Disclaimer: I do not own "Ouran High School Host Club" or any of the characters in this wonderful manga/anime in any way.

Shelter in the Storm

Previously in chapter thirteen: "Love does not make one a wimp. Just ask the boys that got beaten by a certain Morinodzuka Akira 28 years or so ago, just because they fell in love with me, a simple commoner." She crawled into bed with her loving husband, confident that one day, the two teens out in the hall would probably be having a similar conversation about a child of their own. "Oh and I will bet you that when you get up for your jog in the morning, that they will both still be out there. I don't foresee him being willing to part with her for the night."

Chapter Fourteen

Sundays usually meant a jog to maintain stamina for Takeshi and his father. They usually started out before anyone else in the house, including the maids, even got up, and would return just before breakfast was served. When he walked out of his room that morning to wake up his son, he saw an image that would illicit a chuckle. He had heard from his wife the night before how his son was cradling the waif of a girl as he rocked her to sleep, but he could not imagine it for the life of him. That is, until he witnessed it. His son, who was always carrying around his much smaller cousin, was actually cradling the girl in his arms like a small child. She was curled up with her face partially buried in his chest, clinging to blanket draped around him. He had fallen asleep with his chin resting on the top of the girls head, his arms wrapped securely around her.

"Come on, son, don't let your mother find you like that. I'll never hear the end of it. She's already envisioning her future grandchildren from this girl." He woke up the sleeping boy and helped him stand, then waited as he carefully placed the girl into her bed and covered her up. "Don't worry, your mother will probably come to check on her in a few minutes as soon as she realizes that I am no longer in bed."

"You speak as if you know me well, dear."

"See, son, what did I tell you? Come now, leave your mother to tuck her in while you and I go for our Sunday morning run."

"Ok. Coming shortly father. Good morning mother, thank you for your advice last night." He kissed his mother on her cheek and left to change clothes.

Haruhi slept through the whole exchange. In fact, she had slept from the moment Takeshi had lulled her to sleep only moments after the storm had started last night. He had been weary of placing her back in her bed, lest the storms start up again. Well, that's what he would admit to, but if the truth were told, he just didn't want to let go of her. She felt right in his arms, and he wanted her there, for ever. As he held her, he remembered the last time that he had seen her before the attack. They had gone shopping with Mitsukuni, just the three of them. It had felt right then too. It was like a little family. He didn't think much about it at the time, until the next day when he got the call. Kyoya had said that it was an accident. He remembered how his heart had stopped when Kyoya said that she was at the hospital. His heart stopped and his breath was taken away. Mitsukuni tried to find out what was going on, since they only saw each other on breaks due to being in different programs. It wasn't until Tamaki called Mitsukuni and told him that Takeshi had been able to start breathing again. They would go to the hospital and do what ever it took. He felt like his whole world had gone black.

He never told anyone what he felt that day, not until he confessed to a sleeping Haruhi while he held her during that storm. It had been a tumultuous few weeks, but she was on the road to recovery, and everyone had survived. Surprisingly, even Haruhi's spirit had survived, which is uncommon for girls who had been through what she had been through. She had been the intended 47th victim of a lunatic who abducted high school kids, raped and then killed them. But she fought back and had been the only one to survive. Not only survive, but she had avoided being abducted and everything that went along with that as well. His mother had worried about Haruhi becoming stained, but she was a fighter, no one had sullied her. Not to mention that her identification of the fiend as well as testimony would lock the bastard away… hopefully UNDER the prison. None the less, he was grateful that she had survived.

He was also grateful that his jog with his father on Sundays was usually quiet. It allowed him time to clear his head, usually. Or in the case of today, review what he had confessed to the sleeping girl, and figure out how he would tell her again, once she was awake. Today would be the day. He would confess to Haruhi before she returned to school the next day. He knew that Kyoya may not be in the same class or grade as her, but being in the same school gave him greater opportunity to see her. "Father," he hoped his father would give him some insight on the best way to approach Haruhi.

"Uhn." Still keeping the steady pace.

"What do I tell Haruhi?"

"What do you tell her about what?"

"About how I feel."

"Just that, son. Tell her how you feel. Is it really that hard to do?"

"I'm afraid." Upon hearing these words, Takeshi's father stopped running. He stopped moving all together.

"Of what?" He waited for an answer. He didn't know what would cause his son to feel fear.

"Of hurting her. Of scaring her. Of… losing her."

He knew at that moment that his wife was, as usual, dead on in her understanding of their son and his feelings for the girl. He pondered the possibilities. Ahh what he wouldn't give to be able to rub it in Haninodzuka's face that there was a lawyer in their side of the family. Yes, he would like having this girl around. He could already tell. "Tell her that. Tell her that you are afraid of hurting her; scaring her; of losing her. If losing her was meant to be, then you will know it right then and there. Either way, you still press on, after picking up the pieces of your heart or together with the girl that you love."

"Thank you."

"OK, let's go. We don't want to leave your mother with her for too long in case she woke up. You mother will have her picking out your children's names if we don't step in. Eh, oh my, we did leave your mother with her, didn't we? Maybe we should just skip the last half mile and go ahead and turn around here. What do you say?" He had been looking ahead to the spot that they normally turn around at.

"Eh, Father, are you coming?" Takeshi was already headed back towards the house. His father gave a chuckle, but quickly caught up with his son.

When they returned home, Haruhi was still asleep, Satoshi was eating breakfast, and his mother was planning a shopping trip with Haruhi. She never had a daughter, and was looking forward to spending some girl time with the young lady. "Dear, shouldn't we allow Takeshi to spend time with her before you start welcoming her into the family?" Akira rolled his eyes as he asked.

"I guess your right. But Takeshi… don't take too long. Mitsukuni hinted that there were others."