ALWAYS

I woke to the sound of giggles in my living room. I turned over in bed and looked at the clock. Just after eight. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. Who was in my house? I got out of bed quickly. I figured I was freaking out over nothing. Maybe Darcy was watching cartoons. As I approached the living room, I heard a deep laugh that I didn't think I would be hearing this early.
"Hey Noli." Harry smiled up at me when I stepped into the living room. He sat on the floor across from Darcy. All of her dolls were strewn across the floor between them. Harry laughed again as Darcy shoved another naked doll into his face. "Babygirl, you have to put clothes on her." Harry informed my giggling child.
"No! You do it!" Darcy commanded with a smile. Harry took the doll from her hands. I sat down on the sofa and watched them with loving eyes.
"Harry?" I murmured as to not draw my daughter's attention as well. He hummed as he looked up at me. "How did you get in? I thought I locked the door." He smirked and reached into his back pocket.
"You need to hide the spare in a different place. Too easy to find." He stated placing the gold key into my hand.
I stared at him confused, "What do you mean too easy? I had this thing so camouflaged it was ridiculous."
Harry laughed, "Maybe I just know you too well." I shook my head and returned the key to him. "Shouldn't you put it back?" He inquired.
"No. Keep it." I replied feeling a bit nervous to offer the privilege to him.
"Are you nuts? No way." Harry threw it onto the table. "What are you supposed to do if you get locked out while I'm on tour? I'll stick to digging it out of its hiding place." Harry returned his attention to the doll Darcy had shoved at him. I was a little shocked that he had declined. I thought he would've jumped at the chance to be able to come over whenever he wanted to.
"Darcy, what do you want for breakfast, baby?" I asked getting up from the sofa.
"I already ate Mummy. Harry made me breakfast." Darcy grinned at me. I looked at Harry completely stunned.
"I made some for you too. It's in the oven under the warmer." Harry smiled as well.
"Um...thanks, Harry." I was becoming more and more curious about him.
"You're welcome, Noli. Go eat. Darcy said that we have things to do today." Harry instructed kindly. As I walked out of the living room to the kitchen I tried to figure out what had gotten into Harry. I felt like he was acting funny.
I entered the living room again to see Harry and Darcy watching her pony show together. Harry hated it. I could tell by his furrowed brows. I leaned against the wall and just watched the two of them. I couldn't help but smile at Harry's disgusted expression and Darcy's enthrallment.
"Darcy, babygirl, what is the point of this horrid show?" Harry asked my three year old with a bit of attitude.
"It's ponies, Harry!" Darcy giggled, throwing her hands in the air. Harry rolled his eyes and went back to watching the show. "Do you wanna watch the videos? Mummy and I watch the videos in the morning." Darcy asked of Harry. Harry lifted his eyebrow at Darcy. She turned back to me, "Mummy! Can Harry and I watch the videos?" I nodded and pushed off the wall. After grabbing the remote I turned the television to the videos Darcy wanted. Harry groaned quietly when he realized what Darcy had meant. Darcy stood up on the sofa and started to dance as the music began.
"Seriously? You guys watch our videos in the morning?" Harry asked me with an unamused face. I nodded with a giggle. "You girls are strange." Harry sighed when I started dancing with Darcy to "What Makes You Beautiful". "Why do you watch these?" Harry asked after I flopped onto the sofa next to him. Darcy was still dancing in the middle of the living room.
I smiled brightly, "Because sometimes Darcy misses Louis and Niall." Harry turned his eyes to mine as I whispered, "Sometimes I miss you." His jaw nearly fell into his lap. "Sorry. I shouldn't have said that." I quickly got up and made my way back into the kitchen. I sighed heavily as I reached for the teapot on the stove.
"Noli." Harry's deep voice came from behind me. I couldn't look at him. I was too embarrassed. "Enola." Harry was a bit more gruff this time.
I sighed again, "What, Harry?" I reached for the teapot again. Only to have Harry put his hand over mine, making me return it to the stove top a second time.
"Look at me." Harry requested. I turned my eyes up to his. He smiled a bit and brushed my hair away from my face. "I missed you too." I dropped my eyes from his. "Noli." He chuckled, taking my hand with both of his. I gazed up at him again. "There's nothing wrong with saying you miss someone." Harry stepped closer to me. "I miss you everyday." He murmured to me as he began rubbing my knuckles with his thumbs slowly. "I miss the way we used to talk. I miss the way you would hug me when you had a long day, when I had a long day." I bit down on my bottom lip, feeling nervous. But not the scared kind of nervous. "I miss the little things. Like this..." He stated as he placed my hand on the bare part of his chest, the spot that I always loved to caress when we were snuggled up in bed. I dropped my eyes to his chest and slowly began to caress his skin, the way I always used to. Harry hummed quietly, letting his eyes slide shut. I moved closer to him, our bodies were almost pressed together. I stared up at Harry's angelic face with curious eyes. He was breathing and warming underneath my hand like he'd never been touched before.
"Mummy." Darcy giggled from the doorway of the kitchen. Harry and I separated quickly, both of us looking at Darcy.
"What, honey?" I asked, swallowing the lump in my throat.
"The videos stopped working. Fix it?" Darcy spoke quietly, seeing my mood was a bit off. I put my hand on my hip for a moment. "Please fix it Mummy?" Darcy knew I was waiting for her manners.
"I'll be there in a minute, sweetie." I replied with a smile. Darcy nodded then ran back toward the living room. I returned my gaze to Harry's face. He smiled warmly at me, taking my hand again. "I missed these awkward moments." I stated sarcastically. Harry laughed and nodded.
"At least this time we're dressed." Harry jeered. I shook my head and dropped my hand from his. "Sorry." Harry blushed a bit. I waved the apology away. "So, what is it that we're supposed to do today? Darcy said we had something to do." Harry asked me gently.
I lifted my eyebrow at him, "Who said you were invited?" Harry's face dropped almost instantly. I giggled, "Kidding." Harry stuck his tongue out at me. "We're going to go to visit one of Darcy's friends. She's in the children's hospital." Harry looked worried then his eyes darted toward the living room where Darcy could be heard playing.
"Is...is she okay?" Harry inquired, concern written all over his face. He didn't want to worry Darcy with his question.
I nodded, "She's okay at the moment. We go once, maybe twice a week." Harry looked confused. "Sara has a muscular disorder. She's not usually in the hospital. But Darcy loves Sara so we go to see her. But we've been going to the hospital even when Sara's not there." I explained. Harry frowned. "She likes to play with the kids there too, when Sara has to do her muscles tests and all." Harry appeared to be getting choked up. "Yeah. She is something else that is for damn sure."
Harry shook his head, "No." He smiled and brushed my hair off my face, "She's like you." I tried not to start crying. "I still have all of the stuff about your photo essays from when we first got together."
"You kept all of that?" I laughed nervously.
Harry grinned, "Of course I did. I was so proud of you. You did something amazing. I'm still proud of you for that." Harry ran his hand through my hair gently, "I fell so much harder for you after you showed me what you were trying to do."
"Harry!" Darcy yelled from the living room.
Harry kissed my forehead, "Gotta go." He chuckled when I smiled a bit. He bolted from the kitchen into the living room. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone.
I texted Louis: Call me as soon as you can. I need to talk to you.

Notes