I woke up the next morning, congratulating my body on the fact that for the first time, I felt energetic and relaxed. I looked to my side. No Gemma, or Harry for that matter. I shrugged and made my way through my routine to be ready for the next city.

I was excited to be in Los Angeles. I had never been since Lou took over the North American tour last time. We had a day off there, and I wanted to see if I could pick up some things for the baby. Now that we had hit thirteen weeks, I felt like it was safe to start buying little things.

I must have missed Harry, who had already gone on the first bus. Since I must have been one of the last of the crew to get ready, Gemma, Louis and I, as well as the temporary stylists who were covering Lou until she got to L.A, all bundled onto the second bus.

“My head, Annie, my head.” Louis leant on my shoulder.
“Hungover?”

He gave a small nod.

“How long was Harry with you last night?” I frowned. I thought he would only go for a light one. Louis’ head automatically shot up.
“Oh, yeah, H hardly drank anything at all.” He nodded. “Yeah, he was home way before me and Niall."

I knew he was lying, but far be it from me to judge Harry for having one night of freedom, though I’d much rather he was in bed with me and his child. I knew though, how hard he had been finding it, waking up in the middle of the night to listen to me go on about how something wasn’t right, how I was going to throw up, how uncomfortable I was. I hoped that he had got whatever it was out of his system.

When we arrived in L.A., I could tell the difference from the smaller city we had been in the day before. Los Angeles seemed to know we were coming, and they saw it as their first chance to have actual contact with us since it was released to the media that Harry and I were going to have a baby together. I found relief in the fact that it was boiling here, having gone so long without summery weather. I was suddenly glad I had worn the little white cotton dress I had on.

I held my hand over my sunglasses, quickly rushing into the venue. All our things would be taken to the next hotel. I looked around the arena, still no sign of Harry. My heart jumped when I saw a tall, silver-haired girl and a tiny, blonde toddler.

“When did you guys get in?” I smiled hugely. I ran over to hug Lou. I picked up Lux and balanced her as well as I possibly could on my hip.
“Just a few hours ago! So exhausted. But so glad to be here. I can’t believe the boys have been letting the stylists do their hair so badly.” Lou nodded over in the direction of Niall, who’s hair was flat and parted as appose to his normal, solid up-do. I gave a laugh. “Where’s Harry?” She asked.
“Here I am.” Harry smiled, coming up behind us and automatically going straight for Lux. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and looked between Lou and I. “Alright babe?” He took me in the spare arm that wasn’t holding Lux. I cringed. We looked like a family. Yes, Annie, because you are.
“Where have you been?” I asked, clinging onto his shirt without realising it. Harry smirked his normal smirk and brushed my hair back into the ponytail I had it in.
“Nowhere, sweetheart. Just been on my way here.”
“Can w’go get ice cream?” Lux looked at Harry sincerely, ignoring the semi-grown-up conversation we were having.
“'Course we can, love.” Harry smiled, pulling the cream fedora that kept his curls at bay further onto his head. He pulled his sunglasses out of his pocket and placed them onto his nose. I felt my stomach swim with butterflies. He was just so attractive. Oh, God. My hormones were taking a turn for the worst. I couldn’t think about anything other than ripping his clothes off.

Harry, Lou, Lux and I strolled to the back of the arena, outside to where the busses were kept. I spotted a small ice-cream stand, but it meant leaving the safe confines of the security fences. Harry barged straight through, anything for his little god-daughter.

There were only a few girls hanging around where we were. I made a conscious effort to stop and talk to all of them while the others bought ice cream, remembering the comments the girls in the bakery had said about me and feeling paranoid.

“You can see the bump!” One of them exclaimed, but I could see her eyes were only focused on Harry in the background.

“Yeah, a little bit.” I smiled, shyly.

Gemma found us and came to stand beside me, and I was thankful because the girls were far more interested in her than me. Eventually, Harry was done and came over to sign autographs for his adoring fans. One by one, he signed all of them, Lux in one arm, an ice cream in that hand, and a pen in the other.

“Are you excited to be a dad?” Another girl asked.
“Very excited.” Harry’s smile lit up his whole face.
“Your instagram captions were hilarious!” She said.
“Glad you liked them. Thanks girls, enjoy the show, nice to meet you all.”

When we made it back inside, Gemma took hold of Lux and went to clean her up, since she’d landed half of her ice cream down herself. Lou went backstage to prepare for the show, and Harry laid out on the stage. Louis, Niall, Liam and Zayn were practicing (but more chatting) at the side, and I was sat with my back resting on Harry’s knees.

“So where did you go last night?”
“What do you mean where did I go?” Harry sat up and looked at me.
“Nothing.. I just mean.. where did you go? To a bar or-“
“Yeah I went to a bar for like three beers. Why? What did you hear?” He pulled his hat off and started fiddling with it.
“Jesus Christ, Harry, nothing! Why are you so shifty?”

He paused and shook his head. “Sorry, I’m just tired. I didn’t get back until four.”
“Four?” I frowned. “But Louis said you got back way before they did.” Now I was getting suspicious.
“Oh, really. Maybe I did then. I can’t remember. Why do you keep going on about it?”
“I’m not.. I just.. Why are you being so weird?”
“I’m not being weird alright?"

I automatically dropped it, wondering if it was my fault he was so worn out.

“You can really see the bump today, can’t you?” He quickly changed the subject. I looked down. From where I was sat there was definitely a clear definition of my stomach. Harry. “I wish she was here now.”
“Stop calling it a she!” I scorned. “You don’t know that, yet. You might jinx it.”
“So you want a girl too?” He looked down at me.
“I haven’t really thought about it,” I said, honestly. “But I suppose I get on well with Lux.. so."

Harry nodded and stood up.

