Final Chapter

Disclaimer: I do not own OHSHC

A/N: this is once again dedicated to NavyNinjaHo, who gave me a little shove to finish this. Thank you so much!

Haruhi was never good with transport.

She didn't drive as she had no car, but she would take the bus. Only sometimes, as she preferred walking but she did also have a bike that she sometimes rode into town. But Haruhi was never keen on cars, and being in the twin's somewhat luxurious car didn't make her feel any better. She would have described it as a limousine of sorts but the twins harrumphed and said that in their terms, it would've been described as a car.

Although their names for the car were different, she did feel rather relaxed. The soft feel of the seats was doing wonders against her skin. It was a leathery material, and it felt cold. Or maybe she was feeling warm. She couldn't tell.

Her head fell back against the headrest and she closed her eyes. That always seemed to help, to dispel her headache and the slight fluttery feeling in her stomach. She hated travel sickness. It always stopped her from talking to those she was in the car with. And in this case, it was the twins. The two didn't seem to mind her not talking to them, as they were caught up in their own conversation. They assumed Haruhi was sleeping, but instead she was listening in on their conversation. She knew this was eavesdropping but honestly, she had nothing better to do.

Their conversation was bland, only that of work and what they expected to happen later at dinner tonight. And another topic, which amused her, was about her. More specifically, who was going to wake her up and face her sleepy wrath. She wanted to reach out and run her hands through their auburn locks; and possibly give them a few sharp tugs. She was definitely not grumpy when she woke up.

"Almost there, huh."

"Yeah…"

"You nervous?"

"A little, yeah."

Their conversation was getting shorter; more clipped. To Haruhi, it sounded like they were walking into their own death trap. She didn't know why they would be acting like this. Maybe something happened prior to this event? Or were they not on good terms with the others? Before she could think anything about the matter, she was gently shook.

"Haruhi? We're here. I mean, we'll be there shortly. We're at Tamaki's front gates."

She opened her eyes slowly, looking like she had just woke from a nap. She hoped she convinced them - acting wasn't her strong point. She nearly had to shut them again, for the light in this car was blinding. She looked to the side, noting that it was Kaoru who 'woke' her up. He was lowering his hand as he cracked a grin. She blinked again, as the light shone on his hair, making it fierier than it already was.

"So, we're here?"

Kaoru responded, but she didn't hear it. She shuffled over towards the door window and sat, with her hand cushioning her face. Tamaki's housing estate was fairly big, although that was how she remembered it back then. It had been so long since her last visit. They drove through the wide gates, which swung shut behind them. They shut with an automated creak, which echoed through the car's frame.

There was prickling sensation running amuck in her stomach. Nerves, she thought. She was finding it hard to swallow, but gladly her breathing was fine. She glanced alongside to the twins, who didn't look better than herself, either. The driver turned right, pulling up beside the first house's doors. Once the three had stepped out, the car completed the rest of the circle and left the way they came.

Surprisingly, Honey and Mori were standing at the entrance, waiting for the three of them. Haruhi sidestepped around the ambling twins and hurried to meet her other friends. The gravel crunched underneath her feet. Considering that it was dark out, it was fairly hard to see her two friends before her but with the help from the dim lighting near by, she reached them.

Honey beamed at the sight of the brunette, complimenting her on her appearance that evening. He said that the dress looked lovely on her, and that it had such a nice style to it. Mori, on the other hand, remained quiet but offered her a smile. To be honest, Haruhi felt a little disappointed at the lack of Mori's compliment. She knew how stoic he usually was, but she wished for something else.

But letting it slide, she complemented their suits and how fitting they were on the both of them. Honey gushed, physically pleased but Mori was quite the opposite - he looked away, a red tinge to his cheeks and only nodded. It was cute, she thought.

Honey took Haruhi's hand and placed it at the crook of his elbow, as the trio began walking to who knows where in Tamaki's house. The blond idiot had still yet to appear but the brunette knew that he would make his grand appearance somewhat soon. It was better to enjoy these last moments of peace before he came, she thought with a slight smile.

Honey babbled on, telling his friend of his adventures at work and how tiring it was. He dramatically sighed from time to time, which just made Haruhi chuckle. Mori just stole glances at them occasionally and just let them spoke.

"Hello friends!" A loud, energetic voice boomed across the entrance hall. Everybody could hear Tamaki before they could see him.

At the far side of the hall, there was two grand staircases that started off separately on the floor and eventually met at the second floor. That was where Tamaki was waiting, where he leant heavily on the polished banister, grinning widely at them. "It's so lovely to see you all!"

