Hi there lovelies! Here is a new chapter for you! Thank you Square Root of Three, The Peculiar, As-The-Fire-Blazes, Lavynya, and the guest reviewer! You guys are chocolate syrup to my corn on the cob! Anyway, Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Ouran High Host Club. I do, however, claim ownership of my OC(s) and plot.

"So what is she like? Your grandmother."

Eyrie turned away from the window to look into Haruhi's questioning eyes. They were in Eyrie's car on the way to the house. The rest of the hosts had opted to use their own means of transportation so it was just the two girls.

"She...well it's hard to explain. You'll just have to meet her." Eyrie gave a smile and shrugged.

Soon they were pulling into the drive where the host's cars were already lined up. Briar came out of the mahogany doors as soon as the car came to a stop and he smiled mischievously at Eyrie as she got out.

"Is she here?" She asked as she waved the hosts over.

"Oh she's here all right. In fact she is everywhere. She hasn't stopped moving since she got here. I'd be surprised if she wasn't down a dress size by now." Eyrie raised a brow and started striding confidently towards the library. "Oi. How do you know she's in that direction?"

Eyrie just waved a hand and continued, the hosts trailing after her. She opened the door to the library and was greeted by the sight of an elegant older woman having tea. As soon as the lady saw Eyrie standing there she set down her glass roughly and ran over.

"Daaaawling! You look well! Oh what handsome gentlemen! How have you been? Have you seen your sister lately? I saw her just the other day, if you haven't. She looks well. I arrived a couple hours ago. I took the liberty of having the dining room prepared. Your staff is very efficient. I especially like that one. Briar was it? He made me this tea. Oh I haven't even offered you any yet. Here, sit sit. I'll have to get cups for your friends as well. Oh you haven't introduced me yet."

Before anyone could say anything she was out of the room and heading down the hall to the kitchen. The hosts sweat dropped as they watched her go.

"Yes. She is always like that." Eyrie stated blandly and sat down.

"She certainly is lively for-" Tamaki started to say. Eyrie immediately slapped a hand over his mouth and leaned forward to look into his eyes, their noses nearly touching.

"Don't. Even. Think it. Don't think it, don't say it, don't breath it. No." She said with wide eyes. Slowly easing her hand off his mouth, she sat back in her chair and sighed. The doors burst back open to submit Eyrie's grandmother balancing seven tea cups in her hands.

"Found some! And more tea is being brought in! Now where were we when I left? Oh right right! Names!" She handed out cups and plunked down in a chair in a very un-ladylike way. The boys and Haruhi took a moment to study the energetic woman. She was in an expensive peach pants suit. Her thick salt and pepper hair was pulled into a bun on top of her head, her hazel eyes were flaked heavily with green, unlike her sons. They obviously took after their mother in terms of looks and the hosts were beginning to see where Uncle Ballare got his enthusiastic attitude. The hosts smiled when they saw the same mischievous expression that Eyrie occasionally wore appear on her grandmother's face. "Well you are obviously the Suoh boy. You look like an Ootori. I recognize the eldest sons of the Haninozuka and Morinozuka's. You are the Hitachiin boys. I'm sorry. I don't know who you are, girl, though you look rather nice in that boys uniform."

The hosts turned to look at Eyrie who smirked at her grandmother and mouthed 'Show off'. Her grandmother grinned widely and sipped her tea.

"Mrs. Omorfie how did you do that?" Tamaki asked with wide eyes.

"Oh don't call me that deary! Makes me feel old. You can all call me Tristezza. Or Tristy. Whichever you're comfortable with." She smiled brightly.

"So how did you know who we are Tristezza?" The twins insisted.

"Well she could say that she knew you from her association with Tamaki's and the twin's grandmothers, and that she remembered the others from business connections; though that is lie." Eyrie bit the corner of her lip as her grandmother pouted. "She asked Briar when she went for tea."

"Oh." The hosts said and sat back.

