Self-Titled [Completed]

Sign Of The Times

She was stuck on his words as she tried her best to muffle her sobs. Harry never left her side. He held her and reassured her he wouldn't leave her in this God-forsaken place. She trusted him, she just couldn't believe he was leaving.

"Baby," he whispered to her, pulling away a bit to hold her face in his palms, "I know this place like the back of my hand. I know the ins and the outs. I am not leaving you in here. They're discharging me in the morning. Tomorrow night, it's you and me." She sniffled and nodded, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. "Just after midnight, sneak out into the garden. They don't have people watching over it that late. That's how we get out."

"That's so long, Harry," she huffed, her voice broken.

"I know, baby, I know. But it's gonna have to work. It's just tomorrow, then it's you and me for as long as you like." With a sigh, she nodded. "I'll bring you some clothes, too. We don't wanna look suspicious, now do we?" She chuckled at his remark, shaking her head.

Harry leaned down and gently took her lips between his. His large hands spread across her lower back and seemed to pull her even closer than she was. The feeling was something they both hoped never faded; that spark that ignited whenever they touched. That kiss was what Harry left her to hold onto for the next twenty-four hours until he returned.

Figures, it had to be one of the scarce group-therapy days that Harry was being discharged. Being submersed in the small space--in which Harry always made it bearable--was just painful and never-ending. The clocks on the walls seemed to mock her every time she glanced at them.

When the time was right, she snuck out of her room and quietly padded through the halls to her and Harry's designated meeting spot. The garden was her favorite place to be beside the hallway with Harry. The area was calming and the wind that blew through it was always refreshing and peaceful, never harsh. She heard a faint whistle to her left. As she turned, she could make out the tall figure with his usual unruly hair. She smiled and quietly ran to his inviting arms.

Their lips met in a fervent rush, forceful but passionate pushes and pulls between the two of them. His green eyes were illuminated by the moon, giving them their own sparkle she couldn't get enough of.

"Promised you I wouldn't leave you."

"I didn't doubt you for a second."

Harry handed her a few articles of clothing before stating, "I stole them from my sister. Sorry if they don't fit but we didn't have much time to be picky."

She took a few steps back from Harry to give her room to discard her disgracefully-white clothes. As she slipped her legs into the leggings he'd brought, she noticed his wandering eyes.

"You know, some privacy would be nice," she chuckled, tossing her shirt over her head.

"Oh, if this is going where I hope it is, I plan to see you in a lot less clothes than that, baby," he remarked, causing her to blush. She rolled her eyes before pulling the crewneck he brought over her head. It landed just under her bum and the sleeves fell well-past her hands. She looked back at Harry with an eyebrow raised. There was no way this was his sister's.

"Okay, the jumper is mine but come on, we have to go." She quickly pushed the sleeves up past her hands before Harry grabbed one.

He took her through the secret hole in the fence that only he knew about. They made sure to stay in the shadows, acting as natural as they could to not draw attention to themselves. Her heart was beating a mile a minute for a few reasons. For starters, she just broke out of a mental institution. And secondly, she and Harry were holding hands.

"I'd say we have about four and a half hours until they find out you're gone. Five if we're lucky," he said, turning his head to look down at her. She kept her gaze on her moving feet, paying no mind to the words he'd just muttered out. Her free hand was visibly shaking as her breaths became more frequent. Harry pulled her to a side street, finally pulling her focus from the ground.

"Love, what's wrong?" he questioned softly.

"We...we just broke out of a mental hospital," she breathed.

"Well, technically, you did. I was already out."

"Not helping," she glared.

"Okay, okay. Love, look at me. We're going to be okay. Do you trust me?" She let out a small sigh through her nose, looking up at him through her lashes before nodding. "Good," he mumbled before kissing her forehead. "Now, come on. We gotta get as far away from here as possible in the next four hours."

Together they walked hand in hand through the dark streets. She slowly became less stressed as the minutes ticked by and slowly more sleepy. Over time, her footsteps began to drag behind her and her head was leaned against Harry's bicep.

"Getting sleepy there, love?" he asked with a small chuckle. She let out a small whine and nodded. Harry shrugged her off his arm, stepping in front of her and saying, "Jump up. I'll carry you."

After a small while, Harry was stood on the doorstep of a house. He shook her awake, setting her back on her feet while they waited for the homeowner to answer the door.

"Where are we?" she questioned.

"Glad to see you made it back alright, mate," said a voice she didn't recognize. It was a bit gruff but higher than Harry's.

The man who stood in the doorway was a little shorter than Harry. His hair was brown and short, nowhere near as messy as Harry's, and rather straight. He had a light stubble on his face defining his cheekbones and jawline. His eyes were a beautiful blue, much like the ocean.

"Thanks for letting us stay, Louis," Harry replied, stepping into the house. He tugged her tired body along with him.

"Not a problem. Anything to help a mate in need," Louis said as he closed the door. She turned to him, giving a shy wave.

"Hi, I'm--"

"No need," he interrupted, "I know all about you. Harry's told me everything. Nice to meet you, love, I'm Louis." She gingerly shook his hand. He was also covered in tattoos that she quickly grew to adore. Louis turned to Harry. "Guest bedroom's all set for you. But if I find out you two are doing it on my bed--"

"Goodnight, Louis," Harry intervened, pulling her towards the stairs to their bedroom.

"I won't be happy, Harold," Louis finished.

They giggled together as they entered the guest room and closed the door. As their small chuckles and giggles died down, they just stared at each other. There were no words to say amidst the silence. Neither could believe they made it this far. It was strange being out of the sterile hallways and being able to stay with each other. They'd both slept alone for so long. So long.

Her feelings began to overwhelm her again as tears blurred her vision. She nearly fell into Harry's chest as he enveloped her in his arms.

"Stop your crying, baby. It's a sign of the times," he whispered to her.

"The times?" she asked, looking up into his forest green eyes.

"The times in there," he explained. "We're out now. Breaking through the atmosphere. Things are pretty good from here. Remember, everything will be alright. It's you and me, baby." She nodded, taking a deep breath to compose herself. "That's my girl. Now, come on, let's sleep this worry away."