(Y/N) is tired.
Today had been her first full day back at work after a long weekend, and she didn’t realize how important it was to keep her sleep schedule regulated until she had to get up at five-thirty in the morning after staying up with Harry until two the previous night. He had even tried to bargain with her to go to sleep at ten, but (Y/N) insisted on staying up with him while he sketched out ideas for an appointment he had later the next day. Now, here she was, slothing on her feet into Harry’s house using the key he gave her for her birthday.
Harry wasn’t home yet, and she knew Mitch was at her apartment with Sarah, leaving herself alone with only Evie following her around. All she wanted to do was take a long, hot shower, and hopefully nap before Harry came home. Which is what she planned on doing right up until she heard the sound of the garage door opening, and Harry’s music playing loudly through the car speakers. Evie had skittered over to the door, excited to see her dad and to have another opportunity to try and trip someone again.
“Darling, ’m home!” Harry called as soon as he passed over the threshold, reaching down and picking his Evie up before she could get tangled up in his feet. He had his hair pulled back with a pastel purple scrunchie he had stolen from her that morning, with his signature eyeliner blackened around his eyes and a black hoodie on with white hearts trailing up the sleeves. Only the tattoos on his neck and hands were visible as (Y/N) watched on as he loved on his kitten.
After cooing to the cat in his arms for a moment longer, he looked up to find (Y/N) stood just outside the kitchen with her hands tangled in front of her and her eyes sleepily blinking at him. “Hi, baby,” he greeted, his voice soft as he put Evie down in favor of moving towards his girl.
Once close enough, he gathered (Y/N) in his arms, a content sigh falling from his lips as he laid his cheek to rest atop her head. She melted in his hold, finally feeling her muscles relax after the day she had. Harry could make her sleepy in the best way, with his safe warmth that he carried only for her.
“Hi,” she reciprocated in a sigh, her own arms tight around his middle as he held her in the kitchen.
“Did y'have an alright day?” he asked, his breath warm as he talked into her hair. She knew what he was really asking. He wanted to know if he had been right about trying to get her to go to bed early, and if she had learned her lesson to listen to him next time.
“Mhm,” she hummed, not wanting to admit that she had been dead on her feet all day and contemplated sleeping in her car for her lunch break. “Missed you, though.”
“Yeah?” he laughed, “I miss y'always, m'love.”
They stayed silent as they held each other for a few more minutes, Harry constantly running his hands along her sides or in large circles on her back, anything to prolong the moment and remind himself that he was home and with his angel again. (Y/N) swore she could have fallen asleep while standing up with the way he was holding her. All she needed was her goodnight kiss and she would be out like a light.
Harry gently pulled back from her, just far enough to see her face. (Y/N) looked up at him with sleep in her eyes and pout on her lips at the loss of contact. Harry cracked her favorite lopsided smile, leaning down and nudging his nose against her’s, the hoop in his nose cool against her skin.
“Mitch and Sarah wanted to get dinner tonight with all of us,” Harry said simply, his hands coming to rest on the small of her back. “Was hoping we could meet up with them at Little House in about an hour, if that’s alright?”
All (Y/N) wanted was go to sleep cuddled into Harry’s side with his fingers in her hair, but looking at him now with the hopeful smile on his face and his adoring eyes that traced over her features, she couldn’t deny him of anything. She didn’t want to be a buzzkill and end his night before it even started, and she knew that he had been missing his best friend since it seemed Mitch and (Y/N) had basically switched residences recently. And, she did miss Sarah…
“Yeah, that sounds like fun,” she complied, a sigh to her voice as she kissed her dreams of an early bedtime goodbye.
“Yeah? Y'sure, love?” Harry asked, his voice soft as he moved one of his hands to rest on her cheek with his thumb rubbing along her cheekbone. She knew he could tell she was off, but she was going to try her hardest to hide her fatigue from him.
“Promise. I just need to get out of my work clothes first.”
Harry seemed happy with her response—he loved when she promised to him—, his smile widening as he looked at her. He tilted her head up to look at him, with his hand still on her cheek.
“Give me a kiss, angel.”
