Harry:
It had been a long, tiring day, and finally, you and Harry had some quiet time to yourselves. The house was peaceful, the kids were supposed to be asleep, and for the first time in a while, you two were finally able to just be together. Harry sat close to you, his arm around your waist, pulling you in for a cuddle.
"I've missed this," he murmured softly, kissing your forehead. You melted against him, feeling the weight of the past weeks lift off your shoulders as you relaxed into his touch.
Things had been hectic—Harry's tour, your pregnancy, and the chaos of family life. But in that moment, everything seemed perfect. You smiled up at him, letting out a soft sigh of contentment as he kissed you again. You were finally enjoying each other's company without interruptions.
But then, as if on cue, the silence was broken by the sound of tiny footsteps. Your daughter, not yet old enough to understand the complexities of relationships, appeared at the door, rubbing her eyes sleepily. She had clearly woken up from her nap, and the last thing she wanted to see was her dad cuddling with anyone else.
"Daddy," she whined, her voice thick with sleep but also a hint of frustration. "I want you!"
Harry immediately pulled back, looking at her with concern, but you could feel her jealousy in the air. It was obvious she wasn't happy seeing you and Harry so close. "Hey, sweetheart," Harry said gently, standing up to go to her. "Why are you awake, darling?"
She crossed her arms, her small face scrunching up with a frown. "I don't want you to be with Mommy," she pouted. "You're mine! I don't want you hugging Mommy!"
Your heart broke a little at the words. You knew it wasn't her fault; she was just a little girl trying to process her feelings. But Harry's love for you didn't change the fact that she had been Daddy's little girl since the day she was born. It had been hard for her to adjust, especially with the news that there was going to be a new sibling.
Harry crouched down to her level, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I love you so much, sweetheart," he said softly, his voice full of warmth and reassurance. "But sometimes, Mommy and Daddy need to cuddle too. That doesn't mean I don't love you, okay?"
She sniffled, looking from you to him, her tiny hands still clenched in a sign of frustration. "I want to be with you," she said quietly, her voice trembling.
Harry's chest tightened. He could feel the internal conflict rising within him. As much as he wanted to hold you, as much as he longed to share a quiet, peaceful moment with you, he couldn't ignore the need for balance. He knew that your daughter needed him just as much, and as much as it hurt to see her upset, he knew he had to do better for her—and for the new baby that was on the way.
He had always been fiercely protective of her, and the thought of her feeling neglected was a heavy weight on his heart. But he also needed to control the situation, not just for the sake of your relationship, but for the family you were becoming together. "I'm sorry, love," he said, his voice soft yet firm. "I know you miss me, and I miss you too. But I have to make sure Mommy feel safe and loved too, okay?"
She looked up at him, her little lip quivering, but she nodded, understanding in her own way.
Harry smiled gently, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm always here for you, no matter what. But we have to learn to share sometimes. Mommy and Daddy need each other too, and that doesn't change how much we both love you."
You could see how hard this was for him, watching him balance his deep love for both you and his daughter. He crouched down to kiss her forehead before gently lifting her up into his arms.
