15 years later...

Tamaki held his son's tiny hand, Haruhi holding his other hand gently. They made their way up the pristine stone path towards the white, double doors that allowed entrance onto the property. To him, the gate had felt larger, more intimidating, years ago. It had meant something different back then as well. It was a place of delight that would make him smile and warm his entire being. Now, he saw it in a different light. As he approached, a sadness overtook him. He knew in his heart that what he was about to do was the right thing, and that this had to happen someday.

It had been years since he had been back to Ouran Academy, though it appeared that nothing had changed. The hedges were perfectly trimmed, the fountain artfully laid with lily pads in the crystal blue water and windows so clear that you would never even know there was glass in them at all. Sweet scents engulfed his senses, trigger the memories of times that had long since passed. There was joy in these walls, and now his son would be able to experience it. This was his bittersweet moment. He couldn't help but squeeze his son's hand a little tighter, causing him to look up at him with concern and worry.

"Daddy, is something wrong?" he asked, staring up with eyes that mirrored his own. His son, René, a name that Tamaki had stopped using long before his birth, inherited his eyes, though he got his mothers brown hair and innocence. He had managed to gain the best traits from each of them, making him heartbreakingly handsome and kind, with the same intuition of knowing whats wrong without having to be told. It was a dangerous combination that could some day get him in trouble. Just the thought made him proud.

"Nothing, son, it's nothing at all."

The first day of school was always suppose to be hard, but they never explain just how rough it is on a parent. He could see tears in Haruhi's eyes, knowing that her little boy was about to take a massive step by starting his first year of school. Tamaki himself wanted to cry a little, but refused to do it in front of his son. This wasn't because men don't cry, he had taught René better than that, but to be strong for his sweet wife. She was going to be a mess the whole way home, and he knew that he had to do something to cheer her up, and remember that their son wouldn't be gone for long, and that he would be back in their arms in no time.

Slowly, they continued to work their way into the halls of the Academy themselves. Their footsteps echoed as the sound of laughter drifted towards them from deep within the school. It was his son that gripped a little tighter to his hand this time, scared of the new noises in the strange environment around him.

"It's okay René," Haruhi said calmingly. He must have squeezed her hand as well. "This is a great place, and you will make tons of friends here. Don't worry, just be yourself."

"Yeah," Tamaki chimed in, smirking, "just flash them the Suoh smile and they will all be putty in your hands."

René laughed while Haruhi scowled at him, though she knew it was true. He had used that very smile to sooth issues over with her, the same way he was using it now. She always tried to get mad at him, but it never lasted long. It had always been that way, since they were at the school together. It was only appropriate that they came back here together.

They approached the classroom that their son would spend the next year in. A series of emotions flooded him like a river. This was really it. His son, who he had spent days playing with and nights watching sleep, was about to leave him. Haruhi hugged René, tears flowing unto his head.

"Mom," he whined while running his fingers through his hair that was unevenly wet, "you're going to mess it up"

She sniffled and smiled, giving him one last squeeze before passing him over to Tamaki. There was a slight sense of fear in his son's eyes and an uncertainty that he had never witnessed before. It worried him to see him so unsure of himself. The feeling was something use to be too familiar to him, until he had found the place he had truly belonged at Ouran Academy.

He put his arms around his son and whispered, "Don't worry. You really do have nothing to be afraid of here. Some of the best years of my life were in here. Don't doubt yourself. Have confidence and know that no matter what happens, I will always be here and proud of you." With that, René smiled and walked into the room to start his first day.

Haruhi grabbed Tamaki's hand and said, "Lets take a stroll around, to see if anything has changed too much."

As they wandered around the school, he allowed his mind to wander as well. His father still was the chairman for Ouran Academy, though it was mostly for show now. He still financially backed the school, but then again, so did Tamaki now. Him and Haruhi had made their own money through business, with his father's help and guidance. Her smarts helped them thrive and grow, giving her a life that, he felt, she deserved but had never let him provide for her. She said that it meant more to her to have earned it herself than to have it given to her. The stubborn streak that she had always had did not fade through the years.

His relationship with his father had drastically improved once his grandmother had passed. Without her disapproving attitude, the two of them were able to reconcile their differences and rebuild their wounded family dynamic. He would spend time in the main house with his father, catching up on the missed years that were forced upon both of them. It was gratifying to know that there was no animosity between them anymore, and that his father was not ashamed to call him his son, even if he was illegitimate.

Tamaki was able to reunite with his mother as well. His father had reached out to her within weeks his grandmother's passing. Yuzuru told him that he still loved her, and regretted having to separate them for as long as they were. He now had a picture of his father and mother sitting on his desk, smiling on a beach in the south of France. It was proof to him that love will always pull two people back together, no matter how long they have been parted from one another.

