A/N: Mori is finally coming home. Will he make it in time? I will admit that part of this chapter was inspired by Meet Me in St. Louis. An old Judy Garland movie. If you are curious, it is towards the end of the Christmas ball scene. Enjoy the new chapter. I kind of think this story isn't finished, so I think I will do an epilogue. What do you think?

Chapter 3 – Auld Lang Syne

Back and forth, up and down the row of seats. Mori was never one for impatience, but then again, he had never been stuck on a mountain and forced to break a promise he had solemnly made, and he had never been on the verge of breaking yet another promise. In his mind he calculated how long it would take to hire a private plane in order to fly home instead of trying to get on a commercial flight. Again normally not a problem for him, but today the airline was seriously trying his patience and he refused to break another promise to Haruhi.

It had taken them almost seven hours to get off the mountain and then drive to Denver, and when they finally got to the hotel at the airport and checked in, it was almost 9:00 at night. Mori had been tempted to forgo the hotel and march straight to the airport in the hopes they had one more flight leaving for Japan or that he could get on an earlier flight, but his father had reasoned with him and instead they got up early and took the shuttle to the airport before dawn. Their flight did not leave for another six or so hours, however, the former wild host did not care. He needed to get home.

Luck was not on his side though. There were no earlier flights he could take, and if he tried to get on a flight to another city on the west coast in order to catch a connecting flight to Japan… well, he would arrive even later than his currently scheduled flight, or he would have if his flight had taken off on time.

Rubbing his hand over is face yet again, he looked up at the ticket desk at his gate in the hopes the employee there would have good news for him, but so far there was no plane and no good news. Their flight had been delayed by three hours already; at first it was due to weather, then they had to deice the plane, and then the plane had maintenance issues and they had to get another plane, and then that one had a problem. Mori was to the point, he wanted to grow wings and fly. He even thought about calling Kyoya and having him find a solution because he knew if anyone could get him home, it would be the Shadow King.

"Takashi, if you keep pulling your face like that, Haruhi will no longer recognize you because you will have stretched your skin too much," Akira called to his son in the hopes of lightening the mood. His oldest son was worried that they wouldn't get home in time, and he had to admit, he was starting to think the same way. How many different problems could two people possibly run into? This whole thing seemed to be straight out of a soap opera or made for TV drama, and he would rather not live the real life Young and the Restless.

Their flight had been scheduled to depart at 12:15pm, which meant they would have arrived in Tokyo at 4:30pm on the 31st; and yet, it was now 3:20pm and they had yet to board. The longer it took to board and depart, the more anxious Mori got, and the longer it would be until they landed in Tokyo. Best case scenario, if the airline managed to get a plane to the gate, boarded everyone, and took off by 4:00pm, they would arrive by 8:30pm; after the party started, but still well before midnight.

Sitting down next to his father, Mori pocketed his phone. He had called Kyoya and asked for help, but it turns out that in order to hire a private plane in the U.S., a flight plan needed to be created and logged before takeoff could happen and that could take hours. "Don't worry Mori-senpai, I'll see what I can do from my end," the bespectacled man said before he hung up on his friend. Mori could only hope that something happened soon, either with Kyoya or with his current flight.

Seeing is son impatient and on edge tore at the father's heart, "Did you call Haruhi?"

"No. I don't want to call her until we know when we will be leaving. I called Kyoya to see if he could help."

"Can he?"

"He is going to try."

"Don't worry Takashi. I'm sure we will be boarding the plane soon." It was an easy promise to say, but even Akira had to wonder if it was true or not.

And then their luck changed.

At exactly 3:53pm, a plane pulled up to the gate and the woman at the ticket counter announced, "We apologize for the wait. For those of you travelling non-stop to Tokyo on flight 139, the plane has arrived and we will begin boarding shortly. Thank you for your patience."

