"So, what do you do, Love." Anne asked.
Alysia swallowed her bite of eggs and looked at Harry, but he seemed unbothered. This must have been the 15th question his mother had asked her since they sat down not so long ago. She had never done so poorly when meeting the parents.

This was not going like she expected. After what she thought was her one-night stand with him, Alysia fell into a Harry- shaped hole on the internet. She watched approximately eleventy thousand videos of him talking, singing, prancing, and teasing on stage, several hundred interviews where he charmed the pants of male and female interviewers alike, and who knows how many gifs she watched. She also found out a bit about his family. Gemma was perceived by the fandom as the protector, sassy, and not afraid to tell you how she felt. Anne, Harry's mom, who he could not have loved more, was supposed to be sweet and loving and the achetype of motherly acceptance.

Sometimes the internet was wrong. Anne had been outwardly friendly, but Alysia had been uncomfortable since they met. There was no moment she could point to to explain it, but Anne was clearly wary of her.

Gemma, who had found her in her brother's kitchen in nothing but her own underwear and her brother's t-shirt, had been much more keen to connect with her. It helped that they went in on Harry together.
Gemma had walked into the kitchen, taken one look at Harry in his pants, patches of reddened skin on his neck, and Alysia half naked, and laughed her arse off.

"This is so much better than telling her about Kristin! First, you took me to the party and got trashed for the internet to see, and now you forgot about brunch with her to stay in bed with your "lady friend." I don't remember her from Albert's, she come from The Toy Room? Mum hates it when you live up to your image.  I am the forever favorite!" She celebrated.

"Oi, watch your mouth, this is m'girlfriend, Alysia, ya wanker." Harry rejoined in true little brother fashion.

"Girlfriend? Since when do you have a girlfriend? Sounds like you're no longer THE wanker, then!" Gemma turned her attention to Alysia, "I know this one looks good on paper, but he sucked his thumb forever and slept in mum's bed basically until he left for x factor. You seem like a nice girl, sure you can do better."

"I'm not sure he looks so good on paper. Have to be his secret girlfriend until I'm outed, then everyone will think I'm a beard. I bet he'll be traveling a ton and I don't even feel right using him for his money. So, he's lucky he looks so good not on paper," Alysia said truthfully.

"Heeeey, are you two done having a go at me."

"yes,"Alysia laughed hugging him while Gemma said "Never."

"Listen, Harry, you have to get dressed, Mum is gonna be livid. She's a little hurt that I was your date. I told her it was a pity thing so I can't complain when you take her to the Oscars, though I suppose you won't now." She said, looking pointedly at Alysia, "But you have to come up with a better excuse than you got carried away shagging your girl,"

"Gem's, quit talking about the Oscars, You make me so fucking nervous about it. It's ages away anyway. I'm not going to tell Mum I was shagging anybody, and neither are you!" He then turned to her. "Love, do you want to come eat? I know this wasn't the plan."

"Oh, we had a plan? I don't recall having one at all, just getting on a plane to find you and then not leaving. I do need to get back soon. Sure Maureen is struggling, though she'd never admit it," Alysia worried aloud.

Who's Maureen then? Gemma interjected. " Harry, go shower, you look like you smell like sex."

"Care to take a sniff, sis?" Harry teased as he brushed his sisters shoulder on the way to the stairs.

"Eck!!!! Don't make me vom!" Gemma rejoined, refocusing curious eyes on Alysia.

Alysia swallowed, "My sister, we live together and I help her with her kids while we are both getting on our feet,"

"And why are you both off your feet?" Gemma asked frankly but with kind eyes.
"Um..." Alysia was uncomfortable, but knew she was in for a day of it. She'd have to check with him, but she got the feeling Harry wanted her to come to brunch. May as well get through the ugly now. "Well, I was living with a boyfriend right before I finished my degree, but he kicked me out around graduation. I only stayed there 2 months though, I lived with my sister the last two years at UCLA. She's a single mom of three and she just works incredibly hard. My schedule is flexible, so," She shrugged, "I drop off her twins and their big sister and pick them up, help with homework.  Kinda, whatever needs to be done around the house."
"What's she doing while you're here then?"  Gemma asked.
"Dunno, which means I need to get home. This was not exactly a planned trip." Alysia explained.

"What do you mean? Did Harry not give you any notice?" She frowned.

"No, we were in a huge fight, my ex turned up, and we were undefined, and Harry left, and I just came after him..." she helplessly tried to explain in a way that didn't make her sound like a loon. Alysia was not going to explain how she didn't know where she was going when she got here, or how she found him.

When Alysia looked up, Gemma was grinning at her, "Well, that's a bold move. Sounds pretty romantic. How'd Harry take it? Not always keen on surprises."