There was a collective murmur of 'it's good to see you again, too' as Tamaki sped down the steps. Upon seeing Haruhi in all her beautifulness, the blond gasped and cried out 'My lovely daughter' as he ran with open arms towards her, scooping her up and spinning her round. Haruhi laughed, placing her arms around him. "I've missed you, Tamaki."

"I missed you too." He smiled, kissing the top of her head. They stayed in their embrace for a little while longer, as the others smiled fondly at them. After a while, they broke apart but their hands remained together. "You look absolutely stunning. This is the work of the twins, I presume?" He gestured to the dress, which Haruhi was still in awe over and she nodded. "They did a fantastic job of touching you up, you know. You were already drop dead gorgeous to begin with."

Haruhi nervously chuckled, her cheeks blazing. Tamaki was always so generous with his comments and compliments. She thanked him, as she stared at the tips of her black heels. Tamaki's eyes fluttered over her, his heart bouncing with joy. He was thrilled about seeing her again, and delighted to be able to sit around a table with all his friends and just dine and talk.

He freed his hands from her and clapped briefly. "Right! This way to the dining room. Follow me, please."

He practically skipped up the grand stair case, with everybody in tow. He shepherded them past the silky fabric that separated the hall from the top of the stairway and led them down some corridors, twisting and turning down various branches of dark and tidy wooden halls. Without Tamaki present, all would be lost in his spacious home. Paintings adorned the dull walls, adding spots of colour to his considerable plain home. Although it was a mansion, it was not very decorative and it did not suit Tamaki at all. Eventually they arrived and with Tamaki holding open the door for them, like the gentleman he was, they piled into the vast, rectangular dining room.

At the far end of the room, was the window overlooking the garden which took up most of that one side. The window itself could be considered a wall. In the middle, sat the gleaming dining table, adorned with eight chairs and eight dinner sets, accompanied with fancy and expensive silver cutlery. There was too many forks, spoons and knives to choose from and Haruhi would have difficulty later. She was sure of that, thanks to these damn rich people. In the corner lay a beautiful grand piano and Haruhi knew it wouldn't be long until Tamaki began to play. Watching him, with his long fingers glide delicately over the keys always brought a smile to her face. It would be like old times, she mused.

The hubbub of light conversation began to grow amongst the friends, but once Tamaki cleared his throat, all stopped. He looked over towards the window, and everyone copied him. There stood Kyoya, with his back facing the garden. His hands were behind his back, and he stood royally straight, with his head held high. A small wavering sense of uneasiness permeated from him, and Haruhi thought it was mutual. Upon seeing him, Haruhi did not know what to think nor what to feel. Should she be mad at him for what he had done? Bitter over why he had done it in the first place? They locked eyes for a brief second and his were clear and bright, but hers were clouded. She looked to the floor.

"Haruhi." There was a pause as Kyoya looked over the rest of the group. As if knowing what he was about to say, they began piling out from the room. "I would like to speak to you in private, if you don't mind."

She replied that she didn't mind at all. The brunette kept her eyes firmly locked on the ground; only looking up when she felt a warm, familiar hand on her shoulder. It was Mori. He leant forwards and brushed away her hair that coiled around her ear. With a low voice, he murmured, "It's alright. I'll be right outside the door. If you need me, or any of us, just call."

Mori stepped away but before he left, he quickly ruffled Haruhi's hair. She was going to protest, and tell him that the twins spent ages doing it for her but she knew that hair ruffling was his way of showing affection. So she silently thanked him and gave him a small smile. She watched as all besides Kyoya left the room. Many looked over their shoulders and gave her a small, reassuring nod. The act was slightly comforting but it wouldn't calm her nerves.

She was left alone in the grand dining room with him. She hadn't looked at him once this evening - she was more afraid to be with him than angry at him. She heart wouldn't stop thumping angrily and her head, her head wouldn't stop spinning.

"Haruhi… it's been awhile."

"Yeah," she sighed, "it has." Haruhi walked over towards the large window, which took up most of the wall that overlooked the garden down below. It was a grand and beautiful garden, with neatly trimmed bushes running on the outskirts of the whole thing. It appeared to be square but it was dark out, so she couldn't tell.

"He planted those flowers himself. He was, and still is, extremely proud." Kyoya gestured to the colourful flowers planted in the earthy soil. Haruhi looked at them, noting how they were planted with such care. Was gardening a new found hobby of Tamaki's?

"So Kyoya," she said quietly, "how… how have you been?"

"Would you prefer the real answer or the business answer?"

She smiled. "The real answer, please."

"It's been fairly good to me, actually. I've had my fair share of great days and bad days, and my good weeks and terrible weeks. But yes, I've been well, thank you."

"I have a feeling that there's something you're not telling me. Is there?"