Relief washed through Mori, but he would not relax until he was seated on the plane and it was confirmed they would be departing. A plane arriving at the gate meant nothing to him because he had played this game before, had been taunted more than once and until takeoff, he would not truly believe.

The door opened, the employee at the ticket counter (who had been getting several frightening glares from Mori and just wanted to get her scary customer gone) started to call the people to board, and people were actually making their way down the long ramp to the plane. Was it possible he was finally getting his Christmas miracle (albeit a little late)? Taking his seat, he put his bag under the seat in front of him and pulled out his phone. He sent a text to Kyoya letting him know he had boarded and then one to Haruhi telling her he was finally about to takeoff. Sitting back, he waited for the plane door to be shut and for them to make their way to the runway. Then and only then would he relax.

A clanking sound told Mori the plane door had been shut, and the beginning of the emergency flight procedures confirmed it. Slowly they made their way to the runway, and he prayed unceasingly to kami or whoever was listening that they be allowed to rise into the air and land in Tokyo. The plane took its place on the tarmac and then started forward, increasing it speed, and then the momentarily feeling of leaving his stomach behind hit him. They were in the air and finally on their way home.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. My name is Captain Mark Brown. Thank you for flying with us today. It is currently 4:27pm and our flight time into Tokyo will be about 12 hours and fifteen minutes and we should be landing at Narita International Airport at approximately 8:42pm Tokyo time tomorrow. Please sit back and relax and we will get you to your destination as quickly as possible. Tonight joining me in the cockpit…" The captain droned on about who the crew was and Mori just tuned him out. He had all the information he needed: the arrival time. And as soon as he was allowed, he pulled out his laptop from his bag and sent the information to Kyoya believing his friend would know what to do with it.

New Year's Eve, Tokyo, Japan

Haruhi sighed for what felt like the hundredth time since the twins started to help her get ready for the New Year's party. Why they didn't believe she could do it on her own, she will never know, but they pulled her hair being careful of her stitches, applied what felt like plaster to her face, and then pushed her into a dress that looked like it was made more for a debutante than a commoner who was studying at Todai. When they were done and let her finally look in the mirror, she had to tip her hat to them, she looked like a princess who was waiting for her prince to arrive. Begrudgingly she had to admit, it was perfect.

According to Kyoya, Mori wouldn't land until almost 9:00pm, and so the hosts would escort her to the party… along with their own dates. She really hoped Mori showed up because she didn't want to be the third wheel. Walking down the twins' staircase (because they made her get ready at their house), she found her father waiting for her in a tuxedo along with Tamaki, Kyoya, Hunny, Satoshi, and Chika. "Dad?" She asked inquiringly. She had not been expecting him.

"Kyoya told me that Takashi's flight hit some rough weather and would be delayed slightly, so I thought I would escort my beautiful little girl until he arrived. I know I don't measure up to him, but I think I still look pretty good… even if it isn't a gorgeous gown like yours," Ranka winked.

Smiling, Haruhi gave her only parent a hug and whispered, "Thank you dad."

"You look so pretty, Haru-Chan!" Hunny exclaimed and the others quickly voiced their agreement.

"Don't worry Haruhi, Mori-senpai will make it to the party. I have arranged for his driver to pick him up and have his tux waiting for him in the limo. Another car will also be there to collect the luggage and take it home for both he and his father, since his father is also supposed to attend tonight. He will come directly from the airport to the party," Kyoya informed her.

"Thank you, Kyoya-senpai." She had almost lost hope, but as with almost everything with the Host Club, it always found a way to work out in the end. She couldn't wait to see her boyfriend.

The plan was to pick up everyone's dates and then to stop and get dinner at a restaurant, where Satoshi made sure he picked up the tab for Haruhi and Ranka's meals… as his brother had instructed him to do; and if he hadn't, then he was sure the others would have. Since joining them in high school, Haruhi had yet to pay when they went out to eat. After they left the restaurant, they then ventured to the party hosted by the Suoh family at one of its hotel ballrooms, where hopefully everyone would have fun.

