I let myself into the Styles' house and silently make my way up the stairs. I hope that no one hears me, although I really should let them know I'm back. I sit down on my bed – Harry's bed – and force myself to be calm. I take a few minutes to freshen up and then I look for Harry.

Instead I find his mom.

"Kate!" She hugs me. "I hope you had a lovely weekend at home. Did you get a lot done?"

I flash her a puzzled look. She must think I was planning for the wedding while I was back home. Does she not know that Harry is having second thoughts?

"Um, yeah." It's the safest answer I can give.

"Dinner will be ready in about half an hour," she informs me.

"Would you like any help?" I offer.

"No, dear, just get yourself settled." She pats my shoulder and bustles off to the kitchen.

I find Harry in his room again. He doesn't look up when I enter, but when I greet him with a shy hello, he looks startled.

"Hi, Katie."

I move over and kiss him on the forehead. I've never felt uncomfortable around Harry until now.

"I just wanted to let you know I'm home," I tell him and leave just as silently as I came. I wish he would have just bounced back over the weekend, but obviously he's still working through whatever it is.

Dinner is painfully quiet, but Mr. and Mrs. Styles don't notice anything different between Harry and me; or at least, they don't let on if they do.

Monday morning is excruciating. I go out to run. I go to work. I come home and help with dinner. I don't make any more wedding plans.

On Tuesday, my day off, I avoid Harry all together. I make a few phone calls, I run some errands, but mostly, I stay in my room, trying to distract myself.

Wednesday comes. It has almost been a week since Harry told me he wasn't ready to get married yet. It feels like it's been a year. I want him to take me in his arms again and tell me everything is okay. I want my old Harry back.

I want him to tell me what to do. In all fairness, he did say he's not ready to get married yet. Which means the wedding won't happen in May. I have to cancel it. Or postpone. But I need him to work with me more.

Are we rescheduling?

When?

I'm ready to leave for work, so I find Harry. "I'll be done with work around 3:00. Can we talk when I get home?" I ask.

He agrees with an eager nod of his head. "I'm sorry this has been hard for you. I do love you, Katie." He kisses my cheek gently. It's the first sign of my Harry that I've seen in over a week. "I'm just having a hard time, not being able to do the things I used to do. You asked me if it bothers me that you're a runner...."

"Uh, huh," I respond.

"That doesn't specifically bother me, although I still miss running. But when you and Elsie were talking last week, I had some disturbing thoughts. I just kept imagining you pushing me around in a wheelchair. I imagined you going out to work while I sat home flipping through the TV channels, doing nothing but feeling sorry for myself. I imagined you taking care of our babies without my help, taking our kids to the beach without me, going on their field trips all by yourself...." He finishes with a sigh.

I'm shocked by his confession, but it helps me to know that he's not second-guessing his love for me. "What Elsie said was stupid and brainless! You can do anything you put your mind to," I assure him.

He doesn't seem convinced as he continues. "I hate the idea that maybe I won't be able to take care of you the way I've always wanted to care for a wife and family and it's killing me. What kind of life will that be?"

I just kiss him on the lips and say, "It will be the kind of life I cherish because I'm with you, Harry Styles. You already take care of me in every way that matters to me. I love you." I kiss him again. "I have to leave for work now, but I'll see you as soon as I get home. We'll talk more then, okay?"

I breathe a huge sigh of relief about Harry's parting words as I start my truck. It looks a little out of place parked in front of the Styles' upscale home, but they don't mind.

I've enjoyed finding my way around Madison, even though the physical therapy clinic isn't far away. I've become good friends with Mary, the OT who interviewed me with Dr. Vernis. I look forward to seeing her on the days that I work. I had told her what was going on with Harry, and she suggested that we have a chocolate-fest at lunch time today. I'm bringing my favorite brownies, and she told me that she will surprise me with something decadent.

I absent-mindedly make my way out of the neighborhood and head toward the clinic. I place my travel mug of coffee into the cup holder just in time to start braking for a yellow light. I panic when I feel that the road is much more icy than I had anticipated. I begin to pump my brakes as I've always been taught to do since mine is an older truck, but it's not enough. I slide into the intersection. I turn the steering wheel sharply to try to avoid the traffic that has begun to flow freely from either side, but I'm unsuccessful.

The last thing I hear is a horn and a loud screech.

My head hurts terribly. I've never been drunk, but I assume that this is how a hangover feels. My head is hollow except for a constant drumming from the inside that emphasizes the pain with every beat. I try to remember where I am and what I might have done to make my head hurt so bad.

I try opening my eyes, but my lids feel so heavy. I hear Harry's voice, "Katie?" I turn my head a little bit toward him, but even that hurts, so I grimace. I manage to open my eyes and I see a Harry that I haven't seen before. His hair is a mess and his eyes are red and puffy.

"What's going on?" I mumble.