"Oh pooh. You're no fun darling! How do you always know?" Her waved it off with a laugh as she shrugged in the direction of their guests.

"I'm sorry but did you say you knew my grandmother?" Tamaki asked politely. Tristezza smiled but her eyes were that of a business woman.

"Yes, a long time ago. We still talk from time to time too. Hikaru and Kaoru, your mother and my sons were childhood friends briefly. I still get a call from your grandmother once a week."

The twins looked at each other with their mouths shaped like O's. "We were thiiis close to being friends with Eyrie even without he host club!"

"Oh right. The host club. Have I told you about that yet Grams?" Eyrie casually interrupted. Over the next hour or two the group hopped from topic to topic, Eyrie constantly steering the conversation away from anything that even seemed to hint at the word engagement. At some point she left to clear away the tea things and the hosts were left with her grandmother.

"You have a pretty name." Hunny said suddenly to break the silence. The older woman beamed.

"Thank you. Combined with Omorfie it means Rain Beauty. Though they are two different languages. All of our names are like that." She through her head back and laughed.

"So Ballare..." Haruhi said.

"Dancing Beauty. If you replace the Y in Eyrie's name with a E, her's is Frightening Beauty. Personally, I think it suits her." She shrugged in a 'well what can you do' sort of way.

"And her father?" Kyoya asked.

"You know, come to think of it, we never learned her dad's name?" Hikaru said as Kaoru tilted his head. Tristezza snorted.

"Of course not. I'm surprised you even know she has a father. Her mother is the only parent worth mentioning." She sighed and rubbed a hand over her face. "Her father's name is Sorpresa Omorfie. Surprising Beauty."

The host paused as they listened to the flowery name of the violent man they had met.

"Ah..." Tamaki started as he searched for something to say.

"No, don't. I know." Tristezza said, holding up a hand to keep him from going on.

"So you knew Eyrie's mother before she..." Haruhi tried to change the subject and looked for the right words.

"Before my son decided to admit that Eyrie existed? Oh yes. We kept in touch. I was able to track Eyrie's progress through the years from her mother's stories." Tristezza gave a loving smile as she thought of her ex-daughter in law.

"Grams I have to make dinner. Do you mind keeping my friends entertained?" Everyone turned to look at Eyrie as she strode in.

"Oh not at all dearest! They are all so lovely." a dazzling smile lit her grandmother's face as she turned to face her.

"Actually we really must be going. It would be selfish of us to keep you from quality time with your granddaughter. It was wonderful meeting you." Kyoya interjected, bowing slightly.

"Oh well. If you must, you must!" Her grandmother giggled and blew them all a kiss as Eyrie walked them out.

"Thank you, Ootori."

All the other hosts had left and were getting into there own cars, leaving Kyoya and Eyrie alone at the door. Kyoya turned to his left with a disinterested expression. Eyrie looked up at him with a small smile.

"I appreciate you coming here to meet her. She seems quite taken with all of you. That's good. That'll help." Kyoya raised a brow and Eyrie's face lost a little of it's expression. "For when I tell her...about..."

"Are you embarrassed?" Kyoya asked in an unreadable tone. Eyrie raised a brow. "Well not to worry. I'm sure that once you introduce her to my brother, that shame you feel will melt away. He is the second son after all."

"Idiot." Eyrie scoffed. Kyoya's eyes widened. "Why would I be ashamed or embarrassed? Don't decide other people's feelings on your own; people are much more complicated than that."

Kyoya felt as if he had been struck by lightning, though he tried not to show it. "But you haven't told her..."

"No I haven't." Eyrie said with a nothing expression. "She basically spits on tradition. Grams did everything out of order when she was...before she was head of the family that is. She got pregnant, got successful, then got a live-in boyfriend who just happened to be the same man that fathered her children. She almost didn't even do that. She might love her two sons but she firmly believes that men hinder a women's progress and that being forced to be with them is the equivalent of slavery. She moved in with Grandfather because she actually managed to find someone with the same mind set as her. I'm really not sure how that all works, I'm guessing it's her version of love. So in other words, marriage is slavery."

