Morning came, and for a moment Haruhi could not remember where she was or why she was there. She looked around at this unfamiliar environment and thought the Hitachiin twins were playing another trick on her. Then her memory finally popped back into her brain. This was the hotel room she stayed in last night because Tamaki had struck her. She checked the clock; the glowing LED numbers read nine in the morning. Surely after a night of drinking, Tamaki would not wake up this early. She didn't have time to bring a change of clothes last night, so she just had to head back with whatever she was wearing the day before.

"It's Saturday, the children don't have school today. They're probably sleeping in." She told herself. She needed to get there as soon as possible and retrieve her kids. Tamaki wasn't pretty when he was hung over. She hopped in her car back to what was supposed to be her warm and loving home. She planned on changing that. She got her key and slowly unlocked the door. With the most careful movements, she opened the front door and tiptoed over to over to the stairs. On her way there, she saw Tamaki on the couch and gasped as she waited for him to yell at her. She realized however, he was still passed out.

"Oh, I think he was waiting for me to come home…" She whispered to herself. There was much sadness in her sigh as she thought twice about gathering up the kids and leaving. No, this time, he hit you. What if next time, he hits one of your children? As long as he drinks, it can happen! She thought to herself. Finally, she gathered enough courage to ascend up the stair case and go back to their bedroom. When she heard the door creak open, she thought she was reliving the previous night. The image of Tamaki hitting her across the face flashed across her sight. After shaking off that terrifying moment, she filled up a small bag with her bare necessities and a few spare changes of clothes.

After getting her things and changing out of last night's clothes, she slowly approached Emiko and Keiko's rooms and gently woke them up.

"Momma…what's going on?" They had both asked. With calm eyes, she told them to get their belongings because they were going on a trip. Then she walked over to little Masashi room, but couldn't bring herself to wake him from his peaceful sleep to be the bearer of bad news. She decided to pack up his things herself and carry him back to the car without waking him. As she and all the children walked out the door, Emiko asked "Isn't Dad coming with us?"

"I'll wake him!" exclaimed little Keiko started to rush back to her father.

"No!" Haruhi snapped as she grabbed her middle child's shoulder. The two little blonde girls stared up at their mother in confusion.

"Daddy…isn't allowed to go on this trip. He's on punishment." She tried to explain in the gentlest way possible. Once everything was loaded in the car, Masashi rubbed his eyes as he awoke from his sleep.

"Momma, where are we going?"

"To a friend's house, sweetheart."

"Where's Daddy?"

"Daddy's not coming because he's being punished." Keiko explained.

"Mom, what exactly did Dad do?" Emiko asked. She was nine-years-old; she couldn't be as easily fooled as her younger siblings.

"Let's just say, he broke my most important rule." Haruhi gulped as she tried to keep herself from crying from in front of her children. For the rest of the way, everyone was silent. After a long drive, they finally pulled up in front of a large, luxurious house. The kids stayed in the car as Haruhi went to the door. She was hesitant yet simultaneously anxious to ring the doorbell. She didn't know how to explain this to…

"Haruhi? What on earth brings you to my house so early in the morning?" Kyouya asked once he answered the door.

"I'm sorry to disturb you…may the children and I come in?"

"Of course, of course…come in. I'll have the maids bring you some hot tea." Kyouya offered graciously as he took Haruhi by the hand and led her inside. Two servants brought the children in from the car. Kyouya and Haruhi walked into the lavish living area and placed themselves the fancy cushions of an expensive, imported couch.

"Children, feel free to roam around the house while your mother and I talk." Kyouya told the three bright-eyed faces that reminded him so much Tamaki. As soon as he said the last word, all three shot upstairs giggling and racing to the top. Soon enough, it was only Haruhi and Kyouya in the room. As much as it seemed to be just a friendly visit, Kyouya could feel the stressful tension in Haruhi's body.

"Those are some lovely children you have there, Haruhi."

"You would know; you are their godfather."

"So, what brings the Lady of the Suou household with the company of her children, but not her husband?"

"I…I got into a fight with Tamaki. We're…not exactly seeing eye to eye with one another."

"Please do tell." Kyouya frowned. He inspected Haruhi and she certainly didn't look well. Her eyelids were dark and swollen as if she'd had a restless night and her hair was not properly fixed. Also, she had this depressing aura around her that seemed to darken everything around her. This must've been an intense fight.

"Oh, you should have seen him, Kyouya. He wasn't pleased at all! And it wasn't just last night; we've been having these arguments for years!"

"Is that so? You two have always seemed like the perfect couple to me. What appears to be the problem?"

"He… wants me to stay home as a fulltime housewife."

"That's very unreasonable." He chuckled at the very thought of Haruhi being a giddy, barefoot and pregnant homemaker spending her days in the kitchen.

"He wants me to leave my job!"

"A woman can have a career if it pleases her."

"Exactly! I knew you'd understand, but Tamaki…well, you know how he has his little fantasy world. I used to wonder if it was the real me he loved, and not just some dolled up little avatar of me in his imagination."

"Yes, he does tend to do that quite often. He rejects the real world and replaces it with his own perception of reality. He has for as long as I've known him, setting up the host club as a substitute family. I thought he'd grow out of it once he gained a real family, you and your children, but I guess some things never…Why, Haruhi? My dear Haruhi… are you crying?" Kyouya gently lifted her chin with two fingers to discover two salty streams flowing towards the marble floors from her doe-eyes. Haruhi had been holding them back for a while now, but her friend's logical speech had elicited her tears from her broken heart.

In a moment of complete hopelessness, Haruhi leaped into Kyouya's arms and clutched to his lean shoulders.

"I'm…I'm leaving Tamaki, Kyouya…" she whispered gently into his chest, "I wanted to tell you first. He hit me, Kyouya. He hit me right in the face. He was so drunk and I…" she began to bawl into her shocked friend, whose arms wrapped around her in a comforting embrace.

"Shhh…It's alright, now…" He tried to comfort her. His gaze stared out into pure air as he took in the shocking revelation. His best friend?

"How…how could he do such a thing?! You poor delicate woman… That is unforgivable. Why, that's not Tamaki at all! Still, are you sure a divorce is the answer?" Kyouya inquired as he firmly pat her on the back. She looked up into his dark eyes with a sharp lump in her throat.

"I…I don't know…I don't know what to think anymore. I… I love him! Look at the beautiful life we've made together, but… the last thing I want to be is the abused wife of a drunk. He's been drinking for 5 years, Kyouya, five years! It's never turned into anything until…" The lump in her throat was too big for her to continue. Her head fell into Kyouya's chest again as she melted into his lap. He looked down at his miserable friend and stroked her hair gently. He also rubbed her back some, a very handy skill he learned from one of the hospitals his family owned. He let her rest there and cry for a good few minutes. When he grew concerned that the children would find their mother broken in their godfather's arms, he picked her up and carried her to a more private room, which his mansion was filled with.

"If you wish, you may stay here for as long as you need to. No one is forcing you to decide right now what you will do. A divorce is a very serious matter that requires…"

"Time and heavy consideration. I know that much, I can't tell you how many clients I've had to explain that to!" She tried to chuckle some, but failed. She sniffled some more and finally took a deep calming breath.

"Thank you, Kyouya. I really appreciate it. I…I don't think I'm in any condition to go to work today…"

"I completely understand. If you need anything at all, please feel free to ask me."

"You're so good to us, Kyouya. Is there any way I can repay your kindness?" Haruhi asked.

"Hmmm…I'll come up with something." Kyouya grinned half-jokingly as his gaze inspected Haruhi head to toe.