"You were in an accident this morning," he tells me. "You were broadsided by another truck." His voice is cracking and I notice tears in his eyes. He puts his head down on my arm and then he's sobbing. I've never seen Harry like this before. Once he regains control, he whimpers, "I've never been so scared in my life, Katie."

"I'm sorry." My eyes are tearing up to see Harry come unglued. "I'm okay. I'm really fine, Harry. My head just hurts a lot."

He spreads about twenty kisses very gingerly over my face. I notice that he avoids the left side. I think that's where most of the pain is coming from. I reach my hand up and find a large bandage from my temple all the way to my jaw and hugging my ear.

I look at Harry and he answers before I even ask the question. "You have 18 stitches. You hit your head pretty hard against the side window. We're still in the ER, but they will be admitting you for the night, just so they can make sure your concussion isn't too bad." His voice is shaking again, but he keeps his tears in check.

"I'm glad you're here," I whisper. I do my best to scoot over on the bed and pat the spot next to me. Harry sits on the bed, leans back and lets me cuddle into his shoulder. I touch his face, his gorgeous hair, and then let my hand rest in his. I drift off again.

As I'm going through my checkout instructions the next day, I tell Harry with a chuckle, "Well, at least I can't run for a while."

Harry's eyes fill with tears. He embraces me in a tight hug. "I don't want that. Katie, I don't want that at all!" His chin quivers and I know he's on the verge of crying again. "I was just feeling sorry for myself, Katie. Please forgive me." He squeezes me so hard that it hurts my head. He breaks down and the sobs come again.

I breathe out an enormous sigh and I tell him, "Of course, I forgive you. Of course I do." I can hardly move because he has me so firmly in his grasp, but I turn my head to kiss his cheek. He loosens his grip so that he can reach my lips with the most passion I've ever felt. I forget the pain of the past week, the pain of my concussion and my stitches. All I know is Harry, loving me.

I go to bed shortly after dinner. I'm still very tired from the hospital ordeal, and the doctor said that I would need more rest for a few weeks. Harry follows me to his room. I slip into the bathroom to change into my pajamas and brush my teeth. He is waiting at the edge of the bed with the covers folded back so that I can climb in.

"Katie," he whispers.

"Yes?"

"Will you please forgive me? I never meant to hurt you."

"I already forgave you, Harry," I insist.

"I know. But I really hurt you. You could have hurt me back, but you didn't." His voice is shaking. "I've never loved anyone the way I love you. I never want to hurt you again."

"I believe you," I tell him and close my eyes.

"When I got the call from the hospital, I thought I lost you," he whispers. "I'm never letting you go again."

He leans across the pillow, above my head so that his chest is close. I can feel his heartbeat. He strokes my hair as I fall asleep.

The next morning, Harry and I talk about wedding plans. He brings me my coffee in bed. We have suspended the no-visiting-in-bedrooms rule while I'm recuperating.

I sit up and welcome the first warm sip.

"So, what are we going to about the wedding?" I ask Harry.

He kisses me, coffee breath and all. "Can I marry you today?"

"I'm serious, Harry. We lost a whole week of wedding planning. The invitations have to be mailed now, but only if the wedding is still on for May 4."

"Mail them today, then!" He grins. I absorb the warmth of his face. I missed that smile. My old Harry is back.

"Or," he continues, "we could wait and ask your parents when they get here."

"Harry," I ask slowly. "What are you talking about?"

"They'll be here this afternoon," he tells me.

My entire family arrives after lunch, just as Harry said. My brother Marcus seems to have matured in the few days since I last saw him. He gives me a gigantic hug and admits quietly, "I'm really glad you're okay." I return the bear hug and then I inform him that Harry owns tons of video games. It doesn't take him long to talk Harry into an epic battle.

My parents had been understandably frightened by my accident. I hope they weren't as scared as I had been when Harry was in a coma. I would never want anyone to suffer through that. At least I was only unconscious for a short time.

The weekend is pleasantly full of conversation and wedding planning. This unexpected visit offers both of our families a unique chance to get to know each other before we all become in-laws. It's a great relief to discover that, not only do our families get along, they actually enjoy each other's company.

The wedding invitations are sent out the very next day.

Mrs. Styles, my mom, Gemma, Scarlett, Fiona, and I spend hours talking about final details for the dresses and decorations, etc. They talk Harry into letting them take me to the bridal shop so my bridesmaids can try on their dresses together. He makes them promise, repeatedly, to make me sit down the whole time with my feet up. "No jumping up and down and screaming" are his exact words.

I am moved beyond words to see three of my bridesmaids together in their scarlet dresses. They are beautiful. I chose a style that, with minimum alterations, would accommodate Gemma's huge belly.

I so desperately want to try on my dress for them, but I promised Harry I would sit down. With my feet up. Besides, I'm not sure I would look so stunning with a bandage across half of my head. They will see me in my dress soon enough.

* * * * *

Better? :)