Jane

It was early Sunday morning when the doorbell rang. Harry was asleep so I put on my robe and went out to open the front door.

I opened it and was shocked to see Anne stand there. "Oh sweetheart, I'm sorry to wake you up."

I gasped hugging her, feeling her arms immediately hugging me back.

As I helped her inside she whispered. "Sorry I didn't call, it was a last minute flight, I came to see my babies."

"Oh well, they're all asleep, please sit down. Are you hungry or thirsty?" She nodded taking off her jacket, walking with me to the kitchen. It was six am so it wasn't too early. Harry or I get up around we've  to make pancakes on Sunday mornings anyway.

"How's Harry?" I sighed.

"Well he refuses to take his pain meds which I understand, but he complains and cries most of the night until he falls asleep." She made a face. "He won't take anything stronger than the drugstore brand. But, I mean, his ribs are broken and he dislocated his shoulder and elbow, so it does nothing." I complained getting out the stuff for pancakes.

"I see, well why doesn't he take the medicine." I sat with her while we waited for the coffee.

"Well, Harry's had some trouble with pain meds before, like with alcohol." She looked stunned.

"Harry had a drinking problem?" She blinked.

"Anne did you not know?" She shook her head. "Yeah, he's been sober for almost five years." She smiled. "His last drink was actually the night you called him for the first time. He never touched a bottle again."

"I had no idea, well I'm happy for him." She wiped her eyes. I stood to pour her some coffee and began making pancakes while we talked and eventually I heard Daisy calling for me.

"Mommy!" She cried. I walked over to her room and she sat with Mickey on the floor. "I had a bad dream." She cleaned her face.

"Aww toots, I'm sorry. It's okay now, alright." I kissed her head. "I have a surprise for you?" I walked her out to the living room and she gasped.

"Nana!" She ran and hugged Anne. She began talking to her and hugging her as I went to make Harry's coffee. I walked into the room and he was still asleep.

I went to set the coffee down and slowly I ran my fingers through his hair. "Harry?" I softly whispered. "My love." He groaned moving his head. "Can you wake up please?" His eyes opened and he looked confused.

"What's wrong?" He looked around. "You okay?"

"Yeah baby, your mom is here?" He looked surprised as he tried to get up. I helped him slowly, doing the stretches the doctor recommend, he scratched his head and looked at the coffee.

"For me?" I nodded. "Thank you." I kissed his cheek and sat beside him.

"How do you feel today?" I rubbed his back.

"Sore, and tired." He leaned against me. "My side hurts a lot." It hurt me so much to see him in this much pain.

"Well, I made breakfast if you're hungry." I sighed thinking about what I had just told Anne. "You never told your mom about your alcohol problem?" He looked at me and shrugged.

"I assume you had told her." I sighed in relief as he didn't sound angry. "I have nothing to be ashamed about, I'm sober." I gently hugged him and kissed the corner of his mouth.

"Yeah, and I'm proud of you." He smiled. He stood and groaned at his side. "Baby, I know you don't want to but-" I began to suggest he at least take something stronger for his pain.

"No Jane, I'll be fine. I've been in worse pain." He fixed his sling and took his coffee out to the living room. I followed him and Anne went over to hug him carefully. "Hi mum, I'm glad you came." He smiled.

His relationship with his mom had improved over the years. We visited every six months and she'd sometimes visit in between. But he calls her at least once a week.

"Well, when you called I had to make sure you were all right." They sat down while I fixed breakfast. After we ate I fed Mickey and pulled out the inflatable mattress so Anne could take a nap in Daisy's room.

Daisy colored with Harry at the table while I did my work quickly for the next day. "Look, daddy, I'm going to be a unicorn for Halloween." She showed Harry.

"Oh, but I was going to be a unicorn." He teased her. She made a face poking his nose.

"Daddy you can't be a unicorn, you're a boy." Harry shook his head.

"Boys can be unicorns. you can be anything you want Daisy." He explained. "There is no boy stuff and girls stuff. You can dress like you want okay?"

"Okay." While she colored, Harry held his side and took deep breaths.

"Daisy, I'm going to clean daddy's cut okay." She nodded, too into coloring to stop.

Harry followed me to the room where he laid down grabbing a towel to bite on as he winced from the gash. As I cleaned his cut and all the little ones he had he cried into his towel. The bruises had become dark purple, blue, and red in some places. I sniffled as I finished and covered him again. He laid there breathing heavily. "Umm, do you need your inhaler?" I cleaned my eyes trying not to let him see me cry.

"Please." After he took his medicine he looked up at me. He closed his eyes and sighed. "Listen to me Jane, I do this because I don't trust myself. Give me the medicine and then hide it, understand?" I nodded going to the bathroom to get him his pain meds the doctor told him to take. I grabbed water and he took them quickly.

