Harry
Hiiiii. Miss you. Keep bed warm .xx

I rolled over when my phone vibrated with a message. I smiled to myself, knowing Harry was only two floors below in the house in his new gym, training with Mark.

Miss you too. Bed is very warm, me and the bump have taken it over though. x

Harry and I spent four days together, non-stop, and it still wasn’t enough. I was over the moon that he could attend all of my baby-related tasks, another scan, and a birth class that definitely left him more than pale.

We were so excited to meet her. We spent almost everyday online shopping or decorating her room. Harry was not a natural when it came to D.I.Y, but assured me that he would have the decorators do all the bits he couldn’t do.

And that was it, everything was in place. We were ready. I finally managed to ease my guilt by having Harry share these experiences with me - namely the first time he felt her kick. He smiled and laughed but when he turned away I knew it was to wipe the tears forming in his eyes. I just got him back, and I didn’t want him to go again, but he had to. A month and a half, and she’d be here. We’d all be back together. I scrolled through TMZ for a half hour, pretty much marooned on my back with little prospect of being able to muster the strength to get out of the bed.

“Heartthrob Harry Styles and beauty queen girlfriend Annie James are preparing for the birth of their first (and unexpected!) baby at home in London before Styles heads back to complete the European leg of One Direction's tour. Rumours circulating say that the baby will be called Blossom!"

“Blossom? Who comes up with this?” I said to myself, placing the phone down. Harry ran hurriedly into the room, a towel around his neck and sweat covering his body. He launched himself straight into the bed and carefully wrapped himself around me.

“Harry!” I screamed, wriggling as best as I could with the extra weight. “You’re disgusting! No! No!”
“But babe, come on!” He smiled cheekily, nuzzling himself even further into me. I grimaced, the smell and stickiness of him all over me. He kissed my cheek and reluctantly, I met his salty lips. I shook my head again. “Shower, now."

Harry did as he was told, and when he returned, I scooted over to the edge of the bed and rested my head on his lap.

“So, you know babies need names?” I said, expectantly. He nodded slowly. “I think that you should name the baby.”
He frowned, bringing his cross-laden hand to scratch his eyebrow. “Why’s that then?”
“I just figured since you haven’t been able to be here as much, and well, I just want you to. I know you’ve been excited about having a girl.”

He paused, smiling down at me. A drop from his hair splashed onto my nose. We both laughed.

“I’m not sure I can be trusted with such a big responsibility,” He frowned again. “But if you give me some time, I’ll think about it and let you know.”
“Sounds perfect. But you’re leaving tonight."

Harry sighed, lifting me up and placing me back down when he pulled on his boxers. I admired his beautiful body and wondered if mine would ever be beautiful next to his again.

“It’s only for another month, love.” He knelt down so our faces were almost touching. “I’m scared.” He admitted, his eyes travelling across my body to my stomach. “Are you?”
“I’m the one that has to get her out.” I gritted my teeth. “I’m terrified.”
“Can’t be that bad, right? If everyone does it?” He cocked his head to one side, smiling cheekily.
“No, it’s not that bad. That’s why you almost fainted when you watched the practice birth video at that class yesterday.” I smiled back, pushing his face playfully with my hand.
“Point absolutely taken.” He nodded. “Is there anything else we need to do?” He asked, his back turned, scanning his huge wardrobe for something to wear, though it was nearly always one of the same three outfits.
“Godparents!” I said suddenly, and Harry jumped. “Who on earth will they be?"

Harry stopped, his hands on his hips. “You choose two. I’ll choose two. Lou has to be one.”
“Eleanor has to be one.” I nodded.
“Then Louis too.” Harry asserted. “What about Frankie?"

Frankie, my older brother, had never had a duty more important than looking after the goldfish he won at a local funfair when we were kids. The goldfish died after a week.

“Yeahhh.. Frankie’s not really like that.” I looked to my side sheepishly. “Tom?”
“Definitely Tom.” He nodded in agreement. “Lou, and Tom. Eleanor, and Louis."

---

“Stop kicking me, it’s rude.” I prodded the side of my stomach, fed up of the sass this baby kept giving me. Do all babies kick this much?