They walked past a young boy, joyously running and laughing with his friends chasing him. He ran right to an older student, whose features were strikingly similar, and hid, smiling as the rest skidded to a halt. The image reminded him of how Mori would protect Honey, even though Honey could take care of himself. Honey, who now would only accept being called that behind closed doors, had earned his right to take over the Haninozuka family, even if his brother still had an issue with it. He had also retained his boyish looks and charm over the years, causing him to be constantly underestimated by rivals still. And, of course, he kept his insatiable desire for sweets and Usa-Chan, though his bunny now spent less time in his arms.

Mori was still as close as possible with Honey as anyone could be. Their friendship had only grown stronger as the years passed, and their children were being raised believing that they were brothers. His protectiveness of Honey had not faded either, though he did a better job of not showing it. Honey made it clear to all those around him that he could protect himself, yet Mori remained his silent protector, trying to keep as much harm as he could from affecting his best friend.

Their walk led them to overlook the courtyard. A slight breeze caused the leaves on the trees to tussle gently, drawing his eyes towards the ground. He could see students gathered around and talking, smiles evident on their faces. Two students were sitting isolated on a bench in a far corner, watching their classmates enviously. How long had it been since he had talked to the twins? It had to have been at least a month. They would come to visit periodically, and play "Which One is Hikaru?"with René. His son could always tell them apart, which brought delight to Hikaru and Kaoru. Even though they had grown, the twins still had insecurities about people not being able to tell their very separate identities apart.

Tamaki looked up, now knowing where Haruhi was leading him. Music Room 3 was right in front of him, the sounds of girls laughing and swooning escaping the doors to find his ears. The Host Club was alive and well with each generation of students using their unique personalities to entertain the bored females of the school. It filled him with pride knowing that his legacy had continued years after he left, and he hoped that someday René would join, despite Haruhi's objections. He wondered if the Club would even know who he was if they saw him, but decided that it didn't really matter to him anyways.

"Nothing changed here," he said, looking at Haruhi with a smile. "Nothing at all, including my love for you."

"No, nothing has changed, including you're ability to charm me," she replied before kissed him gently, sending the same excitement through him as if they were kids.

Together, they made their way back to the car where their driver was patiently waiting. Tamaki asked him to take them home where maybe they could get a little bit of work done, assuming they weren't completely worried about their son.

They rode in the car together, both staring out separate windows and deep in his thoughts. He couldn't help but think about what his son was doing right now. Was he sad that he was away from his parents? Or was he having so much fun that he had forgotten about his parents All these questions were racing through his head, and he wouldn't have answers until his son got home. He hated not having answers to his questions.

"He's okay Tamaki," Haruhi stated, breaking the slight silence between them. "René has your ability to make everyone smile and get his way. He will have the school under his spell in no time."

Tamaki knew this, though he still worried. This anxiety wasn't that his son would have any issues at school, rather that he wouldn't have a marvelous school experience like he had had, and found the type of friends that he had found. All he wanted was for his son to know how wondrous the school could be. He was still so close to the original Host Club except...

No Tamaki, don't think about that. It's not worth your time or effort.

The car slid up to the front entrance of their home. It wasn't quite as exuberant as the mansion that he grew up in, but it wasn't small either. He didn't want his home to be like the one he grew up in; lonely with only servants to keep him company. What mattered was the love and compassion that the family held together inside the home. No amount of money could buy the happiness he had found with his family.

He led the way to the doors, holding them open so Haruhi could walk in before him. She sighed, always taking his attempts at chivalry as a slight. Their house keeper was there, mail sorted in her hands. She was waited beyond the door, allowing them to remove their shoes and walk inside. A smile was always gracing her face, creating a warm atmosphere whenever they entered.

She handed the mail to him before turning and disappearing into the kitchen to prepare their next meal.

Tamaki began riffling through the letters in his hands and went into his study, fire light providing a dim, comforting light. Most of the papers in his hands were nothing of significant importance. Some of it was invitations to high-class events while others were letters of thank you for various donations they had given. One, however, caught his attention. It wasn't like the others that he normally received. His name and address were written out neatly on the front, but there was nothing else. There was no return address, giving him no indication of where the letter had originated from. The only thing was the writing. It seemed to be oddly familiar, though from where was not coming to him immediately.

He began thinking back to all the people that he had seen hand write anything, and to who would send a hand written letter to begin with. His friends would just call him, and any business associates emailed him. It just wasn't adding up. And the writing, it was so familiar. Why was it so hard for him to remember?

The realization overtook him like storm of understanding. Of course he knew the writing, he had seen it a million times over.

No, he thought, not after all this time. He shook his head hoping that he was wrong, but he knew he wasn't. The handwriting on the letter could only belong to one person, and one person alone:

Kyoya.