Moonlight smoothed over the soft blanket of snow that covered Japan; its delicate crystals glistening beneath a purple sky. Winter swept through Japan like a plague. The wildlife sought refuge from the plummeting temperatures, burying themselves deep within the earth for hibernation. Barren trees stood tall against the chilled winds, their lovely cherry blossoms mere memories now. Gardens wilted away, ponds froze over, and all that fought to survive the harsh conditions were entombed beneath a lawyer of snow. It was, in a sense, a desolate winter wonderland.

However, beauty was still alive – even now. The Japanese found ways to celebrate life during winter's sweep of death. They hung colorful lights across their front doors, erected fully adorned pine trees in their living rooms, and baked seasonal treats to enjoy with hot chocolate. Though it was unforgivably cold beyond their windows they remained cheerful. They continued to laugh, sing, and enjoy their many blessings.

Ah yes, they made the most of their lives, but in these early hours of the day the Japanese were still sound asleep; snuggled underneath their feathered comforters. All except for one.

…

Mori stirred awake, slowly opening his hazy eyes to a dark room. It took a few minutes for his pupils to dilate enough to make out shadows and soft reflections. The digital alarm clock blared its neon red numbers beside him, making him squint to read the time.

4:17am.

He sighed, mourning the lost hours of sleep. He wasn't sure what woke him up but it wouldn't do him any good to be angry with it. He would have to rise anyway so might as well start early.

He was about to toss the blankets from his body when he heard a faint whimper beside him. His eyes fought the darkness trying to find her within the mess of blankets and pillows she piled around her. He stretched his arm across the king-sized mattress until his hands felt soft silky skin. The second he touched her he heard another whimper.

She must be having a nightmare.

Mori scooted himself closer until he perfectly aligned himself to her back. His hand abandoned her shoulder, what he originally touched, and softly raked his calloused fingers down her body and rested on her belly. He stretched his fingers across the swell of his child and simultaneously felt the waves of her breathing.

Her pregnancies have ushered many viciously vivid nightmares. On those nights he couldn't sleep, not when his love was tortured in her dreams. He always felt helpless, trapped between letting her earn a full night's rest and shaking the monsters away. In the end he resolved to gently stroking her back; etching pleasant words on her skin and hoping it would be enough to ease her mind.

Tonight would mirror all his other restless nights. He traced his fingertips along her stretched skin, writing love letters to his unborn child.

"Haruhi." He whispered into the darkness, just to hear her name. His deep voice must have penetrated her dreams because she moaned in response, slightly shifting in his arms. For a moment he thought she woke up but her steady breathing proved otherwise. For now he was content with listening to her breathe. The rise and fall of her chest reminded him that she was alive and well. Her soft rocking proved as a reminder that she was still here. Mori didn't enjoy remembering the darkest moment of his life but in times like this he couldn't help but count his blessings.

Haruhi, his wife of seven years, was such a fragile little thing that he almost lost her six years ago. When she went into labor with their twins her small body couldn't catch up with their children's progressions. Her contractions were erratic, her heart beat was dangerously rising, and she was losing so much blood the doctor had to order a transfusion. Mori sat on a bench outside her hospital room hunched over his knees with his face hidden within his palms. Between waves of tears that wracked his body he sent silent prayers into the ceiling, begging for all three precious lives to be spared.

They never planned to have twins. The rarity didn't run in either family. When their obstetrician discovered two fetuses in the second ultrasound the news caused a mixture of shock, disbelief, and unfathomable joy. The obstetrician had their concerns especially towards Haruhi's thin size but in the end guaranteed a healthy pregnancy. Where was that guarantee when Mori was forced to consider life without his wife and children, he had to wonder.

The doctors performed an emergency cesarean. After three agonizing hours a doctor stepped into the hallway and informed Mori his wife and children pulled through. Within thirty minutes he was robed, sanitized, gloved, and meeting his son and daughter for the very first time. They were tiny; two premature babies wrapped in color coded cotton. Dark thin hair coated their small heads, tanned skin peaked from beneath their wrappings, and for a while he was convinced they somehow stolen two angels from Heaven. Their delicate lips, button noses, and thin sealed eyes were a beauty he never experienced before. They were the embodiment of pure innocence and he vowed that very second to protect and love them until his last breath. He would be their shield, their guidance, and their pillar of strength. He would move Heaven and Earth for his son and daughter with the agility and virtue of a Morinozuka.

Haruhi recovered a few days later and after two weeks in the hospital they were allowed to take their two bundles home.

Mori was shaken from his thoughts when Haruhi stirred beneath the blankets and twisted herself around until her sleeping face met his. The nightmare she had must have died down for her eyebrows weren't knitted together in pain. She was no longer running from monsters or watching unfortunate events unfold. She was now simply a pregnant woman peacefully sleeping in her husband's arms.

