Hey all! Remember how I said that this chapter was going to be 2,000 words long? Uhm...the thing is...I got really carried away writing it...so it's actually almost 4,000 words...

Haha either way, I hope you enjoy this chapter! It took me a bit to write, but I think it's kind of cute...sort of...maybe?

One last thing before I let you guys read on...

I want to make sure you all know how much I cherish your reviews. They mean a lot to me! Every so often I get a reviewer who goes through all of the old chapters and reviews (even though they could just review the latest one and I would be just as happy)! I wanted these people to know that I truly do appreciate their support! I appreciate the support of all of my readers and reviewers! You guys and gals rock, and you keep me confident in my work! So thank you all very VERY much. :)

ON WITH THE SHOW!

Previously...

Once she walked through the door, she was almost relieved to find that her father was still at work. She could cook him a wonderful dinner and hopefully help him to de-stress a bit. Haruhi worked mindlessly and before she knew it, dinner was on the table. Cooking had always been a way for her to relax. This time was no exception.

She slumped into a chair and stared at the door, waiting for her father to come home. He wasn't usually this late, was he? Haruhi felt sorry for her father…she had not meant to worry him or stress him out, but like the doting father that he was, he was always worried about her. There was no doubt that the love was mutual. Haruhi often had dreams where her father was no longer around…and she was alone. Those were even worse than the nightmares about Kyoya dying. That seemed to be a common theme in her life at the moment…dying. It was a scary thought, but she and Kyoya had had to face it multiple times already…

And now...

That was when her father chose to come through the door, looking thoroughly tired.

"Dad!" Haruhi shouted as she ran to give him a hug.

"You're home! Why is my baby girl home? I mean…it's not like I'm ungrateful that you're home and…oh! You made dinner! What a wonderful daughter I have! Kotoko would be so proud!" He seemed very scatter-brained lately…

"Everything okay, Dad?" Haruhi asked, worried for his sanity.

"Huh? Oh, of course! I'm just surprised you're home is all! I've missed coming home to a cooked meal." He smiled at her, and Haruhi found herself relaxing. Her father had always had that effect on her.

"I've missed you, Dad..." Haruhi whispered, thinking he hadn't heard her.

"I've missed you just as much, Haruhi." He told her before scooping her into a hug.

They ate their dinner in companionable silence for quite some time before Haruhi began to tell her father about her plans to continue school.

"Dad, I'm going back to school tomorrow…"

"I was wondering when you would remember about that old place!" He said, his eyes boring into hers to see if there was an ulterior motive.

"I'm just so behind on my work, and I still want to graduate with my class." She explained.

"Does this have anything to do with that boy of yours?"

"Dad! Of course it doesn't! I just need to get caught up as soon as possible."

"Uh huh…you do realize that I am your father. I'm the one who has raised you all these years. You cannot keep anything from me, Haruhi." He seemed concerned.

"Well…we had a little…spat. I was upset with him because he shouldn't have been out of bed but he was…and he put so much strain on his body that he passed out and so when he woke up, I started yelling at him for it. And he…he…he almost died, Dad! He had an awful reaction to his meds…I can't face him…" Haruhi hung her head in shame.

"Haruhi…my baby girl. These things happen! You cannot let something so insignificant ruin your bond with Kyoya." Ranka told her, putting his hand over hers.

"But Dad…he probably hates me right now…if he had died…"

"Which he didn't."

"But if he had…the last thing I would have said to him would have been out of anger…"

"Haruhi, the point is that he didn't die. He didn't die, and you have a chance to make it right with him." He was behind her now, hugging her body to his chest.

"I guess…you're right…"

"Aren't I always?" He joked.

Haruhi smacked his arm as she turned around to face him. "I love you, Daddy. What would I do without you?"

Ranka seemed unable to answer her. "I love you too, Haruhi."

That night, Haruhi showered in her own shower and slept in her own bed. She slept a dreamless sleep that night. No one died; no one was hurt.

The next morning, Haruhi got ready for school and dressed in her Ouran suit. She made breakfast for herself and her father, but when he came out, he eyed her choice of outfit.

