Collide (Impact Book 2) | h.s. | complete

Epilogue

Epilogue

"Are you sure you're ready?" Harry asked, stroking Ciella's hair back.

"M'sure..." I murmured, watching his large hand smooth down our daughter's hair which Louise had showed Harry how to pull carefully into two curly pigtails.

"Okay," Matt clapped to get everyone's attention and all eyes in the room including the boys, security, management and crew turned to him. "This is a really huge night and we don't really know how it's going to go. First of all it's opening night for this tour." He began and everyone clapped politely. "The fans and the media know that Victoria is back and they've seen photographs of Ciella and of Harry with Ciella and of the three of them together. Rumors are flying and people are pretty sure they know what's going on. Victoria did a spread with Cosmopolitan about being the first female member of a boy band..." A chorus of laughter rolled through the room and Ciella let out a huge belly laugh, making everyone laugh even harder. "And in it she speaks about the complications of her pregnancy and how she needed to seek special care in another country." I nodded knowing that this was the cover story for those who were not close enough to know the truth. "Tonight, Tori will join the boys on stage one last time and she's going to bring Ciella out with her where Harry will introduce her as their child. If we weren't a family before, we most definitely are now. I want to thank all of you for everything you do for these six because without every single one of you we'd never be able to pull this off." Everyone clapped again as the door cracked open and someone peeked into the room.

"Four minutes to show." The pudgy man said, holding up four fingers. Matt nodded.

"Before we go take our places, I just wanted to say a few things. First of all good luck to our boys, it's back down to the five of you and I know the immense pressure that you're under." The boys were all standing to my left and they joined hands as if it were second nature. "You'll be alright. I promise. We've come too far not to be. And to Victoria, thank you for an incredible album. The words you wrote saved us when we couldn't find the words ourselves." Everyone nodded and Ciella reached out to me from Harry's arms. I took her and she wrapped her arms around my neck. "Harry and Victoria, good luck tonight. Whatever the outcome, we are a family and we'll make it through this. I promise." Matt caught my eye and I nodded. "To us." Matt said, lifting his water bottle in a "cheers" and everyone did the same. What followed was a mad dash to places and I joined Matt back stage where we watched the beginning of the show on a monitor. About half way through, Matt guided me to a spot directly behind the stage where we placed a set of massive set of noise cancelling headphones on Ciella's head, much to her dismay.

"I know baby, but it's just for a little while, do you want to go see Daddy?" I cooed as she tried to push the headphones off. I could hear Harry's voice loud and clear as they finished Girl Almighty.

"We have a little surprise for you but I really need you guys to be quiet," He said and I heard the other boys hushing the crowd. "No seriously I'm not showing you until you stop screaming it's really important." The stadium went silent and I felt my pulse quicken. "You guys probably know that Tori has been around a lot more and there's a couple reasons why she was gone for a while but none of that really matters right now, if you want to know what was happening you can read her interview that comes out tomorrow but for now..." He paused and I hated that I couldn't see him. Was he scared? Excited? "I'd like to introduce you to someone." The wall in front of me split in two parts and I stepped forward. Liam walked to me helping me down the steep steps with Ciella in my arms. There was a collective gasp from the crowd, a bigger crowd than I'd ever seen. "This..." Harry said as I reached him and let him take Ciella from my arms. Her face was plastered across every screen in the room as she grinned pulling Harry's long curls. "Is our daughter Ciella."

The feeling of freedom and peace that followed that moment is difficult to describe. I remembered walking into the studio to help the boys write songs, the first time I had stepped on stage with them, the first time I had kissed Harry, the fights, the make-up and the first time that Harry had held Cici, his eyes glossing over and his chest puffing with pride. I felt his hand in mine as the crowd erupted into screams and Ciella frowned, her bottom lip wobbling.

"Isabella wont be joining us on stage an more after tonight. She's going to return to our management company as our head manager." Niall said, stepping forward to join us at the edge of the stage.

"But we wanted her to sing one last song with us," Liam said and the crowd roared. Ciella began to cry. Louis crossed the stage and took her from Harry who reluctantly let her go.

"Let uncle Lou have a go then, yea?" Louis said and the girls in the crowd all melted. "You're a right chick magnet aren't you," He said as Ciella buried her face in his chest. A crew member skittered out and attached my in-ears and gave me my microphone.

"Louis please don't use my daughter to get girls that's disgusting." Harry said helping me down onto the catwalk.

"Careful with her please," I said and Lou nodded. The entire stadium cooed.

"Alright everyone, this is 18." Harry said and we began to sing together. Not for the first time and most definitely not for the last.