#Harry should have been allowed to be a good dad okay

[dark-elf-writes]

Okay but imagine after the Battle of Hogwarts and some time for healing Harry gets handed a toddler and is basically told to become a godfather.

So he does.

He has the full toddler sling around his chest as he helps with repairs. He and Kreature baby proof all of one room of Grimmauld before it is mutually decided that maybe getting a flat less coated in dark magic and cursed artifacts is a better idea at least until the baby is less likely to try to eat a poisoned dagger and Merlin why is that even in here? He learns how to love cooking because now he has someone who actually enjoys it, and sure Teddy got banana purée in both of their hair but he’s also laughing and babbling away and his hair is a happy blue so Harry knows it was appreciated.

The problem is is that Harry… doesn’t know what reasonable expectations of a child should be? He just knows what he’s not going to do because of his own childhood and some anecdotes from Siri and Kreature from how the Black family raised their kids and just kinda wings it like he’s done everything else in his life. I mean he stole a dragon and ended a war so parenting can’t be that hard right?

So Teddy ends up like six and fully fluent in ancient runes because Hermione and Bill keep buying him coloring books with them. He’s trilingual before he’s four because Fleur and Viktor adore him and they didn’t get to help their littlest champion/pseudo brother before but they sure can now that Harry’s nineteen with a whole ass toddler. Teddy memorizes the recipe for poly juice potion at the same time he masters pancakes even though Harry won’t let him near a cauldron or a stove top. He can name every magical creature in the Forbidden Forest or at least the ones willing to come to the edges because Harry refuses to go back among those trees, but that’s okay because Hagrid and Fang are good babysitters as long as they have some direction. Teddy is flying before he figures out how to get his limbs that never feel quite right —like hes made of rubber bands stretched a bit too far — to cooperate enough to not fall constantly and is the most terrifying beater imaginable for a three year old.

All this to say by the time Hogwarts rolls around and their (because it’s their now and while their limbs still feel stretchy and weird they at least have the piece of knowing that Harry will love them even if they’re his child instead of his son) core is stable enough to actually cast magic they are eleven casting a patronus charm that is (unsurprisingly) a wolf cub and could take like half of their owls from jump except for the boring ones that Harry knew wouldn’t help them if things went wrong.

And Teddy grows up being an incredibly loved terror of a powerhouse and Minerva swears up and down but the time the first Weasley is old enough to join them in Hogwarts she is going to retire.

[bairdthereader]

Julio Spring, let's have a chat.

I find this man hard to write about because sometimes he makes himself exactly what his son needs, and other times he's almost damagingly quiet. Without knowing too much about Julio's past (I think I've read everything Alice has written about him, but for the purposes of this post I'm going to focus mainly on what we know from the show), it can be hard to parse his motivations and actions. But one thing we know for sure is that Julio is deeply concerned for Charlie.

The most poignant scene between them is obviously when Julio hugs Charlie after Harry's party. He can sense immediately that something is wrong, very wrong, but has the intuition and sensitivity to push aside the intense curiosity he must be feeling about why, or the details of what happened, and addresses the most pressing issue--Charlie's need for comfort and support.

Though we never see it on screen, or even much in the books aside from some narrative flashbacks, this must be a tragically familiar scenario for Julio; after all, he's been through at least a year or more of dealing with the aftermath of the bullying Charlie experiences. How achingly difficult must it be for Julio to repeat "it's going to be okay" to his son when he knows there's a good chance it might not ever be truly okay. The trust that Charlie must have in Julio to allow himself to fall apart in front of him indicates that Julio must have handled those past crises with enough care to make Charlie see him as a safe space. [And we can't assume that Julio is safe for Charlie just because he's his father--Alice makes it clear in other storylines that safety with family is far, far from a given.]

Julio has gone through this enough times that, when it's time to drop Charlie off at the cinema, he's clearly torn between allowing Charlie the freedom he needs, and the space to make his own judgments about what he can handle, versus his parental desire to protect Charlie from harm. The fact that he gives Charlie that space earns him a lot of respect in my eyes.

Afterward, he can tell that the conversation between Charlie and Ben was an antagonistic one, and that his concerns were valid. There's nothing worse as a parent than anticipating hurt for your child and then having that fear come true. But Julio doesn't push, or dig for more. Maybe he should have, but those calls are always hard to make, and even harder to judge from the outside.

A lot of Julio's tender and caring moments happen in the first season, so it's hard to watch in season two when there are many scenes where Julio is so obviously upset, worried, or angry, and yet does nothing. Sometimes, admittedly, it's hard to know what to do, and that's valid, but we need him to try.

We need Julio, who understands Jane and where she's coming from at least a little better than Charlie does, to step in and mediate when she's clearly letting her own past and her parents' critical behavior impact how she's interacting with her son.

We need Julio to follow up on his concern, that niggling worry and doubt that he has, about Charlie not eating and isolating himself.

We need Julio to object when he witnesses Charlie engaging in negative self-talk, to bolster his son with words of support.

Julio Spring is a good dad who cares incredibly deeply for a son he can't always completely understand, but there's room for growth here too. I really hope we get to see that in season 3.

*And fear not, the infamous hanky panky conversation will get its own post.

[juniperpyre]

I don’t want it to seem like I’m trying to be hateful towards you. I don’t think it’s fair to blame James for his and Lily’s death: whole victim blaming isn’t right. Voldemort was winning the war and the walls were closing in. Peter wasn’t just some friend - and it wasn’t only Peter that James was trusting. Lily and Sirius agree to Peter. Sirius was the one who came up with the plan. I feel like that goes beyond James and his moral views. His brother and wife also agree to Peter, wouldn’t that greatly impact James’s opinion? Yes, Remus, years after and harden by grief, thinks James was too blind, but again, Peter is wasn’t just some person - he had earned their trust, kept their secrets, and fought alongside them. I understand James had his flaws and I’m not denying them, but it wasn’t arrogance or black and white thinking that brought James down - love did. He loved Sirius and Peter.

this is about this post.

hi okay, i don't take this as hate lol, i am a bit frustrated bc i almost put a qualifier like "(of course their deaths are the fascists' fault)" but it felt unnecessary.

the idea of james' trust being a reason his family dies is thematically interesting to me. dumbledore's fatal flaw (fatal for a bunch of people, not just him) is not trusting people. he thinks lily and james trusted the wrong person. and they did.

but if just a few more people had known about the plan sirius never would have gone to azkaban. maybe peter would've been too afraid to go through with turning them over to voldy. so there's a narrative tension between trusting too much and not trusting enough. dumbledore is egotistical and should have created a more cooperative resistance rather than being the ultimate head.

i very much reject the idea that love brought james and lily down. again, this is bc it weakens the narrative. i really stand by:

his high self-regard and his loyalty meant he couldn't fathom someone he considered a best friend betraying him. if he sees someone as good, they must be good. he'd never been wrong before!

i have a lot to say about james potter and black & white thinking that's in drafts, so that's for another time.

the responsibility for james, lily, and harry's deaths falls on voldemort, peter, and arguably dumbledore. jily shouldn't have been having to make choices to save themselves from being murdered!!! however, that doesn't mean james and lily's choices had no impact.

giving james flaws that are normal, human flaws and relating them to his canon positive traits (trust & loyalty) and then seeing how the mix of those traits contributes to his and lily's death is interesting. it is complex and tragic, because no one is perfect, and that shouldn't be a death sentence.

i hc that james struggled a lot with how to be a husband and father since (in my hc) his dad died before he and lily married. i imagine that, as a man in the 70s, he feels like it's his job to protect his family (he doesn't think lily is weaker but damn these gender roles have hands) and not being able to do so bc his wife is in a group that is being genocided and they're both fighting a war eats him up

so i do imagine him making the call. he knows peter better than lily does, and sirius obviously doesn't get final say. so james makes the call that results in their deaths, and sirius comes up with the idea that results in their deaths, and lily is passive and allows these "wrong" choices.

this isn't a fair way of putting it, but it's how each character sees themselves. this isn't a real-world cause and effect, it's exploring themes present in the og books thru character analysis and hc

i talk fairly often about the DE being fascists so honestly i don't think i need to qualify my posts with "of course the DE are the villains and the order are just trying their damnedest"

[moth-r4t]

HEY, DAD ⋆ A SHORT SILENT HILL FIC

* silent hill 3 spoilers.

* my cheryl portrayal uses they/she.

"Hey, dad..." Cheryl greeted the familiar tombstone. A bittersweet smile tugged their features as they'd kneel down, placing a small bundle of flowers down on the muddy earth beneath her feet. The gloomy weather and clouded grey sky were painfully ironic. Harry would've cracked some horribly timed joke, if he was here. If.

Sure, everyday things got a little easier. But nothing could repair the grief Cheryl felt. Nothing. That's why she came here often, to simply sit and be with their father.

"I miss you," they mumbled. They didn't care about the mud that soaked into her knees, or the rain that poured down onto their hair and shoulders. "Things have been okay. Douglas is pretty nice... I graduate next week. I wish you could be there."

She had to swallow back the lump of emotion in her throat, their hands anxiously fiddling together. School had already felt pointless before, but without her dad? They felt like there was little purpose in anything these days. The only reason she crawled out of bed and dragged her feet onto the bus everyday was thanks to Douglas.

He took good care of her. Gave her a place to stay, made sure she was fed and finished classes. They appreciated it more than they let on, but there was no way Cheryl planned on telling her new “father figure” that. Not yet. It made a strange sense of guilt roll around in her stomach, as if she was betraying Harry. They knew Harry would never feel that way, he'd encourage her to move forward and seek out a normal life. Or, as normal as normal could be.

"I hope you're doing well." She murmured. They always found it hard to put their emotions and thoughts into words, although despite that she knew Harry knew without her even having to vocalize it.

I miss you. I love you. I think about you everyday, and I wish I had shown how much you meant to me before you were gone. I took you for granted. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Cheryl knew her dad knew, and they were grateful. It still didn't feel like enough, it probably never would. They couldn't stop the broken sob that bubbled out of her wobbling lips, their shoulders shaking and cold, salty tears rolling down their freckled cheeks. Leaning forward, Cheryl would place her brow against her dad's grave, her lips brushing against the wet stone whilst her fingertips opted to trace the engraved letters of his name.

Sniffling, she didn't bother silencing the breathless huff of laughter that followed, "Remember when I used to run into your room and beg you to check for monsters under my bed? I was so little." They allowed a pause, as if somehow from Beyond they'd receive an answer, "I wake up in the middle of the night, every night, and I jump out of bed ready to sprint to your room." Another pause. "It's probably so... dumb, and silly. But I miss that. I miss you. I miss being your little girl. There's so much I wanna show you and tell you, but you're..."

A shuddering exhale followed, her palms clenching into fists in her lap, "You're not here. I don't know what to do with myself."

Another shaky breath and a sniffle followed the long moment of silence between Cheryl and her father's tomb. They'd lean forward, pressing another kiss to the tombstone and giving it a soft pat. "I should get back. Don't miss me too much, okay, old man? I... I love you, dad. I'll come see you soon."

With that, they'd reluctantly rise from their crouched position. She lingered a moment longer, almost feeling bad for leaving him here alone, but they couldn't stay. Not forever. With every bit of willpower they could muster, Cheryl turned on her heel with the damp grass squelching underneath her sneakers and left; her heart heavy.

She'd come back next week, before graduation, she promised herself and Harry silently.

[disco-elysium-via-polls]

🎵 Precinct 41 Major Crimes Unit

"Vrrr… Viva la Revolución!"

+1 Communism

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "Cool. To me it sounds like you got played by Evrart Claire. And it's true -- you *are* his little peone.""

"Is that why you want us to investigate the assassination of the previous Union head thing? To get off Evrart's hook?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "No. It's *nothing* like that. He was reckless with information -- but ethical. We don't owe anyone anything. This allowed us to stabilize things in Martinaise."

JUDIT MINOT - "God... Calm down, Jean."

REACTION SPEED [Medium: Success] - Silence. Good. The man doesn't know what to say.

6. "There was also a dead man -- on the boardwalk. A missing person I found."

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "Yes-yes. Fallen through a gap in the boardwalk, drunk."

"How did you know I found him?"

JUDIT MINOT - "The body was transported to Precinct 41. Our morgue. I had Tillbrook and Mollins take care of funeral arrangements and family-stuff."

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "You're not the only cop in the world, Harry. This all comes back to us."

JUDIT MINOT - "Still," she says quietly. "Good work with the missing person, detective."

AUTHORITY [Easy: Success] - It's still a point for you. No denying it.

7. "I also looked into the mystery of the Doomed Commercial Area."

JEAN VICQUEMARE - He shrugs. "I don't know what a 'Doomed Commercial Area' is."

"Rue de Saint-Ghislaine 10. A commercial building where all businesses go bankrupt. I looked into it."

"The curse turned out to be possibly entroponetical. Part of my larger investigation -- into Martinaise itself."

"Nothing. It's not important."

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "No, it didn't -- it didn't turn out to be entroponetical *again*. Enough with the isolary-pale two-millimetre-hole-in-the-world line. This isn't Paradox B. We're a police force."

ENCYCLOPEDIA [Medium: Success] - Paradox B is a fringe science magazine published in Graad. Its mission is to explain theories like telekinesis and intraisolary pale, before they get out of hand.

KIM KITSURAGI - It doesn't look like the lieutenant wishes you to push this angle further.

ESPRIT DE CORPS [Easy: Success] - 'Cut it out' is indeed what he is thinking.

8. "I confiscated drugs from Cuno's dad."

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "Who's *Cuno*?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "You don't want to know."

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "You're right, lieutenant -- I don't." He turns to you. "You snorted the drugs, I know you did. It's all right, I mean, at this point -- *anything* is but the drink."

9. "So what do you say? Wanna take this hot shit back?" (Point to yourself.)

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "I don't *want* to. But you discovered a new species. And solved the murder..." He shrugs.

"So I *have* to. Jude?"

JUDIT MINOT - "Anything that ends the *trial* is okay with me." A quick nod.

ESPRIT DE CORPS [Medium: Success] - You haven't been drinking, she thinks. So maybe this time...

TRANT HEIDELSTAM - "Agreed. The public relations potential of this is too valuable to let go."

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "Okay." He sighs. "We have vehicles in the square. And the perpetrator needs to be taken into custody. Let's go."

Task complete: The Return

+10 XP

INLAND EMPIRE [Easy: Success] - Now! Now you will *finally* get to know who you are!

"Wait. I have a *few* questions before we go. About who I am."

JEAN VICQUEMARE - The man looks westward, impatiently.

PERCEPTION (HEARING) [Medium: Success] - Jingling his car keys in his pocket.

"Who *am* I?"

"Why am I *like* this?"

"Okay. Am I a dirty cop working for La Puta Madre?"

"Precinct 41… what kind of station is it?"

"The phasmid -- I need to tell Lena about this ASAP."

"Lieutenant Kitsuragi -- what will you do now?"

"I'm ready." (End.)

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "Who *are* you? You're a gym teacher, Harry."

"What?"

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "Well -- obviously you're not a gym teacher anymore, but..."

+5 XP

"But before..."

JUDIT MINOT - "Before you were a cop, you were a gym teacher in Couron." She looks around. "It's getting really cold outside. Should we maybe..."

"That does explain a lot."

"No way. I was a flagellant monk."

"A guerrila soldier / gym teacher?"

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "No," he remarks dryly, "a regular one."

2. "No way. I was a flagellant monk."

JUDIT MINOT - "You haven't told us about that -- you've just told us about being a gym teacher."

"That does explain a lot."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Harry... it explains *everything*. The running around. The jumping. The *shot-put*. Your inexplicable facial hair..."

"The collection of FALN sportswear I've amassed..."

KIM KITSURAGI - "The fact that you don't seem to *know* what homo-sexuality is... Your moves on the church floor -- which, honestly, were just *jump aerobics*... And how you're able to perform a 360-degree spin-kick too!"

PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT [Medium: Success] - Also -- *this* guy. Just... everything about this guy.

SAVOIR FAIRE [Medium: Success] - And this guy too.

HAND/EYE COORDINATION [Medium: Success] - God... even this javelin-throwing freak here...

"Oh god -- *Contact Mike*..."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Of course! Contact Mike!"

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "He's been on about Mike again?" The detective shakes his head. "I hate that guy."

"Contact Mike is a reprise of the most inspiring basic sporting principle of open competition! A 5,000-1 rank outsider!"

"When was this? When was I a gym teacher?"

"You said in Couron? I was a gym teacher there?"

"Why did I join the RCM then?"

"Okay. I see now." (Conclude.)

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "Oh -- you don't say?" He arches an eyebrow. "Does he also *vault an impassible gulf of finance and privilege*?"

JUDIT MINOT - "It is... it *is* getting cold out..." She looks around -- at the dilapidated fishing village.

2. "When was this? When was I a gym teacher?"

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "In your twenties or late twenties. You've really let yourself go since then." He looks you over.

3. "You said in Couron? I was a gym teacher there?"

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "Yes, you *taught gym* in Couron. I believe that's the term? Taught gym at a high school. You were a high school gym teacher."

PERCEPTION (SMELL) [Easy: Success] - The smell of sweat and glue, the worn floorboards...

ENCYCLOPEDIA [Medium: Success] - Couron is just east of Jamrock. It was a short walk, every morning -- to the baseball field or the sports building...

KIM KITSURAGI - "High school. Harry! Your goings-on with Cuno, Andre, Acele -- the whole thing on the ice. That's why you're so *juvie*."

EMPATHY [Easy: Success] - His smirk suggests barely contained laughter.

4. "Why did I join the RCM then?"

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "The regular -- you found some chick. She inspired you to fight the *big fight*. Be more than you are. All that."

INLAND EMPIRE [Trivial: Success] - You, every morning, walking from Voyager Road to teach gym. She -- leaving for the academy with her spring coat on. The air filled with the smell of smoke and raspberries and incredible hope. An ocean full of hope.

5. "Okay. I see now." (Conclude.)

KIM KITSURAGI - "I knew it. I knew no normal human being can run like that. He's an-honest-to-god gym teacher."

2. "Why am I *like* this?"

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "It's not a mystery. Some chick fucked you over. Also, you're a drunk."

PAIN THRESHOLD [Medium: Success] - You really went with it too. Really maximized the damage.

"Some chick -- who?"

"Was she called Dora Du Bois?"

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "Du Bois?" He shakes his head. "It was... Dora Ingerlund, I think. You've said her name. But you weren't married. You were engaged."

"Wait, Dora Ingerlund?"

"So we weren't even married…"

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "Something like that. Half-Vaasan."

ENCYCLOPEDIA [Medium: Success] - Vaasa is where beautiful and impossibly blonde people come from.

2. "So we weren't even married..."

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "No one is married anymore. This is Revachol."

"When was this?"

"I've heard enough." (End it.)

JEAN VICQUEMARE - "God, I don't know..." He thinks. "Six years ago? She was way before my time."

VOLITION [Easy: Success] - Six years and you haven't gotten over it, what the hell is wrong with you?

[mychemicalimagines]

Everything Changed-Embry Call-Chapter 8

Summary: A couple months before her junior year in high school finishes, something happened to the once normal Hayley Uley. Myth turns into reality. Not just for her, but for her older brother, Sam, as well. They have to drop everything they once knew for something they thought was only in bed time stories. Will things finally start looking up for once after this ‘blessing-in-disguise’?

Warnings: Cussing, Paranormal, Supernatural, Angst, Love, Bella-Bashing, Possible Smut (Please read Authors Note in Chapter 1 for Age Explanation)

Words: 5,738

A/N: Here is another chapter! I hope you enjoy! To Be Tagged: Message Me, Submit an Ask, Comment or Tag Yourself in My Bio!!

Third Person POV

Later that night, besides Jake, everyone is eating the food the girls made, sitting around a growing fire that Sam started an hour or so beforehand. Billy sits in his wheelchair with the forest to his back, starting the large circle. Old Quil sits on one side of him while Sue sits on the other side. The eldest three council leaders.

When Harry passed away, Sue joined the council, keeping the Clearwater name in the leading circle. Beside Old Quil is his grandson and the newest, fellow pack member, Quil. Jared, Kim and Paul sitting next to him, almost rough housing as usual, the female just laughing along. Beside Paul is Emily leaning against Sam, slightly cuddling. 

Hayley and Embry are next, with the female allowing her boyfriend to eat off her plate.They saved a spot for Jake, knowing that Bella would be showing up with him. Closing up the circle next to his mother is Seth, who is practically bouncing in his seat with all the excitement building in his stomach. 

They hear a car pull into the parking lot of the beach before Bella’s voice is heard to all the shifters.

“You sure this is okay?” She asks. “I really hate being a party crasher.”

“Technically, you’re a council meeting crasher.” Jake chuckles, trying to ease her anxiety a little. “See. The council leaders, Sam, Dad, Quil’s grandpa and Sue Clearwater. She took over for Harry when he died.”

“Okay, I should not be here.” She says, turning slightly but Jake stops her. 

“You’re okay. We…they thought it would be good for you to hear the histories.” He corrects himself. 

“The histories?” Her eyes widen. “The tribe's histories? Aren’t they secret?”

“We all got a role to play. And you’re a part of this. I mean, it’s the first time Seth and Quil are hearing them, too. But you’re the first outsider. Ever.”

“If I had known that, I wouldn’t believe you.” She looks up at him. “And would’ve dressed better.” 

“Jake!” They hear, causing them to face forward. 

Seth runs up toward them, almost like a puppy, a large smile on his face. 

“Hey, it’s about time you got here! Paul’s been hovering the grub. But, I saved you some burgers!” He continues.

“Good looking out, bro.” Jake smiles before looking at the female next to him. “Bella, this is Seth Clearwater, Sue’s son. One of the newest members of the pack.”

“Newest, bestest, brightest.” He grins.

“And slowest!”

Jake grabs the young boy in a headlock, both tumbling to the sand, laughing. Hayley smiles to herself, happy to see Seth being a kid, despite all the future pressure he’ll, no doubt, have on his shoulders. Sam whistles loudly, stopping the two shifters, knowing Billy wants to start. 

“Come on.” Seth grins. “Your dad’s about to start.”

The trio walk over to the fire, sitting down in their respective spots with Bella next to Seth. Billy looks around, mentally counting to make sure everyone is there before he begins. Everyone’s attention wholly on him, his voice commanding.

“The Quileutes have been a small tribe from the beginning but we’ve always had magic in our blood. We were great spirit warriors, shape shifters, that transform into the powerful wolf. This enabled us to scare off our enemies and protect our tribe. One day, our warriors came across a creature…” He says, looking around at everyone. 

To Bella, it’s as if the story was playing in the fire in the middle of the pack. She can picture every word he’s saying as if it were a movie playing right in front of her. 

“It looked like a man, but it was hard like stone, and cold as ice…Our warriors’ sharp teeth finally tore it apart but only fire would completely destroy it. They lived in fear, the Cold Man was not alone…And they were right. She took her vengeance out on the village. Our elder chief, Taha Aki, was the only spirit warrior left to save the tribe after his son was killed. Taha Aki’s Third Wife could see that he would lose. The Third Wife was no magical being, no special powers…but one. Courage.” He says, looking in the direction of each of the three imprinted couples.

The pack knew exactly who the Third Wife was. She was Taha Aki’s imprint. That’s what makes her so special, besides the lesson he is currently giving. Embry kisses his own imprint’s head before she nuzzles her face into his neck.

“The Third Wife’s sacrifice distracted the Cold Woman, long enough for Taha Aki to destroy her. She saved the tribe. Over time, our enemies have disappeared. But one remains…The Cold Ones. Our magic awakens when they near. And we sense it now, we feel the threat in our blood. Something terrible is coming. And we must all be ready. All of us.” Billy finishes, glancing toward Bella.

She has slight guilt in her stomach after hearing the story. Knowing that packs ancestors were killed by Cold Ones when she wants to be one herself. She knows this hasn’t changed her mind but it does give her some insight into her best friend’s history.

Another week has passed with no signs of the red-head or the random vampire that Jake and Hayley smelled in Bella’s bedroom. When the wolves and vampires have to switch out for their patrol outside her outside, there is no talking until the others have left. They have a truce but it is so tense, they swear they can cut it with a knife. 

That is what happened earlier when Hayley and Paul switched with Emmett and Alice. The two vampires stared at them before rushing toward their home. Emmett’s lucky that the truce was in place as well as Sam’s words of ‘wait till their feet touch the grass’. Hayley rolls her eyes and walks in her wolf form toward the front of Bella’s house. 

Her head snaps up when she hears the wheels screeching of Edward’s Volvo. She raises an eyebrow as the vampire rushes out of his vehicle straight toward Jake’s rabbit as he pulls in. Bella exits the car, holding her hand close to her body as if she hurt herself. 

“Not here, Edward. Please.” She begs her boyfriend. 

“If you ever touch her against her will again.” Edward snarls at her pack member. 

Hayley immediately phases back into her human form before getting dressed. What the fuck happened?

“Don’t do this!” Bella continues, trying to put herself between them. 

“She’s not sure what she wants.” Jake growls at the leech.

“Well, let me give you a clue.” Edward snaps at him. 

“Wait for her to say the words.”

Hayley rushes from the trees, gently moving Bella from between them. The human sighs in relief at the sight of the Beta.

“Shut the fuck up, both of you.” She growls, pushing between them. 

“Fine. And she will!” Edward glares, ignoring the female shifter.

She pushes them apart, deja-vu hitting her hard. “Just shut up! What happened?”

Jacob finally looks away from the leech as he licks his bottom lip. 

“I kissed Bella…And she broke her hand…punching my face.”

“What the fuck, Jake?” Hayley snaps, her voice rising slightly. “You know she’s in a relationship with this asshole. You can’t do that!”

“I wanted to prove…”

“I don’t care what you wanted to do! You don’t do shit like that!” She pushes his chest again. “Get your ass in your car and go to my house. Tell Sam what you did. He’ll deal with your punishment.”

“Hayley…”

“No, Jacob. Go, now!” She growls, glaring at him. 

He shakes his head before turning around, stomping toward his car. No one says anything as he speeds away from the house. Edward finally speaks up when the car is away from view. Despite her calling him an asshole, he’s glad she was there.

“Thank you, Hayley.”

She rolls her eyes and turns toward Bella. She doesn’t like the girl, but she didn’t deserve that.

“Are you okay?”

“My hand hurts pretty bad.” She admits.

“You did punch a wolf in the face. We’re practically indestructible.” She shakes her head, glancing up at Edward. “Take her back to your house.” She looks back at Bella. “I’ll inform Charlie you broke your hand on the rez.”

“Thanks.” She whispers, following her boyfriend to his precious Volvo.

“I need to start getting paid.” Hayley mumbles to herself as she walks up to Bella’s front door. “It’s like babysitting a bunch of sparkly and fevered toddlers.”

“Now, welcome to the stage, La Push High’s 2006 Class Salutatorian, Hayley Uley!” The Principal says before stepping back from the microphone. 

The entire gym erupts in applause with the pack, including Jared and Paul who are sitting in their own cap and gowns, being the loudest. Hayley blushes slightly as she walks up to the microphone, her speech in hand. Glancing around the audience, her eyes land on her boyfriend, who is smiling widely, proud of his imprint.

She is always going above and beyond for their tribe. Losing sleep so she can go on patrol and so she can finish her mountains of homework. This woman is the definition of a hard-worker. Embry puts his pinkies in his mouth and whistles loudly, causing her to bite her lip slightly. As the cheers slow down, her eyes meet her brother’s who is beaming with pride. 

He is so proud of his little sister. With everything that has happened in the last year, she stepped up and took her role as Beta seriously as well as made sure her grades were immaculate. She didn’t let their mom leaving them impede her studies and responsibilities. If anything, it made her stronger, more determined, and so full of perseverance, that Sam can’t help but be immensely proud of her.

Hayley fixes the microphone to her height before looking down at the speech she had written the night before.

“When we were five, they asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. Our answers were things like astronaut, president or in my case, the Queen I know I am.” She grins as the auditorium is filled with laughter for a moment. “When we were ten, they asked again and we answered - rock star, cowboy, or in my case - a vet. But now that we’ve grown up, they want a serious answer. Well, how about this: who the hell knows?” 

Loud hoots and hollers from her classmates, Paul being the loudest. 

“This isn’t the time to make hard and fast decisions, it’s the time to do what we want. Find ourselves. Take the wrong train, and get stuck somewhere. Fall in love…” She glances toward Embry who is grinning at her words. “Some of us may go on to college right away, or get our own places, and start our lives. Some of us may continue to live at home - for whatever reason - and annoy the hell out of our parents - or, my older brother, in my case, just as we’ve done for the last 17-18 years. But, at the end of the day. No matter what we do, where we go, it’ll be at our own paces, and what’s best for us in that moment of time. Change your mind. Then change it again, because there���s only two things that’s permanent. That’s family and the friends you met along the way. So make as many mistakes as you can. That way, someday, when they ask again what we want to be…we won’t have to guess. We’ll know.”

