And I have loved you anyway. And I have loved you just the same.

"Let's go out," Harry randomly says, sitting up from the bed. I look up at him and laugh. "What? I'm serious, let's go out. Let's take a walk, and let's just go out. Together. Me and you."

"Harry, take a look outside, and tell me if that's still an option," I say between laughing.

Truth be told, I don't know why I'm laughing.

I think it's to keep myself from crying out of frustration of being cooped up for so long. Still, I'd rather not let Harry in on that.

Harry complies and looks out, clicking his tongue on the roof of his mouth. "S'only a small crowd."

"It's a crowd nonetheless."

"We can run. We're in good shape."

"I have asthma. I don't run."

"I have asthma too," Harry snickers.

He jumps back on his bed, and begins to toy with my fingers. "I'll get security to keep us safe, and I'll bring a jack splitter, so we don't have to share headphones, and we'll listen to music as we walk, yeah?"

"Harry, they'll go crazy. This is the first sighting of you they'll have since you broke off your engagement. Wouldn't you rather wait?"

"Ideally yes, but I don't want to hide forever. I go back to work in a week. There's no time like the present, my pretty baby."

"Harry," I giggle. I kiss his hand as he cups my cheek, and smirk. "You don't have to hide, you can take a walk, and I'll wait here."

"No," he pout. "I want to take a walk with you, and I want to hold your hand, and I don't want to hide you. You're too pretty to keep hidden."

"You really want this walk?" I mumble.

"With you, yes." He nods.

A walk shouldn't feel like I'm feeding myself to the lions. However, I can't shake off that feeling, and knowing I'll be going outside, willingly putting myself out there for everyone, who is obsessed with Harry, to speculate.

It doesn't feel like just a walk.

It feels like a lot is changing.

"Alright," I say. I can't deny Harry anything. Not when his mossy eyes are wide, and his dimples are out. It hurts too much to even think about saying no. "But I'm wearing running shoes, in case I have to make a run for it. Also, beware that I will push you into the crowd just to have a chance of surviving."

"You wouldn't feed me to the dogs."

"Oh but I would, hazard."

"You're freighting, brown eyes." Harry laughs and I smirk. "Okay, go get dressed while I call up a few
people, and then we'll be set."

****

"Baby, hold still. Quit bouncing your knee, love. Here, squeeze my hand." Harry's hand is warm, and big, and sturdy. He has slender fingers, and when our hands join together, mine is completely swallowed.
My goal today was not to let Harry see, I was dreading doing something as normal as taking a walk, or make him feel as if he's forcing me to do something against my very will.

After a bit of difficulty, I finally get my knee to settle, even if the jitters don't fully stop. "Babe, don't be nervous. It's just a walk, no need to be buzzing."

"Sorry," I meekly whisper. "I'm anxious, hazard."

"I know," Harry tuts, nosing my cheek and inhaling. "But we've done this before, remember? I know it was a while ago, but it's almost the same. They have seen us together."

"Yeah, but that was before we ended things, and you got engaged, and ended it, and then we started again, all in the time span of a month."

"Fuck," Harry breathes, leaning over and kissing the side of my neck. "I've had a busy month, hu?"

"Why I put up with you, I swear I don't fucking know."

"It's cause you love me, and you like kissing me, and holding me, and other things." I shake my head and feel my heart skip a beat when the car stops. Harrys' quick to squeeze my hand, and reassure me in small whispers, that. 'It's only a walk.' And, 'it's okay.'

Except, I don't think it's just a walk, and I'm not sure if it'll be okay.

I slow my heart rate down, smile the best I can and follow Harry out into the madness of everyone around us.

Harry's guard is next to us, doing his best to push people out of the way, telling us both to keep going, and not to stop unless he stops. Harry grips me around the waist, makes sure to press his finger tips against my skin, whenever we go anywhere near an enthusiastic, screaming girl.

He smiles, thanks whoever compliments him, and says he's cute, and how he looks happier now.

I do my best to look forward, yet, somehow keep my eyes on the ground. We move swiftly and fast paced by everyone, and once we're far enough, I breathe in relieved, and move away, Harry still keeping our fingers interlocked.

"See, that wasn't so bad," Harry smiles.

"Where do you want to go?" I ask, instead of agreeing. I blink up at Harry, and from the coroner of my eye, I can see a few girls waving. I motion for Harry to look, and when he does, he returns their greeting, politely.

"I think they've missed you," Harry beams. He waves at another small group. I hum, and shrug, not knowing whether to agree, or demand we go hide somewhere. "They like you more than they ever liked Jasmine."

"Thanks?" I'm not offended. I don't like letting myself feel such emotions, when I know there is no need. "What's a jack splinter?" I ask, suddenly remembering Harry mentioning it before we left.

Harry grins. "Splitter," he corrects, and pulls out a black u' shaped cord, with two ends. "It's this thing where you can plug in two sets of ear buds, while listing to music. It's more comfortable."

"It's more sanitary."

"Yeah, but if you want to be closer, I'm all down for getting rid of the splitter."

"Okay," I shrug, not really concerned with something as simple as splitting ear sets. We stop outside a coffee shop, and I'm relieved I can have my fixing. "I'm going to get a drink, can I get you something?"

"Yeah, I'll come with you," Harry murmurs.

We walk hand in hand, mindlessly chatting when a group of girls approach us. My body stills for a minuet, and Harry squeezes my hand, and smiles kindly at the small group.

"We're so happy you two are back together!"They all coo, and even though they're being friendly, it still has me on edge, ready for any random comment.

I wish I wasn't so superstitious, wish I saw the good in everyone the way Harry does.