His lips found the soft skin on her forehead and he lightly pressed himself into her; needing to feel her, needing to reassure himself that she's safe. Regrettably his kiss drew her awake. Her breathing hitched while her eyes fluttered open, meeting his steely grays nearly hidden in the darkness.

"Takashi…" She whispered; relief laced in her tender voice. Her milk chocolate eyes captured the moonlight floating through their window and he felt captivated by her. She was an enigma to Father Time for no matter how many years passed beneath her she still radiated beauty. Her once boyish figure blossomed into nothing short of a temptress. Having carried and fed the two joys of his life her hips widened, her posterior gathered more substance, and her breasts grew rounder, much more now that she carried their third child, all while keeping her slender figure. The long hours she slaved in university, the stress she endured in creating her career, and finding her feet in becoming a mother didn't relinquish her timeless grace and elegance.

Mori, thankfully, also cheated the hands of time by keeping his youth woven within his matured features and peak physical shape. He once heard a rumor – or rather idle chatter – that he and Haruhi remained healthy and young because of the sincerity and fortitude of their love. His father's business partners had their doubts about the future Morinozuka heir marrying so young but considering their marriage today, no one spoke against them.

Looking into her eyes now Mori saw the evidence of their years together within the smile she offered him.

"Good morning." He murmured.
Haruhi silently giggled. After all these years his husky morning voice still charmed her.

"Good morning." She replied, snuggling herself closer into him – or as close as her belly would allow her.

His arms wrapped around her back while his leg gently squeezed between her smooth calves. For a while only their breaths could be heard while their warmth merged into a single flame. They rid the sleep from their eyes as the minutes passed, slowly introducing their tired bodies to another day. Mori turned his head to read the time again.
5:01am.

He sighed as he returned to his wife. "They'll be up soon."

Haruhi nodded and sighed as well. Their little tykes would soon be awake, ready to layer on their coats and play in the snow. They were restless little ones; also a rarity between their families. They behaved like energetic opportunists jumping at every chance to play and were unbothered by the freezing temperatures outside. Their tiny hands ached to build snowmen and throw snowballs across the front yard. Life waited for no man and their little ones were wonderful examples of that; always making the most of their minutes all the while laughing and smiling.

As if on que the couple heard two pairs of naked feet tapping on a wooden floor in the hallway. Their bedroom door cracked open as a tiny pair of lips appeared between the gap.

"Mommy?" a squeaky voice called out. The light from the hallway spilled though the crack coating their daughter in shadow.

Haruhi twisted herself around beneath the covers. "Yes Nozomi?"

"Are you awake?"

Haruhi wanted to laugh at her child's innocence but settled on a silent chuckle. She felt Mori's chest vibrate with a laugh of his own against her back.

"Yes sweetie. Daddy and I are awake."

Nozomi turned her head towards someone in the hallway attempting to whisper but her excitement failed her, "She said they're awake."

Instantly the door was pushed open and two little bodies, one with brown hair and gray eyes and one with black hair and brown eyes, scampered over to the foot of their bed. Mori and Haruhi felt their mattress dip under their children's weight as they climbed atop their sheets. Mori opened his arms for his son to crawl beside him while Haruhi scooted herself towards the edge to make room for their daughter.

"Morning!" their son, Akio, greeted rather loudly for being mere inches from his father but Mori didn't mind. He was always grateful to hear his son's voice speak in confidence.

"Morning baby!" Nozomi pressed her forehead into Haruhi's belly and wrapped her short arms around her swell. With Haruhi being 21 weeks along it gave Nozomi much to hug. The little girl molded herself around her mother's belly and pressed an ear against the exposed stretched skin. Nozomi gasped lightly at hearing the faint pattering of a heartbeat; the precious life of her baby sibling.

Akio whipped his head around to face his sister, his eyebrows furrowed together, "The baby can't hear you." He attempted to chastise but immediately regretted his actions when Mori's hand rested on top of his head – a silent warning that didn't need repeating. Akio turned around to face his father again and offered a sheepish look of remorse, not wanting to start their day with a lecture on propriety. Mori ruffled his son's wild locks, a physical trait obviously passed down by his father, as an offering of forgiveness.

It was far too early for negative emotions. Right now Mori wanted to enjoy this moment with his family. He wanted this memory to be fondly remembered; his beautiful family sharing the early morning hours together in their bed, the family he's dreamt about since he and Haruhi began dating.

"Mommy… Can I ask you something?" Nozomi timidly asked, still intently listening to life growing inside her mother.

"Yes?" Haruhi braided her fingers through her daughter's thick hair while massaging her scalp with her fingertips.

"Can you make breakfast?"

"Right now?"

"Yeah!" Nozomi's head jerked up to meet her mother's happy eyes.

"Alright then, but give daddy and I some time to get dressed." Haruhi laughed, "What do you want for breakfast?"