“Time to practice.” He extended his hand, the cross tattoo facing me. I took it and he pulled me up. “Sorry babe, but you can’t be here for this one. We’ve got a surprise for you.”
“A surprise?” I raised an eyebrow. “Please don’t do anything embarrassing.”
“It’s not embarrassing, Annie. You’ll like it. Now go away.”

Harry leaned down to peck me on the lips, and playfully slapped my butt through my dress. Then, he turned his back and went over to join the rest of the boys. I skulked off, wondering what had pissed him off so much last night.

---

It was thirty minutes until showtime. Lux was laying beside me on the couch, showing me a barbie doll that she had brought with her. The boys were all psyching themselves up, a few of them still getting touch ups from Hair & Make-Up. Harry was on his phone next to me.

“Come on, Ans,” He nodded seriously. “Mum wants to FaceTime.”
“So do it here.” I said, indicating to Lux, who looked very unhappy at Harry’s interruption.
“Nah, it’s too loud. Just come next door.”
“Well you had better tell Gemma.” I raised an eyebrow at his shifty behaviour.
“Nah, no Gemma. She’s.. already spoken to her today.” Harry gave me the look he used to give me, when he was telling me what to do, and not asking. I sighed, pushing myself off of the sofa, apologising to Lux as I went.

Harry took my hand and we made our way out into the corridor. He looked sheepishly down the empty hall.
“Come on, we’re going to have some fun.”
“Fun? What are you doing?!"

Harry had managed to craftily manoeuvre me into a boiler cupboard. He kicked the door shut with his foot, and pulled me close to him. Unable to have any time to ask any questions, I met Harry’s lips when he crashed them onto mine. His hands sent shivers through me, my body pulsing at his touch. I suddenly realised what he was doing.

“Theres.. no.. time.” I whispered, in between kisses. “Someone might-“
“Catch us, I know.” Harry finished my sentence without so much as a glance at my expression. His hands concentrated on finding the hem of my dress. He ran his hand up my thigh, lifting the light fabric to reveal my body from the navel down. Harry stopped. “Right.. that might be a problem.” He nodded towards the bump with a small, wry smile. I looked up at him, secretly hoping he wasn’t going to back out. I didn’t have time to think too much, as his large hands met either side of my hips, spinning me so I faced the shelf in front of me. I knew what he was getting at.

I suddenly felt a rage of need for him, remembering the sight of him earlier with those dark sunglasses pushed onto his nose, his shirt hanging open to reveal his chest. He hooked his finger around my underwear, not bothering to pull them all the way down.

Harry moved at such a slow, gentle pace, that I barely felt him enter me. But when his thrusts came, I knew he was there. Every stroke was so hungry and needy but so careful and timed. I knew he wanted nothing more than to be his usual self, to go hard and finish quickly, but he couldn’t. We heard Zayn stop outside the door and mutter, “Where’s Harry?” Then, suddenly, his strokes quickened.

Harry leaned over me and put his hand on top of mine so they were clasped together. We both knew that if we made a sound, Zayn and whoever else was there would hear. I felt Harry’s hair on my neck, and suddenly I realised that he was trying to surpress the noises that were leaving his throat by burying his head there. I knew he had finished, his strokes slowly coming to a stop. Rapid, hot breaths hit the sensitive patch of skin on my throat.

Quickly, he pulled back and picked up his jeans from the floor, scooting them back on. I tried my best to regain my breath, straightening out my clothes. I looked up at him and he smirked, as if he had won a small medal. I tried not to feel guilty about the fact we had just had sex in a boiler room about fifteen minutes before a show, but decided that we only had a few more months of being not boring left.

Racing off to the stage, Harry went on with the rest of the boys. I waited until the coast was clear before I went out, sitting beside Lou who had Lux on her lap on the stage. Gemma was next to her. They both looked at me inquisitively, but didn’t mind me too much. God, I thought, I’m supposed to be a mother soon. If only they knew what we had just gotten up to. If only the other twenty thousand people in this stadium knew.

The show was amazing, as it always was. I only ever had my eyes transfixed on Harry, who would wink from time to time, making me constantly on edge for his ’surprise.’ I laughed when I looked beside me and saw Lux was fast asleep in the midst of all the noise. She must have been so bored of these shows by now.

The last song the boys would play was Little Things, and there was still no sight of a surprise for me.

“You know how we like to switch things up a bit, Los Angeles.” Niall said, and he and Harry winked at each other before they assumed their positions.

I only seemed to snap out of my daydream, looking at all the lights in the crowd, when Harry’s solo came up. He looked at me and we caught each-others eyes for a second. I smiled, wondering if he was still nervous when he sang solo.

“I know you’ve never loved, the sound of your voice on tape, you never want to know how much you weigh.” He looked back at me. “You still have to squeeze into your jeans but, we’re having, a baby."

The crowd roared at Harry’s change in lyrics, obviously all understanding that they were dedicated to me, and all the boys smiled in our direction cheekily. Lou prodded my arm and mouthed “Oh my God! Did he just do that?"

All I could do was shake my head at him, feeling my cheeks blushing so profusely I thought they might catch fire. I still managed a smile that showed him I appreciated the mini-shoutout.

The show ended, and the boys jumped down into the pits below the stage. Harry walked towards me easily, the click of his boots audible over the sound of all the screaming.

“Like that did we? Personal shout out?” He grinned, pulling on my ponytail jokily.
I crossed my arms. “It’s funny because you know I hate that line and you managed to turn it around so it doesn’t sound like you’re calling me fat.”
“Of course, darling. That’s why I did it.” Harry grabbed a hold of my crossed arms and separated them so they were either side of his waist.

“It was my idea, to be honest though Harry mate.” Niall held his hand out to express himself. Harry slapped it away.

“Absolutely not."

Notes

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