Apricot sunshine attempts to break through the thin hotel bed sheet and illuminates Harry and Goldie laying underneath. They've submerged themselves in their fabric cocoon. Closed themselves off from world for their first moment of solitude in what feels like a lifetime.

"How are you feeling?" Goldie asks as she twists a lock of his hair around her index finger.

"Better now," he replies, pulling her in closer.

"Good." She gently tickles the side of his face, the sweet sensation causing him to close his eyes in response. "Can we stay here forever?"

"I was just thinking the same thing." Harry turns his head to kiss the palm of her hand. He takes in her scent. No matter where she was or what she'd been doing, she always managed to smell the same. Pure and sweet. "I'm sorry for the scene last night... "

Goldie shakes her head "no" and gives a reassuring smile. She's thankful Harry finally opened up like he did, no matter how loud it might have been to their neighbors. His soul is an opened wound that she could only bandage and mend.

"What you said at the club. About this being a mistake. Do you really believe that?" Harry's eyes turn solemn, the green turning slightly gray and the whites turning glassy with moisture and exhaustion.

"I did at the time but after last night, no."

"Good." Pink flushes back in his cheeks framing his perfect, wide grin. "Making out in front of Freddie Mercury, Elton John and Andy Warhol isn't exactly a story many can tell."

She reddens with embarrassment and covers her face at the memory, as well as the haunting image of her falling out of the room with Harry. A moment the whole band witnessed. She felt like a young child being caught with her hand in the cookie jar. A cookie jar she just couldn't seem to stay away from.

"I owe you an explanation, Harry," Goldie says with a deep breath. "I pull back when I'm scared. It's easier. No messy, sad goodbyes. No crying. It's simpler for me to get mad at some dumb thing you said on a sexist radio show than for me to have to face my reality. Because the reality is, this," she points to him and then back to herself several times. "This is true and wonderful and crazy and scary. I got so wrapped up in this so quickly and I've never done that before. I've never taken such a leap of faith for someone, especially when that someone is essentially my polar opposite. But the truth is, Harry, I love you. I've completely fallen for you. I'm Alice in Wonderland going down the rabbit hole and I'm so fucking scared what's going to happen when I hit the bottom. What'll happen when the tour ends."

"Then let's not let this end."

"The tour has to stop at some point, Harry."

"Not the tour. This." He copies her gesture from before and points rapidly from her to him. "Us."

"But how?"

"I'm figuring out a way. Don't worry." Harry leans in and kisses each of her eyelids. Her long lashes and soft skin flutter underneath his lips. He pulls back, the faint taste of salt left behind. "Are you crying, Michelle?"

"Last night when you said what you said about everyone you love abandoning you, I hate that you thought I was doing that to you. I remember what it felt like when my mom died and what you told me about your parents. It killed me to hear you say I was causing you the same pain."

Harry wipes the stray tears that manage to fall from her eyes and cups the sides of her face. "How did it happen? How did she die?"

"I had just got my tonsils out. Jimmy was working late at the record store. I asked her to get me ice cream but my dad had the car so she took her bike to run to the store. Next thing you know, my dad's bursting into my room, lifting me off the bed and telling me we have to hurry. She was apparently hit by drunk driver. I never stopped blaming myself for it. If I didn't ask her to get me the ice cream, she'd still be here. I'd still get to watch her dance in my dad's shop."

Before Goldie can stop herself, the tears begin to stream harder down her face. The sight of her father when he heard the news is one she'll never be able to erase. She'd never seen Jimmy cry like that before. It was like every ounce of pain and sadness and anger in his body was released all at once. Seeing Harry cry the night prior reminded her of the hurt look on Jimmy's face that fateful night. And she felt she was to blame for both.

"Belle," Harry whispers. "That was not your fault. It was the fucking idiot driver's fault. Your mom loved you more than anything and would hate to hear you think things like that. Don't do it to yourself."

Goldie reluctantly nods and wipes the leftover tears from her face. "How about you? How did your parents die?"

"I... I don't know. That's just what the orphanage told me. I was so little when it happened. Fuck, they could still be out there for all I know. I never bothered to ask the details. I only have few blurry memories of them arguing. My dad hitting my mom. Every time I started to get comfortable in a new home, I was passed off to the next. All I knew was I was alone. I spent forever jumping from family to family, met the guys, and then eventually it turned into jumping from groupie to groupie. Until I met you of course."

