darling darcy [l.s.]

chapter one

chapter one
september 21st, 2018,
10:47am:

"daddy, when will you be back?" darcy pouted, walking over to her father where he sat on the couch to sit on his lap, wrapping her short arms around his neck and curling into his chest.

"as soon as i can, darling. i just have a few errands to run and i'll be right back. you'll be able to spend some time with your uncle niall while i'm gone!" harry pulled her close and hugged her tightly, sighing contentedly into her curly hair. she smelled like her vanilla coconut shampoo, and it made his chest feel warm as he recalled how amazing she smelled as a baby.

the truth was that harry had to go out and buy darcy her birthday presents. she was turning five in one week, on september twenty-eighth, so he was running late this year with buying them.

"uncle niall!" darcy gasped excitedly, hopping off of his lap and running over to hug niall's leg where he stood in the doorway (he had just arrived as soon as harry said his name, funnily enough).

"hello, baby girl!" niall grinned, lifting her up into his arms and peppering her little face with kisses as she giggled excitedly.

harry watched fondly as his best friend spun his daughter around, both of them laughing and smiling. he would forever be grateful to niall, for so much. when harry found out he was pregnant with darcy, niall stayed by his side and promised to help him with raising his daughter.

and he kept his promise.

darcy viewed niall as her uncle, and he was the best uncle any young girl could dream of. he spoiled her rotten and never declined any of her crazy four-year-old ideas, like making a mud pie and offering it to harry to eat like they did just last week.

niall might as well have been darcy's best friend rather than harry's.

"thanks again for watching her, ni. you're a life saver." harry stood from the couch to greet niall as he set darcy back on the ground to stand on her own. she stayed by his side, clutching onto the back of his pant leg tightly as if afraid he would leave if she didn't.

"of course! how could i pass up an opportunity to spend the day with my favorite little princess?" niall ruffled up darcy's curly hair, making her giggle while harry smiled.

"really. thank you. you're the best." harry opened up his arms to give niall a tight hug.

"i am, aren't i?" niall laughed jovially, patting harry's back lightly, "now go! my girl and i have an appointment to drink tea with a certain stuffed bear, don't we, love?"

"i'll go get mr. bananas!" darcy squealed and turned on her heel, booking it towards her bedroom to go retrieve whichever stuffed animal was called 'mr. bananas'.

"hey! are you going to let daddy leave without a kiss goodbye?!" harry called, and within seconds darcy was back in the living room, running up to harry to throw her arms around him tightly, breathing heavily to catch her breath from the running back and forth.

"i love you, darling darcy." harry knelt down to her level and smiled into her hair, holding her tightly in his arms.

"love you, darling daddy." darcy giggled. harry's heart filled with an almost painful amount of love as he held his little girl close. he never wanted to let go. he hated leaving her, but he knew he had to.

"now be good for your uncle niall, okay baby girl?" he whispered, kissing her nose and making her giggle adorably as she nodded.

"i will."

"good. i'll be back soon, i promise." he gave her one last kiss on the cheek and hugged niall goodbye before exiting their apartment to run his errands.