Sorry for the massive wait guys... All I can really say is depression is a nasty, relentless bastard that has given me so much trouble over the last couple of years. It takes everything you love and enjoy doing and it twists it and ruins it or leaves you unable to do it. I couldn't give you a new chapter because I despised everything I managed to write, it was all worthless.

Then I reread the entire fic to give myself inspiration or to try and kick start my brain and I very nearly deleted it in its entirety. I hated my style of writing, my portrayal of the characters. Everything I looked at seemed wrong and it just got worse till I couldn't stomach reading it anymore. I couldn't (and can't) understand why anyone read this.

I am not looking for sympathy, I am not looking for people to stroke my ego, I am telling you this because you deserve to know why I've made you wait so long.

I am sorry.

Thank you once again for your lovely reviews and adding to lists and such. Frankly the thought that this made anyone at all happy or interested is the only reason this fic is still up.

Thank you for every single review, you have no idea how much each and every one meant to me. Honestly, I know it sounds a bit hammy but they got me through a really dark time, they cheered me up. HedonismBot gave me some of the best news I have ever had for a long time... I got so happy I cried haha =) Thank you so much to everyone who is reading and has read thank you for sticking with me.

Trivia- Ren means water lily.

"Come on trouble, let me look at you." Pouty but at least clean Ren held her face up to look at her mummy.

"Oh my goodness, look at you... Haruhi avert your eyes."

Haruhi made a big show of taking a peak and covering her face. Ren looked at both women with suspicion.

"What mummy?"

"Don't tell her Lizzie, it'll upset her too much."

"Te-me."

"I have to Haruhi, she has to know. Ren... you look... clean."

The toddler giggled at the exaggerated reactions of her mum and aunt. She wriggled and squirmed till she was put on the floor and ran off to show Rararara how clean she was. Lizzie slipped her coat off and onto the hook.

"Sorry sweetie, has she been much bother?"

"No, we've had loads of fun but after we painted some pictures and had a celebratory biscuit she was a little on the sticky side and seemed to think the face cloth was going to eat her."

"You can thank Anthony for that. He told her that the facecloth was a mucky monster that wanted to eat the dirt from her face... He genuinely thought that would encourage her to stay still."

Haruhi laughed and went into the front room to tidy away the craft stuff as Lizzie took part in the well beloved game 'time to get the toddler to bed'. She placed the pictures on the window sill to dry and went to pour the brownish water away.

"Haruhi, is this nearly done?"

She leant over the pot of pasta. The murky, still water left her with little hope.

"Dad, it might help if you turned the hob on." She turned the dial and moved past her dad who was bouncing his head off the countertop and bemoaning his inability to save his daughter from working. She bit her tongue to avoid telling him that a few days ago Tamaki senpai had done the exact same thing. She just smiled and worked around him.

"Sorry Ranka, that's probably my fault, I distracted you." Anthony held his hands up in a good natured apology. Haruhi shook her head and shooed them out. She enjoyed cooking for her family plus it gave her time to think. She hadn't spoken to Kyoya in a couple of days, not since he went home and even then they were both a little...muted in their communication. Haruhi didn't particularly care that they hadn't spoken; she knew people who were dating who hadn't spoken for weeks, no, what bothered her was that she didn't mind. It felt good being in her own space again, and she didn't feel like she had to call him... her worry was that he would expect her to call, did that make her a bad person? 'Being in a relationship is difficult' she mused as she tasted the thickening sauce and turned the heat down. She mulled it over as she seasoned the sauce, maybe if she sent him a text, then there wouldn't be any awkwardness if they didn't have anything to say.

'Hey Kyoya, how are you?' the reply was almost instantaneous.

'I am well thank you, and yourself?'

'We're all good thank you. Thanks again for all your help.'

'You're welcome. To be honest I think you did us a service; the other hosts were beginning to get distracted without you at school. Profits were falling tremendously in club without you.'

Haruhi winced, Kyoya had gone into school on the day she moved out and then the boys had come around after club but he hadn't been happy. They went in the next day then gave up school to help Haruhi, she was grateful for the speed but poor Kyoya must have had a nightmare trying to keep everything organised.

'I'm sorry. Have you been able to sort it?'

