I am fictionalizing a large part of this chapter. I don't know if the placed that I have written in this story really do exist, but for the purposed of my writing they do.Enjoy the last chapter.
If Haruhi was a little slow entering Ouran the morning of February fourteenth was anyone really going to blame her? Tamaki and the twins had been pestering her for the past several weeks about needing a gift of chocolate from their beloved daughter/friend, and even Hunny had been asking if she was going to give anything to him. She had planned on giving him something, but wasn't Valentines day about giving something special to the one you were in love with? Giving something to all her friends, it just seemed, trivial. Hotaru and Sakura had offered to help her make chocolates but Haruhi had refused their help. She appreciated the thought, but wouldn't it be a little weird for Takashi to receive chocolates from Haruhi that his mother and his aunt had helped to make? The women had conceded the point, and Haruhi had gotten to make her chocolates in relative peace. She had to call Suoh-sama and ask her, ever so politely, if there was a kitchen in one of the mansions that she could use. Suoh-sama had ever so politely inquired as to why Haruhi could not use her own kitchen. When it was explained that she was being pressured to make Valentines chocolates for the host club members in addition to those for Takashi, and that she wished to finished them before the summer, Suoh-sama had been very accommodating. She had invited Hotaru and Sakura over for tea as well, so the three sipped their tea and chatted with Haruhi as she worked. Tamaki had called Haruhi's cell phone repeatedly, wondering where his precious daughter was, and after the twelfth interruption of the conversation Suoh-sama had ever so calmly answered the phone and informed her nephew to leave the poor girl alone. She was obvio1usly busy and his calling her repeatedly would only lengthen the amount of time that she would be unavailable. Her boyfriend was not calling her obsessively, and the Suoh heir should have more restraint than that with a woman whose affections were otherwise occupied. Haruhi had giggled as she had heard him sputter in response, and thanked the matriarch for her efforts.
That intervention was the only reason that Haruhi had made any chocolates. The members of the host club were getting six chocolates each. No more. No less. Mori would get his chocolates later, when he and Haruhi had their date. A date that none of the club members were allowed to know about. Not even Hunny, until the date was over, and they could no longer be interrupted. And they both knew it would happen. One way or another. It WOULD happen.
Haruhi shifted the grocery bag from one arm to another. The chocolates were heavier than she would have liked. But Hotaru and Sakura had insisted on wrapping the chocolates up for her. Haruhi had not argued, because they were so sweet about it, and it allowed her to focus her attention on the gift that she was actually giving Takashi. They were taking a picnic basket of food and going up to Tokyo tower. There was an observation deck, and Haruhi had allowed Takashi to reserve a private viewing room on the observation deck for them as long as she was allowed to prepare all the food for the occasion. He had agreed, relieved that she would allow him even this much extravagance.
She had been more withdrawn these past few weeks, the sadness that he had felt in the garden lingering. He knew that her brain was still going with the whatifs and thoughts of her mother. How would her father be different if her mother were still alive? Would he be more of a father instead of trying to replace her mother? Would he be more Ryoji and less Ranka? Would Haruhi even be at Ouran, would she have such a drive to be like her mother?
"Mother in heaven, please let this day go well." Haruhi's words slipped silently through her lips as she entered the school grounds. She would need the patience to deal with her friends and her designators today as they all tried to pry her plans for the evening out of her. A few of the designators had realized that Haruhi and Mori-senpai were dating, and it was the same group who was aware that Haruhi was a female. No one made issue of it, for Haruhi was a good friend, and she allowed them a means to express themselves and someone to squee and moe over and converse with, that the bounds of their families and upbringing might not otherwise allow. She had stayed late at school with several of the students earlier that week, helping them make chocolates for their friend and boyfriends. Mori had wandered into the room while they were cooking and settled into a chair as he waited for her to finish. The girls had all been touched by the gesture, and Haruhi had been surprised by the amount of restraint that the girls showed in their reaction to his presence.
"Mori-senpai and Haruhi-kun are not comfortable with all the attention." One of the designators had explained quietly. "When we are in club it is expected, but we are friends here, and friends might laugh and giggle over it, but –" She had paused. "We like you, Haruhi, and we want to be your friend. Acting like a silly fangirl will only push you away. We were surprised that you agreed to help us make chocolates."
"I was surprised when you asked, but I love to cook, and you seemed to really want my help with it. I had no reason to say no."
Her musing stopped as she approached the doors to the third music room. She was not surprised to find all six men waiting in the room for her.
"My dearest, darlinest, loveliest daughter. How we have anxiously been awaiting your—"
"Good morning." Haruhi cut him off and he flew off into a corner, sulking.
