#harry styles reader

Harry tries to reason with himself, trying to get himself to be logical in this situation and understand it’s his emotions acting up because Theo is a candidate for an executive position and it is not only appropriate but a good move that he would introduce himself to YN.

She isn’t just Harry’s wife in this ballroom, she is the co-owner of the company, and even though she does not involve herself in the day-to-day of it, she still holds the same level of power and decision as he does which a lot of employees don’t consider at events like this. 

From his perspective as the owner, the CEO, there is nothing wrong about what is going on across the room, absolutely nothing that has him needing to react like this, and Harry is fully aware of that but is struggling to find the ability to logic his way out of the situation.

Nothing, not a single thought in his head is enough to calm the irritation building under his skin because no matter how he frames it, no matter how many times he reminds himself that Theo is simply doing what any smart candidate would do, Harry can’t ignore it.

When he finally always himself to really look over, Theo seems more comfortable than Harry would like to see.

He is pulling out the barstool like he was invited to take it, right next to her, and flagging the bartender over, gesturing casually toward YN’s drink even though it is still nearly full, Harry watches as YN waves him off at the offer of a refill, and it seems more than a basic introduction of names at this point.

Harry’s hand tightens slightly around the glass he is holding, he shifts his weight from one foot to another, antsy in a way he never is.

Though he keeps his demeanor put together as always to the men who were talking without realizing how disengaged he was with them, his shoulders have gone more rigid, his jaw setting to the point where his molars start to grind.

Theo leans in as he speaks, his body moving toward her with a relax body language that tells him that he feels entirely too fucking comfortable in the space of the co-owner. 

YN responds in a way that makes something in Harry’s chest pull tighter because she turns toward him, her shoulders loosening as her hand lifts to gesture while she talks, her expression open and friendly, he can see her tilt her head back and laugh.

It doesn’t allow him to come over and break it up because she doesn’t look uncomfortable, doesn’t look like she needs Harry to come over, and protect her from this man.

Harry notices all of it, the way she is interacting with Theo, the way the conversation is continuous, and what starts to bother him more than anything is that it seems like a normal conversation, not networking.

And that doesn’t fucking sit right with him, not when this is how she normally acts either because usually when any man approaches her, though she is kind, she struggles not to show how uncomfortable it will make her, especially if Harry isn’t by her side.

Harry has never struggled with jealousy before YN because there had never been a reason for him to.

As the women he had been with in the past had always been the ones pursuing him, wanting him, and he had never cared enough about any of them in return to be arsed about it, what they did outside of his presence, and there had never been any emotional attachment strong enough to make jealousy a necessary emotion for him.

He wouldn’t have cared if a woman he had slept with one night had shown up the next day with someone else because it had never been something that was important when there were no real feelings involved.

But now, as he stands there watching another man sit beside his wife and lean into her space like he has permission to do that, something unfamiliar begins to build in his chest, something uncomfortable and insistent that logic doesn’t get rid of.

The feeling twists together in a way he doesn’t fucking like, possessiveness was blurring with protectiveness and he cannot ignore the way it is making him feel as pushing it down isn’t working.

Harry had made a very intentional choice to keep their relationship as private as possible, to protect what they had from the constant scrutiny that followed him because of who he was and what he represented to a lot of people, he hadn’t wanted his relationship to be brought into that.

Hell, even bringing her into events like this had been something that he struggled with, he wanted her there, with him at all times but the idea of sharing her with anyone in this realm of his life felt wrong.

And now, watching someone else chat with her like this, in this setting, the fact that it’s this employee, it feels a little bit like he’s losing the sense of security or privacy.

He knew it was impossible to keep their relationship entirely out of the public eye, especially as who he was but Harry had always believed it could at least be someone maintained and kept on the down low.

But standing there now, he felt something uncomfortably close to a middle schooler watching his first girlfriend laugh with someone else, the reaction immature and irrational in a way he would normally have complete control over.

He wasn’t worried about YN.

Harry knew their relationship was fucking unshakeable.

And still, the feeling sat wrong with him.

Harry was not a controlling partner and he had never been the type of husband to try to tell her who she could or couldn’t speak to, he was never someone who would try to limit her interactions with other men or make rules about who she was allowed to engage with at events like this because he trusted her completely and because their relationship had never been affected by distrust or disloyalty.

It’s his own insecurities that he doesn't like to admit that he has.

At some point, he sees Theo roll up the sleeve of his dress shirt, showing off a tattoo along his forearm as he angles it toward YN, clearly explaining something about it, and YN leans in without hesitation to get a better glance at it. 

A second later she throws her head back and laughs as she sits back in her chair, shaking her head as he replies which only makes her continue to shake her head at him.

Harry’s patience doesn’t just thin, it fucking disappears entirely, snapping in a way that leaves no room for him to think about it for another minute before he’s just doing something. 

He finally stops pretending to listen to the men around him and simply walks away from the conversation mid-sentence, cutting someone off without so much as a glance and definitely not an apology.

It was the audacity of the situation.

The sheer fucking audacity of it.

That Theo thinks he can walk up to his wife and slide into her space like it is casual, like it is friendly, as if Harry does not hold his entire career in the palm of his fucking hand.

Theo acting like Harry couldn’t have him blacklisted from every serious position in this industry before the night is over if he wanted.

Harry knows that thought is unfair.

Who the fuck cares.

His jaw is tight as he moves, his stride confident, ignoring the people who attempt to grab his attention as he passes, hands reaching slightly as though they might stop him for a moment to chat but he’s moving to fast, voices starting to call out his name before quickly quietening back down when they realize he is not going to acknowledge them.

Harry does not spare any of them a glance.

He comes up directly behind YN’s barstool, close enough that his presence is felt as soon as he has arrived, his hand lifting without a moment of hesitation to rest at the nape of her neck, his fingers spreading there with deliberate touch as his thumb presses into the soft curve of her throat in a touch that is unmistakably possessive.

YN responds instinctively, her body easing back into him without thought, her head tilting slightly up to give him access as he leans down and presses a kiss to the apple of her cheek, his lips lingering for just a second longer than necessary, and she presses  further into the touch too because she’s so unaware of where his mind is right now.

Harry lifts his head slowly, his gaze settling on Theo over her shoulder, narrowing slightly, his expression steady but his eyes sharp in a way that he hopes makes his unhappiness known.

“I hope I’m not interrupting something,” Harry says, trying his best to keep his tone casual and unassuming.

“No,” YN responds with a smile, her body still relaxed against him in a way that helps soothe him only slightly but this wasn’t about YN, the anger was solely directed towards Theo, “I didn’t know that this was your CFO candidate that you spoke so highly of.”

Harry immediately regrets ever saying anything positive about him.

His teeth pressing together for a brief second as his hand remains firm at the back of her neck, his thumb still moving slowly along her skin to make it seem like he’s just being an attentive husband to what she’s saying.

“You two know one another?” He replies without giving himself away but his shoulders were tense enough he knew they would ache when he laid down in bed that night.

Theo answers before YN can.

“YN was the first girlfriend to cheat on me,” He says easily, his eyes bright with amusement.

Harry’s attention is caught now, not in a positive way but he’s actually taken by surprise because it doesn’t make any sense.

It doesn't match with every little piece of information that Harry had come to learn about YN.

He and YN had always been up front and open with each other about their pasts, about the kind of relationships they had been in, and infidelity had never been part of that conversation because neither one of them had ever cheated.

That can only last for a moment though because YN rolls her eyes immediately, completely unbothered as she leans her head back slightly against Harry’s shoulder, her tone dismissive as she replies, “We were in fourth grade and you considered it cheating that I sat on the bus with Caleb Alder during a field trip.”

Theo laughs at that, clearly enjoying taking the piss far more than Harry is, and he adds on like it is a necessary justification for his accusation, “You also admitted to sharing your sweets with him.”

There is an ease between them.

And Harry doesn’t fucking like it.

“Theo and I dated in fourth grade,” YN explains, her tone evening out slightly as she shifts just enough to look up at Harry, “But we also dated from junior year in high school to sophomore year of university.”

Harry’s expression does not change on the outside but something in him tightens further, trying to make all the information he knows fit but it’s hard because he also feels slightly foggy right now.

“I thought that boyfriend’s name was Jacob,” Harry says, his tone still reasonable but struggling because Theo is not a name he recalls ever hearing from her before.

“He used to go by his middle name, which is Jacob,” YN explains, which does make sense why he didn’t remember it but also, YN didn’t talk about him very often either.

“I see,” Harry replies, his expression staying completely neutral, giving nothing away even though the irritation has settled deeper into his body instead of improving.

His hand is still firm at the back of YN’s neck as his thumb drags slowly along the curve of her throat.

Harry shifts slightly, his body turning more toward Theo now, ready to fully address him, he doesn’t need anymore backstory to know that he doesn’t like Theo talking to YN.

“You knew that YN was my wife, before the interview, correct?” He asks, his tone still undeniable calm but carrying a faint accusation beneath it that is impossible to miss if you could tell he was irate.

