I killed the engine, and looked warily towards the place I called home. Looking at this...house, I could imagine why people thought I was a haughty, rich, spoiled brat, brought up in a castle, like a princess. I scoffed at the thought, then grabbed my bag from the passenger side and walked inside my gigantic chateaux.

No one would think this was my bedroom. No posters, no pictures, tidy as a monk. Sometimes I felt like it was the only thing I could control in my life, and I preferred to keep it neat and organized. The way my life never could be. Harry’s bedroom on the other hand, was unusually clean for a boy but it at least looked like a teenager lived there. Harry. My eyes traveled to the only colorful thing that stood out in my plain, white bedroom my favorite picture. No matter what it bought a smile to my face. Propping the picture back on my bedside table I trotted to my bathroom.

After a quick shower. I ran down the annoying spiral staircase, and swiped my keys off the counter. I debated on scribbling a note for...dad. I hastily scribbled the note and ran to my car before I could change my mind.

A smile tugged at the corner of my lips,as I neared the place I’d always known as home. The warmth and safety enveloping me even before I’d made it to the door. I pushed the door open, the aroma of freshly-baked cookies making my stomach grumble.

“Will!” Anne’s sweet voice called from the kitchen.

I trotted towards the kitchen, placing a kiss on Anne’s cheek, then jumped over the counter, with my unusually long legs, after years of playing basketball, tucked underneath.

“Cookies...I see,” I said plucking a slightly warm cookie out of the tray.

Anne glared at me pulling the cookie out of my hands, “Did ,” she asked, very sternly, “you wash your hands?”

I rolled my eyes, at the woman whom I called my mother.

“Anne,” I whined. She shook her head in that stubborn way, Harry did.

I jumped off the counter and washed my hands with water before turning back to her with a happy-now? look. She handed me the cookie with a smile on her face. As much as I tried not to smile back, my lips curved up. I’d ever only known as my mother. I just had faint memories of my mother, but Anne had been there through my first day of preschool, my first period, my first crush, my first homecoming. And I was sure as hell, she’d be there the day I walked down the aisle.

“Harry’s back in the woods,” Anne said tilting her head towards the window, where I could only make out a faint outline of Harry’s curly hair. I nodded, heading towards the door.

“Take this with you,” she said handing me a plate of cookies.
“Love you, Anne,” I called out while walking outside. She laughed lightly before replying with a ‘love you too’.

I made my way through the all too familiar woods. Until I found the curly headed boy immersed in a book with his back pressed against a tree bark. “Watchya reading?” I asked dropping on the yellow-orange leaves beside him, that made a crunchy sound. “I’ll never get used to that American accent,” he mumbled. Even after living in England for fifteen years I still hadn't gotten the hang of it. After a few moments of silence. He folded the edge of the page he was reading and slammed the book shut, no matter how many bookmarks I gave him, he never used them.

“Again?” I asked exasperated looking at the cover of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

“Indeed,” he grinned showing off his dimples.

“I bet you have the series memorized by now,” I said, resting my head on his shoulder.

“M-hmm,” but his attention was definitely elsewhere.

“You want cookies?” I asked pulling the plate towards me.

“M-hmm.”

“Do you wanna have have mushrooms for dinner?”

“M-hmm.”

“Are you sure?”

“M-hmm”

“You won’t change your mind?”

“M-hmm”

“Promise?”

“M-hmm”

“Fine, I’ll tell Anne to make you your favorite dish tonight,” I said getting up, and brushed the dirt off my jeans.

And just like that he snapped back to reality.

“Where are you going?” he asked, his eyebrows scrunched together in confusion.

“You wanted to eat mushrooms. I was just going to tell Anne to make mushrooms specifically for you. Since, apparently it’s your favorite food.”

“What?” he asked baffled.

I smirked, knowing very well how much he hated eating mushrooms.

“M-hmm,” I replied mimicking him.

His cheeks turned crimson as he fiddled with his fingers.

“I was just distracted,” he muttered.

“With thoughts of Brittany and you in bed?” I asked wiggling my eyebrows.

He rolled his green eyes, almost the same shade as mine. Except, he said, I had flecks of gold in mine. I saw his jaw tighten, and I knew I had upset him.

“You’re having mushrooms for dinner either way,” I said dismissing the topic. Because when Harry got mad, it wasn’t pretty, not the least bit.

“Huh?” he asked, apparently he was too lost in his thoughts to listen to what I had said.

“M-U-S-H-R-O-O-M-S.” I spelled out.

“No. NO!” He yelled.

Before I knew, Harry was standing in front of me with a smirk plastered on his face. A shriek left my lips as I made a run to the house. Harry, right at my tail, and I knew he intentionally wasn’t running at his full speed. He’d broken the record for track team in freshmen year itself.

Harry caught me at the porch steps flinging me across his shoulder like a rag doll. But Dusty stood at the doorway her claws outstretched at Harry. I poked my tongue out at Harry.

“Yep, good girl. C’mon! Harry’s being mean to me.”

And that was all it took for the cat to pounce on him making Harry stagger, since he didn’t actually expect his cat to hit him. His arms loosened around my legs and I jumped away.

“Traitor,” Harry scowled at Dusty, as I let out a laugh.

“Willow? Harry? Is that you?”

“Robin!” I grinned, skipping towards the living room. Where he was sitting on the couch. He embraced me in a hug, which I gladly returned. These were the only dad-like hugs I got, unlike my father who was just...father-like, not dad-like.

Harry walked into the room, Dusty at his heels. I spread my arms out for her, and he happily climbed on my lap. Harry snorted from my side.

“Whatever, D. But remember you don’t have a room to stay at tonight,” he glared at the poor cat, who whimpered slightly.

“No problem, Dust. You’re always welcome at my place,” I patted her soft fur. She looked at me with side gray eyes, and licked my cheek.

“Dad, can you believe that?” Harry scoffed pointing at Dusty and I.

“Well she is very lovable,” Robin pointed out. Patting my hair affectionately, the way my father never did.

“Thanks dad,” Harry said sarcastically, “I’m starting to believe I’m adopted.”

“You finally realized that?” I asked jokingly.

He rolled his eyes, walking towards the kitchen probably to see if Anne sided with him. I high-fived Robin.

“Oh! Haz! Don’t forget to tell Anne, that you are gonna have mushrooms for dinner!” I yelled before turning back to scratch Dusty’s ears. Robin raised his eyebrows quizzically, everyone knew Harry’s dislike towards mushrooms. I shrugged placing the cat on Robin’s lap, who purred in protest.

“Sorry, D. But seeing Harry eating mushrooms is gonna ten thousand times more fun. No offense,” I raised my hands, as if the cat could understand what I was talking about. Robin let out a laugh. As I sprinted towards the kitchen.

Notes

Ta-da, chapters up for y'all, and sorry for the superrrr-long wait. But thx y'all for being patient. Comment, Vote and Subscribe. Luv y'all.

The song:Concrete Angel, by Martina McBride.

CHeck out my other story too, please!

xoxoxo