ALWAYS

I pulled Enola closer to me. I wrapped my arms around her as tightly as I could. I hated the fact that she was so sad and hurt. I kissed her hair gently as she buried her face in my chest. She gripped my shirt and leaned into me.
"I can't give her what she wants. I'm a terrible, selfish mother." She wailed into my chest.
"No. No, you're not. Everything you do is for her." I stated. Her body shook with another sob. "I know I've only been around a few days but I can see that you give her everything you've got. I've never seen a mother and daughter so in sync before. I know that you would give your life for her. And really you have. You give her everything she needs. You give her every ounce of love you've got."
"But I'm not her dad." Enola murmured. I sighed heavily. Darcy must've told her about our conversation.
"No, you're not." I agreed. Enola looked up at me curiously. "But that doesn't make you a bad mother. Things happen and Darcy is a whole person. She doesn't need her dad to be a whole person. She's got two men that can try. Louis and Niall love her so deeply." I stated.
"You're not counting yourself in that?" She asked with a look of shock.
"Enola, I love your daughter. I will always be around for her if she wants me to be. If you want me to be." I answered honestly. "But..." I sighed. "Louis, Niall and I can't take the place of her dad. We'll do the best we can. And I'll try everyday to make her feel loved." Enola stared at me sadly. "Noli, you're doing the best you can. And knowing what you know about your parents, you understand your mother. One day Darcy will understand as well. Yeah, she might be angry when she's a teenager but aren't we all angry as teens?" Enola smiled a bit. I brushed the tears from her face, "You are a wonderful mother. Don't ever doubt yourself."
Enola sighed, "I wish I could tell her. I want to tell her about her father because she wants to know but I just...I am selfish, Harry. It's too hard for me to tell her the truth. What am I supposed to say to her?"
"She's three. She won't understand now anyway. I mean, she's a genius but she's too little. There will come a day when she will understand and you can talk about it. You don't have to worry about it now." I assured her.
"I'm a mother. It's my job to worry about everything." Enola laughed a little. My heart lightened seeing her smile. It was intoxicating to hear her laugh even though her face was tear stained.
I kissed her forehead, "I know. But don't let it break you down, you're a good woman and an even better mum. You don't have to beat yourself up for mistakes and broken promises. Darcy is going to love you more than anyone for the rest of her life...well, until she has her own babies."
She groaned, "Oh my God, Harry, don't. I don't even want to think about my baby being that grown up. I'm already missing the days she was a newborn." I chuckled as she hugged me tightly, resting her head in the crook of my neck. I loved the feeling of her pressed against me. My arms around her was the most natural thing in the world. I leaned back into the window seat as I held her. She sighed softly and relaxed into me a little more. "You're still always so warm." Enola murmured.
I laughed quietly, "No. I can be a cold bastard."
"I know that." She giggled looking up at me. I smirked and rested my cheek on her head. "Harry, what are we doing?" Enola asked.
"I'm giving comfort to an upset friend." I replied not liking that she was starting to feel uncomfortable. She nodded and returned her head to it's previous place. I leaned my head back against the window and concentrated on the way she felt. She was warm and relaxed. I could feel her hot breath on my chest and her fingers gripping my hip gently. This was the way we were supposed to be. After a few minutes, I noticed that her breathing had become shallow. I looked down at her to see she was sleeping. I chuckled softly and shifted under her as to not wake her. I stood and scooped her up in my arms. I carried her out of the sun room toward the stairs. As I entered the living room the boys looked at me curiously.
"Harry, what are you..." Louis began. I cut him off with a glare.
"I'm putting her to bed." I stated softly. I turned my eyes to Darcy, "I'll be back for you in a minute, baby girl." She nodded and snuggled into Liam a little more. I then made my way up the stairs with Enola sound asleep in my arms.