"Thank you for sharing that with me."

"And thank you for telling me your story." Harry kisses the top of her shoulder and tickles the inside of her thigh. "Remember when we were on the bus and I drew the flower right here?"

"Mmhmm," she replies. She soaks in the feeling of his rough fingertips.

"I think you'd look rather sexy with a real tattoo right here, don't you think?"

"I don't think I'd ever be comfortable enough with myself to call myself 'sexy.' But I like that idea. A little memento of all this."

Harry shifts down, his head lowered to the place the flower once was, and kisses her pale skin. "Remember what I did right before I drew it?"

Goldie arches her back and digs her nails into Harry's scalp, gently tugging to lift is line of sight back to her face. "You know you have soundcheck soon for the show tonight. Are you just doing this to distract yourself?"

"Does it matter?" Harry says with a devious, yet nervous, smirk. Goldie looks at him sternly, her eyes begging him to admit the truth. "It's the last show. Can you blame me for wanting to stay in our fortress a bit longer?"

Goldie smiles down at him, his vulnerable soul peeking out from behind his confident eyes. Harry is anxious. Not about the performance but for what it symbolized. The stage at The Palladium was the bottom of the rabbit hole coming into sight. They had flown out into the night, towards the second star to the right, straight until morning. The curtain call this evening will be their first push to leave Neverland and head back home to their unknown realities.

It was always the past or future in the forefront of Goldie's brain. Taking a page straight from Harry's book, she decides to live in the present, even if only for a second longer. "Okay, but 10 minutes and we have to go," she comments teasingly.

"Fifteen," Harry requests before playfully biting her leg and giving a quick raspberry.

She explodes with laughter. "Fine! Fine! You win!"

* * *

The Orphans and Goldie stand in a huddle formation, the lyrics of "Paperback Writer" sang in a more somber tone. Goldie realizes this may very well be the last time she joins in the ritual and for the very first time, she sings along.

"Paperback writer, writer, writer." She rings in the final high note. The group looks at her in shock. "What? Did I do it wrong?"

"No... that was just... really good," Mitch reacts with a look of surprise.

She puts her head down to hide her blushing face.

"Like really really good," Harry joins the commentary with a sense of pride. Just when he thought she couldn't be anymore perfect for him, she does something new and leaves him wondering what other delightful secrets and talents she has hidden in that beautiful head of hers. "You never sang with us before? I would have pulled you on a stage with us awhile ago if I knew you sang like that."

"It's the final show is all. I thought 'now or never.'"

The band brings her in for a group hug and cheer her on.

"You want to take this guy's place?" Matt jokes, laying a slap on Harry's chest.

"That's not a bad idea," Harry smiles. He grabs her hand and spins her towards him. Her body presses against his. His 6-foot frame towers over hers, more so than usual considering his high platform boots. His fingernails scratch down her back, all the way down to her ass which he can't help but squeeze. He pushes himself against her, giving her a hard kiss.

"Aw, how cute!" Grimmy yells, wrapping his arms around Harry from behind. The rest of the boys join in for one final pre-show hug. In this moment, as The Orphans surround her, she realizes they finally accept her relationship with Harry. The feeling of their nervous hearts beating around hers makes her soul smile. "Alright, boys! Time to do what you do best!"

They release Harry and Goldie from their embrace and begin their jog towards the stage. Harry strays behind.

"HARRY!" Goldie yells. He walks backwards to the stage. She mouths "I love you," creating a beaming, innocent smile on Harry as he steps into the bright fluorescents. He mouths it back, followed by giddy schoolboy-like giggle as the lights on the stage dim.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" Harry says into the mic. His deep voice booms and commands the attention of everyone in the crowd in the complete darkness of the venue. The subtle sound of Matt's bass helps build the audience's growing anticipation. "We are The MOTHER FUCKING Orphans. Welcome to our FINAL FUCKING SHOW!" He pauses to hear the sound of the applause. He let's the sound fill the air and breathes it in. "ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR!"

