one minute || h.s

thirty-eight

Dedicated to @maanonsen because I love her and I miss her.

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Hallie.

Waking up, my hangover was entirely intolerable. The headache that came upon opening my eyes was excruciating and the moment I sat up, I felt the lurch in my stomach, making it imperative that I get to the toilet bowl. I hadn't heard Harry get up, but after round one of the pukes, I felt his hands on my back and then he was pulling my hair away from my face. He didn't say anything for a few seconds but when his palm cupped the back of my neck, he sighed. "Hallie..." That was all he said and I continued to vomit until there wasn't anything left.

"I-I don't even remember drinking that much."

"Well, you did." He began gently braiding my hair back, tucking it all away. "You shouldn't fly home today, baby. You'll be a bloody mess."

"I have to..."

"No, you don't. I'll call Nick, have him stay another night. I don't want you even going out like this."

"Harry..." I groaned, forehead resting on the cool porcelain. "I can't. Julian and I already have our tickets. I have to go..."

"Hallie, I'm going to take care of it, but I'm not allowing you to go out like this. Just stay one more night, love." The tone of his voice, I could tell he was trying to sound soothing, but at the same time, I knew he wasn't going to take no for an answer. I knew I'd be staying another night whether I liked it or not.

"Will you be gone today?"

"I've got some things to do, but I won't be gone for very long." I could only nod. "Will you be alright without me?"

"I'll be fine." I felt him stand up and then he was bringing me with him.

"Let's get you in the shower." I lifted my hands up, allowing him to peel his t-shirt off of my body, then I pulled my underwear down and stepped into the steaming water.

"Come in with me?" He nodded and discarded his clothes before stepping in behind me. I allowed him to softly run his soapy hands around, cleaning every inch of my skin and while he cleaned his own, I shampooed and conditioned my hair with the product the hotel provided. "Harry?"

"Hm?"

"I didn't mean what I said about this not being worth it-you not being worth it..." I felt him let out a breath of air before turning me around. I wrapped my arms around his neck as his hands rested on my hips.

"You say not-so-nice things when you're like that. I know you didn't mean it."

"I just...they're so mean and I-it does hurt-"

"But why haven't you told me?"

"Because, I don't want you to worry. You've had so much on your plate lately and I hate seeing you stressed so I just thought that keeping it from you would be easier."

"You have to understand, Hallie, seeing you upset, like you were last night, that's not easy for me. That makes me sick, that my life has affected you like that...I hate it, but I need to know-I need you to tell me when you're upset. I have to know, otherwise, I can't make it better." His fingers massaged the area around my spine and then up by my neck, where they eventually stayed. "Do you get that, baby?" I nodded against his shoulder.

"I'm sorry."

"No, don't apologize, my love. And don't shut me out, from now on, let me in. What hurts you, Hallie, hurts me too." I smiled at the cheeseball quote I was about to use.

"If you jump, I jump, right?" He chuckled and pulled my face back, cupping my cheeks.

"Right." A warm sleepy kiss was pressed against my mouth. "You goof."

"I love you."

"I love you too, doll. Loads and loads, yeah?"

"I know." I kissed his clavicle, right in between the birds. "I love you a million times infinity."

"That's a lot of love..."

"It is."

"Every bit of love in the world, Hallie...multiply all of that by infinity."

"That's probably more, huh?"

"Think it might be, yeah."

"Well, I love you all of that multiplied by what I said-"

"And then all the love in the universe, that's what I'll multiply it by next, I can go on all day, silly girl."

"So we should just settle for equal, then, right?"

"Yes, right."

"Do you have to go today?"

"I do, my love. I won't be very long though. When I come back, we'll stay in bed for the rest of the day, sound good?"

"Sounds perfect." He kissed me twice more before we finished up underneath the hot water and stepped out to dry off and get dressed.

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I'm really, really sorry this was so dämn short...I've got stuvf to do but I wanted to put this little thing up as a thank you...

One Minute went from #170 in Fanfiction to #95!!! I'm just so, so honored and grateful and I love you guys so much. You're all incredible people and I am so very lucky.