23 Weeks Along
-Ava's POV-
"You good?"
"Yeah."
"You sure?"
"Yes." I sigh, "Just a bit tired. Your sister wore me out."
"She does tend to be more a bother then anything." Harry chuckles, the sound making me smile.
I adjust the cell phone on my shoulder as I hang up a few baby clothes. "She did paint the baby's room... Well she bossed around Finn while he painted the baby's room."
"You go with the color we agreed on yeah?"
"You mean the one you insisted on?"
"Hey now, you agreed."
"Only after you whined for thirty minutes."
"You still agreed." I can hear the smile in his voice. "It look good?"
"As much as I hate to admit it... Yes. It's perfect." I look around the soft yellow room.
"Knew it! Couldn't go wrong with a name like that. Banana Cream... Knew it was a winner the second I laid eyes on it."
I roll my eyes as I silently laugh. "Well hopefully it doesn't peel."
Harry busts out laughing, making me hold the phone away from my ear.
"You truly are my other half aren't you?" He laughs.
"Well I'm apparently telling bad jokes now so..."
"Now don't start being mean." He cuts me off with a chuckle, "That was really funny. Harry approved."
"Is it going in the book?" I raise an eyebrow as I shut off the light in the baby's room and close the door.
"Already wrote down... Really really miss you Av."
"I miss you too." I say quietly. "You have a few days off soon right?"
"Yeah.. Next week. I don't... I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it back to London though...."
"Oh." I bite my lip, already feeling tears in my eyes. I'm so emotional lately, there's no helping it.
"It's not that I don't want to love. Want to see you more then anything. I just... With the long flight and time difference.. I'd barely make it there before I'd have to turn right around and go back."
"Yeah. Of course. I understand."
"Am trying to move things around a bit. I want to see you Av. You know that right?"
"Yes I know." I take a breath as I sit down on the couch, resting my hand on my belly. "I wish I could come to you."
I sniffle, feeling a tear slide down my cheek.
"Baby.. Please don't cry." Harry's voice sounds pained, only making me more upset. "I'll make it work out. I will."
"Don't. I'll be fine." I nod to myself. "You need to be getting rest when you can, not on a plane the only days you have off."
"I'm fine love. Don't be worrying about me alright? Schedule's slowed down a bit, so I'm good. How's our little one?"
"Obnoxious." I rub my hand over my swollen belly. "Won't keep still. Didn't let me get very much sleep last night."
"It's cause you didn't ring me." Harry scolds.
"Harry, you were on stage."
"Would've hopped off for a second. Know I would've. Call me tonight. Promise?"
"I promise." I smile at the thought. It's silly but true.. The only time the baby settles for the night is if I've had the phone pressed against my stomach, giving Harry a few moments to talk or sing to it.
A door rattling snaps me out of my thoughts, making my heart skip a beat.
"Hey, let me call you back." I say quietly into the phone.
"Why're you whispering?"
"I think..." I stand up, peaking into the kitchen at the backdoor. "Someone's here. I..."
"What do you mean?"
A dark shadow passes outside the glass door as a flashlight shines inside. I feel a phantom pain in my stomach as horrible memories wash over me.
"Ava?"
"I have to go. Someone's outside. I think they're trying to get in. I need to call the police." I ramble off as quietly as possible.
"What?!" Harry's voice booms through the speaker, making me flinch. "Don't hang up."
"Harry, I have to call..."
"Call on the land line. Don't hang up Ava."
I hear shuffling on the other end. "Lock yourself in the office. I'm using Lou's phone to ring Arthur."
I quickly head towards the office, quietly shutting and locking the door behind me. Within seconds my fingers are hitting 999 on the handset, holding it up to my ear as it rings.
I hear Harry yelling at me through the cellphone as it beeps and suddenly goes silent. I curse as I see the battery symbol displayed on the screen.
Shit. Shit shit shit.
