birds // hs

9. Knuckles *

"Congratulations!"

I hugged Harry tightly and gripped my newly-delivered diploma, which still smelled all fresh and new since it was straight out of the envelope.

"I'm so proud of you, baby," Harry grinned, kissing my lips softly as James toddled in. "You really deserve this, you worked so hard all year."

"Yeah, I know," I laughed a little breathlessly. "I'm just so happy to be done. Finally."

"My little graduate."

I hugged him again and he kissed my temple, then picked up James and put him in his high chair.

"Let's go out to celebrate," he suggested with an excited grin. "We could get a sitter and go to that new place you've been wanting to try."

"Are you sure? I was sort of thinking we would stay in and eat Chinese."

"I will do whatever you want to do, darling," he grinned. "As long as we're together, I'll be happy."

I stretched on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "Then let's go out. I need a shower anyway."

"Really? I kind of like the we're-always-having-sex-because-we're-trying-to-conceive smell."

I widened my eyes at him. "Don't talk like that in front of James! He can understand us now!"

His strong hands moved down to cup my butt as he yanked me into him, his lips ghosting down my neck as I just closed my eyes.

"I need to go get ready," I whispered as I pressed my cheek to his hard chest. "Will you call the babysitter?"

"Hm, I like her."

"You like her because she's young and pretty."

He just laughed. "What?"

"Oh come on," I groaned dramatically as he pulled his phone out of his back pocket and dialed her number. "Have you not noticed the clothes she wears when she's over here? She dresses like she's going to a nightclub."

He winked at me. "Okay, baby. Whatever you say."

I slipped James' pacifier past his pouty little lips and picked him up, my fingers pinching all his fat rolls as he just laughed and laughed.

"I'm going to change his diaper and put him in his PJs," I called to Harry as I walked down the hall. "Have fun flirting with your new girlfriend."

"Don't get too comfortable, babe," he yelled after me. "She's moving in later this week!"

*

"You look really fucking beautiful in that dress," Harry smiled lazily, his thumb stroking over my hand as I gazed at him across the table. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"

I shrugged. "I honestly have no idea. Because I think I'm a pretty big catch."

"Oh you are, darling. You're the biggest catch I've ever...caught."

I laughed and he leaned over to kiss me, his breath still sweet with wine and our rich food as his lips moved effortlessly against mine.

"I have to get something off my chest," I mumbled as his hand cupped my face lovingly. "It's sort of...serious."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

He bit his lip and all I could think was 'Damn, I'd love to get on his lap right now.'

But I had something to say. And it was sort of serious.

"Spill, baby girl."

"I-I think we should stop trying."