Theo laughs.

And that only makes it worse.

“I think everyone in the world knows you two are married,” Theo says, his tone light, missing the tension, “Your wedding was on the cover of every magazine in the world.”

He continues without hesitation, clearly comfortable in a way that feels entirely out of place to Harry, “No one believes me when I say my first girlfriend married a billionaire though.”

YN rolls her eyes at that but Harry can’t find the humor, doesn’t try to.

“You didn’t mention this in your interview,” Harry points out, losing the eveness as this interaction goes on.

“I didn’t want any special treatment because I know her,” Theo replies, his tone straightforward like it was a given that he would, that he assumes that would make Harry like him?

If YN were not standing right in front of him, if this conversation were happening anywhere else, he would have scoffed outright at that comment, at the fucking gall it took to think that knowing YN would somehow earn him a treatment like he was special, as though Harry’s based major business decisions off of personal relationships.

Fucking insultling.

He is already done with this interaction, done with Theo being in his wife’s space, done with the casualness of it all, the familiarity of it too, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep the irritation from seeping into his tone.

“Perhaps you should be spending this cocktail hour networking with the other executives in my company rather than socializing,” Harry says, his voice more scolding, more boss-like than easy, the suggestion clearly not just a suggestion at this point.

Theo’s expression shifts immediately.

The easy smile he had been wearing drops, replaced by something more cautious as he picks up on the change in Harry’s tone, the realization that he may have done something wrong even if he didn’t know what.

“Yeah, um—absolutely,” Theo replies, clearing his throat awkwardly as he reaches for his drink, his movements less sure now as he nods once, glancing briefly between them before stepping away from the bar.

“Go get ‘em, hot shot,” YN says lightly, completely missing the tension as she reaches out to squeeze his shoulder, her tone encouraging, “We’ll catch up later. Text me?”

“Sure,” Theo answers, though the smile he gives her is much more unsure than it had been moments ago and he gives Harry a brief nod before turning and slipping back into the crowd, disappearing.

“I hope he does well on his one-on-one interview. He’s really smart, great for the position—” YN begins, her tone genuine and happy but Harry cuts her off before she can finish, his hand sliding from the back of her neck to cup her jaw as he turns her face toward him and presses his lips firmly against hers.

It is a little possessive in the way he holds her there for that extra second and it catches her off guard enough that she lets out a soft gasp against his mouth before melting into it, her hand coming up to rest against his chest as she kisses him back like she forgets where they are.

Harry remembers, he just doens’t fucking care.

Harry keeps his hold steady at her jaw, his thumb brushing along her cheek as he pulls back just enough to look at her, his expression composed again because he didn’t want her to know that this was bothering him, didn’t want her to feel any ounce of responsibility for his emotions right now when it wasn’t her fault.

“Dorothy’s around here somewhere and I know you wanted to ask her about the pound cake recipe before they have us sit,” He murmurs, his tone softer now, sweeter because she didn’t deserve any harshness and he was just happy to have her back to himself.

YN blinks at him for a second, still slightly dazed from the kiss, her lips parted as she processes what he’s saying, and then her expression brightens almost immediately, the distraction working exactly the way he intended.

“Oh my god, yes,” She nearly squeal, her voice lighting up with excitement as she moves in her stool, “She gave me the recipe for the cake but not the icing!”

Harry lets out a chuckle at that as he slides his hand down to help her off the chair, his palm settling against the small of her back to keep her close and right in the crook of his side.

He knows he should be doing something else.

He knows there are people here waiting to speak to him, conversations he is expected to have, relationships he is meant to check-in on and maintain like the CEO that he is.

But right now, he finds it difficult to put any distance between himself and YN, he was feeling clingy in a way that usually wasn’t there, of course he always wanted to be around her but this felt a bit different.

They eventually find Dorothy near one of the side tables, already in conversation with a few of the administrative assistants, and YN immediately slips into the conversation with her contagious friendliness that pulls Harry along with her.

He stays beside her, nodding along as Dorothy launches into an explanation about measurements and butter ratios, the conversation so far away from anything he should realistically be focusing on tonight that it would almost be comical under different circumstances.

He can feel the frustration around him.

The subtle irritation from people waiting for his attention, the glances, the quiet attempts to catch his eye.

He ignores everyone else in the room.

-

Dinner just so happens to place Theo at their table, something that had been arranged earlier in the day to give the candidate better access to networking to see how they would do, almost a test run.

A decision Harry himself had approved when the board brought it to him without much thought at the time though he finds himself regretting it now that Theo is pulling out the chair across by them and sitting down.

Harry’s arm rests along the back of YN’s chair, his hand wide and heavy where it cups over the curve of her shoulder, his fingers slipping just slightly beneath the strap of her dress.

YN brightens when she sees Theo sit down, her reaction immediate and easy in a way that draws Harry’s attention to it again, and he doesn’t miss the way her posture shifts toward him just slightly as she greets him, her expression soft with fondness for a friend.

Theo seems to have completely moved past Harry’s earlier reaction to him, whether because he had written it off or because he has had enough to drink to eliminate whatever caution he should be feeling.

Harry cannot even fault Theo for not networking with the rest of the table, not when the other executives seated around them are more engaged in half-drunk conversations about golf courses and crypto trades than anything remotely related to the business.

The conversation between YN and Theo flows, moving from one topic to the next without effort as they try to catch up on years in only minutes.

They talk about old college friends, high school classmates, and memories that Harry wasn’t a part of.

He can’t quite pinpoint why it irritates him as much as it does when the conversation starts to move from surface-level into something more personal, something that shows at one point, Theo was very much a part of her life whether Harry wanted to admit that or not.

Theo puts his glass down after a sip, “How’s Rosemary? I miss her. I see her when I’m visiting home, and she always remembers me.”

YN’s expression softens immediately, the fondness for her grandmother obvious as it sinks into her features as she responds, “Of course she does. I think she had a crush on you too. I didn’t forget the times she pinched your bum when I wasn’t looking.”

Theo laughs at that, his cheeks coloring faintly as he shakes his head, clearly amused, “Yeah, she was a bit handsy.”

“She’s good, loving retirement,” YN continues, her voice soft as she speaks about it, her hand drifting to rest on Harry’s thigh beneath the table, her fingers squeezing lightly.

“Oh really? I thought she’d never be able to stop working. I’m happy to hear that,” Theo says and there is nothing wrong with the comment, nothing inappropriate in the conversation, and yet Harry still can’t stand listening to Theo ask her private questions.

“Well, she put up a bit of a fight but Harry was generous and paid off her house, built her a beautiful new one, and supports her so that she doesn’t have to work anymore,” YN adds, turning her head slightly to look at him as she says it, her expression so loving that it makes him forget about everything for a moment.

She is so fucking pretty.

And the realization hits him all over again, it hits him at least once a day if he’s being honest with himself, that he would do absolutely anything for her, that every reaction he is having right now, every ounce of irritation and possessiveness is based on that one undeniable fact.

He has never loved someone the way he loves YN.

“Wow, no wonder you married him,” Theo jokes, his tone light enough but then he adds, “Money does buy love, huh? Was my gift to her of a new kettle not good enough?”

It’s supposed to be a self-depreciating joke on Theo’s end but it ends up feeling a bit like a jab to Harry.

His nostrils flaring in reaction as his grip tightens around the glass in his hand, the muscle in his jaw starting to tense and twitch again as his leg begins to bounce once under the table, a restless, irritated movement he does not bother to control.

And Harry’s restraint finally slips.

He does not snap directly at Theo, that would give him away.

Instead, his irritation moves outward, across the entire table as he shifts, his arm tightening slightly around the back of YN’s chair as he leans forward just enough to get everyone’s attention at the table without raising his voice.

“I didn’t fucking invite you all here to bullshit,” Harry says, his tone cutting through the table conversation, the words landing heavy and harsh in a way that shuts everyone up who was blabbering about meaningless, non-work related things.

The men around the table straighten, conversations cutting off mid-sentence as they realize that Harry wasn’t happy with them.

Theo goes still, in surprise, he hadn’t been around Harry enough to know what he’s like.

His eyes widen slightly as he glances toward YN, and Harry notices that too, notices the instinctive look in her direction like he is seeking some kind of reaction of understanding at his behavior and his hand pressing more firmly against YN’s shoulder, pulling her further into his body.

“If you all come into tomorrow’s meeting with no good ideas and a hangover, I hope you’re fine with getting a percent or two cut off your next bonus,” Harry continues, his tone calm but sincere with something that was obviously threatening, because he can say it, because he will follow through if he needs to, and each one of them knows it.

He lifts his glass and takes a slow sip of his whiskey as if he has not just scared the shit out of the entire table.

YN’s lips turn down slightly, her fingers pressing into his thigh with her nails slightly, in warning, in a way that pulls his attention back to her as he turns his head to look at her properly.

“Harry,” She says, her tone quiet but laced with disapproval, and it hits him in a way nothing could.

Because he had tried.