She melted at his words, happy to finally kiss him and hear the pet name fall from his lips. She stood on the tips of her toes, puckering her lips in an attempt to get closer. Harry made it easy on her by leaning down the rest of the way, and pressing a kiss to her pout. (Y/N) sighed into the contact, content with being able to finally get the kiss she was hoping for all day (unfortunately, not before bedtime like she had imagined, but this will do). Harry held her tightly as he slotted his lips against her’s, smiling the smallest bit at the sound of her sigh.
He was the first to pull away, his hands landing on the small of her back once again before he pressed a kiss to her cheek. He pat her butt gently, a smile tugging at his cheeks as he took in her heated expression. “Go get ready, baby, I’ll tell them we’ll be there.”
(Y/N) dazedly followed his words, nodding her head before trailing back to his bedroom to rifle through her reserved drawer for a different outfit. She could feel Harry’s eyes on her the whole way, and she could only imagine the lazy smile he had on his face.
As she changed into a pair of leggings from her jeans, all (Y/N) wanted to do was pull on the pair of cream sleep shorts and matching top Harry had gifted her a few weeks back. (Jus’ because, he had said as he handed the bag to her accompanied by a bouquet of red aster flowers). Instead, she threw on a large, grey shirt of his, the hem hitting the middle of her thighs. She busied herself by fixing her hair out of her face and patching up her makeup, anything to keep her eyes open and hopefully help her catch a second wind.
Eventually, Harry followed into the bedroom, his hand running through his loose curls now that he had taken the scrunchie out, the band now around his wrist. He took a seat on the edge of the bed, facing (Y/N) who stood in the bathroom with an applicator lacquering her lips over with a pink gloss. From the corner of her eye, she could see Harry examining her reflection, a set in his jaw he only had when he was worried over her (which was more often than she would like).
“Y'sure y'want to go out tonight, lovebug? We can stay home and cuddle and put on a movie if y'want.” Harry’s suggestion was a code (Y/N) knew all too well; he knew she was always the first to fall asleep when they laid out on the couch for movies, and this was his way of getting her to admit she was tired.
“Yes, I’m sure, H. We haven’t all been together in so long, and I really want some fried rice right now,” she countered, making a point to blink the sleep from her eyes in an effort to look more awake for Harry’s sake.
“Alright,” Harry sighed, his voice skeptic as he stood from his position on their bed. He stepped into the bathroom, settling his hands on her hips as he took his spot behind her. He settled his chin on her shoulder, his bright green eyes watching her in the reflection. “Love you,” he cooed, pressing a kiss to her cheek with a tilt of his head.
“Love you too, H.” (Y/N) shifted, turning her own head to replace her cheek with her lips against his in a small kiss. “We should probably leave if we’re supposed to meet them.”
Harry only nodded at her words, releasing his hold on her hips before grabbing her hand in his. (Y/N)’s gaze fell on their joined hands as Harry gathered his keys and other things.
Tonight was going to be long.
—————
“Right, baby?”
The sound of Harry’s voice and the nudge from his shoulder broke (Y/N) from her sleep softened state. Her gaze broke from examining Harry’s chipped blue nail polish and up to his face where he was looking expectantly at her.
“What?” she questioned, the word feeling dumb in her mouth. She flicked her eyes across the table to Mitch and Sarah to see them also awaiting an answer from her.
“H said that you guys were going on vacation together in a couple weeks,” Adam piped up, peeking around Harry as he spoke.
“Oh,” she peeped, Harry’s hand squeezing hers in a silent concern, “Yeah, we’re going to Spain for a couple weeks.”
“Oh wow,” Sarah said, nodding her head as she looked at (Y/N) knowingly. She knew how she could get when she was running low on sleep. “What are you going to do?”
Harry took ahold of the conversation then, allowing (Y/N) to settle back into the cushioned booth they had been seated in. She had been right when she figured dinner was going to be long.
On the short drive to the restaurant, (Y/N) feigned love for a song Harry was playing as an excuse to put the volume up high in an effort to keep herself awake. When inside, they had spotted Mitch, Sarah and Adam packed into a booth in the corner of the room. The lights had been lowered for the dinner rush, only adding to the fatigue she was feeling. After ordering and pulling the small plastic tag with their order number on it, they settled into the booth with (Y/N) sliding into the spot closest to the wall. Harry had held her hand through most of dinner and allowed her to bow out for majority of the conversation, only peeping up when Sarah asked her something. This allowed her to lull into her half asleep state, zoning out as she looked at her’s and Harry’s joined hands and feel the warmth from being so close to his side.
