He always thought performing on stage would be the most nerve-wracking thing he’d accomplish in his life. He never thought asking for your hand in marriage would be up there with that. You’d been blessed with dating Harry for nearly 5 years, meeting him in a busy coffee shop one cold and rainy London morning. Your father had always had a soft spot for Harry, so he knew he had nothing to worry about, but he just couldn't help thinking that maybe your father didn’t want you marrying someone in the limelight. He might not want his daughter plastered on every front page of the daily newspaper he took to reading every morning with his breakfast.
Your father knew that though. He knew that a consequence of being with Harry was having your face plastered around so everyone knew who you were. Both your mother and your father understood in that aspect, and they knew that he loved what he does. They knew that you loved Harry, and who he was behind the fame and the spotlight. They adored him. And he kept trying to tell himself that there was nothing to worry about. Your parents had loved him from the moment he met them nearly 5 years back.
* *
“Harry, my parents wanted to invite us for Sunday lunch today. It’s a chance for you to get to meet them! What do you say? Can we go?” You begged, as you turned to see him walking from the kitchen. His hands nursing a mug of warm peppermint tea. His body was clad in a white t-shirt and blue running shorts, and his feet were bare. His hair was messed slightly, and still partly damp from his morning shower. His eyes were still full of sleep as he trundled towards the sofa, plopping down gently into the cushion beside you. He kicked his feet up, and sat them in your lap, his heels resting where your thighs rested next to one another.
“Do you want me to meet your parents? I mean, I’ve taken you to meet mine. It’s only right to meet yours, yeah?” He grinned, as he rested the mug on his lips, taking a small sip from the warm liquid. He watched as you tapped away at your phone, a huge grin on your lips as you replied to your mother’s text. “What time though? Because, I feel this isn’t good for a Sunday lunch outfit…” He chuckled, as you pressed a hand to his belly. Your fingers dragging soft patterns into the material.
“You could go in anything, and they’d still love you, H. I’ve not even taken you to meet them, and they’re already saying how much they adore you” You giggled, as you rested your forehead against his bent knee. “It’s just the local pub by them. We used to go for a family tradition nearly every Sunday. Me, my mum and my dad, and my aunts and uncles. It was fun. But, that kind of stopped” You sighed, as you looked to Harry. A devilish grin on his lips. “What are you thinking about, mister?”
“Oh, nothing. Nothing. Just, imagine a family tradition we could have. Like, we could go to a carvery close to home and meet with your parents and my mum and Robin, and we could get together, and after we’d eaten, we could take walks in the park and play in the play areas” He smiled, as you ran a hand up his calf. His muscles tense and hard.
“You think about that?” You wondered, as he gave you a swift nod. “You’re so adorable, you know that? We’ve together for 7 months and you already think of a future with me?” You smiled softly; as you watched his cheeks tinge a pink colour. He knew it was early, but he knew. And he could feel it. You were definitely the one he wanted all of that with. You were the one he wanted to marry, and the one he wanted to have children with. And he knew you were the one who would watch him grow old, and stay by his side through anything coming your way. He knew it.
“Sometimes I do. When I feel I’m missing you on tour, and you’re asleep back here. I don’t know… It just comes to mind. It’s not something massive I think about all the time” He chuckled, as he leant over to the coffee table of his living room and placed his mug on the coaster. “But anyway… Shouldn’t you be going to get ready? Make yourself look all pretty. We’ve got to dress formally if I’m meeting your parents, right?” He winked, as you slapped his bare thigh softly.
“I hate you…” You muttered playfully, pushing his feet off of your lap and trudging up the stairs to his bedroom. 7 months was initially a long time when you think about it. 7 months that had flown by with Harry. All you needed was your parents approval, and things would only get better.
* *
The gravel was crunching underneath his boots, as you made your way to the front entrance of the pub your parents were sat in. His hand was moist as he held onto you tightly, his eyes cast downwards. You knew that look. It’s the look he had on his face before he would go on stage. He was nervous.
“Hey… You have nothing to be scared about, okay? I’ve told them so much about you. They really want to meet you, H. I promise you, they won’t hate you” You grinned, as you leant up on your toes to press a kiss to his cheek. You adjusted the fedora on his head, and pulled at the lapels of his chequered shirt to make it snuggly fit his chest. “You look wonderful. You do” You smiled, as you approached the wooden door to the pub. The smell of beer and carvery dinners already filling your nose.