He had made an effort to keep himself in check around her, to keep the meaner traits of his work tucked away, and the fact that he let it slip like that, that she saw it, that she is reacting to it, frustrates him more than anything Theo has said all night.

Harry would not take criticism from anyone else in this room.

He would not even entertain it but the moment YN looks at him like that, even just from the corner of her eye, guilt starts instantly eating a hole in his chest at the idea of letting her down.

“What?” He replies, his tone innocent as he shrugs slightly, attempting to brush it off as though it had been nothing more than a passing comment, “S’just a lil’ motivation.”

“Don’t have to be like that,” YN tells him, her voice lower now to make sure no one else hears but firm enough that he cannot ignore it.

“They should be networking until dinner’s served, s’etiquette,” Harry mutters in response, the justification coming out more defensive than he intends as he lifts his glass again and takes a longer drink, the burn of the whiskey doing nothing to ease his nerves.

-

The entrees are served not long after that interaction, which naturally means the energy at the table eases as conversations quiet down and people turn their attention to their plates.

Theo has her full attention again, launching into a story about hiking somewhere across Europe, something that sounds long and detailed and entirely fucking boring to Harry.

Yet YN is listening with genuine interest, nodding along, asking questions because that’s who she is, that’s what she’s like with everyone around her, and it’s not just for Theo.

Harry just listens in, barely adding feedback when YN’s phone vibrates softly inside her purse, the sound just loud enough for her to notice as she pauses mid-conversation.

“Hold on a second,” She says to Theo, reaching down to fish it out.

Harry glances over briefly before returning his attention to the man beside him, trying to stay present in the conversation, trying to keep himself distracted from himself, from his stupid fucking emotions that he couldn’t control.

A second later, YN nudges him lightly with her elbow.

He turns his head toward her, his gaze dropping to where she is holding her phone just out of sight of the rest of the table, angled so only he can see.

The screen lights up with a notification that is impossible to miss with all the obnoxious emojis that follow it.

‘Today is your day, mama! Get to the bedroom and get to work! Today is your peak ovulation!’

Harry’s eyes linger on it for a second, considering as his focus hones in on it.

They had not started tracking at first.

It had been something fun and spontaneous in the beginning, something they assumed would happen easily but after months of negative tests, after disappointments that start to hit YN particularly hard.

Her doctor had suggested they be more consistent, more intentional with trying, and YN had taken that seriously, tracking everything with a diligence that sometimes made Harry’s chest hurt even more when they got a pregnancy test.

They are still in that stage where it feels exciting even if there is a quiet pressure sitting underneath it now.

YN looks at him with a small smile, something sweet and hopeful in her expression, and despite everything else that’s been fucking with him tonight.

The irritation, the jealousy, the frustration, YN giving him that looking fucking just makes him melt like a fucking ice cream cone.

Harry exhales slowly through his nose, setting his fork down on the table as his hand slides briefly over YN’s thigh beneath the table.

The jealousy is still there, the possessiveness sitting tight in his chest, and on top of all of that, the truth is really simple, the fact that he wants her, that he always does, that the reminder on her phone only gives him reason to act in this moment even if he shouldn’t.

Harry leans slightly toward her, his voice low enough that it stays between them.

“Come with me for a moment,” He says, trying to stay unassuming even though she’s completely oblivious, “Want to introduce you to someone, real quick.”

YN looks at him, clearly confused by the sudden thought, her brows pulling together slightly as she glances between him and the table but she nods anyway, trusting him without question.

Harry stands first, his hand immediately finding her again as he helps her up from her chair.

YN stumbles half a step trying to keep up with his pace, her heels clicking quickly against the floor as she glances up at him, confusion written across her face as she lets out a soft laugh under her breath.

“Harry,” She murmurs, confusion just becoming stronger in the moment, “Who am I meeting?”

He doesn’t answer her.

Instead, his hand presses more firmly into her back, steering her around groups of people without slowing.

YN’s confusion deepens when they make it into the back hallway, her steps slowing as she looks around, her brows knitting together as she tries to make sense of where he’s taking her.

“Who am I meeting back here?” She asks again, a bit of amusement slipping into her tone now because she knows something isn’t right.

Harry finally answers her by reaching for the nearest door and pushing it open.

A single stall bathroom.

Perfect.

Before she can process it fully, he is crowding her inside, not even bothering to look around, the door shutting firmly behind them as he moves her back until she is pressed lightly against the countertop, his body moving into her space in a way that makes her breath hitch in surprise.

YN lets out a soft laugh, her hands coming up against his chest as she looks up at him, her eyes bright and somewhat entertained. 

“Harry—” She starts, shaking her head slightly as she tries to piece it together, “What are you doing? We have ten minutes before you have to go on stage and give a speech.”

His hands grips at her waist, his gaze dropping to her mouth for a second before lifting back to her eyes, his hips pressing into hers as his hands start to gather her dress at her hips.

“You said it yourself,” He murmurs, his voice lower now, rougher around the edges, “We’ve got ten minutes to try to make a baby, yeah?”

YN’s lips part as she processes his words, another laugh slipping out as her grip on his suit jacket tightens, he doesn’t give a fuck that it wrinkles the fabric of the expesnive outfit.

“You’re insane,” She tells him even though there’s no resistance in it, and he can sense the excitement in her voice, “I didn’t mean we had to try now. You’re going to miss your speech.”

Eleanor was insistent that she would come back earlier than she originally planned. Especially since her arrival was the catalyst for the big argument (which seemed silly and like a century prior to everything that followed). 

Eleanor told Harry directly; left the sweet, exhausted girl out of the equation completely. Harry did bring her with him, of course. He explained to Eleanor that she would have come along voluntarily anyway. But Harry was not surprised at all when Eleanor yanked her best friend out of the front seat in the middle of the pickup line at the airport and held her tight while Harry stowed her luggage in the boot of his car. In her true nonchalant fashion, she hugged Eleanor back tightly all the while downplaying her nerves and promising El she was alright. Harry was glad she had a friend like Eleanor. If it wasn’t for her, who knows what would have happened without her phone call.

Harry tried not to think about that for too long though. Eleanor chatted the entire ride to the pair up front, while she dotingly held Harry’s hand in both of hers in her lap as he drove them back to Dolcezza. Eleanor didn’t even make any funny jokes about her display of affection but Harry did catch Eleanor wiggling her eyebrows at him in the rear view mirror several times over.

Niall had a new dish for Eleanor to try, and a plate of eggplant parm steaming and situated on the bar when they arrived. Harry brought Eleanor’s bag up to the apartment and returned to find her chatting with Niall through the window while they ate their food. Harry pressed a hand on her lower back as he passed her to the kitchen. While they chatted about El’s job, Harry returned again, placing a plate of garlic bread between the two girls. “Thank you,” she said softly.

Harry kissed the top of her head, rubbing his hand on her lower back briefly once more and headed for the kitchen to get back to work. Eleanor and Niall had the same expression: smiling widely and eyes dancing with excitement. Niall’s eyes followed Harry with a smirk as he walked to his cooking station, and Eleanor tapped her hand repeatedly on her friend’s leg while her cheeks turned pink with the attention about her relationship with Harry. “Finally,” Niall and Eleanor said perfectly in sync.

*

The following day she and Eleanor spent most of the morning and a chunk of the afternoon lying in her living room (after she put it back to the exact way she had it prior to her family putting it back together as best they could). They had face masks gooped onto their skin waiting to dry while scrolling through social media and chatting about nonsense.

It was the first time she hadn’t felt fearful of someone seeing her from afar in years. But it was also the first time she realized she had been feeling something about it for years to begin with.

“Are you sure your work doesn’t mind you taking a few extra days off? Like if you have to work remotely, there’s still ample time for us to have this spa day,” she reminded her.

“They are very okay with it,” she assured her as she tapped her cheeks to see if her mud had dried yet.

It still felt like an inconvenience to have Eleanor skip work and town to come hang out with her for almost two weeks. Harry was insistent that she take a couple days off from work as well. She really didn’t want to—in fact it was making her a little crazy not having the structure of work to keep her mind from spiraling. But Eleanor definitely helped.

Her phone vibrated in her hands with a message from Harry. It was a picture of eggplant being fried in the pan and she smiled.

Yummy :)

What are you and El doing?

She knew he was doing his very best not to be overwhelmed with worry. The first day he helped her put her place back together with the help of her siblings. The second day he spent kissing every inch of her body and refusing to leave her side other than when she needed to use the bathroom.

Maybe she should have been turned off by the clinginess, but really it just made her feel loved like she had never felt before. He was so kind and caring. It was the first time in ages that someone other than Eleanor (and by extension Louis) had worried about her so much. But he also seemed to know he was being a lot. Harry noticed it when she got up to close the window and he all but gasped—like she was about to jump out of it or something. She poked very lightly at him and giggled. “I’ll warn you if I’m going to make a run for it,” she winked.

“El,” she said gently and lifted her phone above her head. They smiled at the camera to send it to Harry. Just some pampering to look pretty.

