Two Pieces

"Okay"

Niall was basically holding Sofia up in the hospital bathroom, gently trying to remove the blood from her hands. Sofia hadn't said a word, he wasn't even sure she was with him. Her eyes were glazed over, as she leaned limply against him.

Everyone else had gone to the waiting room, to wait on news about Harry. But Niall wanted to clean Sofia up, he didn't want her staring at Harry's blood. He didn't want her sitting around dirty. He was just trying to do what he could to help.

"We have to get a doctor to look at your foot," he mumbled, as he turned off the sink.

"No doctors," Sofia said, it was the first thing she had said since they had gotten her in the car.

"Sofia, you're hurt," Niall argued, "You have to have someone look at it."

"I'm fine," Sofia said quietly, "I just want to go home."

"Sof," Niall said, spinning her around, "Everyone is in the waiting room. Let's just go and sit."

"What's the point?" Sofia asked.

"Sofia, come on," Niall said, throwing her arm over his shoulder and helping her limp out of the bathroom. He wasn't giving her much of a choice.

"It's going to be okay," Niall said, as they limped down the hallway, "You know that right? That it's going to be okay..."

"I don't know anything anymore," Sofia mumbled, as they walked into the waiting room. Liam immediately stood up, rushing over to his sister.

"Let's get you to a doctor," Liam said, but Sofia just shook her head.

"Sofia, your foot," Liam growled, looking down at her swollen foot.

"I've had worse," she said.

"Who's here for Harry Styles?" a doctor said, walking in. Everyone stood up. Sofia didn't move.

"We're taking him into surgery now," the doctor said, "He's got some internal damage. Should be a few hours, trying to stop the bleeding so it doesn't fill up his lungs. We'll let you know..."

"He's going to be alright though, right?" Zayn said, "I mean, it's just a few stab wounds."

"A few stab wounds that did some damage," the doctor said, "We're going to do the best we can. You guys just hold tight in here and I'll send someone in as we know more..."

"Thanks doc," Liam said quietly, before turning to Sofia.

"Come on, Sof," Niall said, gently, "Let's sit down and I'll get you some coffee."

"I can't be here," Sofia said, pulling away from Niall.

"Sofia, just sit down," Liam said, "Sit down and wait with us."

"No," Sofia said, shaking her head, "I can't – I can't be here. I have to go."

"Sofia!" Louis said, standing up as she turned to walk away, "You should be here for this."

"I can't," Sofia spat out, "I won't sit around and wait for him to die. I can't be here for this!"

"Sofia, we don't know anything yet," Zayn said gently, "Just calm down, and take a seat. Sit with us; we'll get you some tea. We know this is hard."

"You weren't there!" Sofia cried, shaking her head at him, "He was just gonna keep stabbing him! The blood was everywhere. Harry could barely speak..."

"I know," Liam said, moving to hold his sister, "I know it must've been horrible for you... but..."

"I can't!" Sofia screamed, pushing away from Liam, "I can't be here! I can't watch someone else die because of me!"

"Sofia, this isn't your fault," Liam said, his eyes wide, "Please... don't leave."

"I won't do this," Sofia said, shaking her head, and turning away from her brother.

"Don't run from this, Sofia!" Liam cried out, begging her, "Please. Don't run away from this."

Sofia didn't say anything; she just kept walking the other direction. She couldn't stay. She wasn't going to stay and wait for news that he was gone. She didn't have it in her to stay. She just had to get out of there.


***


Sofia was laying on Emily, in her bed. Something she had done so many times before, but this time was different. Sofia hadn't said a word; she just laid there, tears silently slipping down her face.

"Say something," Emily said quietly, "Anything. Talk to me."

"What's there to say?" Sofia asked, "What do I say?"

"Sof," Emily cried, "He's going to be okay. Harry's tough. He's so tough. You can't give up hope."

"It's hard to have hope when you live a life that can take it away at any second," Sofia whispered.

"Don't give up on him, Sof," Emily said, pulling her friend into her, "He hasn't given up on you."

The phone rang, and Sofia's heart stopped. Somewhere in the house Katie must've picked it up. Sofia was frozen, because this was it. She knew it was somebody calling from the hospital to update them on Harry. She didn't know if she could handle it. She wasn't sure she wanted to know. She felt Emily hold her tighter.