We get to the front of the line, and I would rather not interrupt Harry, who knows what these girls might do. I Know Harry has to have his coffee with cream, and two sugars, and then I ask for them to sprinkle a teaspoon of cinnamon. I hand over my debit card, before Harry demands to pay.

Once I'm finished, I gently tug on Harry's hand, and we shuffle over to let the next customer make his order.

Harry turns to me, and wraps his arm around my waist, the girls swooning. "You've already ordered?"

"Yeah," I squeak. "Got you something too."

"Why didn't you tell me? I would've paid."

"I know," I nod, my cheeks freckling red when the girls awe at us. "It's only a coffee." I shrug, and smile at the girl in my direct eyesight. She has red hair, thin lips, and eyes that are friendlier than most.

"You're so pretty," she says.

I smile, and stay silent, not knowing what the protocol is here, don't know the rules to being Harry's girlfriend again.

My name is called out, and Harry says his goodbyes. The girls motion for a picture, and trying to be helpful, and not awkward, I volunteer to take the picture. They jump on the offer, squish themselves close to Harry, and smile like they've just won the lottery, and I can't blame them.

Harry affects me just the same.

"Well, it was lovely seeing all of you. Thank you," Harry hugs each of them, signs whatever they give him, and then grabs his drink from my clutches.

"They love you," Harry says once we're free from the chaos. He swings our tangled hands between our bodies, and pulls me close to him. "I love you." Harry insists. He looks down with warm, green eyes, and a wide grin. "Now tell me how awesome I am, for coming up with this idea."

"You're just about compliments today aren't you."

Harry throws his head back, and laughs. "I'm a nice person, pretty baby."

I hum and take a sip of my drink, noticing the way we are being recorded and followed. "I forgot that everyone likes to record you."

"Oh?" Harry takes a look, and chuckles. "Yeah, I think they forget I'm people too."

"I forget you're people."

"Babe," Harry whines like a child being denied his request.

"Yes, okay. Yeah, you're humble, and human, and normal."

"Thank you," Harry smiles. "Look, there's a comfy spot," Harry points to a staircase in front of a building. It's painted in various Browns, mixes of red, and light yellow splotches. It's nice, and it'd be wonderful; if we weren't surrounded by a crowd of people and a security guard following close behind.

Harry notices my discomfort and wraps his arm around my shoulder, earning a loud 'awe' from the unknown strangers around. "It's me and you, yeah? Just us." It's actually not just us, and I'm starting to believe these people only know how to awe.

"Yeah," I whisper, plugging in the head buds Harry offered, keeping the right for listening to anything Harry has to say. He plays with his phone, a song softly playing. I recognize the beginning, and try my best not to blush. I smile up at Harry.

"S'good song, hu?"

"It's old."

"It's us," Harry mumbles. I know he's trying to ignore everyone around us. Trying to be as relaxed as possible. I appreciate the effort, but I know not everyone sees this the same way I do. "Elvis is everything."

"He's the king," I reply cheekily.

I can hear girls mumbling around us. Speaking loudly, wanting me to kiss him, and normally i don't have a problem kissing Harry. Holding Harry's hand, touching Harry in general. But, there are so many eyes looking, Some that are only there because Harry's there. It makes me feel watched and nervous.

"This is a lot to handle, I know," Harry utters, carefully treading on such a heavy subject. "There's no privacy, and I can't take you out on normal dates, can't kiss you without making headlines, and I know I couldn't even get you back, without having shitty people call you names--"

"It's okay," I say, trying my best to be light and happy. But, Harry doesn't think it's okay. Doesn't understand people and their need to hurt someone they don't know. But this is Harry, and anything having to do with Harry will always be okay.

No matter the lack of privacy, and dates.

"I'm going to try to make it okay, sweetheart. I'm going to try and make me your new home."
Harry says things like this all the time. Harry likes to make me feel at home, almost like he's trying to make up for lost time. Trying to prove he's worth it.

And he is. I wouldn't be here if he wasn't.

"It's okay, honest."

"It's going to get overwhelming, Presley. It was hard as fuck the first time, I imagine it'll be ten times harder now."

"Why are you so worried?"

"I'm not," Harry lies righ through his teeth.

I can see it, though. Can see the way his eyes sparkle nervously, and his hand clenches around his phone, the song playing mindlessly. "I just-- it's hard, Presley. It gets frustrating."

"I know," and I do.

I know because I haven't been outside in what seems like days. I Know because my dad is worried if I'm handling the critique well, and because Ben won't let me go anywhere alone, and makes sure I lock everything, even my windows. I work in the back at the café now. I don't take orders, but rather, I take care of everything in the back, and the kitchen.

Ben says it's only until everything settles.

I hope everything settles quick.

Harry sighs, grabs my hand and does his best to ignore everyone's comments on the action. He kisses the back of it, and is left to deal with a loud 'awe' from strange females. "Everyone's watching us like we're Martians."

"You're poor security man, he looks ready to pounce."

"Gotta keep me bird safe."

I smile and let a small laugh escape. I look down at our tangled fingers and bite my bottom lip, before reaching up and soothing all of the crinkles in his forehead. He smiles easily, and sighs trying to calm his mood. My hair fans around my face, as I finally pay attention to the forgotten song.

"Take my hand," Harry sings softly. Almost whispering. "Take my whole life too."

This is my favorite song.

This is my favorite boy.

This might be my favorite walk so far. "So won't you please, just--" I whisper back.

"Take my hand. Take my whole life too."

This is a nice walk (even if it's being shared with a crowd) this is our walk, and my favorite song.

"Cause I can't help falling in love--" our foreheads connect, and for a second everyone disappears. The crowd. The security guard. The mean words. It's just us, a jack splitter, and Elvis.

"I keep falling in love, with--"

"You."

Notes

This ch. sucks. Legit. No one deny it.