You look any prettier and I won’t survive, Principessa 💕

Is that my name in your phone? I’ve never noticed, I don’t think. Is it Principessa?

After a moment, he sent a screenshot in return of her contact screen. The picture of her and Eleanor she had just sent was cropped to get her face in the mud mask only. It did read Principessa 👑💕 which made her smile quite a bit.

That’s such a BAD picture for my contact. Can you please use a prettier one?

I think you look gorgeous. Also, it’s the only picture I have of you.

You don’t take pictures of me from that little window of yours while you’re working?

:(

That’s not funny, Principessa :(

It’s pretty funny actually.

🙄

I would send you a picture of myself without the mud mask...but it probably wouldn’t be appropriate for a contact picture.

...

What?

Don’t tempt me, Principessa.

😇

*

Harry tried really hard not to worry. She was safe with her best friend and soon enough his shift would be over, and he could join the girls upstairs or maybe he could even convince them to go back to his place for the night. But he was a little worse for wear; dropping silverware, messing up the prep work, and overall, really annoying Niall.

“She’s fine,” Niall assured him gently.

“I know,” he sighed.

“You could ask Antonio to take the day off?” He suggested.

Harry shook his head. “He’s still not feeling a hundred percent. I don’t want t’make his life harder. He doesn’t need t’come here. S’fine. She’s upstairs with El. They’re fine,” he repeated it almost like if he said it enough he’d start to believe it (but it wasn’t enough just yet).

“You could ask her to come down.”

He rubbed the back of his head and shrugged. “S’jus’... she’s been with her family and El and I don’t want t’add another person she’s gotta accommodate because I’m worried.”

“You know she really won’t care. She loves being around you,” he reminded his friend.

Harry shrugged, chopping up another onion and turning his face away slightly so as not to cry all over said onion. “Well, she’s with her friend.”

“Pretty sure Eleanor loves you too.”

“Niall, jus’ leave me alone. I jus’ need t’get over it.”

“Well, it just happened. So, you don’t need to get over it right now. If you want her down here, all you have to do is ask.”

“Ask me what?”

Harry was lucky he didn’t slice his finger off. She was standing in the doorway, smiling sweetly. Maybe it’s because he knew she just did a face mask, but her skin looked extra soft, brighter, and lighter. Or maybe it was her eyes that made her look lighter. She looked less stressed and Harry wasn’t sure if he’d ever seen anything quite as beautiful as her on any given day, but she managed to look even more beautiful right then.

“Hi Tesorino! We were just talking about you,” Niall spoke dramatically and grinned knowingly.

Harry rolled his eyes and turned away from the pair of them. But it was almost too obvious that he was very relieved she was there. “About how annoying I am?” She questioned.

“Exactly,” Niall nodded.

“She’s not annoying, don’t even kid ‘bout that, Niall. She already believes it,” he grumbled. He washed his hands quickly and came over to kiss her cheek before he grabbed the bowl of garlic bread they took from when making plates for dinner. She took a piece and finished it off in a few bites.

“El and I are thinking we’ll go see a movie, is that okay?” She asked, wiping crumbs off the corner of her lips.

Harry visibly winced. “Please don’t ask me if that’s okay,” he frowned. “You can do whatever you want.”

Niall laughed from the other side of the expo table. She smirked at his friend’s reaction. She was too perceptive and Niall was irritating. Harry knew she would already know exactly what they were talking about because Niall was a snitch without even trying.

Harry glared at his friend and threw a piece of the garlic bread in his direction (and missed, on purpose). “Don’t waste that!” She pouted.

He rolled his eyes at her dramatics but decided he would get a few more pieces to bring to her place later for when they returned from the movie. “Y’can do whatever you want,” he grumbled.

She grabbed his hand and squeezed gently. “I know. I just want to be considerate,” she smiled.

“Very considerate. Go have fun. You deserve it.”

Harry really hoped he sounded like he wasn’t nervous about her going. She eyed him suspiciously and then tilted her head at him. “Are you okay?”

With a deep sigh, he turned back to his next task. “Can you please stop asking me that, Principessa,” he shook his head. It was ridiculous. She went through something traumatic. Not him. He should have been asking her every second if she was alright. 

“He’s nervous!” Niall called from somewhere toward the back of the kitchen.

Harry swore under his breath and called Niall a few choice names. “Niall, can y’find something useful t’do?” He slammed the fridge door shut a little too hard for her liking.

“I’m gonna borrow Harry for a minute!” She called back to Niall. “See you later, Niall!”

“Have fun Tesorino!”

She grabbed Harry’s hand once he settled the items from the fridge on his station and tugged him outside into the alleyway where they first met. It felt like a lifetime ago that he literally bumped into her and changed the entire course of his life.

How lucky he was to have her.

Harry paced away from her while the door closed behind them. She leaned against the side of the building beside the door and Harry scuffed his shoe against the pavement. “Y’can do whatever you want,” he mumbled. He meant it. He wasn’t crazy. He wasn’t going to tell her she couldn’t do something. Especially after all she’d been through.

He just wanted her to be safe. That was it.

“I know,” she shrugged. “But I want to check in with you.”

Harry didn’t know how to make more room in his chest to love her, but he was going to try every day to add more space. She was unbelievably special and precious to him. “I’ll be okay,” he nodded firmly like he was supposed to believe what he was saying (even if he was incredibly nervous).

“You can stay with El and I tonight too,” she smiled.

“I don’t want to intrude.”

“Harry, I’d really sleep better knowing you’re there,” she stated knowingly.

Harry sighed with relief and stopped in front of her. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” she nodded; her sweet grin made him melt a little more.

He took a step closer, pressing his arm above her head so he could lean in toward her face. “I love you, Principessa,” he hummed knowingly, a small smile twinging at the corner of his lips.

“I love you too, Harry,” she giggled and reached for either side of his face and pulled him the final distance to her mouth. His free hand pulled her waist toward him and he thought that this restaurant was heaven.

“You taste like garlic,” he murmured against her lips.

She giggled, which made him smirk into the kiss. As light as she looked in the kitchen was exactly how Harry felt while kissing her. He pulled away slightly, pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth and then gazed into her eyes. “Lucky you.”

“Don’t I know it, Principessa,” he agreed and kissed her again.

--

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It was cheesy but everytime you’d walk in the front door after work you’d holler “Honey I’m home!” As you stepped into the warm threshold of your home you got the word honey out before cutting yourself off at the sight before you. The second the cool first leaf fell you’d lugged out the giant tote bin of Halloween decorations and gotten to work, but the sight before you had your jaw dropping. 

Purple, orange and black balloons kissed the ceiling. Streamers had been hung and draped across the doorways. An assortment of snacks decorated the coffee table. If you didn’t know better you’d think you were walking into a Halloween party. And the sight that made your heart feel the fullest was Harry with the biggest grin you think you’d ever seen and your daughter hoisted on his hip. Her in a cute bat costume and him in what appeared to be a bat adult onesie. 

“Hi baby,” He grinned as he walked over to you, placing a kiss on your shocked face. “D’ya like it?” 

You were at a loss for words and could already feel a fresh batch of tears welling in your eyes. You looked between him and your daughter in disbelief, both sporting cheesy smiles and rosy cheeks. 

“Got you a matching one too,” He gestured from his outfit towards a giftbag that sat on the kitchen island, poofs of orange and black tissue paper sprouting out of the top. 

Your steps felt weightless as you staggered to the island. So many feelings were flooding your system. When you didn’t think you could love him anymore he still somehow found new ways to make you feel cared for and appreciated. If there were two things Harry was good at, they would be loving and supporting you and being the best father to your baby. 

Harry bit back his smile as he watched you carefully pull the tissue paper that covered the contents of the bag. What you didn’t know as you began to open his present was that Harry had gone above and beyond just getting you a matching bat onesie. 

At the top sat the adult onesie, which you unfolded and held out before you, your eyes glancing between the soft fuzzy fabric and his twinkling green eyes. He flashed you another cheesy grin as he nodded his head back towards the bag, signalling that there was more. 

You began to pull out the rest of the contents. At first you were confused, there were a couple loose pieces of neatly folded colorful pieces of craft paper which you began to unfurl carefully. On each paper were little hand and foot prints, each adorned with lines and dots that turned your babies tiny fingers and toes into bats, ghosts and spiders. While arguably kind of cheesy, they filled your heart with joy and you could feel a fresh batch of tears beginning to well. 

You were distracted by the awe of your little one's artistic creations when Harry spoke up, “Little miss ‘n I got real messy making those for you. Had to take a bath ‘n everything.” 

You looked back at him, that same sprawling grin across his face, “These are going on the fridge,” You choked on your words as a sob crawled its way into your throat. “Forever, never coming down.” 

“Whatever you want mama,” He hummed, his free hand finding its way to the small of your back. The warmth of his fingers crawled up your spine as he placed another kiss on your cheek. “Think we might have a little artist on your hands, or maybe she just really likes the taste of paint.” He chuckled.