"He's okay," Katie said, rushing into the room, "He's out of surgery, he's going to be okay. He'll be awake in a few hours."

"Oh thank God," Emily gasped, throwing her head back on to her pillow in relief.

Sofia felt a wave of emotions go through her, and then a sob came out of her mouth. She covered her face immediately, embarrassed that she had cried so much.

"It's okay," Emily said, holding Sofia, "He's okay. Sofia, it's okay."

"Come on," Katie said, walking over to the bed, and holding out her hand, "We'll take you to him."

"No," Sofia said, shaking her head, "I can't. I can't see him."

"Sofia, he's okay and he's going to want to see you when he wakes up," Katie argued.

"I can't!" Sofia said, "I can't do this with him. Not in this life. We were living a lie, we were trying to fool ourselves that we could be something that we can't."

"Sofia, that's not fair," Emily said, "You weren't faking it, or lying. You were living your life the way you wanted too."

"Look at me!" Sofia screeched, standing up, "I'm a mess right now. I'm a total emotional fool right now! This is not what I wanted. I have never wanted to be this girl! This girl is weak and powerless, and too emotional. I can't do this. I can't see him!"

"Don't shut down now," Emily said, shaking her head, "You're not weak or powerless, Sofia. Don't convince yourself that you are. Loving people doesn't make you weak. Caring about someone doesn't make you weak. Being afraid to live and love, that makes you weak. Being afraid makes you weak. You've spent too much of your life being afraid."

"My father warned me," Sofia whispered, "He warned me. He told me not to let this happen. And I did. I'm an idiot."

"You're not!" Emily cried, throwing her hands up, "STOP letting a dead man control you! STOP IT!"

"You will feel so much better when you see him," Katie said, approaching her friend, "Please. Just let us take you to him."

"No," Sofia said, "I'm done."


***


"Where is she?" Liam barked from Emily's door. Emily moved aside to show Sofia sitting on the couch, drinking tea.

"Get up," Liam said, standing in front of his sister with his arms crossed.

"Why?" Sofia asked, taking another drink of her tea.

"Because Harry's been awake since last night," Liam hissed, "And you should be there. You should be with him. You can't just hide out from reality, Sofia. He woke up and the first thing he asked about was you. And you weren't even there."

"He's going to be fine, right?" Sofia snapped, standing up from the couch, "He doesn't need me. He'll be out of the hospital soon, and he'll be fine."

"Sofia!" Liam cried, "Why are you doing this? Why won't you just go and see him?"

"Because I almost got him killed!" Sofia shrieked, stomping away from her brother, "And the longer he holds on to me, the chances of it happening again are higher! I will not be responsible for something happening to him."

"He's okay!" Liam yelled, "He's going to be okay! And you didn't almost get him killed! Dante almost killed him!"

"Because I was in those woods!" Sofia spat out, "I was in those woods, and Harry came looking for me!"

"Of course he did!" Liam growled, "Are you really going to hold that against him?"

"He shouldn't have been out there with an empty gun!" Sofia yelled, pointing at her brother, "He was so busy thinking about me, he didn't think! He let his emotions get in the way, and he didn't think! He went out there, unarmed and unprepared! Because that's what people do when they're emotional!"

"Sofia –"

"NO!" Sofia screamed, "Tell me I'm wrong! You know he shouldn't have been out there unarmed and you know the only reason he was is because he wasn't thinking clearly!"

"You're right," Liam said, putting his hands up, "He shouldn't have been out there unarmed, and maybe he wasn't thinking clearly. But you can't just shut down. You can't just pretend that this didn't happen. You can't just hide from him and your feelings. It's not fair to you, or him, or any of the rest of us."

"I don't care about being fair," Sofia hissed, "I
care about keeping him alive. And if that means staying
away, then that's what I'm going to do."

"He's alive, Sofia," Liam said, shaking his head, "He's alive and awake and he's going to be okay."

"This time," Sofia spat out, "But what about next time? What about the next time someone uses me to get something they want? Or the next time I'm in danger? What happens then?"

"Why don't you stop trying to figure out the future," Liam yelled, "And just live in this moment! Right now! You can't control everything, Sofia! As hard as you try to control yourself, and your emotions, and how life plays out and who you lose or don't lose, you CAN'T! So stop trying and just live your life!"

