Speak |h.s. a.u.|

Chapter Fourty-Two

            Harry laid with Annabelle in his strong arms, her slow breathing calming him and making him sleepy. Their eyes snap open at the voice of Harry's mother calling them downstairs to eat, their bodies still tired from sitting on a plane all day and having a five hour time difference to deal with.

As they sat at the small table, Gemma beside Annabelle, Harry in front of her, and Anne beside Harry, they held small conversations. Anne asked Gemma when she would be returning to college and she said next week. Harry kept giving Annabelle little glances, making a different face each time just to entertain her. Gemma then looked at Annabelle with a smile, knowing what she was about to say next would interest her.

"Harry? What do you plan on doing?"

"Wha-what?" Harry asked, his eyes leaving Annabelle's face and snapping into reality, his fork falling from his fingers.

"What are you going to do? You can't just sit at home forever, can you?" Gemma looked to her mother for reassurance.

"I don't know," Harry shrugged as if it were no big deal. "I'm just staying here with mum for a while." Harry's eyes avoided Annabelle's, knowing she was probably laughing at his childish answer. He was such a mama's boy.

"Oh Harry, I'm a big girl," Anne laughed, a sheepish grin growing on Harry's lips. "I can take care of myself. You should start looking for your own place." She patted Harry's hand that rested on the wooden table.

"Okay." Harry shrugged again, continuing to eat as if he didn't have a care in the world, and he didn't. He had anything he needed with him, his nice family, all the money he could ever need, and a beautiful girl he was in love with. The money situation was a totally different matter, something Harry refused to discuss with anyone and wasn't planning on ever discussing.

After dinner, Annabelle helped Anne clean up, leaving Harry and Gemma to sit alone in the living room.

"Stoppp!" Harry whined as Gemma pushed him with her feet, trying to stretch out across the whole couch.

"You stop," Gemma muttered, continuing to push at the side of his legs. Harry stood up, grabbing Gemma's hands and dragging her to the floor. She lazily let him drag her across the white carpet and into the kitchen, finally stopping and releasing her arms as he reach his mother.

"What-" Anne looked down, seeing her twenty-four-year-old daughter laying on the floor with an unamused look on her face, her son standing in front of her with his arms crossed. Anne sighed.

"She won't leave me alone." Harry pointed to his annoying sister.

"He wouldn't move off the couch!" Gemma defended, pointing up at her annoying brother. Anne shook her head.

"Annabelle, would you please take your childish boyfriend up to his room so he'll leave me alone?" Gemma said loudly, making Annabelle freeze and look at Harry with wide eyes, all of the attention now on her.

"Oh, hush." Anne rolled her eyes, lightly kicking her daughter that laid on the floor, still pouting.

Harry's crossed arms and annoyed demeanor changed as he locked eyes with Annabelle, who was shyly smiling at the small family, wishing she could be a part of it more often. Harry's lips that were in a tight line turned into a small grin as he watched her giggle at Anne's eye rolls and sighs. He could stare at her adorable features forever and never get tired of them.

When Gemma finally decided to stand up and hit Harry's arm, Anne stood in between them, shoo'ing Harry away. He grabbed Annabelle's hand and pulled her out of the kitchen with him. They sat on the couch, only taking up one cushion, because of their closeness and need of cuddles. You would think that after staying in the same room together for over a week would make them tired of being so close, or want some time alone, but after spending most of that vacation angry at each other, all they wanted to do was make it up to each other by cuddling and being close.

Gemma laid on the couch again, this time pushing at Annabelle's side with a mischievous grin on her face, a dimple showing. Annabelle found it funny and moved herself closer to Harry, trying to give Gemma all the space she wanted. Harry took notice of Annabelle's kindness, making his heart swell.

"Stop it!" Harry shouted, reaching over and slapping Gemma's foot. Annabelle hit Harry's shoulder, telling him to be nice.

"Mum!" Gemma yelled, making Anne walk into the room with one hand on her hip and the other hand holding a dish towel. "They won't move!"

Anne came closer to her daughter, hitting her with the towel. "Shut up, they're being cute!" Anne scolded.

"They're being gross," Gemma mumbled in reply and as crossed her arms again. Annabelle looked up to Harry, seeing him already watching her.

"You are cute." He said quietly, making Annabelle's cheeks turn pink and Gemma pretend to gag. Anne slapped her with a towel again.

The time was quickly approaching ten p.m. and Annabelle was too tired to move from Harry's arms on the couch. Harry was asleep with his head on Annabelle's chest, his arms wrapped around her small frame. She had played with his hair as they watched television, making his eyes become more and more droopy until he was out. Anne had reminded Annabelle about telling her parents she would be home my ten o'clock before going to bed only an hour earlier.

She slightly shook Harry awake, guilt filling her gut as he mumbled, "no baby." She continued to shake him until he finally moved his face to look up, his eyes squinting. Annabelle showed him the time on her phone, making him frown.

"I don't want you to go." His deep accent was something anyone could listen to all day. "Just say here." He mumbled, placing his head back on her chest. The time was already nine-forty p.m. Annabelle made a small whine, pushing his body again. "Okay, okay," he said, slowly standing up. She followed him, both of them lazily slipping their shoes on before they headed out into the cold night air. Annabelle pulled her jacket closer to her body, watching Harry walk to his car with no jacket on and only a t-shirt to keep him warm.

They sat in the silent car, Harry's hand holding Annabelle's while he drove with the other. It took fifteen minutes to arrive at her house, his eyes staring into hers as he waited for her to exit and go inside. She didn't want to leave him and the warm car, he didn't want to let her leave.

"I'll walk you to the door." He said, knowing he could get a few more seconds with her. They walked up the stairs of her porch, their hands never letting go of each other.

"I'll see you soon." Harry spoke quietly, knowing her parents were on the other side of the door. He pulled her into a hug, lifting her off of her feet slightly, trying to pull her as close as possible. She lightly kissed his jaw and he kissed her lips, telling her to sleep well and stay warm.