"Didn't you come out to those people as a girl?" He asked curiously.

"Well, yeah…but this is so much more comfortable. I don't own the female uniform…" She muttered, looking down at her feet.

Her father patted her on the shoulder before sitting down to eat his breakfast. "It doesn't matter to me. I just thought you might want to retain your feminine status."

"Of course I do! It was hard enough revealing myself the first time…maybe the twins have a spare in the club room…I'll check. Hey, Dad? I'm going to stop at the hospital later today, if that's okay?"

Her father smiled. "Of course, sweetheart."

Ranka went off to work, and Haruhi cleaned up quickly before heading to school. Upon arriving, Haruhi was bombarded by questions, but she chose to ignore them and tried to find her friends instead.

"Haruhi!" "Haru-chan!" "You're back!"

Ah, there they were.

"Hey, guys. I figured it was time for me to catch up on some school work." Haruhi explained sheepishly.

"Then I guess it's a good thing you came back towards the end of the week. You can do your homework and catch up over the weekend!" Honey replied.

Haruhi nodded and turned to Tamaki. "I have a favor to ask, Tamaki-senpai."

"Anything for my dear daughter!" He answered with a flourish.

"Do you…have a female uniform…?" She blushed in embarrassment.

"Of course! We have twenty minutes before first bell, so let's go get you changed!"

The group made their way to the club room, where a light yellow dress was already hanging on her dressing room door.

"You knew...?" She asked, turning to her friends.

"Of course! Your father called us this morning on his way to work!" Tamaki answered.

Haruhi grimaced; she should have known something like this would happen...her dad would get extremely excited at the prospect of her finally wearing a dress every day…then Tamaki would get excited and drag the twins into it…then the twins would kick Tamaki out of the circle of knowledge…

It was all too predictable, and strangely enough, that was how Haruhi preferred it. For a moment, Haruhi allowed herself a small smile, and in that brief moment, she forgot about her situation with Kyoya. Until…

"So, Haru-chan! How is Kyo-chan doing?"

Haruhi immediately paled and bolted into the dressing room. "He's doing…er…better." She told them as she changed.

"What do you mean better?" Kaoru asked.

"He…mmphmugshalmcine…" Her voice was muffled as she pulled the yellow monstrosity over her head.

"Huh?" The hosts chorused.

"He…he…had a reaction to his new medicine…" Haruhi answered, walking out of the dressing room.

"Why are you so glum, Haru-chan?" Honey asked worriedly.

"It's nothing." Haruhi left it at that as she walked out of the room.

No one bothered her until she reached her classroom. The students gaped when they saw her in the dress. Not only was she here after days away, but she was also wearing a dress! Haruhi tried to shrug off their stares as she walked to her seat, but it was not an easy task.

Hikaru and Kaoru ambled in shortly after her and sat beside their "toy."

"Haruhi?" Kaoru started.

"What happened…" Hikaru continued.

"Between you and Kyoya?" The way they finished things in unison really gave Haruhi the creeps sometimes.

"Look guys, I just don't want to talk about it, okay? Please?" Haruhi had no interest in telling them about her relationship troubles. She felt as though she might break at any second if they continued to pester her. It was tearing her up inside that she could not be with Kyoya right now. She knew she could be there beside him if only she hadn't been so damn stubborn.

That thought alone brought tears to her eyes. Her stubbornness probably ruined her relationship with the only man she had ever loved. What would she do now? She had to go back and apologize…her world felt utterly hopeless and empty without him…

Two classes later, Haruhi restlessly tapped her finger tips against her desk. This day was dragging…since when did school take this long to end?

"Miss Fujioka!" Her teacher called.

"H-Hai!" She answered.

"If you're done daydreaming, would you mind answering my question in English?" Many of her teachers had become more hostile when she revealed her true gender.

"Er…sorry…what was the question?" She blushed furiously with embarrassment.

"What exactly is the function of a rubber duck?"

What the hell kind of question was that?! She could hear the rest of the class snickering in the background.

"A…A rubber duck…is used…er…a rubber duck is…" Her mind was completely blank.