Kyoya's face held shock as he looked back into the house, not quite able to believe that the cheerful person he just met had such pessimistic views. "But surely she wanted you to marry. To continue the family line?"

Eyrie's face went red and she started rubbing the back of her neck while looking at a spot just past Kyoya's head. "I said she doesn't believe in marriage..."

"Yes. A few times." Kyoya raised a brow, starting to feel a bit impatient. "So how does she expect you to-"

"My God Kyoya is it really that hard?!" Eyrie splayed her hands and looked at him with wide eyes, as if demanding he understand. At his confused look she dropped the expression and sighed. "You can have children without being married Kyoya. It's not like you have to scan your wedding rings to get in bed with a person."

Realization dawned and his brows shot up as he looked down at Eyrie. She was looking off to the side, her face red, a hand covering her mouth. He gave a devilish grin when she wouldn't meet his eye.

"This topic really embarrasses you doesn't it?" he said with amusement and she finally looked up to glare.

"Sh-shut up! It's different with girls! Guys can go spouting off about their exploits but girls are practically lynched if they talk about such things!"

"Sex." He said simply, his voice echoing in the marble hall. "Just say it. When they talk about having sex."

Eyrie bit the corner of her lip to keep from smiling as she looked at the dry expression on Kyoya's face.

"It might not be the same for commoners but it is for the elite. None of us take it so lightly." Eyrie raised a brow. "Ok saying the word 'sex' doesn't mean I'm taking it lightly. That is just what it is called and it seems useless to skim around it."

"Yes you are quite right! It isn't something you should be ashamed of; some even call it beautiful! Lighten up dawling!" Eyrie's face went red again and Kyoya's ears started showing signs of pink. "So is this one your lover? I thought as much! You do seem more suited for the intelligent ones! Good for you!"

"Grams...no, please..." Eyrie sweat dropped and Kyoya stared in silence as Tristezza breezed towards them with a laugh and pinched his cheek.

"Ah I remember when I was in high school! Though I didn't have just one..."

"Grams!" Eyrie blanched in horror causing her grandmother to laugh even harder. "Could you not?! We aren't lovers!"

"What a pity! Aw well! I'll see you in the dinning room dawling!" And as quickly as she appeared, she was gone.

"I'm so sorry..." Eyrie started, dark clouds hanging about her as she hung her head.

"Not at all. I find her views fascinating. I want to know what made her that way. I'll have to ask her more about it next time." Kyoya was looking in the direction Tristezza had gone, holding his chin between thumb and index finger. He missed the looks of surprise, then wonder, that flitted over Eyrie's face.

"I suppose I will see you tomorrow Kyoya." She said and he began walking out the door.

"Yes good-" His eyes went wide with realization as he heard the door click shut behind him. To late to say anything, he kept walking.

She called me by my first name.

Eyrie sauntered into the kitchen to find her grandmother seated on top of one of the counters, her legs swinging back and forth.

"I thought you would be in the dining room?" Eyrie asked as she leaned back against the opposite counter.

"I knew that you would be in here first. I still don't understand why you don't just let your staff do this sort of thing. It is why they are here." Tristezza said with a pointed look.

"I like cooking. It helps calm me down." Eyrie started gathering things for dinner. Tristezza's eyes softened.

"Do the attacks happen often anymore?" she asked softly. Eyrie's movements slowed.

"No. Almost never."

"Good panic attacks are such a bother." Tristezza said lightly before sobering again. "And how are you sleeping? Do you...I mean..."

"Have nightmares that have me waking up in a cold sweat, screaming my head off?" Eyrie finished, turning to face her grandmother's concerned eyes. "Not as often. It doesn't matter anyway. I had my room sound proofed. No one would hear me anyway."

"That doesn't make me feel better." Tristezza said under her breath as Eyrie went back to dinner. She continued in a slightly louder voice. "But it's still so bad that you can't talk in the mornings?"