His laugh drew you back to the present as you placed the paintings on the counter. You turned in his grasp, kissing him for real this time. “Thank you,” You whispered against his lips. Tiny hands tangled in the loose strands of hair that fell around your shoulders, reminding you of your daughter's presence. “And thank you little missy,” You turned, kissing your daughter on the forehead, breathing in the soft scent of a freshly bathed baby. 

You reveled in the warmth of your family, Harry’s arm still slung around your waist. The feeling of love was near palpable between the three of you. 

Taking a deep breath you delved back into the gift bag, pulling out next a pumpkin mug and a box of chai tea– perfect for the fall vibes. Lastly there was an assortment of your favorite candies, all of which were not typical trick-or-treats and you knew Harry had gone out of his way to find them. 

After placing the rest of the gifts into a pile on the counter you turned to face Harry again. His smile had never once faltered since your arrival home and his eyes were sparkling in this way that reminded you of the day your daughter was born. “Sorry you had to work today,” He hummed, the timber of his voice evident beneath the touch of your fingers on his back. “Hope this makes up for it, even just a little.” 

Your lip began to wobble as you gazed up at him. You felt silly being this weepy over a silly holiday, but Harry truly had gone above and beyond to surprise you. He mumbled a ‘come here’, as his big arm pulled you close to his chest, your daughter’s small hand finding a tangle of your hair– her favorite thing to pull on these days, but in that moment you didn’t care.

“Thank you, Harry. You don’t know how much this means to me,” You sobbed, his big hand smoothing over your back, the warmth of his touch eliciting a low hum from you. 

“Of course baby,” He kissed the hair at the crown of your head. “You ready to get in your onesie and watch Coraline with us?” 

You hummed, your fingers cinching in the cotton of his t-shirt as you pulled him closer. It was illogical– you not wanting to let go. You knew he’d be holding you for the rest of the night, but you wanted to savor this moment for just a little longer. Only Harry could turn your day around like this and you felt like you needed to cherish it for as long as you could. “In a minute.”

⋆ ˚｡ ⋆🕸️🕷️🎃🕷️🕸️⋆ ˚｡ ⋆

Her hands gripping the armrests of the high-backed chair. The room, with its dark wood paneling and heavy drapes, felt suffocating as Federico began to speak. His voice, steady and authoritative, carried a story she had heard many times before, but this time, it seemed more personal, more direct.

“Yesterday I had my afternoon free, so I had a chance to catch up on my reading. It was lovely. I even got to read over the old families books” Federico began, his eyes locking onto hers. “What I read it resonated with me and I felt the need to tell you about it”.

Y/N's gaze remained fixed on him, her heart already heavy with the weight of what was to come. Federico leaned against his desk, his expression somber yet intense.

“Many generations ago, during the height of our family’s influence, there was a man named Giovanni Alighieri,” Federico continued. “Giovanni was my great-grandfather’s closest friend, a man who was like a brother to him. They built their empire together, side by side, facing challenges and forging alliances. Their bond was unbreakable—or so it seemed.”

Federico’s eyes darkened as he spoke. “Giovanni’s loyalty was tested when an outsider, a wealthy and influential merchant, offered him a tempting deal. This merchant promised Giovanni untold riches and power if he would betray my great-grandfather and sever their partnership. The merchant’s offer was seductive, and for a time, Giovanni wavered.”

He paused, letting the gravity of the story sink in. “Giovanni accepted the merchant’s offer, believing he could have it all—wealth, power, and influence. But the moment he betrayed my great-grandfather, everything changed. The merchant’s promises were empty. The wealth he was promised was nothing more than smoke and mirrors, and the power was fleeting.”

Federico’s voice grew colder. “When the betrayal was discovered, the consequences were swift and severe. My great-grandfather was left to fend for himself, but Giovanni faced a much harsher fate. The merchant, having used Giovanni to further his own ambitions, discarded him once his usefulness had ended. Giovanni was left with nothing—no wealth, no power, no friends. He lived out his days in obscurity, a cautionary tale for those who would betray their own.”

Federico’s gaze bore into Y/N’s. “The lesson here, Y/N, is that family is the cornerstone of everything. Betraying that bond is not just a personal failure; it’s a catastrophic mistake that can unravel everything we’ve ever built. Giovanni’s story is a reminder that loyalty to your own blood is paramount. You must understand that choosing to side with outsiders over your family can lead to your downfall.”

Y/N felt a shiver run down her spine. The story, though steeped in the past, felt chillingly relevant. Federico’s manipulation was clear, and the weight of the tale was meant to pressure her into reconsidering her loyalty to Harry and his family.

“I understand the importance of family, Father,” Y/N said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside. “But I also believe that loyalty should be earned and not just given because of tradition. I’ve made my choices based on what I believe is right.”

“Family is where your loyalty should lie,” Federico continued, his voice smooth and persuasive. “Your fiancé’s family might offer you comfort and luxury, but they cannot offer you the same bond and protection that your bloodline can. You must understand that.”

A bitter laugh escaped Y/N’s lips. “You’re not talking about loyalty. You’re talking about control.”

Federico’s face remained impassive, though his eyes flashed with irritation. “Control? Perhaps. But it’s also about survival and protecting what’s ours. Harry’s family is an external force—an ally today, but who’s to say they’ll be there when you need them most?”

Y/N fought the urge to roll her eyes. She had heard this argument before, and it always seemed to come down to the same point: her father’s need to dominate and manipulate.

“Tell me,” Federico said, his tone shifting to a more insidious gentleness. “What have they promised you that’s worth risking your loyalty to us? Have they given you something more than what we’ve provided? Are they truly your family, or are they just a convenient arrangement?”

Y/N tried to steady her breathing. Federico’s words were like a tightrope she was forced to walk, balancing between her past and her present. “Harry and I have built something real. It’s not just about promises or convenience. It’s about who we are together.” She lied. Things were still rocky between them. However, he didn’t need to know that.

Federico’s gaze hardened. “And what happens when that bond is tested? When your fiancé’s family is no longer there to support you? What will you have left then? Remember, it’s not just about the present—it’s about the future, and what you stand to lose if you don’t choose wisely.”

Y/N felt a pang of anxiety at his insinuations. Federico was always so adept at planting seeds of doubt. She had to remind herself that she had chosen this path, and she needed to stay strong in her decisions.

“You know, Y/N,” Federico said, his voice carrying a tone of dark satisfaction, “Harry is probably already cheating on you. He’s always been unfaithful, if not physically, then certainly emotionally.” Y/N could tell that he. was done being nice and now he was coming directly at her. He wanted to hurt her.

Y/N’s eyes widened in shock. The accusation was jarring, especially after everything she had learned about her father’s manipulative ways. “Why are you so invested in my relationship with Harry?” she asked, her voice tinged with frustration. “Don’t you have more important things to worry about?”

Federico’s demeanor shifted instantly. His face darkened, and his anger flared. “More important things? You think I’m wasting my time with your personal affairs?” He took a menacing step closer, his eyes narrowing. “I know what you’re really involved in. I know Harry has kidnapped Gina and orchestrated the break-in at Augusto’s house.”

Y/N’s heart raced as Federico’s words hit her like a hammer. She struggled to process the gravity of his claims. “What are you talking about? How do you know all of this?”

Federico’s face was a mask of rage and control. “I have eyes and ears everywhere, Y/N. I’m not blind to the movements of those who threaten my family’s position. Harry’s actions are not just petty crimes—they’re direct attacks against my authority and my interests. His defiance won’t go unpunished.”

Y/N’s mind was spinning. The accusations against Harry were not only devastating but also deeply personal. She felt the weight of Federico’s manipulation more acutely than ever, realizing that his agenda was far more sinister than she had imagined.

“Why are you so determined to destroy him?” Y/N demanded, her voice rising. “What has he ever done to you that justifies all of this?”

Federico’s anger flared again, and he slammed his fist on the desk. “This isn’t just about Harry! This is about maintaining control and power. If Harry can challenge me, it means anyone can. And if anyone can, then my entire empire is at risk. I will not tolerate threats to my family or my position.”

Y/N stared at Federico, seeing him not just as a father but as a tyrant driven by a ruthless desire for dominance. Her heart ached with the realization that her choices were entwined with a web of power struggles and personal vendettas.

“I won’t be a pawn in your game, Federico,” Y/N said, her voice firm despite the turmoil inside. “I have to make my own decisions, and I won’t let you dictate my life or my relationship with Harry.”

Federico’s expression was a mix of frustration and grudging respect. “Do what you must, Y/N. But remember, every choice has consequences. And if you choose to defy me, you must be prepared to face them.”

With that, Federico turned away, his anger simmering but his resolve unshaken. As she left the office, the echo of Federico’s harsh words lingered in her mind. She knew she was caught in a dangerous game, one where personal relationships and family loyalties were tangled in a web of power and betrayal.

Stepping out into the hallway, Y/N took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. The world seemed darker and more complicated now, filled with shadows cast by Federico’s manipulations and the unsettling truth about Harry’s alleged actions. She had to confront the reality of her situation and make decisions that would impact not just her future but the lives of those around her.