"Easy, Miss Fujioka. That was a joke. My question was 'do you prefer tea or coffee?'"

Haruhi could have died from the embarrassment she felt at that moment. Today just needed to end…like…two hours ago.

Eventually, Haruhi's day came to an end, and she was on her way to the hospital. Halfway there, she realized that, in her haste to apologize, she had forgotten to change back into her suit. Could this day get any worse?!

"Don't think that, Haruhi…it will only get worse if you think that…" She muttered to herself as she continued down the sidewalk.

When she reached the front desk of the hospital, the receptionist looked at her as though she had never seen Haruhi before. This was the same woman who had checked her out of the hospital, for Kami's sake!

"May I help you?" The woman glanced over Haruhi's outfit with a look of either disgust or apprehension…or both.

"Kyoya Ootori, please." Haruhi told her, not wanting to lose her temper.

"Relation?"

"I'm his girlfriend."

The woman looked as though she didn't believe her. "Let me just…"

"Please…I just want to see him. Don't reach for that phone. Yoshio Ootori knows me…I'm here to see his son, my boyfriend. I honestly do not have the time for this…" Haruhi was so close to the edge. One more thing would send her spiraling off of it.

"I need to call up and check if you're okay to go up. He has a strict visitor policy…"

Haruhi felt tears spring to her eyes as her heart clenched painfully. What if he really did hate her? What if she was on the "Do Not Admit" list? What if he never wanted to see her again? What if walking out on him made him think that she didn't want to be with her again? What if…

"Yes, I'm here with a Miss…"

"Fujioka." Haruhi whispered, her voice almost cracking.

"Yes, sir. Right away." The woman lost her snarky tone immediately and hung up the phone.

"Go right on up. You know the room number?"

Haruhi nodded and started for the elevator.

As soon as Haruhi reached Kyoya's room, she hesitated with her hand on the doorknob. What if he didn't want to see her?

"I would just go in if I were you." The familiar voice of Yoshio Ootori startled her.

"I...I...I'm sorry, sir..." Haruhi could not bring herself to meet his eyes.

"Sorry? Whatever for?" He asked. Being an Ootori, it was in his nature to mask his emotions. Haruhi had no idea whether he was upset or angry with her, as she could not look at him.

"Walking out...on you and Kyoya..." One tear broke through her barrier and flowed down her cheek.

"Look at me." He spoke softly.

Haruhi raised her eyes to his. His eyes were soft and held no malice. He did not seem upset with her or angry at all. The only emotions in his eyes were confusion and compassion.

"I thought…I thought you and Kyoya would hate me…" She confessed quietly.

"We could never hate you, Haruhi. You are too much a part of Kyoya's life for us to hate you. You wanted to take Isamu back to his room and sleep in your own bed. That's all." He reached toward her, patting her on the head before turning around.

"Just go in. Kyoya's missed you very much."

Haruhi was dumbfounded. Ootori…emotion…it didn't add up. Not to mention the fact that two of them were revealing complex emotions to her…she shrugged and placed her hand on the doorknob once more.

As she opened the door, she heard a hoarse voice call out from inside.

"Haruhi? Is that you?"

That was when Haruhi's dam broke. The tears would not stop flowing as Haruhi flung herself into Kyoya's arms. She sobbed into his chest and repeatedly begged for his forgiveness.

"I'm so sorry, Kyoya…I love you…please forgive me…" She went on and on like a broken record.

Kyoya

Kyoya didn't know what to do at first. His girlfriend, the woman he loved more than anything in the world, was brokenly sobbing into his chest.

Truthfully, he was a bit hurt when she had walked out on him the previous night. But he could never hate her. He would never be able to hold a grudge against her.

"Haruhi…why are you apologizing?" He asked as he wove his long fingers through her hair.

"B-Because…I…I walked out last night…without an explanation…and…I went to school today…Kyoya…I felt so empty without you…" She blurted between sobs.

Kyoya's eyes softened.

