Author's notes:

First: I would like to thank those of you who keep reading this story. I want to thank all of you for the reviews. I would also like to remind my readers that this story has arisen from a prompt community 64damnprompts for live journal. Each and every one of these chapters is based on a different writing prompt. I know that the length of these stories varies greatly from chapter to chapter, but it is not an easy way out, nor do I think are any of the characters out of character. I do not feel that I am under-developing ideas, merely allowing the story to flow out from the prompt.

Second: Another considerations: I follow the manga in this story, not the anime, and there are certain things in the manga, such as dark Hunny, that are much more focused on than in the anime. I have decided to focus on aspects of the characters that I have picked up in the manga.

Third: This is the final chapter, though I do have a epilogue planned. And I might even explain what Kyoya was doing there, since several people and commented on it. In the next few days I will be done with this interconnected set of stories and start on my next story arc. I might do a few Kyoya/Haruhi one shots, but I favor the Mori/Haruhi pairing. I just need to find a new angle to go at it with. And just as a preview: the prompt for the epilogue is Hunger

"Me?" Haruhi choked on the word.

"Hmm." Mori nodded.

"But, you never indicated that you…" Haruhi shook her head, as if to clear it. "You never indicated that you cared that much for me. You never said you loved me before now."

"I recently realized what these feelings meant. But I didn't think that you wanted these feelings from me. You always talk about when you go to law school, your vision of the future seems to be set." Mori looked away. "My vision of the future is you. I didn't think you would want that." Mori enfolded Haruhi in his embrace.

"And so you were running away from me, for me?" Her voice was muffled against his chest, and she could feel him nod.

"You never asked, Takashi." Her voice was soft, and he had to strain to hear it. "Assuming what I want but not asking, making this decision and letting me hear about it at the party, you made me feel as if all of this was a mistake. It hurt, Takashi." She stepped back, and his arms fell away from her. "How do I know that your sense of duty won't be an escape again? You say that you love me, you say that you decided you wished your future to be me, but how can I trust that? Tonight—tonight I gave you up, so I didn't have to watch you walk away from me. I won't let you toy with my heart Takashi. I won't. I can't."

"Haruhi." Mori sank to his knees, and pulled Haruhi to him, his head resting against her stomach. "I have failed you. I don't deserve you. I can't guarantee that I will always make you happy. I can't guarantee that I will never fail you again, but I can promise that I will never leave you. I am a fool, but I love you. That is all I can say, all I can offer you is myself. Myself and my love." He laughed quietly. "I don't even know if you love me, but I love you, and if you will allow it I will remain here with you, always."

"Always, Takashi? You offer me a very serious commitment." She smiled down at him. "If Tamaki heard, he would claim that you were trying to marry his daughter."

Mori's voice was steady as he met Haruhi's gaze, tilting his head so he looked up at her. "If I was?"

Mori could feel the moment that Haruhi's legs gave out, and she collapsed into his arms.

"You are?"

Mori didn't answer, but fixed his steady gaze on Haruhi.

"But you were going to leave. You were running away. You were running away from me, from this." Haruhi tried to keep the tears from falling, but she found herself striking Mori's shoulder, the tears flowing from her eyes. "You were going to abandon me. How can I, how can I trust this? Trust you?"

"I love you Fujioka Haruhi." Mori placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. "I love you. Let me love you. Love me. And the rest will work itself out."

Mori smiled as Haruhi nodded and he caught her lips with his own.

He had been a fool, but he would not be one again. He loved her, and he would not let her go.