twenty-six

Harry toys with Aurelia's fingers under their fluffy blanket, "Where do you want to get married?"

Aurelia doesn't hesitate to answer because it really doesn't matter to her where they get married, she's just happy that he wants to marry her. "I don't care; we can get married in Vegas if you really want to. I'm just happy to be with you."

Harry hums, he agrees with her on the anywhere part, but he doesn't want it to be something terrible because it's important to him and it's important to her too. He's not quite sure where they're going next, but it might just be the place they get married. "Where are we going next?"

Aurelia smiles up at the makeshift ceiling, "India. We're going to ride Elephants and try a bunch of spicy food."

He gets lost in how warm her smile is for a moment and the idea hits him a little slower than he'd like. "Why don't we get married in India?"

His voice is soft and laced with such warmth, love, and excitement. Aurelia loves the idea and she's already thinking about breaking the tradition of wearing white and instead wearing a traditional Indian sari.

"I'd like that very much. Oh, that reminds me, my mother asked me to tell you something for her. She said to tell you that she hasn't seen me so happy with anyone since we found out about the tumor, and she wants you to know that she's glad it's you because she always knew that you would find me again."

Harry kisses her cheek and wears a grin that's as bright as the stars that they're pretending to look at in their makeshift blanket tent. "When we call her next time, I'll let her know that it's her I should be thanking for, technically, letting me elope with her dying daughter."

Aurelia groans at the mention of her condition. She's not upset with him for bringing it up, she's upset because she doesn't want to really acknowledge that she's dying right now. There's so much that she hasn't seen, so much that she hasn't done, and she's not willing to give up the thrill of being alive just yet.

"Please, don't remind me. I'd like to pretend that I'm normal and blind and perfectly alive for as long as I can."

Harry holds her just a little bit closer. She's always the one that says he's warm, but he loves the warmth that she puts off and how nice it feels to just hold her in his arms and bask in all that she is. Aurelia reminds him of the sun and that nice, bright feeling that he gets whenever spring starts to roll around, and he wants to live in that feeling for as long as he can.

"I know, I'm sorry. It's getting colder out; do you want me to go get some more blankets?"

The chill that he's used to is starting to sink into his bones and he knows that they're going to need more blankets sooner or later, especially if they're going to spend the night out here like she wants to. Aurelia doesn't outwardly appear to mind it too much, but he can feel how she shivers every now and then and she's been pushing herself closer to him for the last hour.

Aurelia's comfortable where they're at now, laying in his arms and breathing in the smell of his shampoo and the detergent that still lingers on his clothing. It's peaceful like this, the sounds of the night surrounding them and the sound of his heart beat loud in her ears, and she doesn't want to shatter the moment any time soon, no matter how cold she's starting to feel.

"Yes, but I also don't want you to leave."

There's something strange about the way she feels when he leaves, even if it's only for a second because he has to use the bathroom or get something that they need. It's almost like a part of her soul is missing and, even though she knows that he will always come right back to her, she doesn't like it when he leaves her side.

Harry laughs lightly and presses a soft kiss to her lips. He loves how she never wants him to be too far from him. Some people might say that it's clingy and a little annoying, but he knows better because it's Aurelia and he loves it so much. She's afraid that he'll leave her and not come back and he's practically become her other half now that she uses his hand instead of her cane. It makes perfect sense to him and it's one of the best things in the world to know that she feels that way about him.

"I can ask Gemma or mum, if you'd like. I don't think that they'll mind."

And it's true, he doesn't think that they'll mind at all because they already love her so much and it's not like they're five miles away, they're just in the back yard.

Aurelia immediately shakes her head at the idea. She doesn't want to feel like a burden and she already feels like Gemma has done so much for them already. But she also doesn't want to get up and she doesn't want Harry to either.

"Not Gemma, she's done so much already. Plus, we know that she's pregnant for sure so I don't want to ask her for any more favors if we can help it."

