Barbados was the definition of serenity. Harry and I had rarely left the confines of our hideaway, only occasionally to walk to into the village, the sun always beaming so hotly that we had both picked up a healthy tan. Especially Harry.

When I awoke on our third day, Harry wasn’t beside me. My moment of panic stopped when I crept out of the bed and saw him lounging on the beach outside our porch. The Caribbean heat was thick already, white sand slipping around my feet as I made my way to him. He looked relaxed, not troubled at all. I admired him for a moment before he looked up at me through thick, dark sunglasses. He sat up and motioned for me to lie in between is legs. I rested my back on him, picking up both of his arms and pulling them around me. We watched the sea slowly roam back and forth on the shore. If you’d asked me anything about what had happened in the past few months, I wouldn’t have even remembered in that moment. Everything was idyllic.

“I have a surprise for you.” I felt him smirk into my ear.
“Harry,” I turned slightly to give a disapproving tone. I didn’t want him to make any more fuss over me. This was already enough.
“It’s not anything expensive, don’t worry.” He said, his raspy voice tickling my throat.

As he finished his sentence, I saw some people walking towards us. My heart beat quickened, at first, and I worried that it was paparazzi, or fans. But as the figures drew closer, I saw who they were.

Eleanor and Louis.

El’s casual flurried walk turned into a sprint as we both ran at each other. Through everything that had happened, this was the first time I had seen her in months. Louis embraced Harry in a man hug. Any other time I would have felt extraordinarily self conscious in just a t-shirt, but Eleanor was in a bikini already, only covered up by a see-through blouse.

“You two!” I exclaimed. “And you!” I said, laughing at Harry.
“Are you glad to see us?” Louis asked, giving me a hug.
“Yes! What a lovely surprise.” I laughed. “Where are you staying?”
“Well your man invited us over here. He said you both could do with cheering up. You’ve got a spare bedroom in that love nest of yours, haven’t ya?"

I gave him a smile, and looked back at Eleanor, who was still bursting with happiness.

“I can’t believe it’s been so long!” She grinned.

---

Harry’s POV

It was late. The sky was full of stars, there was a burning fire we’d made on the beach, and I had my best friend, and my girl here. The only sound that could be heard was the distant giggles of Annie and Eleanor running through the now quiet waves of the ocean. I walked behind Louis and sat down next to him, handing him a beer.

“Wow.” He said. “Wow, wow, wow.”
I looked at him, willing him to explain.
“It’s just, wow.” Louis shook his head and looked at me. “I never thought I’d see you in love. I mean really in love, like this.”
“I know, man.” I said, smiling down at the sand in disbelief. “It’s scary.”
“It’s worth it, mate.” We both reflected for a moment. “Why didn’t you tell us all that shit was going on, H?”
I clenched my jaw, staring down still. I brought my eyes up to meet the water, lit only by the moonlight. “Because if I’d have told you all, it would have made it all real. I just never wanted to think of Annie badly. Thank God it wasn’t true.” I took a sip of my beer.

Annie and Eleanor made their way back to us, throwing towels that they had previously discarded over their bikini-clad bodies. Louis stood up and embraced his girlfriend, throwing an arm around her shoulder and taking off on a walk. Annie sat down on the sand next to me, tiny granules sticking to her wet body. She rested her damp hair against my knee. I placed my arm on her, tracing circles on her arm. Neither of us spoke. In a way the scene did all the talking, just imagining how far we had come.

“I don’t know what to say,” she said, so quiet I almost missed it. “This..”
“I know.” I said, taking another sip from the bottle. The heat from the fire was drying her skin, but I still pulled her closer.
“Do you remember when we first met? You were looking for a phone charger in that hotel room and you woke me up. You were so unfriendly! I thought you were horrible.” Annie gave a small giggle.
I scoffed. “I probably was horrible.”

We were silent for another few minutes.

“We’re going to have such amazing times together.” She said, her eyes fixated away, a pale blush on her cheeks. “You’re already showing me the whole world.”
I gave a chuckle. “Annie, Holmes Chapel, London, and Barbados aren’t exactly worldwide.”
She poked me in the chest with her finger. “You know what I mean. We went all around the world on tour. How fun were those days?”
“You mean me chasing you around begging you to be with me?” My smirk caused her to tut, but her face caved into a smile.
“I’ll be back.” She placed a tender kiss on my jaw, and stood up. I admired her long, sleek legs as they walked back to the beachside home. Perfection oozed from her.

---

Annie’s POV.

I made my way through the house to the kitchen, looking forward to an ice cold drink. Eleanor was sitting on the side, Louis beside her. They were content, smiley, maybe even tipsy. Good for them.

“I’ll leave you two ladies.” Louis made himself scarce.

“Annie,” Eleanor began, the smile disappearing from her face. Her soft voice carried on, “I’m so, so sorry.. so sorry about that night. I had no idea, I should have known-“
“El, please. It’s nothing.” I closed my eyes momentarily, trying to forget it. “Nothing happened and that’s the main thing. I’m sorry I shut you off.”
She nodded, patting the space next to her on the counter. We stared across the room and nobody spoke for a minute.

“You love him so much, don’t you?” She gave a little cheeky smirk and nudged me. “Knew he loved you from the moment I saw you two together, first time I met you.”
“It’s more than that,” I said, picking the label from the beer I had been drinking from. “Is it weird, he’s my best friend?”
“Of course not. That’s the basis of an amazing relationship.” She nodded, reflecting for a second. “Do you think you’ll get married?”
“El! Christ!” I laughed, pushing her.
“You’ve so thought about it. Oh Annie, imagine your kids. Little brown haired terrors, running around. Mischeif of their Daddy, intelligence like their Mummy.”
“Eleanor! You freak.” I blushed fiercely. “Maybe one day.”

“Erm, definitely one day.” Harry said, all of a sudden entering the room. He gave us a little wink and I melted, watching his tattoos spill out from his loosely buttoned tartan shirt.

---

“Oh God.”

“What?” I looked over at Eleanor from my sun lounger, removing the one earphone I had in.
“Nothing, just Kendall all over the Daily Mail. Hunting for another scam I suspect.”
“I don’t think it was really much to do with her, El. I’m pretty sure she didn’t have much of a say.”
“Oh please.” She shook her head, but her expression softened and she gave an excited grin. “Oh yeah! I meant to ask you. So you know I’m organising that fashion show, for my University and that charity?”
“Erm …yes?”
“Yes, well, I want you to model in it. Please!” She said, sitting up now. She went off on her own tangent about outfits, make up, hair, decor.
“Eleanor I am no model.” I couldn’t help but laugh.
“You are, stupid. Come on. It can just be for fun. But I’m asking because I genuinely believe you’ll look amazing."

I don’t know how she convinced me, but she did. The show would be in six weeks time, and wouldn’t be extremely public, which I liked the idea of. The last thing I wanted was to be laughed at. I don’t think I even let El finish her explanations before I re-plugged in my earphones. I was just drifting off when I felt a splash of water on my hot back. I turned over, to see a pair of green, smiling eyes, and a devilish grin.

Harry.

Notes

Hello! Hope you liked this one. It was a filler but, I thought it would be nice to just have a pleasant chapter where no-one is upset or depressed. The favour about the photo-shoot will make a bit more sense later on.

Thanks!! Sorry for the wait too. x