Somehow, being broke from her haze by Harry’s questioning made her more tired now that the previous peace had resumed. She heard Harry talking about all of the little adventures they had planned for their time in Barcelona, but none of them were registering as he shifted beside her with his arm coming to fall around her shoulders. She gladly took took advantage of the gesture, cuddling herself closer into his side with both of her hands playing with the fingers of his free one.
A few moments later, when the other side of the table and Adam had started up their own conversation, Harry ducked his head down with his mouth by (Y/N)’s ear.
“Y'can sleep if y'want, baby. I know you’re tired,” he whispered, his fingers tightening around her’s to ensure she was paying attention.
“I’m okay, H, really. I’m just listening and all,” she excused, too embarrassed to listen to him and sleep on his shoulder in front of their friends.
“I don’t mind if y'sleep on me,” he crooned, his voice soft—too soft for (Y/N) to keep her stance firm. “I know they won’t mind either. ’S alright.”
She felt her resolve shaken with the way he tipped his head to press a kiss to the patch of skin in front of her ear. The cool sliver of his lip piercing against her skin did little to bring her back to reality. “Are you sure?” she gently questioned.
Harry started tracing small shapes on her shoulder with the hand that he had wrapped around her, deteriorating the small bit of intention (Y/N) had left. “Promise, darling,” he whispered, his nose skimming her cheek from how close he was, “I’ll be right here.”
(Y/N) slightly nodded, just barely dipping her chin. Harry cracked his lopsided smile she loved so much, pressing a kiss to her cheek before tightening his arm around her and slipping back into conversation with the others.
She absently continued playing with Harry’s fingers, his own curling every so often at her ministrations. Feeling somewhat relieved from Harry’s reassurances, she laid her head on his shoulder as her eyelids grew heavy. She no longer fought the sleep that crawled around the edges of her vision, her blinking slowing. Eventually her eyes refused to open and the conversation around her became a blur. The only thing she knew for sure was there was Harry all around her and that was all she needed.
—————
Harry couldn’t help but be endeared when he looked towards his girl a few minutes after their conversation to find her sleeping softly on his shoulder. He had told her the night before that just because he was staying up, didn’t mean she had to too, but she had refused each push. She had told him over and over that she wanted to spend as much time with him as she could (as if they didn’t see each other everyday and just spend a long weekend cooped up in his room). But, looking at her now, with her breath coming out in puffs against his chest, he couldn’t be mad at her choice of a late night.
He could tell, the second he came home, that she was dead on her feet, and he was reluctant to tell her of the plans that Mitch had suggested. He knew (Y/N) well enough to know that she would force herself to go, not wanting to miss out or be the reason Harry was missing out either. That’s why he had pushed so hard before they left, wanting to double check with her that she felt fit to go out. He didn’t know the night would wind down with her cuddled into his side, a half finished container of fried rice in front of her, but he couldn’t complain with the way she so tightly held onto his hand even as she dreamed.
“Is she alright?” Mitch asked, breaking Harry from his rose-tinted thoughts. Beside him, Sarah looked to be asking the same question with the worried pinch in her brow.
“Yeah,” Harry answered, running his fingers along the exposed skin of her arm, “Jus’ had a late night.”
“Oh really?” Mitch teased, a kink in his lips at Harry’s words.
He only rolled his eyes, knowing exactly where Mitch’s thoughts lied. He acted as if he and (Y/N) went at it all the time (to be fair, he’s not far off, but they talk too!).
“She wanted to watch me sketch last night, that’s all,” Harry grumbled, done with the idea of Mitch thinking of his (Y/N) like that. Mitch only laughed off his attitude, shifting the conversation to something towards Adam.
Harry was hyperaware of the girl sleeping on his shoulder, checking constantly if any of his movements had disrupted her or if any of the noise around them had woken her up. It wasn’t until she had shifted to be sat halfway on his lap, with one of her legs draped over his and her ankle hooked around his shin, that it was time to call it a night. He knew that when she got extra cuddly, that she was in deep and figured she would be much more comfortable in bed at home.
He waited it out a little longer, chiming into the conversation a few more times before he checked the time to find it was officially ten o'clock.