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Two hours later Harry was asleep again. The medicine had kicked in quickly and he was able to shower and get dressed without groaning. He fell asleep on the bed so I covered him with a blanket before I heard him.

"Janine?" He mumbled.

"Yes?" I asked him. He opened his eyes and looked at me. He smiled touching my leg, pulling me towards him.

"I'm sorry for being a bother." He whispered. "I love you, princess."

I kneeled down and looked at him. "Don't ever say that again. You are the love of my life, and I know you would do the same for me." He nodded. "Go to sleep, I love you."

"I love you more." He fell back asleep. I kissed his forehead and went out to see Anne. She sat there talking to Daisy about everything that she did at school and her trip to the water park.

"Toots why don't you show nana your sketchbook?" She nodded running to her room. "She's a lot like Harry, she draws very well." She smiled but then looked down nervously.

"Jane there's a reason I came here besides Harry's accident." She said taking a deep breath. "I hadn't been feeling well for a few weeks and I decided to go to the doctor. He ran some tests and as it turns out I have cancer." I looked at her and tried to relax. "It's stage one, in my stomach." She told me.

My eyes began to water and she held me close. "I'm fine, sorry." I sat up. "Umm, what are you going to do?"

She sighed. "Well, I'm having surgery when I get back to remove some the bad stuff, and then chemotherapy." I nodded. "I'm going to be fine, I know it." I nodded. "I just don't know how to tell Harry. I don't want to lose him. I don't want him to feel guilty, or think I need him to take care of me. I just need him to be happy." Daisy ran back into the room.

"Nana look!" I wiped away my tears and smiled. "What's wrong mommy?"

"Nothing baby I have allergies again," I said smiling at her. "I'm going to check on daddy, show nana all your drawings." Anne nodded looking at her doodles. I walked back in the room and began crying, while Harry snored in the bed. My phone began ringing and it was my mom. I walked into Daisy's room and closed the door. "Hello?"

"Jane, we just landed at the airport are you on your way?" I smacked my forehead. My parents were coming home and I had forgotten.

"Oh my god mom I'm in traffic, I'll be there soon." I hung up and walked out of the room. "Anne, I have to go pick up my parents, you guys are okay right?" She nodded. "Make yourself at home please." I walked over giving Daisy a kiss. "Be good." She nodded.

I grabbed my keys but Anne stopped me. "Jane?" I looked at her. "Please drive safe." I nodded stepping outside where I took a deep breath.

I drove to the airport and luckily there was no actual traffic. I picked up my parents and they hugged me. "How was New York?" They smiled big.

"Amazing so much-" my mom looked at me. "You've been crying?"

"What's wrong?" My dad asked. "Is everything okay?"

I looked down and shook my head. "Um no nothing is okay. Harry got into a motorcycle accident a couple of days ago." My mom gasped. "He broke his ribs and dislocated his shoulder and elbow. He's all bruised and cut up. And his mom came to see him and she just told me she has cancer." I cried. My dad made me get out of the driver's seat and my mom sat with me in the back. "I just feel anxious. He didn't want to take pain meds because of how he feels about them and addiction- he doesn't want to risk it. So he cries at night and is in so much pain." I cried into her my mom's arms.

"Oh Sweetpea, it's alright." She held me. "It's all too much at once?"

"I just feel like I can't help either of them, and I have to keep this act like everything is fine with Daisy. But her dad could have died, and he's in pain." I took a deep breath. "And now his mom has cancer." I shook my head.

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We drove to my house so my parents could see Harry. When we walked in Anne was making lunch for everyone. Harry sat with Daisy watching a movie. "I'm home, look Daisy." She stood and gasped.

"Grandma! Grandpa!" She ran to hug them. "Mommy, is it my birthday?" I shook my head. "Because my nana, grandma, and grandpa all came to see us!" She hugged them.

Harry stood up and walked over to hug my mom. She looked at him with sad eyes. "Oh honey, thank god you wore your helmet." He nodded.

"How's the bike?" My dad asked.

"Completely destroyed, a semi ran right over it." He sat back down. "But I'm here with my family and that's everything." He smiled genuinely.

My lip began to tremble at the thought of Harry being in the place of his crushed bike instead. I could feel a sob escaping my body, so I excused myself.

I went into the room and in the bathroom, locking the door. I sobbed into my hands until I heard a knock at the door. "I'll be right out." I cleaned my eyes, quickly trying to wipe my nose.

"It's me, Jane," Harry said. "Let me in please." I opened the door and he stood there. "What's wrong, baby, why are you crying?" He used his thumb to stroke my cheek.

"I'm tired and emotional." I shrugged.

