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Stacy's Mom by Fountains Of Wayne
The streets of the Isle had a way of pulling people into their chaos, and Estella was no exception. Each time Harry took her along on his errands, he noticed the subtle changes in her. The proper Auradon girl she'd been when she arrived was disappearing, replaced by someone who moved with confidence and didn't flinch at the Isle's unrelenting harshness.
She still had her sharp tongue, of course, but there was something about the way she held herself nowâhow she met the stares of Isle residents head-on and didn't cower under their scrutinyâthat made Harry's chest swell with pride. She was becoming a part of this place, and Harry couldn't help but think she belonged here.
But that thought was clouded by a growing unease.
The streets were buzzing with rumors. The VKsâMal, Evie, Jay, and Carlosâwere planning something big. Word was they were going to take more Isle kids to Auradon, and the pirates were convinced they'd use the opportunity to attack the ship and take Estella back.
Harry didn't even want to think about it. The thought of losing her, of waking up to find her gone, was enough to make his jaw clench and his fingers tighten around the hilt of his hook.
"You're doing it again," Estella's voice broke through his thoughts.
He blinked, turning to see her standing a few steps ahead, her arms crossed and a knowing smirk on her face.
"Doing what?" he asked, feigning innocence.
"Brooding," she said, tilting her head. "You've been grumpy all day, snapping at anyone who so much as looks at you. Care to explain, or are you just going for the whole tortured pirate aesthetic?"
Harry let out a humorless chuckle, brushing past her. "Nothin' to explain, pixie."
"Oh, come on," she said, following him. "You've been stomping around like someone stole your treasure. What's going on?"
He stopped abruptly, turning to face her. "You don't need to worry about it."
Her brows furrowed, and she stepped closer. "Harryâ"
"I said drop it, Estella," he snapped, his voice sharper than he intended.
She flinched, and guilt immediately twisted in his gut.
" 'm sorry," he said quickly, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't mean toâ"
"It's fine," she cut him off, her tone cooler now. "I'll leave you to your mood."
She started to walk away, but Harry grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
"Pixie," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's just... there's talk. About your friends coming back. About them trying to take you home."
Estella's expression softened, but there was a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes.
"And you don't want them to," she said quietly.
Harry shook his head. "No. I don't."
She sighed, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I don't even know if they will. It's been months, and they haven't done anything. Maybe they've given up."
"Not them," Harry said bitterly. "They don't give up. Especially not for their own."
Estella didn't respond, and for a moment, they stood in silence.
"Come on," he said finally, his grip on her wrist loosening. "Let's get back to the ship."
Back on the deck, Harry paced back and forth, his thoughts racing. Gil and a few of the other crew members watched him warily, keeping their distance.
"You're wound up tighter than Uma's temper," Gil said eventually, breaking the silence.
Harry shot him a glare. "Not in the mood, Gil."
Gil raised his hands in mock surrender. "I'm just saying, mate. You keep snapping like that, and someone's gonna push back."
Harry sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "I just... I can't stop thinkin' about it. If they come for herâ"
"If?" Gil interrupted. "It's the VKs. They're not gonna leave her here forever. You know that."
"That's what I'm afraid of," Harry muttered.
Gil hesitated before clapping a hand on Harry's shoulder. "You've got her now. Focus on that, yeah?"
Harry didn't respond, his gaze drifting toward the cabin where Estella had disappeared to.
Inside, Estella sat on the edge of the bed, her thoughts swirling. Harry's words replayed in her mind, and for the first time, she felt truly torn.
Auradon was her home, but the thought of leaving the ship, leaving Harry, made her chest ache.
What was she supposed to do if her friends came for her? Would she go with them? Or would she stay?
She sighed, leaning back against the wall. The answers didn't come, and the uncertainty weighed heavy on her.
When Harry finally came in, his usual smirk was absent, replaced by an expression she couldn't quite read.
"Hey," she said softly, breaking the silence.
"Hey," he replied, sitting down beside her.
For a while, neither of them spoke. The weight of unspoken words hung in the air, but neither of them dared to break it.
Finally, Harry reached out, his hand brushing hers. "Pixie," he murmured, his voice low and unsure.
"Yeah?" she asked, turning to look at him.
His eyes met hers, and for a moment, all of his usual bravado was gone. "I don't want to lose you."
Her breath hitched, and her heart ached at the vulnerability in his voice.
"You won't," she whispered, though she wasn't sure if it was a promise she could keep.
He gave her a small, sad smile, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "I mean it, Estella. I'll fight for you, if it comes to that."
Her chest tightened, and she leaned her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes. For now, she'd let herself believe his words. For now, she'd stay in this moment.
Estella had heard the rumors, but she hadn't expected them to actually show up.
Yet here they were.
Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlosâher so-called best friendsâstood in the center of the marketplace, looking completely out of place in their polished clothes, calling out names like they were saving people. Like they hadn't abandoned her here.
Like they hadn't left her.