"Honestly, I was a bit hurt last night, but you don't need to apologize, Haruhi. I promise. I just wanted to know why you left. I didn't know if I had done something to anger you or…"

"Oh, Kyoya! It wasn't you…not at all…I felt terrible…I…I realized that you could have died yesterday and the last…the last thing I would have done was yell at you for not taking care of yourself…I…"

Kyoya leaned forward and captured her lips in a kiss. "I didn't die, did I?"

She shook her head. "But…"

"No buts, Haruhi. I didn't die. It doesn't do to dwell on what could have been. I didn't die, and you and I are still together. I love you, Haruhi, but sometimes you need to tell that big brain of yours to shut the hell up."

Their lips met again, and Kyoya sighed happily. Haruhi had been gone all night; that had made him a bit depressed. But he knew how she felt. He would have felt the same if the roles had been reversed.

He still had no idea why he had had that reaction. They had switched his medicine, as his frequent and violent mood swings were beginning to worsen. But…he had never been allergic to anything before. Then again, he had never spent so much time on so many drugs before this incident.

Kyoya shoved those thoughts aside and focused on the woman who was now resting comfortably in his arms. She was taking shuddering breaths as she tried to calm herself down, and Kyoya rubbed small figure-eights into her back.

"I love you, Haruhi. Please don't forget that…" He whispered and relaxed into the bed.

It seemed as though Haruhi had cried herself out, as just about five minutes later, she went completely limp in his arms. Kyoya smiled lovingly and pulled her closer to him, breathing in her scent. His mask came flying back into place when the door opened again.

"Haruhi?" A small voice asked almost timidly.

Kyoya waved the boy into the room, but he put a finger to his lips. He didn't want to wake Haruhi.

Noting the concern in Isamu's eyes, Kyoya whispered, "Don't worry; she's okay. She's just sleeping."

The boy nodded as he sat in one of the chairs by the bed. Kyoya felt as though he was leaving Isamu out, so he scooted over on the bed and motioned for him to climb up. Isamu looked hesitant, but he complied and snuggled into the sleeping woman on the bed.

Kyoya figured they must have looked like quite a sight: A small-ish hospital bed holding a sleeping girl in a hideous yellow dress, a burned young boy, and a severely wounded teenager. There was absolutely no room for even a fly to land, but Kyoya found that it was snug and comfortable (though he would never admit it to anyone).

Their quiet moment was interrupted when the nurse came around for Kyoya's check-up.

"Mr. Ootori!" She shouted, as she usually did upon entering the room.

Kyoya winced and quickly put his finger to his mouth to shush the woman. She saw the group on the bed and shook her head in disapproval. Kyoya assumed that she must have been thinking that Haruhi or Isamu would pull out one of his IV lines on accident.

"I still need to do this check-up, Mr. Ootori." The nurse huffed.

"Then let me wake them up." Kyoya whispered. He laid a hand on Haruhi's back and rubbed gentle circles into it. "Haruhi, I need you to wake up. Come on, Haruhi…please?"

Haruhi responded by snuggling deeper into him and grumbling, "Five more minutes…"

The nurse briskly walked to Haruhi's side of the bed and yanked her out of Kyoya's arms before tossing her unceremoniously into a chair.

"Hey!" Kyoya shouted, angered by her disrespectful ways.

"Hey yourself. I need to do this check-up so I can get done with my work!" She shouted back before going to the other side of the bed, prepared to do the same to Isamu.

"Don't you touch him." A groggy, yet firm voice told her.

Haruhi

Haruhi reached past the woman and picked up the sleeping child, cradling him to her chest. The arm she was using to rub his back was already starting to form an angry bruise from where the nurse had grabbed her.

She walked to the other side of the room and sat in the soft chair she found there. Isamu shifted in her arms but did not wake up. Haruhi smiled at the young boy and tightened her arms around him. She may have only known him for a few days, but he had captured her heart, and Haruhi knew for a fact that she did not want it back. Isamu was as much a part of her life as Kyoya, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

Haruhi watched with skeptical eyes as the rough nurse poked and prodded Kyoya, asking him questions and reporting his answers. She noticed that Kyoya kept glancing at her as though he was worried about her and once the nurse left, Kyoya motioned for her to come back over.

