The Au Pair (H.S.) [COMPLETE]

{sixty-one}

After dinner, Harry, Mary and Niko began packing the kids' belongings to take to the UK with them. Niko started in Avery's room as the little girl played with her dolls. Mary started in Jackson's room as he played with his toys.

Harry came into Avery's room to help Niko, and she wasn't surprised one bit. She was sure he would. The two of them moved around in silence, but they both were agonizingly aware of each other. Their time together was nearly coming to an end and it was almost unbearable to think about.

After most of Avery's things were packed, and the kids had gotten ready for bed, Harry and Niko put her to bed together before they went down to Jackson's room to help put him to sleep. Niko had to smile when she saw Zeus was lying at the foot of his bed as Jackson lay under the covers. His dog definitely loved him.

"Niko, I'm really going to miss you," Jackson told her sadly as Niko hugged him.

"Same here, buddy. But we can keep in touch. We can talk on the phone and write letters if you want," Niko reassured him and he excitedly nodded his head, causing Niko to smile widely at him.

"We'll make sure to keep in touch with her, mate," Harry assured him, sending Niko a knowing look.

"Okay," Jackson said as he hugged his father.

When Harry and Niko left Jackson's room, Mary was nowhere in sight, having made sure the bathroom was put back together after the kids were done in there. Niko felt kind of bad for her that Jackson and Avery were both fawning all over her, saying how much they were going to miss her, but weren't doing such things with Mary. Despite all her odd quirks, Mary was a very good person and she did a wonderful job of stimulating the children's minds and overall taking care of them that summer. She would make a fantastic teacher once she finished her degree.

"Hey, come here," Harry told Niko as he grabbed her hand, pulling her in the direction of his bedroom.

"Harry, no," Niko protested as he pulled her in and shut the door.

He dropped her hand, but immediately grabbed her face and planted a kiss on her lips.

"Harry, we can't," Niko said as she grabbed his wrist to pull them from her face as she took a step back.

"Why not?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowing in question as he watched her.

"Because..." She said sadly, dropping her gaze to look at his shirt rather than look him in the eyes.

"Niko, why not?" He asked firmly.

"Because... I've already said goodbye to you. I've already begun to put this behind me," Niko told him quietly, her eyes looking anywhere but in his eyes.

"No, don't. Please don't put this behind you," he pleaded, sounding so desperate, it shot pains through her heart.

"Harry..." Niko sighed, closing her eyes tightly. She didn't want to cry, but it was a really strong possibility at that point.

"Niko, what are you saying?" He asked sadly.

"Harry..." She breathed before sucking in a shuddered breath.

"Niko, don't do this," he pleaded, his words coming out ever more desperate than before.

"I-I wanted things with you I never had with anyone else. But you've already had it all, Harry, and it's not fair to me," she told him wistfully. She was second place in a contest where there were no winners.

"Niko..."

"I think we just need to end it now," she continued, still not able to look at him. She couldn't bear to see the pain in his eyes.

"What about in the future?" He asked hopefully, which made her finally look up at him.

"I... I don't know what the future holds. If it's meant to be, it will happen," she explained, causing Harry's heart to squeeze tightly in his chest. Her words were vague, but she wasn't completely writing him off, so there was still a chance that she would come around. He supposed it was more than he could hope for.

"What about... what about the next two days?"

"Harry, don't do this," Niko croaked, feeling the sting of tears in her eyes and the lump of emotion in her throat. She wasn't strong enough to handle this, she was certain.

"Niko," he breathed, letting out a heavy sigh.

He stared at her, watching as she fought her emotions and it was painful. He wanted to reach out to comfort her, but he also knew he couldn't handle it if she pulled away from him.

"I don't understand why we can't just be together these last two days, Niko. I'm really going to miss you," he insisted, his eyes pleading with her.

"Harry, it hurts too much. It makes me too sad," she told him honestly, her voice wavering with emotion.

"I-I'm sorry," he said morosely, his vision falling to the floor for a moment.

"So am I," she told him quietly.

Harry watched her carefully, and saw all the vulnerability in her blue eyes and knew that she needed comfort just as much as he did.

"Come here," he cooed, wrapping his arms around her. Niko's arms immediately encircled his waist and held onto him tightly as her tears silently fell.

"I'm sorry, Niko. I wish I was ready," he breathed before kissing the top of her head.

"Harry, it's not your fault that you aren't ready and I couldn't expect you to be. You're going through something so heartbreaking and life changing. I just want you to focus on your kids. They need you so much," Niko told him and she felt his grip tighten around her.

"I love you for that," Harry breathed against her ear.

"For what?" Niko asked, pulling back just enough to look at him.

"For caring so much about them. You are amazing, Niko. I hope you know that," he told her, his green eyes staring into hers.

"I'm really going to miss them," Niko whimpered as a tear slipped down her cheek.

"We're all going to miss you," Harry whispered, swiping his thumb across her cheek to wipe away the tear.

With a shuddered breath, Niko quickly leaned in to press a kiss to his lips. Harry gently gripped onto the back of her neck and kissed her more deeply, more passionately for a few moments before she finally broke the kiss.

"I should go."

"Niko..."

"Goodnight, Harry," Niko whispered a moment later as she pulled out of his arms and turned toward his bedroom door.

Harry breathed out a sigh before finally saying, "Goodnight, Neeks."