"Not so good at first, but we talked and made up," Alysia could feel her face flaming.

"Yeah, looks like, I'll leave it there, so don't want even a tiny detail," Gemma swore. "You should get ready too. We should leave as soon as we can."

Alysia smiled, and headed up the stairs. Gemma was lovely. She was excited to meet Anne, she'd never heard a bad word about her. More so, Harry loved her. He fairly glowed when he spoke of her, and they talked frequently, Alysia had observed. She was a bit nervous, but parents usually loved her, so she was hoping her luck didn't fail her now.

"Harry," Alysia called as she entered the bedroom to him in a towel, again. He always looked so edible, his hips a little poochie, lithe torso and dark ink.
"Oi, eyes up, love," Harry laughed, echoing his words to their erstwhile pizza delivery guy.

"Sorry, you are distracting," Alysia said, burrowing her face into the hollow between his pecs. Mouthing him there a couple times before looking up to kiss him on his full lips.

"What am I a distraction from now?" Harry said, breaking their kiss but not their physical connection.

"Oh, do you want me to come to brunch? I have no problem hanging out here. It's another big step we seem to be jumping into," she harked back to their previous conversation.

"No, I want you to come, if only because I like your company and I'm sure you are anxious to get back so I'll take all the time I can get. Also, I feel like it will be months before you meet my mum and Robin otherwise. Best to rip the band aid off now," he nodded surely.

"Ok, we'll see if my sister packed me a lunch date outfit as well as my come fuck me dress,"

"Good thing you were not wearing that tiny thing night one love or I may have never learned your name," he teased, tickling up her sides. "'Maureen packed for you?"

"Yeah," Alysia said fondly, "by the time I dragged my sorry butt through the front door she'd already got me a ticket, found my passport, and packed me a bag."
"It's a good thing I found you first love, had I met Maureen before you, I'd never have been able to shake the cub moniker. Third times the charm?" He grinned cheekily while Alysia punched him.

"Shut up, you are mine!" She sealed with a kiss,"I'm going to take a shower, and try to get ready well enough to make a decent first impression. Go occupy Gemma,"
"Can't I stay up here with you?" Harry whined.

"No, because I'll be naked, and I'd like to eat today," Alysia argued.

"Heeeey, I have self-control, I keep telling you!"

"You can tell me all you want, but you'll have to show me, and frankly I don't want to see that. Now, shoo, I need a shower that actually makes me clean, not dirtier!" She joked as she pushed him towards the door.

"Mean, again, why do I like you?" Harry asked.

"I give good head and like your stupid shirts?"

"My shirts aren't stupid!" he said at the door.

"Sure baby, what Hawaiian print are you wearing today?" Alysia volleyed.

"Done taking this abuse!" He said and left.

Alysia smiled to herself, she lived to tease him. His faux offense was hilarious. She stood in the shower and found herself reminiscing about their night together, when her hand slipped between her legs, she caught herself and got on with her business. She finished up and rough dried her hair and put on the jeans, shell, and light jacket Maureen had packed. It seemed most like Gemma's outfit. Alysia decided to follow her lead. She pulled up her hair into a quick braided bun and then applied super light makeup. She bounded down the stairs, "sorry, I'm ready now." She said as she slid into the kitchen where Harry and Gemma were drinking tea.

"No worries, let's go," Gemma said standing up and pouring out her tea.

"What took you so long ,baby?" Harry asked and looked up just in time to catch her blush. He smirked at her making his way over, "thinking of me again?" He circled her waist and pulled alysia into him, nuzzling his nose against hers.

"Gross, lets go, or I'm feeding you to the wolves and telling Mum about the scene I walked in on," Gemma threatened.

"Your going to tell her anyways," Harry quipped.

"Yeah, but I'll do it in front of Alysia if you don't stop being so handsy in front of me."

Gemma grabbed her bag and came over to Alysia, and hooked her arm through hers, pulling her to the door. "Maybe if I take you away with me he'll follow. So, how'd you two meet?" Gemma laughed out loud when she saw Alysia's blush and Harry's smug smile. "Oh, this is too juicy. I have dirt for years! Mum is going to love this."

"She knows I'm not a virgin, Gem."

"The whole world knows you're not a virgin, Harry, but you don't help yourself," Gemma sounded suddenly serious.

"Gem, I'm 22, and I've gotten a ton more discreet. Can we not out Alysia, I want mom to like her."

Gemma looked at Harry then, made eye contact and they had a silent conversation to rival one of hers and Maureen's. Alysia pretended not to notice.

"Ok," Gemma said.

