."

"Son, our relationship is way too broken to fix." Marcus told him as he finished braiding his hair into cornrows. "That's just the way life works sometimes. The people you love decide to not trust you no more and that's hard to fix." He got off the bed and pulled the covers back. "C'mon, in you go."

Marc nodded as he climbed under the covers and yawned. "Mommy kept your picture by her futon at night and I've heard her crying in her sleep." he said softly.

"Sleep, you gotta get up early to get a special breakfast." Marcus smiled as he stroked his head and began singing a lullaby to him.

Marc smiled. "Ok," he began falling asleep. "I love you dad." he said softly as he fell asleep.

"I love you too son." Marcus kissed his forehead and turned the night light on before walking out of the room.

"Marcus…" Haruhi began before sighing, she walked to him and hugged him from behind. "I'm sorry."

"Sure you are."

"I'm not lying to you." Haruhi said. "I had no idea you were protecting Yvonne….I should've listened instead of being stubborn. I shouldn't' have taken everything from you. I shouldn't have taken Marc away."

She felt his back rise and fall in an inaudible sigh. His hands touched hers as he pried her from him.

"Haruhi, get your stuff. I'll show you to your room."

Haruhi nodded as she left him alone in the hallway. She came back with her things a few minutes later and saw him looking in at Marc. "He'll be ok if he doesn't get nightmares."

Marcus didn't answer her as he got off the wall and walked down the hallway. He stopped in front of a door and pushed it open with his hand. "It's connected to a bathroom. Towels are in the chest by the tub."

"Ok...thanks." Haruhi said softly as she walked into the room. She looked around the room and then at him. "It's like the room we shared when we moved in together."

"I guess I just liked the design." Marcus turned and walked away from the door.

"Marcus Ray Sakurai will you just yell at me and get it over with!?" Haurhi demanded. "Call me selfish! Tell me I am horrible for keeping our son away from you!"

"What's the point?" Marcus asked her. "And in case you forgot, he's sleepin' now and his door is open. I ain't 'bout to argue with you while he's around."

Haruhi stared at him. "Fine when he's not around yell at me." she said. "But good night. I'm going to bed I have a busy day tomorrow."

"We all do, we have lives y'know." Marcus told her before he went into his room and closed the door.

Haruhi sighed. "Stubborn assed man!"

Marc yawned as he got up the next morning and blinked as he smelled pancakes being made. He rubbed his eyes and looked around the room before letting out a loud scream as he had forgotten where he was.

"Marc?!"

Marcus had bounded from the kitchen to his room in seconds flat. "What's wrong son?"

"Dad…" Marc said sniffling. "I thought I had been kidnapped! Where's mommy? Is she here?"

"She's in her room down the hall." Marcus rubbed his head. "It's fine, you're stayin' with me for a while. Now wash up, breakfast is ready for you son."

Marc nodded as he got up and yawned before heading to a nearby door. He opened it and walked into the bathroom to get ready.

Marcus shook his head and headed downstairs again.

"Marcus," Haruhi said as she followed him dressed for the day. "I'm heading out. Please see that Marc gets to school."

"Go then." Marcus said flatly as he walked into the kitchen.

"See you later I guess." Haruhi said before calling out to Marc. "Sweetie I'm leaving now! I love you!"

"Bye mommy!" Marc called back.

Haruhi left the house just as Marc came downstairs trying to fix the tie on his uniform. He walked into the kitchen and sat down messing with his tie.

"I'll show ya again, pay attention." Marcus smiled. He began talking through the steps as he tied the tie for him again.

Marc blinked. "That's how you tie it?" he asked. "It looks like the ones the big kids wear not like the other kids in my class."

"They all tie it wrong." Marcus smiled.

Marc nodded. "Oh." he said and looked at the plate in front of him. "Pancakes! And what's that brown strip of meat?"

"Bacon. Try it."

Marc nodded as he picked up the bacon and bit into it. His eyes widened and he stuffed the whole strip into his mouth.

"Easy. There's more for you to eat." Marcus laughed.

Marc nodded and finished eating the bacon before he moved onto eating the pancakes. He picked up the fork and began using it to cut the pancakes. He began counting quietly as he did so.

"Whatcha doin'?"

"Math while eating." Marc said. "Mommy says to study while eating too. Since my book is in my bag I have to do it with my food."

"Stop and just eat your food son. If you study too much you'll eventually burn out and break down." Marcus smiled.

Marc nodded as he began eating quietly. He finished eating and picked up his plate and took it to the nearby sink to wash it.

Just leave it on the counter." Marcus told him. "Get your book bag, alright?"

Marc blinked. "But mommy says to wash your dish after you're done eating." he said. "Or else it'll be a mess."

"Just leave it, it'll be fine." Marcus told him and pointed to the rest of the dishes on the counter and stove. "Better to do it all at once."

"Ok." Marc said as he went to get his bag. He began singing a song he learned in school all the while making sure he had everything.

Marcus stood and began cleaning the kitchen up. He stopped when he heard the doorbell ring.

"If you're a tanuki go away."

"No, it's one of your fellow teachers here to carpool because my fiance totaled my expensive sports car."

"Told you to leave her the busted oldsmobile." Marcus said as he opened the door.

:"I assumed she'd be careful." Kyouya said before blinking. "Marc-kun's here with you?"

"Good morning Ootori-sensei." Marc said bowing.

"It's a long story." Marcus shook his head with a tired sigh. "You got your stuff son?"

