"How many decorations do we have? This tree is fucking heavy." Harry murmurs under his breath and I laugh at his complaints.

I know we're seriously late in putting all of our decorations up but that doesn't matter to either me or Harry. As long as we look festive and ready for the Christmas cheer then it doesn't really matter. We managed to get some of our Christmas shopping done a few days ago so even if we don't have a lot, we still have something to wrap and put under the tree.

Harry has taken the role of carrying all the decorations down from the loft, whereas I have taken the role of putting the tree up and all of the decorations, as well as little miscellaneous jolly details around the house. "Harry where do you want the mistletoe going?" I ask him, holding the small decoration up with a pinch of my fingers.

"We don't need one, I can kiss you anywhere I want." He growls in my ear and wraps his arms around my waist making sure that our chests touch.

My returning expression is unimpressed, using my best skills in acting to convey it, because the truth is, my heart flutters at his words; it drops in the most delicious way knowing that he's right. Harry doesn't need a small plant hanging above a doorframe to kiss me, there is no area of limitation on our love.

The rapid beat of my heart remains pounding against my chest at his closeness, he can feel my tiresome yet fulfilled heart as he glances down at me, the green in his eyes sparkling in wonder and astonishment at my presence, as if he can't quite believe I'm here and I'm his. That same look that he had on our wedding day.

"Yes." I answer finally giving in. There is no way I could possibly fool this man. "You can." Our faces are now closer than before and our lips are on the verge of touching, that sweet taste I crave being handed to me on a silver platter. "But you're not going to." I pull away quickly with a teasing smirk, giving him a small wink before continuing to put the decorations on the tree.

I can feel his eyes burning into me. His hands so eager to touch my skin that they twitch in suspense, his breathing hardening just as mine is. I don't hear him come over but he does, his teeth biting down softly on my ear and pulling gently, large hands pulling my body back so I have no escape from his presence and hips grinding into my behind lustfully.

"Don't tease me Emma Styles." The sultry words leave me breathless, unable to breathe at all as I just simply feel the effect he has on me. The way his hands move softly with the right amount of firmness, or the way he grinds his hips into me at the right speed.

"Okay."

Harry moves away from me after his low warning and mumbles, "Niall's here by the way, I just heard the door." Clearly that's the voice of sheer reluctance. He doesn't want me to go anywhere but Harry seems to know why Niall needs me so urgently and obviously it's something serious.

"I love you." I say in response, his eyes lifting up to me hopefully and in contentment, loving how those three words simply roll off my tongue when I say them to him.

"And I love you." With a last kiss I head out of the room and towards the front door, greeted by a smiling yet slightly nervous Niall. He's trying to hide his nerves from me but I can read him like a book.

"Hi Em's." The both of us walk to his car in silence and it gives me time to wonder why everyone is acting so weird about this. Harry smirked, Niall nervous and as I see Liam his expression is almost hopeful and excited.

I sit in the back of Niall's Range Rover as he and Liam sit up front. I watch the world pass by outside my window, thinking back to when I was younger and I used to sit in the back seat because one of my brothers always got there first. I smile at the memory. I can't say I've spoken to my family much this last week, how awful of me as a daughter and sister. It's almost Christmas and I haven't even called them up or gone to visit.

After a short fifteen minutes - and deciding that I'll surprise my family by visiting on Boxing Day - Niall pulls up at a small jewellers and I frown. My brain working furiously to find an idea why we would be here. He's obviously getting a present for someone and I assume that it's Hayles considering I'm here to help and not her; Niall and Liam turn around in their seats and listen to me as I voice my thoughts.

"Are we going in there to get a Christmas present for Hayles?" I ask inquisitively although I'm almost certain that my predictions right.

"Yes." Bingo!

"So what are you looking for? Necklace, earrings, bracelet?" My mind racks different ideas that she'd like. I suppose it was a good idea that Niall brought me along considering I know Hayley extremely well as well as the types of jewellery that she likes.

"A ring." Niall interrupts my thoughts nervously.

I contort my features. "A ring?"

This time Liam pipes up, spelling it all out for me gratefully. "An engagement ring."

Holy shit.

"I'm going to propose to Hayles at Simons gala." I'm actually speechless, my eyes are wide, my hand covers my gaping mouth in surprise. Niall is proposing to Hayles tomorrow. Holy shit.

He's proposing to my best friend tomorrow and he hasn't even gotten a ring yet? Why would he do that? And then I realise the small group of people crowding outside the car and suddenly remember why. "We have to go through the back entrance so the fans won't know. It has to be a surprise to Hayles." He's clearly had this planned for a while now but hasn't had the courage to do it and I'm proud that he finally is. Niall is a confident guy, I mean he's sang in front of hundreds of thousands of people before he isn't shy, but I can understand why something like this would freak him out. I'm proud of him so much and I express that by giving him a side hug whilst we walk down the street and round the back of the row of shops, away from the fans view.

"Welcome." A kind man smiles holding the jewellers door open for us all. The store is definitely one of the top ranges filled with diamonds, gold and probably every stone born to man. What would Hayley like?