The question itself was futile for she already knew the answer. On cold snowy mornings like this their children craved a very specific treat. Maybe it was because this dish would be considered out of season or maybe it was because the sweet flavor combined with a fluffy texture somehow became the perfect comfort food for icy weather. Either way, it was a treat Haruhi and Mori tried to give sparingly, as not to destroy its specialty.

"Blueberry pancakes!" Nozomi and Akio answered simultaneously.

Haruhi slid a freshly fried pancake atop another and set the plate on the breakfast bar in front of Nozomi. Her daughter's delighted squeal was like music to her ears. As a mother Haruhi craved nothing more than little reassurances that she was providing her children a loving happy childhood. Her daughter's smiles and her son's giggles helped push her own childhood memories away. Being a mother often reminded her of how life was without a mother and it encouraged her to give her children everything she could. Haruhi established herself as a civil case lawyer, even starting her own law firm, but she never let her career overshadow her family. She gladly sacrificed hours in the office for her children.

Some days her children needed their mother. Their smiles wouldn't reach their eyes or they'd fidget anxiously on the bar stools, unable to touch their breakfast. When something was terribly wrong they wouldn't look her in the eyes. On those days she would pull out her cell phone without a second thought and call into work. She trusted her legal team to carry her weight for one day. Although her cases were important – some even serious – nothing could prioritize higher than her family. If she couldn't escape the demands of work she'd use her laptop while her children took their afternoon nap. Other than the few compromises she has made it clear to her legal team work will always be there in the morning but one day her children will not. One day they will attend university, move out, marry, and have families of their own. Haruhi wanted to treasure her children while they were young; when they still asked for hugs, when they proudly told her about their day in preschool, and when they still called her 'mommy'. She wanted to cherish every moment before they turned into memories.

However, today was a special day. Today her children happily dug into their breakfast; stuffing their smiling faces with forkfuls of blueberry pancakes dripping with maple syrup. Today she and Mori would later attend a casual gathering at the Suoh mansion for their friends' one year reunion.

Over the years, as each host built their individual lives, careers, and families, it became increasingly difficult to meet once a month as they used to back in university. After a few failed attempted to continue to tradition everyone voted to meet once a year. The hosts' children looked forward to playing with their cousins while the adults looked forward to catching up on life. After a few years it became less of an event and more as a holiday. Mitsukuni was the first to bear gifts; cakes from his private confectionary. The twins were next to brings gifts; leftover designs from previous seasons for the adults and children alike. Tamaki quickly caught on, claiming he wanted to be everyone's favorite uncle, and shamelessly spoiled the children with toys, candies, and stuffed animals. Haruhi and Mori decided to join – mostly due to their children begging – and created their own practice of giving the children useful and practical things like books and school supplies. Kyoya was the last to budge, finally succumbing to his wife's desire to join the fun. To everyone's surprise he bore homemade baked goods and gift certificates to Japan's finest family-friendly restaurants. The hosts suspected his wife was the true mastermind behind the gifts but no one complained, appreciating the opportunity to receive money from the shadow king.

Haruhi was pulled from her muse when Mori accidentally clanged his coffee cup against the cabinet shelf. He gave her an apologetic look before pouring himself a freshly brewed cup of coffee – black as he preferred. Haruhi, being pregnant, couldn't indulge in her precious morning caffeine so she opted for tea instead. This morning she decided to go with Jasmine tea. Its sweet floral flavor mixed well with the scent of blueberries; a combination her sensitive hormones were thankful for.

"All done!" Akio announced from behind her. Mori gave him a stern look from where he leaned against the kitchen counter and she heard Akio shift in the bar stool. "I mean… Thank you Mommy."

Haruhi turned around to collect his plate. "You're very welcome." She began running the tap to fill the sink with soapy water for the dirty dishes. Akio's sticky syrup-coated plate would need a few minutes in warm water to soak anyway.

"Daddy?" Nozomi asked with a mouthful of food.

Mori noted to correct her manners later but for now gave her his attention.
"Will we see Uncle Hunny today?"

Mori nodded, taking another sip from his coffee.

Nozomi smiled wide, revealing mushy blueberries spilling from her gapped baby teeth. Haruhi could only laugh at her daughter's enthusiastic ignorance. She grabbed a clean dish towel from a kitchen drawer, wet it under warm water, and gently wiped away the mess now staining Nozomi's chin. Although a wet towel crossed her daughter's mouth it wouldn't stop her from trying to speak.

"Will… mmh… will we get… mmh… presents?" Nozomi asked while fighting Haruhi's endeavors.

"You will if you hold still." Haruhi said, wiping away the drool forming at the edge of Nozomi's mouth. She turned the towel over for a dry piece of cloth and dried the wet streaks on her face. When Nozomi was satisfyingly clean again Haruhi returned to the sink to finish the dishes.

"Mitsukuni said he'll be here in an hour." Mori informed his wife before finishing off his coffee.