"You're wrong," Sofia said quietly, "I can control this. I can control what happens to the people around me. I wasn't smart with Harry. I let something happen that shouldn't have. And now I'm fixing it."

"You're not fixing it," Liam scoffed, "You're scared. And you're broken. And you watched someone you love almost die in the middle of the woods. And it's fucked you up. But don't try and pass your bullshit on to me. Because I know you. I know your heart. You're not trying to keep Harry safe, you're trying to keep yourself safe. And your heart safe. And it's selfish, Sofia. It's selfish to that to him, and to the rest of us. But most all it's damn shame to do it to yourself."

"Maybe you're right," Sofia said quietly, "Maybe I am just scared. And maybe I am being selfish. But right now, I don't know how else to be. Right now, in this moment. If I'm not protecting myself, and if I don't have control over my emotions, I would literally crumble to the floor and not get back up. So, no. I'm not going to see him. And you can't make me."

"You are so much stronger then you think you are," Liam said, quietly, "You are not as weak as you've convinced yourself you are. I wish you could see yourself like the rest of us see you. I wish you could see what Harry sees when he looks at you. Because maybe then you'd realize that you can handle anything, Sofia. You have nothing to be afraid of. Stop being afraid. Stop letting fear control your life."

"I don't fear control anything," Sofia hissed.

"Sure you do," Liam said, cocking his head to the side, "If you didn't, you'd be at the hospital with Harry."

"Maybe I'm just not who you want me to be," Sofia snapped, "Or who Harry wants me to be. Maybe that's why I'm not at the hospital. Because as much as you think I have, or have tried to make me. I haven't changed. Maybe that's why I'm not there."

"I know you better then anyone," Liam said, "I have seen every side to you that there is to see. You can't fool me, Sofia. Even if you're trying to fool yourself."

And then, without another word, her brother walked past her and out of the house.


***


Harry was coming home. But Sofia wasn't. She refused to leave Emily's house, she refused to see him, and she refused to see anyone else. She went on with her days like nothing happened. She went to school, she trained, and she came back to Emily's at the end of the night. She didn't ask about Harry, she didn't think about Harry. She forced herself to move on.

Harry was coming home. After spending a week in the hospital, he was finally coming home. Emily had told her at school. Sofia didn't even respond. She had nothing to say. She was afraid if she opened her mouth to speak, everything she was pushing down and hiding away would come back up in a multitude of word vomit. So she didn't say anything.

People at school were very good at pretending that a gun wasn't shown at a school party. The town had gotten good at pretending like they didn't see the things they saw when it came to Sofia and her family. Liam was also good at making sure all the right people were paid off to keep quiet and look the other way. But Sofia noticed the stares and the whispers. It was no secret that Harry Styles was in the hospital. It was no secret he had almost died. And the rumor was, Sofia was there when it happened.

Sofia had nightmares about that night. Over and over she saw the blood on her hands, and Harry lying in the dirt unable to move. She heard herself screaming louder and louder. She felt all her fear and sadness, over and over again. It was just like when her parents died. She relived the pain over and over. But the difference was, Harry survived.

He wasn't dead, and he wasn't gone. So now Sofia just had to live with the fear of it happening again. She had to live with the fear that someday he might be gone. Someday this world might take his life. And she couldn't deal with that; she couldn't handle the feelings of having to relive that night again, only worse. So she didn't. She didn't allow herself to deal with it, or think about it.

She ignored the stares, and the whispers. She didn't answer questions when people were brave enough to ask. She walked away when his name was brought up. She ignored the phone calls from her family. She refused to come home. She fought every time she saw someone from the house, who tried to convince her to just come home or go and see him. It was exhausting. But she did it. Because as long as she ignored what was happening, she didn't have to live with the heartbreak that it had happened and it could happen again.

She was in Emily's room one night, staring at her computer trying to come up with something to write for a school paper. But she was so exhausted she couldn't think, and if she tried to think, her thoughts led her down a road she didn't want to go. So she just stared at the computer blankly, hoping that sleep would take her away and this time she wouldn't dream.

"Let's go," Zayn barked, slamming the door open to Emily's room, startling Sofia.

"What are you doing here?" Sofia asked, her eyes wide.

"I'm here to get you," Zayn barked, "I've had enough of this. Get your shit, you're coming home."