The entire gym erupts in applause once again as her words sink into every single person there, not just her graduating classmates. She grabs her piece of paper and folds it as she walks down to her seat, putting it in her dress pocket. They all listen to the Principal make the same exact speech he’s been making since he started working at the school.

When it’s time for the students to get their diploma, Hayley is one of the first people in line, due to her class title. 

“Hayley Uley.” The Principal repeats, turning slightly to put his hand out.

She takes a few steps toward him and shakes his hand, grabbing the diploma case from his other hand as her brother and Embry, as well as the rest of the pack including the two graduating, stand up and cheer the loudest out of everyone there. 

“That’s my little sister!” “My girlfriend did it! Hell yeah!” “Wooo! Go, Hayley!”

She blushes and walks past the Principal to leave the stage, glancing at the pack as she does. Her heart drops slightly when she sees Billy clapping happily for his Beta…without his son next to him. About ten minutes later, Jared’s name is called, causing Hayley to stand up and whistle about as loud, if not louder than he had for her just minutes earlier. 

He grins and accepts his diploma case in the same manner before throwing up the rock-star sign, causing his friends to laugh. Since Paul’s last name began with L, it takes a little longer to get to him but everyone in the pack cheers as if it’s been five seconds. His classmates were surprised he was able to graduate but not the pack.

With Hayley being there, she was always helping him with his homework and studying, this included when they were on patrol. She quizzed him more often than not, making sure he would be able to walk the stage. He’s thankful for her. Because of her, he proved his father wrong and proved he was able to do it.

Over an hour later, after the tassels have been moved and the caps have been thrown, Hayley rushes toward her brother, squealing as she moves.

“I fuckin’ did it!” She practically screams, jumping into his arms. 

Sam catches her, holding her close to him. “I’m so proud of you, Hay.”

“You’re the one person I want to thank, Sam. Without you, I wouldn’t be here.” She whispers, hugging him tightly. 

“I didn’t do anything. All I did was…” She cuts off her brother by leaning back and looking at him.

“You believed in me from day one. That’s what you did.” She says, tearing up slightly. “Even when mom gave up on me, on us, you never did. Not even for one second.”

Her words cause her brother to tear up a little himself, as he smiles softly before kissing the top of her head.“Congratulations, Beta. You deserve this.” 

Before any more words can be spoken, her imprint walks up and wraps his arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck slightly. 

“I’m dating a high school graduate.” He whispers causing her to wipe her tears and giggle. “That’s kinda hot.”

Sam rolls his eyes but jumps when Jared and Paul almost tackle him with their own excitement. Since the whole gym is loud with families and graduates, he didn’t even hear them running toward them. Hayley turns around in her boyfriend's arms and wraps her own around his neck.

“Hot, huh?”

“Hell yeah it is.” He grins, leaning down toward her. “I really got lucky, dating an older woman. All the guys are jealous!”

She laughs slightly and leans up, pressing her own lips to his, sparks flying. He reaches up and cups her cheek, deepening it slightly. Normally the pack would step in to mess it up on purpose but Hayley deserves this. When they pull away for a breath of much needed air, Emily decides to be the one to step in, not wanting anything to happen in public.

“Alright, time for pictures!!”

Since the pack had the legends bonfire a little over a week before, Paul, Jared and Hayley all wanted to have a nice dinner for their graduation party. Just the pack and them. The only family they would ever need. The three graduates sit next to each other with Embry next to his girlfriend and Sam next to Jared, Paul and Hayley in the middle. 

Kim wasn’t able to be there due to her own family wanting to have a nice dinner as she graduated today as well. She’s gonna be stopping by in a couple of days to spend time with the pack. The pack’s laughing, having the best time of their lives…that is until Jake walks into the room. They all quiet down and look at him, slightly shocked to see he even showed up. 

Sam notices that he wasn’t sitting next to his father in the stands earlier in the night. He’s irritated with his pack member but if he would rather be at Bella’s graduation, hiding, more power to him.

“Hey guys.” He says, putting his hands into his pockets. “Congrats.”

“Thanks.” Hayley says aloud, and very sarcastically, while her two classmates nod at his words, not wanting to speak.

“I, uh, I’m sorry I didn’t go. You know…Bella was graduating too, so.” He mumbles, knowing everyone could hear him. 

“It’s alright. We had the pack.” Jared says, watching him.

“Hell, we had your dad.” Paul shrugs, grabbing another piece of the fantastic dinner Emily created for them.

Jacob nods slightly before speaking reluctantly, knowing he’s going to make someone mad today. 

“I know today is a big one but I wanted to know if Hayley, Embry and Quil were ready…”

“Ready for what?” She raises an eyebrow.

“To go to Bella’s graduation party.”

Embry and Quil growl slightly, pissed at their best friend's words. 

“The fuck, Jacob. You knew since we graduated too we wanted a nice dinner with the pack so why the hell do I have to go?” She asks, throwing her napkin down onto the table.

“Because Sam said I can’t go alone and…”

“You didn’t tell me it was today!” Sam growls. “Can’t my sister have one day without your damn leech problems?” 

“Hay,” He looks at her, begging. “I’ll make it up to you. Please. I need to apologize for what happened a few days ago.”

Hayley shakes her head, glaring at him as she tries to hold back her vibrating body. “Fuck this! Fuck you, Jake! I’m not going. I’m tired of coming second to your little puppy crush on a leech lover. If you want to apologize, you can find a way that doesn’t include me!”

The tension in the room skyrockets and Sam sighs, rubbing his eyes. 

“Fine. Because you’re such a selfish asshole.” He turns to his Beta. “Hayley, will you please go with him and tonight, you and I will watch Harry Potter all night.”

Growling softly, but nodding as she stands up. “Fine.” She looks at Jake, glaring at him. “Just know, I’m done doing anything for you. I’m only going to this cause Sam asked. Next time you need something, why don’t you ask your new leech friends. Cause I’m done.”

“But the pack?” He starts as she walks away.

“No!” She turns, pointing toward him. “No. You do not get to lecture me on the pack! You’ve put me and the pack second to you and your leech loving best friend who’s not even your imprint! If you gave a damn about the pack, you’d have been there today, Jake. You’d have supported us. You’d have chosen your pack before all this. But no. You weren’t. You haven’t. And you didn’t! So, don’t you dare start in with the ‘but the pack’ bullshit! You’re the fuckin’ wolf that cried boy!”

Jake sighs and nods softly. “Fine. But…please?”

Hayley flips him off and growls as she turns away from him to go put her shoes on. Embry shakes his head, anger filling his stomach.

“You’re such a fuckin’ dick, Jake.” He stands up, throwing his own napkin down onto the table. “She got one day this year to do whatever she wanted and you ruined it.”

“I know but…”

“No buts, Jake. The only butt here is you.” He looks at his best friend. “Since the day you phased, she’s done whatever you asked, despite her being the Beta of our pack. A role you tried to take from her. When they wanted you to sniff Bella’s room for a new leech, she was there after getting literally an hour of sleep. When you needed help on homework, she canceled one of our rare dates so you’d get a good grade. She was the one that took every shift outside of Bella’s house she could to make sure that house was safe. If you truly knew how important this day was to her, and even - just slightly - gave a shit about her, you’d have been there for her. You’d have done the one thing that you knew you should’ve, the one thing she shouldn’t even have to ask of you. But you didn’t. You showed her - and everyone else here - just how little she, and the pack, means to you. How little you actually care about her.”

The teenage boy looks down at his shoes, not knowing what to say. Paul glances up slightly.

“He’s right. I didn’t care if you showed up. Jared didn’t either but she was the one to ask you. Personally! Out of all the times you’ve let her down, this has to be the worst. It’s the only thing she’s ever asked of you, and you gave a rat’s ass about it.”

“Forget it, guys.” Hayley speaks up, her heart full of love from her friends. “If he doesn’t care, then why should I? Let’s just go get this over with so I can come back and watch Harry win the Triwizard cup with the people that do actually care.”

She grabs her truck keys and walks out the back door. Embry rushes out after her, gently curling his fingers around her wrist once he’s close enough. He gently tugs, getting her to stop and face him. Leaning up, he kisses her softly, cupping her cheek with his other hand, absentmindedly wiping the tear that falls down her cheek. 

She deepens the kiss slightly, happy she has at least one good thing in her life and that's her imprint. He’s had her back through everything since the day their eyes met in Jake’s garage. When they pull away, he looks deep into her eyes, wanting to show how much she means to him.

“I love you, Hayley.” He whispers. “Even when everyone is shitting on you, I’ll love you until the end of time.”

Another tear falls down her cheek as she takes in a breath, wanting her heart to stop pounding hard at his words. 

“I love you, too, Embry. So much.”

She wraps her arms around his neck, nuzzling against him slightly. He holds her as close as he can, wanting her to feel his love.

“No matter how much worse Jake can make tonight, this moment, with you, Em, it’s the best part of my day. Of my life.” She whispers.

“You’re already the best part of my life.” He whispers, kissing her temple before pulling away.

Quil stomps out of the house, rushing straight for his best friends, mumbling about how much an ass Jake is. Jacob walks out slowly, embarrassed about everything Sam, Paul and Embry have said to him. Emily even said something when Hayley rushed out of the house. Their Beta drives them to the Cullen’s house, the disgusting smell of sweet bleach hitting their noses as soon as they pull in. 

Embry and Quil growl, but exit the car, knowing that they better get this over with so they can get home as soon as possible. Hayley turns off her truck and puts the keys in her pocket before looking at Jake.

“We’re going to go in. You’re going to apologize. I’m gonna get some cake then we’re leaving. Understood?”

He nods softly, swallowing the small amount of spit in his mouth. She leaves the car and walks to the two boys who are waiting for her. It doesn’t take long for them to find the entrance after hearing the loud music and teenagers talking from the truck. Despite how tense they are, Embry and Quil flank Hayley while Jacob stands a few feet to the side.

Since he’s in the house of the Cullen Coven, he’s calm and confident, not wanting them to know his pack just ripped him a new one for even wanting to be there. Bella catches sight of the four of them before sighing to herself, maneuvering off the dance floor.

“What are you doing here?” She asks, glancing at the other three.

“You invited me, remember?” He smiles slightly.

“Was my right hook too subtle for you? It was me uninviting you.” She scoffs before gesturing to Hayley. “She has more of a right to be here than you do and she doesn’t even like me.”

The Beta smirks to herself, glancing around the party.

“Look, Bella. I’m sorry…about, you know…The kiss and your hand.” He says, causing the two boys to look at him in confusion. “I’d blame it on the whole inner animal thing, but it was really…just me. Being an ass. I’m really sorry.”

Bella sees how sincere he is with his words before nodding slightly. 

“I brought you something. A graduation present.” He says, pulling something out of his pocket. “I made it myself.”

Embry rolls his eyes and puts his hand on his girlfriend’s back. He didn’t even give his pack members a card for their graduation. Hell! Seth handmade cards for the three graduates. Hay immediately put it on her wall so she can look at it everyday. 

“You made this?” Bella asks, looking at the intricately hand-carved miniature wolf that is attached to a bracelet. “It’s really pretty! Thanks.”

Jacob grins widely and helps her put it on, glad she likes it. Hayley pulls on her boyfriend’s shirt slightly, gesturing to the door. He nods slightly, knowing what she means before turning to Jacob to tell him where they’re going. Before Hay can try to move past a couple of the Forks High graduates, wanting to get some food since Jake rudely interrupted their dinner, a voice captures her attention.

“Hey! It’s Taken!” 

She groans slightly and turns around, mumbling softly. “As if this night couldn’t get any worse.”

Embry raises an eyebrow at her words and turns around, looking to see a blonde pale face, checking out his girlfriend, a slight glare appearing.

“Mike.” Hayley says, putting her hand on her boyfriend’s arm to calm him down. “What do you want?”

“I didn’t know you were going to be here.” He grins, stepping in front of her. 

“Well, my great friend Bella graduated today so I thought I’d stop by and say hello.” She says, forcing the words out.

“Oh! Well while you’re here we should dance or something.” He checks her out again before looking up at Embry who steps up toward him.

Hayley bites her lip slightly, loving the protective feeling that’s radiating from her imprint. She’s also trying to hold back her laughter at the sight of her 6 foot 4 boyfriend, towering over the barely 5 foot 10 inch tall teenager.

“And you’re who?” Embry narrows his eyes. 

“I’m Mike.” He puts his hand out. “You must be the guy she’s happily and forever taken to?”

“I am.” He says, ignoring his hand shake. “So, you already knew that she’s taken? But you still thought you’d shoot your shot?”

“I, uh…” He stutters slightly. “I thought she was lying…”

“She wasn’t and she still isn’t so why don’t you go and dance with someone else because this beautiful girl is mine.” He wraps his arm around her waist.

“Yeah, uh, sure. Sorry.” Mike gulps before turning around, rushing back toward Jessica who was still on the dance floor.

When he’s out of earshot, Hayley turns to look up at her boyfriend with a smirk.

“And you say I’m the hot one.” She whispers, knowing he can hear her. “I’d have to say, you’re the hot one here.”

He looks down at her, the glare immediately erasing from his face.

“Me?” He chuckles and shakes his head. “Nah, it’s still you.”

Before she can reply, the air in the room quickly gets thick, not that any of the humans around would notice. The couple turns around to see Alice near the staircase, frozen in her spot. She’s having a vision.

“Shit.” She whispers before following Bella, Jake and Quil to the know-it-all vampire.

“Alice, what did you see?” Bella whispers, looking at her friend.

“Okay, something is going on. Tell me.” Jake says, looking between them.

“I…need to talk to Jasper.” She says, turning to the side.

The shifter puts his arm against the wall, blocking her from moving.

“Why don’t you tell me?” He growls slightly.

“I suggest you remove your arm…before I do.” Jasper says, appearing almost out of nowhere.

“Nah, how about you back up away from my pack before I remove yours.” Hayley glares at the vampire. 

He turns toward her, his lethal expression falling as he sees she’s flanked by her imprint and best friend. He swallows the venom in his mouth, not wanting to start anything with her.

“The decision has been made.” Alice says, breaking their eye contact.

“What’s going on? You’re not going to Seattle?” Bella asks, looking at her again.

“No…They’re coming here…”

The four pack members follow behind the vampire couple to Carlisle’s office where the rest of them were waiting. Once again Quil and Embry are flanking their Beta while Jake stands near Bella but he’s far enough away from Edward to be happy.

“How long?” Edward asks, looking at his ‘sister’. 

“They’ll be here in four days.” She answers.

The four pack members glance at each other, confused at the conversation that’s going on. 

“This could turn into a bloodbath.” Carlisle says, glancing at his family.

“Who’s behind it?” The mind-reading vampire continues his questioning.

“I didn’t see anyone I recognize. Maybe one.” Alice thinks about her vision.

“I know his face. He’s local, Riley Biers.” He says, glancing at his girlfriend. “He didn’t start this.”

For the last year, her father, the Chief of Police, has been searching for him since he’s been missing. Now she knows what happened.

“Whoever did is staying out of the action.”

“They must be playing with the blind spots in your vision.” Carlisle speaks up again.

“Either way, the army is coming…” Jasper stands straight. “And there aren’t enough of us to protect the town.”

Hayley has had enough. She steps forward, putting her hands out, shaking slightly at the conversation.

“Hold up. What damn army? What are you talking about?”

Carlisle looks toward his ‘youngest son’ who shakes his head. He sighs and looks toward the Beta of the pack.

“Newborns. Our kind.”

“What are they after?” Embry asks, glancing at his imprint.

“They were passing around Bella’s scent. A red blouse.”

“The scent Jake and I smelled. Must be this Riley kid.” Hayley says, glancing at the oldest vampire.

“They’re the ones after Bella?” Embry raises an eyebrow.

“What the hell does this mean?” Jacob speaks up.

“It means an ugly fight. With lives lost.” Carlisle sighs.

A sudden weight falls on Hayley’s shoulders. Lives lost meaning that these newborn vampires can get past the Cullen’s and get to Forks or the tribe, killing everyone. She can’t let that happen. Innocent people can get hurt and she, as a spirit warrior, has sworn to protect every innocent human she possibly could. 

She looks over her right shoulder at Embry who, despite not being a mind reader, knows exactly what she’s thinking. He puts his hand on her lower back, silently informing her ‘whatever you say, I’ll do’. She looks toward Quil who gives her an almost invisible nod, knowing what the risk is. She blows air from her nose before looking at Jake. 

Even after her large speech barely an hour ago, she knew she had to do this.

“Alright…we’re in.” 

“No!” Bella speaks up, shaking her head. “You’ll get yourselves killed. No way.”

“I don’t need your permission, Isabella.” She states before looking toward Carlisle. 

Before she can speak any further, the human looks toward her boyfriend.

“Edward!”

“It means more protection for you.” He shrugs, happy that Hayley came to the conclusion she did.

“Jacob!”

“If I was in Hayley’s position, I’d do the same.” He says, thankful for the Beta of his pack.

Her speech was still lingering on his mind so he knew he couldn’t outwardly ask Hayley to do this…save his love but knowing she was willing to do this…even if it wasn’t for him, it makes him question his intentions with the pack. 

“Do you believe Sam will agree to an understanding?” Carlisle asks, looking at the female pack member.

“Innocent lives are at stake here. Her father. Jake’s father. My tribe.” She says, crossing her arms. “Not just Bella.”

“Jasper.” He says, looking at his ex-war veteran. 

“They’ll give us the numbers. And the newborns won’t know they even exist. That’ll give us an edge.”

“We’ll need to coordinate.” He says, looking toward Hayley once again.

“Carlisle, they’ll get hurt!” Bella speaks up again.

“We’ll all need some training. Fighting newborns requires knowledge that Jasper has. You’re welcome to join us.”

“Name the time and place.” Hayley looks toward Jasper.

“Tonight…Dawn?” Jasper asks, making sure the time was okay with her.

“I’ll talk with Sam.” She says, turning around toward her imprint.

He keeps his hand on her lower back, ushering her out the door, Quil and Jake following her. 

“There goes my damn Harry Potter marathon.” She mumbles, causing Embry to rub her back. 

Before they can fully exit the house, Bella runs up behind the four pack members.

“Hayley, Jake. You don’t know what you’re getting yourselves into!”

The Beta turns around to look at her. 

“Bella, this is what we do.” She shakes her head. “I’m doing this for your father and every other innocent person you’ve dragged into your bullshit.”

“You should be happy.” Jake looks down at his best friend. “Look at us, working together. You’re the one who wanted us to get along, remember?”

Not allowing the human to say anything else, the four pack members quickly leave, getting into Hayley’s truck, ready to go back to her house.

[honeybeecomebuzzingme]

My dad triggered me a lot yesterday and I self-harmed in front of him and he had no reaction he just has no compassion and he doesn't care about anyone but himself.

I feel in danger whenever I'm around him and especially trauma triggered when I am physically forced to be close to him.

But to him it's just "my trauma" and it's all triggered or caused by my ex and before that it was my ex before that and my ex before that and my dad just cannot understand that he was my dad and he could have taught me so much but he insists that other women and my mum would have taught me that and the school should have taught me that etc.

But it's never that, as the "relationship trauma" happened after I left school (2010-2024) and before I left school the "childhood trauma" happened with my dad (1992-2010) and so I've been dyslexic and have ADHD all that time but it's just the combination of all of the trauma that causes my co-morbidies. Cptsd, rptsd, BPD, or just PTSD, I feel like I have all of that! My anxiety and depression comes from feeling hopeless and lonely and just unable to talk to anyone because I never felt like I was safe with any of my family members especially my dad and the reason I didn't feel safe with my family members because of my dad presumably.

My dad convinced me that my best friend was exactly like what my dad claims to be.

And that is frightening and I know my best friend is definitely not like that and it is terrifying that no matter how many times my dad is told by me that that is wrong to say about someone I care about no matter what my relationship status is with them I still say it's wrong that he says those things and he should never have said them in the first place.

It feels like a manipulation and control, like I constantly have to question my memory of my own life and not being free to make my own choices is really detrimental.

My dad wants to control me. Touch me.

To him it's fine to him everything is fine and normal and he should be allowed to do this. It feels like this is not normal and if this is what my dad's family thinks is normal then maybe I was right not to feel comfortable to reach out to them all.

I'm stuck having a boyfriend even though I'm not straight right? I'm stuck being married even though I've never been married right? I have to accept this cos an old dog can never learn new tricks.

Call it male privilege or traditional gender roles and values - whatever you like - but it's still wrong! None of this is normal!

I can write down the dates of when things happened and try and remember exactly what was said even when I was in a state of meltdown and panicking. But even if I look through and find every single day and every single phrase and every single piece of evidence to prove that my dad is wrong it will still never be good enough.

I say things I talk about things trying so hard to change the subject to things like Harry potter and simpler stuff like that.

But it will always lead to arguments no matter how straightforward and direct and blunt I am. Even if instead of talking about Harry potter I say to him about how I'm gay and I'm non-binary and I don't identify as being married because I've never been married and I disagree with the idea that pregnancy will cure my ADHD and everything else that is apparently wrong with me. My depression is supposedly all linked to my boyfriend's, partner's, (apparently all of my girlfriends don't count cos they're female) and you know he has said many times that a casual hookup is abuse and manipulative behaviour.

My dad is a terrible person and I wish that I could escape him and never see him again because the stuff he said about my best friend and all of my friends and the stuff he said about me and my mum, ruining the memories I still have of her, denying the truth, and the things he's said about my mum's friends and family, and to my mum's friends and family, it just sucks that he thinks that's all okay.

The abuse that I have had he denies, yet he tells me inappropriate stories about my mum and my friends mums, and it just does not sit well with me that he thinks that all of that was okay to say to me.

When I ask for stories about my mum I don't want those kinds of stories, thanks?

I want to know if they dated and fell in love, I want to know how they met, I want to know how they became my mum and dad. I want to remember all my mum's favourite musicians and listen to them again. I want to sing along to them again.

I keep thinking back to how empowered I felt when I bluntly said to my dad the line about being in the closet. It's true I've never felt like I was actually in the closet socially in my own self, my true friends have all accepted me, and they see me as sage and know me as me, it's just him...

Being non-binary means I am mostly bisexual a lot of the time. I do say I'm gay half the time for a start. Other times ace.

I would say I'm about 1% straight most days - heck even my chair and my car are queer. I'm an accidental queer author.

I know my fans see me as a queer witchy novelist, I know that my books exist in the LGBT section of universities, libraries, and I hope that my books represent something important to my fans.

I feel like I need to focus on my writing and try to ignore all of my dad's delusions but it is very hard as it's on a daily basis...

I am someone who loves hard and takes a lot to open up and trust fully but when I do love and trust someone I am loyal as fuck.

I am someone who never gives up on my friends and I care deeply about my friends - my nakama! Nakama is ohana!! Always 😊❤️

I don't understand why my dad thinks that I'm in a relationship with someone when I'm not, and why he tells people that I am unemployed when I'm not, and I seriously don't understand why my dad thinks I'm married when I'm not. Oh and the thing about him accidentally or on purpose telling people that I live in England, have a sister with my mum's name, was born in 2002 or 2010 (I time travel or never age I don't know) or even have kids when I don't -- and that's the most hurtful part actually, as my general trauma is related to the fact I don't have kids and how that is......

Irrespective, I hate my dad not letting me call Samaritans and talk to my friends.

Furthermore, I hate that my dad wouldn't let me do tasks in a normal way, breath, and communicate boundaries in a healthy way, and have an ordinary conversation about Harry potter and mum's music.

I'm scared I might never fall in love with another woman again or have kids of my own cos of how much I have to do all these things all the time and then still be told that I'm incapable of work and incapable of doing the things that I'm doing even though I'm trying so hard to show growth and just general confidence in myself. I want to have self-esteem and genuine happiness in my life.

Most of all I feel like I'll never get to be myself in my own home just regularly like before. I really hate that I don't get to experience that as much as before.

[daysofourlivesrecaps]

Wednesday, 12 July 2023

This was a pretty eventful one for a Wednesday episode! Maybe these guys have finally realized that on a streaming platform (as in life itself) time is meaningless and the labeling of individual days serves only to mark the inevitable passage of time.

Then again, they probably do know that because I think that’s exactly what this guy has been trying to tell us since 1965.

(Incidentally, they’ve shaved that intro down to a tight fifteen seconds. It would almost certainly take you longer to find and use your remote to push the ‘skip intro’ button than it would to just let it play.)

Okay, first — Wendy finally chose a guy!

If you felt jerked around by me teasing this information in yesterday’s recap, imagine how I’ve felt for the past… 8 months or so? I have a distinct memory of this being a thing around Christmas, but it’s possible it’s been going on even longer than that. And even though we knew she picked one of them at the end of yesterday’s episode, it still takes more than half of this one for them to finally tell us.

First, she asks Tripp (who lives there) to give her and Johnny some privacy.

Both guys somehow inexplicably interpret this to mean that she’s chosen Johnny, not just that she wants to have a conversation with one of them without the other one just hanging around. But of course, “misunderstandings bordering on farce” are one of this show’s favorite tricks. Certainly of late, anyway.

So Tripp goes to visit his dad, Steve. Steve continues to be an extremely good dude, and it’s easy to see how a guy like Tripp came from a dad like Steve. He tells his son that, if he cares for Wendy, he should fight for her. But not in the shitty, sexist way that guys used to do stuff like that.

Steve is doing his best to keep up with the times and gives very good advice about how to be confident and assertive without being toxic and pushy. I wish I had jokes for this, but I don’t. I’m just a real sucker for media where strong, self-assured dudes are also allowed to be compassionate and sensitive. It’s a level of nuance that actual grown-up TV shows struggle with, but this soap fucking nails it.

Back at Wendy’s place… Johnny’s being a real smug dickhole over his assumption that Wendy has chosen him.

Which is what makes it extra delightful when she says “nope, I’m actually into Tripp. Now get out of my house.” She’s more diplomatic about it than that, but after so many months of waiting for this exact thing to finally happen, my memory wants to embellish it a bit.

Also he throws a little entitled hissy fit when he gets the news. Because of course he does.

Then Tripp comes home, gets the news and everyone’s happy! Except Johnny, and nobody fucking cares about that guy!

Over at the pub, Kate and Kayla have a chat over breakfast. Mostly about how Kate really wanted Harris to kill Megan, and how disappointed she is that this didn’t end up happening. Kate gotta Kate.

Kayla commits a very mild HIPAA violation and tells Kate what’s been going on with Harris’ deprogramming.

And here he is, still at the hospital, hanging with Marlena. Who is somehow not crawling with picnic ants.

Harris believes that, what with being brainwashed to kill for Megan on two different occasions, maybe he shouldn’t just be free to go because Marlena says he’s cured now. Maybe, he suggests, I should go Offscreen Hills, the mental institution where we sent Tripp’s mom, and be under observation for awhile.

Marlena is weirdly hesitant to agree to this, but finally does.

I still want to like Harris, but a trip to Offscreen Hills usually means, as you might infer from the name, leaving the show. I mean, I’d be very happy if he met Tripp’s mom (Ava, one of my favorite characters) there and they fell in love. But that doesn’t seem terribly likely.

But before the Nice Young Men in Their Clean White Coats show up to take him away (ha ha), Kate shows up to sort-of apologize (this is Kate we’re talking about after all) for asking him to kill Megan.

Which, let’s be honest, is probably the best send-off this poor guy is likely to get.

Okay. I promised eventfulness and I definitely meant more than just “an obvious resolution to a tedious love triangle.”

Because this is the episode where we meet Clint Rawlings, formerly deputy mayor to Abe Carver and now, in light of Abe’s presumed death, acting mayor of Salem.

I was pleased to see the introduction of a new, fairly handsome character but one of my viewing companions (TLo) insisted we were meeting a new villain.

And she was proven right almost immediately. Clint really comes out swinging, laying into Chanel for daring to reopen her bakery after the Poisoned Biscuit Affair of April or So.

He proceeds to go into the elaborate web of deception and misfortune that led to Sweet Bits’ recent closure (Chanel getting involved with her college professor; the untimely demise of the professor’s wife; the subsequent cover-up of the whole affair by her mother; the arrival in Salem of two of that professor’s children, both swearing revenge) and assures her that he will not stand for any of this because his administration is going to bring law and order (now streaming on Peacock) and decency back to Salem.

If you happen to be watching the show with any racist dogs, they almost certainly started barking at the sound of that whistle.

And at the police station, Rafe actually does decide to do something about the whole “Shawn was drinking on the job” thing and prepares to suspend him. But then Shawn reveals that he knows all about Rafe’s secret affair with Jada (his subordinate and the only other named cop on the show) and effectively blackmails Rafe into not suspending him lest the affair become public knowledge.

Wow, he’s a mean drunk. Who would have expected that of Shawn Brady, the Irish cop?

Naturally someone overhears all of this. (Did I say “bordering on farce” earlier? I meant “living in a comfortable suburb of farce and commuting in daily for work.”)  And that someone is Acting Mayor Family Values, who almost certainly cannot account for his whereabouts on 6 January 2021 if you get what I’m saying.

Rafe does manage to go through with the suspension of Drunk Shawn, but then Rawlings proceeds to Make Salem Great Again and fires Rafe!