Y/N walked back through the grand hallways of the manor, her thoughts racing. She needed answers, clarity, and a plan. The love she felt for Harry was now overshadowed by suspicion and fear. Her father’s threats had stirred doubts, and the accusation of Harry’s betrayal gnawed at her heart.

Y/N stepped into her home, the weight of the conversation with Federico still heavy on her shoulders. The tension that had built up within her since her father’s accusations now simmered beneath the surface, leaving her feeling uneasy and unsure. As she walked through the entryway, the familiar warmth of the space did little to ease her anxiety.

Giana was seated on the couch, flipping through a book but clearly waiting for her. She glanced up as Y/N entered, instantly picking up on her friend’s troubled expression.

“You okay?” Giana asked, closing the book and setting it aside. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Y/N let out a shaky sigh and dropped her bag onto the nearest chair. She wasn’t sure where to begin, but Giana had always been her sounding board. If there was anyone who could help her navigate the mess in her head, it was her.

“My dad told me something today,” Y/N began, sinking onto the couch beside Giana. “He said Harry’s been sleeping with other people.”

Giana’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, but she didn’t interrupt. She could see that Y/N had more to say, and she waited patiently.

“I don’t even know why it bothers me so much,” Y/N continued, her voice soft and contemplative. “It’s not like we ever talked about exclusivity. I didn’t expect it... because we haven’t really defined what’s happening between us.”

Giana frowned slightly, her gaze focused on Y/N. “Why haven’t you talked about it?”

Y/N paused, running her hand through her hair as she tried to find the words. “I guess... I’m scared. Scared that I’ve been making everything up in my head. That maybe I’m just projecting my own feelings onto him and assuming that he feels the same. And what if he doesn’t? What if I bring it up and it turns out I’m just... imagining this connection?”

Giana leaned forward, her expression softening. “Y/N, do you really like him? Do you have feelings for him?”

Y/N looked away for a moment, feeling vulnerable in a way she hadn’t expected. The answer to Giana’s question was obvious, but saying it out loud made it all the more real. She swallowed hard before finally answering.

“Yes,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I do. I’ve tried to push it down, tried to ignore it, but I can’t. I care about him. A lot. I know I am insane to like someone as ruthless as him, but I can’t help it”

Giana gave her a gentle smile. “Then why are you so afraid of that? What’s the worst that could happen if you tell him how you feel?”

Y/N sighed, leaning back against the couch and staring at the ceiling. “What if he doesn’t feel the same? What if this is just some temporary thing for him, and I end up hurt? I’m not sure I can handle that. Especially with everything going on.”

Giana reached over and took Y/N’s hand in hers, squeezing it reassuringly. “You won’t know until you ask him, Y/N. You can’t keep living in this uncertainty. If you really care about him, you owe it to yourself to find out the truth.”

Y/N nodded slowly, knowing that Giana was right. The fear of rejection and heartbreak had kept her silent for too long, but it was becoming unbearable to stay in this limbo. She needed to confront her feelings and find out where she stood with Harry, even if it meant facing an uncomfortable truth.

“I just don’t know how to bring it up,” Y/N said, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

“Just be honest,” Giana advised. “Don’t overthink it. Harry’s not perfect, but if he cares about you even half as much as you care about him, he’ll listen.”

Y/N bit her lip, her mind swirling with thoughts of her next steps. She wasn’t ready to face Harry just yet, but she knew the conversation was inevitable.

The invitations had been sent, and the wedding was just a week away. Y/N sat in the backyard of the manor, her mind racing with details of the upcoming ceremony. The manor, had been chosen as the venue because it was the safest place. Y/N would be taking the initiation oath the night before the wedding, and Giana had been working tirelessly with Charlie and Lex to ensure everything went smoothly.

Y/N sat at a table, going over a checklist for the day, enjoying the rare peace the sunny afternoon offered. Her thoughts wandered to the oath, the ceremony, and Harry. The anticipation for the wedding filled her with a mix of excitement and dread. Despite the tension with her father and the whispered doubts about Harry’s loyalty, she couldn’t help but wonder what the future would look like after the vows.

She took a deep breath, letting the warmth of the sun relax her, but her mind never quite settled. She was still grappling with the conversation she had with Giana. Her feelings for Harry had grown beyond what she had expected, but the uncertainties, the secrets, and the games people around them played made it hard for her to trust in anything completely.

Just as Y/N’s mind started to drift away from the checklist in front of her, she noticed movement from the corner of her eye. Harry walked out onto the terrace, his expression unreadable, as it often was lately.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked, his voice smooth, but there was a tension beneath it.

She nodded, gesturing to the seat across from her. "Please"

Harry sat down, looking at her for a long moment before speaking again. "A week away… how are you feeling?"

Y/N smiled slightly, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "A little overwhelmed, to be honest. It feels like everything is happening so fast."

"That’s because it is," he replied, a flicker of something dark in his gaze. "But I think we’ll manage”.

"Will we?" she asked, her tone unintentionally sharp, betraying the unease she had been holding in.

Harry raised an eyebrow, sensing the change in her demeanor. "What’s going on, Y/N?"

She hesitated, unsure if she wanted to broach the subject that had been gnawing at her since her conversation with her father. But it had been eating at her long enough. She deserved to know, even if the truth hurt.

"My father said something to me," she began, her voice quieter now. "I think he is just feeding me lies, but I don’t know”.

Harry’s face hardened at her words. He didn’t immediately deny it, and that silence felt like confirmation to her.

Y/N looked down, trying to hide the sting of the moment. "I don’t know why I even brought it up”.

"Stop," Harry interrupted, leaning forward. His voice was softer now, but still intense. "Your father doesn’t know what he’s talking about."

"Then tell me what I don’t know," she replied, finally meeting his gaze again, her eyes searching his for something—anything—that could reassure her.

Harry leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. He looked at Y/N, his jaw tight and eyes shadowed with unspoken thoughts. He stood up, glancing at the manor behind them before turning back to her.

"Let’s go for a walk," he said suddenly, breaking the tense silence between them. His voice was firm, but there was an underlying vulnerability in his tone. "I’d rather we weren’t here… not for this conversation."

Y/N looked at him for a moment, then nodded. She knew what he meant. The house had too many ears, too many eyes—especially when it came to matters like this. Without a word, she stood, and Harry offered his arm for her to take. It was a simple gesture, one that momentarily reminded her of the boyish charm he used to have, the one she used to admire before everything became so complicated.

“Leave the papers,” Harry said, glancing at the table where her checklist, diary, and half-drunk cup of coffee sat. “Someone will take care of them for you.”

She hesitated, her fingers lingering on the edge of the diary, but then she nodded, letting it go. Together, they stepped off the terrace and onto the freshly cut grass of the manor’s sprawling grounds. It was quiet, the only sound the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. The stillness between them, however, was heavier than the serene afternoon.

They walked in silence for a while, the weight of the conversation they were about to have pressing down on both of them. Harry kept his gaze ahead, his jaw clenched, clearly wrestling with his own thoughts. Y/N finally broke the silence.

“I’m not expecting anything unrealistic from you. I don’t need a fairytale, and I definitely don’t expect love to just happen because it’s not like we’re the typical couple. But I do expect respect.” Her words were steady now, the knot in her chest easing as she let the truth spill out. “I need to know that, despite all of this, you’ll be honest with me. I don’t expect you to feel the same, but I do expect respect.”

Harry stopped walking, his brow furrowing slightly. “Respect, yeah?” His tone was low, thoughtful, as if weighing her words. “You think I’ve not been respecting you?”

“It’s not that,” Y/N replied quickly, taking a step closer to him. “It’s just… I don’t know where we stand. There’s been talk… my father said things, things that made me wonder if you—”

“If I what?” Harry asked, his gaze hardening as he locked onto her. His jaw tightened ever so slightly, but his voice remained steady.

Y/N took a breath. “If you’ve been… with someone else.”

His face darkened, not out of anger toward her, but at the mention of Federico. He took her hand in his and started walking again, slower this time.

“Your father’s saying things to turn you against me, Y/N,” Harry said quietly, a heaviness in his voice. “He wants to mess with your head. I told you before—our families have agendas. And that makes this complicated. But what I need you to know is that you’re not just a pawn in this to me. I might not be good at showing it, but…”

Harry hesitated, his grip on Y/N's hand tightening for a brief second. His jaw tensed, and he let out a long breath before finally speaking, his voice softer but laced with tension. "Look, I’m not going to lie to you, Y/N. I have slept with other people." He said it straight, no dodging, no sugarcoating, but the weight of his confession hung in the air between them.

Y/N's stomach twisted, but she stayed quiet, letting him continue.

“It’s not because I don’t care about you,” he added quickly, his tone urgent, as if trying to make her understand before she pulled away. “It’s because I do. And that terrifies me. You’re… you’re already a target just because of me. And every day, every night, it eats me up inside thinking about how easily someone could hurt you just to get to me.”