I watched as Harry dragged down his suitcases, his bandana flailing about over his shoulders as he moved around. I took the time to admire his bum, his hips, the V-line that snuck out from underneath his sweater every time he raised his arms. I couldn’t wait to get our old sex life back. At that moment, it was a joke.

“Harry?” I called, knowing he had just brought down his last bag. He solemnly walked to the sofa where I was laying out, probably resembling a whale. He helped me up and swung my legs on top of his.
“This is the hardest it’s ever been to leave you. It’s only all just got better.” He sighed, scratching the side of his head with anxiety.
I closed my eyes, willing myself not to get upset even though that was all my hormones wanted to do. “Harry, at least you’re not so far away. It’s Europe. It’ll go quick.” I smiled softly, holding my hand in his. “Just think, next time you’re back, the baby will basically be here.”

He nodded, and I could tell he knew that if he spoke, he would lose it.

“Please take care of yourself.” He said, sternly. “No late nights, no caffeine, no wild parties.” He joked.

We saw the headlights of Harry’s cab pull in through the window outside. I sighed as Harry brought me to my feet.

“I’ll be extra careful, I promise. No sexy girls. No alcohol. No forgetting to text or call me back.” I winked.
Harry just pulled me into a hug, his arms tightly around my shoulders. “Love you, bug.”
“Love you too.” I bit down hard into my lip. Harry’s hands snaked to my belly.
“And you.” He smiled down. We stood silently for a second, before we snapped out of our thoughts, both just knowing that this was it, this was all we could have of each other for another month.
“I’ll call you when we land.” Harry said, at the door. I nodded, a hand on my belly and a hand on his chest to kiss him. I gave him a small wave, and he returned it.

Both of us were far too emotional to speak anymore and it showed. I quickly closed the door and Harry quickly ran to the car. Short, sharp, and painful.

---

Things really started to get real when we had a bag packed. Anne and Gemma had relocated to Harry’s home, to make sure that I wasn’t alone at any given time. My mum and dad were constantly at the house, too. It was a relief that Harry had three spare bedrooms, because the house was the busiest it had ever been.

At eight months, I knew I wasn’t going to last much longer, and I didn’t want to worry Harry by telling him that. I’m 5’8 and have the skinniest, petite-st frame, and the baby was too much for me to carry. I still had a month left.

In all honesty all I could do in my last few weeks was lie around with Gemma and watch T.V. Harry called three times a day, frantically expecting a dramatic change in my state. After three weeks of him being gone it was more and more impossible to function without him. I tried so hard to focus on the fact he would be back in two weeks. Christmas was in full swing in London and I wanted nothing more than to roam the decorated streets and Christmas shop for Harry and the baby and our families but the comfort of my couch and my Macbook were as far as I was going to get.

“You look awfully pale, Annie.” Anne leant over me on the couch and rested a perfectly-manicured hand on my forehead. I looked up at her sleepily. “How are you feeling?” She said.

She pushed a hot cup of green tea into my hand and I sat up to drink it. “Exhausted. Sick.” I shook my head. “Tired of feeling like this. I just want her out.”
“You’d feel better if Harry was here.” She offered. “It must be hard doing it on your own.”
“I have you all, don’t I?” I smiled weakly.
“I know, I know.” Anne paused and sipped her tea. “You’re just so young and it’s all come so quickly. I hope you’re ready, I mean - I never worry about you two. I know you’ll always find your way. But I just hope you take care of yourselves. You’re in for a lot of sleepless nights, Annie. I worry that Harry won’t be there as much as you’d hope.”

I swallowed hard and breathed deeply.

“We have to take each day as it comes. The next tour won’t be until next year. They haven’t even started on a new album.”
Anne nodded, placing a comforting palm on my leg. “I know, sweetheart.” She smiled. “Shall we watch some television?"

---

I fell asleep almost straight after we had turned on the T.V. that night. The next day, I only felt worse. I never really realised that something could be wrong. I had seen so many changes to my body in those nine months that I didn’t expect anything less. When it had been three days, and my head was littered with constant headaches, nosebleeds, and always feeling out of breath, my mother and Anne made the joint, un-negotiable decision that I would have to go into hospital.