Which sucks, because I was just finally getting to like Rafe a bit. But also because, as far as I can tell, this makes Jada the only active cop in Salem now.

Well, unless you count Officer Skippy, the guy whose pants got stolen at the hospital a few weeks ago. But what’s the likelihood that this new Acting Mayor puts an inept, inexperienced white dude in charge over the woman of color?

[aphroditelovesu]

Can you do platonic yandere Harry Potter x child! Reader?

"I will be the only one to love you unconditionally." - Harry Potter.

❝–🔮 Lady L: You bet I can! I think this was asked about two or three months ago… I'm sorry it took so long… But it's done and I hope you like it. A platonic Harry Potter is my new religion and I realized how much I love writing platonic yanderes. :)

❝–🔮 TW: yandere themes, implied murder and torture, obsessive and possessive behavior, manipulation and overprotection.

❝–🔮 Pairing: Yan!Platonic Harry Potter x Gender Neutral!Reader

Harry is the very definition of a caring and protective father. He would do anything for his child and more. Nothing matters more to him than the happiness of the person most important to him, you, his beloved and adorable child.

From the moment you were in your mother's womb, he was already obsessively dreaming about you. What you would be like, your name, your skills, your personality, your dreams… Potter had already thought of everything possible about you.

He doesn't really care what you want to do in the future, he just insists he stay on your side. Harry refuses to be left by you, he's your dad, sweetie, you could never leave him, right?

He's a selfless yandere, okay? Harry would do everything in his power to see you benefit in everything you do. If someone is causing you problems, they will be fixed immediately. He doesn't mind having to use spells to correct or get rid of someone who is bothering you. Perhaps an Avada Kedrava… Anything and everything is possible.

Harry would do anything for his family and friends, that's a fact, but he'd get rid of them all for you if he had to. He's one of the most loyal wizards you could ever meet, but you come first in his life. Everything he believes in would be set aside for you.

He's overprotective of you, Harry demands to know every detail of your life. Privacy isn't something that exists when he's his father, he's going to want to know everything about your life. Your friends, secrets, the people you care about. All. You won't be allowed to leave the house alone, just with him or one of your friends, friends he trusts and knows are good for you, in case.

Harry is not afraid and will not hesitate to sacrifice himself for you. He won't think twice about saving your life, he'd rather die than live without you. Just the thought of you dying makes him mad and desperate. No way can this happen. He won't allow you to die.

You will be pampered without moderation by Harry. He doesn't care that he's not rich or anything like that, your wants must be fulfilled and yours wishes realizade. Harry wants to see you smiling all the time and if material possessions is the way to do it, why should he deny it? It's just money and if that's what it takes to buy your happiness, so be it.

Speaking of which, Harry wants to be your confidant. He is your confidant. He wants to be the person you can tell anything to without hesitation, the one person you run to when you have a problem. You can count on anything for him, no matter what, he will always be there for you.

You are the apple of your father's eye, the only child he loves so much. He may have other children, but none of them will matter to him as much as you do. Harry will love it if you ask him to mentor you, help you practice spells, potions and stuff like that. He wasn't the most exemplary student at Hogwarts, but he appreciates every minute he spends with you, even if he's been teaching you the wrong way.

Harry will despair if you are hurt in any way. First he will tend to your wounds, comfort you and then he will ask you who hurt you. If you've hurt yourself, he'll scold you lightly, telling you to be more careful, but if someone else has hurt you, don't worry, Harry will deal with them personally. Nobody can hurt you and think they'll get away with it, because they won't. Your father will make sure of that.

When you grow up and it's your time to go to Hogwarts, this man will cry. His precious baby is growing up and becoming independent. He will refuse to let you go, whimpering and mumbling things like "you're growing up so fast". You will need other people to help you out of your father's crushing embrace. The fact that you're going to Hogwarts will only remind him that you probably won't need him as much as you used to and that will make him bitter. No, that's not true, you're always going to need your dad next to you, right? Whenever you call him, he will appear by your side. Harry will always take care of you, even after his death. Your dad will never abandon you. He promised you that and Potter always keeps his promises.

[gayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy]

Scorpius should have been a Hufflepuff I have so many reasons:

- The WHOLE point of the play is that Albus and Scorpius are NOT like there dad's witch is why Albus is in Slytherin so why is Scorpius in the same house as his dad when the whole point is that he's the exact opposite of him?

- Scorpius doesn't have any of the Slytherin traits He's not ambitious or cunning and he sucks at being a leader ( sorry Scorpius it had to be said)

- What traits dose he have? Loyalty- he sticks my Albus's side no matter what. Trough think and thin Albus's can always count on Scorpius to help him. Honest- Scorpius in the play only lied ONCE about the time Turner. Tell me how this isn't Hufflepuff traits Plus Scorpius is open and willing to call out Albus's on his toxic behavior- this is good friendship!

- The play took away the ONLY Hufflepuff character they never even brought teddy up! Not once! And the only other important Hufflepuff died! So why not have a Hufflepuff and a Slytherin be the main character 's?

- It whould be a great way to show off Draco's amazing parenting skills and how much he grew as a person and as a character. Because he made it clear in the first book that he didn't like Hufflepuff and that anyone who went there should be disappointed in themselves. So imagine his own son being in Hufflepuff. And him not only being okay with that him because proud and how Scorpius in redefining the Malfoy name and not giving a damn about pure blood tradition.

- It whould have made it easier for timeline #2 ( Gryffindor Albus and asshole Harry timeline) to be different for Scorpius and not just different for Albus. Because what if a MALFOY being in Hufflepuff is what gave Albus the courage he needed to allow himself to be sorted into Slytherin? So in the alternate timeline Scorpius is put in Slytherin and Albus goes in Griffindor.

- " But how whould this affect Albus and Scorpius's friend ship?" I think it whould bring them closer together. They both already are different from there family's and what everyone expected from them if course they would be friends even if they weren't in the same house! Plus it's very popular in the fandom where the 'Angry snarky Slytherin' And the 'Kind supportive Hufflepuff' are best friends/Lovers try and tell me that ISN'T Albus and Scorpius! Also HUFFLEBUDDY SCORPIUS'

- I'd feel like Scorpius whould do AMAZING in Hufflepuff - because Hufflepuff's are known for being accepting of everyone. So he whould'nt be an outcast. Hell he and Albus might be able to make some other friends besides each other now that there in different houses - I'd love to see the boys make friends that share the same interests as them! Plus if your not a big fan if the time travel plot this a great plot idea. Have the boys make friends have Albus and Scorpius help with inter house unity!

Anyway here's my rant and my ideas for Hufflepuff Scorpius thank you and Good night.

( Also Scorpius is Trans and Draco is 100% supportive fuck you JKR)

[harrysmimi]

Toxic people

Synopsis: YN's crush seems to be interested in her but her bestfriend wants to hook up with him.

Harry isn't famous, or the the typical rude long hair Harry is in all the fanfics. He's just a college student here.

More of my work

YN so badly thought her parents are going to kick her ass!

Well, why wouldn't they if she fails in even a single class? She's a fucking law student, she should be at home studying for her test the next week but instead she is in a party. In jeans, a black hoodie and white sneakers; her friend Bexley actually dragged her there lying to her that they're going to get dinner with some other friends.

YN still lived with her parents hence she had to follow their rules they usually did not let her go out past eight. Yeah, she's almost Twenty-one and she have a curfew (and she isn't allowed to move out until she is married like her eldest brother), that's how shit works in Indian families. But anyways, her parents let her go out because Bexley said they're going to get dinner with other girls.

YN have known Bexley since beginning of her college. She was the first person to talk to her, that too after she saw YN always ace-ing her exams and class tests and that all the professors loved her for that. But she's been nothing but nice to YN whilst everyone else has been just horrible to her. But lately she's been using YN to her advantage, it has happened quite a few times. Bexley would drag YN to a party or to college functions and just leave her alone after she finds a company to hook up. She said, she didn't wanted any of her other pretty friends along so she'd be ignored. It's been a pattern now. YN was smart enough to take her own car this time so she wouldn't have to call her dad or brother or take a cab back home that late.

YN was just worried wreck about her test this coming week. She's always had a pressure to be good at academics no matter what stream she would have taken, everyone in her family are very educated from teachers with PhD's to engineers to lawyers to doctors.

Having parents who are neither very strict, neither very chill there was a grey area where her parents parented her and her brothers. And her mother is an intimidating woman. She so wished she'd rather pass away in attempt to study for this test than be at this party. She did not even know who's party it was, Bexley mentioned it was one of her friend's birthday party.

It wasn't a frat party, YN could tell even though she haven't been to one. It was more chill, no drunk and sweaty hormonal teenager were jammed packed together in a room dancing to shitty music— well it made sense because that nor her or her classmates are teenagers anymore. The music was actually bop, less people. The more 'popular' people from the campus were there, everyone dressed very well, she's sure she stood out as a sore thumb in her worn out hoodie.

She was just sat there by the breakfast bar with a solo cup filled with water, so no one asks her for a drink (she already have been asked for two times by creepy looking guys). Finally Bexley came jogging towards YN in her high heels and tight black dress she wore, flipping her gorgeously fake looking dyed jet black hair over her shoulders.

"Act cool, okay?" She said grabbing YN's cup and taking a sip from it. She glared at her as it was just water in there, YN just smiled and shrugged grabbing her phone.

YN's heart stopped beating for a second, she swore she saw her crush making his way towards them with a blond guy.

YN just turned her gaze to double check and it was him!

In all his glory!

He wore his classis, a loose button down shirt, this time it was plain black and not a funky colour or a funny print. Skinny jeans, and his staple boots; which she is sure are from Gucci. A cross necklace hung over his neck like always, his long curls fell down to his shoulders. A red solo cup in his hand gripped by ring clad fingers. Her eyes caught his green ones, and she almost passed away when she saw those dimples!

She's always seen him in her Legal Ethics class, he was totally an average student. But the professors adored him as well. She always saw him in the hallways going back and forth from classes, he hung out with the popular people of the college. She always pays attention to whatever her professor have to say and she genuinely does but, YN have heard him talk and answer a few questions or discuss a few topis though he doesn't talk much in class.

But good lord he have a killer deep voice which followed by a thick British accent!

He's like a literal Greek God walking on the face of this floating globe with gravity in her eyes. And she was already planning her funeral when he smiled at her now.

HE. SMILED AT HER!

Oh she feels like a love sick puppy!

But she have no fucking chance with him, she can only admire him like a fangirl from afar.

Even if she does, Bexley won't let that happen. She just hates it when people are trying to approach YN, even if they just want to be friends with her.

"Hey Bexley." The blond one spoke once they approached the the girls, he had a strong Irish accent. YN awkwardly glanced at her phone for time, it was two and half hours past her curfew and luckily her parents haven't started blowing up her phone. She just avoided the three people, even though there was one guy in particular she never wants to avoid.

Sort of avoid... she is, she is just very fucking nervous okay!

"This is my best friend YN." Bexley said, not sounding too interested. It sounded like it was a chore for her introduce YN.

"Hi, I am Niall." The blond one chirped and to YN surprised approached her with a quick hug.

"Hi, nice to meet you." YN smiled back.

"I'm Harry." The long haired one said, forwarding his hand for a handshake.

How can anyone look adorable and hot and sexy and handsome at the same time? How is that even possible? He made it possible.

"Hi." YN muttered shyly taking his hand in her shaky one and bobbing once before she retracted her hand back. A pink tone flushed her cheeks reaching up to her ears and blending down to her neck. She just hoped her glasses wouldn't fog up from the small encounter of her hand in his.

"I've been meaning to talk to talk to—" Harry was interrupted by Bexley.

"We have a class together? I don't remember, do we?" She said.

"We have a class together Bexley." Niall spoke, sounding a bit annoyed. YN didn't know why he was visibly annoyed by the blue eyed girl.

"Not you silly, I'm asking Harry." She chuckled.

"He said we do have a class together, Bexley." Harry spoke, his tone was stern like he's not impressed.

YN's eyes went wide as Bexley's jaw dropped to the floor. YN have never seen anyone talk to Bexley like that, in a stern tone, and especially guys who are into girls. YN did not know what to say so she just stayed quite. Harry turned back to YN, who's heart was just waiting on a queue to burst out of ber ribcage just whilst talking to him.

"I've actually been meaning to come and talk to you, if I'm not wrong we have Legal Ethics together?" Harry said.

"Uhh... Yeah." YN nodded.

She kind of got disappointed, what if he asks her to help him out with an assignment or something? The perfect picture she have of him in her head of him would be torn into a zillion pieces. She have her classmates being nice to her but it's only when they need help. If he turns out to be one of those people she'd be heart broken!

"Oh, YN did I tell you it's Niall's birthday today!" Bexley announced again not letting Harry speak to her.

"Oh," YN beamed immediately, "Happy Birthday Niall."

"Thanks love." Niall chuckled.

"I am sorry, I came uninvited, Bex dragged me here." YN explained.

"It's completely fine darling hope you're enjoying the party." Niall gave her shoulder an assuring pat.

"I am." She nodded. Harry caught her attention again by clearing his throat.

"We've actually got an assignment together, I don't know if you've checked your emails yet." Harry continued what he had to say before Bexley announced it's Niall's birthday, "you left the class early today."

"No, I didn't." YN panicked slightly but inside she was screaming. She had to leave the class early today because her mother was a little sick. "I, I, I had to leave early..."

"Don't worry it's not due until next week." Harry said assuring her, he smiled watching her body relax but an upset look took over her pretty features.

"Oh, so you've been meaning to come to talk to be about that?" YN asked, not glancing up at him until she finished her question. A faint furrow sat between her brows.

"Of course why would he wanna talk to you then?" Bexley spoke now sipping on a bottle of beer, clearly looking pissed Harry was making an effort to talk to her.

"First of, that was just straight up rude." Harry pointed out, "yeah, it was! And second, why would you talk about your bestfriend like that?" He now clearly looked very pissed and not impressed at all.

That wasn't why Harry actually wanted to come talk to YN. He's seen her since the beginning of the college, they've had at one class together every year. Now they're in their third year of five year Law program, Harry's gotten a crush on her. He found it quite difficult on him to go over and talk to her. Firstly, he was too much of a pussy to go up to her and talk, and secondly, she's be in a class or in library studying or just helping out professor a few rare times. YN sort of intimidated him, mostly because she is such an excellent student and all the professors know her and love her. He have hardly seen her hanging out with anyone other than Bexley or mostly she's alone. He didn't wanted to be creepy and approach her when she's alone, what if she knew Karate and boxing and beat his ass up? That is a possibility!

He'd asked Niall to help him introduce him to YN as he knew Bexley. He maybe wants to be friends with her and if she seems comfortable enough to maybe take her out on a date. That was original plan and not just talk about this stupid assignment.

But YN was already upset and heart broken. He approached her saying they've got an assignment together. Maybe Bexley is right, or maybe that was just a wrong move from him...

Would it be dramatic if she says she have talked about her little crush on him to her mum? Well, she could care less about it. YN have a love hate relationship with her mother but she always talked to her Mum and shared a few things. Both her parents were intimidating in their own ways, YN would never dare to talk about a guy in from of her father. Or she could never dare to talk about less impressive exam result to her mother. But all things aside, she have talked to her mother about her silly little (well, not so little) crush on this guy in her class.

"It's, it's uhh... will see you after class on Monday. My Papa is texting me get back home." YN's voice wavered as she let out a shaky breath, she didn't lie though her dad was texting her to get back home before ten. And if she doesn't leave now she'd be grounded. "Bexley?"

"Oh, I'll take a cab back home, don't worry about me." She waved YN's question off gulping down her beer. "Harry didn't we have Accounting..." And she started talking to Harry.

"Happy birthday Niall." YN smiled at the guy.

"Yeah, thank you. See you around at the campus." Niall smiled back and gave her another quick hug, he's so freaking sweet!

"Yeah." YN nodded and awkwardly started making her way to the front door. She decided to leave before Bexley could make negative comments about her body and point out her insecurities in front of her crush and his bestfriend. She wasn't having a good day and she didn't wanted to cry to sleep.

"Bexley what happened to your boyfriend? Didn't he came?" Niall interrupted whatever conversation she was having with Harry, clearly flirting and mot even trying to be subtle about it. Harry looked pissed so he had to intervene in the conversation.

"What boyfriend?" She said as if she have no idea. The girl dumped her boyfriend not even three days ago. "Where did he go?" She whined seeing Harry was gone and Niall was holding his cup which was still very full.

"I don't know." Niall shrugged and turned to leave.

.....................................................................

Harry felt very guilty for the way Bexley was treating YN. He even went after her but she was nowhere to be seen.

Entire weekend he was sad that he couldn't talk to YN. Niall had a lot of friends and few of them were YN's classmates who she have worked on projects and assignments with. It just added more to his guilt when they said that no one talks to her for some reason and they all just make fun of her.

Yeah, University students are like that too, which is more fucked up! Bexley was to blame for all of this really, that girl is basically friends with half of the campus.

Harry made sure to get to class early this Monday so he can talk to her, and apologise.

He sat at her usual place at the first seating row in the classroom. He hates to sit in front he's usually at the very back, chilling and listening to lecture or just doodling random stuff and later go get it tattooed on him.

He was super early to class there were hardly any students there and he was bored. But he saw YN walked into the class, she looked surprised seeing Harry sitting next to her usual seat. She wasn't going to argue like school kids for taking up her place so she walked a row up and sat there. She almost looked mad seeing him there.

Actually she was mad. Not at him but at herself. YN saw Bexley again with her other girl friends. She was talking about how she went back to Harry's and how sleeping with him was so amazing, how he asked her to go out with him on a date after. It was hard for YN to believe it at first, she thought it won't be true and Bexley was just saying to get under her skin. But why why would it be false either? YN remembered hearing these other girls talk in locker rooms, that he was hooking up with this girl when he had just broken up with his partner. Like a rebound, he had a rebound. But it was all during the first year of college, YN have never heard anything about Harry being around with people like that.

Whilst YN never judged people engaging in hook-up culture, she did not condone it and didn't like people who engage themselves in hooking up with random people. She finds it disgusting. And it broke her heart, this perfect image she had of him in her mind was burnt into ashes. She had no other option than to believe Bexley as there was visible evidence all over her neck. That girl didn't even try to hide it.

"Hey, YN." Harry turned to YN and found she had her laptop out and was working on her notes from previous class. "I'm so sorry for how Bexley treated you that night."

"You didn't do anything so you don't have to apologise for anything." She told him.

"No, I should have stood up for you even more. I'm sorry!" He looked at her with sad puppy eyes.

He looked even more beautiful today, his hair was pulled into a bun showing entire of her pretty face. He was wearing a hoodie instead of a button down today. Over all he just look even more beautiful than she last saw him. But here is he is, apologising for feeling bad because her best friend treated her in a horrible way in front of him, after hooking up with her the same night. How disgusting!

"I don't need you or anyone to take a stand for me, okay?" YN said, "apologising after hooking up with my bestfriend who treated me like shit."

"What?" His eyes went wide, "I didn't. Who told you that?"

"Doesn't matter, we don't even know each other Harry, just leave it." She shook her head annoyed, and got back to what she was doing on her laptop. Harry was quick to go sit next to her in the second seating row.

"It matters to me, okay, there are people spreading false rumours about me?" He looked very surprised and shocked, "I don't hook up with random people. I don't even know your bestfriend."

And he was ignored.

"She told you that, didn't she?" He sighed.

Harry wouldn't even be making assumptions right now because he knows he is right. He is always good at reading people, and Bexley is one of many people he would stay six feet away from, let alone sleep with her.

"Yeah she did, who else would tell me about it?" Her tone was a little harsh.

"I didn't, I know you're going to trust your friend than me but I didn't. I was with Niall the entire time after." He explained.

"You don't need to give me an explanation, you approached me because you have an assignment assigned with me. Just do your part with it." She made it all clear.

Harry knew she was genuinely upset but he found her adorable, with her puffed up cheeks and a small pout on her face. And it also made him sad hearing she thinks that he went to talk to her just for the assignment. He really did made a wrong move with bringing up the assignment first.

"It's not like that." He cooed, scooting his chair just a centimetre closer to hers behind the desk, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought up the assignment the first thing. I just didn't know how to start a conversation with you and—"

He was cut off by professor's arrival. The lecture hall was full of students and the class began immediately. Harry sat next to YN the entire time, he took handwritten notes where as she took digital notes on her laptop. He was impressed by her skills of multi-tasking. Though she was still angry the entire lecture, not interacting as much. The lecture went pretty fast for Harry as his focus was all over the place.

"Can you please move so I can go?" YN spoke. Harry didn't even realise she had packed up her things and was ready to leave.

"No, listen to me please, please?" He grabbed her hand and pulled her down, she crashed back onto her seat. YN hitched at the contact with him, her heart beat picked up a pace. "I'm just gonna say it, I have had a tiny crush on you since a very long time and I was being a pussy to come over and talk to you, that assignment was just an excuse. I'm sorry I didn't mean to come out as rude."

What the fuck?

He. Harry Styles. The guy from her Legal Ethics class whom she have had a crush on since the first day of college have a crush on HER!?

SHUT THE FUCKING FRONT DOOR!!

That's fucking insane!

As far she knows girls and even guys and everyone in between are just ready to drop on their knees and worship him. And he's had a crush on her!

"I did not hook up with your bestfriend." He ended his speech. And YN was now speechless, all of sudden she forgot English language or even any other languages she spoke as her mouth hung open in shock.

"What?" He chuckled at her adorable reaction. She blinked her eyes pushing her glasses back on her nose shaking her head.

"I, I uhh... I don't know what to say." She said in a quiet voice.

"You don't have to." He was smiling like an idiot, "do you want to go to the library to work on the assignment if this was your last lecture?"

"Uhh... Sure." She agreed.

"Come on then." He stood up through his bag over his shoulder, holding out his free hand towards her.

YN felt like she was gonna start floating in the air feeling nothing but a weird feeling fill in her body, well, it was weird for her as it has never happened to her. No one have showed interest in her, it was very new for her. She stood up from her chair and hesitantly slid her hand in his. She almost froze when he laced their fingers together instead of wrapping his own around her palm, that feeling, it was so new. His hand was comfortingly warm and soft, he held her hand delicately and guided her out of the lecture hall and started making their way to the library; which was half way across the campus but the walk is gonna be fun.

"You're not from here?" Harry said, starting up a conversation.

"No, I'm not from London." She told him, "is it that obvious?"

"You're accent is barely there so reckoned you're not from UK." He pointed out.

"Oh, no I'm from India. Moved here three years ago when my twin brother and I got into colleges here." She shared.

"Does he study law too?"

"No, he's in a medical student." She said.

"I'm not from London by the way, I'm from Manchester but I moved here around the same time." He shared as well.

"Nice." She smiled awkwardly.

"YN you're gonna fucking die alone if you keep up with your stupid awkwardness!" It was her inner voice scolding at her.

.....................................................................

Harry is having a great time. He usually never liked studying after college hours. Usually have to stay up a night before the due date of his assignments and complete them all together, but YN made it seem easy for him. He got coffee for both of them and they sat in library starting to work on the draft of this theory assignment.

"Can you look more into it or you want me to do the rest?" YN asked.

"I can do it, you're doing more anyway." He told her. Both of them decided to call it a day for the assignment, YN had to go back home early and help her mum around the house a little bit.

"Hey, do you you maybe want to go get lunch or dinner someday?" He asked as she was packing up her notebook and laptop back in her bagpack. Her head shot up thinking she is now hallucinating sounds.

"Sorry, what?" She asked.

"If you're free, do you maybe want to go get lunch or dinner someday?" He repeated his words but rephrasing them, speaking more clearer.

"I, I uhh... You're sure?" She enquired still not believing he is being serious at the moment. Is he really asking her out on a date or something? She doesn't want to assume, it can be a friendly lunch or dinner, but he also said he have a crush on her.

"One hundred percent." He said confidently.

"Sure." YN nodded. She isn't going to let this opportunity go, not even if she is dying!

Okay, that was a bit dramatic but she was crazy fucked up in head for this guy. She started making up scenarios in her head with him in it, like movies playing just in her head for her own self and no one else. She was the director, writer of the production and everything is just very perfect to the T. And this is like everything coming to life, like she subconsciously manifested it.

Took her three whole years to manifest but it worked. IT FUCKING WORKED!

"I've got work tonight but I'll see you tomorrow the same time here, yeah?" He said, the killer smile never leaving his lips, his dimples never disappearing. "We can figure out a when and where then?"

"Yeah!" She squeaked unexpectedly. Harry looked at her for a beat longer, grabbed his book and pen from the desk.

"See you tomorrow YN."

"See you to—" she almost died when he placed a quick kiss on her cheek and stood up to leave, "tomorrow..." She trailed off, speaking to herself as he was gone already. She bit on her lip trying to hide stupidly wide grin, her eyes almost teared up at the little interaction.

.....................................................................

The entire rest of the day YN was on cloud nine.

All she could think of was about him telling he have a crush on him, which she still finds it hard to believe could be true, and the kiss!

He kissed her cheek!

He looked at her for a beat longer!

She noticed it!

Tonight she washed the dishes and cleaned up kitchen after dinner even though it was her brother's turn. Everyone in the house was shocked as she absolutely hated washing dishes and cleaning up after dinner. Even if it's her turn and her mother is yelling at her for procrastinating.

It's just a crush calm the fuck down! — She scolded herself.

But he kissed my cheek! — she just melted down on her bed like an ice-cube during summer time.

She just squealed kicking her legs. God she hates to be a hopeless romantic!

"YN, you alright?" It was her mum calling her. Her parents room was next to hers.

"Yes!" She announced trying to sound normal, like she isn't floating in clouds like dead Tom in heaven from the cartoon Ton and Jerry.

She waa going to see him the next day, she went to bed thinking that. Hugging her pillow imaging it's him, yeah...

She realised she doesn't just have a crush on him, she likes him. It's never been a crush. It was just a alternative label to her feelings.

....................................................................

The next day...

YN didn't had Legal Ethics class today. The day went very freaking slow for her. She didn't even see Harry in hallways, she was worried a little but she still managed to get on with her day.

"YN, did you take any Criminology notes today?" Bexley approached YN from back, swung her arm around her shoulder.

"No, I'm going to study from the text book." YN lied, she isn't going to give her the notes she worked her butt off for. It have happened before and YN had made it clear to herself to not give her notes to anyone.

"You're rich, buying text books and all, huh?" She commented. YN ignored her commented.

She didn't even know why she still hung out with the girl even though it has been clear she's always taking advantage of her. YN didn't had any other friends at this college, not even fake ones like Bexley. She never lets anyone walk over like she let Bexley do. It is fucked up, but she needs friends. It will not take her even a second to cut off that girl of her life. YN's always needed friends. She have amazing friends back home in India, she still talks to them on phone some time. But it's completely different here for her.

"Oh do you want to go grab dinner tonight with girls?" Bexley enquired.

"Why so you can drag me to another party and leave me alone?" YN asked, visible mad and annoyed.

"Chill out boo, Jazzy and I giving Kay a birthday party tonight."

"No thank you, I'll pass. I have to help my mother tonight with dinner. I promised her." YN made an excuse. She never cooks, not when her mum is home.

"Like always. What are you gonna after you graduate? Get married to a guy your parents choose and be a house wife, have ten kids?" She started her stereotyping talks.

"Yup, that's the plan." YN nodded, a sarcastic undertone carried to her smile which went completely unnoticed by the blue eyes girl. "I need to go to the library." YN slid off her arm and stepped aside.

"Okay." Bexley shrugged, "you're just going to miss out on amazing dinner."

"Family first." YN told her.

"Got your priorities straight." The girl shot her a finger gun and turned around and just left.

"You make really good excuses." Harry's voice startled her, she flinched cussing in a language he did not understood, "and thank you for teaching me a cuss word. Definitely going to use it."

"You scared me!" She let out a sigh keeping her hand on her heart, "and please don't use that if you don't want to beaten up till you're bleeding."

"Alright..." He held up his hand in defeat. "What did that mean by the way?"

"I'm not going to translate it for you." She scoffed.

"I'll google it." He challenged.

"You're choice." She shrugged.

"Why were you making excuses to not go out with her and friends?" He enquired.

"She lies a lot. Yeah it is one of her friend's birthday today, but I don't want her to drag me to another party." She explained.

"So you were dragged to Niall's birthday party." He nodded.

"Yup." She nodded as well.

"I worked on some points last night." He bragged.

"Have to double check it then."

"Hey, I was up till two in the morning!" He whined making her giggle. "Are you free tonight, we can go grab dinner tonight?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'll have to inform at home." She said. A little embarrassed to mention a little hint she still lived her parents.

"Sure. I'll pick you up at six, we can go see a movie or something?" He didn't seem to judge her at all.

"That sounds fine." She nodded, again.

Before YN headed back home, she finally exchanged her number with Harry.

....................................................................

"Maa, Maa, Maa!" YN ran to her mother in kitchen.

"What?" Her mum looked paranoid by her sudden screaming.

"Remember I told you about this guy in my class?" YN's posture and tone of voice now very composed.

