SOFT SPOT// h.s

1.5 ~ You asked for it..

I decided that I loved the beach. The warm sand between my toes created a sense of relief to wash over me. Everything had been so hectic and stressful, it was nice to finally relax.

I watched as the waves overlapped each other and crashed to the ground, swallowing up the golden sand. Harry had bought me a bikini, and insisted I wore it. It was baby pink with white polka dots but I wore one of Harry's long, white tshirts over it, as I was a little self conscious about my ghostly pale skin and the faint stretch marks that had developed after being pregnant with Ellie, but I tried not to let it bother me and enjoy the peacefulness of the seaside.

The sound of Ellie's laughter rang through the air like a dazzling burst of sunshine after a dull haze of clouds as she splashed in the water with Harry. I couldn't hear what they were saying obviously, over the noise of the seaside, but the bright grin on his face matched hers and it was the first time I had seen him properly smile so big.

It wasn't overly hot and it was late in the afternoon, so I was assured that neither my skin nor Ellie's would get burnt. I absent-mindedly buried my feet in the yellow sand as a soft breeze ruffled through my long mess of wild and unruly curls.

The nagging voice in my mind was buzzing away with the secret that I kept. Looking at them playing together, it was obvious that they were father and daughter. The similarities were scarily striking. The secret was slowly killing me and crushing me with its power of guilt and manipulation, but I couldn't ruin Harry by telling him. As judgemental as is was, I also knew that Harry wasn't the ideal father figure for Ellie. I knew that he wasn't necessarily a bad person, in fact he had a huge heart, but his addictions and bad habits could be overpowering and a bad influence.

I watched Harry tickling Ellie and throwing her over his shoulder. Ellie was a sucker for tickles, just like me. Harry came sauntering towards me, his cheeks rosy, just like Ellie's, who had her legs wrapped around his waist.

His chest was bare and I had been attempting not to stare at the inked designs that were drawn on his toned torso. He was wearing a pair of horrible yellow swimming shorts that he had bought along with my bikini, but the bright colour contrasted with his bronze skin, tanned and smooth from the sun rays.

He shot me a playful, mocking look. "What are you looking so worried about? Turn that frown upside down," he teased as he pulled the corners of my lips into a smile and brushed away the lines of worry on my forehead. I couldn't help but smile as I jokingly swatted his hand away.

"Are you having fun?" I asked Ellie as I tucked her hair behind her ears and playfully squeezed her cheeks.

"Yes yes yes!" she cried. "I don't want to go home I want to live here forever and ever with you and Harry."

I laughed at her and kissed her forehead. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself babe."

"Will you come into the water? Please, please, please?" she begged me, her eyes wide.

I shook my head. "I'm just gonna sunbathe for a bit, ok?"

"Harry said he buy me ice cream if I asked you to come in the water," Ellie confessed in a hushed voice and a small giggle.

I heard Harry cough and splutter a little beside me and it took me a bit of self control not to do the same. When I looked at him, his cheeks seemed a little red, but it must have just been from the sun.

"I have no idea what she's talking about," Harry laughed, scooping Ellie up into his arms and poking her cheek.

Ellie whispered something into Harry's ear and they both laughed as I watched them suspiciously.

"Come into the water Clary, you'll love it!" Harry said. I shook my head vigorously.

"No way, look at those waves, they could kill me!" I exclaimed dramatically as Harry laughed. I never knew how to swim, and the sea freaked me out a little because I was terrified of jellyfish.

"Pleeeaassee Clary," he begged, pushing out his bottom lip and I was slightly taken aback at his light hearted, childish, but somewhat humorous behaviour.

Despite his pouting, I still shook my head and told Harry no. I caught the mischievous glint in his eye and the sneaky, devious glance he exchanged with Ellie, who was giggling cheekily.

"Ok then, you asked for it," he said shrugging and I barely even had time to register his words before I was hoisted by my waist and slung over Harry's shoulders as I screamed blue murder.

"Harry! Oh my god!! Please no, no, no! I yelled whilst laughing as Harry dumped me gently in the freezing water.

I glared at him and Ellie, who were in stitches of uncontrollable laughter and did the first thing I thought of, kick a huge amount of sea water at Harry before dashing away and doubling up laughing.

Harry came after me, his arms outstretched as his hands gripped my hips, spinning me around as I screamed before he dropped me in the water.

"It's freezing!" I cried, feeling the fabric of Harry's thin Tshirt clinging to my upper half, knowing that my bikini top would be visible.

I peeled off the t-shirt and threw it to the ground, deciding that I might as well cherish these moments of fun and freedom before being stuck in a vehicle for another few days.

I wasn't sure if I imagined it, but I was nearly sure I caught a glimpse of Harry's eyes wandering to my chest, which immediately made my cheeks flush with colour.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked, noticing my sudden embarrassment.

I shook my head. "N-nothing at all," I lied, before smiling shyly.

We spent hours on the beach, making the most of our newly found freedom. We littered almost half the long strand with perfectly built sandcastles, crafted by Harry's large and skilled hands, with the help of Ellie and I.

We didn't leave until the tide had come well in, and had washed the majority of our sand castles away, which made Ellie cry.

I think the fresh air had gotten to Harry's head because he was being actually, quite nice, and offered to carry Ellie all the way back to the motel, as well as the towels we had taken from the bathrooms.

I quite like this side of him..

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06.02.15