The Publisher

19.Harry

I woke up the next morning, the same as usual only this time someone woke up with me.

"Are you going for a run?" Emma asked.

"Yeah, with Bella."

"Can I come? I can push Allison." She looked at me uncertainly.

"Of course." She beamed.

So we ran together silently. Emma pushed a half asleep Allison in the stroller and I ran with a never ending ball of energy known as Bella. I wasn't sure what to say and Emma seemed content with the silence. We finished and Emma smiled at me.

"Do you have to work today?"

"Yeah, sorry."

"It's fine, I was just wondering." Even boring conversations like this left me on edge. I knew we had made up but I still felt angry. It was normal I guessed.

"You're still angry aren't you?" Emma said, looking at my face.

"Yes." She nodded.

"Would me making breakfast fix that?"

"It wouldn't hurt." I said with a smirk.

Emma had been back for a week and things were going good. She kept up with her online classes. It was nice to see her so excited about something. Allison took her first steps and Emma and I cheered. I rushed to get the camera. I came back and sat with it trained on the now sitting Allison.

"Come on Ally! Do it again for daddy!" Allison looked up at me in confusion.

"Come on Ally!" Emma said. "Please!" Allison looked at both of us.

"No." she said. Emma and I looked at each other.

"Did she just-"

"I think she did."

"What was that Ally?" I asked.

"No!" She squealed and then giggled. Emma face palmed.

"I can't believe it. Her first word is no." I started laughing. Emma pretended to be mad and then started laughing too.

"Okay it is pretty funny."

The next afternoon Bella started barking, signaling that someone had pulled into the driveway. Or she really had to go out, I never knew which was which until it was too late. Emma and I were in the kitchen doing dishes. I wiped my hands and went to see who it was.

"Hello! I haven't heard from you in a couple days. You're not dead are you?" Louis called out. I rolled my eyes.

"Hey Louis."

"Oh thank God! I was not in the mood to deal with a dead body today." Louis smiled at me with Bella coming back behind him.

"When are you in the mood to deal with a dead body?" I asked. He raised an eyebrow.

"Would you like to test me, boy?" I laughed. Louis opened his mouth to speak when Allison let out a shriek from the kitchen. Louis looked at me.

"Is that Allison or have you started a babysitting business in your spare time?"

"It's Allison." Louis practically ran into the kitchen with me following behind. Emma had given Allison some dish suds which were now all over the high chair and Allison. Her whole head was bubbles and she wiped her little hands on her face, smearing more bubbles.

"You're so silly Allison." Emma said with a laugh with bubbles on her hands. She reached out a hand and Allison scraped the bubbles off her hand and then smeared them on her face. Emma turned and seemed to notice Louis.

"Hey Louis." She said with a smile. Louis opened his mouth and the closed it. He opened it again and then closed it. It was the first time I had ever seen him utterly speechless. It was fascinating to see him trying to form words. Emma's gaze slid to me and I could tell she was confused as well.

"I was going to come in here, and call you a bitch for leaving. What you did was horrible and I was going to tell you to go to hell because we sure don't want you here. But...I can't." Emma blinked hard once, hiding the hurt that briefly flashed across her face. I glared at Louis.

"Well. I'm glad you showed some self-restraint." She said dryly.

"It's good to see you, and Allison." Emma smiled.

"Thanks, it's good to see you too Louis."

"How dare you take Allison away from him!" Louis yelled suddenly. Emma and I both jumped. "Okay, I've gotten it out of my system, sorry." Emma came over and gave Louis a hug.

"I'm really sorry." I heard her say to him.

"Just don't do it again." He replied tiredly.

"I promise." She pulled back and smiled at him and then at me. Allison let out another shriek.

"I think she wants more bubbles." I said.