"Yeah? What about that?" Her mum looked at her with squinted eyes.

"We're going out today. Please can you handle Karan and Papa?" She requested, "I know you can, please, please, please, please, please!"

"Okay, okay!" Her mum held her arms to calm her down. "Are you going to eat out?"

"I, I guess..." YN shrugged.

"Okay, you're not wearing those dresses you got the other day."

"What's wrong with those?"

"Have you seen how short those are? Your Papa will kill me with you." Her mum rolled her eyes getting back to her dinner preparation. YN just giggled.

"I'll dress modest, don't worry." YN assured her mother.

"Wait!" Her mum stopped her from leaving, "bring him over for dinner this weekend."

"Maa, no!" YN whined. "It would be too early!"

"I don't care. I want to know who my daughter hangs out with, now go to your room and get ready!"

"Okay, we'll see." YN gave her a thumbs up and left.

....................................................................

Harry went to pick up, YN.

Sure her mum was there to embarrass her, as if she's going to homecoming party. Harry found it quite hilarious and cute.

Though he was worrying what her mum might think of him. She did not looked impressed. But he'll hear from YN about it, so he can worry about that later. He promised the sweet lady he'll get her daughter back before ten before leaving.

"Do you like Marvel?" He asked.

"I love Marvel!" She corrected him.

"Would you like to go see Avengers Age of Ultron then?" He suggested.

"Of course!" She definitely was going to agree. She have watched it twice with her brother already but she can watch it again.

Harry drove the mall, just so he walk with her by his side and talk to her as the Cinema was on the top floor. He loves talking to her movie doesn't start until next half and hour. She had to argue a tiny bit so he can let her pay for her own tickets but he won, he even got popcorn. He took her out so everything is on him that night, was his excuse for not letting her use her card today.

The movie was amazing, as expected!

This guy sitting next to her was making her feel very uncomfortable, bumping his leg to hers, resting his arm on the armrest over hers. It was disgusting. It was time for interval, she took the opportunity to look at the seat next to Harry's, there was a little four year boy sitting there. She doesn't want to make a scene.

"Harry?"

"Yeah, love?" He looked at her.

She tried but failed miserably to not pay attention to butterflies flapping in her tummy at the petname.

"Do you mind switching seats with me?" She requested.

"Of course is everything alright?" He glanced at the seat next to hers which was empty.

"Yeah, this guy— he's not here now— next to me is making me feel uncomfy." She shared. Harry switched seats with her.

During the movie, YN noticed the little four year old was trying to be sneaky and steal a few popcorns from YN. Harry chuckled see YN subtly pushing the paper bucket of popcorn towards the little boy.

YN love kids, and she almost died out of cuteness when he subtle glanced at her.

"Hey, Andy!" His mum sitting next to him scolded him for stealing popcorn. The movie was over the credits were rolling.

"It's alright." YN told her.

"You're pwetty!" The boy told YN.

She was fluttered. Like no one have told her that expect her family. YN glanced at Harry finding him grinning at the boy.

"You're very pretty too." YN smiled at the boy. He just smiled shyly and gave her a quick cuddle resting his head on her bicep sweetly before pulling away. Her attention was grabbed by Harry giggling.

"Stole my date, you little lad." He told the little boy. He just chuckled in answer.

Wait, did he said date?

So this is like an actually official date?!

Oh good lord! Her cheeks hurt from smiling and blushing so much.

After the post credit scene, YN made sure to wave at the little boy before leaving.

"Harry, this is a date?" She asked stopping him with a tug at his arm, his was holding her hand fingers intertwined like it was a norm.

"Yeah." He smiled his lop sided smile, "unless you don't want it to be, we can call this a official date."

"Of course we can." She smiled a shy one back.

"Yeah, you want to call it a date?" He teased her swinging his arm over her head, still holding onto hers, around her shoulder to have her cuddled under his arm. She just shook her head, again, as a reaction to his teasing. "Do you want to go to get dinner now?"

"I'm mot that hungry, can we wait for a while?" She suggested.

"Of course we can, do you want to go to go the arcade?" He asked, already leading her there. There was a very small arcade at the mall. He got credits from the counter.

"You know how this works?" YN asked, Harry swiped the card he just got at a stuffed toy claw machine.

"I do know." He had his full focus on getting the grey stuffed bunny out of the machine. YN doubted he's going to get it as it was at very, very back. But she don't want to assume he can't get it.

He looked extremely adorable with the tip of his tongue sticking out as he tried to line up the claw with the teddy bear. He looked hot in his outfit. A plain pink button down shirt, his staple black skinny jeans, his curls were left loose around his shoulders. His usual rings graced his beautiful fingers, she found the cross tattoo by his left thumb very attractive where as his mermaid tattoo made her a bit uncomfy.

She found it weird, because she have got a pair of boobs herself it shouldn't be weird but it felt weird. He had an eagle on his other arm under his elbow with Mary written on top of it in bold letters

"Shit!" Harry groaned hitting the control.

"It's okay." YN chuckled.

"I've got one more try in there." Harry beamed and went for the second try. He got it!

"Look, I got it!" He celebrated with a little air punch, got out the bunny from the prize box of the machine.

"Congratulations." YN chuckled.

They played a few a games at the arcade, YN was very competitive to Harry's surprised. She beat in the basket ball game. He later learned she used ro play basketball at school in sixth grade.

He then drove both of them to go get dinner. It was a Lebanese restaurant, it was complete coincidence both of them loved the food there. It was a small place and they make everything from scratch, Harry have heard, in the most authentic way. His friends told him the owners are from Lebanon. It was another surprise to YN as she talked to the waiter— who couldn't quite speak English that well— in his native language whilst ordering food.

"You can speak the language?" He asked after rhe waiter left.

"Yeah." She smiled shyly, "my grandma is from Lebanon, so we mostly speak Arabic to her at home."

"Oh that's sweet!" He cooed, "can barely speak English."

"You're pretty good." She complimented him.

"Why thank you love!" He giggled.

The food was amazing! YN showed him the right way to eat certain foods. They both shared a dessert at the end. This time YN won and had him split the bill with her. Harry's cheeks went all puffy like he is upset but he was over it in a minute.

"Can we go on a walk there?" YN asked pointing at the little garden by the side. Harry was holding her hand like he has been all day and already started walking there.

"I had a really great time with you YN." Harry shared.

"I had a great time too." YN reciprocated. And it was genuine statement, she missed going out with friends a lot and Harry made that happen today though it was a date. He her 'friends' here are not as kind as they should be to her. She noticed Harry just staring at her.

"What, I'm being serious!" She said.

"I didn't say anything love. I'm just glad you had a great day with me." He draped his arm around her shoulder trying to be dramatically subtle. "Do you think it would be too early to plan a second date?"

"I don't know, I've been on a date before this." She shared that made Harry stop dead in his tracks.

"You've been asked out before?" He was very shocked. How can no one ask her out? She's one of the most amazing people he have met in his life.

"No, I have not." She answered

Both of them walked around for a little bit. Talking about their assignment and the coming up class test. YN offered Harry to help him study for it, he of course isn't going to turn down the offer. He can spend more time with her that way.

"We should get going now, Harry? My dad will kill me if he doesn't see at home." She said sheepishly.

"Can't we stay a little bit longer? I am enjoying this." He pouted. Now sat at a bench he was just really enjoying his time with her. With work it was even hard for him to manage working on the assignment with her and maybe take out a few minutes after. Though it's just been three days he have been hanging out with her, it was pretty overwhelming to take his time out, even for the sake of this stupid ass assignment. He worked at his Mum's restaurant but he never took advantage of his employer being his own mother, he was already in love with the idea of hanging out with her all day if he could really. He have been very scared to actually go up to her and talk to her but he finally did, took him two years and a half but he did it with the help of Niall. Everything was moving fast in his head, he would be surprised if next day he realised he is actually in with her, which is pretty weird, though he'll take his time to get to know his feelings first. He was a mess in his mind!

"I, I am sorry... I, we can stay for five more minutes." She made an exception feeling bad seeing him all pouty and upset.

She always tried not to just notice everything about it, it was just creepy. But he looked really, really, really pretty in the dim lights around the park. He had his hair now pulled up in a bun leaving his gorgeous features on show. One thing YN was sure that she is so jealous of how clear his skin is, there is no zit or mark she can see in that setting. His eyes looked darker and not their usual green.

"Are you going to sit quietly now?" YN asked as he wanted to stay a little longer but now he's gone quiet.

"I don't know what to say now." He admitted sheepishly.

"I don't know what to say either, don't want to talk about that assignment right now..." She said, "so we should head back."

"No!" He whined again.

"Harry come on please, my dad have set a curfew and I'll be grounded if I don't go back home!" YN begged standing up to pull him up and drag him to his car.

"Don't worry about it, I'm sure your mum have it under control." He said not even budging from her hard tugging at his arm. He tried to hold back his laugh as he watched her struggle.

"He comes home at ten from work, and I have to be there before that!" She warned him. At this point he's just messing with her.

"Alright," he sighed, "let's go."

YN did not realise how much taller he is than her until now, he stood up holding her hand towering over her. She almost had to sprain her neck to look at his face, he chuckled at her reaction and leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead.

"Do you not want to go now?" His voice was comfortingly quiet, almost a whisper.

"Can I hug you?" She asked.

"You don't need to ask." He smiled tilting his head to a side ever so slightly. How much more cute he can get?

YN took the que and wrapped her arms around his middle and rested her head on his chest. Harry was quick to hold her back, squishing his cheek on top of her head. She was trying to play it cool but her heart was racing like a fucking horse high on caffeine, she almost froze feeling his hand moving up and down her back in soothing strokes and stopping at the small of her back.

"You're very warm." YN mumbled earning just a chuckle from him.

"Just thirty minutes left for ten." He whispered in her ear, she pulled away shockingly but he didn't let her go too far with his hand still on her back. He just laughed at her reaction. "Just messing with you love, we have an hour still."

"You're annoying!" She whined.

"I'll take it as a compliment." He smiled his cheeky smile not forgetting to show off his dimples, "do you mind if I kiss you?"

Her face went blank.

Harry wanted to kiss her!

Like on the cheek? On the lips? On the forehead?

It doesn't matter he just wanted to kiss her!

But wait... he didn't asked if he can kiss her when he kissed her forehead five minutes ago.

Did he wanted to like kiss kiss her!?

"I, I don't," she stuttered, "but I've not kissed anyone before." words came out as a quiet mumbled from her but he understood them.

"If you still want me to, I don't mind being your first kiss." His tone carried a slight teasing undertone. Feeling little concious she broke the eye contact with him for a beat, just to cut her awkwardness.

"Yes." She whispered.

YN felt little goosebumps all over her body when his hand from her back went up to her jaw, he leaned down further to place a tender kiss on her lips. It lasted for all for three seconds but it was magical, his lips were warm and soft against hers. She couldn't dare to open her eyes, even at the little nudge of his nose to hers. She knew another kiss on its way, feeling his lips hovering over her he brushed his nose against her. Enjoying the little teasing game wanting her to make a move now, she could feel him smiling at the very close proximity and it was confirmed by his almost inaudible giggle. He, after what felt like an eternity, finally pressed his mouth to hers planting several small kisses on the full of her lip. He pulled away but after making sure to place another kiss on the tip of her nose. YN would have passed out if she didn't let out the breath she didn't know she was holding in. Her tummy did a little back flip feeling his thumb pet her cheek. It was magically quiet around. Their little moment was broken by YN's phone making an annoying ding sound earning a sigh from her and another quiet giggle from the boy.

She checked her phone and it was warning text from her brother asking her to get back home.

"Let's get my Cinderella back home now." Harry said after he was done peeping in her phone, another peck was placed on her mouth; this one more casual like it was a norm. He grabbed her bag from the bench as he started walking towards his car with his arm around her shoulder.

"Hey!" She whined earning yet another giggle from him.

He's very giggly tonight and she loved it!

The little Bunny which Harry won from the claw machine at the arcade was kept in her passenger seat. YN picked it up and held it on her lap the entire ride back to her home. Once Harry parked his car by her house, she kept the bunny on the back seat and took her bag.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" She said.

"Definitely." Harry smiled, "wait, come here!" He stopped her just before she was leaving, "I want another kiss." Before she could even react his hand was on her neck and his mouth was hers leaving over rhe center console.

"Wait," he stopped her again, "you're forgetting Dibbles." He quickly grabbed the bunny from behind.

"Dibbles?" YN chuckled.

"Yeah, I names him." He smiled proudly.

"I can't keep it, you won it." She said.

"What am I gonna do with it? So just keep it. Please?" He made his pouty face.

"You sure?" She hesitated.

"A hundred percent."

"Okay." She agrees to keep it, "can you text me when you get home? Please?"

"I will." He assured her.

She wanted to know if he got home safely, that made his heart sore!

.....................................................................

"Finally!" Harry sighed falling back on the grass with a sigh.

He was so over the assignment and it was done, took an entire week but it was done. He felt claustrophobic from working on it so he requested YN they sit in the open field area to work on editing the report both of them worked on. YN had just pressed the send button to email the assignment to their professor. He looked genuinely exhausted.

Almost two weeks with him were the most amazing ones for YN. She didn't needed Bexley to hang out with her and bully her and make her insecure the entire time. Harry even introduced YN to his other friends, Liam and Louis and their girlfriends were very sweet to her as well. She found a completely different friend group who did not judge her or shamed her for how she looked. The girls even planned a girls night out with YN for this coming Sunday, Harry was very happy when YN told him about it.

"I've gotta go now I'll see you tomorrow in class yeah?" YN said picking up her stuff and putting it all in her bag carelessly in hurry.

"Are you going to that dinner you mentioned?" Harry asked sitting up straight.

"Yeah, my brother is bringing his girlfriend with him of course I'm gonna go." YN chuckled.

How she wished she could already take Harry to see her parents. It was a bit too early though. They've been to only two more lunch dates, or you can say spontaneous lunch dates, after their official first date. They haven't even made it exclusive and shouldn't happen this early in her opinion.

"Yeah, good luck with that." He picked up his notebook from the grass as well. He made sure to give her one last kiss until he sees her next time. One thing YN will get used to is the way butterflies erupted in her tummy every time he kissed her, he did not cared that they were in middle of their campus, and he is touchy and not afraid to show is affection that way.

He helped her up, "I'll have the assignment printed don't worry about it, enjoy your dinner yeah?" His hand went up to cup her jaw, petting the apple of cheek lovingly.

"Yeah, thank you." She smiled.

"Of course, darling." He mumbled pressing another kiss on her mouth.

"What the fuck?"

YN took half a step back hearing the loud high pitched voice which belonged to Bexley.

"How could you do do this?"

"What?" YN looked at her confusedly.

"I told you I liked him, I was trying to talk to him and here you are being a bitch!" She yelled.

"Hold on, hold on, you never told me that." YN chuckled sarcastically, almost mocking her, "And stop yelling like a fucking bitch at me!" it was a warning.

Bexley's face went pale whilst Harry stood there in shock. He can't remember YN swearing like that. He was now trying hard not to burst out laughing, it was his worst habit.

"What? You know what? Fuck you, this is why you don't have friends you know you never fucking listen." Bexley spat and turned to Harry, "and what did you saw in this fat ass bitch that you didn't see in me?"

"You're crossing you're line here Bexley, leave her alone." Harry said now all serious and pissed, "leave us alone." He grabbed YN's hand and dragged her away from the that evil girl.

YN was embarrassed, there were people looking at them as Bexley was yelling. And her words stabbed YN right into her chest, it was like salt on her wounds, being body shamed and called names. She was walking extremely slow until she just stopped in her tracks and started sobbing.

"Oh lovie, no, no, no!" Harry cooed to her and pulled her in an embrace, "nothing she said was true okay!"

YN took in a sharp breath, calming herself down. She have kind of taught herself to pull herself together and not let others pull her down in anyway and it definitely came in handy today. She gently broke away from hug and wiped off her tears thinking enough was enough. She would die without having friends than having friends like Bexley. She is going to cut contacts with that girl all at once.

"I, I am fine. I am fine." She told Harry who was looking at her with sad puppy eyes.

"You sure?" He enquired.

"Yeah, I am sure. A hundred percent sure. I'm not going to talk to that bitch again!" She said firmly.

"And I'm proud of you!" Harry couldn't help smile, "you don't need toxic friends any— oh!" He was cut off by her hugging him again, he hugged her back happily nuzzling his face into her hair.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to have a break down." She mumbled.

"Never apologise for crying, not to me okay? I'm always here if you meed someone to cry to." He placed a kiss on top of her head rocking them both side to side.

.....................................................................

A/N:

This was something a little too personal to me. So ummm... I kind of wanted to write something related to that topic. This is one of many Oneshots I've never posted— I think I've got like almost 100 Oneshots written in my notes that I am not sure if I was to post. And kinda suck at naming these Oneshot lol. 💀

If you've read this to the end, I really, really hope you liked it.

I love you all so much. M

[finelinevogue]

could you write something about the readers parents not liking her and harry comforts her please

ok this is going to be quite sad and angsty so hold on tight!

Y/N was crying in her room. Again.

This was turning out to be a daily occurrence now. Wake up. Get shouted at. Go to school. Learn how to dissect a frog and master how to write the perfect essay. Come home. Get shouted at. Sleep. The weekends, she didn’t get all the good in-between stuff, it was just waking up to be shouted at.

For what? Well not even Y/N could answer that.

Her parents had despised her since the day she was born, or at least Y/N presumed. She was never allowed to go out without permission from her parents. She was not allowed to eat certain foods, because “she didn’t need to be any fatter”. She wasn’t supposed to wear anything inappropriate. She wasn’t allowed relationships. Although that last one, she cheated on.

Harry had been Y/Ns best friend all through high-school, until they reached college and Harry couldn’t wait any longer to make her officially his. He wanted her so badly. She was his best friend but he craved for more. It took Y/N a lot of persuading, but it was the best thing she’d ever done for herself. Harry was kind to her. He treated her with respect and love - something she’d never had from her parents.

Having a relationship whilst being instructed you weren’t allowed one, made things very difficult. Harry could only see Y/N when she allowed him to. After finishing chores she would tell her parents she was going to grab food or cleaning supplies from the grocery store, only to go and spend a few hours with Harry in his treehouse. She would always come back with a bag full of shopping and made sure she covered the hickeys on her neck well. It would be hard to explain their origin of those marks to her parents.

“Y/N!”

Her mum had never provided her with a nickname, only ever calling her by her proper name. Harry gave her nicknames and pet names galore; baby, honey, sweetheart, lovie, darling and petal to name but a few.

You had learnt that shouting back was “never okay” so you left your bedroom and walked down the stairs to find your mum, who’d just shouted for you.

“Yes mum?” You timidly asked, standing at the door with your fingers fiddling with each other.

Your mum turned and scoffed at the sight of you. “Oh Jesus Y/N! You look horrible. That dress is disgusting.” It just so happened to be your favourite dress - a simple, long - as necessary - white dress with pretty flowers embroidered in baby pink and blue across the skirt. It made you feel like a weightless princess. “Don’t you agree?” Your mum asked your dad.

“Oh yes. Too much fat showing.” Your dad lovingly commented back.

You looked down at yourself, thinking that maybe it was showing a bit too much skin and therefore showing off your fat. Harry always told you that you were completely beautiful - an angel - but it was hard to believe on days like this. You crossed your arms over your chest in discomfort. Speaking back would only make things worse, so you took the verbal abuse as it came.

“Now,” your mum sat up a bit more, “i’m finding it really hard to look at you right now, Y/N, because i’m hurt by you.” Tears, fake of course, were forming in her eyes.

“W-why?”

“Mrs Tucker said she saw you and a young boy kissing outside the grocery store the other night - the same night you said you were going to pick up cleaning supplies.” Your heart dropped to your feet, because it was true. You had been with Harry. You’d never thought about anyone catching you, mainly because you thought no one cared about you enough. Mrs Tucker does like a good gossip though, dammit.

“A boy Y/N!” Your dad shouted in reiteration, making you flinch to the noise.

“Now I told Mrs Tucker that was being silly. That lady will do anything for a natter.” You stilled, thinking you were off the hook, but you should ‘t have been so quick to let your guard down. “Until your dad and I followed you to the grocery store the next night, although we never reached the store did we Y/N? No we were outside a house instead.”

Oh no. You are so dead.

“A boys house, Y/N? You weren’t raised to be a whore.” Your dad spat at you, turning away from you as if the sight of you was disgusting.

“God knows who he is or what you’re doing with him, but it stops. Right now, today.” Your mum gritted through her teeth, obviously trying to keep her calm.

“But—”

“No!” You mum screamed. “I will not be seen as the mother of a daughter who sleeps with random boys, instead of studying and working hard for her family!”

This was so 1800s. This was your life.

You had actual tears forming in your eyes now, unlike those your mum bared. It was so silly that this was making you cry but you were so upset that they thought they could control your life this way. It was devastating.

“I-I.. I love him though.” You choked out between tiny sobs, “I love him.” You whispered - that having been the first time you’d told someone else other than Harry. It actually felt good. Relieving. To declare your love for Harry made the world feel possible.

“Love? You no nothing about love.” You dad rolled his eyes and you couldn’t help but laugh at his words.

“The only reason I don’t know about love is because I never got it from either of you.” You started to fight back. This was a battle you were determined to win. No more hiding behind a timid figure. You were willing to stand up for yourself - no one else was going to.

“Because there’s nothing to love about you!”

You didn’t recall who this came from, all you remember is your heart dropping below the floor and fleeing from the room. Fleeing from the house. Fleeing from a family who didn’t see you as anything but a human being. You weren’t a daughter to them. You were nothing. Your heart called elsewhere. It yearned for the person closest to you.

It wasn’t until you were met with Harry’s front door that you realised where you were and what had happened.

“Oh Y/N! Hi lov—” Anne greeted you, until she saw that you were crying heavily and your chest was rising rapidly. “Harry!” She shouted into the house, leaving you a brief moment to collapse onto the floor in front of you. You didn’t care for the pain that ran through your knees from the impact - only the pain in your heart from the break it had just suffered.

“Woah angel, hey, hey.” Harry was by your side within seconds, completely incasing his body around you. Your head laid buried against his warm chest and his arms hugged you close to him like never before. His smell was one of home. He encompassed you and made you feel safe and loved. You weren’t alone.

“I-i’m unloveable.”

“But I love you.” Harry whispered against your hair, warm air softly kissing your skin.

“Yes, but—”

“No, “but”. I love you, Y/N L/N, I really fucking do. You’re my other half, baby.” He kissed your forehead a few times, knowing that’s your second favourite place to be kissed. “Your parents don’t deserve you, they really don’t. They’re cruel and cold-hearted, but that doesn’t mean I am. I think you’re beautiful, clever and kind. I think you’re everything i could ever want. And I know that you can’t be unloveable, because i’m, so deeply, in love with you.”

Harry continued to rock you, as your cried into his chest. You’d never believed in yourself before meeting him and you never thought that he could be so genuine towards you. He couldn’t care less what your parents think, as long as he helped remind you that you’re none of what they think of you. You’re so much better than mindless words. You make you you, not your parents. Harry’s helped you discover who you are and who you want to be. Even though your miles from becoming who you want to be, and you have your setbacks, you’re proud of how far you’ve come.

You cried against his chest, until the pain softened and your could regain your breath again. You unburied yourself from his hold and looked up to him with love in your eyes.

“There’s my beautiful girl, looking like a princess in you pretty dress.” He smiled down at you, even though you knew you had puffy eyes, red cheeks and a snotty nose. He loved you and all your perfect imperfections.

“Thank you, H.” You said with a wobble to your lips, really meaning your words.

“I know, baby.”

“I really do love you too.” You made sure he knew. His heart fluttered a little faster over your words. He leaned down to kiss you gently, minding all the salty water and grimy snot that laid on your face. His kiss sent butterflies swarming through your stomach and a new type of red appeared on your cheeks.

“Waffles anyone?” Anne asked as she stood at the door, the smells of sweet honey and cream only hitting you now. It was that moment that you realised your heart had never belonged with your parents, your heart belonged here, with Harry. Forever and always.

[queenshelby]

My Friend’s Father (Part Twelve)

Pairing: Cillian Murphy x Reader

Warning: Age Gap, Domestic Violence, Angst

Words: 1,366

Please comment and interact…it’s what keeps this blog going

***************************

 When you picked up the intercom, you were surprised to hear the voice of Denise’s mother and, after you let her upstairs through the apartment building, you quickly shoved your intimate toys beneath one of the pillows on Cillian’s bed and shut the door to his bedroom.

‘Hey Y/N’ she said somewhat surprised when you greeted her. ‘I thought Denise is in Manchester, visiting Cillian on set’ she then asked and you nodded nervously.

‘She is’ you confirmed while she made her way inside the apartment.  

‘So, what are you doing here on your own then?’ she asked somewhat confused and you had to think quickly in order to come up with an excuse.

‘Uhm…something happened at home and…uhm…Cillian offered me to stay here while he was not using the apartment while I am sorting out accommodation on campus’ you stammered, barely able to form a full sentence.

‘Right, well that’s nice of him’ she said before informing you that she came by to pick up some of Lucas’s things which he had left at the apartment during his last visit to Galway.

‘I have Lucas’s key but, since I saw the lights on, I didn’t just want to walk inside and I tried to reach Cillian but he didn’t answer his phone’ she explained before grabbing a bag from Lucas’s room, telling you that Lucas was waiting for her in the car and wishing you a pleasant night.  

****

The following day, you immediately received a call from Denise who was somewhat surprised when she found that you were staying at her father’s apartment in Galway.

‘My parents said that dad had offered you to stay at his apartment in Galway after I told him what happened between you and your father. Did he call you? I didn’t even think he had your number?’ Denise asked somewhat surprised before asking you whether you were alright after the incident.

‘I am fine. I gave your dad my number a while ago, just in case he ever needed it’ you explained and Denise didn’t bother to question you any more about it. Instead, she simply laughed, thinking that you were again trying to hit on her father.

Whilst she was surprised that he had rang you and offered you his place to stay, she knew about what had happened with your sister several years ago and felt as though her father probably just wanted to help you since you were her friend.

‘Anyway, dad isn’t coming home next week and Lucas is in Cork. You should come to Dublin and spend the weekend with me. We would have the house to ourselves’ Denise then suggested.

‘I can’t. I have to work’ you said, unable to tell her the truth, namely that you would be spending the weekend with her father.

‘That’s a shame. Well, I guess you would rather come and visit me in Dublin when dad is home anyway’ she then joked and you couldn’t help but gulp.

‘Yeah, well, he is hot’ you then said somewhat embarrassed but forcing out a laugh nonetheless.

‘You are disgusting’ Denise said before carrying on…‘Also, I am sorry to disappoint you but I think he’s got a girlfriend and it is not Laura Jennings’ Denise then said and you couldn’t help but ask Denise about it.

‘What makes you say that?’ you asked, curious as to how Denise knew about her father seeing someone else.

‘Dad has been glued to his phone all of last night, texting with a woman friend of his. This friend even sent him a nude picture’ Denise laughed, causing you to choke.

‘A nude picture?’ you asked, cheeks blushing red.

‘Yes, a nude picture. The message popped up on his phone in preview and I saw it. I couldn’t see her face though and, luckily, her intimate parts were covered by a James Joyce Novel’ Denise said rather amused and you couldn’t help but feel sick to your stomach knowing that Denise had seen this somewhat inappropriate picture of you.

‘Uhm…well…at least your dad is happy, right?’ you then said nervously.

‘Right. He seems pretty happy actually’ Denise said before having to bring the phone call to an end. ‘Anyway, I better go. Amalie wants to go shopping today’ Denise then said before wishing you a good day and telling you to stay away from her draws, thinking that you were staying in her room at the apartment.

***

With Denise and her mother being fully aware about where you were staying, it didn’t take long for your mother to find out and, if your mother knew, your father would soon know as well.

Denise’s mother and your mother used to be friends until contact broke between them following some sort of incident just over a year ago.

You never knew what the incident was about and Cillian made clear to you that he wouldn’t get involved in it again and, if you wanted to know about it, you needed to speak to your mother. It wasn’t his place to be unless it involved you directly.

You accepted his decision but, when your mother contacted Cillian’s ex wife to see whether she knew where you were staying after Denise refused to tell her, things had become difficult yet again and you agreed to meet your mother on Friday morning at a nearby café.

When you sat down together, she first handed you a letter from Trinity College in Dublin.

‘Your scholarship has been accepted. I suppose that will solve your problems, right?’ she asked with a warm smile and you couldn’t help but get a little excited. This was all you ever wanted and you knew that you could stay at campus in Dublin for free while attending university and working part time.

‘I am sorry mum, I shouldn’t have taken off so suddenly, but he has gone too far this time’ you said rather upset.

‘I understand and thank you for checking in with me every day via text message’ your mother then said and you nodded before giving her a hug. It was obvious to you that she wasn’t angry with you and supported your decision to leave rather abruptly.

‘I didn’t want dad to know where I am staying because, as far as I am aware, his relationship with Denise’s family is rather bad’ you then said which is also when your mother opened up to you about why this is the case.