Eyrie didn't slow this time. "Yes."

Realizing that that was the best she would get out of her, Tristezza changed the subject. "Your friends were handsome. And so polite! Such nice boys. Keep them, won't you?"

"I was planning on it." A smile grew on her face as Eyrie turned to look at Tristezza. This caused her grandmother to stop and reach out a hand to touch the corner of her lip. In one fluid movement, Eyrie had wrapped her arms around the taller woman and was giving her the first real hug she had given since they met.

"So is that their doing?" Tristezza asked as she held Eyrie close, laughter bubbling up inside her as she replayed the smile again and again. Eyrie looked up and nodded. "Well then. I think I might be in love with your little host club. Are you sure you aren't lovers with Glasses?"

Eyrie went red but gave a small laugh, the spitting image of Camille, then her face went still.

"Grandmother I have something to tell you; and I want to tell you now so I know to make less food, in case you lose your appetite."

Tristezza laughed slightly before being lead over to a bar stool. Her good mood soon went foul when Eyrie started the story with "I got a visit from Father...".

Her entire frame was shaking by the time Eyrie was finished and her granddaughter was giving waiting for her response with no emotion.

"How could you not tell me the minute you saw his face?!" Tristezza began, her words gradually becoming a shout. She started poking and prodding Eyrie. "Did he mark you again? He did, didn't he? How could Ballare not call? How could he do something like this? No! You aren't marrying! I won't allow it! I have ultimate authority! Don't worry deary Grandmummy will fix-"

"No." Eyrie said coldly, stopping her grandmother's shrill yelling. "There is no need to fix anything because nothing is broken."

"Excuse me? What happened to your defiance? Your will to not let your father choose your path? You can still do that! You will be the next head of this family and I will ensure that he is stripped powerless before that happens!"

"Do you not listen to the things I tell you?" Eyrie said forcefully. "Father may think he is in control of everything but he is not. It is not your responsibility to strip him of power; it is mine! I'll be damned if anyone takes that privilege from me! My reasons for going through with this marriage are entirely my own. Professionally, the connections they provide me with will help me in the future!"

Eyrie tried to catch her breath and watched as the shock faded from her grandmother's face and was replaced with that of a business woman. She could practically hear the gears turning as Tristezza factored in the boys' family connections and status into their own, while Eyrie rested her eyes on her uplifted hand.

"Alright. Yes, it would be good for business. Yes, it would be good to have them when you are ready to take the reins from your father. But I never wanted this for you. Or Camille either. I wanted you to be completely free. So, you've given me the professional reasons. Now. Unprofessionally. Why are you doing this?"

"I don't want to be alone." Eyrie looked up and Tristezza felt a piece of her heart break when she saw the fear her granddaughter's eyes. "I know that this is my burden. I know that this is my family to save. But if I could just have this one luxury...the luxury of having someone stand beside me, even if they were there because they are bound by honor to fulfill a promise...I would be so grateful. Because as much as you try to help me and take over for me, you will never be able to and your support just isn't enough anymore. I'm sorry. It simply isn't. I need someone...who won't leave me all alone."

Tristezza stood and turned away, gazing out the window. She made sure her face was turned completely away before letting tears run down. The feeling of shame bloomed in her chest as she ran through everything that happened in the time that Eyrie had joined the family. Images flashed before her eyes, all the times she left Eyrie to fend for herself, all the times when Camille was the only one there to comfort her. But she had been naive. She thought that, since Eyrie had been so strong, in the wake of her mother's death, being alone would be a comfort to her. She didn't realize that being by one's self also meant being alone with one's thoughts as well.

"Stop it." Tristezza gasped slightly and cleared her throat as Eyrie's thick voice cut through the silence. "Don't blame yourself. How were you supposed to know that I was one hell of an actor?"

"I am the matriarch of this family! I should be able to see something so simple!" Her grandmother said sharply, unintentionally lashing out.