Taking turns, each of the hosts twirled Haruhi around the floor, and even her father proved he had dance moves of his own. And after each dance, she couldn't help but glance down at her watch and wonder where her boyfriend was at that very moment.

At 9:10 she started to look for Kyoya. She didn't know if Mori had landed or if he was alright, however, she was sure the Shadow King was in the know. He knew nothing and was still waiting on word himself; and before she could say anything else to him, his father pulled him away to meet some very important Ootori business associates.

Pulling his daughter into his arms, Ranka started to twirl her around the dance floor to a waltz, "Don't worry honey. I'm sure he is trying his best to get here as soon as possible, and I'm sure he landed safely."

"I know. I guess I'm just…"

"I know you are. You remind me of your mother. Most of the time she was calm and cool and nothing would ever phase her, but there were those rare occasions she would feel frantic like when you were sick or she thought you were hurt, or the one time I didn't have a chance to call her and I picked up an extra shift at work. She showed up breathing hard and glaring at me. The way she was seething, I thought she would transform into a dragon and start breathing fire. I never made that mistake again. You are so much like her. You remain calm and can take anything life throws at you, but when something happens to someone you love, you react; and that's alright. It's okay to sometimes worry and feel like you are on the verge of losing it. You know why?"

Looking up into the face of her father, she found him smiling softly, "Why?"

"Because your human, Haruhi. You have feelings and you care. If you didn't, I might think you were an android or something. I know it hasn't been easy on you all these years having to deal with a father like me…"

"I like having a father like you."

Ranka kissed her forehead, "And I like having a daughter like you, however, I will admit that I was a little worried about you for a time, and then you met the lovely boys of the Host Club. I knew after that, you would be okay… and I have to admit that I prayed at your mother's alter that you would find love."

"Dad…"

"What? They are all just so good looking. Although I am exceedingly happy you didn't pick Tamaki. I just don't think I could have handled him as a son in law, but Takashi, well he is extraordinary and he loves you. That's what's most important."

"I love him too."

"I know you do. When and if the time comes, I know that it will be hard for me, but I can let you go knowing he is the one that will be taking care of you for me."

Touched, she rested her head on his shoulder and let him lead her around the dance floor for a couple more dances. If she was dancing, she couldn't keep looking at her watch; although, Mori was never out of her mind. Suddenly, her father started spinning in wider circles and leading her away from the other dancers, "What's going on dad?"

"Nothing," he trilled. In truth, he had seen someone important enter the ballroom and he was maneuvering his daughter over to his direction.

One minute Haruhi was in her father's arms and the next, she was swept up in another's embrace. Her eyes sparkled and she felt overjoyed, "Takashi!"

"I told you I would be here before midnight," Mori grinned down at the woman in his arms and squeezed her tighter as he lifted her off the ground in order to kiss her, uncaring of who was watching or their opinion. He had been dreaming of this moment since the day he left Japan and he would not wait another second to celebrate their reunion. As he spun her around the floor, he noticed seven other couples surrounding them. The other hosts had joined in the dancing creating a circle around the newly reunited couple.

Grinning at their friends, the brunette said, "I love you, Takashi."

"I love you too, and I promise not to go to Colorado in the winter again."

Her laughter could be heard above the music causing their friends to smile with happiness. And right before midnight, Haruhi settled into the warm embrace of her boyfriend and counted down the second until midnight with their friends. "Happy New Year!" She yelled with the others and before she could say anything else, her lips were claimed once again by Mori. Around them people were celebrating, singing Auld Lang Syne, and wishing each other a Happy New Year, but all of that was drowned out by the feel of her boyfriend's lips against hers, his tongue wrestling with hers, and his arms holding her so tightly, he could give Tamaki a run for his money… and she had not a care in the world because Mori had returned to her side. It truly was a very Happy New Year's.