Harry smiles because he can tell that she already feels like Gemma is her sister. It's really not a big thing to ask, but he respects what she wants. Plus, he doesn't want to accidentally push Gemma's buttons and have her snap at him because her hormone levels are elevated.

"Sweetheart, it's just some blankets and a small walk. But, if you insist, I will ask my mum."

Aurelia smiles and lifts her hands to feel around his face for a moment. Once she knows that he's at a good angle for her to kiss him how she wants to, she kisses his cheek. "Thank you."

Harry beams and closes the small amount of distance between them to kiss her softly because a kiss on the cheek just wasn't enough for him at the moment. He wiggles his phone out of his pocket and dials the phone in the house that's literally a few feet away from them.

"Watch, Gemma's going to answer and get mad because I could have just walked inside and done it myself."

Aurelia laughs lightly at the thought and cuddles closer to him, "If she does, tell her that I didn't want you to get up because I was comfy and I don't like it when you leave me."

Harry chuckles lightly and kisses her temple. She can hear someone answer on the other end and she nuzzles her face in his neck because she's cold.

"Hi mum. Yeah, everything's good, it's just a bit chilly. Aurelia didn't want me to get up to get the extra blankets because she's comfy and she doesn't like it when I leave."

Aurelia can hear his mother laugh on the other end and she smiles into his skin. Anne's a very nice woman and she certainly raised both of her children very well, even after the divorce. She's incredibly happy that she likes her and that she'll be her mother-in-law soon.

"Aurelia, would you like some hot chocolate with little marshmallows?"

She perks up at the mention of his mother's hot chocolate. Aurelia's always loved hot chocolate, but Harry's mom makes the best hot chocolate she's ever had and her mouth is practically watering at the mention of it.

"Ooh, yes please! Tell her that I said thank you very much!"

Harry grins and his arm tightens around her, "Yes, she said please and thank you very much. No, it's actually really nice out, besides the chill because it's England after all."

There's some more mumbling that Aurelia can't really make out and it feels like only a second has passed before Harry's hanging up the phone. "Thanks, mum. Love you too."

Harry pulls the blanket up and haphazardly tucks it under their legs in an attempt to keep more of the heat in. Aurelia's still got her head on his shoulder and he can feel her smile against his skin. It's not the first time that she's done so, but every time she does it feels like he's just won the world.

"Mum's going to bring us some blankets really quickly and then the hot chocolate. She says that you're very welcome."

Aurelia hums and rubs her cold nose against his warm neck. He's always so warm and she adores spending time with him like this, just cuddling and talking. She places a light kiss to his skin, "Did I tell you about the dream that I had last night?"

Harry smiles and carefully shakes his head, "No, but I'd like to hear it if you'd like to tell me."

She likes to tell him about her dreams often because it's nice to talk about the things that she sees behind closed eyelids. Harry loves listening to them and watching her expressions and her hands as she tells him every little detail that she can remember. Talking about her dreams always makes her so happy and he adores watching her and listening to her when she's happy like that.

Aurelia's already beaming at the thought. Last night's dream was one of her favorites to date and she's excited to tell him about it. "Well, it was quite a bit forward in time because we had a baby. A very adorable little girl, by the way."

The thought of having a little baby with her already has him excited, but she mentioned a gender and he isn't entirely sure if that meant that she could see or not. Sometimes she couldn't see in her dreams, so he wants to make sure that he's not just assuming things. Plus, if she could see in this one, it meant that she could see him and that intrigued him even further.

"Wait, you could see me in this one?"

Usually, when she had dreams with him in them they were more like memories of when they were little. And if they weren't memories flooding back into her consciousness, she was blind in her dream and she couldn't see him. She hasn't mentioned that she could see him as he is now in any of her dreams before and he's anxious to know if she could actually see him this time.

Aurelia plays with their linked hands, her fingers dancing and roaming over his skin. "Yes, at least how I imagine you to look anyway. I don't know how you changed as you grew up, so I can't really depict anything accurately, as far as I know anyway."

