Respite - HS

another year older.

Epilogue (5/5) 

Audrey Styles 

(This takes place four years after the last epilogue! So Clover is 6, Ivy is 4 and Felix is 14!)

"Okay, I think that's everything!" I sigh in relief after putting down yet another box full of groceries. 

"Why did we agree to host a party full of fourteen year olds?" Harry huffs next to me with his arms full and  Clover clung to his back. 

I stifle a laugh and grab Clover off of his back, "Because Seri did it last year." I tell him with a raise of my brow. 

He whines following me back into the house, "But the whole family is coming over anyway. Why couldn't he go out with his friends or something?"

I spin around to face him, Clover laughing at the abrupt turn. "Harry." 

He blinks and rolls his lips. 

"I-"

"He's fourteen! You want him out of the house that bad?" I frown. "I like that he wanted to spend his birthday with us, pretty soon he's gonna want nothing to do with us." 

I set Clove down with a kiss to her head, "Go find Ivy please?" 

"She's in the playroom flower." Harry pinches her cheek as she wanders off. 

"Baby." He sighs, "I wasn't being serious, I love that he wants to be with all of us." I walks up and wraps his arms around my waist. "I'm sorry." 

I tilt my head at him, "Why are you apologizing to me? I just couldn't believe you would say such a thing about your first born. Your only son! You're evil babe." I tease and giggle as I watch his face fall even further. 

He squints his eyes at me, "Don't get cheeky with me Audie. You're gonna regret it-"

He's cut off by the doorbell and I slip out of his hold with a big laugh as I run over to open the door. 

"Fif! My baby! Happy Birthday!" I squeal once the door is open, scooping him up into a big hug, he's almost as tall as me now and everytime I think about it I start getting teary eyed. 

"Hi mom." He groans when I kiss his forehead. 

Serena giggles and lets herself in, Percy, Alex, Elliot, and Maya filing in behind her. 

"Oh wow, you're all here on time." Harry says with a smirk as he walks up to us, his hand sliding around the small of my back. 

As the family settles in I stand back and watch Harry and Felix in the entryway. The kids' birthdays are always hard on him, but Felix's especially. I watch with a lump in my throat as Harry very clearly struggles to keep it together, squeezing Felix as tight as he'll let him. 

As I slowly make my way back into the living room I hear a groan coming from Felix, "Dad, okay. I get it! I love you too! Thank you." 

The girls come rushing downstairs when they hear their brother is home, quick to jump at him with hugs. The two of them adore him, and as much as he pretends to let it bother him, he loves them just as much. 

I jump when I feel Harry's presence slide up next to me, his cold nose pressing into the side of my neck. "Love you." 

I turn in his hold with a knowing look, pressing up on my tippy toes to kiss him. "Love you more, my Apollo." 

Harry's breath catches and his eyes soften, "You haven't called me that in so long. Forgot how much I loved it." 

I smile up at him, "just feeling reminiscent today."