Haruhi nodded and took his empty cup from his hand. Mori pushed himself off the counter and joined her at the sink, slipping his hands past her waist and settling on her belly. He kissed the top of her head as his expression of gratitude for a lovely morning. He wanted to offer more. He wanted to travel his kisses down to her neck and nibble on her succulent skin the way he used to before the twins were born but he wouldn't in front of his children. They wouldn't understand that love between a husband and wife was a beautiful thing. They would simply interpret it as nasty cooties. They were too young and pure to understand such things but a quick kiss on the head was harmless enough.

"Then I should start getting the kids dressed now. Once Ren and Jiro come over they will be too excited to listen to me." Haruhi said as she drained the water in the sink.

Hunny's sons, Ren and Jiro, were rambunctious tykes with the same bubbly energy their father exercised in high school. The Haninozuka boys were a few years older than the twins but they've been best friends since they were in diapers. This year, however, marked a milestone for the boys. Hunny deemed them old enough to begin training in karate. The Haninozukas and Morinozukas quickly learned that not only did they inherit Hunny's blonde hair and sweet tooth but also his superhuman agility. Within months they were able to bust down doors and punch holes in the walls. They've calmed down a great deal after many, many disciplines from both Hunny and Mori but once in a while their youthful energy would get the best of them and something will break.

"Mmh." Mori said and rounded the breakfast counter. With one single swoop he gathered his children in his arms, one sitting on each forearm, and carried them to their shared bedroom. Haruhi heard Nomozi's and Akio's laughter echoing down the hallway. They loved being whisked away by their strong father. Haruhi sighed, wishing they could stay this little forever.

"Do you think the twins would care if I wore an old maternity dress rather than the new ones they dropped off last week?" Haruhi asked while sizing a long purple patterned dress against her robe in the closet mirror.

Mori looked up from where he sat at the foot of their bed and casually shook his head. Of course Mori knew the twins would comment on Haruhi's decision to forgo their newest maternity clothing line, which they generously gifted her last week, but if Haruhi wanted to wear something comfortable and familiar then he would support her by not saying otherwise. Besides, he enjoyed seeing her dressed in purple. The royal color did well in complimenting his queen.

"I know they'll say something but I don't want them to get upset about it." Haruhi turned to study her husband's expression. She knew Mori wouldn't hesitate to agree with her but his eyes betrayed his good intentions, always hinting at what he truly felt. Right now she saw a pinch of doubt.

"They're going to be upset, aren't they?"

Mori sighed through his nose and stood from the bed. He joined Haruhi by the mirror and extended an open hand for the dress. When Haruhi handed him the fabric he draped it over his shoulder.

"Don't worry about them. I want you to be comfortable." He assured her while his hands found her waist, feeling her slender figure through the fuzzy micro-fleece robe. His fingers trailed the belt that wrapped above her belly until his fingertips found the knot settled beneath her breasts. Carefully he untied it and allowed the robe's flaps to swing open, revealing her nakedness. Her cheeks blushed at being exposed while goosebumps traveled up her spine. He smiled down at her and gently pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms protectively around her. The swell of their child pressed into him and he gripped her a little tighter, thankful for this woman who bore his children. In this moment he understood pure happiness for it was nestled within his arms. Instinct led his lips to find hers and slowly he savored her, hoping to convey just how much he loved her. His tongue tasted the remnants of jasmine tea on hers as his kiss spoke on his behalf, wordlessly reciting poetry.

When the need for oxygen became too great he released her lips and pulled her back so he could see her beautiful eyes. As always they shimmered like two pools of milk chocolate, teasing Mori's rare sweet tooth.

"Let's get you dressed." He grabbed the dress still draped over his shoulder and began scrunching the fabric with his hands until it resembled a wrinkled halo while Haruhi let the robe pool around her feet. He nodded his head upward to signal for Haruhi to raise her arms and when she did he slid the dress over her head and let it cascade over her legs. The flexible cotton-wool fabric hugged her every curve before waterfalling past her hips. He noticed, with satisfaction, that her purple dress matched well with his dark jeans and tucked in gray long-sleeved button down.

"You're beautiful." Mori smiled.

Haruhi blushed again, "You always say that. Honestly I could wear a plastic bag and you'd probably tell me I'm beautiful." She teased him.

Mori shrugged, "I'd prefer you without anything on."

Haruhi laughed at her husband's bluntness. After all these years together they had rubbed off on each other in more ways than one. Mori learned to express his thoughts and emotions more directly with her while Haruhi learned to speak more with her eyes than her lips. They never expected to learn each other's mannerisms but like in all healthy marriages they mirrored each other's attributes.

A loud crash sounded from downstairs but neither former host flinched. Instead they mentally noted to call their handyman tomorrow about the damages. Unfortunately, having their front door kicked down wasn't an unusual reason for their services. After the fifth time it became the common house-call.

