If I could fly (BOOK 2)

Hovering

Home felt different again.

Not unfamiliar-just reshaped.

Darcy crawled with confidence now, fast enough that Harry had learned not to blink. The living room rug had become her runway, toys scattered like obstacles she barely acknowledged. She moved with intent, babbling loudly, stopping only to pull herself up on whatever solid thing she could reach.

Harry hovered.

Not pretending anymore.

She crawled straight toward him, grabbed the fabric of his jeans, and pulled-hands tight, legs pushing-hauling herself upright. She wobbled, knees shaking, but stayed there, balance borrowed entirely from him.

"Oh," Harry breathed, hands hovering close. "Easy..."

Darcy bounced once, thrilled, then plopped back down with a victorious squeal.

Y/N laughed softly. "She's cruising now. She's been doing it all week."

Harry sat back on the couch, overwhelmed in that quiet, chest-tight way. "You're almost nine months," he murmured. "That's not allowed."

Darcy slapped his knee happily and crawled away like she'd made her point.

⸻

The band tension had been simmering all afternoon.

They'd gathered in the kitchen earlier-cases open, takeaway half-eaten-trying to sound casual while circling the same truths.

"We can't keep pretending this feels the same," Liam said finally.

"It doesn't have to feel the same to still matter," Louis shot back.

Niall rubbed his face. "We're all knackered. That's part of it."

Harry stayed quiet until the room went still. "I don't want us to resent this. Or each other. And I don't want to miss my life pretending nothing's changed."

No one argued.

Zayn wasn't there anymore. That absence sat heavy, unspoken, shaping everything.

No decisions were made-but something cracked and settled at the same time.

They ordered dessert. Laughed weakly. Held the line.

⸻

The doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Y/N said, stepping over toys.

Harry stayed near Darcy, half-listening.

The door opened-and Y/N's smile widened instantly.

"Alex!"

She hugged him easily, familiar, then kissed his cheek in greeting.

Harry's head snapped up.

His stomach dropped.

He was on his feet before he realized he'd moved, appearing in the doorway beside her, arm sliding around her waist, posture calm but unmistakably stern.

Alex clocked it immediately and laughed. "Oh no. Not again."

Harry's jaw tightened.

Alex raised both hands. "Mate. I'm gay. Extremely. And I've been with my boyfriend for six years. We live together."

Harry didn't relax right away.

Alex added, cheerful and disarming, "He's currently texting me about groceries."

Y/N laughed. "You never lead with that part."

Harry's ears burned. "...Right."

Alex grinned. "I promise-I'm not the threat your brain keeps inventing. I just like shoes."

"Shoes," Y/N said, grabbing her bag. "We're going shopping."

Harry stiffened. "Shopping."

She smiled innocently. "He knows good places."

Alex snorted. "I do."

As they headed out, Louis called from the couch, "Try not to interrogate the neighbors while you're gone, Haz."

Niall added, solemn, "Protective husband arc continues."

Harry muttered, "I'm fine."

"You are not," Niall replied.

The door closed behind them.

The boys followed soon after-jackets grabbed, jokes tossed over shoulders.

"We'll give you space," Liam said gently, clapping Harry's shoulder.

The house emptied.

⸻

It was just Harry and Darcy.

The quiet felt louder without the buffer of other voices.

Darcy crawled straight back to him, grabbed his jeans, and pulled herself upright again, wobbling proudly.

Harry sank to the floor, steadying her gently. "Alright," he murmured, brushing her hair back. "It's just us now."

She babbled, gripping him like he was the only solid thing in the room.

Harry lifted her, pressed a kiss into her hair, and held her close until his breathing slowed.

⸻

That night, after Darcy slept, Harry sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his hands.

Y/N joined him, settling across his lap naturally, knees bracketing his hips, hands resting on his shoulders.

"You've been carrying it all day," she said softly.

He nodded. "The jealousy. The band. Everything changing."

She watched him carefully. "Do you want me to stop being friends with Alex?"

"No," Harry said immediately. "I wouldn't want that. He seems like a good person."

She blinked. "Really?"

"It's just... weird for me sometimes," he admitted. "I know talking to any other guy besides me or the boys."

She shook her head. "No."

He exhaled, shoulders loosening. "I trust you. I'm just learning how not to panic first."

She leaned in and kissed him-slow, grounding. "You're not losing me."

His hands settled at her waist, holding her there like he needed the reminder. "I know. I just love you."

She smiled. "I love you too."

They stayed like that, quiet and steady.

Down the hall, Darcy sighed in her sleep-strong, stubborn, growing faster than either of them were ready for.

Outside, life kept moving.

Inside, they were learning how to move with it-together.