Harry's POV

At the unexpected touch of Elise shaking my arm I am dragged from my slumber where my heart is thumping and sweat is accumulating on my forehead, "it's me, it's okay," she promptly assures me as I sit up and catch my breath, my thoughts traveling through my nightmare that seemed to literally take my breath away and quite honestly scare the fuck out of me.

I take a deep breath and tilt my head to glance at her as her palm strokes my back ever so benevolently. "Just a dream, H," Elise whispers drowsily, the touch of her hand is enough to soothe me no matter what happens. "Do you want to talk about it?" Elise offers and I shake my head.

I don't want to relive the horror that appears to be a living edition: my father. I had presumed I had managed to work through the issues and torment my father put me through, I thought I was done with the nightmares and reliving the torment. I thought he was out of my life for good since he hadn't been around since our last encounter... seven years ago when he was drunk and I ended up in a hospital room. I thought it was all over.

Oh, how I was wrong.

I was hoping my father was only rocking around in my thoughts and dreams, turns out that's not the only place he's dancing.

I turn to face Elise before I caress a kiss to her lips, "Go to sleep, just going to make a tea." I whisper tenderly, doing my best to hide the fact that I want to jump out of my skin and crawl into a corner.

Elise doesn't question me or attempt to get me to stay in bed or talk, she nods and draws at the covers and nestles into the pillow while I carefully push my body off of the bed.

I make my way inaudibly down the hallway, chuckling to myself as I remember all the times growing up I exercised this hallway for various reasons. One instance is when I was too frightened to sleep alone in the dark so I'd follow the light of the nightlights and slip into bed with my sister, when she'd kick me out, literally, I'd pad into my mother's room and climb into her bed.

I needed security and a safety blanket at times, it's hard to believe, but even Harry Styles is scared at times.

I make my way into the kitchen and touch the kettle to boil while I gingerly look for where my mother has placed the mugs. I have come to notice that every time I visit there's always something that is rearranged, this time it was the kitchen. I open every cupboard before finally finding the one with the cups and mugs. Of course, everything is lined ideally and nothing is out of order.

I smile to myself, noting how Elise has the same tendencies to make sure everything aligned perfectly when it comes to household items. I used to purposely arrange things in different places to get on her nerves, every so often I'd find her giggling at my placements.

I pour myself a cup of tea and take a breath, beginning to wish I could go back to the times when things were much simpler. Where my business wasn't on rocks, my father wasn't slithering into my life, my brother wasn't dead and where Elise and I didn't have much to stress about. Once again, life seems to have thrown me into this turbulent circle that I can't manage to swing my way out of. Ever since my accident life has managed to become hell for me.

I overhear the creaking of the hallway and I assume it's Elise checking up on me, but I'm startled when I view my Mum.

She extends me her warm motherly smile as she crosses her arms over her chest to keep warm. "What are you doing up this late?" I challenge softly, abruptly feeling like a teen again as she raises a brow at me as if she has caught me up way past my bedtime.

"I could ask you the same thing," she grins as she sits up on the stool and touches her arms to the countertop. "Harry, what's the matter?" Her voice is soothing and calm and she looks at me with the same loving eyes she always has.

She always appears to know when something is wrong with me or my sister, neither of us quite understand the motherly intuition she has.

I shrug my shoulders, "Just can't sleep, Mum." I respond while I stir my tea and clink the spoon to the edges, something that drives Elise nuts.

If she was awake right now she'd be rolling her eyes and muttering under her breath.

"Why?"

"Just stress, the business, Elise. You know how it is," I shrug while avoiding eye contact with my mother.

If I stand here long enough, she will draw things out of me and force me to tell her what it is that's running through this kind of mine. And for my sake, and hers, I don't want to tell her. I'm twenty-seven-years-old, I can handle things. She did her duties as a mother and doesn't need to continue to hold any of the burdens that she has.

My Mum takes a breath and cocks her head to the side, narrowing her eyes down on me. "Are you and Elise doing okay?" She questions curiously.

"Yeah, yeah, we're good," I nod with a small smile, of course, we are doing good. She's still the love of my life. I'd lie my body down for her, I'd do anything for that woman.