"Mommy! Daddy! They're here!" Akio shouted from the hallway as he ran towards the stairwell. Nozomi's footsteps echoed close behind him, along with her giggles.

"We really need to invest in an unbreakable door." Haruhi noted.

"I don't know… they'd probably see it as a challenge." Mori replied with a smile.

"Haru-chan? Takashi? Reiko and I are in the living room!" Hunny called from the bottom of the stairwell.

"Better not leave them waiting." Haruhi playfully shook her head and quickly decided which shoe to wear with her dress. After Mori helped her with her socks and wedged ankle boots he followed her out of the bedroom, closing the door behind them.

Haruhi and Mori found Hunny sitting beside his lovely wife Reiko on the sectional as they watched the children run around the living room. Jiro was chasing Nozomi with a plastic spider while Akio and Ren wrestled on the carpeted floor beside the love seat.

"Takashi! Haru-chan! It's been a while since we've seen you!" Hunny greeted them as he stood from his seat and walked over with arms stretched wide. He hugged Haruhi first, careful not to squeeze her too hard – or as hard as he used to in high school – and gave Takashi a stronger hug, silently reliving the days he would climb Mori's tall stature to sit atop his shoulders. Reiko also stood and politely bowed her greeting. She didn't change much since high school, the only obvious difference being her choice in fashion. She still chose to wear dark mute colors but once in a while she'll throw on something red or blue, to appease Hunny's eye for color. Other than that her hairstyle and dedication to the art of black magic remained consistent. Haruhi first saw them as an odd couple but as the years rolled by she slowly realized just how well they complimented each other. They were two ends of a spectrum and somehow they managed to meet in the middle. If that didn't tell of how their strong love Haruhi didn't know what would.

Haruhi made her way to the couch and sat down with Reiko. The two women quietly caught up on the children's progress, business, and life in general while Mori and Hunny acted as protectors in the archway, observing the scene before them.

"Look at us, Takashi. Two married men with families. Did you know this is how life would turn out back in high school?" Hunny looked up at his stoic friend. Since graduation Hunny grew an extra three inches, making his height settle beneath Mori's ribcage. Hunny was grateful for the unexpected growth spurt, for Reiko's sake. He always felt like a man, especially after embracing his true nature and accepting his love for all things sweet and cute, but now that he stood three inches taller he gushed with a new sense of pride.

"No." Mori answered.

Hunny felt confused, "You didn't see yourself married to Haru-chan and having a family with her?"

Mori shook his head, "That's not what I meant. I didn't know I could be this… happy. Everything we have exceeds every boyish dream I had in high school. I didn't know making a life with Haruhi would be this fulfilling."

Hunny smiled with an audible mhm and returned his attention to their children playing on the floor. Jiro was now reading Nozomi a picture book about two toads while Akio and Ren moved on to arm wrestling. They were beautiful children, all having inherited their parents' most prominent qualities. The Haninozuka boys had shaggy blonde hair, like their father, and dark rounded eyes, like their mother. They would surely grow into handsome young men. The Morinozuka children were also a sight to behold. Nozomi had large dark doe eyes with soft black hair that reached her shoulders. Akio acquired his father's steely gray eyes and wild brown hair that no matter how many times Haruhi tried to tame with a hairbrush always bounced back to its spikey nature.

"You know, I told you so Takashi." Hunny said, not taking his eyes off Ren and Akio as they agreed on another match.

Mori looked down, "Told me what?"

"I told you Haruhi would make beautiful Morinozukas."

Mori was instantly reminded of their conversation all those years ago in his bedroom. He remembered how his cousin's cheekiness made him feel so embarrassed and uncomfortable. At that time he and Haruhi practiced abstinence and he couldn't allow himself to think of such things. But right now he didn't feel embarrassed. In fact, he felt like laughing because he had to agree with his short cousin.

"By the way Mitsukuni, you owe us another door." Mori stated matter-of-factly, successfully changing the subject.

Hunny shrugged, "We knew they'd bun-bun kick the front door down. We came over with a replacement. I already put it up." Hunny looked up at Mori again, "Sorry about that. My boys don't know their own strength yet."

Mori chuckled, "Some things never change, then."

Haruhi turned around in the front passenger seat to face her children in the backseat.

"Please remember your manners. Say thank you when your uncles give you presents, don't open them right away unless they tell you to, and at least taste everything that is served to you."

Her children nodded their heads in response and kicked their legs in anticipation for what was to come. Everyone looked forward to Host Club Reunion, as it was formally named it. With Christmas around the corner Host Club Reunion was the children's second favorite holiday. The chance to play with their cousins while receiving gifts and eating delicious foods at Uncle Tamaki's mansion was something they looked forward to all year.

Mori brought the car around the Suoh's circular drive and parked in front of the main entrance, Hunny's car closely following behind.

