When Love Goes On Tour

ONE

JANUARY 2023...

"Jeff, Glenne, this party is incredible! I don't know if Harry has told you, but he really appreciates it. You guys are the best, he feels so loved," Eliza, who's already emotional because her husband's album is finally out tonight, thanks her friends with a big warm hug.

The party is just starting at the Azoff's house, and guests are still spilling in. There's a bar set up in the kitchen; food is in the dining room; Harry's music plays from the TV; the ceiling lights are dim to allow green and gold accent lights to illuminate the space; and laughter and congratulations can be heard from the street. It's a small party, just for Harry's family and close friends to celebrate the album that's been in the making since his son was born and he married the love of his life. It's been a long time coming, but he couldn't be more relieved or excited for his fans to listen to his latest project.

Having been separated since their arrival, Eliza excuses herself from the hosts to search for the man in celebration, and of course she finds him at the food display with two little boys trailing behind him.

"Oh! That one looks yummy! Can I please have the cookie with the green frosting, Uncle Harry?" Lucas Rowland asks politely.

"Of course, is this one alright?" he points to one of the cookies and Luke nods with a toothy grin. "Do you want a cookie too, Ben?"

"Yes please, Daddy," Ben's small voice is barely audible over the music and surrounding chatter.

Harry tops the boys' plates off with cookies, and they follow him like ducklings to a small table near the living room where Eliza is secretly waiting.

"Hi Mummy," Ben spots her first, but can barely get a word out between his giant yawns.

"Hi baby, are you tired? I thought you took a nap after lunch," Eliza runs her fingers through his straight dark-blonde hair.

"He was supposed to be napping," Harry chimes in, setting napkins next to the boys' sugar-filled paper plates, "but just a bit ago he admitted that he was playing with Thomas and Percy instead."

"Sorry," Ben speaks through another yawn.

Eliza sighs before confronting Harry. "So, your plan is the fill his belly with sugar so that he stays awake for the party and then crashes on the car ride home?"

"Yup," Harry smiles, debatably a little too proud of himself.

"It's actually a good plan," Eliza says close to his ear, then kisses the apple of his cheek. "Come on, you need to go celebrate. There are plenty of people here to keep an eye on these two troublemakers," Eliza glances at the boys, but they don't notice because they're too busy stuffing their faces.

"Alright, alright. I just wanted to get them situated first," Harry explains himself while Eliza pulls him by the arm into the midst of the crowd.

"Elle, I didn't know your parents were coming," Harry's face lights up when he spots Gianna and Leo Evans speaking with his dad, Desmond.

"My brother and sister are here too," Eliza adds.

"Ana and Oliver! You're telling me your entire side of the family flew here for this?" Harry tries to contain his smile, but his pink cheeks give him away.

"They flew here for you, baby. We're all here for you," she tells him genuinely as she reaches to latch her hands behind his neck.

Harry shakes his head in disbelief, "I love you so much," he connects their lips in a sweet loving kiss, "thank you."

The couple's moment comes to an end as Harry's father-in-law gives him a hefty pat on the back. "Great album, Harry. Gia and I listened to it on the plane over here, and I gotta say, it's your best one yet."