If I could fly (BOOK 2)

Band and a baby

The hallway outside the dressing room felt cooler when they stepped back into it, quieter too, like Wembley's roar had dulled into a distant echo.Harry tugged his salmon zig-zag shirt straighter as they walked, though his curls still refused to cooperate, falling into his eyes no matter how many times he pushed them back. Y/N walked beside him, trying to smooth her own hair while biting back a smile that kept threatening to surface.

"Stop smirking," he murmured.

"You look ridiculous," she whispered back, amused.

"You loved it."

She didn't answer - which was answer enough.

They rounded the corner into the main backstage corridor, noise slowly rebuilding around them. Crew members rolled equipment past. Someone shouted stage directions from across the hallway. The familiar chaos of post-show Wembley wrapped back around them.

Then-

"Well, look who finally remembered they have a band and a baby."

Louis stood leaning against the wall, Darcy perched easily on his hip. Her tiny headphones dangled crookedly around her neck, one sock missing, like she'd staged a personal rebellion while waiting.

The second she saw Harry, her entire face lit up. She squealed, arms reaching out wildly, feet kicking.

Harry's entire posture softened.

"There's my girl," he said, crossing the distance quickly.

But before he could reach for her, Louis stepped back dramatically.

"No, no," Louis said, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "You two were gone for twenty minutes. That's suspicious. Highly suspicious."

Harry blinked. "Louis-"

Niall popped his head out from behind a rolling rack. "We timed it."

"You timed it?" Y/N laughed.

"For science," Niall defended.

Liam folded his arms, trying and failing to look stern. "We just want to make sure you're hydrating properly, mate."

Harry groaned. "I hate all of you."

Louis grinned and finally passed Darcy toward Y/N instead.

"Here," he said. "Your mum is slightly more trustworthy right now."

Y/N laughed and took Darcy, settling her comfortably against her hip. Darcy immediately grabbed a fistful of her shirt and babbled happily.

Harry leaned forward, pressing a quick kiss to Darcy's cheek before stepping back, still catching his breath from the show and... everything else.

Darcy squirmed suddenly, restless and curious. Y/N shifted her slightly.

"What is it, bug?" she murmured.

Darcy leaned forward, reaching toward Harry, tiny hands stretching toward him like she was determined to get somewhere specific.

Harry sat down on the low couch behind him, grinning tiredly. "What's she plotting now?"

Y/N carefully lowered Darcy to the floor between them, keeping her hands close just in case.

Darcy wobbled instantly, knees bending. For a second it looked like she'd sit back down-

But instead, she reached forward.

Tiny fingers latched onto the fabric of Harry's jeans.

Harry froze.