"I'm not," Sofia growled.

"YOU ARE!" Zayn yelled, "You don't have a choice! I am not playing this game with you anymore! Everyone else wants to give you time, NO! You've had enough time!"

"Fuck you," Sofia hissed.

"What did you just say to me?" Zayn growled.

"You heard me. Fuck you," Sofia spat out, "And get out."

And then before she saw what was coming, Zayn grabbed her, spun her, and his belt hit the back of her thighs. She hissed in pain, as Zayn hit her again, and then a few times more.

"Ow! Fuck Zayn!" Sofia cried out, "Stop!"

"YOU STOP!" Zayn roared, "YOU FUCKING STOP!"

He stepped away from her, he was panting, and his face was contorted in pain and frustration.

"Stop what?!" Sofia cried out, "I'm not doing anything! You came in here and attacked me!"

"You can't do this anymore!" Zayn said, shaking his head, "You can't be this selfish anymore!"

"I'm not being selfish," Sofia scoffed, "I'm just doing what I have to do..."

"He saved your life," Zayn said, shaking his head at her in disgust, "He didn't think twice about. He went
out there, and he made sure to bring you home safe. And he did."

"He almost got himself killed," Sofia spat.

"But he didn't!" Zayn yelled, "He's alive! And he's been sitting in a hospital room for a week, and now he's coming home. And you ARE going to be there. Even if
I have to drag you out by your hair!"

"I can't!" Sofia screamed, "I don't want to –"

"THIS ISNT ABOUT YOU SOFIA!" Zayn roared, "This about Harry! For once it's not about you! It's about him! This is about what he needs! He has given you everything you needed along the way! He has never once given up on you! He's never walked away! He has been exactly the man you want and you need! So now it's time to step up and be what he needs!"

"I can't!" Sofia screamed, "I'm not wired that way!"

"Yes you are!" Zayn said, "You are wired that way. The two of you are wired that way. Stop lying to yourself! Be honest with yourself for once in your life!"

"What do you want from me, Zayn?" Sofia growled, "Why do you even care?"

"Because, Harry is a great guy and what you're doing to him isn't fair. You should've been at the hospital when he woke up, you should've been there this week, and you should be helping Eleanor and Danielle cook his welcome meal. And I'm not going to let you hide
anymore!"

"He probably doesn't even want to see me..." Sofia scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"Oh," Zayn said, closing his eyes as though he was finally understanding something, "I get it. You were hoping that if you avoided him and ignored him, he'd get angry enough to give up on you. This is just the cowards way of pushing him away..."

"Don't call me a coward," Sofia snapped.

"Then stop acting like one!" Zayn barked, "He hasn't given up on you, by the way. He keeps telling people you're gonna come around. And that you just need time. And that he's gonna give you that time, because you're scared and you're upset and you saw something terrible in the woods that night. So if you're hope was that Harry was going to give up you, sorry, but it's not happening. He's not giving up on you."

Tears sprung up in Sofia's eyes. Of course he was defending her. Of course he hadn't given up on her. Of course he wasn't angry about how she reacted. It was like no matter what she did, he wouldn't give up on her. He wouldn't give up on them. Even when she did.

"He's so much better me," Sofia said, quietly, "He deserves better then me."

"Maybe," Zayn said, shrugging, "By why don't you let him decide that?"

"He doesn't get to make that decision," Sofia said, shaking her head, "I'm deciding. He deserves better. It's time for him to move on and find better."


***


Sofia prepared herself for the fight. She knew what she was going to say; she knew how she was going to end it. She had her reasoning and all of her points lined up. She wasn't going to let him talk her out of it. She was ending this, once and for all. She had to.

The car ride with Zayn was a quiet one; he wasn't trying to talk her out of it. He was just letting her sit there and think. Maybe it's because he agreed with her, but for some reason, Sofia felt like he saw and knew something she didn't. She wondered what that was.

When they pulled up to the house, Sofia swallowed hard. Everyone she had be avoiding was in there. But it was Harry who she was most afraid to see. She didn't want to fight with him; she didn't want to cause him more pain. But Zayn was right; she couldn't be a coward anymore. She just had to stand up and end it. Before it was too late for both of them. They weren't going to get a happily ever after. Girls from gangs don't get happily ever after. But at least, she could keep him alive. She'd rather have him alive, even if it meant he wouldn't be hers anymore.

