etc. // hs

flashback #3!!!!

"She loves you," Harry argued with a chuckle. "We just have a bond, that's all."

"Sure, sure."

"Here, take her."

I started to protest but her squirmy little body was placed in my arms and she was screaming for her dad before I could even open my mouth.

"Oh my goodness," I furrowed my eyebrows as she tried to lean out of my arms towards her dad. "Stel, don't hurt yourself, baby."

"Dada!" She cried, her dewey cheeks flushing red while her tantrum picked up speed. Of course my little angel Theo was just staring at her with the most confused expression, like he just couldn't understand why a baby wouldn't want to be held by me.

"Harry," I whimpered, holding her slightly away from my body. "Help me."

"Don't give her what she wants!"

"She's about to strangle me!"

"She has baby hands, darling. That's not an actual concern."

"That isn't the point!"

"Just hold her for a while and she'll calm down," he sighed, his hands wrapping around Theo's little arms to hold him above the waves. "I'm taking Theo out, just come with us."

"I'll try," I muttered, my eyes widening as Stella gave me the most vicious look. "Geez Stel, calm down."

"Don't show fear!" Harry called above the crashing sound of the waves. "Come on angel, I'll protect you."

I picked my way through the little patches of seaweed in the shallow water and eventually made it about mid-thigh deep, which was knee-deep for Harry. He looked like a dad straight out of a magazine, what with his muscular arms and tan legs, perfectly-billowing chocolate curls and slightly flushed cheeks. Gosh, he was flawless.

"You look terrified, princess," Harry laughed lightly as his strong arm wound around my torso. "Just relax, she's fine."

Apparently she had tired herself out because now she had her head laid on my shoulder, and her arms dangling in surrender.

"Just take her back," I said quietly. "I don't like seeing her unhappy."

Harry gave me a long, sweet kiss then finally took the limp Stella, who immediately perked up once she was in his arms. Good god, what a drama queen.

"She's just like her mum," he laughed, shaking his head. "You've always gotten exactly what you wanted, when you wanted it, and you know I'm right. Your daughter is the same way, that's all."

"I never screamed when I didn't get my way."

"Oh?"

"Shut up."

Theo ran over to me and I picked him up, which made him begin laughing and clapping his hands happily. At least one of my children liked me.

I was happy to watch Harry and the kids play in the water. Stella eventually got down from his hold and toddled in the water, not that he ever let go of her little hand.

On one of my occasional trips back to the beach chair to reapply sunscreen on my burning shoulders, I ran into a group of boys that looked like they were in college, maybe nineteen or twenty. I didn't think twice about passing through them but upon reaching the group, I heard multiple catcalls and whistles.

Assuming they weren't to Harry, I just smiled a little and continued on my way. They went on their way and I couldn't help but laugh about it to myself. They were just kids, after all.

"What was that about?" Harry said suddenly, startling me so I jumped a good foot off the ground. "I saw them whistling at you."

"Yeah."

"Did you say anything?"

"Well I offered to have a threesome with them, but that's about it."

I wish I would have filmed his reaction because I have never laughed harder than I did at that moment.

"You're such a brat," he shook his head as we walked back down to the water, our hands now intertwined. "You really shouldn't joke about stuff like that."

"And why is that?"

"Because now I'm required to kick their asses."

"That would be funny to watch," I smiled up at him. "I was just joking baby, I didn't mean to make you all defensive."

"I'm defensive all the time," he said in a low voice when we reached the sandbar, where all our kids were floating in a large floating tube. "You're the hottest fucking thing on the planet earth but you're also mine. And I don't like other people looking at what's mine."

I reached on my tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek, which he took as an opportunity to grab my butt and squeeze it slightly.

I guess some things never change.

THIS IS THE LAST FLASHBACK ALRIGHT

NOW ONLY ONE MORE PART LEFT THEN THE EPILOGUE