The Publisher

20. Harry

The weeks passed quickly and soon it was Allison's first birthday. Emma had apologized to the rest of the guy's for leaving and was back in their good graces.

"It's just so hard to stay mad at you." Niall had said, before giving her a hug. Emma had beamed at me over his shoulder. I looked up at her now as she was hanging pink streamers from the ceiling in the kitchen.

"Don't you think this is a bit much? I mean she won't even remember this."

"I don't know, she's pretty smart. She might remember this."

"No."Allison said from her position on the floor.

Emma and I looked at each other. Allison knew three words now; yes, no and Dad which was a point of pride for me. Emma hopped off the chair and admired her work.

"There. We just have to finish the cupcakes and then we're ready." I grabbed the frosting and started slathering it on the cupcakes. The doorbell rang and I heard little feet come running in. I turned and saw George and Flynn come running in with Liam and Louis and their wives behind them.

"Boys!" Liam called. They ignored him and went straight to the pool which was now open. Liam sighed and rolled his eyes. Louis laughed. Their wives followed their children after saying a quick hello.

"Hello Harry, Hi Emma." Liam said. He crouched down next to Allison, "Happy Birthday Allison." Allison giggled.

"Hey. Happy Birthday." I said.

"Hi! Happy birthday Liam!" Emma called, turning and smiling at Liam.

"It's not that great." Liam said. "I have to share it now with this cutie." He said, picking up Allison.

"We'll be done in a second. It turns out Harry is actually pretty good at decorating cupcakes." Emma smirked at me.

"I did work at a bakery you know." I said.

"I know honey, you tell me all the time." I blinked in surprise. Emma and I were still shaky together, like one wrong move could end our relationship permanently. We hadn't even kissed in months. And when we went to bed at night it was stiff and awkward, both of us practically on the edges of the bed. Liam and Louis helped themselves to some of the snacks, chatting with us. The door opened again and Niall and Kevin came in with Erica holding a giant present.

"Dad! Can I go in the pool?" Kevin asked.

"Sure, you have your floaties right?"

"Daad!" Kevin said.

"What?" Kevin turned and ran off. Niall noticed my raised eyebrows.

"I forget that he's a big 5 year old now. He doesn't need floaties." Erica gave the present to Emma and they started talking. I grabbed a soda and went outside with the guys.

"It's a good day for a birthday." Liam said.

"Of course you would say that." Louis replied.

"Where's Zayn?" Niall asked.

"He's coming, he probably got stuck in traffic." I said, taking a sip of my soda.

"1 year old already! You must feel old Harry." Liam said.

"Don't remind me." I groaned. The guys laughed.

Louis changed the subject to last night's soccer match. I was laughing about something when I noticed a flash out of the corner of my eye. I turned to see Allison barreling out through the open door.

"Whoa there birthday girl!" I said, picking her up before she could go too far. Emma came outside, her face worried before she saw me with Allison.

"Whew! I turned around for a second and when I turned back she was gone." She came over and I went to pass Allison to her.

"I think she'll have more fun out here than stuck inside with me." She said, smiling at me. I nodded and smiled too. Emma went back inside after offering to get more drinks for us. I turned around with Allison on my hip and saw everyone looking at me strangely.

"What?" I asked.

"I'm just trying to figure out how you guys can go back to being the perfect couple so fast. You're making the rest of us look bad." Louis said.

I rolled my eyes. "We're not the perfect couple."

"Yes you are." Louis sang.

"Hey Zayn's here!" Niall called out. Thankfully everyone went to say hello to Zayn and dropped the subject.

The party went smoothly and soon it was just Emma and I alone in the kitchen. Allison was taking a nap, exhausted from running around with the older kids.

"There's one cupcake left, you want it?" Emma asked, offering the vanilla cupcake with pink frosting to me.

"You can have it." I said, giving the counter one last swipe with my rag. I leaned against the counter while Emma climbed up next to me. She used her finger to scoop the frosting off the top of the cupcake.

"I still think it's weird how you do that." I said. "Why can't you just eat it?"

"The frosting's the best part, if I eat it like this then I don't even have to eat the rest of the cupcake."

"Weird!" I said with a laugh. Emma pretended to pout and then got a pick glob of frosting of her finger. She smirked and then put it on my nose. I let out a huff of surprise and then did the same to her. We both laughed and then slowly stopped. I found myself staring at her lips and she was doing the same to me. Before I knew it we were kissing, with me in between her legs. She wounded her arms around my neck and my hands were in her hair. She tasted like frosting and sugar. We broke apart and pressed out foreheads together so all I could see were here beautiful eyes.

"You're right." I whispered, surprised to find myself breathless. "The frosting is the best part."