"Akio, help me carry the gift bags." Mori ordered his son as he unbuckled himself and climbed out of the car. He quickly stepped to Haruhi's door and extended his hand to her, helping her out of her seat. Then he and Haruhi moved to unbuckle Nozomi and Akio from their car seats and helped them down as well. Akio followed Mori to the trunk while Nozomi found her mother's hand. Jiro and Ren raced from the backseat and joined Haruhi and Nozomi, leaving Hunny and Reiko still sitting in the car without the chance to unbuckle yet.

A few minutes later the Morinozukas and Haninozukas walked together towards the front double doors. As they approached the lion knockers a butler opened the door, ushering them inside with a smile.

"Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Morinozuka. It's a pleasure to see you again." The butler greeted as he took the box of gift bags from Mori and the few bags in Akio's small hands. "I will place these with the rest of the gifts." He turned to address Hunny and Reiko, "Mr. and Mrs. Haninozuka, it's a pleasure as well. Please make yourselves at home. Master Tamaki and Lady Cecil are in the main living room. The children are allowed to play in the entertainment room."

"Let's go Daddy!" Akio squealed, trying to push Mori forward by leaning against his legs.

"We need to say hello to Uncle Tamaki and Aunt Cecil first." Haruhi instructed.

"Our cakes will be delivered by my head patisserie within the hour. Who else has arrived?" Hunny asked the butler.

"Thank you sir, we will happily accept them. As for our guests; Mr. and Mrs. Ootori and the Hitachiin brothers."

Haruhi gasped, "You mean we're the last ones to arrive?"

Hunny laughed, "That's what happens when kids are involved Haru-chan. Schedules just don't apply the same when you have little muskrats."

"Come on, let's meet the others." Mori said, placing his hand on Haruhi's back.

The group traveled through the winding hallways and stairwells until they found a familiar door leading to a familiar room. The children recognized it right away and raced ahead, throwing the door wide open and stampeding into the room. Seconds later Tamaki's gleeful shriek pierced the atmosphere followed by many overlapping voices yelling, "Uncle Tamaki!" The adults caught up at the doorway and saw Tamaki helplessly buried underneath four small bodies on his red velvet couch, his wife Cecil laughing beside him.

"You all have gotten so big!" Tamaki cooed, finally able to pop his head above the squirming bodies.

"I grew the most!" Jiro announced proudly, completely unaware if his statement held an ounce of truth.

"Well I'm the smartest!" Ren rebutted, sensing the tension of competition.

"I ate all my breakfast today." Akio bragged.

"Mommy brushed my hair!" Nozomi said, unsure how to add to the list of accomplishments. She was just happy with how Haruhi parted her hair today.

Mori heard a second pair of voices on the other side of the room and turned to see Kyoya and his wife of five years, Jin, snickering on a love seat, very much enjoying the show before them. They didn't have children of their own yet, saying they were waiting for business to coast at a certain level in the stock market before investing in a family. It was a weird goal but a few former hosts believed Kyoya was just nervous to have children, afraid to one day become like his father; a cruel perfectionist. His time in America helped him learn to love and accept himself which ultimately helped him create deeper and more meaningful friendships when he returned to Japan, even mending his friendships with the hosts, but that is not to say that somewhere buried deep inside was his father's conditioning. That was what probably scared Kyoya the most.

"Where are Uncle Hikaru and Uncle Kaoru?" Ren asked, looking around the room.

"They're in the entertainment room playing with Adelyn and Josette." Cecil answered for Tamaki.

The Suoh heiresses were Tamaki's pride and joy. His daughters inherited his crystalline blue eyes and their mother's red curly hair. Since Tamaki didn't have to wait till after university to marry he was the first to have children. His daughters aged ten and nine now acted as the Suoh name's future.

The children quickly demounted the couch and ran into the hallway towards the room to their left where the Hitachiin twins were most likely playing ice hockey with the Suoh girls. A few minutes later more yelling and joyous squeals echoed through the walls.

Mori led Haruhi toward an available couch cushion and sat beside her with his arm draped around her shoulders. He breathed in the familiarity of having everyone together in the same room, sitting on velvety couches, and preparing to entertain each other for the evening. The only difference between tonight and the many afternoons spend in the Host Club was the absence of their guests. Tonight, it was going to be about them.

"How is business Kyo-chan?" Hunny asked his raven haired friend.

Kyoya smiled and nodded, "Business is fine. We've managed to increase revenue and popularity in our artificial beach location in Canada. Apparently, people who live in snow are attracted to warm weather."

"Who would have thought?" Tamaki chimed in, oblivious to Kyoya's sarcasm. "The Canadians are so devout to their snowy mountains. I wouldn't have guessed they'd flock towards beaches."

Kyoya shrugged, "I suppose one can only ski so much before their legs go numb." He slightly shifted himself to address the person to his left. "Mori, how are your dojos? I read in the paper one of your students made it to Kendo Nationals. Congratulations."