I laid Enola down on her bed gently. I really didn't want to wake her. From the moment I arrived at her home she looked exhausted. I pulled the blankets back before undressing her. I unbuttoned her shirt slowly before carefully removing it from her shoulders and arms. I smiled as my eyes roamed her body. She was more gorgeous than I remembered. I bit my lip seeing the faint stretch marks on her stomach. They were barely noticeable but they were her reminder of the time she spent carrying her daughter. Her miracle. Her greatest gift in life. I grinned more seeing the tattoos on her sides and under her breasts. She always swore she would never get any but there they were. I studied the rose on her right side then the sparrow on her left. I sighed and began to unbutton her jeans. She moved a little. I stopped what I was doing. I didn't want her to wake and think I was going to harm her or think I was trying to take advantage of her. I smoothed her hair and hushed her. When she settled, I unzipped her jeans then slowly pulled them from her legs. I threw them aside then pulled the blanket over Enola's body. I kissed her forehead lightly. I picked up the shirt and jeans I removed from her body and threw them in her washing basket. I stood at the door and took one last look at the woman I loved. I smiled and left the room, closing the door behind me.

I set Darcy down on her bed, "Okay baby girl, what story would you like tonight?"
She thought for a long, quiet moment before answering, "How Do I Love You." I nodded then found it on her little book shelf. I walked back to her bed and made her lie back. I sat beside her and began to read to her quietly. She rested her head on my chest and stared at the pages as I spoke the words. I smiled as the book really did make me think of Darcy and all of the crazy things that she did. The little girl was a force of nature. I loved it. She was so much like Enola, loving and sweet and artistic but then there was a part of her that had fire and sassy-ness. She was the perfect child: respectful and polite, precious and adorable but with a great deal of tenacity. I closed the book and gazed at Darcy's tired frame.
"Do you want me to sing to you?" I asked with a smile. She nodded quickly. "What song?" I inquired.
She beamed at me, "Can you sing Story of My Life?" I chuckled and started to sing softly. I didn't want Enola to hear me and wake up. Darcy closed her eyes and snuggled into my side. I wrapped my arm around her and rubbed her back the way Enola always liked me to. I chuckled when Darcy sighed, enjoying the feeling just like her mother. Within a few moments, Darcy was fast asleep. I carefully removed myself from her bed. I turned out the light before closing the door over.

I reentered Enola's living room where all of the boys were sitting silently, watching a movie. I sat down beside Louis and rested my head on the back of the sofa. I sighed in relief and closed my eyes.
"Are they both sleeping?" Louis inquired.
I nodded, "Both of them are out cold. They aren't getting up until late in the morning. I know it."
"Maybe we should go then." Niall suggested looking at Louis and Liam. They all agreed. Niall and Liam stood and got back into their jackets.
Louis hit my arm, "Come on, we'll go for a drink us boys."
I shook my head, "Nah, I'm gonna stay here. Just in case."
Liam lifted his eyebrow at me, "Just in case what?"
I shrugged, "I don't know. Darcy wakes up because she wasn't as tired as I thought." The boys all looked at me like I was insane. I knew it was crazy but they were my girls and I wanted to be close in case they needed something. "Go. I'll be going back to my house in a little while." I stated in an assuring tone. Liam, Niall and Louis all nodded before heading for the door. As soon as the boys left, I got up and went into the kitchen. I turned on the water. I was going to clean up the messes Darcy and I made.

I relaxed into Enola's sofa. I turned the television on again and turned the volume down. I knew it was probably a bad idea, but I was already too tired to drive. The hangover I started my day with really wore me down. I grabbed the throw from the back of the sofa and covered myself. I turned onto my side and watched the old movie. I was insanely content with the moment. I wasn't in bed with the love of my life, but I knew that she got there because of me. I knew she was relaxed and resting. I knew that Darcy was safe in her bed with her purple butterfly night light and her mother and I near by. Things felt like they were as close to the way I wanted them to be, as it was ever going to get. I relaxed more and let my eyes slid shut, thinking of the day I spent with Darcy.

Notes