'Not to worry, the picture books of the hosts doing their various tasks have sold extremely well, they not only made up for any loss, they actually created some profit in themselves. I'm getting them reprinted.' Haruhi gawped at her phone. He could not be serious, who was she kidding yes he could. When did he even get time to take any pictures?

'I wish you wouldn't do things like that without asking!'

' I asked Ranka, he said it would be fine as long as he could have two copies, one so he could have some nice photos of you and one to send to Misuzu so he could use them as art in the hotel.'

Haruhi growled under her breath. Of course her dad was in on it, she genuinely wasn't surprised. As she stirred the, finally cooking, pasta she felt tiny hands grabbing her top. She looked down at her little niece.

"Anny Haru, hide me."

"Why do you need hiding?"

"Mummy's trying to put me in the bath and then bed and I don't want to go bed."

"You have to go bed."

"No!"

"If you don't go to bed how can you get up?"

The toddler pondered the question for a moment before deciding she didn't care and hiding in front of Haruhi's knees just as Lizzie walked into the kitchen.

"Haruhi, have you seen Ren anywhere?" Lizzie asked looking directly at the naughty little nuisance.

"Shush." Ren looked imploringly at her aunty with a finger on her lips. Haruhi sighed and shook her head trying not to laugh.

"No. I haven't seen her anywhere."

"Oh, I guess I better go then."

Lizzie left the room. Slowly but surely Ren sneaked out from her hiding spot and into the opening for the kitchen. Haruhi turned and watched as Lizzie scooped her up, span with her making the little girl squeal with glee and then ran upstairs with her. It was so nice seeing them like that. When Lizzie had told her she was pregnant it was bittersweet, Haruhi knew that her cousin had had hell before she left the country and the fact that she was in England meant that she was alone but on the other hand she was so happy at the news. They got to see Ren when she was a few months old, Lizzie had come the roundabout way to get to Japan by boat, then they saw her again when she turned two. Now at nearly three years old Ren was a very beautiful little girl with all the character of her mother. While she had been a little shy at first it was clear she was beginning to feel more at home and Haruhi relished the laughter and the noise in her home.

"Guys, foods nearly ready."

"Thank you darling. I'll set the table."

Haruhi grabbed the knives and forks.

"That's okay dad, I got it."

She placed four placemats on the table along with the cutlery. Her phone buzzing in her pocket made her jump.

'Have I displeased you?'

She sighed as she typed a quick no back to him. It was only as she was entering the kitchen that she paused. That wasn't like Kyoya, he didn't normally mind if he upset someone if it helped his profits. That's not really fair is it? He cares about lots of things. Not showing it is different from not feeling it.

Guilt pushed her to send a further text.

'Sorry, it's not anything you've done. I'm in the middle of cooking.'

She stirred the pasta and checked it was fully cooked before she picked the pot up to drain it.

"Ow." She placed the pot down on the counter and rubbed her wrist, the twinge had sizzled up her arm, she shook it off and got back on with her task.

"Haru, are there any spare towels."

"There should be some in the bathroom."

"Nope."

"Yeah, in the cupboard. There were seven of them."

"They got used."

"How could they have been-"Haruhi turned and saw Lizzie holding her dripping shirt away from her stomach as much as she could whilst her hair dripped onto her shoulder. Haruhi grabbed a towel from the ironing basket.

"What happened?"

"I was bathing a toddler who did not want a bath and who decided that the bath was a swimming pool and she was a mermaid... so water happened. I cleaned the bathroom."

"Is she in bed?"

"Yep, the little monster is in bed being not tired."

"So, she's asleep."

"Out like a light. Do you want a hand?"

Haruhi handed her two steaming bowls of pasta and followed behind with the other two. The boys were already seated at the table discussing Ranka club make up.

"I just think that I should try something different."

"If you want to, but I don't see why unless you want to. Maybe try... I dunno... a less natural look if it's bothering you."

"You think?"

"Yeah, maybe mix it up, go a bit darker on the night shifts or colour?"

"I can't really use colour, most drain me and another employee has a rainbow thing going on."

"Sam?"

"Hmm, no sweetie, Sam uses black and white, Nori uses rainbow colours."

"How's work been Lizzie?"

Lizzie's fork hit the plate a little too hard for it to have been an accident.