She stood at the edge of the crowd, arms crossed, heart pounding in her chest as she watched them. Part of her wanted to run up and scream at them. Another part wanted to just turn around and disappear before they noticed her.
Too late for that.
Carlos spotted her first, his eyes widening. "Estella?"
The others turned, their faces lighting up in shock and relief.
"Oh my god!" Evie gasped, rushing forward. "You're okay!"
Before Estella could react, she was being wrapped in a hug, Evie squeezing her tight like nothing had changed.
Like she hadn't been left here for months.
"Look at you!" Mal grinned, pulling back to take her in. "And those shoesâwhere did you get those?"
Estella raised an unimpressed brow, glancing down at the heeled boots she hadâstolen, thank you very muchâfrom one of the market stalls a few days ago.
"Do you actually care," she deadpanned, "or are we just gonna pretend you didn't leave me here?"
The mood instantly shifted.
"Estella..." Carlos started, his voice uncertain.
She scoffed, shaking her head. "Don't. Just don't."
She turned on her heel and walked away.
Jay, ever the stubborn idiot, wasn't having it. "Oh, come on, Stella, don't be like thatâ"
She heard the heavy footsteps behind her, and before she could fully react, Jay reached for her.
Big mistake.
With the precision of someone who had been fighting pirates for weeks, Estella twisted in his grip and kneed him where the sun didn't shine.
Jay immediately let out a strangled noise, doubling over as the others gasped.
Estella didn't even flinch. She just shook her head, stepping back. "Touch me again, and I'll make sure that's permanent."
Carlos let out a nervous chuckle. "Okay, so, maybe we should've come back sooner."
Estella shot him a glare. "You think?"
"Stellaâ" Mal started, but Estella had already had enough.
She turned away from them, heart pounding, jaw clenched. She didn't want to hear their excuses. Didn't want their apologies.
They had left her here.
And they had no idea what she had become since.
Without another word, she walked away, heading straight back toward the docks.
Back to her life.
Back to him.
Estella stormed onto the ship, her boots thudding against the wooden planks. Her blood was still boiling, her heart racing as she replayed the encounter over and over in her head. She barely registered the younger crew members greeting her, her focus locked on one person.
"Harry!" she called out, scanning the deck.
Harry appeared moments later, a smirk tugging at his lips. "What's got you shoutin', pixie?"
"Don't," she snapped, walking straight up to him. "Don't give me that smirk right now."
Harry's expression faltered, his brow furrowing as he stepped closer. "What happened?"
Estella crossed her arms tightly, the fury bubbling just beneath the surface. "They're back."
"Who's back?" he asked, though the edge in his voice said he already knew.
"The VKs," she spat, pacing back and forth. "They're here, parading around the marketplace like they didn't leave me here to rot."
Harry's jaw clenched, his hand tightening around the hilt of his hook. "And? What did they want?"
"They wanted to talk, like nothing ever happened," she said bitterly. "Evie hugged me, Mal complimented my shoes, and Carlosâugh, he just stood there like an idiot."
Harry's eyes narrowed. "And Jay?"
Estella froze mid-step, the memory flashing in her mind. She turned to Harry, meeting his gaze. "Jay tried to grab me."
The change in Harry's demeanor was instant. His smirk was gone, replaced by a stormy glare. His fingers twitched, and his entire body tensed like a coiled spring.
"He what?" Harry growled, his accent thickening with his anger.
Estella took a step closer, her own anger still simmering. "He grabbed me by my hips to stop me from walking away. So I kneed him where it counts and told him not to touch me again."
Harry's glare deepened, his knuckles going white as he gripped the handle of his hook. "That filthy, Auradon-lovingâ"
"Harry," Estella interrupted, her voice firm but low. She placed a hand on his chest, trying to ground him. "It's done. I handled it."
"I don't care if you handled it," he snapped, though his gaze softened slightly at her touch. "He shouldn't have laid a bloody finger on you."
"He didn't get far," she said with a shrug, her lips quirking up slightly. "You should've seen his face when I dropped him."
Harry let out a low chuckle, the anger momentarily giving way to pride. "That's my pixie," he said, his hand coming up to gently cup her cheek.
Her chest tightened at the term, at the way he looked at her with equal parts protectiveness and adoration.
"But," he continued, his tone darkening again, "if he or any of them try somethin' like that again, I'll make sure they regret it."
"Harry," she started, but he cut her off.
"I mean it, Stella," he said firmly. "No one touches you. Not them. Not anyone."
She let out a small sigh, her hand moving to rest on his arm. "You don't have to fight all my battles for me, you know."
His smirk returned, though it was softer now. "Maybe not. But I'll fight the ones I want to."
Her lips parted, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say. Instead, she leaned into his touch, letting his words sink in.
"Thank you," she whispered.
He leaned down slightly, his forehead brushing against hers. "Always, pixie."
They stayed like that for a moment, the anger fading away as something warmer settled between them. But deep down, Estella knew this wasn't over.
Her friends weren't going to give up that easily. And when they came back, things were going to get messy.