Harry’s POV

Annie and I seemed to have so much to do, so much to talk about, so much to decide, that we couldn’t speak. Of course, we were overwhelmed. I was especially. She had had almost a week to digest it.

I called Simon and told him I wouldn’t be able to make Paris. He was visibly pissed off, but I knew he would be understanding when we held our next emergency meeting. He would have to be one of the first people I told.

Annie crept up to bed early, and in the early hours of the morning when I joined her in bed, she was fast asleep. Her long eyelashes flickered with the thought of her dreams. I didn’t even pull off my clothes, seeing that it was almost five in the morning. I slipped in next to her, tenderly placing my hand on her waist and just staring down at her.

In those moments, my private moments that Annie would never share with me, I took time to have all my negative thoughts. Things I felt too guilty to share with Annie. Things that only a human being would think.. but things I knew would upset her and make her doubt herself if she knew of them.

Were me and Annie really stay together forever material? I loved her.. I’d never loved anyone. But was that it? Was she just a first love?

And a baby. A baby. Anyone who knew me would probably be worried that I was too much of a child myself to look after a baby. I had my moments, I could take care of Lux, Lou, Annie, my mum, Gemma. But ultimately the women in my life looked after me.

I gently moved my fingers to just hover above Annie’s stomach. She had betrayed me and robbed me of the chance to experience those first moments with her. I didn’t blame her for it, but I wondered if it would ever set in, because right now I just couldn’t imagine a little baby in there.

I hadn’t really bothered asking questions about the hows and the whys and the whens. It happened, she’s pregnant, that’s it.

I didn’t want to worry her, but I had no idea what this meant for One Direction. At twenty-one years old, our image sells a high percentage of this band. I feared for everything.. losing our fans, losing my lifestyle, losing my friends.

I looked down at Annie, wanting to lose all these negative thoughts and wanting to be beaming with pride and excitement, but the truth is, I just couldn’t. I loved her, and I’d always been taught to respect and look after women, so I’d never leave her.

But something in the pit of my stomach was not ready to have a child.

---

Annie’s POV

I adjusted my eyes to the sun pouring in through the window. I stretched out as much as I could, until I felt someone beside me. I turned and smiled, nervously at Harry. My vest had ridden up from my stretching and I quickly blushed when his eyes dropped to my stomach. I hoisted the fabric down and Harry looked back up at me.

“Did you sleep?” I asked, placing my hand on his face.
He shook his head. “I have so much to think about."

I nodded, just feeling constant guilt.

“Who do we tell first?” Harry asked, sweeping a strand of hair from my face.
I placed my palm to hover over his chest. “Our parents, I suppose.”
“Does anyone else know?” He looked at me seriously and I froze.
“Eleanor.” I coughed.

Harry rolled his eyes, exhaling deeply.

“You told her before me?"

I nodded sadly and looked away.

Harry was being distant, and it terrified me. He had been happier and a lot more warming last night, and for a second things felt fine.. but something was not right.

“We’re going to have to meet with Simon as soon as.. maybe even like tomorrow.” He sighed, rolling over and gripping me tightly. “Maybe meet Simon, break it to him.. and then hideaway in Holmes Chapel for a while. We want to do this properly, yeah?”
“Break it to him?” I suddenly said, agitated. “I’m sorry that it’s such bad news.” I instinctively and uncontrollably placed a hand on my stomach, and Harry noticed it straight away. He looked at me awkwardly.
“It’s not,” He said, quietly. “But don’t expect him to take it amazingly."

I stared as Harry made his way from the bed, big black circles formed under his eyes. He was still in last nights clothes and looked like he had slept rough.

His reaction was not as good as I had premeditated. Rolling back over, I checked my phone. Last night I had briefly text El to tell her I had told Harry, it hadn’t gone perfectly, but it had happened.

proud of you! he’s just surprised. he loves you and will make a great dad. just like you’ll make a great mum! :) let me come and visit you soon! xxx

I quickly replied to her.

he is still in a bit of a mood about it. need to see you soon x

Harry walked back into the room. “The meeting’s tomorrow at nine."

---

Of course, I wasn’t showing, but I had never felt so self conscious and terrified in any place, anywhere in my life. For the second time in three days, I was back in Simon’s office. Harry had told him we had some big, important news.

“Hey, Harry.” Simon said, walking in in thick, black sunglasses and setting down a coffee cup on the table.
“Hey, Simon.” Harry replied, holding my hand in his. We waited for Simon to adjust himself and get comfortable. He looked at us with piercing, serious, entrepreneurial eyes. “Yeah.. sooo.. we brought you here today because.. I have some news.”
Simon brought himself up higher in his chair and nodded. “Marriage?” He joked. I bit my lip. “Oh God, it’s not, is it?”
Harry looked from Simon, to me, back to Simon, awkwardly. He shook his head. “Annie and I, we found out.. well, she found out, that she’s pregnant.”

Simon stared at us blankly before erupting into full-scale laughter.

We both stared back in all seriousness.

“This is a joke, right?” Simon’s smile had disappeared. Harry shook his head. “Bloody hell, guys.. this is gonna be a tough one. Congratulations, though.. I mean.. fuck. Fuck! That’s crazy!”
“Will it effect the tour?” Were Harry’s first words, and I felt my anger rising at him. “Will it effect anything?"

Simon even looked at Harry as if to say that he was being insensitive. He shook his head.

“Not if it’s handled properly.. professionally.”
“My baby is not a business enterprise that get’s “handled” in any way.” I spat, suddenly feeling extremely pissed at both of the chauvinistic men. They both stared at me, speechless.
“Our baby,” Harry corrected. “And I’m just trying to do the right thing. Stop digging at me."

I bit my lip, sadness replacing my feelings.

“As with all cases in the private eye, my advice was that we keep this strictly confidential. If rumours come out, if they fly around, we don’t confirm them. That way, there’s a good media buzz but the fan base has time to get used to the idea - and, Annie, I mean this all in the nicest possible way. Think of those fans the same as telling your parents. They are just like family - they’ll need time. They feel incredibly connected to Harry, and the boys."

I stared at him, not completely happy, but understanding his point.

“How do you two feel about it?” Simon continued. Harry looked up at me, bravely.
“We’re scared, obviously,” He smiled, cutely. “But obviously, I want to try, so does Annie. We both want to try. None of this is ideal.. not now, but it’s our baby, boss. I can’t do anything but do right by Annie.”
Simon paused, bringing a finger to his lips and looking at Harry pensively.
“Are you ready for this, H?” He asked, tapping his pen against his lips. “Because you know the media storm will be insane?”
“I know.”
“And you know you go on tour so soon.. and it’s seven months long, and you might not be there for Annie as much as you like?”

Harry nodded, sadly.

“I think, you’ll both pull through this and do an amazing job. Of course, I know more than anyone what it’s like to be surprised with a baby. But both of you - if you work with this, it can work."

I suddenly felt so overcome with emotion, so scared, that I felt tears prick my eyes.

“We’ll do our best, Simon, mate. Of course.” Harry adjusted his headband.
“Then, H, my advice to you, is to take Annie home with you, to wrap her up in cotton wool for six weeks, and worry about the rest later.” Simon looked at me sympathetically. “She’s going to need you more than ever."

Notes

so just a bit of a part two to the previous chapter! Hope it was okay!