within the meadow √ h.s.

t w e n t y

delilah played with percy in the large backyard while harry sat on the grass watching the sweet connection between the two. delilah's laughs were loud as she ran around with percy playing what seemed to be tag. eventually her lungs burned and percy craved water. he trotted over to his water bowl and buried his face in it making a mess on the deck. delilah dragged her feet over to harry who sat with a smile before she collapsed next to him and sprawled out on the grass.

"i don't think i'm cut out for the whole running scene," she panted. "i'm just not made for it."

harry laughed and laid next to her. percy soon joined them and took his afternoon nap with his typical loud snores. the transition from summer to autumn began to set in as the leaves transformed and the wind chilled.

delilah loved autumn and everything that came with it. the cold air soothed her, and the drowsiness of nature intrigued her as it would set up for winter. but no matter how much delilah loved the season, she knew it would never be the same after harry's departure because she would be reminded of the bone chilling loneliness he left her with.

harry wanted the warm summer to last forever if it meant he could remain with delilah. he knew their time was limited and enjoyed every minute they spent together because delilah planted seeds within him that had blossomed over the six months they had with each other. as much as he wanted to stay, he knew he couldn't. he had wanted to travel for so long, and to disregard that desire completely would be foolish. harry had to consider himself before anyone else in the situation at hand, and delilah would do the same.

"harry?" someone shouted over the y'all fence. the irish accent perked up delilah's ears because she had recently read a book about ireland. "harry, are you back there? we can hear you, and don't think you can get rid of us."

"niall?" harry stood up and walked to the fence to unlock it. him and his fiancé were embraced by harry happily. "what are you guys doing here?"

niall ignored his question when he saw delilah standing there with percy laying at her feet with an unamused look upon his face. "you must be delilah. i'm niall," he smiled brightly and shook her hand warmly before his fiancé introduced herself and did the same.

"it's nice to meet you both," delilah said.

harry placed his arm around delilah as he led all of them into his house. he got all of them drinks and offered to whip up some snack, but they declined. "so what been going on with you two?"

"well, we've sort of pushed wedding planning to the back which was quite stupid of us since there's so much to do," erica sighed.

"she's stressed about the planning, but i've told her not to worry because it will all work out. we could get married in front of a market and i wouldn't care," niall brushed off.

"harry, please talk some sense into him. there's three months and all we've done is set the date and book the venue! there's so much more to do," erica rambled in worry. "oh! but we stopped by because we have photos of potential tuxedos for you and the rest of the groomsmen to wear and we wanted you to choose since you're the best man and everything."

erica pulled out a folder from her bag and laid out all of the photos on the table. harry stared at all of the images and realized he didn't know the differences between some of them.

"so, delilah, how did harry manage to reel you in? he's quite bland," niall teased.

"hey!" harry whined. "babe, which tux do you think would look best?"

delilah leaned over the table and stared at the multiple photos before pointing at one specific one. "i think this one would look good on everybody."

"i knew i would love her!" erica cheered. "i was hoping harry would pick that one so i wouldn't have to deal with the clash in the color palette i have in mind. delilah, you are truly my hero."

delilah laughed and began listening to erica about her plans and ideas. they didn't even realize when niall and harry had wandered into another room.

"so, you're leaving at the end of the year?" niall asked.

"yeah, i am," harry sighed. when he acknowledged the fact that he would be gone in four months, it hurt him.

"delilah knows?"

"yeah."

"it's a shame you two didn't meet a few years in the future," niall smiles sadly. he was right. it would have made everything easier if they had met in that meadow in a couple of year, but life doesn't give you easy. life gives you difficult, agonizing, and testing.

niall could see how much his best friend loved the girl in the other room, and it hurt so much more to see the predicament in front of his eyes because he could only partially understand it. he understood that immense love for someone else, but he didn't understand that timer in the background waiting to go off and call it. niall understood harry's decision to go, but he didn't understand the feeling of being torn yet so certain. he wished he could give his best friend a few words to help him realize that maybe their love is stronger than the ocean currents that will be between them.

"well, i expect to see her at the wedding with you, and i expect a poetic, heartfelt speech. maybe even get me to cry, haz," niall tried to lighten the mood.

"will do, man. you were always an easy crier, so i think my job will be fairly easy," harry teases.

niall and erica left an hour later and left delilah and harry to decide on making dinner or ordering something. they chose to order something and spend the rest of the evening in bed.

niall had somehow gotten the timer to tick louder in harry's mind, and delilah always knew it was there, but it didn't bother her.

delilah could accept a lot, it was just unfortunate that the trait was only temporary.