"So what's going on? I know something's wrong, Harry. I'm your mother darling, you can't lie to me." ... "look at me, Harry." She urges and I do my best to dodge eye contact. I know better than to look into my mother's beautiful eyes. They're the gentlest form of love and purity there is.

"Mum-" I sigh and I glance at her.

"Talk to me. You're not being yourself. You haven't been since you got here... this friend of yours... I gather you were close? I've never heard of him though." I shiver at the thought of telling her about Logan, it physically makes me sick to my stomach.

How am I meant to tell her?

Words don't describe how heartbroken I'm sure she'd be to know her husband created another child while still with her. I just can't do it.

"Mum..." I breathe out, "I need to go check on Elise," I promptly shake my head, not wanting to continue through with what I was about to start. I don't think I physically have it in me.

My mum hops off the stool and grabs my hand, stopping me from wandering away.

Fuck.

She uses her other hand to caress to my cheek and force me to stare at her. "She's fine, you and I both know that. What's gotten into you? I heard you yelled at her. That's not the boy I raised." Her voice becomes austere as she makes me aware of the fact she knows I raised my voice at my wife.

I can only assume my sister blabbed.

"Mum, please," I whisper in a pleasing tone, a lot of different emotions humming through my veins. She stares at me relentlessly and I take another breath before I cave. "Logan died, Mum."

"That name doesn't sound familiar."

"Meyer... Dad's mistresses son. Dad has another son, Mum. He passed away the night Elise and I drove up here."

She grows withdrawn for a brief moment, presumably attempting to collect her thoughts and breathe. I hadn't really planned to drop this on her at two in the morning while in her kitchen. "Harry, darling I am sorry." ... "I didn't know you knew." Her voice is soft and sweet.

If I had to explain her voice, I'd say it's like waking up on a spring morning and breathing in the warm air that feels so freshly divine. It is so captivating and refreshing that it could almost grow flowers in the midst of your lungs.

"Wait, you knew Dad had a son?" I question, my eyes growing wide at the fact she didn't react in the way I thought she would.

She shrugs, "I had an idea. How long have you known?"

Well, isn't this a turn of fucking events.

I purse my lips into a fine line as I attempt to collect my thoughts. My mother has known about Logan.... and I just spent the last ten years doing my best to keep the secret withheld from her in fear it'll tear her apart. "Since I was 18." I give her my honest answer. There's no point in lying now. The cat is out of the bag.

"Harry Styles, you've kept this secret from me for almost ten years?"

I shrug, "didn't want to hurt you."

Her eyes soften and her tone of voice goes back to the sweet mother voice that is no longer laced with annoyance and curiosity. "You're very sweet but you don't keep secrets from your mother. Are there any other major secrets I don't know about?" She asks and I shrug.

There's probably a few others that I have managed to suppress in my mind.

"Uhm.. not that I know of... wait, you do know Elise is pregnant, right?"

My mother rolls her eyes and pinches my arm, ouch. "smart Ass, I'm aware. I was there when you announced it." ... "is there anything I need to know though?"

I rub my arm that she pinched and pout my lips at her like I used to when I was little. "Uhm... Elise is due in February—"

She quickly cuts me off, "Not with the baby you nitwit, with secrets."

"No," I shake my head, "not that I'm aware of. Think that was the biggest one." I respond, "oh, and Dad came over tonight, that's about it." I drop yet another bombshell on her. May as well since she won't stop praying information out of me until I give in and tell her.

"Your sister told me you handled it. How are you?"

Of course, Gemma told her, Gemma is the one that can't keep secrets, which is why I never tell her anything. She always runs to Mum, I can't really expect anything less. I was the one that learned how to rely solely on myself and myself only.

"I'm tired, Mum." I take a drink of my tea, the warm tea running down my throat and making me feel a little bit better and at ease.

"Harry." She narrows her eyes down at me and I sigh, there's a similarity between her and Elise. They both give me this look that can usually cause me to give in and tell them what I'm trying to avoid.

"I don't know why he's popping up, Mum... He was around Elise when she was in the hospital and it scares the hell out of me... I don't know what he wants, but whatever it is it can't be good."

"I'm sorry, Harry." She moves and pulls me in for a hug, the type of hug only a mother can provide. I relax into her embrace and inhale her scent, "I'm always here for you, no matter how old you are." She whispers as I bow my head and move to rest my head on her shoulder, a few tears falling from my eyes and cascading down my cheeks.

