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 thirty nine: "Takeshi, you're right, I would lose my scholarship and be kicked out of Ouran High School. But that's not why I can't yet. The reason I have to say no right now is simply because I can't let my feelings for you overthrow my desire to become a lawyer. Please understand that it is not about you." She pulled away from him and started towards the house to go pack.

Chapter Fourty

That night, after she finished packing, she and Takeshi had tea before retiring for the evening. Once in bed, however, Takeshi found it near impossible to sleep. He tossed and turned over and over; his thought running out of control through his head. He knew that he would regret what he said to Haruhi just before they came inside to pack her belongings, but he wouldn't take it back. It was how he truly felt, and he would say it again if it would make his case for him. Unfortunately, he knew that it wouldn't. He also knew that he shouldn't have said anything like that yet. She was still weary of dating, let alone the thought of taking it further. As far as he knew, the thought terrified her. He was mentally kicking himself for not keeping himself in check.

A little after 4 am, he couldn't stand it anymore and went to the kitchen to make him self some tea to try to calm his nerves. When he walked into the kitchen, he found Haruhi there already making some tea. She offered to make him some as well. She had woken up to a particularly heinous dream which caused her to wake with her silent screams. They had been less while she stayed there, but still, they came none the less. When Takeshi asked why she was awake, she started to tell him. She really didn't meant to tell him, but she knew that she could trust him with anything, and it slipped out. His worry that she had been kept awake by what he said was quickly put aside. She put his mind at ease as she told him that she could never consider his feelings for her to be worrisome. It pleased her to know that he cared for her so much that he wanted her to marry him. She admitted that she wasn't ready yet, but the fact that he was, warmed her heart.

After they finished their tea, he walked her back to her room, and then returned to his. He slept soundly after that. The next morning, after breakfast, the two went for their morning run as they had almost every other morning during the break. After training that afternoon, Haruhi prepared for her return home. It was decided, after a phone call to Ranka, that Kimiko would not need to stay with Haruhi for more than possibly a week. They would decided once and for all when she would be allowed to be stay alone after the doctor appointment the following Friday. Takeshi escorted the girls back to Haruhi's apartment, along with the food that his mother sent so that they would not have to cook that evening. He spent the rest of the evening with Haruhi at her apartment while Kimiko cleaned the house.

The next morning, they were picked up and taken to school. It's amazing how quickly something becomes routine. I don't even remember what it was like to walk to school every morning by myself. And the thought of Kimiko not being there just doesn't seem right. She quickly made her way through the day dealing with the usual antics of the twins. Club hours went as smoothly as one could hope they would. Takeshi and Kimiko took Haruhi home at the end of the day, while Mitsukuni took a different limo home. The rest of the week went pretty much the same until Friday.

Friday, because it was known in advance that Haruhi would have yet another follow-up appointment, they chose not to have guests for the day. Takeshi took full advantage of the situation and went with Haruhi to her doctor appointment. It was determined that Haruhi was making a full and speedy recovery. Kimiko would no longer be needed to accompany Haruhi at night, as she was deemed well enough. She did, however, agree to stay until Sunday night. Monday morning she would make sure to take all her belongings with them when they were picked up. She was not looking forward to going back to the Morinodzuka household. Not because they didn't treat her fairly, nor was it because she didn't get along with her fellow co-workers, nor because it would mean that she had to work more hours and harder work. No, the reason that she did not want to go back was simply because she had become friends with Haruhi, and was afraid that the friendship would end.

That weekend, Haruhi assured Kimiko that they would not stop being friends just because they were no longer living together. Haruhi even offered to continue with the cooking lessons if Kimiko wanted. It was agreed that since Sunday would continue to be Kimiko's day off, she and Takeshi would go over to Haruhi's for the day. Kimiko would learn to cook, and Takeshi and Haruhi would have a chaperone while they spent time together.

Clocks tick off seconds, which turn into minutes, into hours, into day; the calendar counts off days, moving into weeks, into months. Routines settle in and become old familiar friends. Life fell into what Haruhi would best describe as normal for her. Takeshi still took her to school in the morning, the twins still made her life a living hell during class time, and lunch was usually spend avoiding the twins. Haruhi continued taking lessons at the dojo once a week under Mitsukuni's instruction; and she highly recommended to all the girls that went to the host club that they learn self-defense as well. And club hours were spend avoiding doing anything that would allow Kyoya to create a whole new debt to hold over her head. Kyoya finally admitted to Haruhi, but denied to everyone else, that he had been unfair in the way he added to her debt, and they settled it out in a manner that was fair to everyone. It was done in a private conversation between the two. Takeshi had been rather insistent that he wanted to be involved, but Haruhi would not allow it. Kyoya admitted, once they were in private, that he understood why Takeshi wanted to be involved, and he would not have had any problems with him. Haruhi explained to Kyoya that this was between the two of them, and that although she was dating Takeshi, she was still and independent and proud woman who took care of herself and her own dealings.

The day after Tamaki and Kyoya graduated, Kimiko also graduated from college. Haruhi was, of course, invited. Kimiko admitted then that her time with Haruhi during her recovery had been the turning point in her own recovery from the loss of her family. She considered Haruhi as close as family. To emphasis the point, Haruhi's third year of High School was accented by the fact that she had been asked to take on the task of "Maid of Honor" for Kimiko's wedding. The wedding took place three months before Haruhi's graduation.