"I've missed you, Haruhi. I've missed everyone. Although I've been with the other for those two years, it never felt right. You complete us, Haruhi. We, all of us, we need you in our lives. We need you in more ways than one."

"What you did… back at school, when we were all together…"

"I should have told you what was happening, yes. But I didn't, and I deeply regret not doing so. Even until this day I wonder how it would be different if I just spoke to you back then and told you what was happening. Maybe you wouldn't have left and maybe we could have worked everything out together."

She looked at him, but she couldn't see his expression. He was facing the window, like she was, but he didn't notice her staring at him. Kyoya continued. "A lot of things happened back then, and I was very busy. There was the thing between the host club, family matters and work and I found it hard to cope."

"We were always there for you, Kyoya."

"I know." he said, his tone regretful. "But some things were better off not spoken of. Not until tonight. There's something that needs to be shared. We-"

Haruhi interrupted him. "We?"

He nodded. "We as in Tamaki and myself. There is something that the both of us would like to say."

Haruhi smiled knowingly, because she had seen the way they both looked at each other when they thought everybody wasn't looking. "You're together, I take it? I've seen the way you look at him, Kyoya."

"Exactly the same way you look at Mori." the dark haired man countered. Haruhi chuckled, telling him that she does feel something for Mori and she thinks that he feels something too. But they weren't together, yet. Kyoya told her to give it some time. "Although Mori is the way he is, not very expressive in comparison to… let's say Tamaki, he does find it difficult to deal with some emotions but he will come around."

"You know, I could always ask him instead."

"Will you?" Kyoya knew her answer even before she said it. She was far too shy to do that sort of thing. Unfortunately Mori was as well. He would have to give the both of them a little nudge in the right direction, so they could find their footing with one another.

The silence grew, but it was comfortable. Haruhi stepped closer to her friend and lay her head against his arm, as her hand snaked towards the crook of his elbow. Kyoya placed a hand on top of hers, and gently squeezed it. Thinking about everything that had happened, Haruhi was not mad at Kyoya, or at any of her friends. Admittedly things could have sailed a lot smoother but what happened was in the past. It was time for her to be a better person and to start a new slate. She did have her problems with a few things, but they would work them out. As friends. It was time for her to get rid of this bitter sweet feeling that she had harboured for so long.

"I'm really happy for you and Tamaki, by the way. I forgot to say that earlier, sorry."

"I knew you meant it, it's okay."

"And I'm sorry about the way your family reacted to it." Haruhi had hazarded a guess when Kyoya had mentioned 'family matters' earlier. Her heart physically hurt when she imagined all what he went through, at the hands of his family.

"It's… okay now. Still quite rocky. I still do have Tamaki's family, who have been more accepting and loving and I still do have you all."

"That's right. We're here for you both. We're your second family, afterall."

"My second family." he confirmed, with a small nod.

The two friends fell back in sync with another, like how it used to be before everything went pear-shaped. They stood side by side, over looking Tamaki's garden as the night sky twinkled above them. They had much to talk about but so little time to do so as they both knew that their other friends were waiting on them.

"Reckon it's time to call them in now?" Haruhi made her way to the door and rested her hand against the shining handle.

"They have been waiting a while, yes. Also… are we okay now?"

"We're okay now."

The small brunette flung open the doors and was enveloped in the loving atmosphere of her ridiculous friends, which she wouldn't have met if she had not broken that expensive dumb vase all those years ago. As absurd as it sounded, she was thankful that she did break it. Haruhi's little train of thought disappeared as she felt Mori's hand slip into hers. His hand was larger than hers, and so warm. It was rough and a little scarred at the edges, but soft in the middle. Just like him.

The night progressed until the sky lightened and eyes were tired and heavy. All throughout the night, there had been laughter, love and a good feeling had washed over them all. The twins had spoke proudly of their fashion and floral successes, Honey spoke fondly about his wife and that she was pregnant which everybody thought to be fantastic news and was so happy for him and Reiko. Mori didn't speak that much, which was not unusual and Haruhi was weary, but did mention work a few times. And after Haruhi, Tamaki and Kyoya decided to speak up together.

By now, they had moved somewhere deeper into Tamaki's home, but now they resided in a small living room of sorts, with many cushioned sofas circling in the middle. Tamaki and Kyoya sat together, both leaning forward on the edge of their seat. Tamaki swallowed nervously, uncharacteristically. "So mon amis, there is something that Kyoya and I would like to tell you."

The rest were patient and didn't pry. They let the two continue at their own pace. "Kyoya and I… well, we…"

"We are dating." Kyoya said, helping the blond out. He reached out and held his hand, interlacing their fingers. "We have been for a while now."