"I pushed away someone who didn't deserve my hatred and now he's dead, Ma. I refused to listen to Elle and now I don't get to redeem myself." I whisper through a few tears, my heart feeling heavy in my chest as I feel my mother's arms hold me a little bit tighter. "He's gone and I was a dick our entire lives," I say through chokes tears and a bit of heartache.

If I had my time over again, I'd be more understanding and considerate. Logan didn't deserve my hatred, sure, he fucked up a few times and I thought he was trying to destroy me, but I was all wrong. I was pigheaded and just refused to see that he wasn't a spitting image of my father. Turns out, I was acting like my father towards him, angered, bitter, self-absorbed and utterly rude.

Before my Mum can say anything I pull away from our embrace, mainly because I know I could stand for hours while hugging my Mum. I have missed her tender touch and her unconditional love. I never really realised how much I had missed her until coming up here.

"Sweetheart, you didn't know... I'm sure he understands,"

I shrug as I wipe away a few tears, "I hope so. I'm going to get back to bed... goodnight, Mum." I kiss her cheek.

"Goodnight, Harry."

"Sweetest dreams," we both say in unison, a smile dangling in the corner of my lips.

*** ***

Leaving Cheshire was bittersweet, it felt good to be able to leave behind some of the past, but it saddened me to leave my mother and sister.

It feels good to be back home in my own house where I don't have to always be wearing pants or a shirt, wearing sweatpants to bed while at my mother's was excruciating because she keeps the house so damn warm that it is like trying to sleep in a sauna.

I roll over onto my back with a heavy sigh and flick my eyes to see Elise standing in the wardrobe. I prop up on my forearms and allow my eyes to adjust to being awake. I watch her carefully, admiring the way she moves gracefully and quietly in the mornings. It is rare that I manage to discover her in the early hours, usually, I am awake first and bustling around the bedroom to get myself ready.

She huffs and throws one of her shirts to the floor before sitting at the foot of the bed, "Ye' alright?" I question with a raspy voice, my hands pushing the covers off of my body.

Elise looks over her shoulder, seeming surprised I am awake, "Did I wake you?"

I shake my head as I stand up, "no, but what's the matter?" I again question as I pad towards her, leaving a kiss on her cheek before I step into the wardrobe to find something to wear.

After a few sniffles, Elise answers my question, "I don't have any work shirts that fit," he voice is muffled and soft as she ultimately tells me what has her a bit blue on this early morning.

I turn around and face her, "Oh, Elle... That's okay-"

"Don't tell me everything I want to hear and how it is normal and perfectly fine... All that bullshit every husband tells their wife." Elise cuts me off with stern eyes staring over at me.

I purse my lips into a fine line, unsure of what to tell her. I can give her the loving, caring husband speech that explains that she is beautiful no matter what or I can stand here and ignore her emotions and probably get bitched at for not consoling her. Either way, I think I am at a loss with this.

I turn around and step into the wardrobe, I grab one of my white button downs before I walk over to her, I crouch down in front of her and look at her with the most endearing smile I can possibly provide at this hour of the morning, "I love you, no matter what. I hope you know that I have loved you for a while and will continue to love you, even when you're sniffling at six in the morning," I smile as I lean around her and assist with sliding my shirt up her arms, "so in love with you," I press lovingly, bringing my shirt to her front and buttoning the buttons for her, "every single inch of you, I am in love with. Your personality, your laugh, your smile, oh how you smile kills me and don't get me started on your witty jokes, I love every part of you, darling, especially this one," I press my hand to her stomach as I finish the buttons, "best damn thing to happen to me beside you... Even on days when you don't love yourself or even how you look, just remember I think you're the most beautiful fucking woman." I lean up and kiss her lips sweetly before I stand to my feet. "With that being said, your husband who loves you needs to get ready because he has a meeting in two hours that he isn't prepared for," I offer her another smile and my hand to help her to her feet.

Elise gives me a shy smile, "I love you, too. Better not keep the CEO from his daily duties," she winks cheekily as I step back into the wardrobe to this time dress myself.

"Mhm, the CAO better not be late this morning, otherwise the CEO will have to give her a warning."

