Adopted by Harry Styles

four

"Daddy, who's that girl on the couch?" Autumn whispered to me as we sat in her room.

"She's a friend of Uncle Niall's sweets," I lied," don't worry, she'll be gone by the time you wake up, okay? I love you, sweet dreams."

I kissed her cheek and tucked her into bed, me going back downstairs and finding Niall talking to her on the couch.

"Hi, um, my name is Harry," I spoke as I sat next to Niall.

"My name is Claire," she spoke, "and thank you for helping me. Niall was telling me about what you did when he showed up here."

"It's nothing, really," I smiled as she stood up. She handed me a slip of paper and smiled at me, "Call me sometime, okay?"

I nodded and showed her out the door, shutting it after a cab came to get her. I looked at Niall and he shook his head and laughed at me, "I find the girl and bring her here for help and you get the damn number. Prick."

I laughed, "Just accept the fact that I'm hotter than you Niall."

He flicked me off and laughed, "You ass. I'm going to go home now, bye."

//

I woke up to hearing loud coughing outside my door. I got up from my bed and saw Autumn fall at my feet. She was propped against the door.

"Autumn?" My raspy, tired voice spoke as she looked up at me.

To be honest, she looked like she had been hit by a bus. I could see the darkness underneath her eyes from what I'm guessing sleepless nights.

"Daddy," she barely whimpered out.

I picked her up and she winced. What happened to her?

"Sweetheart what happened?" I asked her in a small panic.

I went and laid her down on my bed, but she just climbed back on me.

"I hurt," she spoke out before starting to cough again.

"What hurts Autumn?" I asked in an even more panic.

She didn't answer me, so I looked down and she was dead asleep. I felt her forehead and she was burning. I held her in my arms and rocked her until I laid down, with her laying on my chest.

I didn't go back to sleep, considering its 5 in the morning. Oh shit, I have to go into the studio today. Whatever, I'll just call in sick.

I waited an hour and then I called Niall. We've got to be there by 7 anyways, he should be awake.

"Hello?"

"Hey Niall."

"Hey Harry, what's up?"

"I can't come in today."

"What? Why?"

"Autumn is like super sick. She looks like she's been hit by a bus."

"How long have you been up with her?"

"Probably close to 4:30, but she didn't fall asleep until 5."

"Damn. I'll stop by after we get done. We haven't got much to do anyways. I'll see you later."

He hung up after that, giving him no choice but to come over. I sighed, tossing my phone onto my nightstand and looking back towards Autumn.

She literally looked like shit. It's like someone beat the hell out of her and gave her two black eyes.

I rubbed her back as I watched Family Guy. She's started to shiver, so I grabbed my blanket from the closet and covered us up with it. I laid her by my side so I can go shower and use the bathroom.

When I turned the water off, she was crying bloody murder. I quickly slipped on my boxers and my sweatpants and got back into my room, picking her back up and holding her against my wet, bare chest.

"Autumn," I cooed, "daddy's here. I got you."

Her cries stopped and she fell back asleep in my arms. Maybe she's still not ready to stay by herself yet?

//

"Harry!"

"In here!" I called loud enough for Niall to hear me, but quiet enough to where I wouldn't wake Autumn.

"How long have you been like this?" He asked from my doorway.

I was still bare chested and Autumn was asleep on my chest, a blanket over her.

"Since 8 I think," i yawned.

"You haven't slept since then? At all?" He asked as he came and sat at the foot of my bed.

I shook my head, "Every time I lay her down next to me she starts screaming."

"Do you think she's not comfortable by herself yet? And that leads to her sleepless nights?"

I nodded, "That's what I thought earlier this morning. It's so bad it's made her ill."

He got a good look at her and spoke, "She's just exhausted Harry. Management told us when we leave for tour."

"When do we leave?" I asked curiously.

"Next Friday."