"And by a while, he means a few years now." Tamaki chimed in.

Silence swept amongst them all and with its claws out, it lunged at Tamaki and Kyoya. It was so quiet, that the two of them were certain that their friends could hear their hearts thumping violently. There was a painful lump in Tamaki's throat as he tried to form words. His eyes burned with tears that weren't quite ready and he squeezed his lover's hand. Would they accept them?

Then at all once, the silence vanished. Honey threw himself at the two, his arms wide and his smile bright. The twins were in disbelief as they realised how hard it was for them as they kept it hidden for so long. Mori nodded and Haruhi grinned, and all congratulated them for finding happiness with each other.

"We're so happy for you both!"

And Tamaki cried fat happy tears, as he was able to surround himself with his friends who accepted him and Kyoya. Kyoya did not cry, but instead he smiled so fondly and thanked everybody present, all individually. He and his love were able to be themselves in front of them and they did not suffer any passing remarks or disgusted comments, and he was delighted.

xxx

"I'm really happy for them. I hope they're very happy together."

The brunette lay her head against Mori's shoulder, her hand interlaced with his. Honey was driving home as unlike Haruhi or Mori, he did not have anything to drink at Tamaki's. Mori and Haruhi were not drunk, but a bubbly feeling nestled within them. Was it the drink, or was it caused by just being with each other?

Tamaki and Kyoya's surprise earlier had left them all in happy spirits. But, no views about them had been changed because of it. They were still Tamaki and Kyoya, who were now able to express their love without fearing judgement. This courageous act had inspired Haruhi to confess to Mori, which she had still yet to do but was planning on doing it on the journey home. Tamaki and Kyoya had made Haruhi realise that life was far too short to just sit and wait. If she wanted something done, she simply had to do it.

Although she had this mindset, she chickened out during the ride home and decided to make small talk, refusing to think about confessing. But the more she thought about, the more she day dreamed of the possible outcomes. She knew the feeling was mutual but she really didn't know how to delve further into this romance business. She was always hopeless at romance.

A little while later, the car arrived at the apartment block's carpark. She bid her friends goodnight and thanked them for the wonderful evening she had. As stepped out one foot out of the car, Mori said that he was going to walk her up to her apartment and he promptly followed her.

The night air was chilly but bearable but still she shivered, which caused Mori to stir. He quickly shook off his jacket and gently placed it on her shoulders. She thanked him with a smile and he quickly averted his gaze, a pinch of red tinging his cheeks. She couldn't help thinking that he was so adorable.

With one handing holding his jacket closed, she slipped her other hand into his. Mori squeezed it reassuringly and it soothed her nerves, which steadily increased ever since they left Tamaki's home.

"You okay?"

Haruhi thought that her palms must have gotten sweaty. There was no point in denying it, as nerves wracked throughout her entire body, her heart pounding violently. "Yeah, just… There's something I need to tell you. Or ask you."

By this time they had arrived at her apartment. She swiveled round to face him, gripping his hand tighter as she began to speak. "I really like you, Mori. I really do."

"I really like you too, Haruhi."

She knew it was mutual but that didn't stop the shock that she felt. She blushed and looked downwards, staring intently at the floor. Who knew the floor could become so interesting? Mori chuckled and gently placed his hand upon her face, cupping it and tipping it upwards to face him. He leant forwards, dropping his hand to hers and their fingers interlaced. He kissed her sweetly yet passionately, and she reached up to place her hands at the base of his neck, toying with his locks. Meanwhile Mori set his hands at her waist and circled the fabric with his thumbs. His lips were dry and his breathing tickled her skin, but she enjoyed it nevertheless.

They soon broke apart but remained close, not wanting to leave each other. Haruhi laid her head against Mori's chest and closed her eyes – all she heard was his steady breathing and thumping heartbeat, as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

As she stood there hugging him dearly, she felt at home in his arms. Her meeting with Kyoya earlier was the definite end of the bittersweet feelings that she harboured for so long and it was also the beginning of a fresh new start. This, too. And at this moment, Haruhi knew that whatever would happen and whatever life would come to throw at her, everything was going to be all right. She had her friends, her second family, and they had her. Everything would be okay.

A/N: this is it finally over! I decided to redo this last chapter because I know it wasn't the best and it was terrible of me to just leave you with that mess. Hope this is okay!

As I said before, thank you all for sticking with me! I've been inactive for a really long time and I really do want to change that. I've been thinking of doing little requests to jump start my writing again so hey if you have any, please do send me a lil private message! I also do have a sequel one shot to this so finger's crossed for me actually going through with it.

Thanks again everybody, take care 3