Mori nodded, "Thank you. Yes, we are very proud of her winning the title. And business is well. We've opened another dojo in Northern Japan though I won't personally oversee it. A family friend will run it in my place."

Mori, as head of the Morinozuka family, was charged with maintaining and flourishing their dojos. The Morinozuka name alone attracted many kendo practitioners but the integrity and respect taught within their dojos was what gave them an honorable status in society. Mori worked hard every day to carry on his family's legacy. He often trained with his students in morning sessions with historical classes in the afternoon. When he wasn't working in the dojos he could be found in his office a few minutes from his home reviewing contracts and renewing partnerships for the Hainozuka family, making decent use of his law degree. Usually he arrived home in need of a hot shower and fresh clothes, luxuries Haruhi liked to prepare on their bed for him before she left for her own work.

"And how are you doing Haruhi?" Jin asked.

Haruhi folded her hands on her belly and smiled, "Pregnant… again." She laughed. "I am well, thank you. My law firm is surprisingly slow this season. Usually we are bombarded with small cases like accidents related to ice and petty robberies before Christmas, but not this year. My employees are thankful for it though. I guess that means more people are finally getting along."

Tamaki chuckled, "Wouldn't that be great? I wish everyone got along. The world would be so much nicer."

Kyoya adjusted his glasses with his middle finger, inadvertently glaring them underneath the florescent light. "Sadly they will remain wishes Tamaki. Please don't raise your daughters to believe the world is their oyster. The times are changing."

Tamaki crossed his arms with a scowl to match his distaste for Kyoya's comment. "Well Kyoya, when you have children of your own you can raise them however you want."

"Well actually…" Jin said meekly, rubbing her abdomen with her right hand.

Cecil gasped, "Do you mean it! Are you saying…"

"We're pregnant." Jin announced with a wide smile. Kyoya grinned beside her, lowering his head as if embarrassed by all the eyes now paying close attention to him.

"Congratulations!" Haruhi said blithely.

Cecil jumped from her seat and ran toward Jin, capturing her in a seated hug. Cecil and Tamaki were evenly matched in many ways, including their eccentric personalities.

"What's going on?" Hikaru asked as he joined them in the living room, Kaoru following on his heel.

"Hikaru, Kaoru, nice of you to finally join the adults." Kyoya teased.

"You're just jealous you can't have fun like us." Hikaru sneered.

Hikaru and Kaoru were the only hosts who remained bachelors. It wasn't that they were put off by the idea of marriage but simply haven't found the right girls yet – not that they were actively looking anyway. They've completely engrossed themselves into the world of fashion; debuting seasonal lines, competing world-wide with their special collections, and even developing a school dedicated to the art of fashion. They were busy men who also claimed Japan's title of Most Desirable Bachelors. Women fawned over them left and right but the twins couldn't build a connection. The furthest they've ever gone in terms of a relationship were one-night stands. Beyond that, no one could understand them the way Haruhi did. In a sense, Haruhi has unintentionally ruined all other women for them but they would never let her know this.

"Jin just announced they're pregnant!" Cecil cheered, still hugging Jin in a tight embrace with their cheeks smashed together.

"Good for you man, honestly had no idea you had in it ya." Kaoru needled.

Kyoya shot him one of his infamous shadow king glares accompanied with his trademarked eyeglass glint. Kaoru immediately surrendered his taunting with raised hands and made his way over to Tamaki's couch.

"How are you two?" Haruhi asked.

Hikaru smirked and waved his brother to join him on the couch. "We're fine Haruhi, although we would be better if you chose to wear one of the dresses we dropped off last week."

Kaoru sat beside his brother and crossed his legs. "Yeah, what gives? We put a lot of work into designing those outfits for you. We were hoping you'd wear one tonight, preferably the sakura print."

"I wanted to relax tonight. Being pregnant is uncomfortable enough and I didn't want to break in a new dress. Besides, it's freezing outside and most of those dresses didn't go below my knees."

Hikaru sighed, "You still don't understand fashion… after all these years of dressing you up…"

"I don't need you guys dressing me up. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, thank you." She sulked.

"Well someone has to or else you'd wear turtlenecks and kakis." Kaoru grumbled.

Tamaki cleared his throat, "Well since everyone is here, may I suggest we move this party to the dining room? I've selected a wonderful spread for tonight; rack of lamb with merlot glaze with fondant potatoes and grilled asparagus. Haruhi, I've had a chef prepare you a non-alcoholic entrée just in case you felt uneasy about it."

Haruhi nodded gratefully and allowed Mori to help her off the couch. Her uneven distribution of weight caught her off balance momentarily but Mori held her firmly upright until she stopped feeling dizzy. Her hormones always seemed to attack at the worst times.

"Gosh, how much bigger are you gonna get Haruhi? You're not that far along." Hikaru blurted out as he pushed himself off the couch.

Mori shot him a warning look but surprisingly Haruhi laughed.

