If It's What You Want A Harry Styles Fanfiction || h. s.

Epilogue Part 3

She had cried repeatedly over the first several weeks after their first child was born. He'd held her and reassured her over and over that everything was okay, that she was doing a great job.

He'd felt guilty as well. They had fought about halfway through the pregnancy over the filming of the movie with Nadia. Ashley had decided she didn't want him to do the film after all just before he left. They'd broken up for almost three months during which time she'd come to rely on Derek who grew overly protective of her.

When Harry tried to see her one night, he and Derek had come to blows. Harry had gotten the worst of the fight that ended when one of them accidentally pushed Ashley to the ground. She'd been almost 8 months pregnant and the fall sent her to the hospital with a fractured arm.

The cast had forced her to accept his help and they'd become close before Jack was born. Afterwards, she'd needed him even more. He had worried incessantly about whether she was actually still in love with him until one night he arrived at the bungalow to find that Jack was with Margarite and he was alone with Ashley. The candlelit table was set for two. She was barefoot and dressed in a short pink, off-the-shoulder dress that clung to her now-slender figure. Before they could have dinner, the dress along with his clothes were on the floor.

She had told him how much she missed and loved him, how she wanted a family, and that she never wanted to be separated again. He'd apologized repeatedly for his stupidity, for not better understanding or appreciating her feelings, and promised to never make a movie deal without her approval. He'd proposed sometime after that and they'd married with only family and close friends present. The press had initially dogged them, but finally left them alone when they could find no hint of a scandal, infidelity, or discord.

****

"Ashley, she's fine," he said after she'd lingered an overly long time at Annabelle's crib. "Let's get to bed. She'll be awake soon enough."

"Sorry," she said looking up at him.

"No worries. I want you to get some sleep. In fact, I'll get up and give her a bottle. Is that okay?"

"Yes."

"What's wrong, baby?" he asked when tears gathered on her lashes.

"They are all growing up too fast."

"Sweetheart, Annabelle is only 4 months old."

"Yes, and it seems she was just born yesterday. Yet, here we are."

"Don't tell me you are wanting another baby already," he said.

"Oh no. Who said two just wasn't enough?"

"That was me."

"Exactly."

"It's bedtime for you. I detect a bit of grumpiness."

"I am unusually tired," she said.

"Go ahead and change. I'm going to get some water. Want some?"

"Yes, thanks."

He'd gotten distracted with a text from Colin while he was in the kitchen so that when he finally got back to the bedroom, Ashley was asleep. He turned off the lamp and went back to the living room to continue texting.

****

It seemed like he'd barely closed his eyes when he heard Annabelle through the baby monitor.

"I'll go get her," said Harry.

Ashley got up and went to the bathroom while Harry changed what was sure to be a very wet diaper.

She heard him talking to Annabelle before she came back into the bedroom.