"I need to get to class to talk with the teacher, but I wanted to drop off your chocolates. The boxes are labeled with your names." Haruhi placed the bag on one of the many tables in the room slipped out, closing the door behind her. She could hear the flurry of noise in the room, and the image of feral wolves attacking an innocent rabbit sprang to her mind. She slowly moved away and was not surprised to see Mori slip out of the room.
"Is everything ready?" His voice was soft and she nodded. "I left everything at your house. I will leave and go get ready while you have practice. When you get home you can change and then we can leave."
He nodded. "I am excited." He glanced down the hallway, leaned down and placed a quick kiss on the corner of her mouth before slipping back into the third music room. Haruhi stood rooted in place, her eyes wide.
He had never kissed her in public at school before. What if people saw? As her heart slowed down her brain began to function once again. Takashi Morinozuka did not care if people at school thought that he was in love with a male student. He only cared about her. As she was.
She smiled happily, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. It didn't matter what could have been, might have been or anything else. She loved her mother, and it would have been great to have her here, but she wasn't, and Haruhi has. Dwelling in the might haves would only belittle the memory of her mother. Why should she try and force her memories of her mother into a different form of shape. She was here now, at Ouran. She had a father who adored her. Friends that meant the world to her, though she would not tell them that to terribly frequently. She did like her peace and quiet after all. And she had a boyfriend who was more than she could imagine. Why was she letting the thoughts of her mother, and the family that she might have had growing up change how she acted now? He had been so patient with her. She didn't deserve it. She didn't deserve him, and the kindness of his family. But she had it, and she would not take it for granted. Now more than ever she hoped that he liked the surprise she had in store for him.
As Haruhi sank back into the plush seat of the limo she was amazed that she had managed to escape the host club and the school day unscathed. A few of her designators had given her chocolates, which she had accepted with pleasure. Mori also did not receive many chocolates, as most of the school knew that the Morinozuka heir was in a relationship. With whom was still a mystery, but no one pressures the reticent young man to find out. The hosts had been remarkably silent about her plans for the evening, but she wasn't sure if that was because they had something planned themselves or if her mother in heaven was helping things out a bit.
Haruhi glanced down in surprise as her phone rang. Flipping the phone open her eyes widened as her fathers voice came pouring through the phone.
"HARUHIIIIII. That boy and his friends are here at the apartment looking for you. I have tired to get them to go away but they insist that they will not leave until you come home. I have to get to work soon and I need them GONE!"
"I am sorry, Dad." Haruhi sighed. "You know that I am going out with Takashi tonight."
"Of course I do darling."
"And you know that I don't want them to crash my date?"
"Of course. That is why we made sure that you didn't tell me where you were going, so it wouldn't get out to them. But I did so want to see my daughter all dressed up for her date. I know that you will look fabulous."
Haruhi nodded. "We will take a lot of pictures. Let me talk to Kyoya, please?" Haruhi heard her father pass the phone to Kyoya.
"Haruhi, I was quite surprised to find out that you weren't home." His voice was even, but she could hear the tension in it.
"No you weren't, Kyoya. How did he convince you to come along on the lets ruin Haruhi's night with Takashi outing?" Her voice was bland and she heard the young man chuckle.
"He is very convincing when he chooses to be." Kyoya revealed nothing and Haruhi wondered what hold the young Frenchman had over Kyoya.
"My father needs to get to work. So I really would appreciate it if you all left the apartment. Takashi and I have plans. I will make sure that we take pictures so you can ooh and aah over how cute I look, but neither of us wish for any uninvited guests for this outing. It is a small thing, but other than being Valentines Day it has been three months since we started dating. I want it to be special."
"I will see what I can do but I don't promise anything."
Haruhi smiled. "I will call Suoh-sama and let her know about his behavior, if you think that will speed things along. She wasn't happy with his obsessive calling when I was making the chocolates." Haruhi paused. "Why isn't he spending the evening with his grandmother? I know that she would appreciate it."
Kyoya chuckled. "I shall remind him that his poor grandmother is probably at home, all lonely and sad that she has no one to spend this holiday with. Even he grandson has too many other important things to do—" Kyoya paused at the door to the Fujioka house slammed closed. "Have fun tonight, Haruhi."
The phone call ended with a click and she smiled. She would try her best. Takashi deserved it.