She followed Zayn into the house and everyone was around the kitchen. Danielle and Eleanor at the stove, Liam chopping vegetables. Louis and Niall talking quietly at the kitchen table. And then there was Harry, mid laugh leaning in the kitchen door way. Everyone grew silent when Sofia walked in. All eyes were on her. But she could only see Harry.

She had prepared for a fight. She prepared everything she was going to say. She prepared herself for seeing him. She prepared herself for the ending that was coming. What she wasn't prepared for was the rush of emotion she felt when she saw his face.

His green eyes met hers from across the kitchen. He cocked his head to the side, in a knowing way. He was standing up straight, almost like nothing had happened. He looked strong, and handsome, and alive. He didn't say a word, he just looked at her. Everyone was looking at her, but she all she could see was Harry.

She hadn't prepared herself for the loud sob that came out of her when she saw him. She wasn't prepared to feel this much relief, or love, or gratefulness when she saw him. She wasn't prepared to be so overwhelmed with him, and the fact that he was standing there, looking right at her. Everything Sofia thought she was going to say or do, disappeared immediately.

He was standing there, just looking at her, in the way only Harry could look at her, and she didn't want anyone else to ever look at her again.

She covered her face as she cried, emotions taking over her entire being. Everything she had been trying to bury, coming up with just one look from him.

"Sof –" Harry said, his voice quiet, as he took a step forward.

But she didn't give him a chance to say anything else, she ran forward, throwing her arms around him, and she kissed him. She wasn't thinking, she wasn't preparing, and she wasn't hiding. Not anymore. She just kissed him. She pulled him tight to her, and kissed him.

She felt his hands go to her hips immediately, as he pulled her into him closer. She felt his hands go to her face, his thumbs brushing away her tears. He kissed her just as hard, letting her know that he wanted and needed the kiss just as much as she did.

They didn't care that everyone was watching. Or that this was their first time kissing in front of them. They didn't care that they hadn't spoken a word to each other. They didn't care that everyone around them was probably confused. They didn't care about anything else; it was just the two of them in that moment, doing and feeling exactly what they needed to.

Slowly Harry pulled away from her, looking down at her with gentle eyes as he wiped her tears away.

"Hi," he said quietly.

"Hi," she said, trying to catch her breath.

"I missed you," he said, with a small smile.

"Yeah," she agreed, before pulling him into her again and kissing him hard again.

And then a slow clap started around them, Sofia couldn't see but if she had to guess, she was sure it was Louis. And then everyone was clapping, causing Sofia to laugh lightly against Harry's lips.

Harry pulled away from, and they both looked around at the kitchen as everyone
continued to clap.

"Definitely not perfect," Louis cried out, with a sloppy smile.

"I'd give it an 8," Niall said, nodding in approval.

"At least a 7," Zayn said.

"I'll go 9," Eleanor said, with a smile as Danielle agreed. Sofia shook her head at all of them, rolling her eyes.

"I don't know," Harry said, against Harry's ears, "I think it was a solid ten."

"I'm sorry," Sofia said, her arms still wrapped around him.

"Let's go for a drive," Harry suggested.

"Okay," Sofia agreed, allowing him to take her hand and pull her from the kitchen. They ignored everyone else, not even telling everyone else where they were going.

"So, I guess we're having Harry's Welcome Home dinner without Harry," Danielle said, trying to look frustrated.



***


"Talk to me," Harry said, his hand on her knee as he drove.

"What do you want me to say?" Sofia asked, looking out the window.

"I want you to say whatever you want to say," Harry said, shrugging, "Just talk to me."

"I thought I was going to lose you," Sofia said, "I just... there was so much blood. And I just kept screaming. And you were just lying there..."

"I know," Harry said, "I'm sorry you had to see that."

"He was just gonna keep stabbing," Sofia said, "And I couldn't do anything. I couldn't move. I was just paralyzed."

"How is your foot?" Harry asked, looking down at her ankle.

"Are you kidding?!" Sofia cried out, "You got stabbed and almost died and you're asking me about my ankle?!"

"Yeah, I heard you refused to see a doctor," Harry growled, looking over at her, "You're lucky I was unconscious at that point."

"That's not funny," Sofia snapped.