‘Denise’s mother and I were good friends, even after she tried to help your sister behind your father’s back when we found out about her pregnancy. I knew about it. In fact, it was me who asked her for help. Your father found out about it later down the track and then he did to me what he did to you the other day. I went to Denise’s parents’ house for help as I was so upset but, in the end, I worked things out with your father through the Church counsellor’ your mother explained before telling you that your father had threatened Cillian and his ex-wife if they wouldn’t stay out of their marriage.

‘Mum, in all honesty, you deserve better than this. Why do you put up with his anger? Just because he repents every week doesn’t make it right’ you said, taking her hand.

‘Because I love him and this happened once. It never happened again’ she said and you simply nodded, having to accept her decision.

‘Okay’ you said before allowing her to change the topic to something more pleasant which is when you began talking about your upcoming birthday before it was time for you to go.

You knew that, in about five hours, Cillian would be at the apartment and, before he got there, you wanted to cook, tidy up, shower, shave and get yourself into some nice lingerie.

 Tag List:

@lilymurphy03@deefigs @theflamecrystal @desperate-and-broken @weepingstudentfishhorse @livinginfantaxy @rosey1981 @atomicsoulcollecto @peakyboyslover @nerdy4itall@elenavampire21 @hanster1998@mariapaiva13 @fairypitou @harry-is-your-sunflower @zozeebo @lauren-raines-x @kasaikawa @littlewierdalien @sad-huffle-nerd @theflamecrystal @peakymalfoyscullymulder @themissthang@0ghostwriter0 @stylescanbeatmyback @1-800-peakyblinders @datewithgianni @momoneymolife @ntmynouis @lilymurphy03 @mcntsee@cloudofdisney@missymurphy1985 @peakymalfoyscullymulder @otterly-fey @janelongxox @uchihacumdump @basiclassy @being-worthy @chaotic-bean-of-smolness @margoo0 @chocolatehalo @vhscillian @ysmmsy @littlewierdalien @crazymar15  @stickyknightflowerbailiff @im-constantly-fangirling @goldensunflowe-r  @tellingyouastory  @captivatedbycillianmurphy​  @namelesslosers​  @littlewhiterose​  @ttzamara​  @ttzamara @cilleveryone  ​

@peaky-cillian​

@severewobblerlightdragon​  @ysmmsy​ @kpopgirlbtssvt

[atlafan]

Something New - One Shot

a/n: I’ve been working on this for a couple of weeks, rewrote half of it, and now I feel like it’s good enough to post. I guess you could call this enemies to friends to lovers??? they’re both idiots, honestly lmao, anyways, enjoy biology teacher!Harry (not proofread) reblogs and feedback are helpful!

Warnings: a little bit of angst, fluff, and smut

Words: 20K

Divorced, new home, new town, new job, and a new school district for the kids all within the same year. Y/N had been separated from her husband for a couple of years prior, but when he moved in with his girlfriend, she knew it was officially over. It sucked. She knew she’d look back on it someday and be grateful that they ended things, but right now she wasn’t too happy about it. He got to be a weekend dad with his young girlfriend by his side, and there she was looking like the crazy old hang. It wasn’t her fault for not taking the best care of herself. She was depressed, could you blame her. They lived in one of those towns where everyone knew every little thing about you, so it was time to get out.

Securing the new job was the first on the list. If she could do that then maybe the kids would be more understanding about leaving. Y/N was a database manager for a non-profit organization. She was behind the scenes, and that’s how she liked it. She didn’t have to be the one asking for money or on the front lines vising donors. It was a job she could do anywhere, and she’d get paid well because of the software she knew how to use like the back of her hand.

There was a private school she had seen a job opening for. Normally, she’d be more apt to work for a non-profit, and not just some school for snotty rich kids, but their website made it seem like it wasn’t like that. Their donors gave out scholarships for students all of the time, and staff/faculty could send their kids to the school for free. That was a no brainer. Giving her kids a good education was her dream. The school was a K-12, so that would mean an easy pick up and drop off. After thinking it over, and researching the surrounding towns, she sent in her application.

Two weeks later she got a call for a video interview. She accepted happily. A week after that she was asked on campus for a second interview. Y/N put on her best blazer and nicest blue dress, the school colors were red and blue after all. She even made sure to wear red heels. Y/N spoke eloquently during her interview. She had researched everyone in the development office so she already knew faces and names. They were impressed. She spoke about her experience with The Rasier’s edge, the database management system, and they were awe-struck. She was given a tour of the campus, and it was absolutely gorgeous. The elementary school was a separate building, and the middle school and high school were separate, but connected by two connectors to make one large building. The development office was set up in this cute white house. They shared it with the alumni office, and apparently it was one of the oldest buildings on campus. Although, it was taken of so you’d never know it was old. They even showed her where her potential new office would be. There was a pool and ice rink as well that Y/N got to see. She was impressed. She interviewed the people on the committee too, knowing it was a two way street. She liked what they had to say.

A week or so after that, she was given an offer, a really good offer. Now it was time to talk to her kids. She couldn’t just accept without speaking with them first. Her daughter, Riley, would be going into ninth grade, and her son, Ben, would be going into eighth. Y/N was only thirty-three, she was a young mother, thanks to her ex-husband who was about seven years older than her. A red flag she should have been more wise to, but she was young and naïve, and that’s all that needs to be said about that.

It was a difficult conversation with the kids, but after calming down they had become more open to it. They were upset with their father, and the idea of being a little farther away was sounding really nice. Living in a new home to make new memories in was sounding really nice. Making new friends and having a fresh start was sounding really nice.

So, Y/N accepted the position, and was given a moving allowance. She was able to find a home quickly that was perfect for them. A decent three bedroom about fifteen minutes from campus, so the commute would be easy enough. Riley and Ben took a liking to the uniforms, and since you did all of this over the summer, they’d be able to blend in easily on the first day of school. No awkward ‘walking in halfway through the term’ bullshit.

“When am I supposed to see them?” Your ex had asked you over the phone when you told him you were moving.

“Every other weekend, same as before.”

“So now I have to drive an hour out of my way to-“

“It’s not an hour, it’s forty-five minutes at best. Shouldn’t it be worth it? They’re your kids.”

“You’re taking them from me.”

“You did that to yourself, Joseph. The weekends will stay the same. Be happy our kids are getting a good education. Goodbye.”

She knew she was harsh, but after being cheated on, and left for a younger woman, she thought she earned the right. A week before school started, the kids had gotten their schedules in the mail.

“Who do you have, Riles?” Ben asks her.

“Someone named…Mr. Styles for homeroom, he’s the biology teacher too.”

“Thought you took bio sophomore year.” Y/N says to her.

“Nope, my grades were good, remember? I’m in the honors class.” She smiles.

“What about you, Ben?”

“Um…Mr. Horan. Looks like I’ll have him for pre-algebra.”

“No female teachers for that, huh?” Y/N asks.

“I have a woman for Geometry, Mum, see?” Riley shows her.

“Oh good. Got worried for a second there.” Y/N chuckles.

“Are you nervous to start your new job?” Ben asks her.

“No.” She shakes her head. “I’m actually really excited. The time off has been nice, but I’m eager to get back into it.”

//

Y/N drops off the kids on the first day before going over to the staff lot. The program support assistant, Millie, is waiting for her with a cup of coffee and a warm smile.

“Morning, Y/N.”

“Hi, Millie.”

“Cream no sugar, right?”

“That’s right, thank you so much.”

“Let me lead you upstairs to your office. You have a meeting with the director of development, John, in about half an hour, and then you’ll have a team meeting with the rest of the people on your specific team, the gift processors, customer service. Then at lunch the development team and the alumni team will get together to welcome you.”

“Oh my, well, alright.” She chuckles.

“I put everything on your calendar for you.”

“Thank you.”

Y/N was used to doing everything herself at work, this was already a breath of fresh air. She hoped Riley and Ben had a good morning just the same.

It takes Riley a moment to find her classroom. She stops short when she walks in when she sees Mr. Styles, and another student walks right into her.

“I’m so sorry.” She says to the boy that nearly knocked her over. “Um, I wasn’t sure if this was the right classroom.”

“it’s okay.” He says. “Are you new?”

“Yeah, I’m Riley.”

“I’m Chris.” He smiles. “Wanna sit next to me?”

“Sure!” She says and sits a few rows back with him.

“Where’d you move from?”

“Just form a few towns over. My mom just got a job in the development office here.”

“Oh, cool! My mom works grounds here.”

Riley noticed that Chris had a rainbow pin on his blazer. She smiles at it. He notices her looking at it.

“I…uh…like your pin.”

“Oh, thanks.” He mumbles.

“My best friend back home has a lot of rainbow stuff in her room.”

Chris nods in understanding. More kids come in and claim their seats. The second bell rings, and Mr. Styles closes the door.

“Good morning, everyone.” Riley’s jaw drops at his accent and deep voice.

“Get used to it.” Chris whispers to her. “A lot of the teachers here are from other countries.”

Riley nods and continues to listen to Mr. Styles.

“Welcome to another year at our fabulous school. You’re officially high schoolers!” He grabs the handbook. “Which means there’s even more rules to follow, so let’s get through this together, yeah?”

Mr. Styles was quirky. He cracked jokes and made Riley feel excited to have him for biology. She turned to look at all of the lab benches in the back. She loved science in general, so this was good.

“Lastly, open house for parents will be at the end of the month. They begin at 6PM, so hopefully I’ll be able to meet all your folks. We also have a really fun fall carnival on campus. There’s games, rides, and it also gives a chance for families to see where you go to school. It’s all a part of our homecoming weekend.” The bell rings and everyone stands up. “Riley, could we chat for a second?”

She nods and looks at Chris.

“I can wait outside for you.” He says to her and she feels grateful. Their schedules were just about the same.

“Um, hi.” She says shyly.

“Hi, dear, so I was informed you’re new, is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“Well, if there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask. Usually we have new students stand up and introduce themselves, but I don’t like making people do that. It’s so forced. I can see you’re already making a friend.” He smiles. “Is it just you that’s new to us? Any siblings?”

“My younger brother is in eighth grade. He has Mr. Horan for homeroom.”

“You don’t say? That’s my best mate, believe it or not. He’s in good hands.”

“That’s good to know. I’m sure it’ll give my mom some peace of mind.”

“I don’t want to make you let, just wanted to give you a more friendly introduction.”

“Thank you, Mr. Styles. See you for bio.”

“See you later.”

Riley was making friends right away thanks to Chris. She had people to sit with at lunch, and she made sure Ben did too. He seemed to be sitting at a full table which was great. Her last class of the day was bio, which was perfect so she’d be near her locker.

“Welcome to honors biology.” Mr. Styles says. “This is a mixed class of ninth and tenth graders. Today we’re going to settle on lab partners, and we’re going to get lab safety out of the way. It’s the bane of my existence, but I need to know you all know how to be safe.”

Chris offers to be Riley’s lab partner even though he had other friends in the class. Mr. Styles writes down who is partnered with who. Then he essentially gives a tour of the classroom. He shows them where all of the lab coats and goggles are, the eyewash station, the sanitation shower, and the other equipment they’ll be using throughout the year.

“Now, in biology, we’ll be learning a lot about plants and animals, and we’ll also get into human anatomy. These subjects can be tough at times to grasp, so please, don’t be afraid to ask questions. I want to make sure I’m explaining things properly. I’m always will to meet after school for extra help as well, or put together a study group.” Mr. Styles explains.

Riley was finding that all of the teachers were really nice so far. She meets Ben after school and they walk over to the staff lot where Y/N was. She had asked to save her lunch hour for 2PM so she could scoot the kids home quick. Her supervisor had no problem with it.

“How was it?”

“Mr. Horan is hilarious, and he’s Irish!”

“Mr. Styles is British! And super nice. I think I’m gonna like it here, Mum. I already made a friend, so I had people to sit with at lunch.”

“Me too!”

It warmed Y/N’s heart to hear that the first day went well. It was all she could have hoped for. She gets them home, set up with a snack, and back out the door she goes. She had a couple of hours left of work anyways, so it was a nice break in the day. The lunch she had earlier with her new colleagues was fantastic. Everyone was welcoming and had no problem showing her the ropes.

When she’s walking to the parking lot around 5PM she notices other people making their way as well. She smiles at a few, and she gets some friendly nods back. She’s parked next to a black range rover, and she was hoping to get to her car before the other owner because she had parked a little too close to them on their driver’s side, but it wasn’t her fault. It was the only open spot when she got back.

“Oh, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

Shit, she thinks to herself as she approaches. Not a great first impression to make at all.

“Just crawl in on the other side, H.”

“It’s the principle of the thing! They could have scratched it, or-“

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Y/N yells as she hustles over. “I had to bring my kids home, and this was the only other open spot, and the person previously on the other side of me was parked over the line, so I had to squeeze in, and I know it looks like I’m the asshole, but I swear I’m not.” She panics as she gets her keys out of her purse.

“It’s fine, miss, Harry’s just a jerk when it comes to his fancy car.”

“You sure like riding in my fancy car, so I suggest you shut it.” Harry huffs and looks at Y/N, furrowing his brows. “Look, I’ve had to be nice all day, and I’m exhausted, could you just back out so we can leave?”

“I said I was sorry.” She mumbles. Her eyes widen, though. An Irish accent and a British accent. “Shit, I think you’re my kids’ teachers.” She sighs. “Do the names Riley and Ben ring a bell?”

Harry’s features soften and he runs a hand through his hair.

“You’re Riley’s mum?”

“Yes.”

“Seems like she had a good first day. What department are you working in?”

“I’m the new database manager for the development office.”

“Ben was a delight! Laughed at all my jokes.” Niall says and you smile.

“He said you were funny. Riley liked you too, although now I’m not sure why. Taking a long day out on me. I’m sure the first day is a lot, but it was my first day too, and I’m equally as tired.”

“Maybe you should get home then.” Harry says, and she rolls her eyes.

“Nice meeting you both…well, one of you. I’m sure I’ll see you again, but if not I’ll be at the open house.” She gets into her car and carefully backs out, not scratching Harry’s car.

“You were rude.” Niall says as they both get into the car.

“I paid a lot of money for this car. I park far away for a reason, and someone has to park that close to me?”

“She apologized.”

“Good for her.”

“Harry…”

“Ugh, Francie texted me today, and it just sent me into a fucking spiral, and I had to act like it didn’t all day.”

“What?! When did she text you?”

“After homeroom, she told me to have a good first day. I didn’t even respond.”

“You should just block her number.”

“I haven’t quite reached that point yet, but it’s coming for sure.”

“You still shouldn’t have taken it out on that woman.”

“I’m sure she’ll forget all about it. I’ll be nice next time I see her, alright? Can we please just go get a pint now?”

“You’re the one driving, find a place you wanna go to.”

//

Y/N had successfully avoided the rude Brit that had given her such a tough time on her first day. Riley still raved about him, though. She said he was one of the best teachers she ever had. Ben really enjoyed Mr. Horan as well. He made math fun, which Y/N was grateful for. Ben was never really a good student, but he was doing really well so far.

“I can’t wait for you to go to the open house. Make sure to be super nice.” Riley tells Y/N. “I don’t want my teachers suddenly being mean.”

“It’s not me you have to worry about.” Y/N scoffs.

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing, honey. So, you’ll walk me around to all the classrooms, and you wait outside?”

“Mhm.” She beams.

“Mum, wait until you talk to Mr. Horan. He’s going to tell you the best things about me, I just know it.” Ben says.

“I’m looking forward to it, honey.”

Y/N had a draining day on the day of open house, and she just decided to stay on campus. She ended up taking the kid home at two, and told them she could figure out where the classrooms were herself. She got to have a one on one with Mr. Horan first.

“You can just call me Niall. We don’t need to be so formal.”

“Alright.” She smiles. “You can call me Y/N.”

“Ben’s doing really well so far. I was a little nervous at first, but he’s getting the hang of it.”

“Thank god.” She sighs. “So, he’ll be in ninth grade taking algebra one next year, is that okay?”

“Perfectly okay. A lot of students do that.”

“I just wanted to make sure because my daughter is in geometry.”

“Math isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. I was checking out his other grades, and he’s excelling in history.” She nods.

The conversation goes well. Y/N makes it through all of the meetings, and her last one is with Harry. She hears laughing from inside the classroom. The door swoops open, and a couple walks out chuckling with Harry.

“Ah, Mrs. Davidson, come on in.”

“It’s Miss Y/LN, or just Y/N if you want.” She says as she sits down on the chair near his desk. He sits down on his chair.

“My mistake, Riley’s last name is-“

“Her father’s last name. I’ve changed mine back. We’re divorced, didn’t really feel like keeping it.”

“I’m, um, sorry, I know how rough divorce can be.”

“Yeah? Been through it yourself, Mr. Styles?”

“Just call me Harry, and my parents were divorced, so I know enough about it from a child’s perspective.”

“They’re not too keen on their father right now. Classic situation of him cheating on me with a younger woman, which of course they found out about.”

“That’s weird.” He rests his cheek on his fist. “You seem pretty young yourself.”

She blushes slightly and clears her throat.

“Could say the same to you. I had them young, yeah, things happen. I don’t regret it though.”

“Riley’s been a real pleasure to have in class, and she’s fitting right in. She seems to like biology the best.”

“She loves science.” She smiles. “Think she gets that from me. I was really into math and science as a kid.”

“Guess you being a database manager makes sense then. New job treating you well?”

“Yeah.” She cocks her head to the side with a smirk. “Although, my almost perfect first day was just about sullied by a man you bullied me in the parking lot.”

“Okay, okay, I was an ass.” He sighs. “Thanks for bringing it up by the way.”

“Why were you so nasty to me anyways? I’ve been avoiding you.”

He frowns at that.

“My ex…fiancé texted me and wished me a good first day, so it just ruined my day and I had to keep it all bottled up. You parking that close just brought me over the edge. I apologize.”

“Yikes, I’m sorry. Well, at least you got out of it before you got married. You saved a lot of money and time.”

“It’s alright…” He looks away for a moment. “Are you bringing the kids to the carnival? It’s all part of homecoming weekend.”

“Yes, and they’re really excited. I have to work technically since a lot of donors come back. I mostly just need to be on the ball. Their father is coming too since it’s his weekend with them technically. I guess it’s good for him to see where they’re going to school.”

“If you need a break from him I’ll be working the candy apple booth.” He smiles.

“Good to know.” She yawns. “Jesus, sorry. I gotta say, I’m whipped.”

“Makes sense, it’s past eight.”

“That late?!” She stands up immediately, and so does he. “I need to get home to them. Um, well, this was a much better meeting.” She sticks her hand out for him to shake.

“I agree. Don’t be a stranger this weekend.”

She nods and leaves his classroom. Maybe he wasn’t as big of an asshole as she thought. Y/N’s had her fair share of bad days, he was allowed to have them too.

//

“It’s like a college campus, this place is huge!” Joseph says once they’re at the football field of the school.

“Yeah, and there’s a pool! I’m trying out for the winter swim team soon.” Riley tells her dad, in a better mood since he didn’t bring his girlfriend.

“It’s really all free for them?” He asks Y/N.

“Mhm.” She nods. “Okay, here all your meal tickets. I have to bee-bop around since I’m technically working. Have fun with Dad.” She smiles and they lead Joseph off towards some of the rides and games.

Y/N meets up with her colleagues and mingles with some of the donors she hasn’t been able to meet yet. She meets back up with the kids later to go on a few rides, and then goes to get food with them. She spots Harry at the candied apples tent, and she goes over there.

“I knew you’d find me.” He smirks.

“I’ve got a sweet tooth, what can I say?” She shrugs.

“You know, me too. Major sweet tooth.”

For whatever reason that makes her blush.

“Um, so I can I have it dipped in caramel and chocolate?”

“A woman after my own heart! I like mine the same way.” He picks up one of the apples from its stick and dips it in the chocolate first. “Any sprinkles or anything?”

“No, the sauces are fine, thank you.”

“So, where’s the-“

“Hi, Mr. Styles.” Riley says as she, Ben, and Joseph approach. “This is my dad.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Riley’s homeroom and biology teacher.” Harry hands you the apple once it’s done, and then shakes Joseph’s hand. “She’s a real pleasure to have in class.”

“So I’ve heard! Nice to hear it straight form the source, though.” There’s an awkward silence. “Um, well, kids do you want an apple?”

“Yeah!” Ben says and tells Harry what he wants.

Harry’s eyes catch Y/N biting into her apple, and how she licks around her lips. He looks a little too long because Joseph notices, and he clears his throat to snap Harry out of his trance.

“You two about ready to hit the road after this?” He asks them.

“Sure.” Riley shrugs. “Bye, Mr. Styles.”

“Have a good weekend, see you Monday.”

Y/N hugs both of the kids, and nods at Joseph.

“So…no kids this weekend?” Harry says to her.

“Nope. It’s funny, I always look forward to the little break, but by the time Sunday night hits I miss them.”

“Any plans?”

“Just relaxing. I’ll probably catch up on some sleep tomorrow. How about you?”

“A few of us are going to the pub after this…if you’d like to join, you’re welcome to.”

“Oh!” She says a little surprised. “Well, that would be great, actually. I haven’t really had time to explore some of the night life around here yet.”

“I could drive us from here if you like. I can always bring you back to your car.”

“You actually trust me to get into that fancy car of yours? I’m shocked.” She smirks, and he rolls his eyes.

“I apologized for that, didn’t I? Can we move on? Let me give you a ride later.”

“Alright.” She smiles. “Sounds like fun. It would be nice to get to know more people.”

“Great, I’ll find you later then?”

“Sounds good.” She walks away with her apple in hand, and he smiles.

After schmoozing with more alumni and donors, Y/N felt pooped. Did she really feel like going out and drinking? She could easily go home, draw herself a bath, and have a glass of fine all on her own. She had socially interacted so much today, and the thought of doing more was draining. Maybe she could go out with Harry another time. She tries looking around for him, but she’s not sure she spots him.

“Y/N!” She hears from behind her. “You ready?” Harry asks.

“About that…I think I’ve changed my mind…”

“How come?” He says with a slight frown.

“I was very social today, so I’m feeling a little tired. I don’t think I have enough pep in me for drinks tonight…but maybe another time?” She clasps her hands in front of her waist, feeling a little nervous all of a sudden.

“Oh, yeah, I definitely get that. Um, yeah, another time for sure.”

“Thanks, well, see you around, Harry.”

“See you…”

//

“Mum, we’re home!” Ben says Sunday evening as he and Riley come inside.

“Hey.” She smiles. “How was Dad’s?”

“Annoying.” Riley huffs. “I can’t stand Margaret. She, like, tries too hard to be our friends.”

“Mm, well, that’s what happens when a forty-year-old man decides to date a twenty-five-year-old woman. She probably knows how to babysit and be a pal.”

“Doesn’t it gross you out that he’s with someone so much younger?” Ben asks as he plops down on the couch.

“Of course it does. It won’t last long, unless she’s after his money.” She rolls her eyes. “I don’t know why, it’s not like we were living the high life before.”

“Ew, what if he gets her pregnant.” Riley says with disgust. “I don’t want another little sibling, one is plenty.”

“Yeah, and then we’d have to pretend like we’re happy for him. I’m glad we didn’t have to do two nights over there this weekend.”

“Me too.” Riley sighs. “Did you do anything this weekend?” She asks Y/N.

“I just relaxed. Caught up on some TV, nothing special.” She shrugs. “Did you get all your homework done?”

“Yes.” They say in unison.

“Alright, go get ready for bed then.”

Riley and Chris meet at their lockers the next day at school and talk about their weekends. They chat in homeroom about their upcoming biology test. Chris was feeling a little nervous, but Riley was feeling confident. She studied almost all day Sunday. When it was last period, and Harry gave out the tests, her eyes bugged out. She read all of the questions over, and it wasn’t at all what she thought. She looked up at Harry dumbfounded. He was typing away at his computer, answering emails. She walks up to his desk with the test.

“Done already?” He jokes with a whisper.

“Mr. Styles…I don’t know any of this.”

“What do you mean? I gave you a study guide.”

“I…I know you did, but I left it at my mom’s, and so I was going off memory…I think I studied the wrong chapters by accident or something.” Her eyes were about to well up with tears.

“Alright, step out into the hall with me. Did you take notes while you studied?”

“Yeah.”

“Grab them for me.”

He stands up and goes out to the hallway to wait for her. A few of the kids in class were watching, but they get back to their own tests. She hands him her notes, and he makes a few humming noises.

“Right, yeah, you studied the wrong chapters.”

“Ugh, I knew it! So…does this mean I fail?”

“No.” He sighs. “It was an honest mistake, you’ll have to take a makeup exam after school sometime this week, though.”

“I can do it tomorrow! I would just need tonight to study. I could study in class now.”

“Get the rest of your things, I can give you a pass to the library.”

“Thank you so much, Mr. Styles.”

“Don’t mention it.”

They both go back inside and she grabs the rest of her things. He writes her the pass and out the door she goes. Chris makes a motion for her to text him before she slips out, and she nods. Tuesday morning, just as Harry was sitting down at his desk with his coffee, he got an interoffice phone call from Y/N.

“Hello?” He answers, voice still deep from sleep.

“Hi, Harry, it’s Y/N.”

“I know…caller ID and all that.” He chuckles.

“Right, well, I wanted to say thank you for letting Riley take her test later this afternoon. She was a wreck last night when she got home.”

“It was an honest mistake. Plus, when I saw how much studying she did I knew I had to give her a chance to just take it later. Do you think she’s prepared enough for later?”

“Oh, definitely. She feels much better. Do you mind if Ben comes to sit in the classroom with her while she takes it? No sense in me zipping him home if she’s going to stay after.”

“Sure, I don’t mind.”

“You’re a life saver, thanks! Talk to you soon.”

“Bye-“ He’s cut off by the sound of the phone clicking on the other end.

Riley stays after class to take her test. Shortly after Ben shyly walks into the classroom and takes a seat. He does his own homework while she takes her test. Forty minutes later, Riley finishes her test, and hands it to Harry.

“I can grade it now if you like since it was all multiple choice.”

“That’d be great.” She smiles.

He looks at his answer key and checks off all her right answers. He writes 92% in big red ink and circles it.

“Well done. I can’t give it back to you until tomorrow, of course, but at least you can rest easy about it.”

“God, what a relief! Guess I’ll be a pro when we reach the chapters I already studied.”

“I bet you will be.”

“Do you mind if we hang out here until our mum’s done with work? She said she was just gonna pull up out front of the building.”

“Sure, I have some other grading to do anyways. In fact, would you like to help? It’s for another class, I could give you the answer key.”

“Yeah!”

Harry sets her up, and he even plays a little music for all of them.

“Mr. Styles?” A boy named Austin walks in. He was a sophomore in Riley’s class. “Thank god you’re still here.” He sighs.

“What’s up, Austin?”

“I was wondering if you graded my test yet? The football coach needs me to fill this progress report slip out. He’s making all of us do it.”

“Oh! Yeah, let me look. I can just tell you your overall grade. Have a seat, it’ll take me a minute.”

He nods and sits down, glancing at Riley briefly. She gives him a small smile and blushes.

“How come you’re here?” He asks her.

“Oh, I needed to make up the test from yesterday. I accidentally studied the wrong chapters.”

“Happens to the best of us.” He smirks. “You’re new to town, right?”

“Yeah.”

“You should come to the football game Friday, since it’s home.”

“Yeah, um, maybe I will.”

“Cool.”

“Alright, Austen, I’ve got your grade.”

He stands up and goes to Harry’s desk.

“Sick, a C+! That’s way better than I thought.”

“Let’s try to keep it that way, yeah?”

“I’ll do my best, thanks.” He walks out of the room and Riley puffs out some air.

“Don’t tell me you have a crush on that guy?” Ben chuckles.

“He’s so cute, I can’t help it. That’s the most he’s ever spoken to me, and now he wants me to go to the game. I have to go Friday, I need to text Chris.”

“If you go, can I go?”

“Sure.” She shrugs. “The more the merrier.”

Riley and Ben had always been close. They were practically best friends. They got a lot closer when their parents were going through the separation/divorce process, leaning on each other for a lot. Harry hear the sound of heels clacking on the floors outside the classroom, and there Y/N is appearing in the doorway looking lovelier than ever. She had a long coat on, synched at the waist, and her hair was down and wavy.

“Hi, kids, ready?” They both get up, and Harry stands as well. “Thanks for letting them hang out for a bit while I finished up.”

“It was no problem. Riley was pretty helpful to me with some grading.”

“How’d the test go?” She asks her daughter.

“Got a 92!”

“Amazing! I think that calls for takeout tonight.”

“You just don’t feel like cooking.” Ben chuckles.

“I’m sorry, are you complaining about getting Chinese food, or?”

“No! Just making an observation.”

“Mhm, okay, let’s go. Have a good night Mr. Styles.” She says to him.

“Same to you.”

On the ride home, Riley gets a text from Chris saying he’s down for the football game on Friday. She sighs with relief, and looks over her mother.

“So…can Ben and I meet up with Chris on Friday? We’d like to go to the football game.”