"Oh, it's great, yeah, it's fine, wonderful. Just sorting out some new contracts and the like. It's fine. This pasta is delicious Haruhi thank you, just wish I hadn't stuffed myself at dinner. I think I'm going to sit outside."

She left the table leaving behind an awkward silence with her half empty bowl of pasta. Ranka broke it first.

"Should I-"

"I'll go dad."

Haruhi grabbed her bowl and Lizzie's and made her way into the garden. She took a seat next to her vacant cousin and held out Lizzie's bowl.

"Thank you!"

Lizzie tucked in with relish. She didn't want to talk and Haruhi wouldn't force her. Haruhi picked at her own food for a moment before speaking.

"I'm worried about going back to school."

Lizzie made a noise for her to continue.

"I guess I'm worried because... Kyoya is fairly jealous and what with the host club... I guess I'm worried he might react badly or worse."

"Worse?"

"What if I react badly? What if I get jealous? I've not really thought about it before but... those girls faun all over him, the way they talk and act... I'm worried that I might ruin it."

"Ruin what?"

"The feeling."

"Can't you tell these girls that you and Kyoya are together? It doesn't sound like they are bad people, maybe just... enthusiastic."

Haruhi looked up and the clouds drifting over the star covered sky.

"Maybe. I don't know. How about you?"

Lizzie placed her bowl down and lay down on the grass. Haruhi followed suit.

"I don't know Haruhi. I thought I had everything under control. I knew how I was going to live my life and nothing would surprise me. Now it's like everything is unravelling before me and I am as out of control as I was three years ago. It's like... fate or something is determined to throw him at me over and over again."

"Ren's father?"

"Yep. I saw him today. He followed me and... We kissed and... It was just like the last three years had never happened. I still love him and I hate myself for it. I can't let him get close Haruhi. He can never know."

"Know?"

"About Ren. He can never know she exists. If I have to run to the ends of the earth to keep her safe from him I will."

Haruhi looked at her cousin in shock.

"He doesn't know?"

"How could he. The day I went to tell him he sent me away telling me that he never wanted me in the first place. My fight or flight kicked in and I ran and I couldn't stop running. Everything reminded me of him. If he finds out about Ren he'll take her from me and I won't be able to stop him. I can't have him hurting her like he hurt me. I can't have him coming into her life and playing daddy until he's bored or his daddy tells him to stop and he drops her like she's a shit covered shoe or something."

Haruhi sighed and reached for her cousin's hand.

"I get where you're coming from Lizzie. You are her mother and you have rights..."

"Why do I sense a but coming?"

"But so does he. He deserves to know and he may decide he wants nothing to do with her as is his right but if he wants to see her he deserves the chance... even if you make him crawl across broken glass to do it. You could have a contract or an agreement written up that gives him supervised visitation days and no overnight visits till she's at a certain age. And maybe it would help you if you didn't think about it as doing it for him but doing it for Ren."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, she deserves the chance to get to know her father even if she doesn't like what she finds. Sure she's little now and it doesn't bother her but what about when she's older? You don't want her growing up and deciding she wants to meet him only to find out that you kept them separate. I get you can't tell her everything but maybe if you explain some of what happened to her then she'll understand why and she can then make her own mind up. You don't want to become the bad guy because you were trying to protect her."

"When did you become so wise?"

Haruhi shrugged and smiled. The air was thick with things unsaid; it was making both girls uncomfortable so Haruhi did the only sensible thing to do.

"So… How was it?"

"Huh?"

"You're kiss."

Lizzie laughed, rolling her eyes.

"It was awesome and stupid, so, so stupid!"

Haruhi grinned, thinking about her own stupid kiss.

"The best ones are."

"Do you know what's ridiculous?" She waited for Haruhi's questioning glance before continuing, "He is exactly the same and completely different. Still stubborn and childish, he is such a selfish child, and jealous and passionate-"

"Ew."

"Behave, but, I dunno, there just seemed to be something else, he was so, so desperate and sad and I told his to get off me and he did. I think, I dunno, I think he is different."

"Is that a good thing?"

"I- I hope so. He's not going to give up, that would hurt his pride. I guess I'm just going to have to give it as good as I get too. That is, assuming I'm not murdered when I tell him about Ren. Oh God! I feel sick."

