Harry’s POV.

Niall and I got home around 5PM to a quiet house, something we weren’t at all that entirely used to. Usually when Ashlynn and Jayci are home they always had 5 Seconds Of Summer or Demi Lovato blaring, this time there was no music and only the sight of my mother in the kitchen cooking dinner.

“Hey there Anne!” Niall greeted my mother with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Proper lad he was.

“Hello sweetheart! How was rehearsal boys?” she asked us as she hugged him back and then kissed me on the cheek.

“It went rather well, just going over choreography and what not right now! How was girls’ day?” I asked her referring to the day she had spent with Ashlynn.

“It went alright.” Was all she had to say about it and I had no idea how I was supposed to take that.

“That’s good, is Ashlynn home?” I asked her.

“No she is not, her and Jayci aren’t here. Call them will you, So I know if they will be joining us for dinner or not.” She asked of me. Niall was already calling Jayci to see where she was, and no answer. I then grabbed my phone and went to my favorite’s list and dialed Ashlynn’s number as I walked upstairs to my room.

“Hello?” Ashlynn answered sounding a bit agitated.

“Hey love, where you at?” I asked her.

“Out with Jayci, what’s up?” she shortly said. I’m so used to her giving me a long drawn out explanation but nothing.

“Oh. Well I was just wondering if you were going to be home for dinner…Mum wanted to know how many plates to make.” I informed her as I sat on my bed and pulled my shoes off.

“Uh, no Jayci and I are just going to grab some Chinese at Changs, y’all go ahead.” She shortly said again. What was going on with her?

“Ok…hey is everything ok?” I asked her knowing thing with her were obviously not ok.

“I mean…yeah. I guess.” She said a little choked up.

“Ash talk to me.” I begged of her.

“Later. Not now. I’ll be home later, text you when I head that way.” She informed me.

“Alright. I love you.” I told her before hanging up the phone.

“I love you too Harry.” Then she hung up. I changed out of my rehearsal reeked clothes into some basketball shorts and the cat t-shirt Ashlynn got for me due to the fact that she thought it was ‘too horrendous not to purchase’. I went back downstairs to join My Mum and Niall for dinner.

“Are the girls coming?” she asked.

“No, Ashlynn’s in a mood, I think she just needs to spend some time with Jayci. “ I told her before grabbing my plate.

“Yeah, I called Jayci and she wouldn’t even tell me what was going on. Told me it wasn’t my business to know and then she told me they were going to Changs and that she’d be home later.” Niall said of his girlfriend.

“Sounds like your girlfriends need some attitude adjustments and some respect for the men they have in their life.” She snapped. What the hell?

“I don’t think so, Jayci is great to me…but I understand that her friendship with Ashlynn is priority to her and I which I respect.” Niall said defending the girls, which I majorly appreciated. I don’t know what had gotten into my mother.

“Yeah, plus Ash has a lot going on right now and has been dealing with a lot these past few weeks. She’s always so strong; I can’t blame her for being moody every once in a while. “ I added.

“Well let’s not talk about them any longer, they aren’t here. So Harry, darling; how’s therapy going?” She asked. Then Niall gave me a look motioning the confusion that he had about it actually being any of her business.

“Uh, it’s good.” I said shortly.

“How often are you going?” she asked me.

“2 times a week.” I left it at that hoping she wouldn’t drill me any longer.

“Oh yeah? How is it? Do you think it’s helping?” She asked, I knew she would just keep asking questions. I needed to just be open about all of it.

“I think it’s helping. First day of the week I go by myself and then the second day of the week Ashlynn will go with me and we discuss our relationship. I feel a lot better about everything, we both do.” I confessed. No one knew Ashlynn was going with me, until now.

“Why is Ashlynn going also? It’s your session.” She snapped once again.

“Because she s helping me through all of this, it’s not easy for me and we discuss our relationship and stuff.” I snapped back. “It’s not a huge deal. At least she is going with me and helping me.”