“A boy asked her to go!”

“Shut up, or you can’t come with me.”

“Hey!” Y/N says. “A boy asked you to go?”

“Well, sort of. He just said I should go if I wanted. I haven’t been to one yet, it could be fun. Chris said the snack bar is pretty stacked.”

“And you’ll keep an eye on your brother?”

“I’m only a year younger than her.” Ben scoffs.

“You’re in the eighth grade, that’s a big difference right now, even if it doesn’t feel like it. What time does the game start?”

“6:30, I think.”

“Sure, you can go. I think that’ll be good for you kids to go to.”

“Awesome, thanks Mum.”

//

“We’re gonna be there anyways, just ask her to tag along.” Niall says to Harry over lunch on Thursday.

“You make it seem like I wanna date her, I just think she’s cute.”

“Just ask her if she wants to go out with us after, would you?”

“Fine, I’ll give her a call right now.” Harry reaches for his phone, and looks up Y/N’s extension. She picks up on the second ring.

“Hey, Harry.”

“Hi, do you have a minute?”

“Sure! Is everything alright with Riley?”

“Yeah…this isn’t about her. It’s more of a personal matter.”

“Oh…what’s up?”

“Niall and I are chaperoning the football game tomorrow night. All of the faculty take turns doing it. We just walk around and make sure no one’s drinking underage. We were wondering if you’d like to join us. We’d be going to the pub after most likely too.”

“I don’t know if I should. Riley and Ben are going to the game, and I don’t want them to feel like I’m hovering around them, you know?”

Niall gestures for the phone and snatches it from Harry.

“Y/N? It’s Niall. Enough excuses, yeah? You’re coming out with us tomorrow night, and that’s final. You need to get more involved with student life.”

“I’m plenty involved!”

“You import and export donor data all day. I bet your kids won’t care.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Y/N did think about it, and then she asked Riley and Ben how they’d feel if she went. They said as long as she wasn’t up their butts they wouldn’t mind. It made things easier for her to drive them there at least. She watches as they meet up with Chris and essentially run off from her. She sighs and looks around for Niall and Harry, suddenly feeling like a loner.

“Oi, there she is!” Niall shouts, handing her a hot chocolate. “This should warm you up quick. You look cold.”

“I didn’t think it would be chilly enough for gloves.” She chuckles. “Thank you.”

“So, basically we just walk around, but we get to enjoy the game for the most part.” Harry explains.

“Is our team any good?”

“We’re decent, yeah. Think our lacrosse players are better to be honest, but they don’t get as much recognition.”

Y/N nods and takes a careful sip of her warm drink. She walks around with the guys, mostly listening to them talk in their accents. It was sort of fun to see all of the parents, staff, faculty, and students at the game cheering the team on.

“See that one, number 11?” Harry says to her, pointing towards the field. “That’s Austin, he asked Riley to come to the game. They’re in my bio class together. I think she likes him.”

“How can you tell?”

“I catch her looking at him from time to time. I might be wicked and assign them a project to work on together.”

“Teachers actually do that?!”

“Oh, sure.” Niall says. “I switch up the seating chart once a term just so I can pair people up. It’s pretty interesting to see what happens.”

“The students gossip to us all the time too.” Harry laughs. “They have no problem sharing personal information.”

“So…you think he might like Riley back?”

“I have no idea, he sits in front of her, and mostly just takes notes.”

“Is he nice?”

“He’s not a dolt if that’s what you’re asking. Definitely not your classic meathead, not to worry, Y/N.”

Y/N nods, and keeps walking around with the guys. The team wins, and everyone cheers. Riley, Ben, and Chris find her in the crowd of people near the exit.

“Mum, can we bowling?” Riley asks.

“With who?”

“Me, Miss Y/L/N.” Chris says and you raise your eyebrows. “Okay, and some of the cheerleaders and football players, but it’ll be fun! It’s cosmic bowling night. My dad said he could drive.”

“Please, Mum.” Ben pouts, and you roll your eyes.

“Alright.” She sighs, and takes her wallet out of her small sling bag. “Here’s some money, have fun. Home by ten, do you hear me? I’ll be out for a bit myself, just in case you get back before me.”

“Where are you going?” Riley asks.

“I’ve made some friends of my own.” She grins. “Go on, have fun.”

“Thank you!” They all say and head off.

“I can follow you both to the pub.” Y/N tells Niall and Harry, and they all walk to the parking lot.

She feels a little nervous going out with them. She had made a few friends so far, mostly her colleagues that she saw every day. There was this weird divide between faculty and staff, so she had noticed. So, Y/N wasn’t sure how welcomed she would be by the others they were meeting up with. She takes a deep breath before getting out of her car, and meeting Harry and Niall at entrance.

“You’re gonna love this place.” Harry says, putting a hand on her shoulder as they go inside. He leads her to a table where a few people were sitting already. “Oi, everyone, this is Y/N, she works in the development office.”

They all look at her and smile, saying hello. Niall takes his seat, and Harry has you sit between the two of them. Y/N learns the names of some other faculty members. Shane, Lora, and Jess. None of them had Y/N’s kids in class so she could rest easier. She found Harry and Niall to be hilarious, often almost choking on her drinks from laughter. She notices that Harry’s rolled his sleeves up, and can’t help but look at his tattoos. He explains a few of them to her. Around 10:05 she got a text from Riley.

Riley: just got in, thanks again for letting us go, it was amazing! When are you home??

Y/N: soon, baby, thanks for checking in

“Well, I should probably get going.” She says to Harry. “My kids just got home, and I don’t like leaving them alone too long when it’s late.”

“Fair enough, can I walk you to your car?” He says, leaning in a little bit. “Just so I know you left safely.”

“Sure, um, that’d be great.” She throws some bills on the table to take care of her tab. “Thank you all so much, I had a great time.”

“See ya, Y/N!” Niall says with a smile. She misses the wink he gives Harry, and Harry mouths ‘be cool’ at him.

“M’just gonna walk her to her car, I’ll be right back.” Harry says, addressing the group before heading out the door with Y/N. “You’re good to drive, right?” He says as they both walk outside.

“Of course, I only had, like, two drinks. You saw me nursing them.”

“Alright, just wanted to be sure.” He watches her fish for her keys out of her bag. “I’m glad you came out tonight.” He rubs the back of his neck. “You’re a lot of fun to be around.”

“Aw, thanks, you’re fun to be around too.” She smiles, biting her bottom lip. He can’t help but let his eyes drift to it.

“Are you in a rush to get home?”

“Well…I…”

“It’s not like they need you to tuck them in, right?”

“N-no…” She raises an eyebrow at him. “Are you…are you making a pass at me?” She was backed up against her car with him a comfortable foot away from her, but she was starting to feel warm.

“Maybe.” He shrugs, stepping a little closer. “Would you feel uncomfortable if I was?” She shakes her head no and swallows.

“Do you do this with all your students’ mums?” She smirks, gaining some confidence back.

“Well, considering that I was in a four year long relationship up until six months ago, I can confidentially say no.” She opens her mouth and smirks. “And no, I don’t usually do this with colleagues either.”

“So…why with me then?”

“You’re cute.” He grins.

“Harry, I…I’m not really looking for anything serious right now, I’ve just started a new job, I bought my own house, I’m juggling teenagers, I can’t start up a relationship.”

“I don’t think I asked you for that. In fact, I haven’t asked for anything, yet.” He says smugly. “M’not looking for anything serious either.”

“Alright, what do you want from me then?” He shifts his weight to his other hip, and just looks at her. Her eyes widen, and her mouth falls open. She looks around, and steps closer to him, barely any space between them now. “You…you want to have sex with me?”

“Why do you sound so surprised? I think you’ve really got it going on.”

“Seriously?”

“Sure, you really know how to fill out a pair of jeans. Your bum looked awfully cute at homecoming.”

“All this coming from the guy who was about ready to murder me for almost scratching his car.” She scoffs.

“I have apologized for that over and over, but clearly my words mean nothing to you…” He puts his hand on her shoulder. “Maybe there’s something else I could do to make it up to you.”

“You’re my kid’s teacher, Harry.”

“Not after 2PM I’m not. Right now I’m just a guy who wants to fuck you.”

“I can’t go back to your place with you right now.”

“My car’s got tinted windows and a spacious back seat.”

“How…how old are you, anyways? I mean, I’m thirty-three, Harry, and you’re a little baby faced. I’m not one of those people who-“

“I’m twenty-nine. Do you wanna go fuck in my car or not? It’s okay if you don’t, I’m not trying to pressure you, but it’s bloody cold out here and I wouldn’t mind warming up.”

Y/N hadn’t had sex with someone in since the last time her and Joseph had sex, which was a few years ago. She also couldn’t remember the last time she had sex in a car, probably when she was a teenager. Was she really about to do this with some she had just started to become decent friends with? Was this is the only reason he wanted to be friends with her?

“Is the only reason you’ve been wanting to invite me out? To get my pants off?”

“No! I genuinely think you’re nice to be around, but I also wouldn’t mind getting your pants off.” He smirks.

“Okay.” She nods. “Yeah, let’s do it.”

“Really?”

“Quickly, before I change my mind.” He grabs her by the wrist and tugs her towards his car. He unlocks his car and he lets her get in first. He reaches forward to turn the car on so the heat is on and there’s a little music playing. He goes to cup her cheek, and she backs away. “I’m a little nervous.”

“We don’t have to do anything crazy if you don’t want. We could just kiss if you like.”

“I just…it’s been a while for me, you know? Like, a long while, so…I want to, I’m just nervous.”

“How can I help you relax?”

“I guess…um…could I sit on your lap and maybe we could hug for a bit?”

“Sure.” He nods.

She moves to straddle him, and she wraps her arms around his neck. His go around her back, and he rubs her soothingly. He gets a good whiff of her perfume, and it makes him smile.

“Comfortable?” He asks softly. She hums her response and he holds her a little tighter. “I like whatever perfume you’re wearing.” He feels her giggle against him.

“It’s just apple spice.” She mutters into his neck, and moves to look at him. “Nothing special.”

“Well, I like it.” He tucks some hair behind her ear. “Would it be alright If I kissed you now?”

“Yeah.” She smiles.

He licks his lips and presses them to hers. Her eyes flutter closed and she tugs at his hair. His hands squeeze her hips as the kiss deepens. He sucks on her bottom lip, and it makes her whimper. She rolls her hips down on his and he grunts. He kisses sloppily from her mouth, to her jaw, and to her neck. He mouths at her neck, full well knowing he can’t leave a mark, but it doesn’t stop him from licking and sucking a little over the area. She tugs at his hair a little harder and continues grinding against him, feeling his bulge getting harder. His lips move back to hers as his hands roam up her front, hesitating before reaching her breasts. She takes his hands and puts them over her boobs, squeezing his hands over them. He takes over from there, kneading them as best he could over her coat.

She gets frustrated, and get shimmies her coat off. He’s happy to see her nipples peeking through her shirt. He moves to suck on it through the material and she gasps. Her chest was heaving when he came off and looked up at her. Her hands move to unbutton her jeans, and he wastes no time sticking his hand inside. Instead of smirking when he feels how wet she is, he presses his lips back to hers, loving knowing that he was turning her on this much. His fingers move along her folds, and he slips his middle finger inside her gently. He groans when he feels how tight she is.

“Christ, you weren’t kidding. Do you never use anything at home?”

“Who the fuck has the time?!” She huffs as he starts bringing his finger in and out. “M’too exhausted half the time, and even when they’re gone I just do something quick.” A moan leaves her lips when his thumb starts to circle around her clit. Her forehead presses against his, and her eyes pinch closed.

He gets his ring finger inside her as well, and he curls them both up. She moves back and forth on him, riding his fingers. She makes fists with his shirt, and she starts panting. He groans from watching her, and just from the way she feels. He pets against her g-spot, and his thumb works into her clit.

“Oh, oh my god.” She says, biting her bottom lip. “I…I think I’m gonna come.” He doesn’t let up on her, doing his best to get her there. Her whimpers and whines were just egging him on. “Oh, shit, oh, shit!” She cries out as she comes around his fingers. He works her through it, and then retracts his fingers, sucking on them while making eye contact with her.

“Well?” He smirks.

“Do you have any condoms?”

“Yeah, get your pants the rest of the way off.” He lifts her off of him and places her on the seat while he reaches forward into the console, and grabs a condom.

“Aren’t you a little old to be leaving condoms in your car?” She says as he slips her jeans and underwear off.

“Wouldn’t be able to fuck you if I didn’t, would I?” He winks, and undoes his belt and jeans. “Think you’ll be able to ride me reverse, or do you need to go missionary to ease you into it.”

“Don’t be an asshole, I know how to have sex, it’s just bene a while.”

“I wasn’t! I don’t wanna hurt you.” Her eyes widen as he pulls his hard dick from his boxers, rolling the condom on.

“You think you’re the first guy with a larger prick to fuck me? Think I can handle it.”

“Now who’s being the asshole?” He chuckles and grabs her to bring her back to his lap, her back pressed to his chest. He reaches around to rub on her to make sure she’s still wet. “You want this still?”

“Yeah.” She lifts her hips and he lines himself with her, pressing up into center. It’s a tight squeeze, like she thought it would be, but she does her best to relax around him. She nearly shrieks once she’s sat fully on him.

“I’m gonna make you feel so fucking good.” He says into her ear before nibbling on her earlobe.

She hooks an arm around his head while he grips her hips, and her head falls back to his shoulder. He thrusts up into her while rubbing on her clit, and her mouth falls open. She hadn’t felt this good in a long time, this was incredible. She tugs on his hair and helps herself move on him so he doesn’t have to do as much work. He frees up one of his hands to grip and squeeze one of her breasts. She looks up at him and yanks his head down to hers. She licks into his mouth and he moans into her. He sucks on her tongue and her eyes roll back. Between that, his fingers on her slit, and his dick fucking up into her, she was about ready to lose it again. She pants into his mouth as she comes again. He thrusts begin to get sloppy, and then he’s spilling into the condom. They sit there for a moment catching their breaths before she moves off him.

They both get dressed, and Harry throws the condom into a nearby trashcan as he walks her back to her car. Her face was flushed, and she for sure looked like a mess, but she felt good. He cups her cheeks and backs her up against the driver’s side door, kissing her tenderly.

“That was fun.” He says.

“Yeah.” She breathes and looks down at her watch. It was already 11:30. “Shit, I really need to get home. Ben gets worried when I’m out late.”

“Sweet kid.” He runs a hand through his hair. “Well, get home safe and all that.”

“You too.” She smiles and opens her car door. He closes it for her once she’s inside, and she starts the car.

As Y/N drives home it starts to hit her what she just did. She just fucked her child’s biology teacher, who she also happens to technically work with. Never in her life had she done something like this. Maybe in her younger days she would have done something this rebellious, but she had grown up a lot, and she was a professional now. She takes a deep breath before keying into her home. She sighs when she sees the light from the TV coming from the living room. Riley and Ben were passed out on the couch.

“Hey, kids.” She coos. “Wake up, I’m home.”

“Mum?” Ben says sleepily. “Where were you?”

“I…I was out with friends, remember? Um, let’s get you both into bed.”

She turns the TV off as they both slowly make their way upstairs to their bedrooms. Once they’re both in their beds, she goes into her own room, and gasps once she gets a good look at herself in the mirror. Her makeup was smeared, and her hair was a mess.

“Christ, Y/N, what did you do?” She says to herself and sighs.

//

The next day, Y/N was walking around like she had a stick up her ass. Maybe her body wasn’t quite ready for someone of Harry’s size. Nevertheless, she had to get up and start her day. She got some laundry going, did some dusting, and then made some breakfast for the kids. They both come into the kitchen around 10.

“Can you both put your sheets in the laundry room for me? I’m doing a linen load in a bit.” They both nod as she puts two plates of eggs in front of them. “How was bowling?”

“So much fun!” Riley says. “I actually got a strike, I couldn’t believe it.”

“You did?! How’d you manage that?”

“Um…Austin helped me, you know the one in my bio class? He’s really nice.”

“Riley, I’m happy for you and all, but I don’t know if I want you dating yet.”

“I’m not dating anyone! At least I wasn’t the one who stayed out until nearly midnight doing god knows what.”

“I’m an adult, I can do what I want, that’s one. Two, if you and this boy decide you really like each other, I think it’s only fair I get to meet him.”

“Just because he helped me bowl a ball doesn’t mean anything.” She rolls her eyes.

“What about you, did you have fun?” Y/N sighs as she asks Ben.

“Yeah, I hung out in the arcade, it was sick.”

Just as she was sipping on her coffee, Y/N’s phone goes off. It was in front of Riley and Ben, and Riley furrows her brows.

“Who is it?” Y/N asks.

“Um…Mr. Styles. Why is he calling you?”

“I…I have no idea.” She snatches her phone quickly. “H-hello?”

“Hey, Y/N! Just wanted to see how you were.”

“I’m alright, um, I’m in the kitchen with the kids, could you just give me a second?” She leaves the room and goes down the hall to her home office. “Okay…um, how are you?”

“Oh, I’m fine. I just didn’t wanna be a dick and not call.”

“Well, that’s nice of you.” She blinks a few times.

“So…you feel okay about everything?”

“Yeah! Wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t. Little sore, but other than I’m good.” She chuckles slightly and so does he.

“Well, next time I can be a little gentler…if you’d like there to be a next time, that is.”

“You…you don’t want last night to just have been a one-time thing?”

“Not necessarily, I had a good time with you, and I think you had a good time with me.”

“I just…I don’t know how smart it would be to start something up with my kid’s teacher.”

“Well, you already sort of did…”

“Yes, but I think to continue it would be stupid. I don’t want to do anything that could potentially embarrass her. Riley and Ben are really starting to make friends. They were cool about moving here for me, so I want to be-“

“It’s not like we’re dating, Y/N. No one has to know.”

“As if you haven’t told Niall yet.” She scoffs.

“I mean he was curious as to why I didn’t come back to the bar last night, but I didn’t give him the full details. He knows how to keep things to himself.” He pauses for a moment. “Look, I get it, you’re just trying to be a good mum, I can admire that. But after a certain point you need to remember that it’s okay to do things for yourself.”

“Like fuck a guy in a parking lot?”

“Exactly!” He laughs. “You’re still so young, why not let yourself have some fun?

“Harry…”

“All I’m saying is, if you’re ever lonely, or if you can’t sleep…you can call me.”

“I’ll…I’ll keep that in mind, thanks.”

“Well, I’ll let you get back to them. Probably wondering what we’re talking about.”

“Yeah.”

“Have a good rest of your weekend.”

“You too.”

She hangs up, completely shocked by the conversation she just had with Harry. She goes back out to the kitchen where the kids were waiting with raised eyebrows.

“What did Mr. Styles want?” Riley asks.

“Oh, um, someone left their wallet at the restaurant we all went to last night, that’s all. He was trying to figure out who it belongs to.”

“There was no ID in it?” Ben asks.

“Apparently not.” Y/N shrugs.

//

At first, Y/N wasn’t sure if she wanted to take Harry up on his offer. She genuinely didn’t want to make things difficult for Riley. When mid-November rolled around, it was time for parent-teacher conferences. These were the more serious one on one meetings before the holiday season to make sure students would be able to pass all of their classes. More often than not Y/N found herself meeting with Ben’s teachers than with Riley’s, but Y/N wanted to check in with everyone to make sure her kids were acclimating to the new school fine. What she wasn’t expecting was for Joseph to want to come to the conferences as well. She got away with blushing a little when they saw Niall. He didn’t make anything awkward, but it was when they made their way to Harry’s room that she was starting to feel like she wanted to vomit. The door swings open and two people walk out. Harry steps out and looks into the hallway, smiling when he sees you, then frowning when he sees Joseph.

“Mr. Davidson! How nice to see you again, please come in.” Harry says, gesturing to step inside. “Hi, Y/N.”

“Hi, Harry.”

“You can call me Joseph.” Joseph says as he sits down and Harry nods.

Harry and Y/N make eye contact briefly, and then he clears his throat.

“Well, I’m not sure why Riley signed you both up.” Harry chuckles. “She’s doing exceptionally well, and not just in my class. She’s a bright girl.” He takes out a few of her lab reports. “The first semester tends to be easier since we’re learning more about plants and those types of organism. Next semester we get into zoology and human anatomy. I always make it known there’s study groups and after school help. I try to make it as engaging and fun as I can. We even play a few rounds of operation.”

This makes you smile as Joseph furrows his brows at Riley’s lab reports. He nods along with what Harry is saying.

“I’m glad she’s doing so well. She was sort of a big fish in a small pond at her last school.” Joseph says. “I was a little worried she’d feel overwhelmed. This transition for them was really abrupt.”

“They had most of the summer to get used to things.” Y/N says, rolling her eyes. “This isn’t a snotty school either, the teacher’s actually help the students succeed.”

“I’m just saying-“

“Listen.” Harry cuts in. “Seems like you two might have some things to discuss that don’t really involve me. Riley’s doing great, and Niall tells me Ben’s doing just as great. Nothing really more to it.”

Joseph nearly had a decade on Harry, but Harry owned this room. Having Joseph be put in his place definitely did something for Y/N. She can’t help but smirk as Joseph sits up straight.

“Yes, well…thank you. We’ll make sure to relay the message to them.” He says and Harry nods. Joseph stands up, as does Y/N.

“Y/N, did you happen to drive separately? An alum emailed me today, and I have a couple of questions about our donation site.”

“Oh! Sure, I can stay a few moments.” She looks a Joseph. He stands there for a moment, looking between the two of them.

“Goodnight.” He says, and out the door he goes.

“So…what’s your question?”

“I didn’t actually have one.” Harry smirks at her and she blushes.

“Oh.”

“You seemed uncomfortable with him here.”

“I don’t exactly enjoy his company anymore.” She sits slightly on his desk.

“I know, shit like that is just awkward. Francie and I still have some mutual friends, and we’ve had to be at a few of the same parties since the breakup.”

“Can I ask…I mean, you said you were together for four years and engaged…what happened?”

“Why don’t we have this conversation over drinks?” He stands up, grabbing his keys and jacket.

“Harry…it’s a school night.”

“And? It’s only seven. Not like we’re gonna be out all night are we?”

“I have two kids at home.”

“You have two teenagers at home. Come on, just one drink and I’ll tell you everything.”

“And then what?”

“Whatever you want.” He winks and leads you out the door.

//

Y/N texted the kids to let them know she was just grabbing a quick bite, and that she was very proud of their hard work. She followed Harry to a pub, and they grab a booth inside. They each order a drink and munch on some popcorn.

“Alright.” He sighs. “So I was with Francie for four years, and we were engaged for all of five months. It was working out great, we were living together, had a couple of pets, you name it. She works for this tech company, right? So, she got promoted, which was great, but it would have involved her to start traveling a lot, and eventually moving to New York. I didn’t want to move, and she didn’t want to do long distance.”

“Why didn’t you want to move? You could have found another school to work at…”

“It was the principal of the thing! She didn’t even ask, she just expected it, like her job was more important than mine. We started arguing more and more, and when I asked her why we couldn’t just try long distance she said that would make things difficult to start a family, and I said we already had a family, and that opened up a can of worms. She wanted kids and I didn’t. After that we ended it. She took our dog and cat, and left.”

“She took the pets?!”

“Yup! Left me the ring though.” He scoffs.

“Wait…so you don’t want kids?”

“Don’t get me wrong, I love kids, I love babies especially. But…I just don’t see myself being a dad.” He shrugs. “It’s a lot of responsibility, a lot of money too. I don’t know if I could take care of someone else. And maybe…when she said it…I had this thought of if I did want kids I wasn’t sure if wanted her to be the mother of them.”

“It took you that long to have that kind of conversation?”

“What about you? Did you and your ex have a proper discussion about it?”

“No, he knocked me up, proposed later that year, and we got married in a courthouse while I was seven months pregnant.” She finishes her drink. “Just like a fairytale. Then when he promised we could have a real wedding, I got pregnant with Ben, and all that money went to him. S’alright, though, it would have been a waste of money.”

“Can I ask why you got divorced?”

“Well, the age difference was one thing. He’s seven years older than me, which may not seem like much, but it was. I felt like I couldn’t talk to him sometimes. Then he decided to cheat on me with some other young thing, so we went from separated to divorced real quick.”

“I’m so sorry.” He frowns slightly.

“Don’t be, it was a while ago. I think things worked out for the best. We’re all doing better now.”

“I think it’s admirable that you’ve turned your life around the way you have.”

“Thanks.” She smiles and he finishes off his drink. Once they pay their tab they head out. “I think it’s too cold to do what we did last time.”

“And I couldn’t persuade you to come back to my place for a bit?”

She looks down at her watch and sees it’s already 8:30. She sighs, biting her bottom lip.

“I…I want to, and if I didn’t have two kids at home waiting for me I would. Maybe…maybe you should find someone else to be your little fuck buddy. I’m not easy to be with.”

“Maybe that’s what I like about you.” He says, leaning forward so his lips brush yours, kissing you quickly before backing away. “Have a good night, Y/N.”

She groans once she’s in the car. When she gets home both Riley and Ben are in their rooms unwinding. She says hello and goes to her own room to get ready for bed. Y/N wonders what she would have done with Harry at his place. How he would have touched her and kissed her all over. She sighs and gets into bed, aggravated as fuck.

//

It was Thanksgiving weekend when Y/N took her next shot with Harry. The kids spent Thanksgiving day with her, and they had the rest of the weekend to be with Joseph. When Saturday night rolled around she was bored and lonely, so she called him.

“Hi, Harry.”

“Hi, Y/N. Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?”

“I did…although, I have way too many leftovers.”

“You don’t say?”

“Yeah! Um, you wouldn’t happen to be hungry, would you?”

“Starved.”

“Great, well, if you’d like to come over you can.”

“I can be there within the house. Just text me your address.”

He had assumed Riley and Ben weren’t home. He needed to take a quick shower before coming to see her, and she needed to do the same. She wanted to be as fresh as possible for him. When she heard the doorbell, she raced down the stairs to open it.

“So, I can heat up whatever-mph!” He had gripped her cheeks and pulled her into him, kissing her passionately.

“I didn’t actually come here to eat.” He breathes. “Well, I did…but not food.” He smirks and lifts her up. She wraps her legs around his waist and kisses on his neck as he carries her upstairs. “Where’s your bedroom?”

“Last door on the right.” She mumbles into his hot skin.

He gets her in the bedroom, and sets her down. He starts taking his clothes off, and she does the same. He knees onto the bed to hover over her, and he kisses her, sucking on her bottom lip.

“Glad you finally called me for this.” He says as he licks around her nipple.

“You could have called me.”

“Didn’t want to look any more desperate.”

He nips at her stomach as he works his way down, giving her little to no warning before he licks into her. She gasps, gripping onto his hair. She bites her bottom lip as she feels his warm tongue lapping away at her. He sucks on her clit and slips two fingers inside her.

“When was the last time someone made you feel this good, hm? When was the last time someone made you this wet?”

“Wh-whenever the first time we hooked up was.” She whimpers.

“And before that?” He kitten licks at her clit now.

“God, I have no idea!” She moans out as his fingers pet inside her against her g-spot. He struggles to get a third finger in, so he doesn’t bother.

“Tighter than a fucking finger trap you know that?”

“I told you, I don’t make time to-oh!”

He started sucking on her clit again, and pumping his fingers quickly. She was squirming underneath him, panting and moaning loudly. She cries out as she comes, and he pumps his fingers slowly as her hips move along with his motions.

“Condoms?” He asks when he pops up.

“You don’t me to, um…?”

“Another time, I don’t think I’d last very long if you sucked on me.” He had been rutting himself against the mattress. She nods and reaches into her bedside drawer for a condom she toss it to him and watches as he rolls it on. “Roll over.”

She does as he says, and gets on her elbows and knees for him. He grips her hips, and lines himself up with her, pushing inside. It’s a tight squeeze, but he gets in no problem. They both moan out from the feeling. He reaches around to rub her clit, and she collapses onto the bed.

“God, just do what you want with me, Harry.” She grunts, and he moans from behind her.

“You’re so fucking sexy, you have no idea. Come for me, Y/N, come on.”

She cries out into her pillow, and he spills into the condom. Somehow after they both got cleaned up they ended up back in bed together. Harry through his arm around Y/N and pulled her to his chest.

“What are you doing?” She giggles.

“Cuddling you.”

“Why?”

“Because I feel like it.”

She laughs, but doesn’t fight him on it. Then…they fell asleep. It was a total accident, Harry never intended to spend the night. He just wanted to cuddle for a bit before heading out. He was more tired than he thought, and so was she. She nudges him awake.

“Shit, I’m sorry.” He says, knuckling at his eyes.

“It’s okay. Would you like to take a shower with me?”

“I would.” He smiles and gets up with her.

It was the dirtiest shower she had ever taken. He had gotten on his knees to eat her out, and then he lifted her up, fucking her into the bathroom tile wall. She left many scratch marks on his back, and then he came on her stomach. They got cleaned up for real after that, and headed downstairs for some coffee. Just as she was about to offer him some breakfast, she heard the front door open.

