Recovery / / h.s

Chapter Forty-Five.

"Hi Caroline," he waved to the girl at the counter, a warm smile covering his face.

"H-Hi Mr. Styles," she stumbled over her words, still staring at the floor.

"How many times do I have to tell you?" He was walking towards her now, taking long strides until he stood right beside her. "It's Ken."

"Sorry, Ken ," she smiled.

"Good. I see you've met my son, Harry?" He wondered, glancing back and forth between the two of us.

"Your son?" She wondered.

"Hardly. She seems rather skittish," I told him at the same time. She glanced at the floor again, and her face resembled a tomato.

"Harry," he scolded me, shaking his head which only made me chuckle a bit. "Caroline's new. Stop giving her a hard time."

"Yeah, yeah," I rolled my eyes. I didn't come here to socialize with the new girl. "Where's Barb?"

"She's, uh, she's in the back," Caroline mumbled and I quickly thanked her before shoving my hands in my pockets and making my way towards the ovens.

I was greeted by a few more people as I made my way to the person I wanted to see. Little old ladies wrapped their arms around my torso gently. They were shocked to see me, most of them thought I wouldn't ever come back.

I was directed to the dough station, even though I knew that's where she'd be. She was hunched over the dough table, a rolling pin in her hand. She was singing in German, something she did a lot when she got really into her work.

"Barbara," I sang as I strolled towards her. I could already feel the smile creeping onto my face.

She looked up, confused at first, but when she spotted me her features turned into a grin.

"Harry, my love!" She was too tiny to engulf me in a proper hug, but she still tried anyway, her short arms around my neck as she stood on her tiptoes.

"How are you?" She wondered. She held me away from her, taking me all in, a look of clear distaste on her face. "What did I tell you about the ink, boy? You're going to run out of skin!"

I stood still as she whacked me gently with her rolling pin. "I like them," I defended myself, biting back a smile. She rolled her eyes, a disapproving look on her face, and went back to rolling the dough.

I sat on one of the crates, telling her about my new life in America. I mostly talked about Lily, though, and Barbara grinned when she heard I'd met someone.

"Lillian," she spoke softly. "Pretty name, pretty girl, yes?" I nodded, pulling out my phone to show her my lock screen picture of Lily and I. "Oh! Very pretty girl."

As I slid my phone into my pocket, it started to ring- Ashton's contact picture came over the screen.

"Hey, Ash," I said, waiting to hear my daily update.

"Harry," he sounded panicked, rushed. "I don't know- I went in the apartment and she was just there- on the floor-"

I hung up, not even bothering to say goodbye to Barbara before I ran out and told my dad I needed a ride to the airport immediately.

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I took the first flight home- which was four hours from the time I got the airport. All the while my hands shaking, and my thoughts running wild. Please be okay, I thought. Please.

I landed early in the morning. Ashton was already waiting for me and I was barely in the car before he was driving away.

"How is she?" I wondered, on the verge of tears, I couldn't believe I had been gone for this.

"She's awake," he said quietly. "I stayed as long as I could before they kicked me out." I looked towards his clock on the dash- it was nearly five am.

We arrived at the hospital in ground breaking time. I didn't even think to thank Ashton before I was throwing open the door and darting towards the hospital.

It was eerily quiet. The lights were bright and nurses still moved all over re place, but the sound of patients was barely there.

"I need to find Lillian James," I said quickly to the woman at the front desk. She seemed bored as she put her fashion magazine down.

"Visiting hours are over," she said snottily.

"Look," I said, leaning over the desk. "I just took a ten hour plane ride all the way from London. I do not have the patience. Tell me where I can find my wife." Maybe it wasn't all true, but I was desperate.

Her face was white and she nodded slowly before turning to her computer. "Lillian James is in room 308. If you take the elevator up and-"

I stepped onto the elevator, its doors blocking out the sound of her voice. My hands shook the entire ride up. I desperately went from door to door- 304. 307. 308!

Lillian sat up in bed, the television illuminating the dark room. Her eyes glanced over by the door and she flashed me a smile that was enough to make my knees go weak. She was fine. She was alive. Everything was all right.

"Hi Harry," she said simply, but it was the best two words I'd ever heard in my life.

"Say that again," I breathed.

"Hi Harry," she repeated, and I wasted no time sliding into bed beside her, dotting kisses all over her face.

A/N

So there's that! I'm not really sure what Harry's dads name is so I just used the first basic name that came to mind?? Anyway, enjoy!