"Neither is not seeing a doctor when you're injured," Harry barked, "Have you even gotten that thing looked at?"

"No," Sofia said, "It's fine. I'm walking, aren't I?"

"I'm taking you to the doctor tomorrow," Harry said, looking back at the road.

"You've literally been out of the hospital a few hours, and you're already bossing me around?" Sofia barked.

"Damn right," Harry said, "And believe me, if you try and fight me over the doctor, it's not going to end well."

"Shouldn't you be resting? Taking it easy?" Sofia growled.

"Yeah, well, I would be. But you see, my girl makes that kind of difficult. She's kind of stubborn and ridiculous sometimes," Harry said.

"Your girl?" Sofia scoffed, crossing her arms.

"Oh, are we back to that?" Harry asked, "Denying the obvious? You gotta keep me up to date on these things, I'm starting to get whiplash."

"What do you want me to say? You almost died, Harry!" Sofia screeched, "And not even a day out of the hospital, you're acting like nothing happened, like nothing changed."

"No, Sofia," Harry growled, "Something happened. I almost died. Something changed. I realized just how much I didn't want to die and leave you. Even more so then before. But you know what didn't change? How I feel about you. Or the fact that you ARE mine and I am yours."

Sofia turned her head to look at him, her eyes wide and her mouth wide open.

"Oh my God," she gasped, before taking a deep breath, "You heard."

"Yeah," Harry said quietly, "I heard. And I wanted so badly to answer. And I'm sorry I couldn't. But I heard. And I agree. I am yours. Completely and totally. You have me mind, body, soul. I am all yours."

"How can you say that? After this last week? After what happened and how I treated you? How can you say that?"

"Because it's the truth, Sofia," Harry snapped, "And I'm done trying to lie about it. Or deny it. Life is too
short. Things change in a second. And you have to embrace everything that life gives you. And life gave me you. So, I'm not running. I'm not going anywhere. You can't push me away. Just embrace what we have, and let's move forward."

"I was so scared of depending on you," Sofia said quietly, "I was so scared of caring about you. Or needing you. And then watching what happened in the woods, I realized that it didn't matter that I was saying that I didn't care, or I didn't depend on you, or that I didn't need you. It didn't matter what I was saying, because I was feeling it. And a part of me wants to keep feeling like this, and see where it takes us. But the other part of me, is terrified that feeling like this will lead to heartbreak and disaster."

"What about the heartbreak you feel if you don't allow yourself to see where this goes?" Harry asked, "Could you live with that?"

Sofia was quiet. Could she? Could she walk away from him and from whatever this was and live with that pain? Would she feel pain? Of course she would. Could she live without him, even if she didn't have to? Could she move on and be okay?

"No," she answered quietly, "No. I don't even think I would know how to live without you at this point..."

"Then don't," Harry said, grabbing her hand, and bringing it up to his lips, "I'm right here. Stop trying to live without me."

"Okay," Sofia said quietly, and suddenly, she felt relief. Like she had just made the best decision of her life, one that would rock her entire world, and she didn't even know it.

She had no idea what that one little word meant for the course of the rest of her life.

But she said, and she meant it. And there was no going back on it now.



***


"I lost your necklace," Sofia said quietly, as se sat next to Harry in the park.

"What?" Harry asked, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"I lost it," Sofia said, tears springing up in her eyes, "I must've lost it in the warehouse, or the woods. But I don't have it anymore."

She was crying, and Harry realized how much the necklace must've meant to her. He always figured it meant something to him that she wore it, but he never realized how much it must've meant to her that she wore it.

"Sofia," Harry said, "I can get you another necklace."

And it meant that you were always with me. It just ... I can't believe I lost it. I just wanted to feel a piece of you that night, and it was gone. I'm such an idiot. I should've –"

"Hey!" Harry said, grabbing her face, "It's just a necklace. I'm still here! You still have me! Forget about the necklace. The necklace is just a necklace. It doesn't mean that I'm not with you, or that you don't belong to me. It's just a piece of metal, that can be replaced."

"It was mine," Sofia said, "It was mine. And it was a gift from you. And I lost it."

"Yeah, okay," Harry said, a small smile appearing on his face, "But you didn't lose me."

"You're not mad?" Sofia asked, a small hiccup coming from her.

"No," Harry said, shaking his head, "If you had stopped running to save the necklace, or you got hurt realizing the necklace was gone and going back for it, then I'd be mad."

