Ever Since New York [H.S]

We Haven't Spoke Since You Went Away

Having not been home by myself since the night Harry and I returned to a drunken Patrick at my door. Harry convinced me to stay at his place for the last week. Harry's company was something I highly enjoyed, but I was glad to be heading home, though I felt anxious as to what could await me. Pulling up into the driveway and shutting off my car engine, I unbuckled the seatbelt then slipped out of my car and reached around to retrieve the stack of paperwork on the backseat. Automatically my eyes scanned over to the porch and it was as if a wave of relief rushed over me from the realisation that Patrick wasn't waiting on me. That was one thing Harry worried most about. It took a lot for me to convince Harry that I'd be just fine at home by myself. After locking my car, I headed up the steps and walked across the porch heading for the front door, pausing to unlock the door before I pushed it open and stepped up into my home, ensuring that I securely locked the door behind myself.

Discarding all of the paperwork that I had to go through, aside in the small study within my home, I made a mental note to finish everything off before bed. I began making my way over towards the kitchen to put the kettle on just as a knock came from the front door, causing me to let out a light groaning sound. Who on earth would be heading over at a time like this? For what?

I did my best to not to act annoyed at the fact that I had been interrupted at such a ridiculous time and pulled open the front door to be greeted by a hit of freshly cooked Chinese food and an overly excited curly haired brunette. "Harry?" I commented, speaking softly with an eyebrow raised in curiosity.

"I come bearing gifts." Harry replied, lifting the bag of Chinese food up to my eyesight before he had stepped up into my home and headed straight for the kitchen.

From the sound of cupboards opening within the kitchen, I knew that Harry was searching for plates, I wasn't too far behind him after having shut the door; then heading over to pull up a seat at the counter that Harry was serving fried rice out onto two separate plates. "Why did you come here anyway?" I asked politely curious as to why Harry had stopped by so late at night, although, I had a fair idea in mind.

"I wanted to tell you something..." He admitted just as he guided a plate over in my direction. His eyes focused everywhere that didn't include me.

"And that is?" I spoke up again, tilting my head back so that I could look over in Harry's direction, he didn't look up.

"I don't remember. You should probably eat, you've barely eaten all day. He was right. I knew that Harry wasn't mentioning it in spite of the topic, given how busy I appeared at work, it was rare if I had the chance to eat anything at work. The plate was full of three of my favourite options: honey chicken, Mongolian beef and sweet & sour pork, along with fried rice. This proved how much Harry listened to the little things I told him. It hadn't occured to me how much something so small meant to me until it happened. I couldn't wipe the smile from my face. Over the moon with happiness. "What're you smiling about?" I heard Harry ask. He was always curious to know what I'd been smiling over. Having sat down in the seat beside me a while ago.

"You." I replied back in a low sounding mumble hoping that he didn't hear.

Harry and I sat in silence as we ate the Chinese food that he had kindly ordered us, I'd thanked him far too many times already. Each time he assured me that it was no trouble at all. Even telling me a few times that he hadn't had it in a while and wanted to surprise me with it as he knew I worked late and wouldn't have had the chance to cook anything by the time he had arrived. I found this to be a sweet gesture. With Harry anything was possible, and I knew that I should expect the unexpected with him. But. This wasn't something I had ever considered before. When I knew that the two of us had finished with our plates, I set out on washing them before drying both plates and discarding them back in place in the cupboard that Harry found them. During this time, Harry took it upon himself to make room in the fridge for the remainder of the food - not wanting any of it to go to waste. Somehow, managing to snuggle up on the couch, watching Finding Nemo, which Harry's choice of movie. I wasn't surprised by the fact that he had chosen such an old movie let alone one that was considered to be a children's movie.

Harry and I never spoke of his true reasoning as to why he had come over, though, I knew that it had something to do with Patrick. He was terrified with the thought that Patrick would turn up the moment he knew I was alone. Knowing that Harry had very little trust in police officers. I learnt this when he and I were in the Bahamas together - he told me in confidence. I never questioned him on the matter. It wasn't until now that I realised I had learnt a lot about Harry, things you wouldn't know from meeting once, when we were in the Bahamas. Gaining more insight into his life just by the stories and pictures that Anne provided me with. Harry being a true blessing in my life, and I couldn't be happier with the way things are turning out. Harry once provided me with the best advice, not that I needed it or asked for it at the time, but I'm glad that he found the need to share it with me regardless.

"I think there are two kinds of forgiveness, Ivyanna, the kind that when you forgive you're also giving them another chance, or the kind where you forgive but move on without them. Use them both wisely." I had heard Harry openly tell me. My head tilted back now, and I glanced up to catch sight of his beautiful green eyes staring straight at me and it was in this very moment that I knew the words he had spoken months ago were spoken from the heart.

And I have never taken it for granted.