FOREVER [Niall Horan] ✔

Epilogue

AN: I just want you all to know that everything in the italic font is a flashback, so don't get confused.
Enjoy. Happy reading.
Ann x

8 Years Later

"I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who's ever lived: I've loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough." -The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Niall's POV

"Momma, pwease, I was a good girl." Harp fusses at the dining table, picking at her food. "I will do eve'ything you want me to, I p'omise. I will not eat too many sweets and I will brush my teeth two times." She raises two fingers. "Dada, tell momma." She wails and I turn to Ana, raising my eyebrows and she subtly shakes her head.

We've had this talk before and Ana doesn't think that it's a good idea to get a pet now since we're both busy working and Harper has just started her school. Besides, she's with the baby sitter or Willa, the helper, after Paul brings her home from her school. "Harp, you're too young-" I try, but she cuts me off.

"No! Dada, pwease. All my f'iends have it." Fat tears start falling down her eyes as she loudly weeps, throwing a tantrum. "I will walk him, I will feed him and I will even bath him, I p'omise," She stutters through tears and I press my hand against my head.

"You do not even bath yourself, Harp," Ana speaks. "And I said no," Ana sternly says. "We're not getting you a dog."

"But momma-"

"No, Harper, stop being difficult and eat your food," She pointedly says, and Harper sniffles, pushing her plate away and crossing her arms against her chest.

"No!" She meekly shouts and a pout forms on her lips. Her cheeks and nose have turned red. "You bad, I hate you!"

"Harper!" I strictly remark and she flinches at my voice. "Don't be disrespectful! Apologize to your momma right now." Ana stays silent as she murmurs a small and a forced sorry before getting out of her chair and running towards her room. We don't try to stop her. "Ana?" I call, putting my hand on top of hers.

"Can you please go get her? She shouldn't sleep empty stomach and she has school tomorrow," She mutters. "Get her and make her eat something."

"No, I am not. She's getting spoilt and I don't want to add to it. She needs to know that she cannot talk to her parents like that and if she does, she'll have consequences," I inform and she releases a breath. "Are you alright?"

She shrugs. "What am I doing wrong, Niall? I'm trying so hard to be a good mother," She softly mumbles, covering her face behind her palms and softly sobs. I know what Harper said was wrong, but she's just a four-year-old who doesn't understand how her words might affect someone. I'm not trying to defend her but I know that she didn't mean what she said.

"Hey, come here," I say and pull her chair closer to mine before ushering her on my lap, making her straddle me. "Don't doubt yourself, you're doing so great, love. Don't beat yourself for something Harp said, she didn't mean it."

"She's my daughter, I care what she says," Ana mutters as I pull her hands away from her face.

"You know she didn't mean it, she just said that because you did not agree with her," I reason.

"I just don't want to spoil her, Niall. We cannot just agree with everything she says. I'm just looking out for my daughter who apparently, hates me." She sighs, pushing herself closer to me for comfort, some things never change.