“Oh my god!” She whisper screams. “They’re not supposed to be back until later!”

“Be cool, Y/N.” Harry says.

“But-“

“Mum, we’re…Mr. Styles?” Riley says as she comes in with Ben. “What…what’s going on?”

“I should ask you the same. Why’s your father bring you back so soon?”

“We asked if he could.” Ben says. “Can only handle so much of his girlfriend.”

“So…Mr. Styles, um, no offense, but what are you doing here?”

“Well, your mum just so happens to be one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. She had all these leftovers and asked me if I’d like any, and I said yes. I may be a Brit, but I love Thanksgiving dishes. So I came right over. Just got here a couple minutes before you did.”

“Yeah, I was just about to pull the food out. Why don’t you two go put your things away?”

Riley furrows her brows, but shrugs it off, and goes with Ben upstairs.

“You’re quick on your feet.”

“Wasn’t a total lie.” Harry says, finishing his coffee. “I better get going.” She walks him to the front door, and he gives her a sneaky kiss along with a bum squeeze. “See you soon, I hope.”

“Definitely.” She smiles. “Bye.” She opens the door for him and out he goes. She sighs happily, and goes into the kitchen to make a little breakfast.

//

Riley was a little suspicious after that morning. She spent most mornings in homeroom analyzing Harry’s features. He was his usual chipper self, but there was certainly an extra pep in his step. Then in biology it was the same thing.

“Riley?” Austin was standing in front of her desk, snapping her out of her thoughts.

“Oh, hey.” She smiles. “What’s up?”

“Are you free this Friday?”

“I…I think so.”

“Would you wanna go to the movies?” He runs a hand through his hair and she swallows.

“This is gonna sound really lame, but I need to ask my mom first.”

He chuckles slightly at that.

“No worries, let me know if she says yes.”

“I will.” Austin goes to his seat, and Riley looks at Chris who was giving her a thumbs up.

“Alright, if we could all settle down?” Harry says. “Today we’re going over fungi cells so I need all of your attention on me.”

Harry liked attention in general, probably one of the reasons he wanted to be a teacher in the first place. He just happened to also enjoy biology and he was good at explaining it to the youths. During class Riley felt her phone buzz, and saw she had a text from Ben.

Ben: reminder that I have a doctor’s appointment, so you have to wait after school for Mum to come get you

Riley: okay thanks, I’ll just go to the library to wait for her

“Riley!” She snaps her eyes up at the harsh tone from her teacher. “Is that your phone?”

“Y-yes…I’m sorry, Mr. Styles, my brother-“

“I don’t care.” He shakes his head. “You know the policy.” He gestures for her to give it to him.

“But he was just-“

“Is it an emergency?”

“No.”

“Alright then, give it here.” Everyone was looking at her, and it made her face flush. She gets up and walks towards him to hand over her phone. He takes it puts it in his desk drawer. “You can have it back after class.”

She nods, and goes back to her seat. After class she walks out, completely forgetting she had her phone taken away. She gets settled in the library, and gets some homework done. She was there for over an hour until Y/N showed up in a huff.

“Riley Davidson, I’ve been calling you for fifteen minutes!”

“Mum, be quiet!”

“If your brother hadn’t told me you were in the library I never would have found you. Where the hell is your phone?”

“It’s…oh shit.” She says as she packs up.

“What?”

“I forgot that Mr. Styles took it from me.”

“He what?!”

“Ben texted me while I was in class, and I texted back. He caught me, and took it away from me. It’s the policy.”

“I don’t give a fuck, that’s your property. Come on, hopefully he’s still here.”

He was. When they walk in, he was writing something on the whiteboard, furrowing his eyebrows. Looked like it was a chemistry equation. Y/N clears her throat to get his attention.

“Oh, hello ladies.”

“Where do you get off taking my daughter’s phone?”

“Oh! I completely forgot about that. You left right after class, Riley.” Harry goes into his desk and grabs the phone. “Here you are.”

“Thanks.” She says as she swipes through to check any notifications she may have missed.

“It’s the policy, Y/N.”

“What if I got in a car accident and someone needed to reach her? Then what?”

“Did that happen?” He crosses his arms.

“No, but it could have.”

“But it didn’t. There’s no texting in class, no phone use of any kind, actually.”

“Mum, it’s fine, we can-“

“Excuse me, but that’s her property. If I need to get in touch with her, or if her brother does, then she should be able to send a quick text. It’s not like she was scrolling through Instagram.”

“But she could have been.”

“But she wasn’t!”

“Maybe you should hover over a little less, hm? Kids rely on their phones so much because their parents are constantly trying to see what they’re up to.”

Y/N takes her keys out from her purse, and hands them to Riley.

“I’m parked out front, go start the car for me. I’ll be just be another minute.” Riley nods and leaves quickly, knowing how bad it can be to be scolded by her mother. She certainly didn’t want to watch her favorite teacher get bitched out. “You don’t have kids, so I wouldn’t expect you to understand-“

“I have dozens of kids, actually. Ones that come to see me to talk to me about their problems, I’m also always studying trends of the today’s students, so don’t stand there and-“

“Do not interrupt me when I’m speaking.” She says firmly, and he closes his mouth. “You may speak when I’m finished, Mr. Styles. I’m a single mom doing my best for my kids. I will not be lectured in front of my daughter about being a helicopter parents because I’m not. However, I’m doing the job of two while my ex gets to be a weekend dad, who my kids don’t even want to see. It’s my fault Ben texted her at the time he did, alright? I asked him to remind her that I wouldn’t be picking her up until later because I had to take him to a doctor’s appointment.”

“May I?” She gestures that he can speak. “She didn’t need to text him back right then. It’s the school policy to take a phone away if we see it out, I was just doing my job.”

“Well, you should have remembered you took it so you could have given it back to her! I was sitting in the car for nearly twenty minutes waiting for her, I was starting to get worried.” Y/N pouts, and even though this was a very serious matter, Harry couldn’t help notice the blood starting to flow right to his prick.

“I’m very sorry about that.” He puts his hand on her shoulder, and she glances at it before looking at him. “I take ownership for that mistake. I feel terrible that I even caused an ounce of worry. If there’s anything I can do to make it better, please let me know.” His tone was condescending and seductive all at the same time.

She places her hand on his and removes it from her shoulder.

“Have a nice evening.” She says.

“Same to you.” He smirks.

Y/N makes her way to her car, and sighs heavily once she’s in there with Riley.

“Please don’t tell me you just yelled at him. He’s my favorite teacher, Mum.”

“No, we had a very adult conversation, and he apologized for not giving you back your phone when he should have after class.”

“I guess I could’ve waited to text Ben back. I’m sorry I caused all this.”

“It’s not your fault, honey, it’s fine.” She smiles at her daughter and they make their way home.

“I…I was asked to the movies this Friday, can I go?”

“With who?”

“Austin.”

“I’d like him to come to the house first so I can meet him properly. You’ve been hanging out in groups with him. Would this be one on one?”

“I think so. I can ask him if he minds coming inside first before we go.”

“That would be great.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Are you…are you and Mr. Styles, like, seeing each other?”

“What would ever give you that idea?!”

“I just think it’s weird that he was at our house.”

“We’ve become friends, you know I hang out with him and Mr. Horan sometimes.”

“Yeah, but Mr. Horan wasn’t there. It was just you and Mr. Styles, and you both had wet hair.”

“I had showered before he swung by, he must have done the same.” Y/N shrugs. “We’re just friends, honey, nothing more.”

“Okay.”

Y/N could tell Riley didn’t quite believe her, but she knew her daughter wouldn’t press her on it more for now. Not if she wanted to go to the movies with Austin.

//

“It’s nice to meet you, uh-“

“You can just call me Miss Y/L/N, it’s nice to meet you too, Austin.” Y/N smiles. They were all standing in the front hall. “So…it’s just you two going to the movies?”

“That’s the plan.” He says with an innocent smile.

“Have her home by 10:30, please.”

“Can do.”

“Thanks, Mum.”

“Have fun.” She sighs and turns around to Ben. “What about you? No plans?”

“Not tonight. I was just gonna play video games.”

“Well, if you’d like to have a friend over-“ Her cell phone goes off and she furrows her brows. “One second, sweetie.” She goes into the kitchen for some more privacy. “Harry?”

“Hey, what are you up to tonight?”

“Hanging out with my son…why?”

“Oh, they’re not with their dad this weekend?”

“No, they were with him last weekend.” She sighs.

“Damn.”

“Why?”

“Well, Niall and a few other people were gonna go to this place where you can throw axes, and we thought you’d like to come.”

“That sounds like…fun? Um, but I can’t just leave Ben here alone. I’d feel terrible since Riley’s out.”

“Hey, Mum?”

“Honey, I’m on the phone.”

“I know, sorry, Kyle just texted me and asked me if I wanted to sleep over. I know it’s last minute, but-“

“You can go! You can definitely go, I’ll even drop you off.”

“You’re the best! I’m gonna go pack up my stuff.” Ben races out of the kitchen.

“Guess that just solved itself.” Harry says.

“Guess so.”

“Let me come pick you up. Text me when you get back from dropping him off, yeah?”

“Alright.”

Y/N gets herself ready, and then drives Ben to Kyle’s house for his sleepover.

“Why do you look so nice?” He asks on the way there.

“Well, I made plans with my own friends since you and Riley are out. Is that okay?” She chuckles.

“S’fine.” He shrugs. “Feel like you’ve been going out a lot lately. Are you, like, dating?”

“No, baby, I’m not dating. But I am making good friends, which has been nice. I didn’t have many friends back in our old town. Too many judgey moms.” She pulls up to Kyle’s house. “Have a great time, call me if you need me.”

“I will, thanks!”

She watches Ben go inside, and then she makes her way back home to wait for Harry. She liked his car a lot, and it would be nice to actually go for a drive in it, instead of just riding him in it. Y/N was shocked when she heard the doorbell.

“You didn’t have to come to the door.” She says as she steps outside.

“Sure I did. I may be just trying to fuck, but I’m a gentleman at the end of the day.” He smirks as he opens the car door for her. She rolls her eyes at him, and climbs in.

“This really is a nice car.” She says as she looks around.

“Saved up a long time for it.” He places his hand on her thigh as he backs out of the driveway, and he keeps it there.

“So, an axe throwing place?”

“It’s all the rage right now. You can drink and throw axes, it’s pretty cool. I’ve been once before it’s a hoot.” He chuckles and squeezes her thigh slightly. “I’m glad you were able to get out for a bit.”

“Me too.”

She lets him keep his hand on her leg for the entire ride as they chat over the music. He parks the car, and gets out, jogging around to the other side to open the door for her. She smiles at him, and they both head inside. He even gets them their drinks from the bar. It was starting to feel like a date, especially when she only saw Niall with one other person, some woman she had yet to meet.

“Y/N, this is my girlfriend Anna.” Niall says.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Y/N says to her. Harry comes over and hands her a drink. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. We all set?” He asks Niall.

“Yeah, we all just need to sign the release forms.”

They all sign and are brought over to the axe throwing area. They’re told how to do it, and they get going. Harry and Niall go first, and of course their axes stick. Y/N takes a deep breath, and throws her, but it doesn’t stick.

“That’s alright, give it another go.” Harry encourages her.

“I…I don’t think I threw it quite right.” She says to him.

“Would you like some help?” She nods yes at him and he steps closer to her, putting his hand on her back. “You need to release from this point, okay? Give it all you got.” He steps back and lets her throw it. It sticks and she squeals, turning to hug him. “I knew you could do it!”

Anna hits her target as well. The four of them were having a great time. Once their time is up, they all grab table for food. Y/N checks her phone, it was just about nine. No texts from the kids. She hoped Riley was having a nice time on her date, and that Austin was being respectful during their movie.

“Miss?” The waitress says to her.

“Huh? Oh, I’m sorry. Um…” She looks at the menu and then to Harry. Everyone else had clearly ordered.

“She’ll have the same as me, thanks, love.” Harry hands the waitress the menus and then looks at Y/N. “You like turkey burgers, right?”

“Yeah, sorry about that. My daughter’s on her first date, and I was just checking my phone to see if she had text me or anything.”

“You have a daughter that’s old enough to date?!” Anna says, shocked. “What’s your secret, girl? You look fantastic!” She laughs, and so does everyone else.

“I was a young mum, nothing more than that.” Y/N chuckles. “She’s only fourteen, a freshman out with a sophomore boy from her biology class. It’s cute, really, he’s on the football team and she’s been to a few of his games. They’ve been hanging out in groups, but tonight is the first one on one.” She takes a sip of her drink. “Listen to me, it sounds like I’m recapping an episode of The Bachelor.”

“Do you have any other kids, or just the one?” Anna asks.

“I have a son, Ben, he’s thirteen. Niall’s his teacher actually.”

“Yup, great kid. Harry has Y/N’s daughter in class too.” Niall tells her.

“Is that how you two met?” Anna asks, and you smirk.

“No, actually, the three of us met because I parked too close to Harry’s precious car in the staff lot. I work in our development office.” She sips her drink smirking at Harry who had slumped in the booth. “He yelled at me, it was quite the meet cute.”

“Yikes, I’ve never seen Harry yell before.” Anna says. “You’re usually so calm.”

“I’ve had that car for two years, not a scratch on it, and I’d like to keep it that way.” Harry says. “It’s all water under the bridge now.” He puts his arm around Y/N, smiling down at her.

There’s more talking during the meal. Y/N really liked the turkey burger Harry had ordered for her. Everyone was laughing and having a good time. It was about ten, and Y/N wanted to get home before Riley like a responsible adult. She tells Harry this, and he nods.

“It was really nice meeting you, Anna.” Y/N tells her again.

“Same to you, have a nice night.” They all part ways in the parking lot. “Oh, I like her so much better than Francie already.” She tells Niall.

“Me too.” Niall sighs. “But you know they’re not really dating.”

“I know, I know, but this was a very nice glimpse for them to see what a date could be like. They were so cute with each other.”

“I agree, I just think Harry’s still on the rebound. I also don’t think he’s mature enough to be dating a woman with two teenagers. Little kids maybe, but teenagers? That’s a lot to take on. Besides, what if he wants kids? Y/N’s in her early thirties, she probably wouldn’t want more.”

“Isn’t that what Harry and Francie broke up over? She wanted kids and he didn’t.” Anna shrugs. “Let them figure it out.”

Y/N and Harry were parked in her driveway making out. The damn console was in the way, but he was still able to get his tongue into her mouth. Her hands were in his hair, tugging him closer to her even though she knew she needed to get out of the car.

“Harry.” She breathes as he starts kissing on her neck. “I…I need to go inside. I can’t be out here like this when Riley gets home.” She gasps when she feels his teeth nip at her skin, and then he pulls away, almost glaring at her.

“Man, nothing to kill a hard on more than a mention of a student’s name.” He huffs.

“I told you…this might be easier for you if you wanted to fuck someone without kids.”

“Well, I’m kinda hooked on you now, so I can’t do that.” His thumb brushes her bottom lip as he cups her cheek. He leans in to kiss her again. “Do you think we could get together tomorrow since it seems like we can’t fool around tonight?”

“Sure, I have some errands I need to run anyways, so I can add you to the list.” She winks. “I’ll text you.”

“Alright, sounds good.” He chuckles. “I had a lot of fun tonight.”

“So did I, goodnight.” She smiles and hops out of the car. She quickly gets herself inside.

Harry backs out of the driveway just as Austin pulls up with Riley.

“Whoa, who do you know with a range rover?” Austin asks.

“That’s…Mr. Styles’ car.” She swallows as she watches him drive away. “He’s friends with my mom. She texted me saying she was seeing some friends tonight, I guess he drove her.”

“Cool.” Austin says. “I’ll walk you to your door.” He does so, and they linger there for a moment. They hug each other, and he gives her a kiss on the cheek. “Can we do this again sometime?”

“I’d like that.” She smiles.

“Great, well, have a good night.”

“You too. Thanks again.” Her heart soars as she goes inside. She finds Y/N sitting on the couch watching TV.

“How was the movie?”

“Really funny.” Riley plops down next to her. “Where’s Ben?”

“Sleeping at Kyle’s.”

“Oh, nice. So…where did you go tonight?”

“To this axe throwing place. It was fun, look.” She takes her phone and shows Riley a video of her throwing an axe and it sticking to the wooden target.

“Cool! You went there with Mr. Styles?”

“Mhm, and Mr. Horan and his girlfriend Anna.”

“Oh my god, Mum.” Riley gasps. “You went on a double date!”

“I did not.” Y/N scoffs.

“Did Mr. Styles pay for anything?”

“Well…yeah, he did, but he said it was just easier.” Riley gives her a look. “What?”

“Mum, he definitely was making a move!”

“And what do you know about moves, hm?”

“Apparently more than you. You two should go out one on one and see how it goes.”

“I’ve done that with him before.” Y/N shrugs. “We’re just friends, Riley.”

“He drove you tonight, right? I saw him pulling out of the driveway when I got home.”

“He offered to drive, yeah, and I accepted. He’s got a really nice car, thought it would be fun to go for a ride in it.” Y/N blushes slightly, annoyed at her own innuendo. “I’m not dating your teacher, don’t worry.”

“I wouldn’t hate it.” Riley shrugs. “You deserve to have someone, Mum. Dad’s out there with miss thing living what he perceives as his best life, you should do the same.”

“I don’t want to be in a relationship right now.” Y/N sighs. “I don’t have time for it. If Ben hadn’t gone to Kyle’s I wouldn’t have been able to go out tonight.”

“He can stay at home by himself.”

“But I would have felt bad about it. I like being home when you guys are home.”

“We’re not babies, that’s all I’m saying.” She twiddles her thumbs. “Plus, he’s super cute, so-“

“Riley!” Y/N chuckles and throws a pillow at her. “Don’t talk about your teacher like that.”

“He is! I don’t have a crush on him, but anyone with eyes can see how cute he is, Mum.”

“I’ll agree with that, he’s very cute.” She yawns. “Well, now that you’re home I’m gonna go up to bed. Was Austin respectful and all that tonight?”

“Very.” Riley smiles. “He asked me if I wanted to do it again sometime. I’m excited about him.”

“It’s a nice feeling, huh?”

“Yeah.”

Y/N hoped the feeling would never fade for her daughter because she knew all too well how it felt when it does.

//

The next day, after Ben got dropped off, Y/N told the kids she was going out to run some errands, and asked them to get some chores done while she was gone. She genuinely needed to get some things while she was out, so she did that before going over to Harry’s. It felt odd to be going over to his place in the middle of the day for a dick appointment, as the kids would say, but this was happening. She pulls up to a nice duplex, and she recognizes Niall’s car in the other driveway. She texts Harry that she’s down front, and she sees the front door open on one side. She gets out of her car and greets him.

“Find it alright?” He says to her as he lets her in.

“Mhm, this is a cool place.”

“Thanks, Niall and I bought it together, like, five or so years ago. We fixed up one side and then the other.”

“So he gets one side and you the other?”

“Yup, worked out well. I’ve redecorated recently, for, um, obvious reasons.”

“Right, trust me I know how hard it can be living in the same place where good and bad memories were made.”

“Is that why you came out here?”

“One of the reasons she sighs as she kicks her shoes off. “I needed a fresh start.”

He hums his response as he cups her jaw in his large hands, bringing his lips to hers.

“How long do you have?” He says against her lips.

“An hour at most. I have to go to the grocery store after this.”

“Oh.” He smirks. “You won’t be going to the store after this.”

“Wh-why not?” She swallows.

“Because you’re not gonna be able to walk when I’m done with you.” He bends down and lifts her up over his shoulder and she squeals.

“Harry!” She giggles as he brings upstairs to his room. Fuck, he was strong. “What will I tell my kids when I’m walking funny?”

“Tell them good old Mr. Styles cracked your spine in half, I’m sure that’ll go over well.” He drops her on his bed, and gets his shirt off. She looks up wide eyed at him. “Oh, love, I’m not actually gonna do that.”

“I know, I’ve just never seen your tattoos in the daylight like this. I mean when we showered I sort of did, but…they’re so pretty.”

His features soften and he picks her up again, getting himself on the bed and laying her down. He sucks on her bottom lip as she wraps her arms and legs around him. His hands work to undo her jeans, and he tugs them down past her bum. She kicks them off the rest of the way, and he pets her over her underwear. She moans into his mouth, and his dips his fingers inside, sliding along her slit. She could feel him growing hard against her hip.

“Y/N?”

“Yeah?”

“Would you blow me for a bit?”

“Of course! Lay down.”

He gives her a relieved smile and lays back on the bed. She gets between his legs and does his pants. She gets them off and tugs his boxers down. She kisses his tip first, then gives his shaft kisses before licking him up and down. She looks up at him and sees he’s already watching her. She smirks and wraps her lips around his tip, sinking down on him as much as she could.

“Yeah, just like that.” He groans. “Fuck, you feel so good.”

She moans against him and bobs her head up and down. This wasn’t her favorite thing to do in the world, but she didn’t mind do it for it for Harry since he was so attentive with her. She gets him to the brink of coming, and then he pulls her off of him. He gets her naked, and opens her legs up, diving right in. The flat of his tongue sliding up her center to her clit. He sucks both of her lips, one at a time before focusing on her clit again. Two of his fingers slip inside her, and her eyes roll back. He has her crying out moments later, and before she knows it he’s getting a condom on.

“Can I go on top?” She asks.

“Sure.” He shrugs and lays down, his cock stiff and ready for her.

She swings her leg over him, and rubs his tip over her clit before sinking down on his. His hands grip her hips as she moves around in a circle to get comfortable. She moves herself on and off his cock, enjoying the stretch he’s giving her. When she gets a little tired she comes down to him chest to chest, and kisses him. His hands slide to her ass, and he moves her on him. He thrusts in and out of her, and she moans into his neck.

“Like the way I feel like this?” He grunts.

“Yes, fuck.” She mumbles. Her clit was rubbing against him perfectly, and she was trying to concentrate on that. “Don’t stop what you’re doing.” She tugs at his hair and he nearly growls.

He thrusts into her faster and faster, it has her panting and moaning. His tip was hitting her g-spot, so the whole thing was really overwhelming. She moans out his name loudly as she comes, and he fucks her through it. He lifts her off of him, and sets her down on her stomach. He gets behind her and pushes back inside. She gasps, but it feels good. He fucks her from behind until he comes, and collapses on top of her. He holds her for a moment before pulling out and getting rid of the condom. She uses the bathroom, and gets dressed. He throws on a pair of boxers and a sweatshirt.

“Thanks for adding me to your list of errands.” He says to her as they stand in his front hall. She giggles into his chest as he hugs her and kisses the top of her head.

“My legs are working just fine, by the way. But I’m too tired to go grocery shopping now.”

“Well, you only gave me a bloody hour, love, and you made me come really fast.” He pouts. “Can’t seem to last that long with you.”

“Maybe you should jerk off before I come over next time so you can handle it.” She grins and he rolls his eyes.

“You came twice didn’t you?” She nods yes. “Alright then, quit your complaining. Go on, get outta my house.” He pats her bum and kisses her one more time. “Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”

“You too.” Y/N drove home with a smile on her face the whole way.

//

Things were like this most weekends, especially when the kids were at Joseph’s. Harry would come over on Friday night instead of Saturday in case he fell asleep. Plus if he stayed the night that meant they could have sex most of the day Saturday, which was really nice. Y/N was having a lot of fun with Harry. Sometimes they’d meet up with Anna and Niall to go bowling, or catch a movie. In a way it felt like dating, but there was absolutely zero pressure. It was the exact companion ship she had hoped for.

When the holidays rolled around, she got the kids for Christmas, and Joseph got them for New Year’s, which meant Y/N could go to the party Harry was having. Apparently it was an annual thing. There were a lot of people from school there so she felt right at home. Y/N hadn’t had a New Year’s kiss in quite some time, so it wasn’t even on her mind until all of the couples migrated towards each other as it got closer to midnight.

Harry was wandering through his home trying to find her. She was in the kitchen refilling her drink. He lets out a sigh of relief. He could hear people starting the countdown.

“Christ, there you are!” He says to her, pulling her into him.

“You were looking for me?”

“Course I was, who else am I gonna kiss, hm?” They hear everyone yell ‘one’ and he plants one on her. She thought it would be a simple peck since there were people around, but no, Harry full on kissed her. “Happy New Year.” He breathes and then kisses her forehead.

“Happy New Year.” She says faintly as he walks away from her to continue being a good host. She was one of the last people there, feeling drained at nearly two in the morning. She was getting her coat, about ready to say goodbye when he looked at her funny. “What?”

“Where do you think you’re going at this hour?”

“Home.”

“Nope, sorry, m’afraid you’re staying with me tonight. Get that coat off, now.” He crosses his arms over his chest.

“Is that so?”

“it is.” He nods, and she smirks at him stepping closer to him.

“Make me.” She grins and his eyebrows raise.

“Right.”

Before she knows it she’s being picked up and carried to his room. They both giggle as he gets her in his room. He gets her jacket and boots off, and he tosses her one of his bed shirts.

“What’s this for?” She asks as she holds the shirt up.

“To sleep? Can’t fuck you right now, I’m knackered.”

“Oh.” She blushes. “Alright, well, thank you. Um…you wouldn’t happen to have a spare toothbrush and a washcloth then would you?”

“Sure, I’ll pull that out of the linen closet for you, one second.” He leaves the bedroom and comes back shortly and gives her what she asked for.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.” He shrugs and starts taking his clothes. “Feel free to use the bathroom first.”

She nods and does so. She liked the way his shirt fit, how it hugged her thighs and just barely covered her bum. She washes up and shyly pads back into the bedroom. He smiles when he sees her, and watches as she crawls onto the bed.

“Well, don’t you look cute.” He pinches her thigh as she settled.

“Oh! Don’t do that.” She swats his hand away and he chuckles, getting up from the bed.

“Back in a tick.”

He shuts the lights off once he’s done in the bathroom, and gets into bed with her. She felt awkward until he yanked her onto his chest.

“You can be pretty forceful sometimes, you know that?”

“Does it bother you?”

“Not really, it’s not like I don’t feel safe.”

“You feel safe with me?” He asks softly.

“I do.” She feels him hold her a little closer.

“I just want what I want when I want it I guess.”

“So I’ve noticed. I like a man that knows what he wants, though, so it’s not like it’s a turn off.

“Aw, so you feel safe with me and you like me. A Happy New Year indeed.” She sucks her teeth at that and it makes him laugh. “What’s wrong, can’t take a bit of teasing?”

“I can, you’re just annoying.” She nudges him and he kisses the top of her head.

“You’re fun, Y/N.” He chuckles.

“Let’s get some sleep so you can fuck me in the morning, yeah?”

“I like the way you think.” He sighs and lets his eyes droop closed.

Y/N and Harry spent most of New Year’s day in his best, and neither of them would have had it any other way.

//

“Y/N?” One of her student workers comes into her office. “Mr. Horan from the math department is here to see you.”

“He is?” She raises an eyebrow. “Um, alright, he can come in.” The girl nods and lets Niall in. He closes the door behind him. “Is everything alright with Ben?”

“Yeah, this isn’t work related.”

“Oh…alright, would you like to have a seat?”

“No, it won’t take long…um…did you know Harry’s birthday is on the first of February?”

“I did not know that, no.”

“Right, well, I’m throwing him a party at this pub he really likes to go to. He’s turning thirty, you know? Wanted it to be a little more special for him.” She nods and he continues. “He’s shy about his birthday, and he’d never come right out and say it, but I know it would be mean the world to him if you came.”

“Well, of course I’ll go. It’s not like I haven’t been to a party with him before.”

“Yes, but instead of casually coming over to his New Year’s party…you’d sort of be showing up as his lady, you know?”

“What are you getting at here?”

“Come on, Y/N.” Niall scoffs. “He’s crazy about you, can’t you see that?”

“Niall…” She says in a hushed tone. “You know very well that he and I are nothing more than-“

“Fuck buddies, yeah, yeah.” He rolls his eyes. “This has been going on for months, you seriously don’t want more with the guy?”

“No.” She swallows. “I’m getting exactly what I need from him. He doesn’t want more either, what we’re doing works for both of us. Has…has he said something to you?”

“Not in so many words, but he talks about you enough. I think it’s silly to not go for it.”

“Look, if I didn’t have two kids maybe things could be different between him and I, but it’s not that simple. I don’t want more…at least not right now.”

“Alright.” He sighs. “I’ll text you the details for the party, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Oh, and keep it a secret. He thinks we’re going on a bar crawl.”

She nods and out the door he goes. She sighs heavily and shakes her head. Now there would be all this pressure for his birthday. Did she need to get him a gift? And what kind of gift should it be?

//

“Mum, you look so good.” Riley says sitting on Y/N’s bed when she comes out in a red dress.

“Thank you, honey.”

“And this is for a friend’s birthday party?”

“Yes.”

“Whose birthday?” Riley grins.

“Harry’s.” Y/N sighs.

“Did you get him anything good?”

“I…I got him, like, well, you know how he likes to wear all those rings? So I saw this ring at the store that I thought he might like.”

“You got him a ring?”

