Author's note: So I keep getting people asking my why I don't have more reviews. I think the answer is fairly simple...I don't ask for them. I'm not an author that pimps my own work and begs people to leave messages. I'm not going to hold chapters hostages until I get 'x' amount of reviews. I feel my work will speak for itself, for the most part. If you have time and want to leave a review, that's freaking phenomenal. It completely makes my day to see that people are enjoying my work. But I also understand that it's not always high on the list of priorities to leave reviews. In all honesty, I don't write for people to read it. I write because...well, because I can't not write. And if it ends up being something people enjoy - well, so much the better. :-D

That being said, by popular request, it's a dual post today. Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

In the end it was practicality that won the argument. Tamaki was expected to meet his father for dinner and the cousins also had family business that evening. Hikaru and Kaoru waited until their friends had left to share a triumphant grin before looking at the sleeping girl.

"Should we move her? Her neck is going to be sore if she sleeps like that much longer."

"I don't know, Hika. What if she wakes up?"

"Well...maybe we should sit beside her and let her lay across our laps? She's already leaning pretty far to the side – she'll probably fall over soon, and that will wake her up." Thus in agreement it was quickly decided that Kaoru would sit down first and they would carefully and slowly urge her into a laying position. It took a few minutes but soon enough the younger twin was relaxing on one end of the couch, a peacefully sleeping Haruhi resting her head in his lap. Hikaru disappeared into the closet for a moment before coming back out carrying a light blanket. Kaoru nodded his approval and a few moments later their gentleness had fully paid off. Haruhi's legs were draped over Hikaru's lap and he had covered her carefully with the blanket.

"Hika..." Kaoru whispered.

"Yeah?"

"What if we lose her?" The eldest didn't have to ask what his brother meant. He shrugged.

"I don't know. I don't want to think about it."

"Me either." They looked down at the girl that had someway, somehow made herself a space in their world, in a place they'd long believed would only ever have room for two.

"Hikaru...do you think she could ever love us?"

"She does love us," he replied. Kaoru shook his head.

"You know what I mean. I know you've thought of it, too." There it was, out in the open, the one thing they'd never discussed. Kaoru sighed and ran his fingers through her hair. She murmured something and then lay still again. "Hika – I don't ever want to watch her walk away from us. But doesn't' she deserve more than that?"

"Kaoru..." the other twin said. He could tell his younger brother was perilously close to tears. Truth be told, he was almost there himself.

"And what would our parents say?" Kaoru continued softly.

"You know mother wants us to be happy. I'm sure it would all work out."

"Yeah, but that's only if it's something Haru would want to begin with." There were no other words to be said. They sat, lost in thought, the object of those thoughts a comfortable weight on their legs – only fitting, since she'd been a comfortable weight in their hearts for years.

Her soft moan garnered their undivided attention and for the second time in a week the twins got to watch as their beloved Haruhi slowly rejoined the realm of the wakeful. It took her a moment to realize that she had fallen asleep but apparently it wasn't enough to make her sit up. Large dark eyes looked upward to see both of her cushions gazing at her with something like affection in their amber gazes.

"Guys...whoa...I fell asleep? I don't remember..." Hikaru smiled and reached out to stroke her hand.

"Yeah, you crashed out while we were talking. All of us thought it was best to let you sleep." She looked around, confused.

"So where is everyone?"

"Well," began Kaoru, "Kyoya left early and Tama, Honey, and Mori had family stuff to do."

"So we decided to stay and make sure nothing disturbed you – and to offer you a ride home." She sat up slowly, arching her back in a stretch than made their mouths go dry. Relaxing again she ran her hand through her hair and swung her legs off of Hikaru's lap, missing the bereft glance the brothers shared. In the process the blanket slumped to the floor. She bent to pick it up, a smile on her face.

"You covered me up?" To her surprise both of them blushed slightly.

"Well, you fell asleep in such an awkward position, so when we helped you lay down Hika thought to get a blanket." Her smile was everything they'd ever wanted.

"Thanks you two. I feel a lot better. But I think I should probably head home – it's Dad's day off, so I promised him we'd have an evening together." Her happiness forestalled any thought they'd had of inviting themselves along. Instead Kaoru folded the blanket and put it away while Hikaru gathered their stuff.

"Come on. We'll give you a lift." With the female host between them as always, they walked down to the waiting car. The ride was pleasant and mostly silent, all of them content to just sit with each other and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. However, that peace was shattered as they pulled up to Haruhi's house and Hikaru looked out the window.

"Wait a sec – what's Kyoya's car doing here?"