January
25 Weeks
"White or grey?"
"Mmmm grey. White's too impractical" I told Harry who was holding up two sets of baby grows.
"Should I get one to keep at mine and one to keep at yours?" He asked, looking at the soft grey baby grow that he held gently in his hands. I watched him for a second but he wouldn't look up to meet my eyes.
"Yeah, probably should" I agreed eventually, going back to leafing through the rail of baby grows in front of me.
Life had been peaceful in the two weeks since Harry had been back. We had found ourselves in a bit of a routine now that I was back at work. At least 2 nights a week he'd come over and we would have dinner together. We'd spend the evening mostly talking about the baby. Sometimes we'd watch a film together or sometimes he'd pester me to listen to some of the new songs he was writing for his new album. I had to admit, having never listened to much of his music before I was becoming a bit of a fan. The guy had enormous amounts of talent. We'd spend our time apart sending each other links to cots, monitors and baths, trying to make a plan for what we needed for this baby's impending arrival. So today, instead of talking, we were doing. We had arrived at Westfield Shopping Centre bright and early in the hope that we could be in and out before it got too busy, heightening the chance of Harry being recognised.
"What else do we need?" He came up behind me, resting his chin on my shoulder, reading my list I had in my hand.
I smiled at the feel of his soft curls tickling my cheek. "Vests, socks and probably more baby grows"
Harry glanced into the basket he was carrying. "More baby grows?" I think we've bought every baby grow this shop has to offer!" His voice rose in mock surprise.
"Yeah but if we need to split all this stuff between mine and yours we're going to need a lot of shit!"
"You could save us all this hassle and just move in with me you know?"
I froze at Harry's words and for a second neither of us moved.
"That's a preposterous idea Harry" I whispered as I placed the sleep suit I was holding back on the rack.
"Is it though?" He asked taking his chin off of my shoulder and picking up the expensive sleep suit, I'd just dismissed because of the price, and dropping it into the basket. "I have the space, we wouldn't need to constantly ferry the baby between my place and yours, I wouldn't need to be a part-time dad that only see's his kid on the weekends. I'd be there to help with the night feeds and all the nappy changes. Even if it was only for the first few months, I think it's worth thinking about Nora" He stood with his arm's draped over a clothes rail, his gaze fixed on mine. I wanted to look away but I couldn't. Nor could I find words to answer him. Luckily I didn't need to because suddenly there was a tiny blonde shrieking towards him.
"Seriously, you're actually Harry Styles?" The young girl questioned from behind him as Harry dropped the basket and turned to face her.
"Yeah, I guess so" I heard him answer as I quickly picked up the basket and moved out of the way. A few of the girls friends eyed me suspiciously as I moved across the store to look at a display of blankets.
"We were just passing and my friend spotted you, and I was a sure it wasn't you but then we agreed that it was you and I'm such a massive fan that we just had to come and see for sure. Oh god I can't believe this is happening" I smiled as I watched from a far as the young girls fawned over Harry. It was nice to watch such a special moment where the girls got to meet their idol. It was funny watching Harry interact with them, paying them all attention, answering their questions and posing for pictures with them. He was totally himself with them but just a bit... more. He was a little more animated, a little more cheery, a little more enthusiastic. It was as if someone had suddenly shown a light on him and he was ready to perform at the drop of a hat. He was born for the limelight.
I ran my fingers absentmindedly over a soft cashmere blanket that snatched my hand back as I balked at the price tag. £120 for a big square of fabric. No thanks. But I eyed the basket I was carrying and didn't dare to think what all this was going to cost. Harry had already told me multiple times that everything was on him today. But that didn't mean I was comfortable with paying ridiculous prices for blankets that would end up covered in baby sick, or worse.
I watched as Harry said goodbye to the fans and as they walked away his head shot up immediately, he looked around frantically till suddenly his eyes fell on me and suddenly it felt like I was the only person in the whole store. He gave me a nervous smile as he weaved his way through the different displays and stands till he was back by my side.
"Sorry about that" He ran a hand up the nape of his neck, a gesture, I'd come to realise he did when he was nervous.
"It's Ok" I smiled. "It was kind of nice watching you with them"
His eyebrows raised in question and I shrugged.
"The way you light up when you talk to your fans. It's genuine. It's nice to see"
"I love them" He answered simply. "If it wasn't for them I wouldn't get to do what I do"
I nodded in understanding. "How do you think they'll take it?" I asked gesturing towards the bump that was peeking out from under my coat. "Do you think they noticed?"
"Nah, you did well at escaping" A small smile ghosted his lips. "I have no idea" he sighed. "I've been thinking about it a lot lately because I'm going to need to say something sooner or later before it gets leaked" His felt like a pretty important conversation that we should probably be having somewhere a little more private than the shop floor of The White Company, but I guess there was no time like the present.
"I think most of the fans, the genuine ones, will be happy for me, if maybe a little shocked at first. It's what the rest will say that worries me" He finished, looking over my shoulder so as to avoid my gaze.