"I know it was your way of showing people that I was yours," Sofia said, quietly.

"I don't need a necklace to do that, Sofia," Harry said, shaking his head, "You are mine. Necklace or not. I don't need you to wear my airplane, because I know and you know and everyone else knows."

"I'm just sorry it's gone," Sofia said, looking at the ground. She almost felt silly feeling this upset over a necklace, but it was hers. It was a part of him that she could feel on her at all times. It brought her comfort, and happiness. It meant a lot to her knowing that she walked around with a piece of him.

"I'll get you another necklace," Harry said quietly, pulling her in to kiss him.

"It's not the same," Sofia said.

"I know," Harry said, "But it's just a necklace, Sofia. It's gone. But that doesn't mean I am. Or that we are. We're still here. We're still standing. Necklace or not. You hear me?"

"Yeah," Sofia agreed, pulling him in for another kiss.

His lips went to her neck, immediately causing her to gasp as he kissed her gently.

"I've missed your skin," Harry mumbled, "I've missed your touch, and your taste."

"I missed your breath on my neck," Sofia said, causing Harry to look up at her with a smile.

"And your cocky smile," she said, shoving him gently.

"I missed catching your hand every time you shove me," Harry said, her hand caught in his, "And I even missed you rolling your eyes."

"I even missed you bossing me around," Sofia replied, with her eyebrows raised.

"Wow," Harry said, "You're gonna regret admitting that to me."

"Probably," Sofia said, as she turned to look at him seriously, "Can I see it?"

"What?" Harry asked.

"The cut," Sofia said.

"Why?" Harry asked.

"I just want to see it," Sofia said, "I want to see that it's healing and that you're really going to be okay..."

"Me kissing you isn't enough evidence of that?" Harry asked.

"Harry please," Sofia asked, her voice desperate.

Harry laid down in the grass, and pulled up his shirt. On the side of his ribs were 3 stab wounds, healing in a way that would leave scars. Sofia touched them gently with her fingers, causing Harry's breath to go still.

"See?" he asked quietly, "I'm alright."

"Do they hurt?" Sofia asked, leaning over him and looking down at him with sad eyes.

"No," Harry said, his hand reaching up to touch her face, "Nothing hurts when I'm around you..."

Sofia shook her head and rolled her eyes at him, but she grabbed his hand in hers, kissing it. And then she leaned down and kissed his ribs, right where he was healing.

"Don't ever do that to me again," she said quietly.

Harry didn't say anything back, because he couldn't promise her that he would never get hurt again, or his life would never be in danger again. He couldn't promise her that he wasn't going to scare her like that again, or that he was always going to be okay. He couldn't promise her those things. So, instead he just reminded her about the moment they were in now, and he pulled her towards him to kiss her again.


***


"You okay?" Liam asked, sitting down at the table where Sofia was sitting with a cup of tea.

"Yeah, I am," Sofia said, with a small smile, "For the first time in days, I feel okay. I feel good."

"That's good," Liam said, putting his hand over hers, "I'm sorry I yelled at you the other day, I'm sorry I said what I said."

"Don't be," Sofia said, shaking her head, "I'm not. You were honest. You were saying what I needed to hear, even if I didn't want to hear it."

"I could've been a little nicer about it, though," Liam said.

"Liam, I know that you credit Harry for how much I've changed, and how different I am," Sofia said quietly.

"Well, I mean you are... but, I love you no matter who you are," Liam said, "You know that."

"I know," Sofia said, with a smile, "But I want you to know that it wasn't just Harry."

"What?"

"Liam, what you've done for me this year. What you've sacrificed and what you've put up with. I want you to know, that I've changed because of you. Because you showed me a world and a life that I didn't see for myself. What happened between me and Harry, or what's going to happen, it's because of you. You gave me options, Liam. And you supported me no matter what I chose. And you had my back. So, I just want you to know that it wasn't just Harry. It was you. I am who I am because of you. And whoever I turn out to be, whatever I turn out to be, I just want you to know that I appreciate everything you've done for me. And I love you."

"You were never a sacrifice," Liam said, putting his hands on either side of Sofia's face with a smile, "You have been worth every moment of these past months, the good and the bad. Everything that we've been through, it's been worth it. All I ever wanted was a relationship with my little sister, and I have that now. And just so you know, you've changed me too. And I love you."