"I don't know Hikaru. Sometimes I feel like she's going to be worse than the twins."

Everyone paused in their steps and whipped around to face Mori and Haruhi.

"She?" Nearly everyone questioned in unison, excluding Kyoya and Reiko.

Haruhi blushed and used her hand to cover her mouth. "Woops, I wasn't supposed to say anything until dinner." She sheepishly glanced at Mori expecting to see disappointment etched in his eyes but she could only find amusement. Apparently he found it funny she spilled the beans an hour early.

"We're having another girl." Mori told his friends, still looking at his ravishing wife below him.

"Well that's wonderful!" Cecil cheered. "Do you have a name picked out yet?"

Haruhi managed to draw her eyes away from her handsome husband and looked at her friends who stood frozen in their tread. She surveyed the many faces before her, some smiling and some indifferent, and felt an overwhelming flow of contentment. They waited for her to respond with eager eyes, not because they were merely curious because they loved her and wanted to celebrate with her. Who would have thought that breaking a vase would catapult her into a life filled with happiness, friendships, and love.

"Yes. We will name her Kotoko."

The rest of the evening found the former hosts laughing and enjoying every minute spent with each other. They told stories of their glorious high school years when they prowled the hallways as Ouran's most desirable men (and woman) because of their flag-raising Host Club. They shared embarrassing stories about each other like when Tamaki almost fell victim to the Newspaper Club's lies or when Kyoya unintentionally sent the onion squad after Mori. They reminisced on their least fondest memories like when the twins pretended to be incestuous homosexuals and when Haruhi had to dress as a boy.

They talked about everything and anything that came to mind, keeping the conversations alive no matter how silly or boring the topics were. Although most of the hosts had children who needed to be in bed soon no one wanted to leave. No one wanted to bid farewell for another year. What sat in their company weren't just friends… They were a family. They loved each other, supported each other, and protected each other. They've adopted each other as their own flesh and blood, forever bound by a single string that was the Host Club, and they couldn't dream of an alternative outcome in their lives. For them, this is what they understood as pure happiness.

Haruhi and Mori were the first to leave. They said their goodbyes and offered their hugs. Some tears were shed but were quickly replaced with smiles and encouraging expectations for next year. Mori gathered his tired children in his arms and by the time they mazed through the Suoh mansion and reached their car Nozomi and Akio were fast asleep. For Haruhi it was a sight to behold; her doting husband gently carrying her sleeping children. For her, the night couldn't have ended any sweeter.

Mori carefully slid them into their car seats and buckled them in, lightly patting their heads before clicking the car doors shut. Haruhi finished loading the leftover strawberry cake Hunny insisted they took home into the trunk and joined Mori in the car. Thankfully he had the heat warming everything up.

"That was fun." Haruhi said, almost with a hint of sadness.

Mori could only guess it was due to not wanting to leave. He leaned over the front seat and planted a haste kiss on her cheek. When she turned to him he captured her lips with his own, this time not pulling away. He suckled on her soft lips, tasting a hint of the hot chocolate she had with dessert. She quietly moaned into his mouth which provoked his hand to find the nape of her neck and pull her closer. Her lips parted inviting him to taste her and he greedily obliged. He ensnared her tongue with his, letting her warmth consume his senses as she surrendered to his endeavors. His other hand moved to cradle her jaw and he tilted her head slightly to travel his heated kisses along her jawline and around her cheek. After all these years she still managed to leave him breathless, leave him begging for more. Even as pregnant as she was he craved her. He craved every inch of her, enough to drive a man insane.

He finally pulled back to admire the woman who sat beside him. Her bright brown eyes reflected subtle moonlight, her supple lips were swollen from his hunger, her cheeks were blushed enough to notice in the dim light, and her long hair stuck to the back of her neck thanks to his traveling hands. She was beautiful. She was his comfort, his refuge, his peace. She welcomed him home with open arms, cared for him and their children the best she could, all the while serving Japan as a lawyer. She was selfless, determined, and all his. She was perfect.

He loved this woman.

Gosh he loved this woman.

And he couldn't imagine life without her.

The. End.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for following this story until the very end. This was my very first OHSHC and MorixHaru fan-fic and I truly appreciate all of the support and love this story received. Thank you for joining me on this journey and I pray to the good Lord above that you enjoyed this story.

A few notes I would like to address;
- I understand in the manga Hunny is the first to marry but in my story I made it Tamaki, purely so his daughters were older than everyone else.
- Kotoko is the name of Haruhi's deceased mother.
- "Nozomi" is supposed to mean hope and well wishes. (This one is for you Devil101)- Also, them having twins were also included because of our lovely MollyMuffinHead and FromTheInsideOut2.
- Mori and Haruhi live in their own home. They no longer like with their parents. Although it is customary for the Japanese to live as a family. So they still live on the Morinozuka compound, just in a separate home to themselves.

I love you all and I thank you again! Live merry lives until we meet again!