I stumble over my words as I explain to the 999 operator there's someone breaking in. Just as I give the address, I hear glass break and the alarm going off.
"Help is on its way, just stay on the line with me till they arrive."
"I think they're inside." I whisper, my hands clammy with sweat.
"Is there a small closet you could hide in?" The women's voice remains calm as my hands shake.
"No, there's nothing. I'm... I'm in the office."
"Get under the desk and keep me on the line. We both need to keep quiet and stay calm alright? Help will be there very soon."
I follow her directions, having difficulty getting myself down onto the floor and under the desk.
I suck in a breath as I hear footsteps outside of the door. I clap my hand over my mouth as tears stream down my face.
This can't be happening again. Not now.
The sound of footsteps fade down the hallway and I hear several doors being opened and closed.
It feels like hours, but I know it's only seconds till I hear a deep voice yelling through the house.
Arthur.
I hear something heavy fall over and some running down the hallway before more voices are calling out.
"Mrs. Styles." A sharp knock on the office door makes me jump, banging my head against the desk. "It's safe to come out now."
"Ava... It's Arthur. Can you unlock the door?"
The second I recognize his voice I hoist myself out from under the desk and unlock the office door, finding a very worried Arthur with his cell up to his ear.
"You alright Mrs.?" An officer asks me to which I breathlessly nod.
"Yeah, did you catch whoever it was?"
"Yes, was a paparazzi wanting pictures of the baby's room. He's being taken into custody now. Seems to be properly pissed."
"Ava..." Arthur gets my attention. "I'll deal with them. Here..."
He hands me his phone, directing the officers towards the kitchen.
"I'm fine." I quickly say into the phone, already knowing who's on the other end.
"Ava! Baby, are you.."
"I'm fine, I was in the office the whole time. My phone died." I cut off Harry's panicked voice. "I never even saw him."
"But you're good? The baby alright?"
"Yes, we're both good. Just a little shaken up." I try to calm my breathing.
"Fuck... I can't.... Ava, you sure you're alright? Like.. You're okay?"
"Yeah."
"Av.. Just.. Be honest with me alright? Please baby."
"I... I'm scared. That was..." My voice fades off as my heart start to race all over again.
"I know baby. I know." Harry says softly. "Arthur's gonna take you to Finn's flat. I'll be there by tomorrow afternoon..."
"You what?" Surely I heard him wrong.
"I'm coming there. Headed to the airport now."
"No Harry. You have a show tonight and tomorrow."
"You think I care about a bloody show right now?" He scoffs. "The car accident and now this.... If something had happened to you.."
"But I'm fine." I try to convince him, knowing how many fans will be disappointed. And angry.
"Not the point Av."
"Is there any way for me to convince you not to come?"
"Course there isn't. Mind's made up. Thought you wanted to see me?" His playful voice is forced as he tries to lighten the mood.
"Of course I want to see you, I just..."
"Baby, forget everything else. Be selfish with me. What do YOU want?"
"I want you here." I reply without hesitation. "But that doesn't mean you should come."
"Means the exact opposite to me."
"Your fans..."
"Are not as important as my family." His voice deepens and I know there's no talking him out of this. "I'll meet you at Finn's tomorrow afternoon. Just.. don't go anywhere alright? Stay with him?"
"I will. I promise."
"Good. I love you Av."
"I love you."
"I was so worried baby."
"I know." My hearts warms. "I'm okay though. We're okay."
"I'll take care of all this. Can't have this happening again. None of it. I'll make sure of it."
I look down the hallway, seeing a broken camera laying on the floor in front of the door to the baby's room.
There's nothing he can do to make this all go away. And after the story of the break-in gets out, things will most likely get worse.
But Harry doesn't need to hear that. He needs to hear this is all still manageable. He needs to hear he can keep us safe.
So that's exactly what I tell him.
"I know you will Harry... I know."
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Sorry it's been so long since I've updated! I've been horribly sick 😷 but I'm feeling better now so back to writing!!