“Okay… I’m nervous. Baby, I really am. Can’t we do this another day? I feel like I’m going to be sick. I’m not joking you” He whispered, as you watched his face drop. His cheeks paling but his nose reddening up. “I’m not ready. I don’t have anything to give to them as a little gift. Like, I should have brought your mother flowers or someth-“ You cut him off with a kiss. His rambling was cute, but he was panicking himself. And it was worrying you. The more he spoke, the more nervous he got. And a nervous Harry wasn’t good.
“You are going to be fine, Harry. Please, stop worrying. You’ll give yourself a panic attack, and I haven’t a clue what to do in a panic attack, so I’d leave you here to die. And that isn’t a good idea” You teased, as he nudged you with his elbow. You looked up to him, a hand on the brass door handle and another placed on his hip. “Ready?”
He gulped softly, and nodded. Following you, hot on your tail, as you walked into the pub. The constant chatter and the smells of beer and food made you feel right at home. Old family friends were sat around the bar, the football game on the TV with cheers and groans coming from other customers.
“(Y/N)! We’re over here. Sweetie, we’re here” You heard your mother call, a big smile on her lips as she shuffled from her seat in the booth and jogged over to you both. Her arms open wide, before she engulfed you in a hug. “Oh, sweetie. We’ve missed you.” She sighed, as she pressed a kiss to your forehead. Her warm hands were cupping your cheeks, as she peppered your face with kisses. Her eyes cast up to Harry, who was watching the both of you. A smile on his lips. “And you must be Harry! My goodness, you are much, much taller than (Y/N) described” She laughed, as she hugged him tightly. Her head coming just below his chin, and her arms wrapping snuggly around his hips. “Oh, and he’s a good hugger. And he smells very nice. I like this one, sweetie” Your mother winked, as she felt Harry chuckle. His chest rumbling.
“Thank you very much, Mrs (Y/L/N)… It’s a pleasure to meet you. I would have brought flowers but it was such late notice and (Y/N) was really excited to get here and see you” Harry smiled, as he followed your mother to the table, where you were already sat with your father conversing about the latest gossip from the family. “Hello, Mr (Y/L/N). It’s a pleasure to meet you, too. Thank you both for inviting me” Harry smiled, as he shook your fathers hand tightly. A nervous smile on his lips.
“Quit it with the last names, Harry. You’re dating our daughter, so you can call us by our first names, okay?” Your father smiled, as he watched Harry settle into the booth opposite him. “It’s (Y/M/N) and (Y/F/N) to you, okay? You understand me, Harry?” Your father smiled, as he looked to you sat beside him. Your hand tucked tightly into Harry’s hold.
“I understand, Si- (Y/F/N)” Harry grinned, as he looked to you. A bold and brash smile on his pink lips.
* *
His knuckles knocked against the front door, his legs wobbling and his hands shaking as he looked to his feet. He had never felt so nervous. He knew performing on stage was nerve-wracking. But, asking for your hand in marriage was the most nervous thing he’d done, unrelated to the band and the spotlight. He could hear the soft footsteps and shuffles coming from behind the door, before the door click open, and your mother pulled it open.
“Oh, hello Harry. Are you here on your own? What’s happened?” Your mother wondered, as she looked around him to see if you were stood behind him or in the car. But to no avail. “Where’s (Y/N)?” She asked; worry filling her voice as she let Harry into the home. The smell of tea and cake filling his nose.
“Oh, I’m here alone. I need to talk to you both about something. Something I’ve been thinking about for a while… And, I need to ask you right away” Harry trembled, as the sound of the front door closing fill the house. “I uhm… Is (Y/F/N) around? It’s sort of him I need to ask” Harry wondered, as your mother patted his shoulder.
“He’s in the living room, my love. Are you okay, Harry? You’re shaking. What’s wrong?” Your mother wondered, as Harry smiled at her. Placing an arm over her shoulder, and giving her a soft hug. “Oh, okay. Just some hugs. That’s okay” Your mother smiled, as she wrapped her arm around his waist. “Go and sit down in the living room, and I’ll bring you some tea and a cake in. I think your favourite is the chocolate chip muffin, yes?” She smiled, as Harry looked down at her.
