"All I wanted was a bit of excitement.
All I did was apply for a job.
And then all of me fell deeply and irrevocably in love with him."
Natalie Moon applies for an unknown job, and falls straight in the lap of One Direction. More specifically, Harry...
I spin around where I'm standing in the kitchen and spot Max running towards me, a big grin on his face. I drop down to the floor and open my arms up.
"Hey buddy!" I say, over the moon that he's so excited to see me. "I didn't know if you'd remember me."
His mum, Vicky, walks in behind him chuckling, going over to greet Anne.
"We asked him the other day if he remembered Auntie Natalie and he told me off for thinking he'd forget."
My heart practically melts as I stand up slowly, picking him up and propping him on my hip. He's a bit heavy, so he won't be up here for long, but I've missed him.
The week after Christmas last year Harry kept telling me, jokingly, that I was being moody, and I honestly think I was having withdrawal symptoms from not being around kids. They have such energy, and I had such a good day with Max and Layla last year that I've been talking about seeing them again all of December.
And Anne and Gemma and the rest of the family too... obviously.
"Have you said hello to Uncle Harry?" I ask, putting him down. He shakes his head. "He's in the living room." Gemma must have let them in.
He goes rushing off towards Harry, and from where I'm standing in the kitchen I watch as he launches himself onto the sofa, making Harry jump.
Max and Layla's dad comes into the kitchen at that point, arms full of a gorgeous toddler.
"Here she is!" He says, coming straight over to me. I can't help but laugh at the whole family knowing how predictable I am.
"Hi gorgeous!" I say as I scoop her into my arms. She takes a second to focus on me, cocking her head slightly, but she smiles at me and my heart melts again.
I don't think babies or toddlers have much of a memory so I doubt she remembers me, but she's happy in my arms right now, and that's all that matters.
"Look at your beautiful dress!" I babble away at her, bouncing her slightly. "It's covered in pretty sunflowers!" She's in a gorgeous yellow dress with tiny sunflowers all over it, her blonde hair starting to curl at the ends.
I want a dress like this... why is a baby better dressed than me right now?
"We're almost ready with lunch." Anne says soon after, starting to lay things on the table. They were a bit later arriving today, so Christmas dinner is imminent.
"Can I sit next to Natalie?" Max says loudly, barging back into the kitchen.
Harry shuffles in behind him with a wide smile on his face, looking very smart in his brown corduroy trousers and white shirt. We're matching today, somewhat unintentionally, with my white jumper and reddish brown trousers.
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"Of course you can, sweetie." Anne says, ruffling Max's hair.
I didn't think it was possible, but somehow Max has even more energy this year. He seems determined to spend as much time talking as possible. Harry manages to keep him occupied though, listening to his stories from school and telling him about all the cool cars he's ever seen.
