If I could fly (BOOK 2)

Surprise

Back at the hotel, the door clicked shut behind them and the noise of the city disappeared all at once.

Darcy slept peacefully in her bassinet beside the bed, her tiny chest rising and falling, unaware that her entire world had just shifted. Harry leaned his forehead against Y/N's for a moment, hands steady at her waist like he was still anchoring himself to the reality of it.

"You okay?" he asked quietly.

She nodded, eyes shining. "I think it's finally real now."

He smiled, small but certain. "Good. I meant every word."

They sat together on the edge of the bed, fingers intertwined, the ring catching the soft lamplight every time she moved her hand. Harry lifted her fingers and kissed her knuckles slowly, reverently.

"I want to tell them," he said. "Before anyone else does."

Y/N nodded. "Okay."

He called Gemma first.

She answered almost immediately. "Hi-"

"Gem," Harry said, and his voice gave him away before he could even finish.

There was a beat of silence.

"No," she breathed. "Harry... no."

"Yes," he laughed, unable to stop himself now.

Gemma shrieked so loudly he had to pull the phone away from his ear. "OH MY GOD. I KNEW IT."

Harry turned the screen so she could see Y/N properly, the ring unmistakable. Gemma started crying instantly.

"Look at you," she said, voice shaking. "Look at both of you. I'm so happy."

Harry added Anne to the call.

The moment her face appeared, she covered her mouth, tears welling immediately.

"Oh," Anne whispered. "Oh, my darling."

Harry swallowed. "We wanted you to hear it from us."

Anne smiled through her tears. "I've never seen you be more sure of anything in your life."

Harry turned the phone toward the bassinet. "There's someone else you should say hello to."

At the sound of familiar voices, Darcy stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, and when she saw the faces on the screen, she lit up-kicking her feet, cooing loudly, reaching out like she could touch them.

Gemma laughed through tears. "She knows. Look at her."

Anne pressed her fingers gently to the screen. "Hello, beautiful girl. We love you."

Darcy beamed, completely delighted and smiled.

Y/N watched it all with her heart so full it almost hurt-this quiet expansion of family, happening right here in a hotel room that suddenly felt like home.

Harry ended the call a few minutes later, setting the phone down carefully, like the moment itself was fragile. He turned back to Y/N, eyes steady and full.

"That's everyone who matters," he said softly.

Y/ns face softened a little "Not everyone. My mom."

Harry searched for emotion on her face. "Do you want to call her?" She shook her head no and wiped a tear. "No..no. She will ruin all of it. I just wish she could at least act like a normal mom."

Harry put his arm around her and hugged her close. "Baby you never have to worry about her ever again. I know she's your mom but she treated you horribly." She leaned into Harry, not wanting to talk about it anymore.

She leaned into him. "I still can't believe this happened."

He kissed the top of her head. "It did."

What they didn't know-what they couldn't know yet-was that across the street, beneath the glow of a streetlamp near the park, cameras had already caught it.

Harry on one knee.
Her hands over her mouth.
The kiss.

The moment that belonged to them was already traveling elsewhere.

Inside the hotel room, though, nothing intruded.

Darcy slept.
The ring glinted softly.
And Harry held his fiancée a little closer, unaware that the world was about to find out what they already knew.

They were forever now.