"No you shouldn't have. I never allow people to see what I don't want them to. I would be very embarrassed if this wasn't the first you heard of my true feelings." Eyrie said emotionlessly.

"How cold darling!" Tristezza laughed ironically and turned around to face her.

"Yes, well, I've never been known for my warmth." Eyrie got up and captured her grandmother's hand in between her own. "So? Will you allow me my one luxury?"

"Of course I will. It's a good thing I know they're good boys or-" Tristezza's eyes widened a bit and she looked down in disbelief as Eyrie quirked an eyebrow. "Did you-?"

"How was I supposed to know that forming a good opinion of them before I told you would help me? I mean, people are so unpredictable; it would be too much of a gamble." Eyrie sauntered away while throwing a infuriating mischievous look over her shoulder.

"You sneaky little tart." Tristezza said with a laugh. Eyrie began preparing dinner again as her grandmother watched. "Is it safe to ask yet?"

"I suppose."

"Have you told them the details of your mother's accident?" Eyrie turned and stood next to her, getting comfortable, before answering.

"No. I haven't. It isn't important. Those guys worry to much and they are helping so much by just being themselves. I don't want to ruin it." Her grandmother studied the look of irony that passed over her granddaughter's face.

"So you aren't planning on telling them that you were in the car too?" she said softly. A look of pain flickered then was gone.

"No. Maybe eventually. But not yet." Eyrie stated with a sense of finality. With a silent agreement to drop the subject they began telling stories and the like until it was time to sleep.

"Mommmmyyyy!"

Laughter and jabs rang through the house as Eyrie skipped through the house in the direction of the voice answering her.

"Bunny! Have you gotten shorter?"

Eyrie turned when she felt a hand reach out and ruffle her hair. Her mom was coming out of her walk in closet holding a box. It was filled to the brim with pictures.

"What on earth are you doing with that?" Eyrie asked, her lip curling with disgust as she picked up a baby picture from the top. It was her when she was younger, taking a bath.

"I'm finally making that scrapbook!" Willow said triumphantly.

"Oh, Mom, no." Eyrie groaned.

"Yep. And you're helping me." Willow nodded her head as violently as her daughter was shaking her's. "Yes! Just accept it! It's happening!"

"Fine." Eyrie plunked down on the bed and immediately started sorting the pictures by age while her mother fought a smile. Eyrie looked at her mother skeptically. "What? It should at least be organized! Never enter anything without a plan!"

"I know, I know!" Willow threw up her hands defensively, laughing the whole time. "I just can't believe I managed to produce such a well organized young lady."

"Yea yea, don't flatter yourself." Eyrie gave a small smile as her mother pretended to preen. "If we finish this before Friday, do you want to go out to the lake? We could have a picnic? I'll make something yummmmyyy~!"

Eyrie emphasised her words with a sing song voice and waving a picture of her first time making cookies in Willow's face.

"Yes! In fact I can't wait for Friday; make something tonight!" Willow said, bouncing on her knees like an excited child. Eyrie responded with a stern head shake. "Aww whyyyy?"

"Because I don't want to spoil you!" Eyrie laughed. Her mother crawled over and wrapped her arms around her daughter.

"Alright! If- and only if!- we get this done by Friday, we will drive down to the lake and swim and play and stuff ourselves with your yummy, spoiling food." They both giggled as Willow started tickling Eyrie.

Eyrie sat straight up with a loud gasp and took in her surroundings as she panted. Slowly realization dawned and she flopped back down back down, turning to her side and pulling her knees to her chest. Harsh sobs started racking her body as her dream/memory played over and over before her eyes. The bright light that she kept on every night brought no comfort as tears blurred her vision. A fresh wave of pain hit her and she gasped aloud, clutching her stomach. Soon she was crying out into the empty room.

"Mom...Mommy!"

Ok. Wow. Well there ya go. Sorry to leave you like that! Anyway, props if you got that Scooby-Doo reference in the top little message thing. If you didn't then know you know. Please review! Let me know what you guys thought! Anyways, Thanks for reading!