“Seriously, enough!” I screamed at the two. Fighting was not about to happen. Harry and Liam were both glaring at each other. “You two are acting like a herd of 5 year olds wanting the same exact toy at the same fucking time! Enough!”
Liam was the first to turn. His expression went from hard and cold back to his normal self. The lines in his forehead ceased down. His voice was apologetic when he said, “Sorry, Mitchy. I’ll maintain myself.”
“And you?” I turned my head to Harry.
It took him a moment before he could or even would budge a muscle. Finally, he relaxed and took me by the waist. “I’m sorry, babe.”
“Good,” I began. “You both sit down.”
“Why do we need to sit?” Harry asked me.
“Why the hell do you think? To slay a magic dragon!” I screamed.
“She wants to talk to us, dude.” Liam nudged Harry in the rib. He let out a small grunt, and he knocked Liam back with his elbow.
“I’m serious, Harry.” I said flatly. They both sat down.
I paced slowly back and forth, occasionally running my hands against my somewhat showing belly. I let out a sigh and turned to them. “Did you hear what the Doctor had to say about why I’m here? I’m here because of all of this damn stress! Harry, I know you went with Kayla and the boys, but Liam called you nearly 20 times before he got an answer out of you! And Liam, you let your temper fly way to quickly. Just because he didn’t answer once, you didn’t have to start a world war over something like this! Now, if you both cannot pull yourselves together, then I don’t want you around me or the baby. Even if you’re the father, Harry. I don’t want him in the position I was.”
I remembered back to when I was little. When my father was going through his quote on quote “midlife crisis”. He would stay gone for hours. Sometimes he would be gone way into the night. That made me think his love affair with the wicked witch of the west started earlier than what he had let us on. Since I didn’t like to think about my father, I didn’t think about it at all. Just the thought of it, it hurts me. I remembered how my mother would clash and stress would form in our family. I didn’t want that again. Not again, not ever.
My voice grew weaker with each passing word from my lips, but I continued, “I can’t have another James Fields in my family. I don’t want that. I won’t allow it. You guys have to get along. All my dad did was start fights when he was married to my mother, and I promised myself I would never put myself in the position. I wouldn’t put my child in that position. So, stop arguing!” My voice gave at the last word.
Both Harry and Liam were up trying to comfort me. Harry’s musclely arms wrapped around my waist and around my stomach. Liam put his hands on my shoulders. I listened as Harry’s voice cracked with pain.
“Mitchy, Mitchy…I didn’t think you felt like that. I promise…I swear…on my life that I won’t get angry like that again. Look, okay? I promise you that!”
Liam spoke up, “I’m so sorry, Mitchy…” He couldn’t even carry out his sentence. My heart was aching for Liam for some apparent reason. I kept my arms around Harry. He made me feel like I belonged there. But looking at Liam’s face, I just wanted to reach out and hug him. I wanted to kiss the top of his head and tell him it was going to be okay. Harry didn’t need the reassurance that Liam did. Maybe Harry was stronger than Liam was. Maybe Liam had something hidden in his past that not even the boys knew.
My heart was yearning to him. I felt so bad. I watched as his eyes shut tight and a tear fell down his cheek. I was starting to feel a pain in my chest. I tried to turn myself to him, but Harry’s arms were too strong. I was about to call out to him, but the nurse came in.
“Miss Fields? You’re okay to go. The doctor has your prescription for you.”
*****
The snow slowly turned to green grass. That green grass slowly turned to the heat of summer. Kayla turned 6 years old the very last day of summer. The boys finally were off tour. They decided it would be best because I was at my due date. It would be time before anyone knew it.
Louis was the first to greet me. His huge smile as he rammed through the door. “UNCLE LOUIS IS HERE! WHERE IS MY BABYDOLL?”
Kayla came running up to him with a huge daisy she picked that morning, “Lou!” She jumped right into his arms.
“There’s my beautiful girl. You know today is a very special day!” Louis beamed with excitement. I could see the gift he had carefully wrapped in his hand behind his back.
“Is it?” She asked, teasing him. She knew he had something.
Niall came in behind him, towing all the luggage, “A little help?”