“Is it weird? It’s weird right? I just…I saw it and I thought of him, and I-“

“I bet he’ll love it, Mum.”

“Alright.” She nods. “Listen…you’ll be alright with Ben tonight? I…I could either be home really late, or I might not come back until the morning depending on how much I have to drink.”

“He’s setting up some movies and popcorn for us as we speak. We can handle it.”

“Good, okay, thank you.”

“Where would stay if you don’t come home?”

“Mr. Horan has offered me his guest room if need be.” It was a blatant lie but she couldn’t very well tell her fourteen-year-old that she was most likely going to have birthday sex with her teacher.

“Okay.” Riley shrugs and goes downstairs with Y/N. The doorbell rings. “I’ve got it.” She says as Y/N gets her coat on. “Hi, Mr. Styles.”

“Hello, Riley, is your mum ready to go?”

“Mhm, she’s just getting her coat on. Happy birthday, by the way.”

“Thank you.” He smiles and then uses all his willpower to not let his jaw drop when he sees Y/N. He couldn’t even see her dress, but he could tell she’d be a knockout tonight. “Ready?”

“Yes.” She smiles and turns to Riley and Ben. “Don’t be afraid to call if you need anything. I can be home in a flash. I’ll text you later to let you know what my, um, plans are.” She blushes and pushes Harry outside as the kids wave them off.

“She’s not subtle.” Ben says as he plops onto the couch.

“I know, I wish they’d just admit they’re in love and get on with it.” Riley says and starts the movie.

//

Harry opens the backseat of Niall’s car for her, and then he jogs around to the other side. Niall was driving, and Anna was in the passenger seat. Everyone greets one another and off they go. Harry keeps his hand on Y/N’s knee the whole way, and she puts her hand over his. They smile at each other, but nothing is said. Needless to say he was surprised by there being a party at the pub for him, but he was delighted.

Niall had done really well. Lots of drinks and appetizers going around, good music, and people mingling. There was even a cheesy slideshow of every single one of Harry’s school pictures throughout the years, and Y/N had to fight tears from laughing so hard at some of them. Harry couldn’t have asked for a better birthday, especially with Y/N around. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her all night, and eventually his arm didn’t leave from its place around her waist. No one really paid it any attention. Most people knew there was something going on between the two of them, but it was none of their concern. The single men in the room at the least knew not to hit on her. No one really wanted to get on Harry’s shit list.

There was a table for gifts, but Y/N kept hers in her purse, not wanting it to get lost. She also wanted to give it to him in private in case things got awkward. She had overthought the ring over and over. It was this nice topaz band that she thought he’d like. He said he was always looking for a pop of color in his wardrobe.

“Hey.” He says to her, pulling her into him. “Are you gonna come home with me?”

“Yeah.” She smiles. “Are you having a good time?”

“A great time. Couldn’t have asked to turn thirty with better people.” He tucks some hair behind her ear and she shivers. “Can’t to get you back to my place, though.” He leans in to speak in her ear. “M’gonna mess up all this pretty makeup you’re wearing.” He kisses her cheek and lets her go. She was suddenly counting down the moments until it was time to leave.

When it came time, she helped grab all of the gifts off the table and bring them to Niall’s car. She had texted Riley that she wouldn’t be coming home which she felt slightly guilty about. She didn’t like giving up her weekends with the kids like this. Niall and Anna help get everything inside, and then leave Harry and Y/N alone, drinking water in the kitchen. He comes over to her, putting his hands on her hips, and pulling her forward.

“Have I told you how fucking sexy you look tonight? I’ve had to hold my hand under my jaw all night just to keep it from dropping.”

“Idiot.” She chuckles. “Oh! Wait, I got you something.” She snatches her purse from the counter.

“So it’s not lingerie? Sort of thought you were my gift.” He smirks and she rolls her eyes.

“That wouldn’t be very original, and I don’t find lingerie to be particularly comfortable, sorry, Sport.” She fishes the ring box out of her purse. “Here we are. If it’s weird feel free to just kick me out…I saw it thought you’d like it, nothing more to it than that.”

He takes the box from her, furrowing his brows. His eyes widen as he opens it up. He looks between her and the topaz band several times.

“Are you serious?” He says.

“Y-yeah…do you like it?”

“Are you kidding? I love it! I just can’t decide what finger to put it on.”

“I guessed on the size. You have such fat fingers, so I went with a larger one.”

“Think that’s the first time I’ve heard you complain about my fingers. Better be the last.” He slips the ring onto his middle finger and holds it out. “It’s perfect, thank you so much. You really didn’t have to do this.”

“I know, but I wanted to. Like I said, I saw it and thought you’d like it.”

He hugs her and she hugs him back. He kisses her cheek and works his way to her lips. He sucks on her bottom lip, and she tugs at his shirt. His hands slide down to her ass and he squeezes.

“Fuck, I want you so bad.” He says against her lips, and lifts her up onto the counter.

“Mm-mm, just bring me upstairs, I don’t wanna have sex on the counter again.”

“But it’s my birthday.” He pouts.

“Yeah, and last time we did this my back hurt for, like, three days, so bring me upstairs.”

He sucks his teeth and lifts her back up, carrying her bridal style out to the staircase, and up to his room. He sets her down on the bed and takes her heels off, sliding his hands up her calves and thighs. He pulls her to her feet so he can lift the dress up over her head. He tugs her nylons off along with her underwear, and unclips her bra, leaving her naked in front of him. He licks his lips and kisses her. Running his hands all over her body. She works to get his shirt undone, and pushes it off his shoulders. She undoes his pants and lets them drop to the floor, he steps out of them, and they both fall back on the bed. He grinds his hard dick, still clothes by his boxers, right into her core, and she groans. He continues to grind against her, and she moves her hips along with his to get some extra friction.

“I want you to suck me off while I fuck you with my tongue.”

She nods and they switch positions so he can lay on his back. She gets situated over his face, and she lowers herself on his body. His tongue moves back and forth along her slit before entering her. She gasps just as she’s getting her lips wrapped around him. His hands grip her hips so he can lick into her in just the right way. She moans around his cock as she tries to bob up and down on him. He removes his tongue from her so he can finger her, and he licks up to her other hole, something they’ve done before. She chokes on his dick and pulls off, choosing to pump him instead.

“Shit, Harry, oh my god!”

He moans against her as she comes around his fingers. He pulls his fingers away and laps her up. He rolls her onto her stomach, and he grabs a condom quickly. He rolls it on and spreads her legs wide open. She lifts her hips up as he pushes inside her, and he grabs a pillow to put under her back. He rocks in and out of her as his hands knead her breasts. She wraps her arms around his neck to pull him down to her, and she licks into his mouth. He moans into her as their chests touch and sweat starts to form between their bellies.

“Y/N.” He moans into her ear, and it raises goosebumps all over skin. She wraps her legs around his waist to pull him even closer. He kisses on her neck and she runs her fingers through his hair. “I want you to come at the same time as me, think you can do that?”

“Y-yeah.”

He snakes a hand between them so he can rub her clit and her mouth falls open. They make eye contact the entire time, and they cry out as they come together. He collapses on top of her, and she holds him close, kissing his cheek multiple times. He keeps his head buried in her chest for a few moments. He looks up at her, about to say something, but her phone goes off.

“Shit, it could be the kids…”

“One second.” He pulls out of her with a grunt, and lets her up. She gets up and waddles over to his dresser and grabs her phone.

“Ben?”

“Hi, Mum, I’m sorry it’s so late, but Riley doesn’t feel well. I think it’s her period, but she’s on the floor, like, clutching at her stomach and I don’t know what to do for her…”

“Shit, okay, um, get her a glass of milk and two ibuprofen from the cabinet. I’ll be home soon, I’ll set up a warm compress for her. She gets really bad cramps like me sometimes.”

“Okay, thanks, sorry again.”

“No problem, I’ll see you soon.” She turns to Harry. “I…I’m sorry, I can get an uber or-“

“I’ll drive you, don’t be silly.” He says, already throwing some sweats on. “Do you want something to change into so you don’t have to put all that back on?”

“Yeah, if you don’t mind.”

He gets her a sweatshirt and some sweatpants. Once she’s cleaned herself up they’re out the door and into his car. This time around he holds her hand the whole way, their fingers intertwined and everything. When he turns the car off when he pulls in, she gives him a funny look.

“Don’t look at me like that, I’m coming in, obviously.”

“You don’t need to.”

“I know, now come on.”

They get inside, and poor rile is still laying on the floor sucking milk out of a straw. Ben was sitting on the ground neck to her rubbing her back.

“Mum?”

“Hi, sweetie.” Y/N gets on her knees next to her.

“Feels like someone’s squeezing my insides with a spiked glove.”

“I know, baby, the medicine will work soon, I promise.” She sighs. “Ben, in the bathroom cabinet is where the warm compresses are, could you get one for me please?”

“Yeah.” He stands up and looks at Harry, but doesn’t say anything. Riley sees Harry’s sneakers and turns to look at him.

“Hey, Mr. Styles…”

“Hey.” He smiles. “Not feeling great, huh?”

“Cramps.” She says bluntly.

“Ugh, that’s the worst.” He sits down next to her. “My older sister used to get them really bad, I felt terrible.”

Ben comes back with the warm compress, and Y/N snaps it to get it to warm up, and she presses it to Riley’s lower back. She sighs from the feeling.

“See? Better already.” Y/N says.

“I don’t know what happened. I was fine all night, and then I got up to get some more soda, and I basically fell to the ground.”

“The bad ones can creep up on you unfortunately. I need to get you up to your room.”

“I could carry her…if…if that’s alright with everyone.” Harry says.

“That would be okay.” Riley says. “No one else could do it anyways.”

He helps her up, double and triple checking it’s okay that he’s touching her, and he carries her up. Y.N has Ben clean up the living room before he goes to bed. Y/N goes into Riley’s room after Harry’s places her on her bed.

“All set?” Y/N says to her, brushing some hair away from her face.

“Yeah, thank you.” She yawns. “Goodnight.”

“Night, honey.”

Y/N tugs Harry into her room, and closes the door.

“I’m so sorry, thank you for coming in…I don’t know how I would’ve helped her upstairs, I would have had to make a bed for her on the couch.” Y/N starts tearing up. “There are so many things I can do for them on my own until I’m reminded that there are things that I just can’t.”

“Hey.” He puts his hands on her shoulders. “You’re a great mum and you’re doing what you can. I couldn’t imagine being so young and raising two teenagers. You make it look easy, honestly. You’re amazing, Y/N.”

“You really think so?”

“I do.” He nods.

“Would you…I mean…it’s late, um, would you want to just stay here?”

“It wouldn’t be weird for you?”

“No.” He smiles and starts taking his clothes off. They get into bed together and cuddle all night. He somehow was always exactly what she needed, and it scared her a little. “How do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Put me at ease the way you do?”

“I don’t know.” He smiles down at her. “Didn’t realize I did that for you.”

“Well, you do. And I don’t know how I feel about it.”

“Christ, Y/N, just admit you like me as more than just a guy who fucks you good so we can date already.”

“What?” She sits up and so does he. “That’s not funny.”

“I’m not trying to be. You don’t wanna date? I mean we practically already are when you think about it. I’m not seeing anyone else, are you?”

“With your clingy ass? Who would have the time?!” She laughs.

“Oi, I resent that.”

“You ask me to hang out literally every weekend.”

“Yeah, cause I need to get to you before someone else does.”

“Harry…you realize if you get into a relationship with me you’re getting into a relationship with my kids, right?”

“I do.” He nods. “I know it’ll be a lot, but if it means I get to be with you…I think I could be all in with them. I can’t speak for Ben, but I know Riley likes me. I feel like we could make this work.”

“I don’t want more kids…I’m almost thirty-four, I would hate for you to end up wanting kids of your own. That’s not something I can give you, Harry.”

“You know what I’d really like?”

“What?”

“A dog. I’m great with pets, absolutely great. I miss having a pup around. If we get to a point where we feel like that’s the right move, that would definitely be enough for me.”

“I’ve always wanted a dog.” She bites her bottom lip. “Wow, okay, so…we’re doing this?”

“We fucking better be, I think Niall will explode if we don’t.”

They both giggle, and kiss each other. They settle back down to get some sleep, ready for whatever the morning brings.

a/n: if you liked what you’ve read, and are able/want to support me, please consider buying me a coffee. 

[watermelonlovershigh]

You Get Sick in the Back of an Uber

AN: so this was a story i have had in my drafts for like three months and just never found motivation to finish it. i decided to finish this first out of my drafts because it was one of the ones that had the most already written for it. unlike some of my others that don't have much written yet. and this was supposed to be longer but i got lazy and ended the end with no dialogue and shorted the story. but i guess that's fine because the main part of this was the uber incident and not necessary the aftercare. (i just love to always include aftercare whether its with sex or getting sick. unless its a blurb) @harryhoney-bee suggested number 1. on my voting post so thank you for requesting i finish this one shot idea that was in my drafts.

This story contains: puke, drunken person, caring husband

{ husband!harry - dad!harry - Grammys 2021 Harry - 4 kids (any age you imagine) }

word count: 1765

When you drink too much at the Grammys, you end up having to get sick in the uber ride home and Harry cares for you.

-------------------------

Back Story-

After the Grammys, Harry and I decided to go to the little after party that was being held for the Grammy attendees. We knew we couldn't stay too long because we had to get back home to our kids. They were currently with our babysitter but she couldn't stay all night. She has to go home at some point. So we made sure to watch the time.

At the afterparty, drinks were flowing. I haven't drank in a while due to the fact I had been pregnant not too long ago. This was the first night I was allowed to drink and I decided to do just that. Harry was aware of me drinking and promised to watch and take care of me. Though we were at this afterparty for him, he wanted me to let loose and have some fun as well.

But what he wasn't expecting was for me to drink the amount I did. I didn't mean to go over board. It just kind of happened. People handing out drinks left and right and next thing I knew, I was drunk. Not tipsy, drunk. When Harry noticed how drunk I was, he decided it's best to go home.

And because Harry also had drank some alcohol, he wasn't in a state to drive either. By no means was he as drunk as me though. Maybe just tipsy but he didn't want to risk it. So he decided to call an uber for us.

--------------------

Current-

We're sitting in the back of the uber on our way home. It's about an hour drive since the city is crowded with traffic due to the Grammys. Right about now is when I regret drinking any alcohol tonight. Because I haven't drank in over a year, my body isn't use to the poison running through my veins. So you could say I'm a lightweight now. My head is throbbing. My vision is blurry. My stomach is turning. Lets just say I regret all my decisions tonight that lead to me feeling this way.

"Harrrrry I don't feel good." I manage to slur out.

"You probably should have stuck to champagne instead of vodka my love." Harry responds, while stroking my hair out of my face in a gentle manner.

Another 10 minutes pass and I'm feeling very nauseous. I'm trying to focus on my breathing but it's not working.

"Harry my stomach hurts." I whisper with hooded eyes.

"Like you're gonna be sick?" Harry questions with panic.

I nod my head and hear Harry asking the driver if he can pull over.

"Can you pull over? My wife is feeling ill." Harry frantically questions the uber driver up front.

"I'm sorry sir but this freeway is packed and there is no way I can get to the side of the road right now." the driver says with a bit of an attitude.

Hearing that made me and Harry both start to panic.

"Well do you have any sick bags in here?" my husband asks.

"Sorry I don't." the driver retorts in a uncaring tone. What kind of uber driver doesn't carry sick bags for when drunks potentially need a ride but feel like they are going to be sick?

I just barley hear Harry let out a frustrated sigh and turn to me.

"Try and relax love. Take deep breaths for me, alright." Harry whispers while rubbing my back as I'm slumped over his body, too disoriented to even hold my head up.

About 3 minutes later, I feel vomit rise up my throat. There isn't much I can to do. The driver already said he couldn't pull over, nor does he have sick bags. I sit up from my slouched position and clasp a hand over my mouth. My legs are bouncing up and down. I'm trying desperately not to puke but I'm doing a poor job. Harry is sitting up with me, trying to comfort me but his words are all a blur at this point.

"If you have to be sick darling, let it out. I'll pay to get this uber cleaned, okay." Harry states in my ear. I know he'd rather not have me puke on the floor of the uber, right beside him, but he can tell I'm struggling and in discomfort.

Hearing those words was all the conformation I needed. I remove my hand from my mouth and let out a gush of alcoholic bile spew from my mouth and onto the backseat floor board. Harry gathers my hair in his hands so it's not in my face. My vomit splatters all over my legs and on the bottom of Harry's Gucci suit. I'd feel terrible about that if I wasn't so out of it, but my mind is a mushed up blur.

"Shhh, that's it. You're alright." Harry reassures me. The uber driver lets out a sigh of disgust, but this is truly his fault that I'm throwing up in his uber right now anyways.

Heave after heave, I let out more of the alcohol that was poisoning my system, right onto the floor. It's not a pretty sight. I'm having a cold sweat and my body is trembling. Though Harry has a weak stomach, when it comes to his wife (me) or his kids, he can always handle a bit of throw up. Or a lot like currently. It's like a fatherly/husband instinct that comes over him and he feels only adrenaline, not yuck.

Finally I feel my stomach relax and I sit up, breathing heavy with vomit dripping down my chin. Without thinking, I wipe it off with the back of my hand and smear it on my already ruined dress. "Feeling better?" Harry asks in a low tone.

"Mhmm." I hum, not really feeling like talking. My drunken brain has cleared up some from the majority of the alcohol being out of my system, but I still feel the after affects drinking brings. I just lean my head on Harry's shoulder for the rest of the ride home and allow the cool breeze to blow on my face. The uber driver did us all a favor by rolling the windows down so we didn't suffocate on the nasty smell of my sick.

---------------------

After-

When we arrived home, Harry payed the uber driver, not giving much of a tip and told him that he'd have someone clean his car out in the morning. As well as a half assed apology for my incident beings it could have been prevented. Then carefully, Harry lifted me out the uber and carried me into our Los Angeles home. Good thing our kids were all asleep because they shouldn't have to see their mother like this. Covered in puke and half drunk.

Harry took me to our bathroom and quickly ran down stairs to pay our babysitter, hoping she didn't question my appearance when she saw my state as we came through the front door. She didn't thankfully and left soon after her check was handed to her. Harry came back up to where he left me and helped me clean up and get ready for bed.

He stripped us of our vomit covered clothes and helped me into the big walk-in shower we have in our master bathroom. Then after he delicately washed our bodies along with my hair, he helped us out and dried us off. We brushed our teeth, me with the help of my husband because I was still a bit dizzy. After we're clean of sick and smelt fresh, he helped me put some panties and a t-shirt over my nude body and boxers on himself; just incase our kids woke up and needed us for whatever reason.

Harry helped me into our large bed and tucked me in, bending down to kiss my forehead. Then he walked down to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water and a bucket incase I needed to be sick again at some point through-out the rest of the early morning. When he had all the items he intended to grab, Harry came back to our bedroom where I was already passed out with sleep.

So he just set the water on my night stand and the bucket on the floor, beside my side of the bed. Then Harry quietly exited our room and went to each of our child's bedrooms to make sure they were fine and still asleep like they should be, which they thankfully were.

When everything was done and taken care of, Harry turned the bedroom lights out and slipped in the covers with me. He helped my body scoot over and I cuddled into his warm body. I didn't realize it in my state of sleep but I knew when I awoke, I'll be thinking about how grateful I am to have a wonderful husband like Harry.

He takes such good care of me. He didn't get upset that I drank too much on his special night and accidently got wasted. He never once got upset that I basically got throw up on his expensive suit tonight in the uber. He didn't get annoyed that he had to shower both me and him past midnight, though he was exhausted. Harry loves taking care of me (and our kids) and wouldn't wish for any other life. Even when his life becomes chaotic and stressful. Harry loves his family dearly and his family love him just as much or more.

Masterlist (regular smut, fluff & sicfics)

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Harry Styles blurbs, concepts, & short stories Masterlist- (short writing with little to no dialog)

[rockingrobin69]

Learning Curve

Four out of five dentists would recommend against reading this piece (1.7k). Think of your teeth! 

“Uncle Harry, did you know Uncle Draco is a weredragon?”

“A what now?” he frowned, tucking the duvet under Teddy’s chin.

“A weredragon. Like how dad was a werewolf, but with a dragon.”

Harry huffed a small chuckle. “I’m pretty sure he isn’t, Ted.” To be fair, considering all the things he’d learned about him since Malfoy adopted Teddy, Harry wouldn’t be too surprised if he actually turned out to be a weredragon. It won’t even be the most shocking discovery.  

“No, he is. All the best people are were-something, he said. So he’s a weredragon.”

Harry resisted the temptation to ask if he was a were-something, too. “All right then, menace, go to sleep. You can tell me on Sunday if you’d seen him turn.” He shook his head through all the begging, bargaining and trickery, until Teddy finally relented and closed his eyes. Harry chewed on his grin, pressed a kiss to Teddy’s forehead, murmured in his ear and left, silently closing the door behind him.

And then heading out with his usual gracefulness – accidentally knocking into the dresser with a big yelp, stepping over every creaking floorboard, smacking against the door because he wasn’t really looking ahead, he was looking for – ah. Malfoy heard him, it would seem. Standing at the kitchen doorway, leaning against it like some sort of model in a Muggle magazine, rolling his eyes. Harry noticed he was holding his breath.

“Care to join me for a drink, Potter?”

He didn’t know why he was nervous. This happened every night.

The thing is, Harry loved Teddy so much. So, so much, he even considered adopting him himself after Andromeda and all. But Harry’s stupid job was too stupid to allow it, and Malfoy was technically ‘family’. And so Harry came by every day – well, night, stupid job and all – to see how Teddy was doing. And then, every night, he’d run into Malfoy, who had no choice but to invite him for a drink. It would be wine, sometimes, or flavored butterbeer, or – and only once – straight up Ogden’s whisky. But mostly it’d be hot chocolate, which apparently was something Malfoy enjoyed, and something Harry seemed to find quite irresistible.  

Of all the new things he’d learned about Malfoy, this was perhaps one of the most surprising. He made the best hot chocolate. It was the perfect temperature, the perfect sweetness, the perfect texture. Perfection in a cup. Harry followed him into the kitchen, sat in his favorite chair (somewhat dangerously with the way Malfoy’s books were stacked so high behind his back), and turned his gaze to the fridge. Teddy’s newest masterpiece was magicked to the door, and even squinting Harry couldn’t tell what it was meant to be.

“A wolf,” Malfoy muttered as he laid a cup of hot cocoa before Harry. “Your godson is very talented, you know.”

Harry hummed into his cup, probably smearing his nose full of whipped cream. “Bet you I could draw a better one.”

He waited. Some nights Malfoy wasn’t in the mood. He’d be tired, or closed off, and they’d just sit there in silence and stare. Some nights he was restless, far too giddy to stay still, and they’d go for a walk in the forest. But tonight –

Tonight Malfoy was game. He scoffed and summoned two quills and some parchment. “Let’s see – five minutes, best drawing wins?”

Harry grinned privately to himself. There must have been something in that hot chocolate, because he couldn’t stop thinking about how he just loved spending nights at Wiltshire.  

*

“Uncle Harry,” Teddy asked one Sunday, sliding into his wellies. “Did you know that Uncle Draco had a pet a stag?”

“What?” Harry was busy arranging a beanie on his orange hair with his tongue between his teeth. “A pet stag?”

“Yeah, when he was a kid. I asked him why he likes them so much, and he told me. His name was Arold and he was very stupid, Uncle Draco said.”

“Arold?” Harry laughed, tilting his head. “Ted, you know Uncle Draco is messing with you, yeah? He never had a pet stag. You can’t have stags as pets.” Malfoy had peacocks, which he hated, and the eagle owl, which he loved, and that was that. No stags. Harry knew that. He picked up every single piece of information about Malfoy slowly, carefully, and catalogued it all in his head. Malfoy was afraid of hippogriffs (still) and very enthusiastic about nifflers. He wanted a kneazle really badly as a kid, but his mother was allergic to the fur. Harry knew these things, now. He even had this insane idea to get a kneazle for him and Teddy, a fantasy he liked to entertain from time to time. Teddy’s words brought him back to reality with his cheeks oddly flushed and his ears ringing.

“That’s what he said.”

Harry wondered why Teddy thought Malfoy liked stags to begin with, but he’d already ran outside and jumped into the nearest puddle, so the question had to wait.

Malfoy was in the kitchen when they returned, and Harry plopped down next to a steaming mug of hot cocoa. The clutter all around practically screamed we actually live here, and Harry felt the warmth of it in his bones. His eyes kept zooming from Malfoy, to Teddy, happily blabbering about the squirrel they’d seen on their walk, and something in him thrummed. We actually live here. The flavor of want was sweet and sadly familiar.

*

“Uncle Harry,” Teddy asked one night in November, a tired little bundle of curiosity that ached in Harry’s chest with affection, “What’s emveeos?”

“Huh?” Harry stopped at the doorway, eyebrows drawn.

“Emveeos. Like if I was emveeos of someone.” Teddy gave him an exasperated little look, a come on you should know this one when Harry simply shook his head. “Uncle Draco said he’s emveeos of me.”

“What? When?” Harry’s heart did a funny little leap. He still didn’t really understand the question, but apparently the mere mention of ‘Uncle Draco’ was enough to ignite this heat inside him.

“Because you always kiss me good night.”

Harry could only shrug, but the heat intensified into something near intolerable. “I dunno, Ted. Best to ask him tomorrow, yeah? You know Uncle Draco is better at these things.” Better at most things, really. Cooking, drawing, writing, teaching. He was just good at everything. Even dancing – Harry had seen photographs of a very sulky boy beautifully performing the tango, no joke. And he could make the best hot chocolate. And –

“Okay. Good night, Uncle Harry.”

“Good night, Menace. I love you.” Harry made sure to tell him that every night, even if Teddy was already asleep. It was good for him too, he thought, to get the practice.

That night there were mini marshmallows in the mug. Harry couldn’t help it anymore; he was so enamored with the – drink – it felt a little like an explosive device in his chest. He found a way to distract Malfoy for a couple of seconds while he covertly drew a vial of the cocoa, stashing it in his pocket. There had to be something wrong with it, a potion or something. There had to, or Harry was losing his mind. He’d lost enough things for a lifetime, he thought.

*

“No, Uncle Harry! Cookies first.”

It was the week before Christmas, and Malfoy was out on a last minute gift shopping trip. Harry and Teddy were in the kitchen together, in charge of lunch, though Teddy was more interested in sampling the Christmas cookies Malfoy had made. To distract him Harry suggested they try to prepare Malfoy’s cocoa – well, also so he’d have something hot to drink when he comes back, because Malfoy always suffered from the cold.

“Oh, Uncle Draco doesn’t like hot chocolate,” Teddy shook his head.

“But,” Harry didn’t know what to do with this information, which stood in stark contrast with everything he knew in this life. “He drinks it all the time with me.”

“No, no, he says it’s too sweet. He never drinks it.”

Harry felt utterly lost. The knowledge he’d collected of Malfoy was the foundation with which he was trying to build this – it was what he stupidly thought he could use to make a home. Hell, he’s been practicing – getting ready for – and all this time, Malfoy was lying?

When Malfoy returned Harry pretty much threw himself at him, boxing Malfoy at the door with all his shopping bags.

“You don’t like hot chocolate,” he said accusingly, and Malfoy’s eyes went big.

“What?”

“You don’t. And you told Ted you had a pet stag and that you’ve embossed him or something like that. But you don’t like hot chocolate.”

“I – “ Harry’s never seen Malfoy so flushed in his life, and was furious with how adorable that was. “All right. I don’t.”

“But you make it almost every night,” Harry contested. He felt a little woozy.

“Yes.” When Harry gave an odd grunt, he closed his eyes. “You like it.”

“So?”

“So…” Malfoy’s shrug was so painfully sad. “I thought you’d… come here if you…”

Harry didn’t wait for the sentence to finally come to a stop, it was taking forever. “So you just lied?” 

“No!” two grey eyes opened, sort of panicked. “I just – I’ve been trying, all right? all this time, to learn to… to get to know you. All these things about you, and then I saw how much you liked it when I made hot cocoa for Teddy and – I just. Want you to. Have. Things that you like.”

Harry couldn’t feel his tongue. His head was spinning. He didn’t know what to do about this, didn’t know what to think, didn’t know – he just didn’t know. Sadness was familiar, and losing, and being lied to, but – but this –

“Kiss him, Uncle Harry!” a little voice carried from behind him, and startled he caught a glimpse of blue hair. Hell. A quarter of his age, and Teddy was at least twice as clever. Harry leaned forward and did the only thing that made sense, and the kiss was solid enough to build on. Malfoy’s lips were the sweetest thing he’s ever tasted. Hot chocolate, no matter how good, could never compare.

Wow, I really ran away with this one... Today was day 6 of my Seven Sins of Drarry one-shot collection, and was all about - Teddy almost had it: envy! Hope you’re ready to be good, because there’s only one sin left!

Day 1: wrath   | Day 2: lust  | Day 3: sloth  | Day 4: greed  | Day 5: gluttony | Day 7: pride