"Yes except...I don't have a bento." Marc said. "Mommy didn't make me one last night."

"Check the fridge. It's American but it's better than nothin'." Marcus told him.

Marc went to grab his lunch. When he came back, he looked at the lunch box he held. "It has my favorite hero on it! I like Iron man."

Marcus laughed. "Wait by the car with Ootori, I gotta grab my briefcase."

"Ok." Marc said. "Come on Ootori-sensei."

"Marc-kun you can call me Uncle Kyo you know." Kyouya was heard telling him as they left the house.

Marcus headed to his office and grabbed the briefcase from on top of his desk. He stopped when he saw an envelope on it. He glanced at it for a moment and left it there, deciding to read its contents after work.

Marc was heard laughing as he ran around the yard chasing after a group of butterflies that were flying around. Marcus watched him with a smile.

"C'mon son, get in the back."

"Ok!" Marc said getting into the car as he laughed. "I saw the Rhopalocera and they chased me too!"

"Son, it's okay to use words other kids can understand." Marcus chuckled as he buckled him in.

"But mommy says that I should know the science names." Marc said. "It's funner that way. That's why she had me put in Ootori-sensei's kindergarten class when I was little so I could learn more advanced stuff….well I was supposed to but she pulled me out of the class when I wasn't learning enough."

"Marc I'mma tell you this. Don't try to live up to unrealistic expectations. It's okay to have faults and it's ok to just be and live in the moment." Marcus told him. "Just pull back a little, you'll be able to enjoy the information you're learnin' more."

Marc nodded. "Ok." he said. "And there is no milk in the house. I can go get it for you after school."

"Nope. We'll be fine for a day." Marcus told him as he closed the door and got in the driver's seat. Kyouya saw him shake his head and give a heavy sigh before pulling off.

"Sakurai, you know that Haruhi's tough on him because she wants him to be like her." Kyouya said in English. "She's also been sending him to the store on his own for years. Something commoner children does."

"I don't care about the store, she's takin' his childhood away from him." Marcus grumbled. "If he stays on this path he's gonna have a bad mental breakdown in a year tops."

"There is nothing we can do, all of us have tried talking to her about it." Kyouya said. "She barely listens to her own father about this and Ranka-san's done with her."

"She ran her own old man away. I'm not surprised."

"It's just how Haruhi is."

"Dad." Marc said. "I keep hearing you and Ootori-sensei saying mom's name in a funny language."

"We're talkin' about her in English son."

"Oh, you mean the language she wants me to learn?" Marc asked. "I have a nice English tutor. Her name is Miss Kanako."

"Uh-huh. I remember her." Marcus stopped at the light and waited for it to turn.

"You know Marcus, I happen to think that maybe you should take care of Marc." Kyouya said simply. "He'd be able to live as a normal child."

"That'd be a messy assed fight. It was hard enough just gettin' him here while the apartment flooded."

"Ah I see well good luck." Kyouya went back to looking at his phone as he saw a text from Jenny. "By the way I'm marrying your cousin next weekend."

"Do I have to pull the car over? We told you that's too soon."

"Well we wanted to marry as soon as we could." Kyouya said. "She's going to Europe for a month."

"Did you run it by Unc yet? The mothafucka that's gonna be givin' her away?" Marcus asked, switching to English to curse.

"I am asking him during the weekly family dinner." Kyouya said simply. "Your uncle happens to like me. He thinks I am responsible."

"He only likes you now because of the shit you know who pulled."

"I'll take what I can get." Kyouya shrugged and looked out the window as he smirked. "You know once I marry her...we'll have at least ten children."

"You'll have three and I laid claim on namin' two already."

"We've chosen names already for our future children." Kyouya said. "We're naming them Kasumi, Yoshio, Kiyana, Kyon, Kyoko, Hitomi, Yumi and maybe a Kyouya jr."

"Name a single child Yoshio and I'll castrate you."

"My father wishes for me to name a child after him." Kyouya said shaking his head. "But you're right it's a horrible name."

Marcus shook his head as he pulled into the school parking lot.

Marc looked out the window. "Uncle Takashi's here!" he pointed to where Mori was putting a boot on Tamaki's car.

"Pig go home!" Marcus called out the window with a laugh.

Mori looked over. "Get back on the corner." he said in Latin as he went back to locking the boot.

"How 'bout I get on Spider monkey instead?"

Mori stared at him and smirked. "I would but your mom sent her away for a while so I could have a grand old time with her on her back."

"Then I'll have to steal the loli then," he smirked.

"Do it and I arrest you." Mori said. "By the way I'm sticking around, today's the school's career day. Tamaki invited all of us to tell about our careers."

"Lovely."

Mori then walked to the window and wrote a ticket for Marcus and walked off laughing loudly.

"I ain't payin' this shit." Marcus looked at Marc. "C'mon let's get you to class."

Marc nodded. "Ok." he said. "How come you called Uncle Takashi a pig?"

"He a police officer," Kyouya answered as he got out of the car. He laughed quietly. "And we'll need to stick around here late to watch Tamaki freak out about the boot on his car."

"Marc you gonna want to go home or stay here for a bit? You're not goin' to cram tonight."

"I wanna stay here and watch the funny show." Marc said brightly. "Chairman Suoh's funny when he freaks out."

"That's why we love doin' it." Marcus got Marc out of the car and took his hand. "Let's go."

End Chapter

AN: It's career day at Ouran Academy! Will it turn to chaos? Find out in the next chapter. Please drop a review or two! We'd love to hear from you.