Haruhi found that she played with the hem of her skirt as she and Mori were driven to Tokyo tower. If he noticed her nervousness, and the way that she would not meet his gaze, instead finding the hem of her skirt much more fascinating than her boyfriend, he did not comment on it. Instead he placed his hand on her and leaned towards her, his arm against her arm, his leg against her own, their fingers entwined, resting on both their legs. She glanced up at him from the corner of her eye, but he was looking out the window, the sleek lines of Tokyo Tower looming up before them. There was snow on the ground, freshly fallen that day, and the chill in the air was palpable, even in the car. They would not be outside for long, and he knew that the room they were having their picnic date in was quite warm. He had set up the room the night before, and the staff at Tokyo tower had been more than accommodating to the arrangements. Mori did not like to flaunt his wealth, for the Morinozuka family was often one that was in the background, but Haruhi was special to him, and he wished for this night to be special. Hopefully she would relax when they got inside, but he wondered what was bothering her so. She had seemed fine at school. He didn't think that the kiss in the hallway would unsettle her that much. Maybe he had been to forward. He wondered if he had offended her sensibilities.
He was pulled from his musing as they arrived at the tower. The driver of the limo opened the door before he could open the door himself. As he exited the limo he nodded at the driver, who quietly wished him a happy evening. Mori would call the driver when they were ready to leave, for the driver had a wife at home that he would be spending the evening with. Mori turned and offered Haruhi a hand from the limo. She stepped carefully out, holding the backset in her hand. She eeped as she slipped on the snow and ice, and Mori quite easily caught her. She blushed as his arm tightened around her, his grip on her firm and strong as he pulled her against his chest, stable and steady on the on.
Mori smiled down at her. "You look beautiful." His voice was soft as he stepped away, his arm firmly around her waist, holding her steady. She had on a skirt and a sweater, sweet and feminine but modest. A wool coat and scarf kept her warm, and the knew high leather boots were a luxury that she did not normally wear. Haruhi was more feminine on this date than he had ever seen her, but this was also one of their first real dates. Three months and never a real date, it was hard to believe, but they were fixing that issue tonight, on Valentines Day.
"Thank you." Haruhi flushed, and was happy for the scarf around her neck that hid some of the flush of her cheeks. "You look nice." She didn't meet his gaze as she spoke, but she leaned into his embrace, laying her head for a moment against his shoulder as they walked. She tired not to shift in nervousness as the security officers waved them through, and ignored the stares they received when they entered the elevator. It did not seem like an elevator that many people got to use, but from what Mori had told her they were spending their date in a section of the tower that was usually closed to the public.
Her eyes widened as they exited onto a private observation deck. She had never seen this part of the tower. She had been to the tower several times, on school trips and with friends, but this was fantastic. Glass windows surrounded them; the panoramic view of the city was amazing. There were candles set up around the room, flowers sprinkled around the floor, a blanket set up near the window. She could see rose petals scattered on the blanket, the candles settled around.
"Takashi!" Haruhi gasped, spinning around to look up at her boyfriend, her brown eyes wide with surprise. "When did you have a chance to do all this?"
"Last night." He guided Haruhi towards the blanket. "I wanted you to have someplace special to set up the picnic. You worked so hard on it." He stepped back as she settled onto the blanket. Immediately she began to set up the food. From the basket came fruit, cheese, crackers, sparkling cider, a container of chocolates, and a chocolate cake covered in strawberries. He saw her pull a contained of little sandwiches out, and he recognized an assortment of English tea sandwiches.
"Have a seat." She patted the blanket next to her. Mori settled down next to Haruhi and she eeped as he pulled her close. He easily settled her into his lap, his arms wrapped tightly around her.
"Why have you been so anxious this evening?" His voice was deep in her ear.
"I—I want this to be perfect. You are so good to me. Putting up with all these doubts, and my dwelling in a past that I do not have. I have been—"
She stopped as his arms tightened around her body.
"I don't put up with anything. I am there for my girlfriend when she will let me in."
"She hasn't been very good at that recently." Haruhi's voice was soft. "Her head has been everywhere but where it needs to be."
"But you are back now." She could hear the smile in his voice.
"I am back." She turned her head, placing a kiss on his cheek, then turned towards the food, reaching to pick up a round chocolate object.
"What was that?"
"A chocolate covered grape."
"A—" He paused as she giggled.
"It was an accident, when I was making the chocolate covered strawberries, but I liked the way it tasted. So I made some." She reached over and picked one up. Shifting in his lap she held it up to his lips. "Here, try it."
Obediently he ate the grape, and Haruhi giggled again as she saw the surprised look on his face as he enjoyed the grape.
"Happy Valentine's Day." She kissed his lips, and he kissed her in return. It was a while before they turned to the food. They had a wonderful evening. And they had a wonderful life.