ALWAYS

I picked Darcy up from her seat after pulling up to the house Louis directed me to over the phone. I set Darcy on the side walk before grabbing her teddy bear and bag. I shut the car door and handed Darcy her teddy bear.
"Hold my hand, baby." I murmured to her.
"Mommy, this isn't Uncle Louis' house." Darcy said taking my hand nervously.
I sighed, "I know but this is where he is right now." I didn't like where we were. I knew that Harry was a good man and Darcy adored him but it really did scare me to have them around each other. I didn't want Harry to get obsessive or too intense with her around. I still loved him with every fiber of my being but Darcy was more important. She was my everything now.
"Are you going to stay, Mommy?" Darcy asked as I knocked on the door.
I nodded, "For a few minutes. But I have to go do some work, remember? That's why we're playing with Louis and Niall today." Darcy nodded sadly. She loved Louis and Niall but she hated not being with me. She would cry and scream and throw massive fits when I tried to walk out the door. It made my life stressful but I also kind of liked it, in a sick and twisted way. The thought of someone loving me and needing me so much made me feel connected to the world.
Niall answered the door with a smile, "Hiya, girls!"
"Hi Ni." I smiled brightly at him.
"Hi Niall." Darcy muttered softly. I looked down at her. She was staring at her feet, clutching her teddy bear tightly, her face hidden by her massive curls.
"What's wrong, nibblet?" Niall asked kneeling in front of her. She shook her head slowly. Niall looked up at me curiously.
"She doesn't like it when I have to go to work." I murmured. Niall nodded and let us into the house. He picked Darcy up only to have her whine. He set her down quickly. Darcy took my hand as we walked into the living room. I sat down on the sofa next to Sophia and Brynn. "Did you all sleep here last night?" I asked with a chuckle.
Brynn giggled, "Yes, we didn't want to take the risk of driving home."
"I bet he was thrilled." I chuckled, referring to Harry.
Liam shrugged, "He was annoyed. I think he just wanted to be alone." I just nodded and stroked Darcy's hair. She was fixing her teddy bears bow tie. "Hello there Darcy." Liam smiled brightly at her.
She lifted her eyes and smiled meekly, "Hello."
"How are you today?" Liam asked her softly.
She shrugged, "Well. Thank you. How are you?"
"Better now that you're going to be playing here, with us, today." Liam said trying to cheer her up. Her smile brightened a little more.
"Is she alright?" Sophia asked worried. "She was so energetic and vibrant last night." Sophia pushed a lock of Darcy's curls behind her ear.
I nodded, "She'll be okay. It was a late night for her and she doesn't like it when I have to go." I was silently praying that Darcy didn't lose her shit when it came time for me to go.
"Darcy, did you have fun last night?" Sophia asked gently, trying not to upset my already saddened child. Darcy nodded with a real smile. "What was your favorite part?" Sophia beamed.
"I liked..." Darcy thought for a long moment. "Hangin' out with Harry. He's nice. I like him." Sophia gave me a look that I couldn't ignore. Her eyes were sad but happy as well as a bit fearful. I looked over to Brynn to see she was wearing the same expression. "Mommy, can we go see Harry soon?" Darcy asked me brightly. I laughed quietly while Liam and Niall erupted in laughter. She didn't know that we were in Harry's home.
Just then he entered the room, "Can you guys please just..." He stopped talking and his jaw hung open when he saw Darcy and I sitting between Brynn and Sophia. Darcy jumped off my lap and ran to him, shouting his name. He picked her up in one smooth, easy motion. She kissed his cheek gently. He smiled genuinely.
"I'm happy to see you." Darcy beamed at Harry with delighted eyes.
Harry lifted his eyebrow at her, "Really? I never would've guessed that." I giggled when Darcy stuck her tongue out at him. Harry chuckled and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Why are you here this lovely morning?" Harry asked her quietly.
Darcy frowned, "Mommy has to do work. I'm playing with Louis and Niall."
Harry frowned as well, "Why are you so sad? You love Louis."
"I don't like it when Mommy goes." Darcy replied softly, tears filling her eyes.
Harry wore an understanding expression, "Ah, well, Mummy always comes back, doesn't she?" Darcy nodded. "Then there is no need to worry. You will see Mummy later, right?" Harry asked her. Darcy nodded but she still didn't look to happy. She wrapped her arms around Harry's neck and laid her head on his shoulder. His eyes met mine, "Enola."
"Harry." I replied with a weak smile. My heart was filling up seeing my daughter be so gentle and vulnerable with someone that wasn't me. She never spoke to Louis or Niall that way. She never even snuggled with my mother. But she wanted Harry, she wanted Harry to hold her, to comfort her. I quickly cleared my throat and stood from the sofa. I turned to Niall with tears in my eyes, "I'll get her car-seat for you, so you can bring her back to your house."
Niall stood, "I'll help you." I accepted the help as he walked toward me. I knew that he wasn't really going to help me with the car-seat. He just wanted to comfort me after seeing the tears filling my eyes. We walked out of the house quietly. Neither Niall or I said a word.

As I pulled the car-seat out of my Rover, Niall put his hand at the small of my back. I gazed up at him with tears running down my face and a quivering bottom lip.
"It will be alright, E. It will be good for the both of them. Harry needs some happiness and Darcy needs to be shown love from someone other than you. Be happy that she's so attached to someone that isn't you." Niall said trying to comfort me. I wiped my face and tried to stop crying. Niall wrapped me in a hug when I couldn't get my emotions in check.
"This could end so badly, Ni. I don't want her to get hurt." I murmured to him.
Niall held me tighter and kissed the side of my head, "He wouldn't do that to her. He loves you too much and he will love her too." I held onto Niall as I buried my face in his neck.

Notes