Flo POV:
"Here we are.." Harry says pulling into the driveway.
The house is simplistic, what you'd expect to see in a quaint neighbourhood of a countryside town with no inkling one of the worlds biggest golden boy's grew up here and that's why I like it. That's probably why he likes it too, no security gates or cameras... just home.
"What do you think?" He asks.
I nod at the house, studying every aspect. "I love it! There's your mum."
Anne stands on the doorstep huddled up in a grey dressing gown, waving to us with one hand and a cup of tea in the other.
"Harry, she's so cute oh my god."
"Go on, I'll get the bags and be right behind you."
I waste no time running straight up to Anne who hugs me tightly, I hear Harry's footsteps on the gravel behind. "Hello my loves, how was the drive?"
"Surprisingly calm, there wasn't too much traffic for a Friday." The drive was actually nice, me and Harry alone with no distractions for a couple of hours.
"And.." Anne lowers her tone "..how're you after yesterday?"
"I was expecting it and to be quite honest, it did upset me but there's nothing we can do now." I shrug.
Anne smiles at me. "Exactly, no point dwelling on it! Come on inside.."
Harry puts the bags down on the floor and walks ahead of us, Anne and me chat as we follow, Robin's sitting at the table with his back to us and only turns round when he hears Harry's footsteps.
"Harry!" He immediately stands up with a laugh. "Don't go missing for that long again, how are you son?"
Robin looks at Harry from arm's length and checks him over, it must have been hard him being away for so many months and being the way he was.
"You haven't changed." Harry remarks cheekily. He's probably referring to his standard shirt and jeans and of course that kind face, it's weird recognising who he is even though I've never met him before.
"Neither have you..except for the tan." Robin pushes his glasses up his nose and winks. "Is this her?"
Harry nods sheepishly, as Robin looks at me I go all shy but Harry takes my hand and pulls me into him. "Robin..this is Flo and Flo, this is Robin."
"A pleasure to meet you sweetheart." Robin grins, I open my arms and give him a small hug.
"The pleasure is all mine, Harry's told me all about you." I knew that Harry adored Robin anyway and saw him as a father figure, now watching and hearing him talk about this man who's stepped up is so endearing.
Robin nudges me slightly. "All good things I hope! Has our handsome chap been treating you well?"
"Too well probably." I grin.
"Not possible." Harry pecks my cheek. "Mum, come here a second?"
I feel his hand run up and down my back as he looks at Anne. "What's up honey?"
"Can I introduce you to this one.." Harry kisses my cheek once more "..this one here mum, my girlfriend."
We watch Anne's face light up in response and Robin too, Harry and I laugh at the reaction and smile at one another fondly. For most, I suppose the whole 'girlfriend' thing isn't a big deal but Anne's expressed to me on more than one occasion, a lot of people have tried to use Harry and for him, a relationship is a big deal.
I touch Anne's arm gently and smile. "He wanted to wait to tell you and see your reaction."
"I'm absolutely delighted! Aren't you Robin.."
"Indeed, fill us in on the details then." He winks.
We finish our cups of tea as Harry and me both tell the story; him talking about how it was planned and the apprehension he felt leading up to it, me chatting on about how it was the last thing I would have expected that night.
"It was magical and I couldn't have been more surprised..still am." I gaze at Harry, I mean it when I say it, I feel like I'm living in a dream.
Harry meets my gaze and I notice he looks all cute and tired, he had been driving all day.
"Do you want to go upstairs and have a lie-down?" I murmur into his ear, he nods. "Anne is it alright if we go change before dinner?"
Anne's so distracted with all the cooking she doesn't even hear me, Robin nods and signals for us to leave them.
Harry takes my hand and leads me into the hallway, grabbing our bag on the way. When we get up onto the landing he takes us into the room furthest from the stairs, inside it's much brighter than I expected- with white walls and a large window that looks out onto the garden. I wander around the room, tracing my hand over everything and stop when I see some photos on the wall; Harry and Gemma somewhere on tour a few years ago, him and the boys, a family picture from Gemma's graduation.
"You'll have to add me to this wall." I smirk slightly. "Am I special enough?"
Harry wraps his arms around my waist, nuzzling his head in my shoulder. "Of course you are princess."
"This isn't what I thought.." I say and it's not, stereotypically I just imagined it darker.
"Mum painted it white a while ago, used to be navy."
I spin around in his arms so I'm facing him. "A navy boy eh?"
He nods and rests his forehead against mine. "Thank you. Thanks for coming down here."
"Thanks for inviting me. Now, I think you should have a nap whilst I take a shower."
"Wake me up for dinner then."
I grab fresh pyjamas and the bag of toiletries, when I turn back to Harry he's already sleeping on the bed. Looking round at his room once more, I wonder how it feels for him to be back in perhaps the only place he truly feels at home.
Harry POV:
I didn't end up sleeping for long, only a quick fifteen minutes although I do feel better. Flo's still in the bathroom so rather than waiting I came down to see if mum needs any help with dinner.
"Gemma not back yet?" Robin says aloud.
"Not yet, she's only down the road anyway." Mum replies nonchalantly.
If Gemma's down the road that means she's probably at one of her school friends, she goes round every time she comes home, which isn't often at the moment.
I surprise mum and hug her from behind. "What's for dinner?"
"Gosh, you scared me Harry." She jumps. "Sheperd's Pie since it's your favourite."
"Need any help?" I ask her.
"No darling, thank you."
Since I'm of no help I go through to the living room and lie on the couch, it's just incredible to be home. The couch dips, mum sits next to me with a satisfied smile.