"She was a bit rough…" Haruhi said as Kyoya's eyes widened at the sight of her bruise.

"I'm going to have her fired." He told her, anger seeping into his voice.

"No, Kyoya. Have her reprimanded but not fired…she's probably been having a bad day, that's all." Haruhi continued to rub Isamu's back. The boy slept like the dead.

The pair heard a knock at the door and a voice that rang with authority called out to Kyoya. "Mr. Ootori? Are you decent?"

"Come in." Kyoya said flatly, rolling his eyes. Haruhi had to stifle a small laugh at the sight. Kyoya could be sassy sometimes…

"How are you feeling?" The doctor asked.

"If you're going to ask me the same questions, you could just ask your colleague for the answers. She grilled me with enough questions to melt a normal mind." Kyoya replied. Haruhi's mind theater flashed to a picture of Kyoya. He had one hip cocked, his hand resting on it. 'Oh no you di'int, girlfriend!'

Back in reality, Haruhi's face was turning bright red with the effort of suppressing her laughs. She had zoned out on what seemed to be the entire conversation.

"Well, Mr. Ootori, it seems as though you will be able to leave within the next couple of days." Apparently, the doctor was not finding his sass as funny as Haruhi was.

"Awesome, doc! Thanks!" Kyoya's voice rose with false excitement, but his face remained stoic as ever.

The doctor shot Kyoya a glare. "Just because you're my brother doesn't mean you can have an attitude with me all the time." He turned away from Kyoya and marched out the door.

After the doctor left, Haruhi released her laughs, accidentally waking Isamu in the process.

"What's so funny?" Kyoya and Isamu asked at the same time.

"Oh, Great Sassmaster! Teach me your ways!" Haruhi giggled, pretending to bow to Kyoya.

"I'd challenge you to a battle of wits, but I see you are unarmed." Kyoya's voice carried a hint of playful malice, so Haruhi decided to see how far she could take it.

"That's right…" She said, looking like she was deep in thought. "I had forgotten that you were endowed with an ungodly amount of awesome." Her eyes shone with fake reverence.

"You know, Haruhi, I'm surprised you could carry your ego all the way up the stairs."

"Joke's on you, I took the elevator!" Haruhi had run out of comebacks.

At that point, Isamu climbed down from Haruhi's arms and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I missed you, Haruhi!"

And just like that, the "argument" was over. Haruhi looked up at Kyoya and smiled before glancing back down to Isamu.

"I missed you too, sweetie. School was so boring without you there!"

Haruhi and Isamu chatted about their days for another ten minutes before Haruhi heard a cough from behind her. In her excited yammering, she had forgotten about Kyoya.

"Sorry, love…" She said sheepishly, sitting back on the bed with him.

Kyoya shook his head with a small laugh and turned to Isamu. "I don't think you were awake for this, Isamu, but I'm going to be getting out of here by the end of the weekend."

Isamu brightened up, and Haruhi could have cried from the hope she saw in his eyes. "Really?" He answered. "I can leave as soon as someone comes to check me out!"

"Why didn't you tell me, Isa-chan?" Haruhi asked. "I can see about you coming home with me tonight if you'd like! I can make us a nice dinner and introduce you to my dad. Then we'll come and get Kyoya when he's ready to leave."

"Really?" Isamu turned his hopeful eyes to her. Haruhi's heart clenched in adoration.

"Of course. I'm sure it would be okay if we checked you out today, right?" Haruhi turned to Kyoya in questioning.

"I don't see why not." He answered. "On one condition."

"And that would be..."

"Bring me some real food?"

Haruhi laughed loudly. "This is your hospital! Why don't they serve better food?"

Kyoya looked at her sourly. "Money."

"Of course..." Haruhi replied with a smile. "But what's in it for me?"

SEX!

Just kidding...Isa-chan is still in the room!

I honestly cannot wait to start writing the next chapter! I hope you liked this one as well!

There might be a maximum of five more chapters to this fic...then I can start on the THREEQUEL!

Please review if you get the chance!