“I think ’m gonna take her home,” Harry said, cutting into a lull in the conversation as he glanced at (Y/N).
“To your’s, or the flat?” Sarah piped up, already nudging Mitch out of the booth to join Harry in ending the night. It was a valid question; (Y/N) seemed to have two homes these days.
“Mine.”
Harry saw Sarah nod to his answer before turning to Mitch to probably ask him if that meant he was going to be at the apartment that night. Harry turned to (Y/N) as he felt Adam behind him slide out of their side of the bench, unsure of how to go about waking her up. (He didn’t really want to disturb her, but he figured she would be upset to find out he carried her out in the middle of a restaurant). As the trio chattered over drawn-out goodbyes behind him, Harry gently shook (Y/N) with the arm he had wrapped around her shoulder.
“(Y/N), love, we need to go,” he cooed to her, his other hand slipping through her fingers and brushing through her hair. All she offered in response was a slight furrow to her brow and a sigh. Harry continued to try, gently jostling her and trying to talk her out of her sleep-dazed state.
Eventually, she made the sweet little noise she only makes when she’s woken up before she wanted, and lifted her head from her position on his shoulder. “We’re leaving?” she croaked, her hand coming up to swipe the sleep from her eyes.
“Yeah. Was gonna take y'home so y'can sleep properly.” Harry waited for (Y/N)’s silent nod before slowly sliding out of the booth to join the others with her following closely behind. Her sleepy compliance reminding him of the first time she had stayed the night at his house; nothing ever got old with her.
After the group all said their goodbyes (Harry doing them for both he and (Y/N) as she offered small smiles and hugs to everyone instead of her words), he guided them out of the restaurant. (Y/N) stayed tucked under Harry’s arm as he escorted them to the car, occasionally looking down at her with the moonlight shining a pale glow over her form.
Once at the car, Harry tucked (Y/N) into the passenger seat before shrugging off his hoodie to give to her as a blanket and something to hold onto while he drove them home. He watched with a fond smile as she gratefully took the fabric and pulled him towards her with a gentle grip on his hand to press a kiss to his lips. He mumbled a quiet thank you, baby against her lips before pulling away and moving to the driver’s side.
The drive was quiet, with the music low and (Y/N) drifting in and out of sleep with her head against the windowpane and Harry’s hoodie snuggled against her cheek. Harry kept a hand on her thigh, a reassuring presence for the both of them. Every so often, he would glance at her, finding his smile growing every time he saw her even breaths fog up the glass and he hoped that she would dream of him.
Soon enough, Harry was pulling the car into the garage of his home, (Y/N) still blissfully unaware in the passenger seat. He knew this time around, he was going to let her sleep and just carry her through to the bedroom; he didn’t have the heart to wake her up again. As he did so, he was extra cautious not to bump her on anything or cause her to wake up with his jostling.
He gently laid her down on the bed, pulling the pink blanket his mother had gotten her for Christmas they kept on the foot of the bed up around her shoulders, and making sure it covered her feet. Harry brushed the hair from her face and gave her cheek a kiss, even though he knew she couldn’t feel it, before moving to change into a pair of sweatpants and take his shirt off before bed.
After taking his eyeliner off as best he could while rushing to get into bed with his angel, Harry settled into the sheets beside her. He threw his arm around her middle, and shuffled himself closer to her.
Harry himself began to drift off to sleep, content to be sleeping next to his girl the way he wanted to the night before (and through dinner, if he’s being honest). His fingers traced hearts on her back over the blanket, the action comforting to him as he felt bits of dream-like visions rise to the surface.
The only thing that could have brought him out of his limbo was the soft voice of the girl beside him saying his three favorite words.
“I love you.”
A lazy smile stretched across his lips as he cracked his eyes open only a sliver. (Y/N) looked to be in a deep sleep, his hoodie cuddled under her head and her face relaxed in a content sleep. The only indication that she was even a little awake was the small sentence she had strung together that Harry hoped would filter it’s way into his dreams.
“I love you too, baby. S'much.”
Harry didn’t know how he had slept without her for so long.
——————
Credits:https://moonchildstyles.tumblr.com/post/623100287145705472/can-we-have-a-super-soft-blurb-about-aster-harry