If I could fly (BOOK 2)

Gimme the baby

Y/N didn't let go right away.

They stood just inside the doorway, Darcy asleep against her chest, the morning still too quiet for how loud everything felt inside Harry. He wrapped his arms around both of them, pulling them close until his chin rested against Y/N's hair, breathing her in like he needed it to function.

"I'll be back before you know it," he said, but his voice wavered.

Y/N tilted her head up. "You don't have to be strong right now."

That nearly undid him.

He kissed her-slow, lingering, full of everything he didn't know how to say-then kissed her again, tighter this time, like he was afraid the moment might slip through his fingers.

"I love you," he murmured.

"I love you," she said back immediately, arms tightening around him. "We'll be right here."

He pressed his forehead to hers, eyes closed. "I don't want to miss anything. Two weeks is too long."

"You won't," she promised. "And if you do, we'll tell you about it a hundred times."

He kissed Darcy's head last, barely touching her, reverent.
Then he stepped back.
Too fast.
He turned away before Y/N could see his face properly and walked down the drive without looking back.

The boys were already by the van.
Harry didn't join them.
He stopped halfway, hands on his hips, chest tight, blinking hard. The noise of the world rushed in all at once-doors, voices, engines-and suddenly it felt like too much.

"I don't know if I can do this," he said quietly, mostly to himself.

Zayn heard him anyway.

He followed Harry a few steps away from the others, stopping beside him without crowding.

"You can," Zayn said simply.

Harry shook his head, voice breaking. "I don't mean the tour. I mean leaving. Maybe a day or two. But two weeks?"

Zayn nodded once. "Yeah. I know it's hard."

They stood there for a moment in silence.

"You don't have to like it," Zayn added. "You just have to get through it. Thank about her and Yn."

Harry dragged a hand down his face. "Every part of me feels like it's back there."

"That's because it is," Zayn said. "And that's not a bad thing. Yn loves you and Darcy loves you. Remember them."

Harry looked at him then, eyes red. "What if I miss something that matters?"

Zayn met his gaze, steady. "You already showed up for the part that matters. Everything else is just timing."

Harry exhaled slowly, grounding himself.

"You're a good dad Harry," Zayn said quietly. "And a good boyfriend. Leaving doesn't undo that."

Harry swallowed, nodding once.

"Come on," Zayn said gently. "They're waiting."

Harry took one last look back toward the house-toward Y/N, toward Darcy-then squared his shoulders and walked back to the van.
This time, he didn't hesitate.
He was leaving.
But he wasn't letting go.