When they reached Music Room 3, Megumi and Laney found Haruhi and Reiko standing in the middle of the room. "Oh good," Haruhi said, looking relieved. "Laney, can you direct us to an area that you and your husband did not defile earlier this evening?'
Laney rolled her eyes. "Good lord, Haruhi. We're not completely indiscrete. Stay away from the third alcove on the right if you're so concerned about cooties."
"I hope you called in an upholstery cleaner for the couch," she grumbled in return, lowering herself into a over-stuffed chair. She winced and rubbed her stomach.
"Because that would surely be the first time anyone has had sex in this room, right Haruhi?" Reiko put in sweetly.
Haruhi blushed, then gasped.
Laney gave her a sharp look. "How long has that been going on?"
Haruhi shook her head. "Just for the last 10 minutes or so. I'm almost positive they're Braxton Hicks contractions."
Megumi went into the prep room and found a large bottle of water and a glass for Haruhi. When she got back, Laney and Reiko had moved Haruhi to a long couch, where she was laying on her left side. "Drink that," Laney nodded to the water Megumi held out, "and if you're still having contractions in half an hour I'm getting your husband."
"Stop being ridiculous," Haruhi grumbled, taking the water from Megumi.
"You do look like the baby has dropped," Megumi said. "I was noticing tonight."
"I'm not due for almost another month. There is nothing for you guys to be concerned about."
"They're not coming with any kind of regularity," Reiko said. "I've been keeping track."
"My sister had contractions for almost the last month of her pregnancy, and she still made it to full-term," Megumi said, refilling Haruhi's glass. Haruhi gave her a tired smile in thanks.
Laney kicked off her shoes and dropped into the chair Haruhi had vacated, although Megumi noticed she was setting a timer on her phone. "Well. That was an interesting evening."
"Rich people," Haruhi grumbled.
"Of which you are now one, and have been for a good few years."
"More than one person implied that I was the move behind this whole concept of expanding the scholarship program, so that, and I quote, 'more poor girls can snag a good husband just like you did.'"
"Still, it was nice to see some of the old crowd," Reiko put in diplomatically.
"Oh, it was," Haruhi agreed. "I'm sure this has probably inspired Tamaki to start planning a giant Host Club reunion for everyone."
The four of them continued to chat, exchanging light gossip about various acquaintances. Megumi was a little surprised at how relaxed she felt with the other three. Has it really been that long since I hung out with a group of girlfriends? She thought back through the last several months, and realized it had. I need to start making more room in my life for this.
By the time Laney's timer had gone off, Haruhi had finished off the water bottle and had graduated to sitting up. "Nothing for at least the last twenty minutes," she told them.
Laney opened her mouth to say something, but was distracted by the doors opening, and Huni and Mori entering the room. "We brought refreshments!" Huni announced happily, brandishing two bottles; one champagne, and one whiskey.
"Hooray!" Laney cheered, jumping up to take a covered plate from Mori.
Haruhi leaned close to Megumi, who was seated next to her on the couch. "What do you think's on that plate—chocolate or petit fours?"
"Reiko has a thing for dark chocolate, so I'm going with that."
They both turned out to be right. Laney helped Huni distribute the drinks, refilling Haruhi's water glass. Reiko also elected to go with water, but passed on the chocolate, instead taking a delicate apricot tart. Megumi looked at her appraisingly; Reiko caught her eye and smiled, giving a small nod. Megumi couldn't hold back a delighted grin.
"What's this all about?" Laney asked, noticing their interaction.
Huni sat down next to Reiko, taking her hand. "We were going to wait and tell everyone at the same time."
Understanding dawned on Laney's face, and she sprung up to give Reiko a hug. "Congratulations!"
"Who are we congratulating and why?" asked Hikaru as he came into the room, with Kaoru and Kamigamo close on his heels.
"Reiko and I couldn't figure out a good present for Tama and Haru's baby, so we just got her a future playmate instead." Huni said cheekily.
"What, like a puppy? Milord will be all over that, but I doubt Haruhi will be nearly as excited. Dog slobber all over a baby? Not your finest moment, Huni. Right, Haruhi?"
Kaoru elbowed him lightly in the ribs. "No, like a baby, dumbass."
"Really?" At Reiko's nod of confirmation, Hikaru laughed. "Holy crap, you two! That is the best news I've heard in months! When milord and Kyoya get up here we'll have to have a toast." He examined the bottles sitting on the low table. "Laney, what the hell is this rotgut?"
"Bite your tongue, Hikaru. The fact that your palate isn't sophisticated enough to appreciate a good rye hardly makes WhistlePig rotgut."
"Oh, I'm sorry, is straight bourbon not good enough for you?"
"Sweet, sweet, sweet, that's all you can think about. You ought to learn to like your liquor like you like your women."
"Bitter and aged? I'm not a fan of that in either my women or my liquor."