"I will be on time," I Elise rolls her eyes while I peer over my shoulder to look at her, "I still have an hour."

"Mhm, but you have thirty minutes until our driver arrives, chop-chop, darling," I inform her, watching as she pouts her lips and bats her eyes at me, "don't give me that look, you now have twenty-eight minutes," I chuckle.

Most my morning was spent in a meeting and going over reports, all the stuff that I don't really enjoy doing. I chuckle to myself as I see a note from Elise about hiring another executive and dinner tonight at eight. I love how she reminds me about hiring a new executive but tells me when we are having dinner. She goes from CAO to wife incredibly quick, but I love it.

I text Elise before I push my work to the side and open my drawer where I placed the envelope Anastasia handed me this morning where I first arrived. She had little words for me when she handed it to me, but she said, "I was instructed to give this to you and to tell you to read it in private."

So, here I am, about to open whatever this envelope has for me.

*** ***

"Harry,

If you're reading this, I'm singing amazing grace with the angels. I have a bit to say so take a seat, open up a beer and please, for the love of god, don't be heartbroken at my passing. I know you're probably not, but in the slight chance that I did manage to touch your life, please don't be blue.

My days have been numbered for quite a bit but now I'm heading to the long stretch where I'm not sure if I'm going to make it. I know I'm not going to. If I do, I'm surprised.

I had hoped to get to meet your baby and to be an uncle, even if it was for a short amount of time, but sorrowfully that didn't happen. Hearing of the excellent news really brought light to my life, to know you were fortunate and starting a family was probably one of the highlights of managing to get you back in my life.

I know you have your fair share of resentment with me and I don't blame you, our father played things well and kept us distant and against each other. I don't blame you for keeping me a secret and keeping me away. I'd have done the same thing if I was. I know you had your questions and concerns about me, just know I never wanted to hurt you or Elise.

When I asked Elise to come work for me, it wasn't out of spite like I made it seem, it wasn't to steal her from you or to corrupt her and draw you both into some evil scheme. It was to get close enough to protect the two of you. I had caught the gist of some things that were circling around on the corrupt side of the world.

Everything that happened wasn't just a coincidence — which is why I had all the files of you, Elise and that worker of yours, Niall. I had them to stop them from getting into the hands of those who were attempting to access them. I did some shady things to save myself and to get an advantage by getting the inside information on what was to happen. I played the field.

My days were numbered so I figured, why not? If I was going to die I figured I should at least reach out and protect my big brother, even if he wanted nothing to do with me. I didn't want Dad to win and to think you and I were sworn, enemies. So I played the game of rounds, I put myself on the line. The day Elise was attacked, it wasn't just a coincidence I was there. I had sought to send her to you early because I knew they were on a strict schedule to get the keys from her, but things didn't work in my favour and it was wrong timing for her.

Charles Taylor took the hit for those two men who go by the names, Steven and Jack. Remember Jack? You fired him when he got drunk on whiskey and wasn't leaving Elise alone. Yeah, he turned and joined the dark side. Charles Taylor wasn't behind the attack, he wasn't in charge... you could say he's a puppet on strings. But, I did warn him to leave because you would go after him.

Your accident wasn't an accident, in fact, I'm pretty sure it was meant for me. They got the wrong brother and I'm so sorry it was you and not me. It broke my heart to hear the news and to tell Elise. I'm pretty sure she wanted to annihilate me herself when she realised it was my car you were in. I want you to know I did my best to take care of her while you weren't with us, she hated me and wouldn't let me near her, but I stepped in the best I could behind the scenes.

I'm sorry I couldn't tell you any of this sooner, if they knew I wasn't working for them solely, they'd kill me... and I guess they ultimately figured it out since you're reading this. Enough of regretful news. I have left you and Elise everything that I have, including my business. Please, whatever you do with it, do not give it to Dad. I trust you and Elise can figure out what's best, if you can't keep it, you're welcome to sell it, give it to your sister or Mum, whatever. Just don't let Dad have it. He can rot in hell before getting anything of mine.

I guess this is my last goodbye. I wish you happiness and Love with your family. Take care, Harry. I'll see you when I see you— drink a beer for me, brother.

Until I see you again.

-Logan."