So, here she was at this breakfast, trying desperately to impress Anne. Alysia looked up then, because she felt Harry's eyes on her. His green eyes were lit up and his dimples deep. He was happy, surrounded by his people. She'd do just about anything to see that face, have a million uncomfortable brunches. She smiled back. When Alysia looked back at Anne, her face seemed to soften.

"I just took my certification test to be a personal trainer, I teach fitness classes now." Alysia finished.

"Did you meet Harry at a class, know he takes loads when he's in LA.," she salvoed.

"Um," Alysia looked to Harry.
"No, mum, met her at a bar where she was meeting her sister for a much needed girls night out. They both work all the time. Her sister was late because Alysia usually has her kids, so the babysitter was new, and she was sitting alone, swaying to the music and singing to herself. I was smitten. Worked hard to catch her eye." He reached for her hand, "her sister never showed up," he kissed her palm, "lucky me. Then I went to her boot camp and she kicked my ass," he continued fondly, " was sore for days."

Gemma's snicker broke their eye contact and Harry's phone chimed. Alysia needed to excuse herself. She'd never heard him talk about how they met. The butterflies were turning to bats in her stomach and she was sure she was blushing. It was taking every bit of self control not to kiss him full on the mouth. He must have been watching her for some time that night. Alysia didn't even remember singing to herself . She was so gone, it got worse all the time. Instead of embarrassing herself by climbing into his lap, she stood.

"Excuse me, I'll be right back," she said, 

Harry caught her hand on the way, "Got your flight sorted love. Leave tomorrow at 6 in the morning," he said regretfully.

Alysia nodded. "Plenty of time to pack then," she tried to smile lightly, swallowing the lump in her throat.
Harry looked at her meaningfully, "not enough," he promised.
Alysia had to walk away.
In the bathroom, she looked at her bright eyes and flushed cheeks and couldn't help but giggle. She'd work on getting Anne to like her, but Harry did. He hadn't returned her declaration of love, but he gave her plenty of cause to wonder. She knew she was in for a long night of goodbyes. Biting her lip, she finished washing her hands and walked back to the table.

Before she rounded the corner she heard Harry sigh.

"Mum," he huffed, "I like her, she's sweet and works so hard. Most genuine girl I've ever met, especially since I got on this merry go round. She came after me. She not after anything but my company. I can feel it."
"Harry, I'm sure you are feeling plenty," Anne said reprovingly, "but I've never even heard of her and she turns up at brunch with you late because you guys were clearly too loved up to notice the time. I just worry, and you are clearly paying for her plane tickets, what else are you picking up? Who's tabs? Sounds like she and her sister are struggling, just be careful she doesn't think you are a way out of that. You get burned love, Paige, Zayn, Zander....."
Harry looked up angrily then.
Anne put her hand on his, "you fall for people, and I raised you to be loving and generous, I just had no idea how generous you'd be able to be. Hate to see you hurt and taken advantage of. Just, slow down Harry-love. Be sure of her and her intentions."

Harry flipped his palm to take his mother's hand. "I am, Mom. I'm trying to be more cautious with this one. Want it to work. Give her a chance, she's proper charming. Enough with the questions, she's likely to wonder if she got the job," he tried to lighten the mood. 

"I like her, she immediately made fun of this idiot with me this morning. Plus, she looks at you like you are the sun, but not like you are a star. I like it." Gemma stuffed her last bite in her mouth.

Alysia walked up then, making her presence known. Brunch finished more smoothly from there, with Robin telling great stories about the pub quizzes he'd won that week. Harry held her hand on top of the table for the rest of the meal. Alysia wasn't sure if he knew she had heard, or if he needed the reassurance, but she relished it.
When they got back to Harry's house, the short hours they had left played on both of their minds, and Harry caught her about the waist just inside the door, and took her to the couch for deep kisses and soft caresses.

"When do you come back to LA?" Alysia whispered against his tongue and teeth. He nipped her  again.
"Two weeks, I have some meetings and recording."

"I'll miss you," she braved, "two weeks sounds like a really long time."

"Let me give you something to remember me by, yeah?" Harry bid.
She nodded and whispered, "please."

Now she was sat on this early morning plane, trying to sleep and fighting the tears she had promised herself wouldn't fall. Alysia had held it together while Harry said goodbye to her in his foyer, he didn't want to risk the airport. They hadn't slept and the night had progressed as his mood did, from sweet, slow, and loving to desperate and a bit rough.
The bites on her inner thigh insured she wouldn't forget, or be able to wear shorts. And they matched the finger marks on her hips so well.  God, she already missed him.
Her phone chimed then, a picture of his chest near the left nipple over his heart , her small teeth marks. It read "wish this would last forever."

"If only," She texted back.

A few days later she got a similar picture of a him  at a tattoo shop. It read, "now it will."