Haruhi grabbed her hand and tried to give her whatever comfort she could.

The girls stayed out for a little longer, both with things on their mind and plans brewing and both content to talk of other things. Tomorrow would be a long day.

"Hi Haruhi!"

"Haruhi, you're back!"

"Hey Haruhi, we missed you."

"Hi Haruhi, it's great to see you."

"Haruhi! It's good to see you."

"Haruhi, are you going to be at club tonight. My father told me I had to come straight home because he found out about the commoners coffee but I'm sure I can make an exception if you're going."

"Erm... Yeah, I'll be there tonight Senpai."

"Aww, Haruhi you're so cute!"

"He's so shy, it's adorable."

"I love him!"

"I want to marry him! My mother would love him."

"Hey, where did he go?"

Haruhi managed to slip past the girls and into her classroom. She leant back on the closed door of her classroom with a sigh and listened to the voices of the girls fade as they moved away. She had gotten in over an hour earlier than she usually did to try and avoid making any kind of scene but the ladies had been waiting for her when she arrived. As she made her way to her seat she wondered who had told the girls she would be coming in. Probably Kyoya, club profits always rocketed if the girls had excitement in the morning. Like they were trying to recapture the moment by buying as much as they possibly could.

"Well look who it is Kaoru."

"I think you mean look who it can't be Hikaru, because it can't be Haruhi. There is no way she wouldn't let us know that she was coming in today after our constant morning messages asking if she was coming in today."

"You're right Kaoru! Haruhi surely wouldn't let us think that she wasn't coming when she was. That must be an imposter in her seat."

Haruhi turned to look at the twins who twisted so she was looking at the sides of their heads.

"I was going to text you in a while guys, I didn't think you'd be awake yet."

The twins looked at each other, then at Haruhi, then back at each other before nodding stiffly and capturing her in a bone crushing hug. Haruhi struggled fruitlessly for a minute before succumbing to the gleeful boys' enthusiasm.

"I missed you guys too."

"Of course you did."

"You don't need to tell us that. It's obvious you would miss quality."

She couldn't help the small chuckle that burst from her lips. Her phone beeped its announcement of a new message.

'Haruhi, enjoy your morning. Would you be interested in meeting up at lunch to study? K'

She found that she couldn't type a reply as Hikaru's hug became like a belt around her arms, preventing her from doing anything other than standing there till he released her.

Unseen to Haruhi was the silent exchange between brothers. The pitying, understanding looks of one, begging for his counterpart to release her and the petulant refusal of the other as he pressed his shut eyes into the diminutive girl.

That day Kaoru broke the hug first.

Haruhi coasted through her morning lessons with ease. Her home study, both with and without Kyoya, had covered everything in great detail so she took part in the lessons with confidence as she made her notes and thought about other things.

'It'll be good to see Kyoya... and the others. I wonder what he wants to study. I hope he wants to review algebra, I have that test tomorrow. Maybe history. I don't mind I guess... huh, I've really missed him.'

She felt a secret smile sneak onto her face as she imagined what he might do if she hugged him in public.

'Throw a fit probably, add to my debt, kill me... then again, I've done worse to him in public.'

"Something funny Mr. Fujioka?"

"No sir."

"Right then, if this equation could have your full attention please. Can you tell me the value of X and Y Fujioka?"

"X is 17 and I believe Y is 8."

"Incorrect. Close though, why is 8 wrong?"

"Erm... uh. "She glanced at her notes. "Oh, I forgot to divide it. Y is 4 sir."

"Correct, well done. Full attention from now on Fujioka."

"Yes sir."

Kyoya felt an aneurism coming on. He was convinced that's what the throbbing in his temples were, an oncoming aneurism. Tamaki was happily humming to himself, completely oblivious to, or ignoring, his friend's suffering. How did this happen every time? Why could nothing ever stick to the plan? They were good plans, careful plans. Good, careful plans that took time to think of. Time that could have been better spent talking to a brick wall over Tamaki as it turns out.

The moronic, nosey French git had read his text to Haruhi over his shoulder and had invited himself along. He actually managed to convince himself that he had been invited in the first place. Then he took the credit of thinking of the idea of a host club study session. Much as Kyoya tried to convince him that actually Kyoya had just asked Haruhi on the best possible replacement for a lunchtime date Tamaki was having none of it.

