Eight | W2S

SEVENTY FIVE.

So close to 200k....5 chapters to go, we can do this guys 🙏🏼🙏🏼

I'm not sure whether Juniper and I made a miraculous recovery or if Harry charmed our doctors and nurses, but somehow, we were home just in time for New Year's. It felt surreal stepping through the front door, and for a moment, I couldn't believe it. We were finally home.

My dad had been incredible throughout the whole ordeal. So had Faith and Ethan—they'd come by the house multiple times, their arms full of gifts, including some of Olive's old newborn essentials. We hadn't had time to buy anything before Juniper arrived almost two months early, so their thoughtfulness felt like a lifeline.

Bringing Juniper into our home felt monumental. And just like every other day since her birth, I cried.

"Why are you crying now?" Harry teased, his tone affectionate as he held the door open for me, our tiny daughter nestled against his chest in the baby carrier.

I wiped away my tears and gave him a mock glare. "She's going to grow up here. It's a big moment. Leave me alone," I said with a huff, stepping inside and closing the door behind us.

The moment the door clicked shut, Juniper started wailing. It was as if the world outside had disappeared, and all that was left was her and her new home.

"I'll take care of her. Go upstairs and shower. I know you've been dying for one," Harry said, his voice gentle but firm.

He was right. All I'd been able to think about was a proper shower. The hospital ones were more like damp promises than anything satisfying.

"But what if she needs feeding?" I asked, glancing at her tiny, squirming body. Harry was already swaying gently, and her cries were softening.

"She's not hungry yet. If she is, I'll call you. Go on, take your time. We'll be just fine, won't we, Juni?" he cooed, his voice high-pitched and soft as he gazed down at her.

Seeing the way Harry held her, the way his entire world seemed to revolve around this tiny human, eased my worries. She was safe. She was loved.

I didn't wait another second. Gripping the banister, I carefully made my way upstairs, the short climb leaving me breathless by the time I reached the top. I hadn't realised how weak I still was.

The bathroom was a sanctuary, the shower a familiar comfort. But as soon as I turned the water on, I sat down on the toilet, exhausted before I even began. I hadn't expected to feel so drained. I stared at the steam rising, feeling a little defeated. The nurses had made everything seem so easy, but now that I was alone, the simplest task felt monumental.

Five minutes passed. I hadn't even undressed yet. I looked at my reflection in the mirror—tired, pale, and unfamiliar. I wasn't ready for this.

I was just about to call for Harry when there was a soft knock on the door.

"Ken? Juni's asleep. Do you want some help?"

His words were a lifeline, and I moved faster than I had all day to open the door. Relief flooded me as I met his gaze.

"Please," I murmured.

He stepped inside, smiling at me with that gentle affection he always wore when he saw me struggling. "I figured you might need a hand. I watched you come up the stairs and knew it wouldn't be easy."

"I should've just asked," I admitted, shaking my head. "I didn't realise how much I'd struggle. Faith warned me it would be hard, but she made it look so easy. I look like a complete mess."

Harry shook his head and smiled, stepping closer. "You're not a mess. You're a woman who just went through something incredible. Your body needs time. And for what it's worth, even if you were a mess, you'd be my mess. So, who gives a fuck?"