“You remembered!” He grinned, as he kissed her cheek. “That would be lovely, thank you so much” He smiled, as he toed off his boots. Letting them fall to the ground before he walked into the living room. “Hi, (Y/F/N). Everything okay? The garden looks fabulous, if I can just say that. Are they the flowers we got you for your anniversary?” Harry wondered, as he took a seat on the sofa. His head turning to your father sitting in the arm chair.
He’d always had a connection with your father. And it’s only ever when you’re popping over for tea and cakes that you catch them in the garden together, dressed in wellie boots and coats, planting flowers and seeds in the soil. It made you smile, at the fact that your father accepted Harry right away. It was unlikely for that to happen, and for Harry, it felt like he was on top of the world.
“I believe so. They’ve come out well, haven’t they? They go well with the rest of the flowers. (Y/M/N) is very pleased with it” Your father chuckled, as he patted Harry’s knee softly. “How are you? Where’s my daughter? Is she not here with you?” He wondered, as Harry shook his head. Your fathers face dropping slightly. “What’s happened? You guys didn’t break up, right? Because, I’d have to ask you to get back with her. You’ve made her extremely happy, Harry Styles” Your father said sternly, as Harry’s eyes widened.
“No. No! God, no. We’re still together. She did want to come, but she’s ill. She’s got the flu, and she’s having a sleep. I’ve got my sister looking after her. I just, I really needed to come over and ask you something important. And I was hoping that it would be a right time to come now…” Harry wondered, as he heard the clink of the spoon coming from the kitchen. He twisted at the rings on his fingers; the metal was cool underneath his fingertips, his skin flushed and warm from nerves. “It’s just, it’s a really important question and I needed to get the answer. To calm me down a little” Harry reasoned, as your father leant forward. His elbows resting on his knees.
“What’s this question then?” He smiled, as Harry ran a hand through his locks. His fingers weak and his hands shaking. “C’mon, son. What’s bothering you?” He saw, from the corner of his eye, your mother walk in with a tray in her hand, with three teas and some cakes on a plate. He gulped softly, and looked between your mother and your fathers.
“I wanted to know, if I could have your blessing to marry your daughter? I felt like I should ask before I went in and popped the question… Because, if you weren’t happy with it, it would make me feel worse” Harry whispered, as he heard a gasp from your mother. And a chuckle from your father.
“Harry! That’s incredible. Oh my goodness. How long have you been thinking about this?” Your mother asked, as Harry turned to her. A soft smile on his lips, with a relieved sigh leaving his throat. “Oh my goodness gracious… (Y/F/N), they’re going to get married! That’s so amazing” She squealed, as she took Harry into her arms.
“Harry, you have always had our blessing, son. You’ve been the only one we’ve loved having around. You haven’t treated (Y/N) like some toy, and you’ve proved to us over the 5 years that you truly love her. And we couldn’t ask for anything better. You have always had our blessing, so yes. You can marry her. Just, treat her right. Okay? You treat her like she’s your entire world, because she’s my daughter. My little girl” Your father said, as he stood up, holding his hand out for Harry, to which Harry took in his own grip. He stood up with your father and shook his hand, before he was pulled into a hug. A pat on his back making him feel welcomed.
“Thank you, so much. You know I’d put her first. Always. She’s going to be my first priority, for as long as possible. Thank you so much. You haven’t a clue how relieved I am right now. It’s been eating away at me, and I needed to get an answer as soon as possible” Harry chuckled, as he pulled away from your father, a permanent grin on his lips.
Your mother pulled him into a hug right away, her hands resting on his back as she rubbed them around in soft circles. “Have you got the ring? Oh, this is so exciting. My little girl is going to get married” Your mother squealed, as she cupped Harry’s cheeks in her hands. “Thank you so much. Thank you for just making her happy and bringing her out of her shell. She’s been the happiest these 5 years, and we adore you for that. Harry, we love you lots” She whispered, as Harry smiled. He could feel the tears from your mother soak into his t-shirt, and his heart went weak.
“Oh, (Y/M/N)… Don’t cry! Oh my god, it’s okay” Harry whispered, as he ran a hand over her back. “I don’t have the ring yet, but I was going to go with Gemma and Niall this weekend. I’ve got Sophia and Liam keeping her company whilst I go out, so hopefully, she doesn’t suspect anything” Harry grinned, as he took a seat back down beside your mother. His hands reaching for his mug.
Getting permission.
Check.

Notes