He stopped walking, turning to face her fully now, his eyes searching hers, desperate for her to understand. “You have no idea how many enemies I’ve made. People who wouldn’t think twice about using you as leverage. I don’t sleep most nights because of it. The thought of you getting caught up in all of this—it’s too much. And I guess… sleeping with other women, it was a way to push you out of my mind, to convince myself that I didn’t care as much as I do.”

Y/N’s breath caught in her throat as she looked up at him, the hurt still raw, but something in his voice tugged at her. His eyes were darker than usual, shadowed by something deeper, something real. Fear. Guilt. Shame.

“Harry…” she started, unsure of what to say, her mind spinning with the weight of his words. She had expected to be angry, to feel betrayed, but hearing him like this—seeing the vulnerability in his usually composed exterior—she just felt… lost.

“I know I’m no good at this,” he continued, his voice quieter now, like he was confessing something he’d never let himself admit. “I thought pushing you away would keep you safe, but it hasn’t worked, has it?”

Y/N blinked, trying to process it all, but she could see it. The fear behind his actions. The desperation. He wasn’t just a man playing games or being reckless—he was someone who didn’t know how to deal with his own feelings.

" It's really no probelm, Y/N." He ansates her name, it quickly shoots and tingle down her spine and straight to her clit. "I love Charlie, I think we'll watch some Disney movies today, y'know for winter and all that. Maybe when you're done with your meeting we'll meet you for lunch." He gave her a smile, grabbing a mug out of the kitchen cupboard and pouring himself a cup of coffee, using the oat milk creamer instead of the regular to avoid the effects of being lactose intolerant.

Harry being Y/N's midwife is something that was decided when the father was still in the picture, Richard always had wandering eyes and she felt it was the only way for her to have a chance at a family with him. Unfortunately, his love for barely legal girls got him thrown out and removed from Charlie's life.

" It'll be a late one though, I'll have Alex call for a 2:30 reservation? That place on Bowery that knows about the kiwi allergy?" He nodded with her recommendation and walked out of the kitchen to wake up Charlie. Y/N checks her iWatch and sees a message from Alex- her assistant- saying that Kristin was trying to back out of the meeting and that she should call her.

Typing her phone number in her cell and pushing the call button, it rings once before a teary voice answers it. " Hello?" a quiet sniffle follows it.

" Hi, is this Kristen Indigo? This is Y/N L/N," she kept her maiden name for business purposes. " I heard that you wanted to cancel the meeting today and I wanted to ask why?"

" M-Miss L/N, I-I-I," the woman is obviously in shock so Y/N cuts her off.

" I really would like this meeting to happen, if Mr. Wilson did do something I need to know. I need to know so I can make my company safe for everyone, including you Ms. Indigo." As she finishes her sentence a very sleepy and cuddly baby boy comes down the stairs clinging to Harry, to come to say goodbye, " One second Miss Indigo."

" Hi baby, I'm going to see you at lunch okay?" Y/N uses her acrylic nails to softly go down his back while his head is tightly tucked into Harry's neck. Sometimes she thinks Harry was made to be a father with the way he cares for Charlie.

" Bye-bye Momma." Charlie's words are muffled by Harry's skin.

" Bye-bye Charlie, I love you." Y/N's words are soft and warm against Harry, her breath tickling his neck as she leans in to give Charlie a kiss.

" Love you," Charlie murmurs out.

" Now Miss Indigo I'll see you in 30 minutes."

-----

Harry and Charlie’s morning routine was usually never altered, today was no exception. Harry gets Charlie up at 7:00, breakfast by 7:15, blocks from 7:30 to 8. Everything mapped out. After Richard was no longer in the picture Harry stepped into the other parenting role automatically.

By 9 Harry was getting Cinderella loaded up so he could work on the Christmas plans. Charlie's birthday was conveniently enough on January 5th, so directly after the holidays, Charlie was going to turn 2. This was going to be the first year that Richard wasn't going to be there, and Harry wasn't going to force Y/N to take it on by herself.

So as the mystical whispers of mice came from the flatscreen, Harry was planning the birthday party and making a Christmas list for the child who couldn't. His 3rd peppermint-flavored coffee still lightly emits steam when his phone rings.

" Harry," he answers, not caring to check who is.

" Hi Harry, how are you?" A rough-sounding voice came through the phone.

" Richard? Why are you calling me? I thought the deal was you don't contact any of us and we would get a restraining order."

" How's my boy?"

" Charlie? He's fine, still alive thank god." At this point, Harry was getting aggravated. The nerve of this absent father to ask how his son is, after feeding him kiwi and blaming Y/N for his throat closing one of the last times he saw him.

" Still giving it to my wife better than I did?"

" Richard I never slept with Ms. L/N, I do believe you were getting secret hotel rooms with my girlfriend is why you two split." After Y/N sent Dick the divorce papers he tried to claim that she cheated with Harry to try and get the prenup revoked.

" Yeah, too bad Elizabeth wasn't too fond of the whole ' sleeping with me after you left her' thing." Richard reminces.

" I'm going to hang up if you're not going to tell me why you called."

" I called to see what time I should show up for the Christmas party, I know that bitch is throwing one and Alex won't tell me."

" And what makes you think that I will? Try to contact me again and I will call the police, go to hell bastard." With that, Harry hung up the phone and looked over at Charlie, who was blissfully sleeping for his nap as the credits rolled. " Let's move you to your bed?" He said to himself before moving Charlie to his crib.

Turning on the baby monitor he decided it was time to take a shower, something he did rather often. He had his own room and bathroom, kept well stocked with everything he might need in case he was needed overnight.

Stripping and jumping in to wash his greased hair and release some pent-up energy from the conversation he just had. Nothing ever got him going more than Y/N, everything about her made his heart race and cock throb.

The way he would imagine her eyes glossed with need and how swollen her lips would be if he got the chance to have a go at it. He started to stroke himself the way he pictured she would. Beginning with his balls, cupping them gently and tugging them slightly. A scratching moan left his throat, slowly bringing his hand up to the tip and thumbing to the slit. The hot water hitting his back only added to the sensation.

He thought that only if she could see him now, mouth open, moaning and groaning at only the thought of being able to see her in such a personal and vulnerable state. Other things like if she liked to take charge or let someone else take the wheel. If she'd let him fuck her face or would she fuck his?

Vision after vision came to his head, too soon it was all over. Thick white ribbons of cum shoot out onto the shower floor, his orgasm almost sending him to his knees and leaving him like a rubber band breaking its tension.

----

Lunch came rather quickly, the meeting taking longer than Y/N thought it was going to. Ms. Indigo showed up with written reports of other assault and harassment claims that she found on his desk. Mr. Wilson claimed he never took that out of the complaint box that was mailed off once a month to his higher-up. At the end of it all. Y/N decided that Kristen Indigo was more than qualified to run the branch by herself considering that Mr. Wilson's position was basically a middle man between his boss and her.

Y/N encouraged Kristen to use the company lawyer to file a suit against him, as Y/N was already doing considering the more serious claims lead to stalking and drugging employees.

She ordered Harry's usual and herself something she deemed tasty as she arrived first. As the bell to the door rings Y/N looks up to see her baby and Harry walk in, bundled up like it was a snowstorm.

" Momma momma momma momma momma," Charlie ranted on wanting to be held by his young mother.

" Is that your mom? She awfully pretty Charlie, I gotta say I see where you get it from. Practically a carbon copy." Harry joked to the baby as Y/N laughed.

" Hi, baby! How was your nap, Charlie?" She looked at Harry to get the answer as Charlie stuffed his face into his mother's neck still feeling cuddly.

" Had to cut it a little short so he could get ready for our outing, fell asleep in the car on the way over." Harry took off his puffy jacket, setting it on the back of the wooden chair revealing a rather tight, gray textures long-sleeved shirt. Y/N looked back down at her son only to see him blissfully asleep again in a matching outfit.

" I should buy you two more matching clothes, it's adorable. He looks like a little person." Kissing Charlie's head, she relishes in the infamous baby smell. " I ordered your usual, and some warm apple sauce for this one."

" Mr. Raymond called me." Y/N's train of thought crashed as she looked up at him to see what he was talking about. " Wanted to know when the Holiday Party was, told him to fuck off and that if he tried to contact us again I was going to call the police."

" Oh. Well, that's good. Thank you, Harry."

" It's not a problem Mrs. Raymond-" cutting him off she decided she was over being called the name of the man she left.

" Just call me Y/N, please." Harry nodded in agreement and continued the conversation.

" Y/N," he emphasized, " when is the Christmas party?" Y/N sighs at his question.

" I've made it into a gala-type thing." their food comes and Y/N starts to feed her son.

" What do you mean ' gala type ting'? are we not having it in the banquet hall on 3rd like usual?" Hary questions her. She shakes her head no at the wondering man.

" No, Alex suggested that we should invite clients to the party and we both know how uptight the celebrities can be."