"Do you really care what the others say about you? If they're not genuine fans that actually care, I mean" I asked, waiting him for to look at me again.
"It's not what they'll say about me that I'm worried about. I don't care what they've got to say about me, I've read it all before. It's what they'll say about you that worries me" His glimmering green eyes, the colour of emerald, sparkled under the fluorescent shop lights, his genuine concern for me shinning through. It gave me the shivers as he watched me intently.
"Surely they write less than favourable things about your friends all the time" I offered
"True. But none of them are the mother of my child" Harry moved forward to take the basket from me, as his fingers brushed against mine I felt a bolt of electricity run through my fingers, like he'd just held a live wire to my hand. I looked up to see if Harry had felt it too but his eyes were still fixed on the basket of the handle, where my hand had been a moment ago.
"We should get going before it gets much busier or those girls tell anyone where I am" I agreed and followed him to the cash desk.
*
February
26 Weeks
"Thanks very much for your time Gerry" I smiled at Mr Fortnam as I got up from the conference room table. I was bringing the Fortnam contract to a close. So far the team at Fortnam had all been really happy with the work I'd completed for them, I just had to make a few tweaks to a couple of campaign banners and then it would be all over. I wasn't going to lie I was looking forward to work calming down a bit. Working flat out and being constantly shattered all day every day from being pregnant was a difficult juggling act.
I was glad to be finishing work early, because I still had to go home and bake Harry a birthday cake. The asshole had conveniently forgotten to tell me it was his birthday until last night. He'd invited me over for dinner and I knew I couldn't go over empty handed and I had no time (or clue what) to get him as a present, so my superior baking skills would have to do the trick.
Armed with a White chocolate, vanilla and raspberry layer cake, Allison dropped me off at Harry's gate at quarter past 7, only 15 minutes late which I considered not bad going when I'd only left work 3 hours ago, been home, showered, baked and decorated a cake and chosen what to wear. I'd plumped for a long sleeved, cream, chiffon dress adorned with leafs. My black leather jacket was the only thinking stopping me from shivering as I juggled the cake and rang the buzzer.
"Noraaa!" Harry's familiar voice crackled over the intercom and the next thing I heard was the familiar buzz of the gate being opened. I shouldered the gate open and made my way up to the front door wondering if Harry was already drunk. His voice was never usually that chipper.
Harry was standing at the door greeting me with his pearly white smile and that dimple. He didn't immediately look drunk, I suppose your birthday is a good excuse to be overly cheerful.
"Someone's happy" I remarked as he took the cake box out of my hands. "Happy birthday, Harry" I smiled leaning up to place a kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you, Angel" He met my gaze, his grin not leaving his face. "What's this?" He asked bringing the cake box up to his eye level, eyeing the goods inside.
"Well I've told you so much about my wonderful baking, I thought I'd let you taste the goods" I grinned.
Harry's eyes travelled from my eyes down to my suede ankle boots before back up to my eyes and he smirked "I already have..."
As his innuendo dropped my eyes widened. I could feel the blush creeping over my cheeks, Harry's intense, never wavering, stare made it even worse. The asshole just wouldn't look away. He stood there, cake in hand revelling in my awkward embarrassment.
Eventually he turned to lead me into the kitchen. "It's not just us tonight. I hope you don't mind" He threw me a glance over his shoulder. "Some of my friends turned up, unexpectedly" I got a chance to admire him from the back before his words sunk in. He was wearing a black loose fitting shirt and black fitted trousers with a pair of ridiculously bright red loafers.
Im sure I could hear a degree of annoyance in his voice but I was too preoccupied with the nervous feeling that had came over me. I thought it would just be him and I tonight. I hadn't prepared myself for there to be anyone else.
"It's okay, they're really excited to meet you" Harry crossed the room to take my jacket from me.
"They all know?" I eyed my bump warily. I didn't fancy pretending to a room full of people that I wasn't pregnant by Harry.
He nodded and smiled. "There's only a few people here, it's not some mad party. Just Jeff and his wife, Nick and Pete and my mum. I think my sisters supposedly coming later" He shrugged nonchalantly.
"Your mum?" My eyes blew wide for the second time in the space of 5 minutes. "Shit Harry, your mum?"
He nodded slowly. "It's not a big deal Nora" He soothed trying to stop my mini freak out.
"It is Harry! I'm about to meet your Mum, for the first time, when I'm pregnant with her grandchild, in front of a room full of total strangers"
"Not total strangers, you've met Jeff before" He offered.
"Oh yeah, my old pal Jeff" I rolled my eyes sarcastically. "Great."
Harry tried his best to hold in a laugh but he failed miserably. "You"re adorable when your nervous"
"This is not funny Styles" I fought so hard not to smile but I couldn't help it, I swatted his arm as if to convey some sort of annoyance at him.
"It is, just a bit. Look stay here a second. Don't move. I'll be back" Harry set me in place and disappeared out of the kitchen, leaving me all alone. Now that I knew there were other people in the house I could hear the faint din of voices and music playing somewhere else in the house.
