SOFT SPOT// h.s

epilogue

//3 AND A HALF YEARS LATER\\

The air was cold and a light blanket of snow covered the ground. I pulled my coat tighter around myself as the chill of the December wind sent shivers down my neck.

The only heat I could find was Harry's hand wrapped around mine as he stared expressionlessly at the two tombstones that stood solidly in front of us. One engraved with his brother, Elliot's name, and the other with his Mother's.

I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. It was Christmas Eve and ever since Anne had passed away three years ago, we had made a point of visiting their graves at least once a month.

His mother's death had been hard for Harry, but no one ever gets flawlessly happy endings. She had never woken up from the coma, and I think that's what broke Harry. There was so much left unsaid and so many amendments that would never be made.

But despite the loss, Harry and I had still managed to find an abundance of happiness. Ellie was now six, and Conor had just turned two. He was the spitting image of Harry; it was scary how alike they looked. The only difference was that he had my brown eyes and a few light freckles on the bridge of his nose.

"Are you ready to leave?" I asked Harry quietly.

He looked at me with saddened eyes. Although he always smiled around the kids, I knew there was a part inside him that mourned. "Yeah, let's go," he replied quietly, his words forming wisps of vapour in the icy air.

He wrapped his arm around my back as we trudged slowly towards the car. "I can drive if you don't feel like it?" I suggested, looking up into his troubled face.

He shook his head. "It's fine," he told me with a small smile.

I was leaning against the car door, feeling the coldness beginning to seep under my coat. Harry's hands lowered to my waist as he gazed into my eyes. His expression hardened as he studied me.

"What do you want for Christmas?" He murmured, his face close to mine.

"Nothing, honestly Harry," I told him, for what seemed like the thousandth time.

I could hear his deep breathing as he pressed his body against mine. "Are you sure?" He asked, a small smile tugging at his lips.

I nodded, feeling my heart flutter as he inched closer to me. "Well I know what I want," he whispered quietly, as he lifted one hand and brought his fingers underneath my chin, tilting my head upwards, closer to him.

"And what would that be?" I asked him with a smirk.

He raised his eyebrows, his mouth forming a grin. "As if you don't know," he chuckled before bringing his lips to mine.

He kissed me softly, his hand wandering back to my waist, squeezing it gently. "I love you," he murmured against my mouth.

"I love you," I replied, tugging off his beanie and running my fingers through his warm hair.

I kissed him like I was drowning and his lips were oxygen. I never seemed to be able to get enough of him and even after over three years, my love for him had never faltered, even if we did constantly argue about stupid things and even though he did annoy the hell out of me 95.7% of the time.

"Come on, let's go home," he said, as he opened the car door, gesturing for me to step inside.

When he got into the drivers seat, his fingers leaned towards the heating. "Are you cold?" He asked me.

"I was, but you warmed me up," I admitted.

He chuckled lowly. The tip of his nose was red from the cold and his cheeks also glowed. He looked 'cute af.'