'Kyoya, studying is not a date. Girls like to be taken out for dates and treated like princesses and fawned over. Not studying for classes!'

Kyoya had bitten his cheek quite viciously to prevent himself from asking if the blonde had actually met Haruhi Fujioka... Or Kyoya for that matter!

Then, just as Kyoya began making headway with the obstinate boy Haruhi had text that she would love to meet up and that was the end of that. Tamaki insisted he had to come, because Haruhi was expecting him of course! In spite of the fact that Kyoya had showed him the original text message where there was no mention of anyone but him meeting her.

'I can't let my poor daughter down Kyoya! She must have missed me so much I know I've missed her, we all have!'

Then to Kyoya's ever more volatile ire the blonde had text Haruhi if she wanted the rest of the gang there or not, 'to prove that she was expecting us.' Haruhi's response was clearly hesitant.

'Um, sure, I guess. If you want them there that's fine by me.'

It took Kyoya all of two seconds to realise that the thrice accursed imbecile had used HIS phone to text her. So instead of it being Tamaki asking and (he assumed) being gently rejected, it seemed like he'd asked. AND SHE SAID YES! Why would she say yes? Surely she had to know that even if he had sent that message it would be under some kind of Tamaki based duress.

Kyoya rose stiffly as the bell went, practically swiping his books into his bag and left the room in silence leaving Tamaki calling frantically after him to wait as he jammed his own books away and struggled to catch him.

Which he unfortunately did.

"Jeez Kyoya, anyone would think you didn't want me to come."

There was the throbbing again.

Haruhi laid her books out on the table and waited for the rest of the gang to arrive. The twins were chatting to some girls in a very lively manner, probably about fashion if their impassioned responses were anything to go by. She smiled as the girls giggled at something Hikaru had said and rolled her eyes as the boys played up to their audience.

The only warning she got that Kyoya had arrived was the scrape of a chair to her left and a slightly harder than usual placing of a book bag onto a desk. One look at him told her he was in a foul mood... one might go as far as describing it as bearish as he growled a greeting and swiped his books out efficiently with a practiced paw... hand. The black clouds she could practically see floating around him did not bode well for a productive study session.

On impulse she reached under the table and grabbed his limp hand in hers and squeezed it reassuringly. He snatched it away from her as though burnt. His eyes flicked to the girl pointedly. Haruhi bit her tongue to keep from pointing out that the only way those girls would notice them would be if they stood in front of the twins and went at it. Instead she grabbed the book on top of her pile and began to read.

With a heaved sigh Kyoya began to do the same.

Tamaki practically waltzed to their table and took up the seat of Haruhi's right. Haruhi didn't notice Kyoya tensing by her side as the boy to her right took her attention away from her studies and, to his mind, Kyoya himself.

"Did you miss me Haurhi? Daddy missed you lots!"

"Sure senpai, it was great seeing you the other day."

"I loved it too; it was one of the best days of my life. You have a charming home!"

Kyoya was sitting so rigidly that when he heard the whispering he nearly popped a disk.

"Did you hear that? Tamaki was at Haruhi's house!"

"Wow, what do you think that means?"

"I think they're dating!"

"Aww that's so cute!"

"Ooh. That's a pity... then again it's not like Tamaki only likes boys, he clearly likes girls."

"Yeah, so long as nothing changes I guess it's really great for them."

"They are so cute."

"I wonder if they kiss?"

Kyoya hadn't noticed that he snapped his pen till Haruhi cried out when the ink hit her face before rolling down his hand.

"Senpai!"

"I'm sorry Haruhi, I got distracted. Here-"

"Haruhi come here."

Kyoya's handkerchief hung limply from his hand as Tamaki turned her head away from him and dabbed at the blotch on her porcelain cheek. Kyoya did his usual admirable job of not letting anything he was feeling showing on his face because frankly the rage that was boiling beneath the surface. Instead of trying to grab her attention, starving of it as he was, he calmly watched from the corner of his eye as his best friend gazed intensely at HIS girlfriend's face. He watched as Tamaki delicately dabbed the ink away and watched the blush suffuse her face as she squirmed under the scrutiny. He even managed to keep calm when the dabbing stopped and the boy didn't release her face from his grasp. The only time he let his annoyance show was when he saw that she wasn't pulling away either. He slammed his hand down on the table and stood, shattering the bizarre stasis the two were under.

