A/N: Six chapters left...oh god. Sorry for the late update because I'm doing some major editing for the Wattys this year!! Yes, I entered Abducted by Styles for the Wattys 2015!!! Please share this story with others so that I can possibly take home an award! Thank you so much and happy reading:) x M.
SONG FOR THIS CHAPTER: CHEERLEADER by OMI (Catchy tune heheh)
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H A R R Y
"Okay guys, which movie do you want to watch?" Lucy asks us, holding up a stack of DVDs as she kneels in front of the DVD player. Louis, Lucy, Niall, Caroline and I have decided that we need to loosen up from the world right now and just enjoy ourselves. Lucy's mum has taken Darcy out to spend some quality time with her.
"Ooh, Jurassic Park!" Niall says, rubbing his hands together as he plops down onto the couch. The couch dips beneath us due to his weight.
"Ew no, do you have Grease?" Louis suggests and Niall scoffs.
"What's up with you and Grease?" I chuckle, rubbing my chin as I wraps my arm around Caroline's shoulder.
"Eleanor is in love with that movie...And I'm in love with Eleanor." Louis adds, triggering Niall, Lucy and Caroline to glance at each other and let out a stretched out 'awwwww'.
"Hey, speaking of Eleanor, how is she mate?" I inquire and Louis smiles as he scuffles his feet.
"I proposed to her, the wedding's in a month." We all congratulate him happily. "And our little Tommo is soon to arrive into the big world." He chortles. "Mumma is getting pretty cranky." I nod like I know what he's talking about because he's awfully giddy about it.
Louis continues. "You know, sometimes I lay awake at night thinking about the little fingers that will hold onto my thumb. I want to show my kid that I will be here for them and that they can count on me. I mean, the whole thing is scary and all but parenthood is the next step, if you know what I mean." I don't feel Caroline in my arms anymore as she launches off the couch.
"I'm...going to use the bathroom." The shakiness in her voice speaks otherwise when she avoids eye contact and speeds off. After a short period of time, I get off the couch as well.
"Did I do or say something wrong?" Louis peeps out almost guiltily but I shake my head. Lucy furrows her eyebrows a bit puzzled and Niall has a similar reaction.
"Wait, I'll be back." I tell them and make my way to the guest bedroom as fast as I can. From other side of the bathroom door, I can hear soft, muffled sobs. I swallow down on the lump in my throat, hesitantly knocking on the door.
"Come out, baby, I know you're in there." I coax quietly, resting my palm on the door. My eyes trail down to the knob and I turn it. The door is unlocked. I see Caroline standing near the sink with her hand pressed against her mouth to suppress her cries.
Wrapping my arms around her, I let her cry into my chest. My right hand absentmindedly strokes her hair as I witness the broken state she is in. "Tell me what's wrong, Care." Immediately, she looks up at me with teary eyes and wipes her nose with her sleeve.
"What do you think our baby would have been like, Harry? Would she or he have been like mum or dad?" The sadness in her voice is overwhelming and I suddenly come to realize that this all started with the topic of Eleanor's and Louis' kid.
"I don't know." I say, looking away. Hiccups leave Caroline's mouth as she takes my hand and places it on her stomach.
"How does it feel like to carry a tiny being made of love and promises?" She asks me and my lips tremble. "How would it feel like to lay awake everyday- watching that perfect being that we created, sleep in peace?" I can feel tears burning in my eyes as I think about what she says. She slowly slips onto her knees.
"I killed a dream, Harry! I fucking murdered an innocent dream with my weak, good-for-nothing body. You couldn't be a father because of me!" She cries harder. Kneeling down next to her, I hug her and kiss her on the forehead.
"Don't blame yourself for this. It wasn't your fault, Caroline." She avoids my eyes as pain-filled tears run down her face. Cradling her face in my hands, I make her look at me. "That child must have done something good to go to heaven right away. Most of us are here over and over and over to finally get it all right. I'm proud that God thought our child was sinless..."
"I will be here again for my mistakes." She says quietly.
"I will be here again for my mistakes as well." I respond to her, kissing her lips. They taste salty, due to her tears. "But for now, let's just embrace and cherish what we have."
"Harry, I want to try again." She speaks, burying her face in the warmth of my chest as she cries. My heart actually hurts because of how bad she feels but I don't want to make any hasty decisions. I tilt her chin up so her eyes meet mine.
"No, love," I shake my head as my forehead is pressed firmly against hers. "I don't think it's a wise idea. I get that you feel terrible about the miscarriage but I don't want you getting hurt even more. I'm saying this because I truly and genuinely love you."
Caroline is silent as she closes her eyes. I continue on, close to the verge of crying, myself. "What I'm about to say is the complete and utter truth. I want to marry you, I want you to be the mother of my children, I want to experience life with you, hell- I want to grow old with you...and I want you to be by my side when I slip away from the world. Please, I want you to be the one."
Listening to my words, Caroline stares deeply into my eyes while rubbing my cheeks with her thumbs. "Then I'll be the one. I'll be your one." She whispers before her eyes trail down to my vulnerable lips. Soon, hers are on top of mine and our movements are in sync. I hoist her up onto me, letting her legs drape around my waist. We exit the bathroom like this, becoming a sloppy mess because of our hungry movements. I press her against the nearest wall.
