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 forty one: She had done it again. No one else could make his lose his composure. Only the poor commoner female scholarship student that had spent the last three years posing as a boy could do that to him. If not her directly, then the only other time he lost his composure was about her. But what can you do? She was his friend in the end. That's all that mattered to him anymore. She had truly changed his world, and he was thankful.

Chapter Forty Two

On the day that Haruhi graduated from High school, the whole host club was there. The four that had already graduated came to witness the last of the infamous Ouran High School Host Club's graduation. The day before, the twins dropped by Haruhi's apartment and presented her with one of their exclusive designs. It would be produced under their mother's label until they could get funding for their own, but that wouldn't be long. After graduation, Tamaki presented her with a huge bouquet of red roses, much like the ones that had been shot out of the flower cannon when guests entered the host club.

Kyoya approached Haruhi after the ceremony and asked if he could speak to her alone. Against Takeshi's strongly vocalized wishes, she agreed and they went one last time to the third music room to speak. "Haruhi, I know that I probably made your life hell while you were at the host club. I also once made you promise me something that I honestly had no right to ask you to promise. I see it now, but I didn't at that time. I could only focus on you. On the fact that I couldn't have you. It drove me mad, because I have never been one who did not get what I wanted. You are the only thing that I could not get by name or money. It only made me want you even more. I was probably not very nice when you told me that I had lost out. For that, I want to apologize. I still love you, and that isn't going to change. I don't think anyone ever gets over their first love, they just move on. I am trying to. It's not easy. I didn't honestly and fully understand how much you meant to me until Mori-senpai had already won your heart. That's a rough lesson to learn.

"Shortly after you started dating Mori-senpai, I saw the two of you at dinner. You wore the most stunning jewelry that I have ever seen. Of course, you could make even cut glass look like a fortune. Because of how I treated you unfairly, and how I did not make it easy for you and Mori-senpai at first, I wanted to make it up to you. Please accept this bracelet as a combination graduation gift and apology for all the less than nice things I did to you during your stay at Ouran. It actually matches the set that Mori-senpai bought you. I found it the day after I saw you wearing that set. I had to escort father's partner's son out to purchase an engagement ring for his arranged marriage when I saw it. Please accept it." He handed her the box with the bracelet that matched her jewelry.

"You've been with Mori-senpai for almost two years now. I can see that what you two have is going to last. So I guess at this point, the only thing that I can do is this… Fujioka Haruhi, I love you even if you don't love me back. I always will. If… not that I want you to go through that pain of losing a love, but if you ever are no longer together with him, keep me in mind. I will always be there for you even if I can only be a friend." She hugged him as he gave her a chaste kiss on her forehead.

"Otori Kyoya, I do love you, and will always consider you a friend. You were and still are someone that I care deeply about. Thank you for being my friend. And, senpai, thank you for accepting my choice to be with Takeshi." She kissed him on the cheek. They turned to walk out of the third music room for the last time, walking arm in arm until he delivered her to his senpai's arms.

Everyone was going to dinner together to celebrate the last of their own little group's graduation from high school, so they all made their way to their separate limos. Huni-senpai would ride with his Uncle and Aunt, along with Ranka, leaving Haruhi and Takeshi to ride in the other limo along with Kimiko who would ride up front. After they got into the limo, Takeshi stared at Haruhi.

"What is it? Do I have something on my face?"

"Yes, it's called a smile."

"Then why are you staring? Haven't you seen me with a smile on my face before?"

"Yes, I have. I like seeing it there, as a matter of fact."

"Then why are you staring at me?"

"Because…"

"Because why?"

"I'm trying to figure out how you're going to react to the present I got you for your graduation."

"Eh, you didn't have to get me anything."

"This is actually more than just a graduation gift. That's why I haven't given it to you yet."

"So, what is it then?"

"Haruhi, tell me something…"

"What is it Takeshi?"

"Do you remember what I asked you that first summer after we started dating?"

"That's so long ago, I am not sure."

"Ok then, tell me, how do you feel about me?"

"Well, that's a pretty silly question, isn't it? You know that I love you. I tell you every evening when you drop me off at home. We don't go a day without seeing each other, let alone a day without me telling you that I love you."

"I guess I am just a little insecure. I was afraid that you were just saying it because I say it to you."

"Morinodzuka Takeshi! You should know me better than that. I would not say it if I didn't mean it. What would make you say such a thing?"

"I told you, insecurity."

"And what would make you feel insecure? For heaven's sake. You're acting like a middle schooler going to confess for the first time."

"Well, maybe that's because what I am about to do, I may not be doing it for the first time, but it will probably be the first time you take me serious. Or at least I hope you take me serious."

"What are you talking about?"

Takeshi took her left hand in his, and kissed the back of it. He held her hand with both of his, saying, "Fujioka Haruhi, would you make me the happiest man in the world, and do me the honor of marrying me?" He took the ring he had been keeping in his pocket and placed it on her hand.

"Takeshi? Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure about anything in my life. I have wanted you to say yes to this question for over a year now. Please, Haruhi, say yes."

"Yes."

Just about that time, the door opened to the limo. They hadn't even noticed that they had come to a stop in front of the restaurant and everyone else was already there waiting on them. They climbed out of the limo when Mitsukuni hugged Haruhi, "Haru-chan?"

"Yes senpai?"

"Haru-chan, you can call me Mitsukuni now, since we're about to be cousins."

Everyone turned to stare, not sure that they heard correctly. Haruhi blushed at all the attention as Mitsukuni held up her left hand to examine the ring. "How did you know?"

He motioned for her to lean in so that he could whisper. "Eh, Takeshi has wanted this for a long time. When I saw the smile on both of your faces, I thought that maybe you two had… ummm…well, but when I saw that your clothes were not messed up and there were no visible marks on your neck, I figured that he hadn't given in to temptation and was going to go about it in the proper order." He leaned away and spoke in a normal tone of voice, "Plus I just guessed when I saw the ring." He giggled.

Tamaki immediately rushed over and started gushing, "Oh my beautiful daughter is getting married! Mother, we must make sure that the wedding is perfect. Devil twins, you will design the perfect wedding dress for your sister. I can't wait to walk her down the aisle." There was a sparkle in his eye that no one had seen in a long time. And, in the briefest second before he slid his glasses up the bridge of his nose, if you looked hard enough, one could have seen a small sparkle in Kyoya's eyes as well. The only difficulty was to know if it was a contagious sparkle from the idea of assisting with a friends wedding, or a tear drop from losing his first love.

The twins instantly wrapped Haruhi in one of their patented cocoon hugs and they smiled a wicked smile at their senpai as they said in perfect unison, "One last time to get our hands on our toy before she's taken away from us."

"I can already see it…" Kaoru said.

"Lace here and…" running his finger along Haruhi's collar bone, Hikaru started to explain.

"Not now boys, keep your hands off my precious daughter. You can worry about the dress later, for now let's go eat." Ranka pulled his daughter out of the clutches of the Hitachiin twins

"Taken away? I didn't know that married people were shipped off to some far away land." Takeshi moved up behind Haruhi and her father as they moved towards the entrance of the restaurant. The rest of the evening was spent talking about the future plans of the three who had just graduated, as well as the newly decided wedding plans. Ranka also had the pleasant task of informing Haruhi that she had receive a full scholarship for four years to her first choice of colleges. While they were at the restaurant, the host club posed for one last photo.