I Love You. [h.s]

11.

||H A R R Y||

Tuesday 4th February, 2014.
12:02pm, London, England.

"Dad?" I questioned as to why he was calling me. I may have stalled on the call that I'd promised to make but HIM calling ME.

Dad was not one to apologise first.

"Afternoon, son. How's everything? How's Katie?" His voice was shaky and I knew that he was only wondering about his son and granddaughter's health. I popped my head into the lounge and saw Katie with her legs crossed on the floor, watching some Doc McStuffins. It was a rather pretty sight as Katie and I had made no effort to get dressed as soon as we'd woken up.

A Polka dotted green Frog onesie adorned her body, her hair slightly and messily voluminous as some strands went in opposite directions. The way her head was rocking as she looked up at the TV, I knew a little nap would be happening after lunch.

"Everything's going okay, Katie's loving it here." I wasn't lying in any way, if my Dad thought I wasn't up for the role, then he was wrong.

"T-that's good, if she's happy, then I'm happy. Listen-" my patience was running thin as I made my way in the kitchen to check on my mini pizza quiches.

I decided to display some of my fine cooking skills to Katie, making some fun food as a surprise.

"Dad, why are you calling?" His speech then came out in stutters and stammers, my eyes rolling and then remembering something.

This man is your Father, Harry.

He's trying to make amends.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to treat you like that." I sighed, my hand running over my face. "You're sorry? I should be the one that's saying sorry, I doubted you as a Father. I doubted your ability to look after a child. I doubted my own son's capability and responsibility over his own daughter!" Dad's voice had cracked and I knew he was holding back sobs.

Right now, I understood how Dad felt. I understood how he felt when he first left home and how he'd divorced Mum. Every week, Gemma and I were going back and forth from both Mum and Dad's houses, wondering why they were living apart. Of course, in that time span, people around us started to find out what was happening. People came up with the most random crap ever, some even rumouring that my Dad abused his own family.

Of course we got to see him, but the stares and rumours of some people just put him down slightly.

He was doubting his own ability to care for his children. "I vowed that I'd never be that person, Harry. I vowed to never judge someone on what they do. But here I am, judging YOU, my one and only son. I'm disgusted at my own behaviour, and I'm so sorry and so ashamed to have even doubted. Please forgive me." Sobs were audible and I was trying to hold back tears.

"Dad, please. It's not your fault. You have a right to care, y'know. You weren't judging me, you were just caring about how I'd look after a little girl when I only had the slightest experience. What I want you to know is, I'm going to take care of Katie with all I've got. I'm going to be the best Dad I can be and I'm going to make sure that I fill up the gap of five core years that I've missed of my daughter. That is a promise." I didn't know where any of this was coming from.

At all.

But right now, I knew to be Katie's father and be something I'd missed out on from her starting years of being on Earth.

"I know you're going to be the best father out there, Harry. Make your little girl proud."

"I'll be sure to." I smiled, noticing a small body walk into the kitchen. Katie waved as she held Olaf, her eyes widened as she walked up to me. She wrapped her free arm around my knee and leaned her head onto my leg, her eyes fluttering closed.