“I suppose.” She said as she took the last bite of her chicken and grabbed her plate and stood up. “I’m going to turn in, you boys will do the dishes for me, right?” she asked.

“Yes Anne, thank you for the delicious dinner!” Niall said to her as I sat in awe of the nuclear attack my mom just put me under.

“thank you, night lads.” She said as she walked to our guest house in the backyard. Niall and I sat in silence waiting for the back door to close so my mom was out of the house.

“What the hell was that bro?” Niall asked.

“Man, I don’t even know. Who was that woman?” I asked about my mother.

“Not your mother, that’s for sure. I thought Anne liked Ashlynn..she sounded like she wants her to burn…” he said and then laughed. He was right though, last time I checked my mum had no problem with Ashlynn…but something must have happened and changed things. What…I’ll never know. I just need Ashlynn to get home so I can figure it out.

“Alright, I’m off to bed. Let me know if you talk to Ashlynn tomorrow.” Niall told me as he got up from the table and went off to his and Jayci’s room.

“Night man.” I told him as I got up to do the dishes.

I grabbed my phone and called Ashlynn for it to only go straight to voicemail. It was 9PM, where was she?

Ashlynn’s POV.

“Maybe we should go home now? I left a huge mess and Niall is going to shit when he see’s it.” Jayci went on as we walked around London.

“Jayci, they’ve been home for hours…trust me, he’s already seen it.” I informed her laughing at her franticness.

“But on the real Ash, I’m tired and want to go home it’s already 9:30. You need to face Harry eventually.” She said.

“I know I do, but what if he thinks I’m making it all up? What if he takes his moms side?” I said as I searched for my keys in my purse.

“Then he needs to get his head straight. You loved Anne and then BOOM she’s like the evil step mom. Just be honest with him.” She said to me as I finally found my keys.

“You’re right, let’s go home.” I said as we walked back to my jeep. We got in the truck and Jayci’s phone rang.

“It’s Niall…he’s probably going to yell at me..” she said

“Like he would ever yell at you..” I told her laughing.

“I know right, hang on I’ll put it on speaker.” She said laughing back.

“Hello.” She said.

“Where ya at babe?” Niall asked her.

“Oh you know hanging out with the love of my life.” She said causing him to chuckle.

“Well will you tell her to return home so I can see you?” he said.

“Yes sir, we are on our way back now. How was dinner with Anne?” she asked him.

“Uh. Awkward. I think she hates you both.” He said reeling me into this conversation more.

“What? Why?” Jayci asked him and then looking at me with a confused face.

“uh, it’s a long story. I’ll tell you about it when you get home. PS, I packed for you.” Niall informed her causing her to light up.

“BABY, YOU DID?!” she asked excitingly.

“yeah, I was tired of looking at all this stuff on the floor so I threw everything I thought you looked hot into a bag.” He told her causing her to laugh.

“Thanks, we will see ya in about 10 minutes!” She informed him and hung up. We pulled into the drive way and got out of the car and walked up to the front door to see Harry sitting on the steps.

“Sup Harold?” Jayci asked him.

“Just glad you both are alive. I called you.” He looked to me and said.

“My phone died. Sorry.” I told him confused at the frustration he had. “Plus Niall just talked to Jayci. If you were so concerned you could have called her.” I informed him.

“Alright, well then…I’m going to let you two hash this out while I go inside and see my boyfriend. Good luck Ash. Good night Styles.” She said to us as Harry just stared at me with disappointment.

“Night Jay.” I told her as she walked in.

“Where have you been?” he asked me the same way my Dad used to ask me.

“I went to dinner with my best friend and we went shopping..” I told him. “Is that ok?”

“I have a question. “ Oh God here it comes. “What did you do to My Mum today?” he asked me. WHAT?! WHAT DID I DO?!

“Ha.” Was all I said as I walked into the house leaving him behind me outside. I walked upstairs to our room and kicked off my shoes and took my pants off and began to change.