Harry likes to think that she can see him as he is in her dreams. He believes in God and he doesn't think that she'd see something that wasn't accurate because that just wouldn't make sense.

He hums and shifts slightly beneath her because one of the many pillows beneath him is now making him a little uncomfortable. "Well, you also could have been right, you know. I don't think that you'd see something that wasn't accurate because that would just be weird."

Aurelia's smile lifts around the edges as she shrugs, "Perhaps, but either way you were very attractive, especially with the baby. And it was so nice, it was so...normal. Oh, and I got to be a mommy! I can't explain how wonderful it was, Harry. Our little girl was so sweet and precious and you were so enamored with her. It was the cutest thing that I've ever seen."

Anne pops her head through their little tent with a bright smile on her lips and a few blankets in her hands, "Who's little girl?"

She'd only caught the end of the conversation and she's incredibly curious to know what they're talking about.

Harry beams and obnoxiously kisses Aurelia's cheek, "Ours, apparently. She had a dream about us last night and the baby was a girl."

Aurelia playfully rolls her eyes because he just completely stole her moment, "Or don't let me speak, thank you. But yes, I had a very wonderful dream last night and the baby was a girl, but that might just be my mind hoping for one. So don't get too excited, Harry."

Anne laughs happily at the thought, "That sounds very nice. Are you hoping for a girl?"

Aurelia shrugs her shoulders because the gender doesn't really matter to her. She really just wants a baby, girl or not, she will give that little baby all of her love for Harry times two.

"I dunoo, I really just want a baby. Honestly, I'm happy with either, but your son here really wants a girl. He doesn't shut up about it, actually."

Anne grins as Harry takes the blankets from her with a soft thank you and a light blush to his cheeks. "Oh yes, he's wanted a little girl of his own for ages. I don't know where he picked up the love that he has for children, but it suits him really well. I'm so happy for you two! That baby is going to be adorable!"

Aurelia blushes at the compliment and her dimples make their first appearance in a long time. "Thank you, it really does mean a lot to me. I've really enjoyed staying with you and Gemma and getting to know you both. Thank you for opening your home and your heart to me."

Anne smiles warmly as Harry wraps the blankets around them and pulls Aurelia closer. She loves how happy that Aurelia makes him. It's been a while since they first met, but Anne loves Aurelia like she's been there all along.

"Sweetheart, you've been welcome here since Harry introduced me to you on that playground. We're so glad that he found you again and that you've finally made him happy."

Harry groans, he's embarrassed that his mother always finds some little way to embarrass him in front of, really, anyone. It's particularly worse when it happens in front of Aurelia, even though he knows that she won't judge him about anything.

"Mum."

Anne laughs and playfully rolls her eyes before giving Harry's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Oh hush, I haven't even touched on your most embarrassing stories yet! Your hot chocolate should be done now, so I'll be right back."

Harry and Aurelia thank her simultaneously and Harry's quick to add another blanket to their comfortable little cocoon of warmth.

"I see why you turned out so sweet. Your mom is like the epitome of kindness."

Harry shrugs and pulls her a little bit closer to him, "She raised us well, dad did too, but I am who I am because I observed and learned how I wanted to behave and how I wanted to treat people."

Aurelia smiles and kisses the bottom of his jaw, "You are so very special. I can't wait to listen to you interacting with our little baby. If that dream told me anything, it told me that you're going to be such a great daddy."

Harry smiles softly and kisses her slowly, "But you're going to be an even better mommy."

* * *

Aurelia shrieks as Harry removes one of his hands to keep his obnoxiously long hair out of his eyes. "No! Keep your arms there! I don't wanna fall!"

Harry laughs loudly and quickly returns his arm to its previous position around her waist. "I couldn't see! It was only a second! You won't fall though; I don't know why you still think that even with what we're sitting in."

Aurelia smacks his arm and pouts, "You can be afraid of heights and I didn't tease you, and you're teasing me now because I can't see and I'm afraid of falling off of this ginormous elephant! You're supposed to be nice to me!"