"You can have kids now," Sofia said, looking at her brother sincerely. Liam's mouth dropped open, and he took his hands away quickly.

"What?" Liam asked, his voice surprised.

"I know you've been waiting," Sofia said, "And I know that part of the reason you've been waiting is because of me. Stop waiting. Or at least, don't wait anymore because of me. Life's too short, Liam. You had a plan. You had goals. You wanted things. You wanted a family..."

"I have a family," Liam said, getting defensive.

"You wanted kids, Li," Sofia said, shaking her head, "And so did Danielle. Stop putting your life on hold for me."

"I'm not putting anything on hold," Liam said, shaking his head with his eyebrows furrowed.

"Then stop being afraid," Sofia said quietly, giving her brother a small smile, as she threw his words back in his face, "You have nothing to be afraid of."

"What if I'm like dad?" Liam asked.

"That's just not possible," Sofia said, shaking her head.

"When did you get so smart?" Liam asked.

"I've always been smart," Sofia scoffed, "You just started noticing."

"What about you?" Liam said, "You want kids?"

"No," Sofia said, shaking her head, as Liam tried not to look too disappointed with her answer, "Not right now."

Liam's head snapped up as her words, as Sofia stood up from the table.

"But who knows how I'll feel about it later on in life? I hear people change..."



***


"Are you using my bowl?" Sofia cried, as she quickly closed the door behind her.

Harry was lying on her bed, a bowl in his hand, as he sucked in the smoke and released it. He smiled over at her with a lazy grin.

"Yes I am," Harry said, "I'm injured."

"You're stoned," Sofia scoffed, crawling beside him on the bed as she rolled her eyes.

"Yes I am," Harry said, laughing.

"You went through my stuff to find that," Sofia said, looking up at him as she laid beside him. He sat up on his forearm and grinned down at her.

"In my defense, I was looking for some of my clothes to wear," Harry said, "And you do a terrible job of hiding things."

"At least tell me that's your weed, not mine," Sofia said.

"Nope, it's yours," Harry said, "But if we share, it could be our weed..."

"Are you trying to get me high?" Sofia asked, looking up at him amused.

"I'm just making suggestions," Harry said, with a shrug.

"You're so stoned right now," Sofia gasped; she had never seen him like this.

"We've already been through this," Harry said, pointing at her, "Maybe you're the stoned one."

"I'm not stoned," Sofia growled, "And I'm kinda pissed about that."

"Oh no!" Harry cried out sarcastically, "You're pissed?! Whatever will I do?!"

"You're an ass when you're high!" Sofia cried out, slapping his shoulder hard.

"Ok, okay," Harry said, throwing his hands up in surrender, "I'll make it up to you."

Harry lit the bowl, taking a long hit out of it. His eyes moved over to Sofia, teasing her with the hit. She glared up at him, annoyed. He removed the bowl from his mouth, and then before she could say anything, he put his lips to hers, and exhaled the smoke. Sofia grabbed his face, gently inhaling the smoke.

"Yeah okay," she said, as she released the smoke from her own mouth, "We can share. You're injured, after all."

"I knew you'd see it my way," Harry said, with a goofy grin, before he leaned down to kiss her.

"So, I know you usually like control of things," Sofia said, leaning up to kiss his neck, "But can I make a suggestion, sir?"

She smirked as Harry's fingers tightened around her hips.

"If you must," he said, humor in his voice, as she kissed his neck again.

"Let's smoke and fuck," Sofia said, pulling his head down to kiss him hard.

"Fuck yes," Harry gasped out, as Sofia bit down on his lip.

"Welcome home," She said, as he took another hit, before moving his mouth over hers again.

Harry quickly pulled off his shirt, the smoke releasing in the air around them. He hovered above her, as a small cocky smile played on her face.

"What are you staring at?" she asked.

"You," Harry said, "I'm just taking in every beautiful piece of what's mine..."

Sofia rolled her eyes at him, causing his eyes to narrow on her.

"You're mine," Harry said, "And you're beautiful."

"How many times are you going to tell me?" she asked.

"I don't plan to ever stop telling you," Harry said, before his lips crashed into hers.

"Okay," she mumbled against his lips, repeating that one little word and allowing it to change everything.