You've only got one shot (One Direction Fanficiton)

Chapter 2 - My little bird

author's notes

the new chapter is here, at least a bit longer than the first one. I'm not sure yet about my uploading schedule, I write whenever I get the chance so at first it will be every few days I guess, and later if you guys still read it, we can arrange something. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it, and I can't wait for the main part of the story.

love ya all xxx 

CHAPTER 2 – My little bird

That morning, when Valerie woke up, she had that gut feeling telling her things aren’t going to be right. Oh boy was she right.

It all started with the nanny calling in sick. Dorota was her backbone and she was lost without her. It was hard to find a good babysitter in London, let alone in such short notice.

It was time to call in Harry. She hated asking him for favours no matter how close they were, especially since he has just spent the weekend with Danielle, but she didn’t have time to be picky. He was her only chance.

-Where are we going mum? - asked Ellie excitedly. She loved surprises and she thought they were going in a theme park or something.

–Change of plans honey, you’re spending the day with daddy. - Valerie rushed her already used to it daughter, thanking God for Harry having such a good relationship with his kid. He was never around when they were married, but when he was, Ell absolutely adored him. If he has been just a bit more responsible...

– Good Morning, Miss Styles - The doorman greeted them as they walked into the building. Just as they were about to step in the elevator, Harry showed up.

- Sorry love, I have some errands to do, butDan can come with me, can’t you babe? – He looked like he was in a hurry, but his expression softened as he took Danielle in his arms. – We can go to the park afterwards if you’d like to –

- I’m so sorry Harry, you know I wouldn’t ask this of you if I really had no other choice. – Valerie felt bad when she realized he has had plans too.

- It’s okay V, I can take her. Now go save lives or whatever. – He smiled encouragingly stepping out of the building, waving her to go.

***

- And Miss Kate told me she has a girl just like me and that we should have a play day some time- Little Ellie excitedly retailed her father what she was doing while he was on a meeting.

- We will definitely arrange that sweetie – he said walking out of the office building. – Now, how about we grab some ice cream and head to the park? – Her smile widened even more on those words. – Yes, yes, yes dad, can we? – She started jumping up and down.

She frequently went to the park with Dorota and sometimes mom, but it was different with her dad. Especially cause she sees him so rarely.

He glanced over his watch – Quick, if we hurry, we will get in time just to see the pelicans being fed at St. James’ park! – He grabbed her hand and off they go.

By the time the feeding ended, Danielle has already decided to adopt a pet pelican. She loved it so much and Harry persuaded her to ask her mum if she could buy her a pelican, wanting to laugh at her reaction.

They ran into Miss Kate and her daughter Helen. Harry asked Kate to watch over Ell for a bit because he has to do a phone call.

- Okay love, I’ll be right there on that bench, I have a conversation I need to do. I’ll be back quickly, you will stay here and play with Helena till then, ok? – Dan nodded whilst he was taking his phone out of his pocket and walked away. He needed to organize that party on Ibiza next weekend.

He was just hanging up when he saw his daughter stand in front of him, holding an injured bird. Something in him moved. She had her moms ginger hair and her killer smile that could once make him do anything.

He remembered that day like it was yesterday.

They were just walking in the woods on a spring afternoon. She was almost 13, while Harry was a big boy, 14. Something has fallen out of Valerie's pocket so she walked back the path to find it and he waited for her, texting a friend.

She came back holding a tiny fragile creature with a broken leg on her hands like it was a drop of water. He was just about to tell her to put the bird down, but when she looked at him with those watery chocolate brown eyes, he just heard himself say -Come, we'll bring it to the vet. - The tearful smile she gave him was worth all the trouble they later went through for that poor being. Since then, he always called her "his little bird", singing that Ed Sheeran song.

That day was the day he realized he was falling for her. No, that he already fell for her. Hard.

He kept it for himself though. She didn't find out for the next four years. In fact, she found it hard to believe even then.

- What do you have there, babe? – He started, jerking away from his thoughts.

***

On the way to Starbucks, her heel broke. Valerie limped to the door trying to fix the shoe. But just as she was about to walk in, a man was walking out holding a carton with two hot coffees, bumping into her and spilling the coffee all over her and himself.

– Oh my God I am so so sorry – they both gasped at the same time looking at their ruined clothes. Oh this day just couldn’t get any better, could it? Valerie thought apologizing to the man – I’m terribly sorry, I wasn’t looking and my heel broke and I’ve had a really bad day and -

-It’s okay, I should’ve looked where I was walking too – he interrupted her.

She looked up and got a better look on him. He wasn’t that bad looking actually. He was manly, had a decently muscular figure, thick black hair, dark eyes and he wore glasses.

He was wearing a, now stained, light blue shirt and khaki trousers and held a briefcase, obviously on his way to work. But, nothing special. Not as close as handsome as Harry. Stop! Stop comparing everybody to him. That’s why you’re still single in the first place! She mentally lectured herself.

She doesn’t date much. Her life is busy enough without a new man in her life. But every now and then, she meets someone, but it never becomes serious. Harry is the main reason to it, she compares everybody to him, even to his flaws.

The reason they separated isn’t lack of love. In fact, she still loves him. But it turned out not to be enough. He was a grown up kid, always somewhere in the world partying or buying and redecorating houses, never home.

Whenever she needed him, he was nowhere to be found. When Ellie was 6, she fell in preschool and got a concussion and stitches on her head. She was worried sick, and he was somewhere in Maroko drinking all night playing poker with his so-called friends.

He called her back after a week, saying that he bought a wonderful new mansion they need to see and that he was coming home tomorrow.

She welcomed him with packed bags and left, filling for a divorce. He tried to talk her out of it, but they were complete opposites.

 He was all about travelling and having fun, while she was more grounded and responsible. The partying worked for the first two years, but after they got Dan, she started to see their life’s flaws.

She wanted him to settle down and raise their daughter with her, but he didn’t plan to stop. He was more of a cool uncle to her, coming and going all the time.

Danielle’s accident was just the last straw that broke the camel’s back. She packed her and Dan’s bags and left.

- Still, I’m so sorry. Let me pay you back for that coffee at least. – She tried to repay her clumsiness, hoping the shirt wasn’t designer.

 - The only way you could repay me is if you let me buy you a coffee – he smiled gentlemanly.

Was he flirting with her?! She thought, reflexively starting to turn him down – Sorry, but I’m late for... – work. She remembered her first patient was set for 2pm, and it was still early morning. Oh, to hell with it. – Actually, sure. I’d love that. – She smiled, thinking this wasn’t such a bad day after all.