Harry smiles to himself and rests his head on her shoulder as they sway with each step the large animal takes. "You're right, I'm sorry sweetheart. Don't worry though, okay? I've got you and I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."

Aurelia leans into him and mumbles 'good' under her breath.

"Can I have a kiss?"

Aurelia beams at the thought, but she's not entirely sure that he's not going to make fun of her again. "Are you going to make fun of me again?"

Harry shakes his head, his smile overtaking half of his face. "Most certainly not."

"Then yes, you can have a kiss."

She kisses him sweetly and it isn't long before their ride ends and they disembark from their giant friend. Aurelia wonders why it was so worrisome to her. She's never had problems with heights or anything before and, for some reason, being up there and moving like that had really gotten to her.

Harry walks closely beside her as they make their way back to their hotel to change for their wedding. "I hope you know that I am so going to tell our child about that when he or she is old enough to understand and to laugh with me."

Aurelia smiles at the thought, "You're so mean to me. I'm going to let your mother know and then you won't be laughing so much, you mama's boy."

Harry gasps dramatically, "Oh no! Whatever will I do!?"

Aurelia laughs with him this time, her smile matches the bright light from the sun, "Watch it, or your honeymoon won't be so eventful."

Harry raises an eyebrow, an amused look taking hold of his features. Last time he checked, the honeymoon was between two people. "My honeymoon?"

Aurelia rolls her eyes because she knows that he knows what she meant, "Our honeymoon."

Harry stops her and wraps his arms around her snugly, his lips quick to press to her cheek obnoxiously, "I'm soooorrryyyy."

Aurelia giggles and squirms in his hold, "Knock it off! You're such a child!"

But she loves every second of it because it feels like they're making up for lost time and he's so freaking cute.

Harry continues to laugh as he holds her, "But I love you!"

Aurelia stops struggling and looks up at him with a smile as bright as the sun, "I love you too. Please let me go so we can get back to the hotel and go get married."

Harry smirks and picks her up bridal style, which has her shrieking briefly before she starts laughing uncontrollably. "Harry! That's not what I meant!"

He laughs with her and shrugs his shoulders, "Well, that's what you got!"

The walk back doesn't take too long and Aurelia twirls his hair around her fingers to pass the time. It's always so soft and so curly and she absolutely loves it to death. He has better hair than her, but she's never going to tell him that.

Once they make it back to the hotel, they each change and head over to Udaipur to get married. It's not very traditional because they've been with each other for the whole day, but that doesn't really matter to Aurelia because she's marrying the man of her dreams. In fact, she hardly pays attention to anything except his proximity and the fact that they're actually getting married and before she knows it, it's time to exchange vows.

Neither of them wrote anything really special because they each know how much they mean to one another and how they feel. They don't need to say it in front of other people to make it seem real, they like keeping their little bubble of love to themselves.

"Do you Harry, take Aurelia to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"

Harry nods and his smile is so big that the minister is actually worried that his face might be stuck like that.

"I do."

The minister nods curtly and turns to Aurelia, "And do you Aurelia, take Harry to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"

Aurelia nods and a few tears slide down her cheeks, "I do."

Each of them kind of ignores everything else as they exchange rings. They're both Harry's rings, but Aurelia insisted that she wanted the ring that he proposed to her with and not some fancy ring that would consume all of his money. Plus, it was such a sweet thing for him to do considering that she's grown used to feeling the cool metal against her skin as they held hands. He wore those rings religiously and that's how she knew that it was a grand gesture and that she wanted to hold on to that forever.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Even though Aurelia has been anticipating this kiss before she fell asleep the night before and all day today, she's still taken by surprise when his soft lips crash against her like waves crashing against the rocks on shore and he absolutely takes her breath away.

She smiles after she melts under his touch and Harry laughs lightly as they break apart, "Was that kiss a good enough married kiss for you, Mrs. Styles?"

Aurelia flushes and nods happily, her smile matching the one that he's been wearing since they started the actual ceremony. "Most definitely, but I wouldn't mind another one."

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