"What?" I chuckle, even though I already know what she's about to say.
"Oh I just love it when you're home, you and your sister." She squeezes my side.
"Yeah, I was thinking the same, how nice it is to be back here."
"Sometimes I wish you'd move here, live here instead of London." Mum sighs sadly.
"Mum it's not.."
"It's not that simple, I know Harry."
I sit up and look at her with a sympathetic smile; I do feel awful that I don't spend enough time with mum and Robin, unfortunately, there's not much I can do right now.
"You know you can stay with me whenever you want, you and Robin." I try to reassure her.
"Easier said than done Harry, Robin works and it's not just your house anymore."
I shake my head, mums putting up a bit of resistance here. "Oh don't play that card, you know Flo adores you and would never say no."
Mum stands up, fixes her jumper and smirks. "True, come through when she comes down and we can eat dinner."
Flo POV:
I'm drying my hair off with a towel when my phone starts to vibrate on the bed, I see it's a facetime request from Lou's phone which means it must be Lux.
I press the green button- the call connects, the screens lit up with Lux's eyes as she squashes her face up the camera.
"Lux, Lux come on move away." I hear Lou's thick Yorkshire accent.
Finally, she moves back and sees me, she's sat on Lou's lap eating her tea. "Hello sweetheart."
"Aunt Flo! Aunt Flo!"
"How was school today?" She jumps off Lou's lap and returns with a painted picture.
"I painted this for you, it's us in the garden and Uncle Harry under the arch."
Me and Lux are on one end of the paper and Harry on the other, she's used different coloured paints for the fairy lights and she's got all the outfit colours right. "We'll put that up in the kitchen next weekend princess."
"Where's Uncle Harry?"
"He's downstairs Lux, hang on, come on tell me about your day!" I rush down the stairs to see Harry on the couch watching the TV. "One-second darling..."
Harry pats the space next to him as I hand him my phone, he leans it on the coffee table so Lux can see both of us. "Here I am, here I am!"
"She's showing you her painting of us." I murmur into his ear.
The screen is covered in bright block colours whilst Lux puts the picture in front of the camera, I can't help but giggle. "Wow, bubba that's really good!"
Lou tells Lux to go and put her picture upstairs so she can chat to the both of us. "So you two, I'm hosting a dinner party next week and you are invited."
"A dinner party Louise?" Harry mocks in a fake posh voice.
"Indeed, a very casual dinner party, basically a get together. Both of you, Adam and Emi, Tom and Sam, Nick, Harry." She lists.
I nod, that sounds cool especially if it's casual. It'll be nice to finally get to talk to everybody and get to know them a bit better. "We'll be there."
"Wonderful.." Lou huffs as Lux appears back on her knee "..bloody hell Lux."
"Aunt Flo!"
"Yes?"
Lux pushes her face to the camera again. "Will you take me swimming on Wednesday?"
"You two dinners ready!" Anne calls from the kitchen.
"We will.." Harry replies "..we're going to have to go Lux, be a good girl this weekend okay?"
Lou cuts in. "Flo is it alright if she goes to Emi's on Saturday and you pick her up?"
"Course, I'll look forward to meeting Adam and Silver." I blow Lux a kiss. "See you soon, we love you."
Harry's arm goes around my waist, I turn my head and see Anne poke her head around the door. "Bye love."
:
"..and she was stood there speechless, at first I thought I was going to get turned down." Harry laughs as he finishes telling the story once again, for Gemma this time.
"Hey!" I nudge him playfully. "One, you know I'd never have said no and two, it was unexpected."
"Well, either way, I'm over the moon for the both of you." Robin grins.
"Me too." Anne nods in agreement. "By the way kids.."
Harry and Gemma look to their mum in unison.
"...me and Robin are going to a party tomorrow night, you're more than welcome to come."
Gemma pulls a jokey face at Harry and laughs. "Out on the town eh! Who's party?"
"One of my friends 60th birthday party." Robin adds. "A party with the oldies, always fun."
Harry, Gemma and me all look to each other and give a little nod.
"You're coming? Great, that'll be nice for us all and I'm sure all the old ladies will want to dance with you, Harry." Robin jokes.
"What can I say, they always do." Harry says sounding smug.
After dinner Harry and I decide to go to bed, the journey may have been smooth but it's exhausted both of us. We say goodnight to the others and head up the stairs.
"This bed is so squishy." I smile sinking into the mattress. "Almost as comfy as our bed."
"Nothing will ever be as heavenly as our bed, it was the best purchase."
"I'm sure the hotel bed you stay in next weekend will be even better." I tease.
Harry breathes deeply. "Can I not just come home and be with you."
"No, I've told you, you should go out and let loose and spend time with Gemma." I encourage. "Plus think of all the time and money that's got into this, it is a party hosted by you as well so it'd be awkward for you not to turn up."
"I'm going to worry about you, being alone." He gets into bed and holds me tight. "I'm just.."
"...very protective of me, I know and I appreciate it." I cup his face and kiss his lips. "I won't be alone, I'll have Lux and it's only one night."
Harry sighs and nuzzles his head into me. "You're right, you're right."
"Of course I am, I'm always right." I joke.
"I love you." Harry yawns, I can feel his hot breath on my neck. "Get some sleep, we're going on a tour of the town tomorrow."
I lean over and switch off the bedside lamp. "Love you too."
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hi friends!
another kind of filler chapter here.
hope you enjoy, i'll try update soon but i'm drowning in uni work.
don't forget to vote, follow, share, comment.
how much are you all miss harry? i could cry :(