“Ashlynn, tell me. What did you do to her?” he kept at it.

“Why don’t you rephrase that question then I will talk to you. “ I told him as I slipped into my flannel bottoms and took my shirt off to search for my sweater.

“What do you mean rephrase it? She loved you. “ He informed me as if I wasn’t aware.

“You’re telling me. But quick question…have you even asked her what happened or did you just come straight to the root of the problem, the problem being me?” I asked him as I stood in front of him.

“Well…no but-“ I cut him off.

'‘That’s what I thought. Give me some credit Harry. “ I snapped and laughed.

“Can you at least tell me what happened? Please. “ he was calmer now.

This therapy thing was starting to work for both of us. Sometimes we just needed to take a step back and breathe before getting into it. We normally didn’t fight a lot but since the last incident we have been fighting a lot more. He always wants me to hold it against him because he still feels guilty about it when I have forgiven him and want to move on and I just don’t take all the crap he gives me like I used to. But we’re getting better. I sat on the bed across from him in my pajama pants and bra cause I couldn’t find my sweater and looked at him and kissed him harder than normal. Then he stopped me.

“Whoa, what was that for?” he asked looking at me concerned.

“You know I love you right?” I asked him.

“Of course I do. Why would you ask that?” he wondered. Oh well only because your Mother thinks I’m a gold digging slut.

“and you know how appreciative I am for everything that you do for me, right?” I asked him.

“Yeah I know, you tell me everyday. What…where is this going on?” he asked me grabbing my hand.

“I would never use you in any way, I don’t need any of this. I don’t need this beautiful home or my beautiful jeep you got me...I just love you and need you, you know that right?” I asked him again.

“ Yes Ashlynn. I know that, that’s why I am so in love with you. None of the rest matters.” He told me as he kissed me hardly this time.

“Ok good.” I said as I got up and walked toward the restroom.

“Wait, so what happened with My mum today?” He asked me.

“Harry, you need to talk to her about it. I don’t want to start something. Just when you talk to her remember the conversation we just had. “ I told him in the mirror as I grabbed my toothbrush and toothpaste.

He stood there and stared at the ground processing it all before he connected the dots.

“WAIT…did she….” He looked up at me.

“You need to talk to her.” I said once again.

“Did she accuse you of using me? WHAT ELSE DID SHE SAY?” he went off. Great now I have to tell him.

“She basically said that I was getting more out of it all then you were and that you could do better. Then she went on to tell me that I was using you for your money and friends and my job. Then I politely told her she was very wrong and I got out of the car and called Jayci to meet me. That was it. I think.” I told him. He was getting red, this is why I didn’t want to tell him.

“Are you serious?” He asked me.

“You know I love your Mom and I know she wants the best for you but I wouldn’t lie to you…I didn’t even want to tell you because I didn’t want y’all to fight about it. You are both too close. “ I informed him now tearing up.

“But she had no right Ash…she knows how I feel about you. She can’t just say things like that. Especially to you, she knows you’re in a vulnerable place right now. God I’m so sorry.” He said to me as he pulled me into his chest. It was comforting to know Harry believed me and that he trusted me with all of it, I just didn’t want this to be something that came between Anne and him. He is her world, I can’t take that away from her.

“I’ll talk to her about it tomorrow? You can go with me if you want to.” He said.

“Ha, PASS. She hates me. I don’t even know what I did.” I told him as I walked back to our room.

“ Have you seen my sweater?” I asked him.

“What is up with you losing everything lately? And No I haven’t just don’t sleep in it. You look sexy in my pants and your bra like that anyway.” He told me causing me to blush.

“okay…” I said shyly.

“ Did that just make you shy?! Baby you’re perfect! “ he told me as he crawled into bed with me and wrapped his arms around me.

“I love that even after all this time you can still make me blush.” I confessed.

“God I love you.” Harry said causing my cheeks to flush again.

Then we drifted off to sleep.

Notes