Leaving no time to be wasted, I throw off Caroline's shirt and she helps get the sweater vest and plaid button-up off of me. Our kisses become more intense as my lips trail down to her neck, sucking harshly on her sweet spot.
"Harry," Caroline moans in pleasure, throwing her head back as she arches herself off the wall. My lips move to her chest as I leave hickeys there as well.
"I like it when you say my name, but it sounds better when you moan it." I say seductively, determined to try something new. Taking her to the bed, I push her down onto the mattress and kneel down at the foot of the bed...
"I'm going to make you feel so good."
*~* (A/N: How I'm feelin' rn)
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C A R O L I N E
At the end of the nerve-wracking experience, I am a panting, sweaty mess. Lying on my back, I heavily breathe in and out. Harry flings himself down next to me.
"Wow, that was really awkward." I say, my cheeks turning red. Harry rolls over to kiss me on the forehead.
"How was that awkward?" He chuckles, resting his hands on his stomach as we stare up at the white ceiling. I remember that peak of ecstasy when I couldn't even see it anymore. The thought itself causes heat to flush into my ears.
"Well for a starter, you put your tongue-"
"It's called going down on someone, love."
"It's gross."
"You liked it."
"Did not."
"Did to."
"It's weird, Harry, I was feeling odd the whole time."
"So explain biting into the pillow to hold in your screams." Harry smirks and I groan, the images still vivid inside my head. He gets off the bed and puts on his plaid button-up along with the sweater vest again. Just to think we shared an intimate moment in less than five minutes when our friends were downstair. They were completely oblivious to what we were up to.
Harry fixes his hair, smoothes out his shirt and walks in the direction of the door. Opening it, he turns back to me.
"I'm going to go back downstairs. They're probably wondering where the hell we are. Come quick, angel."
I climb off the bed and put the clothes back onto my body, brushing my hair to hide the evidence of our doings. Just as thought Harry had left already, he pokes his head through the doorway.
"By the way, I would record and listen to your moans on audio if I could. They're so fucking hot." This causes me to widen my eyes. Before I know it, he disappears down the hallway again.
When I am done fixing myself up, I slowly stroll down the stairs. My ears pick up on voices from downstairs- half bantering and half actual talking. I look at the front hall and see that Lucy, Niall and Louis are standing alongside Harry, who is holding Darcy. Lucy's mum must have dropped her off when we were upstairs. It takes me by surprise when I see Liam there too, standing by the side of an unfamiliar foreign-looking girl.
"Harry, I know you're super pissed at me and all but I came here to help you guys out. Stockholm can join armies with the Courageous kingdom to fight Mightera. Please just trust me." Liam pleads, running a hand through his slick-back dark hair.
"I don't know why in the world you would think that I would trust you. As you can see, I am refraining from using inappropriate language in front of the child and I suggest you do the same." Harry says a bit angrily as he motions to Darcy in his arms.
"Sorry," Liam breathes out, flashing Darcy a friendly smile afterwards. "Gosh, she looks exactly like you."
Lucy gives Harry an awkward look. "Um, she's actually my brother's." Liam nods, his face flushing because of his question.
"Oh, sorry again." He says, and the unfamiliar girl next to his places her hand on his shoulder.
"There you are, Care." I hear Louis' voice exclaim and it causes me to jump a little, seeing him looking straight at me. Harry, Niall and Lucy turn around while Liam and the girl divert their looks to me.
I walk down the stairs real slowly, looking down nervously. Taking steps closer to them, I stand behind Harry. He pulls me to his side with his free hand. Darcy reaches out to me, so I take her from his arms.
"She's five years old, Caroline, she can stand. You two are spoiling her." Lucy scolds, making Harry and I laugh. I notice that the girl standing by Liam is observing me very closely.
"Harry, is this the girl you were talking about?" She asks with a heavy accent. By the way she looks, she seems pretty friendly. But how does she know Harry? My eyebrows crease slightly in confusion.
"Care, this is Lucille." Harry introduces and the girl waves at me. "She's the one who helped me escape from Amsterdam." I nod my head, a bit relieved of her identity.
"Hi, nice to meet you." I greet, "Thank you for helping Harry and I get back to each other."
"No problem. My father wanted to get me married to him but then Harry told me about how he was crazily in love with you. So I decided to do the right thing."
I catch Liam's eye and look away quickly. "Speaking of which, I have also decided to help you two. I'm sorry Caroline. I know I was a selfish fool but I've realized that love isn't something you steal from someone else..." He walks closer to me and I don't move. "And that someone else is Harry."
I watch as he places his hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry looks shocked at first, but then that expression soon turns into a subtle smile. Liam glances over at me and gives me a shy smile as well.
"Do you think we can possibly be friends again?" He peeps out to me. I delay with my answer for a moment. Looking at him now, I see the childhood Liam. The one that cared about everyone's wellbeing and happiness.
"Possibly, yes." I grin, hugging him. He seems surprised by my unexpected embrace but expels a deep breath in relief when he hugs me back. Harry sends me a warm smile, telling me through his eyes that he accepted Liam because of me.
Everything is starting to fall back into place.