Overworked

Harry’s P.O.V
The twins cried a few times so I had to check on them but I woke up properly at 7am. Adam and Brooke were sitting eating breakfast at the breakfast bar when I got upstairs. “Did your mum get you up?” I said.
“No, she’s not here. We got ourselves up. Lis is still asleep. Auntie Eleanor said she’d take us and Lis to school today because she knows how tired mum is.” Brooke told me. I nodded and got Lis up. I sorted her out and then Eleanor came round.
“Where’s Maddie?” She asked.
“I don’t know. She left at like midnight last night and hasn’t come back since.” I replied.
“Why?” The kids went and got into her car.
“She’s pissed with me. I called her a bitch because she’s being so selfish and she slapped me and drove off.” I explained.
“Oh right, well she called me asking to take the kids to school and I texted Brooke saying that Maddie was tired so I’d take them in.”
“Okay, well thanks, see you soon.” I said and she got into her car. I went back inside and started to clear up after the children. Why do they make such a mess? When I had finished I went up to the gym again and started working out. I heard the front door slam and then Maddie came into the gym. “Save it,” I said before she could speak.
“I’m sorry alright, you called me a bitch, what did you expect me to do?”
“Maddie, go to work. I’m not doing this now.”
“It’s my day off.” She argued so I stopped working out.
“You woke Melissa up last night by speeding off and Brooke and Adam know something is up because you weren’t here last night.” I told her.
“I didn’t mean to. I was too tired to drive back so I went to my office and stayed there last night. I’m sorry babe.”
“Don’t babe me. You’re being so selfish at the moment. Your mum practically begged me to talk to you about this. The kids miss their mum. The first thing Lis said to me when I picked her up yesterday was: “Where’s Mummy?” You were the one that wanted five kids so grow up and start acting like a mum. Your children need you. I get that you run your own business but do you understand how hard it is for me to keep telling the kids that everything will be better soon when I don’t even know that? I miss my wife, the woman I married 11 years ago. Where’s she gone? You are not the woman I married. Maddie was kind and caring and put everyone before herself. She was an amazing mum to Brooklyn and girlfriend to me but you aren’t. You’re neglecting your family Maddie.” I said and went into the bathroom. I could hear her crying but perhaps that’s the best thing for her right now. I went into the bedroom and Maddie was sitting on the bed with her head in her hands.
“I’m sorry. I really am. Sometimes this all just gets on top of me. I’ll make more time for you and the children, I promise. I love you Harry.” She looked at me.
“I love you too. Now get some sleep baby.” I kissed her head and went into the nursery. I played with the twins for a few hours and then put the washing on so Maddie doesn’t have to later. I loaded the dishwasher and Brooke and Adam ran in.
“Is mum back?” Adam asked and Maddie came downstairs.
“Yeah I’m back.” She laughed and Adam hugged her. She hugged Brooke as well. “Should I go and get Lis?” She asked me.
“Liam is gonna bring her back.” I said and there was a knock on the door. Maddie went to answer it and I heard Lis shout Mummy. Liam came into the kitchen.
“You got your wife back then?” He questioned.
“Yeah,” I smiled.
“Well I’m glad; she’s not a nice person when she’s her alter ego. We should name that person.” Liam suggested and I laughed.
“Moany Maddie,” I joked.
“Why are my ears burning?” Maddie walked into the kitchen.
“We were talking about your alter ego, Moany Maddie.” I told her.
“I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.” She said.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m gonna go home. See you later.” Liam hugged her goodbye.
“So…” Maddie started when he left.
“All we said was that we prefer Maddie.” I kissed her. She seemed happy enough with that answer, which was the truth.
“Okay, I was thinking I could take the kids to the cinema tonight. What do you think?”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea. I’ll stay here with the twins.”
“Alright, well I’ll take Brooke and Adam but it’s too late for Lis, it’s a school night.”
“Spend some time with Lis before you go or she’ll think you’re neglecting her.”
