HS: "Am I still going to be a father?" (2018)

15

Mariana's P.O.V.

"C'mon Mar! I don't want to be late! I said I'd be there at 7!" Harry screams from downstairs as I am looking in the mirror. I feel insecure. I've been with everyone these past few days, but I haven't left home since I came back from the hospital and I definitely haven't been to any social gathering since, let alone a party. I want to go though. I want to be with everyone and get back to my normal life, but I'm nervous... I know it will be weird and awkward but I want to show everyone that I'm good, that we're good. That we are getting through and we are stronger than before. I have to show my though side. Which is not a lie, I AM good. It happened, and I will never forget it, but I won't let it define me. I won't let it be a taboo, I'll talk about it freely and showing acceptance.

"I'm coming!" I scream back as I grab my jacket and my heels and go down the stairs.

"You ready?" Harry looks at me from the bottom of the stairs and picks up the keys and takes his jacket.

"Yeah... I'll meet you in the car" I put my shoes on and check if I have everything I need. I lock the house and go to the car which is already halfway through the driveway.

"Okay, here we go!" I nervously smile closing the door and looking at Harry.

"You look very pretty." He smiles with caring eyes. "Don't worry, it'll be fun. And we can leave whenever you want."

"Sure! Did you bring the gift?"

"Yeah it's in the back." He points to the back of the car as he leaves the gates. "Are you nervous?" He looks at me and rests his left hand on my leg.

"Yeah, a bit. Are you?" I answer putting my hand on top of his.

"Yes. Very." He smiles awkwardly.

"Really?" I chuckle and he nods. "Don't be, we'll be fine."

"I know we will, it's so stupid, I have no idea why I'm so nervous." I laugh softly rubbing his hand and bringing it to my mouth for a kiss.

As we approach Liam's house, we can see a few people outside, mainly paps. Harry approaches the gate and it opens. They probably already had a list of the number plates of the guests. We get inside and Harry parks the car near the door. There are very few cars outside since there wouldn't be a lot of people coming for dinner. As I leave the car, the main door opens and Liam and Karen (Liam's mum) come out.

"Hi sweetie! How are you?" Karen says enthusiastic, pulling me for a hug.

"Hi Karen! I'm good, thank you!" I hug back and answer with a smile. It has begun... Liam and Harry hug tight and whisper something to each other as I greet Karen. We switch places as I walk closer to Liam and Harry to Karen who also hugs him tight and asks him how he is in a low voice.

"Hi there birthday boy!" I grin hugging Liam and tapping his back. "How do you feel?"

"I feel pretty much the same. I'm just using my birthday as an excuse to throw a party..." He winks. "How do YOU feel?" He asks me with a more serious face.

"I'm good." I nod looking at him in the eyes. "I'm good. Really. We're good." I smile tapping his shoulder in reassurance.

"Great! Let's come inside!" Liam says loudly and rubbing his hands. "I think almost everyone is here, Adam and Lucy are running a bit late and Louis told me he is on his way. Apparently Freddie was throwing a tantrum."

We get inside and get to the living room where there are a few people talking to each other. From the approximately 10 people in here, I only know his dad, his sisters and their spouses, and Cheryl. Apparently Harry knows them all as he greets them. Liam introduces me to them and I greet them all as well. Cheryl gives me an awkward hug and smile and hesitates on speaking. Eventually, to break the awkwardness, Liam tells us to have a seat.

"Thank you guys for coming. It really means a lot." Liam tells us, smiling. "Are you staying for the party or leaving after dinner?"

"We'll stay for a while." Harry says nodding and looking at me with a questioning look.

"Sure! We will." I smile. "I'm sure the party is going to be amazing! The decoration is awesome Liam!" I say looking outside to the decorated garden through the massive glass door.

"Do you like it?" He says enthusiastic. "It's Gotham!"

"It is?" I get up from the couch and go outside. Liam and Harry follow me.

"Yeah! Well kind of..." He continues. "Of course that we are currently at the Wayne Manor" He points to his home. "And over there's Gotham City." He points to the back of the garden that has some kind of banner with lights simulating tall buildings far away. The rest of the garden is decorated with makeshift but very realistic bats; the walls have a sort of structure imitating an old wall, like of a castle, over them; there are a few cardboard signs of comic book paper saying things like "BOOM!", "POP!", "BAM!", "POW!", "WAM!", "ZAP!", "SMASH!" all over the garden and the pool had these weird looking lights inside that gave it a mysterious and yet super cool effect to it.

"This is so cool man!" Harry says, looking around. "Great theme!"

"Yeah!" Liam answers with a proud smile. "And it's not totally random! Guess what age Bruce Wayne was when he became Batman?"

"25?" I guess with a smile. "Very well done mate!"

"You guys have to stay until we sing the birthday song and open the cake! There's going to be a little surprise!"

"We wouldn't miss it!" I answer smiling and moving towards Harry. He puts his arm around my shoulder and I grab his hand as we walk inside.

As we get in, I see Niall talking to one of Liam's friends. I hadn't seen him earlier. Me and Harry go to him.

"Hey mate, I didn't know you were here already!" Harry approaches him and they hug.

"Yeah, I was in the kitchen talking to Celine, she's in Belgium visiting her family." He turns to me and hugs me. "How are you Mar? Do you have any pain?" I didn't expect that question but I'm glad that unlike everyone else in the room he doesn't have problems talking about it. It's Niall for god's sake.

"No, not really. I had my stitches pulled out yesterday, and I'm a bit sore. But other than that I'm good!" I smile and Harry approaches me and we go back to our previous position with his arm over my shoulders.

"Great! I'm glad. I'm glad you're good. Both of you. And I'm glad you came."

"Thanks lad." Harry says smiling and Niall puts out his fist and they do a little bump. Shortly after, we hear the doorbell ring. Liam opens the door and Louis, Freddie and Danielle get in. We greet them and Freddie hides behind Louis' leg. He loosens up after a while as they get inside and greet everyone.

We talk for a while and then Liam calls for us to go to our seats by the table. I sit with Harry on my left and Danielle on my right. Freddie is next to us between Danielle and Louis. Cheryl is in front of us, so we talk most of the time with each other. We get along pretty well, though I rarely see Danielle as she is always in LA. Usually when the boys are together the four of us girls are as well, and we have come to like each other very much. The one I relate to the most is definitely Celine, probably because she, like me, is not a public figure. Though Cheryl and Danielle are incredibly nice and down to earth as well.

-

So, the next chapters will be at the party as well and a few days later at he interview.

Then I'll add "The Beginning"

Please, leave a comment below if you read this chapter. I'm not even asking you to vote for it, I just really want your opinion. Every single comment means the world to me, even if it is ages after I publish the chapter. They always matter.

Thank you again for reading my story :)