He sighed and closed the door behind us. "My mom told me, about her cancer." I felt relief go through me as he seemed calm. "Baby I feel emotional too, but I have faith she's going to be fine. You're the one who told me to have faith in life and people, remember?" I nodded.

"It's been hard seeing you in so much pain," I told him. He looked down.

"I know, that's why I want you to give the medicine and hide the pills for my own good." I nodded. "I know you think I can do it, but you've never been addicted to something. Sometimes your body has no control." He said the last part quietly.

"Alright then, can I hug you?" I asked as I was too nervous to do it, in case I hurt him. He sighed taking off his arm sling. "Harry-" He put it aside and opened his arms out. I carefully reached out to hug him and he held me close.

"I'm okay, I'm right here always okay? I'm not going anywhere, I'm right here." I nodded. "Baby you smell good." I looked up at him. "New shampoo?" I nodded at him. His hand reached down to grab my butt.

"Harry, seriously, read the room." He chuckled looking down at me with a pout. "Fine you can squeeze the booty, but only because you're injured." He kissed me and squeezed my ass. "Nice to see your accident hasn't made you any less horny." He laughed.

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A few weeks had passed when Anne went back home. She had been really helpful in taking care of Daisy and Harry while I went back to work. Harry was still home from work since Louis told him he had everything handled.

When I got home, Harry was cooking again. He was cutting vegetables while Daisy sat at the table practicing her letters.

"I'm home, hey toots." I kissed her cheek. "Hi, baby." He pecked my lips.

"How was your day?" I told him while he cooked. His bruises had begun to heal up nicely and he didn't need his sling anymore. He groaned as he picked up a vegetable so I went to the room to grab his meds from underneath the bed. I opened the box and it was empty.

"What the fuck?" I stood up and went back to the kitchen and looked at Harry. "Do you need your meds, baby?"

"No, I'm alright." He said looking for a pan. I crossed my arms.

"Harry, we need to talk?" He looked at me and followed me to the room. He sat down and waited for me to talk. I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I had a box under the bed with your meds, did you move them?" He flinched.

"No, I didn't." He sounded offended. I nodded. "Did you ask Daisy?" I turned and went out of the kitchen where she sat.

"Daisy." She looked up at me. "Were you in our room?" I said sternly. She looked down and nodded. "Did you take something?"

"Yes." She looked at the ground. "I took the medicine." I sighed.

"Daisy Gemma styles, where did you put it?" I raised my voice. "Did you take them?!"

"No! They're in the bathroom, in the thing." She shrugged. I told her to show me and luckily all the pills were still there.

"Okay you do not touch the medicine, do you understand?" She nodded. "Go to your room, you're on time out." She ran to her room crying and I sighed as I just realized I blamed Harry. I walked back to the kitchen where he stood there putting the ingredients into a pan. "Baby-"

"Don't, I get it." He said covering the pan. "I looked for them Jane, you have every right to think it was me." I looked at him. "I need you to flush them." He told me.

I walked over to him and he began apologizing. I hugged him and he cried into my shoulder. "It's okay baby, you're okay. I'm sorry too."

Later that night I talked to Daisy and she went to bed early. I went to the bedroom and Harry laid down. "Are you angry at me?" He asked me.

I went over to lay next to him. "I'm not angry at you, I just care about you. If I lose you, I don't know what I'd do." He looked at me. "I just want you here with me." He cuddled into my chest.

I scratched his head until I heard a little knock. I looked up and it was Daisy. "Mommy, can I give daddy a kiss goodnight?" I put my arms out and she ran to the bed and came to lay between us. Harry opened his eyes and smiled. "Goodnight daddy." She kissed his cheek.

"Goodnight my angel." He looked up to me. "I love you both." I smiled as we cuddled until she fell asleep.

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Today was Halloween and Daisy walked out of her room in her Yoda costume. She had changed her mind a million times and finally decided on being him. "You know when you were a baby they told us you were going to be a boy."

"Really?" I nodded fixing my space buns in the mirror. I was dressed up as Princess Leia.

"Yes, so we were going to name you Harrison like the guy who played Han solo in star wars." She laughed. "And daddy was looking for a middle name and you kicked my tummy when you heard the name Yoda." She laughed.

"I love star wars." She smiled.

"Well, let's go to school tell daddy we have to go." Since Harry couldn't work on cars, he offered to help me with an arts and craft project with the kids. Daisy walks into the room and I follow. Harry is still laying on the bed still asleep with his face covered.

"Daddy?" She poked him gently. Harry suddenly turned and she screamed. He was wearing a horse mask. "Ahhhh!"

"Harry!" I said annoyed.

He took off the mask and laughed. "I'm sorry but that was funny!" He laughed.

Daisy put her hands on her hips and shook her head. "Not funny!" It was funny now since she was dressed as Yoda. I shook my head at Harry.

