Soft Side

Chapter fifty-seven

"Come on darling, shall we go and find daddy and nana?" I smile at the toddler in the car seat. "Thanks again for picking us up Niall" I smile at the Irish man as he grabbed her pushchair out of the boot, dismissing my comment with a wide smile. I sit my daughter on my hip, sighing at the sight of Harry's car in the backstage car park, not enjoying the fact I should have been getting out of that car as a family, but the fact was we weren't anymore and there wasn't much of a chance of that happening now.

We make our way inside, walking slightly slower since Ariella had decided she wanted to walk and I wasn't going to put up with the fussing and fighting now. I hold her hand in mine as she walks slowly, stumbling now and then. Her left hand was in mine as I pushed the pushchair with my spare hand, her right in Niall's as she smiled happily, muttering away to herself in her own little language. We walked through the building and into the dressing room, only to find Harry and Liam. "Dada!" Ariella screeches, laughing happily as she ran at Harry, instantly being lifted high into the air as she laughs. Harry was good with her, especially now she was older.

"And how is daddy's princess?" he beams at the toddler, his hands tickling her sides as she laughs happily, led on his lap now.

"She's fine, happy to see you" I nod with a soft smile, turning my head to the door as Anne walks in with a smile. "Hey" I smile softly at her, not the same as the smiles we used to share. She had come to my flat a couple of weeks ago, asking why it hadn't worked out with me and Harry. I don't blame her for standing up for her son, but when she found out how little he had been there and much I had been on my own, she had begun to understand and softened on me slightly.

"Nana!" Ariella screeches causing me to smile, Anne bending down to give her a gentle kiss as Ariella looks back at her daddy, enjoying his company. She was a huge daddy's girl when she was with him, which I knew was because she didn't get to spend as much time with him as I would want her to. "Mumma, snack please" She says gently, turning to look at me as I nod, grabbing her little tub of grapes out of my handbag. She grins, wiggling on her daddy's lap happily, munching on the fruit.

~~~~~~~

Myself, Becky, Ariella and all of the boys families sat in the front row of the X Factor audience, watching our loves ones perform for the last time. Their song History was going down a treat with the crowd, the boys looking like they were about to burst into tears, which was absolutely fine because we all had. It had been a crazy journey with some of the most amazing people I had ever met, we had all ever met. We all smiled wide, standing to clap them as they pulled each other into a big hug. Their journey had started at this place as a band, and it was ending at the same place before they headed their separate ways.

We made our way to the backstage area again, Ariella now asleep in her pushchair as I sat beside her, watching her with tears on my cheeks. They came running from the stage, tears down their cheeks, heading to people to hug them tightly. Louis took Becky into his arms, hugging her tightly with tears down his cheeks as everybody cried. It was one of the saddest days. Harry walked over slowly, all tension between us fading as I fell into his arms, hugging him tightly as he cried into my hair. I had seen Harry cry before, but never to this extent. I look at him with a sad smile, his thumb coming up to wipe my tears from my cheeks as I sigh softly, grabbing my handbag as he took the pushchair. We were all heading out for a meal for the last time as all of us. The last meal as One Direction.

~~~~~~~

I smile at Harry, all of us now laughing about the memories the boys had created over the last few years. All of us began laughing when they mentioned Harry's falling over on stage, something nobody could ever predict when it would happen during a show. Ariella began to fuss, wiggling in her seat as I grab her out, sitting her on my lap with a smile.

"I can't believe everything that has happened over the last few years" Liam says softly as everybody nods, thinking about how much had changed. "I mean, we all went solo and got put together and played football instead of practicing..." he laughs as everybody nods, Louis commenting on how he was still the best footballer of them all.

"And how many people we've played to is madness, like I can't believe how many people actually wanted to see us" Louis states as everybody nods again, "We lost a member, gained a new slightly smaller one making me the second shortest" Louis teases, tickling Ariella under the chin as she laughs, hiding in my chest as I smile softly, kissing her head. "Everything has changed" He says softly, looking around the table.

"Everybody's grown up" Niall says softly as everybody nods again, tears pricking their eyes again.

Ariella began to fuss again, wanting her food which wasn't here yet. I sigh softly, going to stand up to take her for a walk, smiling and thanking Harry when he stands up telling me "I'll take her" with a soft smile, kissing his daughters temple as he walks from the table.

"He's enjoying seeing her more isn't he?" Anne smiles as I nod, looking over at Harry and Ariella walking around the restaurant, her smile radiating as she was held by her father.

"Yeah, he's so much better lately" I smile softly, thanking the waiter as he brings the food over. Harry came bounding across the restaurant with a laughing girl in his arms, placing her in the high chair as she grins, tucking into her food straight away. A food lover like both of her parents.

~~~~~~~

"It was lovely to see you again" Maura smiles and hugs me, commenting on how sweet Ariella was now. I thank her, kissing her cheek and telling her that I'll see her around. I turn around to face everybody else who was still here. I smile softly and hug Anne goodbye, telling her that I'll definitely see her soon as she nods and smiles, kissing Ariella's cheek softly before waving goodbye to us. Ariella sat in Harry's arms, her smile wide as she played with is cheeks, laughing as his tongue poked out at her.

"She loves seeing you" I say softly, smiling at the man before me as he nods with a grin.

"I love seeing her too, I've missed her" He says softly as I nod with a soft smile, setting the car seat back in Niall's car since he was going to drop us back at home. "Well I guess this is a see you later" he says softly as I smile softly and nod at him. He turned to the car, saying goodbye to Ariella, buckling her into the car seat with a kiss to her lips as she waves goodbye to him. He stood back up, smiling down at me. "Thank you for coming today Soph, it really means a lot to me" he says softly as I nod.

"You know I wouldn't have missed it for the world" I smile softly, looking up at him. Then he did what I never thought he would. He leant down, his lips pressing to mine. I shake my head, running a hand through my hair. Why did he have to do that? I turn, walking away from him without a word being said to him. I climbed in the car and that was goodbye.

He had just confused any friendship chances we had.