“Hush, I’m talking to the birthday princess!” Louis stated like a knight.
Almost too corny to imagine, Niall’s eyes widened up more than they should have and he kneeled down to her. “My humble apologies, Princess Kayla.” Kayla’s eyes lightened up when Niall pulled out a tiara with little tiny jewels crested in it. On the top of it, it read in big bold pink letters BDAY PRINCESS.
She squealed in joy. Her little arms tried to go around both Niall and Louis’s neck, but she had to settle for hugging them individually. Her eyes were even wider when Perrie, Cierra, and Zayn walked in holding presents and a huge cake for her. She immediately wanted to see what “Uncle Zayn” had picked out for her. She quickly ran over and put her arms around his leg.
“Hey there, beautiful,” He said laughing.
Cierra gave her a quick hug before taking the rest of the boxes from Perrie to the back room. I didn’t need to give her guidance when she had been here many times before. Perrie quickly put her arms around the little girl.
“Happy birthday!” She cooed. “How old are you now? I guess you’re 16!”
Kayla laughed. “No!”
“42?”
“NO!”
Perrie picked her up and put her on her hip. “Then how old are you?”
“I’m six!” She laughed in her high pitch tone.
Zayn and Perrie both laughed together before he spoke. “I guess you want to see your birthday surprise cake?”
“Please, Zayn! Please!” She begged. And he was nothing but putty in the child’s hands. He threw his head back. “Alright.” He said as he opened the box. The cake was multicolored and stacked into three layers. Each tier was devoted to something she loved. Kayla was so excited about everything. Zayn and Perrie looked at me and asked if they could take her out while I got everything ready with Liam and Harry. I groaned but agreed. Of all the group, Liam and Harry.

****
“I need some more streamers,” I put my hand out trying to grab them.
“Mitchy!” Harry called as he held my legs in place.
“What!?” I snapped.
He pulled me down and wrapped his arms around me, kissing my lips. “You shouldn’t be doing all of this work. You’re about to give birth. Let me do it.”
“Harry,” I said shocked. “I’m fine.”
“No, I want you to go lie down. Please? For me?”
I groaned, but his eyes were just more pleading. Finally, I agreed and started back for the bedroom.
I noticed a few boxes that were in the room. I shrugged. Cierra had to have left them there. I turned and shut the door and went to the bed. I lied there for about five minutes before I heard the sound of running water in the bathroom. I shot up and looked. I saw Liam in the bathroom washing his face off. He must have not known I was there. He looked to drained and pitiful. I wanted to hug him. I wanted to hold him, but I knew better than to.
The water shut off. My heart was beating fast. His footsteps were coming closer and closer. I was just stuck sitting there. I was frozen. I shut my eyes and waited for him. There wasn’t a sound. I could feel his presence in front of me, but I didn’t want to open my eyes. Forever seemed to pass before I knew I had to open my eyes. When I did, he was there in front of me. He didn’t say a single word, he just looked at me.
“Liam..” I muttered under my breath. He didn’t respond to me. I felt a huge guilt building up in my chest. I looked down to my chest. A burning hole seemed to be forming, but I didn’t want to show it. I loved Harry. I couldn’t feel this way for him. I couldn’t feel like I owed Liam that love. I got up and walked over to him. I failed and hugged him after promising not to.
He didn’t move a muscle. I looked at him. Pain was in his eyes. He wanted to speak, but water was all that could come out of him. I was so full of guilt, and I hated it. I didn’t do anything wrong. All I did was love Harry. But I knew something Liam wasn’t going to tell me straight up. Liam had feelings for me.
“Will you please speak to me?” I begged him. Some sound was better than none at all.
He sighed heavily. “Why? I don’t have anything to tell you, Mitchie.”
Another pain in my chest. Another guilt bomb in my stomach. I just didn’t know how to respond. “Something, Liam. Please.”
He looked down, putting his arms around me. “You want to know the truth?”
“Whatever is on your mind. You’re my best friend. I don’t want you upset.” I admitted.
He cringed when I said best friend. I waited for him to talk. When he spoke, his words were almost terrifying to hear.
“Mitchie, I’m in love with you.”