Chapter 11

The Thunder Rolls

Haruhi shivered more drastically as she heard the first distant peel of thunder. Honey just tugged harder. Desperate to go the 5 blocks to his house before disaster. He would rather have gone to Haruhi's, since his dad hadn't seemed to enthusiastic about her coming home with him last night, but desperate times and all that. Besides, it wasn't like he'd have sex with her in this state anyway.

Another distant thunder sounded, closer this time. Honey watched the sky nervously as he counted. 1, 2, 3, 4,... The sky flashed dully. 4 miles, not enough time. He tugged harder, him and Haruhi falling into a jog. He looked back at her and noticed tears starting to run down her face. Stupid, he berated himself, I should've called my driver. We'd be home by now.

As the drizzle turned into a downpour with a crack of thunder, Haruhi came to a stop with a scream. She knelt down pulling her hand from his and covering her ears. Honey cursed again. His house was in sight but there'd be no getting Haruhi moving again. Fortunately, he was stronger than he looked from years of martial arts. He scooped her up in his arms and ran, carrying her delicately in the bridal style.

As he ran up the drive he saw a welcome sight. The front door was opened and Takashi stood beside it looking worried. If he had come over to wait, than he had probably explained the problem to his father already. Honey darted up the porch steps, then slowed to go through the door, careful not to bump Haruhi's cowering body into the door frame.

He slipped out of his loafers, but in the precarious balance he had with Haruhi's weight he decided to forgo his house slippers and padded up the stairs in his socks, Takashi walking behind him and moving ahead to open the door to his bedroom. As he lay Haruhi on the bed, Takashi removed Haruhi's sneakers and placed both Honey's and the guest pair of slippers by the bed then disappearing without a sound, closing the door behind him.

Honey climbed onto the bed and slid his arms gently around Haruhi. Feeling her now quaking body and her racing heart, he whispered gently in her ear. "I'm here, I'll protect you forever." He tightened his grip fractionally as the thunder roared and Haruhi gave a small despairing scream. Honey had had dreams like this, and had written a poem afterwards. He began to recite it in her ear.

Never fear my dear,

I'm here.

The thunder rolls,

But in my arms you'll fold.

I'll hold you tight,

And gone will be the fright.

I'll hold you through the night,

and fight the shadows with all my might.

Tommorow the sun will shine,

And you'll be fine.

Haruhi's shivering began to subside, though she continued to cry softly. The Thunder always made her feel so helpless, and she hated being that way in front of people. But she felt better that this was Honey. he didn't judge her, and she felt safer in his arms than she had when Hikaru held her last time. Here was someone who not only loved her, but would truly protect her.

As Honey began to repeat the poem in a sing-song sort of voice, almost crooning to her, she began to feel something new. For the first time she could remember the storm wasn't so scary. She still flinched each time the thunder boomed out, but for the first time she could remember the thunder didn't completely erase all thought.

She snuggled into his body as her tears subsided slowly. Without even knowing when it happened, she fell asleep for the first time during a storm.

A/N: That's where I'm going to end this story. I had contemplated another steamy sex scene, and maybe Haruhi becoming pregnant, but I think it would spoil everything I added.