“I’m going to.” Maddie replied and went back to Lis. I started to make dinner while listening to Maddie and Lis talk.
“I’ve missed you Mummy,” Melissa told her and I immediately smiled. My girls.
“I’ve missed you too princess. I’m sorry that I haven’t been around lately.” Maddie answered. I smiled to myself again and finished making dinner. Maddie went to feed the twins while we ate and I wondered when the last time she ate was. She skipped dinner yesterday too. We finished and Maddie came back down with her jacket and bag in hand.
“See you later guys, say bye to Mummy, Lis.” I kissed Maddie. Melissa hugged her goodbye and then went to bed. “I like your top.” I laughed at Maddie’s top which read ‘IT’S NOT JUST A BAND TO ME’.
“Why thank you, but it’s not just a band.” She said and kissed me again. They left and I sat down on the couch and started watching TV. A phone started buzzing but it wasn’t mine. I looked around and saw Maddie’s phone sitting on the table. I picked it up and looked at it. She had three messages and two missed calls. I turned it off and put it back down. She’d hate it if I went through her phone. I watched TV for a couple of hours and then Maddie, Brooklyn and Adam got home. “Have you seen my phone? I left it here.” Maddie said and Brooke and Adam went upstairs.
“On the table,” I told her. She walked over to it.
“Have you been on my phone?” She asked.
“No, it was going off so I turned it off but I didn’t look at it.” I told her.
“Alright,” she came and sat down next to me resting her head on my shoulder.
“Good time at the cinema?”
“Yeah, the film was good.”
“Okay, the twins are asleep so I’m gonna go to bed, alright?” She nodded still looking at her phone. I went upstairs and got into bed. I kept tossing and turning and just as I got comfortable my phone went off. I unlocked it and looked at my Twitter notification.
“@Ashton5SOS: Just found this picture, my epic brother and sister in law and adorable niece. @Harry_Styles @MAStyles” I looked at the picture attached to it and it was a picture of Maddie and I with Melissa when she was a baby.
“@Harry_Styles: Awh, so cute, cheers mate @Ashton5SOS” I replied and then saw a reply from Maddie.
“@MAStyles: My new wallpaper right there, thank youu @Ashton5SOS” I smiled and went onto my feed.
“@MAStyles: It just occurred to me that you haven’t seen A+F lately, they’re growing fast.” There was a picture of Amelia and Freya underneath. Then there was a retweet from Maddie of an edited picture of me and her. ‘Stick together through everything, 13 years.’ The writing said and I realised that it’s Maddie and I’s 13th year together this year. Maddie came upstairs and got ready for bed.
“That picture Ashton had was so cute.” She said.
“Yeah it was, I wish we had one like that with Amelia and Freya,” She hummed in agreement and got into bed next to me when the girls started crying.
“Really?” She said getting out of bed again. She went into the nursery and I went back on Twitter.
“@Brooklyn_Faye_Styles: Can’t wait to see my mum perform in a few weeks!<3” I smiled and then replied.
“@Harry_Styles: Go to bed missy, its 10 o’clock.x” I scrolled down.
“@Directioner4Lyfe: I can’t believe Harry and Maddie let Brooklyn have Twitter, she’s 12.”
“@Harry_Styles: Brooklyn is smart enough to look after herself on the internet so that’s why we allow it. It also gives her a chance to interact with our fans which she loves doing.”
Maddie came back in and got into bed again. “Asleep, goodnight baby,”
“Some girl just criticised us for letting Brooke have Twitter.”
“Who cares? I don’t.” She replied and shut her eyes. I saw another tweet from Brooklyn.
“@Brooklyn_Faye_Styles: Love my parents so much, don’t even think about criticising them,” I sighed and replied again.
“@Harry_Styles: Sleep now before I come and take your phone away. We don’t need you to stick up for us but we love you too x”
Maddie was breathing heavily now and her chest was going up and down. Just seeing her like this makes me proud to be her husband.

Notes