The lights flash on in sync with Niall's loud percussion, Mitch's intense guitar shredding, Matt's low and sturdy heartbeat of a bassline and Jonesy's aggressively beautiful keyboard riff. Harry jumps up and down, dancing to the sounds of their harmonious and chaotic intro. He runs to the front of the stage, touching the hands of the eager fans. Giving them a small bite of the tasty morsel that he knows he is.

The Orphans play their hearts out. The musical version of them slicing their chests open and bleeding out on stage for the audience members to lap up. They play with even more rigor and excitement than they ever have and the crowd is louder and more excited than it ever was before.

"NEW YORK CITY, YOU ARE INCREDIBLE!" Harry yells. Beads of sweat highlight his high cheekbones and pronounced jaw. Goldie can't help but drift off every now and again, imagining taking him back to their room and licking him clean.

She watches as girls and guys alike claw at one another in attempt to get closer to him and remembers what it felt like the first time she ever saw Harry on stage. Never in a million years did she think she'd be standing where she is now.

The music begins to die down, leaving nothing but Matt's bass as it played in the intro. Harry puts the mic back up to his mouth and does something he's never done before.

"I want to take a moment to call out these guys standing behind me, without who I'd be nowhere. GIVE IT UP FOR NIALL ON THE DRUMS!"

The spotlight flashes to the blonde drummer. The band is stunned. Harry always managed to make their performances about him and only him. They each glance at one another, dazed and confused.

Niall stands and spins his drumsticks fluidly between his fingers, his bare chest covered by one of the many bras thrown on stage.

"AND HOW ABOUT JONESY ON THE KEYS!"

The light transitions to the keyboardist. He covers his eyes from the blaring light and clearly mouths "What the fuck, man?" in true Jonesy fashion. One can practically here his stoned drawl.

"SEXY MATT ON THE BASS!"

Matt shakes his head of curls and gives a dashing smile and wink to a screaming crowd of ladies in the front before flipping his guitar around his body to impress them.

"LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, MY MAIN MAN MITCH ON THE GUITAR!"

Mitch shyly keeps his head down and plays a 10-second riff. Harry drops to his knees and bows to Mitch as his skinny fingers dance up and down the fretboard.

"AND I'M HARRY FUCKING STYLES AND WE ARE THE ORPHANS! THANK YOU, NEW YORK CITY!"

Harry and the band march off stage, waving to the crowd as the lights dim. The fans cheer for an encore. Without hesitation, Harry grabs Mitch's acoustic guitar on the backstage couch and then Goldie's hand. "They want an encore. You ready?"

"Wait wha—" Before Goldie can respond, Harry yanks her on stage and a spotlight hits her and the charming British man beside her. He grabs two mic stands and places one in front of her and one in front of him. "Harry, what the fuck?" Unaware of the microphone already being on, her question echoes throughout the venue.

The crowd laughs and applauds.

"Just as I predicted. They already love you." Harry wiggles his eyebrows. He turns to the crowd. "This is Belle. We have a song called 'The Heavenly Pursuit' we'd like to play for you but I think she's gonna need some coaxing. Come on! Get loud!"

Harry cups his ear as though he's listening to a whisper and motions to the audience to get as loud as possible.

"GIVE IT UP FOR BELLE!" He takes her hand into his again and lifts their arms up. He leans into her, covering the mic. "Sing with me. You know the words."

Goldie closes her eyes and imagines the sea of people as the outstretched ocean from back home. Their growing cheers are the crashing waves. Harry begins to gently strum the guitar.

"All signs of madness wash over. They throw their hearts on stage. While the moon sits, as still as David, as quiet as The Kiss. Awaiting the proper season. Awaiting sense of contentment. A flash of warmth hits his chill-stricken heart." Harry sings the words beautifully. Softly. He pauses and looks at her, signalling her to take over the next verse.

"He feels lost. He's wandering. And there she is. His North Star. His guiding light." She looks over at his encouraging face. She smiles. He smiles back.

And they continue, in perfect harmony.

"She rises. She sets," they sing together. "The light of the morning sky on her face. With dreams of moonlight in her eyes."

"It is the sun," she breathily sings. There's a pause and Harry stops his strum to sing the words without any help of another instrument.

He looks to Goldie to sing the final line. "And Michelle is the East."

* * *

Author's Note: One more chapter... excited?