"Kyoya, are you ok?"

Her worried brown eyes made the irritation flare worse. How could one person be so oblivious? At least Tamaki had the decency to realise his sins and looked shamefaced, but innocent little Haruhi had no clue. He pinched the bridge of his nose tightly in his clean hand and released a controlled, calming sigh.

"I'm fine. I'm going to clean myself up."

He left the library with the awareness that a pair of concerned brown eyes were on his back, not the blondes face. So at least there was that.

Three minutes forty seconds.

He had been gone precisely three minutes to wash his hand and get his temper under control and in that time Honey and Mori had arrived. Honey senpai stole his seat. His bag and his books had been clearly around that seat, the seat next to his girlfriend and there was his senpai... sitting in that seat after having pushed the books away from that spot so he could put his bag down as a pillow.

Why did he even bother?

He grabbed his things and placed them down in the seat opposite Haruhi, ignoring his senpai's offers to move for him. Haruhi sent him a brilliant smile when he got settled that made his effort feel worth it.

They continued doing what they were doing for a time, Kyoya brooding, the twins flirting, Honey sleeping, Mori watching, Haruhi studying and Tamaki Tamaki-ing. Occasionally a girl would come over and giggle and enquire about club and general health or someone would change books but everything was a lot calmer... for Kyoya.

Haruhi would occasionally ask for his help and ignore Tamaki's befuddled attempts to explain (complicate) things. All her attention was on him for those brief moments and it (if he wasn't an Ootori and had more pride than admit these things) made him feel special.

Until he couldn't help her. He would have been able with a little thinking time but he was doing biology and she was doing French and it took a second for him to click. And in that second someone else stepped in.

Kyoya covertly watched as heads moved closer and closer together as complicated sentences and the like were discussed. Why is it always Tamaki? Why could he never get something that was just his? He couldn't even have a working lunch date without it belonging to someone else. They looked like they were on a date in spite of Tamaki's assurances that studying wasn't a date. He couldn't help the jealousy that settled in the pit of his stomach like a cold rock, he felt like a child who had to share all his most precious belongings with everyone, his grades were his brothers, his spot in class was Tamaki's (nearly), his career and future was his father's to give and take as he saw fit and now his girlfriend, the one person he thought he could have a unique connection with someone and even that wasn't true. Haruhi treat everyone the same and everyone was treated as a cherished friend.

Then again, he fought a smirk as his mind flickered back to the very first kiss they shared and the countless ones in between; none of the others had experienced that. None of the others had any experience of that side of her. No-one else held her whilst she slept. Perhaps he was special.

His eyes met hers across the table as she looked up for a moment, Tamaki was still chatting away but her attention was on him. He felt her foot brush his calf under the table tentatively as she kept his gaze; he nudged her back in reassurance. For the remainder of lunch both studied and talked with their friends, yet all the while under the table they were the only ones there, their feet saying and doing everything they couldn't say in the public setting.

Club had been twice as packed as normal. Haruhi the no longer absent, as the guests took to calling her, attracted over three times her normal clientele and other hosts noted that their own guests spent most of the session talking about her or looking at her.

Of course this meant that Kyoya's job of keeping everything running smoothly was made incredibly difficult whilst he was trying to stop Tamaki from stropping the place down or announcing that Haruhi was of the female persuasion. Instead he attempted to get the guests to help him stop the fool from growing mushrooms in the wall (the repairs were not in this month's budget.) Tamaki thrived under his loyal followers attention and Kyoya could get back to doodling in his black book (there was nothing going on of note and he was quite bored.)

By the time the last guest left the usually exuberant hosts were exhausted.

"Wow." Honey said, his voice muffled in the pillow

"Uh huh." Mori was lounging back in his seat, looking at the ceiling as the twins staggered past.

"That was intense."

"Yeah, maybe we should put a limit on the number of guests we can do in a day."

Kyoya clicked his neck to one side then the other before responding.

"The profits from today's session will fund the next three club trips with just us and the next five with guests."