"Are you ready?" He nodded.

We dropped off Daisy and walked into the office where the office secretary was wearing a witch costume. "Good morning Mrs. Styles, hello sir?" She looked at Harry.

"Sandra this is my husband Harry, Harry, my favorite person Sandra." She blushed to give me candy.

"Nice to meet you?" He shook her hand.

"He needs a visitor pass, he'll be in my classroom helping with the arts and crafts project." She had Harry fill out a visitor pass and gave him a name tag.

"No parent volunteers?" I shook my head.

"I sent out a letter and no volunteers," I said checking my mailbox.

"Well, how sweet of your husband to help you. How are you feeling?" She asked him. They talked until the bell rang and I told Harry we had to go. We made it to my classroom and my kids were all waiting by their numbers.

"Good morning!" I smiled.

"Good morning Mrs. Styles!" They all said. I opened my door and one by one they walked in with high fives and knuckle touches. Harry walked in last putting his hand in a knuckle to touch mine.

"Good morning Mrs. Styles." He smiled. "I love the sound of that."

"Go in and sit at my desk." He saluted me. I walked in and set my stuff down. All my kids were dressed up and I smiled. "Happy Halloween everyone!" I noticed they were all looking at Harry so I introduce him. "Okay everyone this is Mr. Styles, he is going to be helping us for our big fun project."

A girl named Ellie raised her hand. "Is Mr. Styles your friend?"

"Well yes, but he's my husband also." They all nodded. "So you can call him Mr. Styles or Harry."

"I prefer Harry actually." He said. "Nice to meet you all."

"You sound funny," Jeremy says.

"Jeremy that's not nice," I say. "Harry's from England, does anyone know where that is on our map?" A bunch of kids raised their hand and I pointed to one. He came up and pointed to Ireland. "Close but right here." I moved his hand.

After I took attendance I asked Harry to make piles of all the construction paper. Each one of the kids came up and told us what they were for Halloween. "Mrs. Styles what are you?"

"I am Princess Leia the Rebel Alliance's greatest leader." They all smiled. "Who has seen star wars?" A few kids raised their hand. "So you know Princess Leia?" They nodded.

We went over our spelling words and I tested them in basic math and eventually it was recess time. I took a drink of water as Harry placed the five pieces of construction paper on each desk for the project. I sat at my desk and Harry smiled.

"The kids are cool." He chuckled. "Jeremy really likes to push your buttons doesn't he." I nodded. "So, Daisy's birthday is in a week, are we taking her somewhere?"

"Well, she's been non stop talking about Disneyland." Disneyland was about four hours away, so we'd have to drive. "What do you think?"

"Well just us three is going to be expensive, I thought we were saving to see my mom in December." I nodded. "But if my baby wants to go."

I thought about it. "Seeing your mom is more important, we can take her to Disneyland next year." I shrugged. "Besides she loves her Nana." He smiled nodding.

There was a small knock at my classroom door before Ashton stuck his head in. "Hey- oh hey Harry right?" He waved coming in. "Nice to see you again." He waved.

"Likewise." Harry sat at my desk while I waved.

"Princess Leia, awesome!" He high-fived me. "You look great."

"A cow?" He looked down and poked his utters.

"Yeah, I told my kids if they all got 100% on their spelling tests they can pick my costume. Clearly, they all studied." I laughed. I looked at Harry and he had a serious look on his face. "Anyways I brought back your label maker, really appreciate that."

"Of course, no problem you let me borrow your big printer so it was the least I could do." I went to set it down on my desk.

He looked at the time. "Well, I gotta go, hey Harry I heard about your accident man, glad you're okay." He said to him.

"Yeah, thanks." Ashton smiled waving with a quick goodbye and left. I turned to write on the board but Harry sitting at my desk caught my attention. His arms were crossed and he looked mad.

"You okay?" I asked writing down what we will do after our arts and crafts.

"I don't like him." He said. I turned to him. "He flirts with you too much."

I raised an eyebrow. "Harry he's married."

"So, just because someone is married doesn't mean shit." I looked at him and put a hand at my hip.

"Really, do you flirt with random women at your work." He rolled his eyes.

"No I don't, I have a hot wife at home." He said as if it were obvious. "I'm saying you're hot, and he flirts with you." I shook my head. "Maybe I'm jealous, but I know when someone is flirting with you and I don't like it." I let out a dry laugh walking over to him.

"Harry do you know how often women throw themselves at you? How many times we've been out and waitresses, moms...guys, have flirted with you?" I asked him. "And I don't like it." The bell rang and I sighed. "All I need is for you to help the kids do the project. No need to be jealous."

I walked to the door and he said something that made me smile. "I don't notice other women because you're my first and only love." I turned and he smiled.

I blew him a kiss.

And he caught it.

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