Kaoru sighed and slipped down to sit in front of Megumi. "That's enough, you two. Can you please have your unbelievably pretentious argument at another time that isn't right now?" He leaned his head against her knee, and Megumi ran her fingers through his hair. "God, that feels nice," he murmured to her.
"Tired?" she asked, letting her fingers dig into his scalp a little.
"I think all the nice, normal people left right after you girls came up here, and the only people we've been dealing with for the last 45 minutes have been the crazies."
"Poor baby," she smiled, leaning down to kiss his cheek.
Hikaru handed his brother a glass of whiskey with a generous splash of water before dragging another chair over. "Have a real seat, Kaoru."
Kaoru shook his head before tipping it forward to his chest, letting Megumi work on the knots in his neck. "You take it, Hikaru. I'm good here."
"I'll take it," Kamigamo said, moving from her perch on the arm of the couch next to Mori. "And I wouldn't say no to some whiskey, either, Hikaru."
"Here," Laney leaned forward from her chair to fix Kamigamo's drink. "Neat or with a splash?"
"Neat."
"A girl after my own heart." Laney passed over the drink with a smile.
"I'd imagine you'd need a strong stomach, being married to Glasses."
"Speaking of," Haruhi interjected, "any idea how much longer he and Tamaki are going to be?"
Kaoru shrugged, his muscle gathering and bunching under Megumi's fingers. "They were just wrapping things up when we left. But you know your husband—he's distractible." He looked around the room. "Hey, Mori. Where's your date?"
"Her brother took her home," he replied laconically.
"Rough luck," Hikaru replied sympathetically.
"Not really."
"Takashi only brought Kadano-san tonight because Satoshi wanted to bring her cousin," Huni elaborated. "And she wouldn't come if it meant leaving Kadano-san behind."
"Mori, if I break up with Jen again, will you be my wing man?" Hikaru asked.
Mori gave him a side-eye. "No."
The doors opened again, and Ootori and Tamaki came into the room. "You weren't there, Tamaki. Trust me, she is toxic," Ootori was saying.
"Who?" Hikaru asked, but Megumi had a sinking feeling she knew exactly who Ootori was talking about. She glanced over at Laney, who looked grim.
"Matsuda Chiyo," Tamaki said, squeezing in between Megumi and Haruhi. His wife sighed and leaned into his side. "She was telling people how awful Laney and Megumi are, and I just don't understand it. There must be some kind of misunderstanding."
Megumi felt Kaoru tense beside her, but before she could say anything, Mori looked up. "I heard her saying she would make sure the Hisakawa family would stop receiving invitations to events," he said. Her blood ran cold. For Chiyo to be angry at her was one thing. For her to organize people against her family was quite another.
"That is it!" Ootori snapped. "She wants to play with the big boys? Fine. Let's play." Still standing, he typed rapidly into his phone. "She's about to find herself unwelcome in just about every social setting. Country club? Done. Lunching with the ladies? Over. And her husband is going to find out just how small his sphere of influence actually is."
"Please stop," Megumi interrupted him. "Don't do this."
"I'm not in the habit of allowing people to threaten my friends and insult my wife." Ootori didn't even look up. "And if you're saying you feel sorry for her, you clearly haven't heard what she's been saying about you."
"It doesn't matter," she said. "I don't want to start a war."
"You're not starting one. I am. And I finish what I start."
"Kyoya." Kaoru's voice was stern as he stood up. "She said no."
The room was silent as the two men looked at each other. Finally, without breaking eye contact, Ootori said "Laney?"
Laney leaned back in her chair. "The best way to fight something like this is not to engage, Kyoya. You know that as well as I do, or you would if you hadn't lost your temper. And if the Hisakawas are suddenly cut by a few families? In spite of our friendship with Megumi? Don't tell me that kind of highly specific information wouldn't be useful to you."
Suddenly relaxed again, Ootori smiled down at his wife. "I knew I married you for a reason."
Kaoru sat down again at Megumi's feet, and she felt some the tension melt away. It had never been her intention, but her relationship with Kaoru and the resultant friendship with the people in this room did significantly increase her social cachet, and by extension, her family's. There was no real reason to feel intimidated by Chiyo. Still. "The country club idea might not be so terrible," she put forth diffidently. "I think she's been sleeping with her tennis instructor."
Ootori's grin was positively feral. "Not after I send this e-mail, she's not."
Author's Note: Thanks to SophsShootingStar19 and WritingSoul for the favorites, and to Baka-Beka, Allymaeve, and mutemuia for the reviews. You guys, I really have to apologize-when I look at it, this chapter should've been included with the last chapter. There's no reason to break them up, which I did only because I wanted to get SOMETHING up on this site and I wasn't quite finished, and I feel like it stretches out an arc that didn't really need to be stretched out. If I ever go back and edit this whole damn thing, I would definitely condense these two chapters. Anyhow, I hope those of you who celebrate have a great Thanksgiving.