The redheads looked at each other before agreeing that that made the bone deep exhaustion they felt completely worth it.

"So long as we can go somewhere where Haruhi can wear our swimwear!"

"Yeah, swimming holiday, swimming holiday."

"I see no problem, with that."

"KYOYA! I am the host king, I decide where we go. "

"And where do you want to go your majesty?"

"I say we go on a swimming holiday, like a beach or somewhere... A boat! We should go on a boat! Or an island, or go on a boat to get to an island."

"I see no problem with that, still."

Haruhi finished wiping down that last table and sank into the closest chair.

"Yeah, no problem so long as I'm not coming."

"Actually Haruhi, the island I have in mind is technically part of the country. You don't need a passport."

"Yay! Family vacation!"

"Tamaki senpai, please don't shout in my ear."

The blonde pouted as he relinquished his choking hug grip from around Haruhi's throat.

Kyoya made a quick note in the corner of his book to check later, it was important.

Mori made the first move to split the group up as he scooped the dosing Honey onto his shoulder grabbed their bags, waved and left. The twins left soon after that, after informing them that they were bringing their latest swimwear collection tomorrow for Haruhi to see and try.

Haruhi made to leave soon after but was stopped by Tamaki.

"Actually Haruhi, I need an audience with you and Kyoya. There is something I would like to ask you both on behalf of the club."

Haruhi didn't know what frightened her more, the serious look on her usually light-hearted senpai's face or the fact that this was visibly news to Kyoya. If Kyoya didn't know something it was rarely good news... it also wasn't necessarily a good thing if he did know it either.

She took a seat next to Kyoya and watched as Tamaki paced in front of them. Definitely not good.

"The boys and I have been thinking, we think it might be a good idea if... that is to say, it might be good for club if... profit margins and budget erm. We think you should go public with your relationship for the club."

"What? Tamaki senpai, you can't be serious! That isn't for you to decide besides Kyoya-"

"Thinks it's a brilliant idea."

Haruhi turned to the dark boy at her side.

"You do?"

"Yes, the twins forbidden love gets decent profit of paired hosts and Honey and Mori's platonic relationship pleases the guests. Tamaki has the highest profits of an individual host and the twin's romance isn't to everyone's taste. This way we can offer the ones who like romance but not the implication of incest a package aimed at them."

"We aren't a package Senpai!"

"I am aware of that. However it would mean that we wouldn't have to be careful and panic."

He grabbed her hand and looked her deep in the eye; his other hand reached up and cupped her cheek with his other hand, tenderly stroking her flushing skin with his thumb.

"Unless you're ashamed of me Haruhi? If we did this we wouldn't need to hide, we could be however we wanted."

"Um," She dropped her eyes to his chest and tried to gather her thoughts, his eyes were hypnotic. "If you really mean that then, I suppose it's fine. I don't mind."

"Excellent." He pressed a chaste kiss to the corner of her mouth and swooped both their bags up. "I'll give you a lift home."

Tamaki lifted his head and waved goodbye as they left, he tried not to think about how much seeing the look in her eye as she gazed at his best friend hurt. It shouldn't hurt, but it did. With a sigh he gathered his own things, from the corner of his eye he saw a delicate handkerchief on the ground, he scooped it up, glanced at the initials and slipped it into his pocket. He'd give to Haruhi tomorrow to give to the most timid of all the princesses.

Kyoya slid gracefully into the limo, grateful to be in the quiet space, Haruhi slipped in next to him with a weary sigh, dumping her bag on the floor and her head on his shoulder.

"Why was today so long?"

He smirked and glanced out the window. It had been trying but good, it was good to be back to normal. His phone buzzed in his pocket, he took it out an looked at the message, it was from Akito. The smirk fell from his lips as he read the three word text again and again. He felt nauseous and fear prickled at the back of his neck.

"Haruhi, may I stay at your house tonight?"

"Um," She looked up at his paler than usual face, he looked truly unwell. "Yeah, I guess. I'll have to check with my dad but it should be fine."

He nodded gratefully, never taking his eyes off the text, though the message was probably burnt into his retina.

'He's come home.'

There you have it.

I hope this is ok, I hope you've enjoyed it.

Please review and let me know what you think, like it, love it, loathe it.

Thanks for reading

Wp2 xxx