" Well Miss Forbes Women of the Year, wouldn't you be one of those 'celebrities'?" Y/N giggles at his clever remark.

" No, I mean the Kardashian-Jenners, Julia Micheals, Micheal Buble, they won't just travel to New York for an office party because their marketing team invites them." Harry nods his head.

" No, but they will show up to the fundraising gala run by the Y/N L/N, you're a genius!" Her heart gives a flutter at his kind words. Charlie decided he had had enough applesauce and wanted some of the good stuff, griping onto the front of Y/N's shirt pulling down not only her shirt but the breastfeeding bra she was wearing, flashing Harry completely.

" Oh god!" She exclaimed as Charlie latched onto his primary food source. See if this had been Harry's first time seeing Y/N's breasts, things would have been different, instead of wasting a minute, he’s pulling out the cover from Charlie's diaper bag. Covering her for her own comfortability, knowing that she was still not ready to show the world her tits. " Thank you, thank you. Harry, I am so sorry I-"

" It's not like it's the first time I've seen them, I'm just glad I grabbed a cloth before the creep in the corner wanted to come to take a peek," Harry states to try and release some of the tension but in turn only causing more. " I- I mean when you're feeding him not that I break my neck to look at them or anything, that would be gross." Once again not making it any easier on himself, he rambles on to try and fix it. " Not that you or breasts are gross, they're good breasts! Great event! I think our tits are great! NOT THAT I THINK ABOUT YOUR TITS, I JUST MEAN-" Y/N having enough of hearing about her tits from her nanny, cuts him off.

" Harry! It's okay! You're okay! I promise!" She lets out a light laugh, Charlie's eyes drooping, enjoying the nourishment entering his body. " Nothing wrong with having seen my breasts, nothing wrong with thinking about them either for the record. I'd be a little concerned if you didn't think about them if I'm honest. I'd probably think something was wrong with 'em or something." Looking up at him after having cooed at the nursing baby in her arms.

Harry's face was relaxed, red with surprised eyes. Running a stressed hand through his hair he spoke up, " Let's just not cock about it," quickly realizing what he had said he rushed to fix it, " I mean TALK about it! Wouldn't want to have to stroke it- HAVE A STROKE OVER IT!"

Y/N began laughing about it before her phone rang, " sorry it's Alex." She quickly answered it.

"Y/N RICHARD IS AT THE LEVEL 3 FRONT DESK DEMANDING TO BE LET INTO YOUR OFFICE, HE'S ALREADY BROKEN THE POTTED PLANTS ON MY DESK AND I HAD TO LOCK MYSELF IN YOUR OFFICE!" Alex was quick and obviously frightened.

" Oh my god! Alex, call the police. I will be there in a second!" Hanging up the phone, she unlatches her baby boy and hands him off to Harry. She fixes herself and gets ready to leave. " Richard just showed up at the office and is threatening people! He broke Alex's collectors' pots he had on his desk! I have to go!" Harry standing up putting Charlie in his carrier gasps.

Pulling out a fifty and throwing it on the table, " Wait, I'll just come with you-"

" What about Charlie?" She sounds panicked and in charge at the same time.

" We can leave him with-" She cuts him off once again.

" Martha on the first floor, smart. Let's go!"

--

It was only a 10-minute walk to the offices, " Look who's here to see you, Martha!" The old Nigerian woman heard Harry before she could see him.

" Baby Charlie!" The 80-year-old woman jumped up from her desk and quickly walked to the baby. Leaving Charlie and the diaper bag with her with a promise of not being more than half an hour.

Before they even reached the main source of the problem- Raymond -they could hear it on their way up. Y/N walked out of the elevator first, Harry only wanting to intervene if he had to.

“ YOU CALLED HER?” Richard county yelled in the direction Alex was hiding. Y/N’s ex husband had moved into the desk and cubicle area, papers, pens, and staplers thrown everywhere. “ EVERYONE LOOK! IT'S THE BITCH WHO STOLE MY SON FROM ME!”

“ Lower your fucking voice when you are talking to me. How dare you come into my office, my place of work, and tear shit up!” Raymond goes to open his mouth but Y/N cuts him off before he could. “ I'm still talking!" She seethed when hs ehad to raise her voice to get his attention. "I didn’t ‘steal’ your son from you, you gave up your parent role to my son when you fucked my barely legal personal assistant when I was pregnant, then almost killed him. Dick, you are 42 and you are throwing worse tantrums than Charlie.” He was almost at a loss for words, but then he saw Harry.

" SHE WAS 18! IT WAS ILLEAGL!" He shouted.

" And your son's nanny's girlfriend!"

“ OH YEAH! You’re such a GREAT mother! If his fucking nanny is right there, then where is our son Y/N?” Thinking he had the upper hand, he hadn’t planned on Harry sticking up for her.

“ That’s none of your business, is it mate? You don’t get to criticize her OR me in how Charlie is being raised, you were too busy trying to get your little dick wet when he needed you so you could leave him out of it.” Harry spits from the wall he was leaning on. Raymond stared at him, fist up ready. “ You really want to also get charged with assault?” Harry asks. Richard looked at him, sizing him up it seemed. Taking Harry's height into account he decides to go for Y/N instead.

When he gets within a couple feet of each other, Y/N takes her dominant hand and launches it forward, knocking him straight into his nose. Y/N could feel the bone crack under her fist, the pressure on Raymond's bone causing him to take a couple steps back.

" YOU FUCK HIT ME!" Her ex-husband screams. " I'M PRESSING CHARGES! SUCKS TO BE A FUCKING BITCH NOW, DOESN'T IT?" Raymond looked as if he had won the lottery.

" I have cameras dumbass." Y/N states as the police conveniently come out of the elevator. " My lawyers will be in contact, expect a restraining order."

----

Y/N ended up just sending the whole floor home for the day on a case of " emotional distress", she sent Alex home and booked him a trip to a spa near Central Park that she likes to go to.

Harry ended up carrying Charlie home because Y/N's hand hurt so bad it was only a matter of time before it turned purple and blue. She refused to go check if it was broken because one of the cops said if it was, she would definitely know. But they don't know Y/N like Harry does.

Harry knows that she blew out her knee in high school by falling down the stairs in her at the time boyfriend's house and took ibuprofen for a week before she went to the ER because she said it was still " a little sore". Or how she has a combined total of 6 concussions under her belt, 2 of them being caused by the 4th one she had ( she had been hit in the head with a baseball, then when the concussion had finally gone, she fell into her dresser from still being woozy from the past one.). Or how she delivered Charlie via natural birth in her home without pain meds and said she would do it again.

So instead of arguing with her about it, when they got back to hers he just put Charlie down for another nap and offered to disinfect where it had gotten cut off of Dick's tooth.

" I am so sorry Harry, genuinely. This is my consequence for trying to fix him, not yours. You don't have to be here." She whispers to him and he was cleaning up her minor wound. she winces at the pain of her hand being moved in a certain way. Harry standing in between her legs as she sits on the counter looks up at her eyes.

" If I didn't want to be her, I wouldn't be," Harry states simply as if it was already said. She just shakes her head at him looking up at the fancy light fixture that holds the color-changing light bulbs she put in not too long ago. A single tear slips out of her eyes, betraying the self-restraint she was trying to use. " Hey, why are we crying? If it hurts that bad then we need to go get it checked out" She once again just shakes her head at him.

"He's just got so violent, it scares the shit out of me." She breathes in deep, tears now free-flowing out of her eyes. " Y'know I tried to make it work with him for so long." She lets a sob rack through her body, " he slept with Elizabeth, I got over it. I chose you to Charlie's nanny just to prove that I was over it!" Her eyes quickly glance up to his.

" That isn't saying it didn't work out for the better, you're amazing with him and he loves you more than he even thinks about me. " She lets out a sad giggle before cutting Harry off before he could even start. " But then he just kept doing it, and then he Charlie almost," she pauses to hopefully contiune, but then doesn't get more than a word out. " Amost-."

" Hey hey hey, Y/N. You're okay," Harry pulls her into his chest, careful of her hand. " He can't get you now, not while you're here with me okay?" She just continues to cry. " Know what always makes me feel better?" Harry asks her.

" What?" She plays along.

" Tequila!" Harry squeezes her as he emphasizes the word in excitement. Y/N laughs for a minute then starts bawling her eyes out even more. " What? What? Don't like tequila? That's okay, I think y'also have vodka or wine or beer or," Harry stops his theatrical list-making when he notices that she is still crying. " Hey talk to me Y/N, what's wrong."

" I have to protect Charlie from him, you'd think that would be enough, right?" He hums in agreement before speaking.

" Yes, but you don't have to do it alone, okay? I will be here for both of you. I promise." He means what he says, truly.

" What if there are more of us to protect from him?" She asked quietly.

" Then I will be here for all of you, hypothetical or not. If you get a boyfriend I will still be here, I will still take care of Charlie. You won't be alone." Harry continues to hold her during his speech.

" Harry," he hums in response. " I'm pregnant."

—-