"Niall what kind are you looking for?" I ask, my eyes never leaving the thousands of choices sat exquisitely inside the glass windows. I trace every single one and find nothing that screams out Hayley's name, nothing that I know she would cry when she saw.

"Something that has been through so much but is still so perfect. Something that every time I look at it I'll know it was meant for her, I'd like a ring that says 'I love you in every way possible and I'll be here by your side until the day my heart stops beating'." Niall ends his mini speech and I have to bite my lip so I don't cry. The wind whirls past me as I prance over to him engulfing this sweet man into my arms.

"Niall that was so beautiful, and I seriously couldn't imagine anyone better suited to my best friend than you." I smile, my words true and the tear running down my cheek proves it. I'm so proud of them both.

"Thanks Em's." I know Niall and I have had our disputes and I know that we've both said and done things that we shouldn't have, but I think despite all that I will always be close to him; I will always be close to the lads - whether it be Louis and his enthusiasm in everything, or Liam and his honesty, or Zayn and his advice. I have something special with every one of them, they are my family now.

"Except Zayn." I tease and wink.

Niall laughs at my teasing remark and nudges my shoulder playfully, "fuck off."

•••

"Did you have a nice time?" Harry asks me as I walk through the door, his body leaning against the living room doorway and his hands shoved into his warming pockets.

"I certainly did. The ring we chose is so perfect for Hayles and I'm so happy for them. Seriously, I can't wait for them to get married!" My enthusiasm never lacks as I speak; Niall chose a ring that suited everything he wanted - it was something that had been through so much and came out beautiful, a diamond, and a bloody big one at that!

"I'm glad you had fun." Harry's voice is calm in contrast to the hectic morning, and screaming fans I've just had to encounter. The expression on his face is almost prideful as he watches me. "I picked up my blazer and pants, and your dress for tomorrow." He tells me, and my eyes flutter to the hanging outfits that cascade down from the dining room doorframe.

"Thank you baby."

The air between us changes and so does Harry, he tenses and charges towards me, grabbing my hand tightly in his before dragging me up the stairs behind him. "I have a surprise for you." His voice is desperate and sorrowful as he whips around to face me. He almost looks guilty at this surprise, surely he shouldn't feel guilty.

Without another word his hand pushes down the handle of one of our spare bedrooms, the one across from ours, and he opens it for me to see. The walls are freshly painted white, as is the ceiling: and the skirting boards are pristine and full of white gloss along with the windowsill. There is a small wardrobe in the corner, with books and mirrors on top. A vase sits on the windowsill with a beautifully blossoming orchid.

My eyes turn and I notice the large cream couch to the side, it's cushions looking unnaturally comfortable. The fluffy ivory shaggy rug beneath my feet is heaven and the fairy lights that hang from the ceiling dazzle me.

One wall has accessory bags hanging from it with all different things already placed inside and the edges of every single corner in the room have rounded guards on them. Did Harry do all of this?

"Look." He points me into a direction that I haven't yet examined, it all makes sense now.

In the centre of one wall sits the cutest cot I have ever seen in my life, the blankets that reside in it have frilled edges and a small white mobile hangs over the top. A changing table is to the side of the cot along with drawers that hold all of the necessary products needed to fill this room. A white antique toy box is in the corner, I lift the lid to find it fully stocked with toys and books; the small wardrobe in the corner filled with vests and onsies already.

Powdered milk sits atop a white cabinet along with multiple empty bottles, I hadn't noticed that before but I can clearly see it now. I'm completely overwhelmed with the beauty of this room but also saddened that there is no one to occupy it. I cover my face with my hands as I spot the multiple pictures of Harry and I on the walls, pictures from our travels and from places that we've been or people that we know. There's a whole picture frame of the lads, a sperate one for the girls, another one for my family and a final one for Harry's family. A picture of everyone that I know and love in this room, including our first child.

I bite my lip to suppress my cries as I look at the framed picture of my first ever ultrasound. The paper folded so religiously into quarters that I can still the wrinkled outline of it's wear, but I don't mind. It's still here in this room with everyone else.

"Oh my gosh." The whisper of a voice sounds and it's only after that I realise it's my own.

"Do you like it?" The hesitance resides in Harry's voice, and I know instantly that he's shed a tear at my reaction to seeing the ultrasound.

"I love it Harry, I really do." My cries are prominent and my voice is weak but still I don't care.

"I want this Emma, I want this, with you. And I don't care what I have to do because this is what I want."

An eerie shiver runs along my shoulders, "but Harry, what if it happens again?"

"We'll be even stronger about it. I want to have your baby Emma, I just want us to be ready this time. For anything." I nod at his words knowing he's right. I want this too, more than anything in this world and I can't let one incident, that couldn't be prevented, stop me from doing that.

"Do you think we're ready? For anything?" I repeat his words in my question.

"I know we are." The confidence in his voice is inspiring. I believe him.

_________________________

One more chapter to go!

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Comment and vote please! Thanks :)

- Pianogirl56