“You’re all over reacting.” I moaned, my head resting on my mothers lap in the backseat of Harry’s Range Rover. Anne drove frantically, but as carefully as she could.
“For goodness sake, Annie. A fool could see that you’re not well.” My mum offered, tapping her fingers irritably on my shoulder.

I was still three weeks earlier than my due date and my lack of presence on the social and celebrity scene meant the paparazzi had gone quiet. Nobody batted an eyelid when Gemma, Anne, and my mother rushed me into the grand, private hospital that Harry and I had planned to have the baby in.

“Hi. We called before we came. Annie James for Doctor Rosdale.” My mother took control and I could tell that Anne and her were fighting for leadership over this situation. I rolled my eyes at Gemma, who looked back at me with a disconcerting look.

The receptionist motioned for us to come straight through and took us to a suite. I didn’t like the look of this.

“Has anyone called Harry?” Gemma asked, speaking for the first time. “I think we should..”
“Don’t call Harry until we know what’s wrong.” I snapped.
“I really think we should call him.” My mum said sternly.
“Of course.” Anne pulled out her phone and excused herself from the room.

I looked around me lazily. Gemma, my mother, and Harry’s mother, were acting like a bunch of headless chickens and honestly it did nothing but make me more anxious. Anne came bustling back in and held out her iPhone to me.

“He wants to speak to you, sweetheart.”

I took the phone reluctantly, knowing that he would be just as irritable and worried as the rest of our family.

“Hi.” I said, quietly.
“Annie? What’s wrong? Is it starting? I’m going to get a flight back right now, I’ll be there in three hours. I’m in Madrid, okay? I’ll be back-“
“Stop, Harry, nothings happened yet.” I sighed, rubbing my temple. “I’ve just been feeling unwell. I’m at the hospital to see what’s up, she’s not coming yet.”

There was silence on the other end of the line.

“We only have four shows left. It’s fine, I can leave. I’m coming back, alright?”
“Harry,” I said, tiredly. I gave the women in my room a look that said make yourselves busy, this is a private conversation. My heartbeat spiked as I looked around, realising for the first time the severity of the situation. “I’m scared.” I almost mouthed the words as they slipped out, but I knew he heard.
“I know, Annie. That’s why I’m going to come home, okay? You need me. Don’t fight me.” He said.
I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. I wanted to argue, never having been that person that loves a fuss being made over them.
Harry sighed. “I love you, alright? I’ll see you soon.”
“Love you.” I said, quietly.

---

The scene of doctors in white coats and nurses constantly fiddling with me, inserting needles and checking my blood pressure every ten minutes, made me uneasy. I found myself checking the clock by the minute, wondering if Harry was any nearer.

When my doctor came into the room, I could tell by the look on his face that it was bad news. Anne, Gemma, and my mother all leaped out of their chairs to look at him expectantly.

“How are you feeling, Annie?” My doctor looked me over, placing a clipboard down onto the bed.
“Sick.” I croaked.

He nodded. “It seems like it’s a case of toxaemia.” I knew I should have gone to more pregnancy classes. I didn’t know what that meant and it didn’t sound promising. “Toxaemia starts with a case of high-blood pressure - the nosebleeds, the headaches - and effectively means that your liver is overworked. Really there’s no choice but to have the baby as soon as possible. It could be damaging for both of you, if not. I’m going to induce you and have labour start right away.”

You could have heard a pin drop in that room. Anne and my mother had both given birth to two kids and I could tell by the look on their faces that they knew how severe the situation was. I felt my lip tremble.

“Where’s Harry?” I asked, looking to my mum. She looked to Anne, and Gemma.
“He’s still on the flight.” Anne whispered. She looked at me, forcing a smile. “But he’ll have landed in an hour or so. He’s getting a car straight here."

Doctor Rosdale looked between us all sadly. “I’m sorry, Annie, but we really can’t wait. We’ll have to start without him."

Notes

SOOOO Sorry for how long this took! I’ve just been really busy. I’ll try to update a couple of times today.
Thanks! Let me know what you think! x