I looked around Harry's immaculate kitchen for something to do while I waited his return. I really enjoyed this kitchen. I think the dark blue hues reminded me of an old bed cover I had when I was little. The familiar colour and the rustic feel of the room did a bit to calm my nerves.
"Ok" I spun round at the sound of Harry's voice. "You don't have to meet her in a room full of strangers. Mum this is Nora, Nora this is Anne, the lady who birthed me and is ecstatic about the child you're going to birth" Harry smiled a ridiculously goofy grin and stepped out of the way so I was faced with the kindest face I think I'd ever seen.
I stared at Harry and his goofy grin for a second before focusing in on his mother. She was unmistakably Harry's mum, they had the same dark hair and same beautiful smile. She was wearing an oversized white shirt with a chunky necklaces and she just exuded class and sophistication. For a second I was scared of what her reaction to me would be. I needn't have been.
"Nora, it's so good to finally meet you" She rushed forward and wrapped me in her arms for a brief hug. "Look at you, you're so beautiful" She smiled letting go of me her eyes darting to my bump.
"It's lovely to meet you" I attempted a genuine smile as she grinned back at me. Harry leaning casually against the fridge, watching our interaction.
"You have a seat sweetheart, can I make you a cuppa?" Her northern accent was even stronger than Harry's and I found it somewhat comforting.
"Please" I smiled pulling out one of the wooden dinning chairs.
"Ok... well I'll leave you two to get aquatinted" Harry looked awkwardly between us he reversed out of the room.
"Poor soul" Anne murmured. "For once in his life he has no idea what to do" then a mischievous grin took over her face. "It'll do him the world of good"
I smiled at her words. "I take it he didn't know you guys would be here?" I asked as Harry's mum busied herself setting up 2 mugs for tea.
"No it was Jeff's idea. Think he's trying to get back into Harry's good books" I watched as Anne's shoulders stilled, awaiting my reaction.
I let out a quiet snort. "You know about that then"
She turned to face me, leaning against the counter. "Let's just say Harry was less than pleased and needed someone to vent to. I don't blame you for being upset. That stunt Jeff pulled was out of line. I know he'll say what he did was in Harry's best interests but Jeff mostly has Harry's best business interests in mind, not always his personal ones. And that's all I'll say on that" Turning round to the boiled kettle we stayed in comfortable silence until she brought the steaming mugs over to the table and pulled out the chair across from mine.
"So tell me everything I need to know about you and my little grandchild in there" She beamed.
*
"Alright Anne, stop hogging the pregnant lady. We all want to meet her" I heard a strangely familiar London accent chuckle from the doorway.
Anne smiled wide as a hand was thrust in my face.
"Lovely to meet you, darling. I'm Nick"
"Holy shit, so you are" I smiled as I took Nick Grimshaw's hand and he surprisingly pulled me from my seat and into a warm hug.
I could see Harry, standing in the doorway, a small smile playing on his lips.
"We're going to take off, it was only a flying visit for the birthday boy. But it was lovely to meet you. We'll get a proper catch up sometime, we can go baby shopping or summat" Nick grinned as he pulled me in to kiss my cheek.
"Eh, yeah, sure" I felt a bit bewildered with the sudden onslaught of affection being thrust upon me from strangers.
"I'll head off as well" Anne smiled following Nick from the room. "You know where I am, just let me know when you're free. I'll hopefully see you again soon Nora" She looked back and smiled before following Nick out the room.
"That was... odd" I mumbled to myself sitting back down on the chair I'd just been pulled from. I jumped as I felt Harry's hands wrap around my shoulders and begin manipulating the tense muscles.
"Are all your guests away?" I asked as I dropped my head forward, allowing Harry better access to my shoulders.
"Mmhmmm" He confirmed. "Jeff thought it best if he slipped out unnoticed. I don't think he wanted to face the wrath of the scary pregnant lady" I heard the chuckle in his voice as his warm hands rubbed at the tight muscles in my back. The feeling was bliss. We sat in silence for a while as Harry worked his hands over my back.
"That was magical" I breathed as he finally lifted his hands from my back.
"How do you want to spend the rest of your birthday then?" I asked as I pushed myself out of the kitchen chair.
"The way I had originally planned" Harry smiled lifting up the half eaten birthday cake I had made. "Grab two forks will you?"
I did and followed him into the living room. I went to sit on the opposite side of the couch.
"We can't share if you're sitting away over there" He patted the cushion beside him, so dutifully I got back up and took the cushion beside him.
Casually Harry scooted closer, holding the cake between us. He took a fork from my hand and dug it deep into the cake, taking himself a massive piece of cake.
"What do you fancy watching?" He asked as he sat the cake down on my knees.
"You chose, you're the birthday boy"
"Hmmm The Notebook?" He asked with a grin.
"Deal" I smiled leaning back in to the sofa and digging my fork into the delicious cake.