Follow Your Heart

Nichole and Dylan came in the back door to find Mike and Harry, who was wearing a pink gingham apron, helping Carolyn with the baking for Thanksgiving, and Hannah in her scrubs, drinking her coffee and getting ready to leave for work.

“Hiya beautiful. Catch the cows?”

Nichole just burst out laughing at the absurd scene in front of her.

Harry turned to Nichole and said, “Hey...I told you I used to be a baker. I got this.”

“You used to be a cashier and did the cleaning up, Harold,” she teased as she took a pinch of cookie dough out of his bowl and popped it in her mouth. He swatted her hand away and said,

“You smell like cows…go take a shower.”

“What fucked up parallel universe am I in right now?”

“Nicky Marie…language.” Carolyn scolded.“Both of you go clean up, and quit dirtying up my kitchen.”

~*~*~*~

“Oh my god, Dipstick. What are you doing? That’s not going to work. Move it this way!”

“It will be fine…there’s plenty of room if we turn it like this.”

Harry stood in the door watching Nichole and Dylan expanding the dinner table and trying to turn it to fit everyone around it. He couldn’t help but laugh at the two of them bickering like they were twelve year olds. The house was bursting at the seams with their cousins, aunts, uncles, and family friends. And Harry was loving every minute of it.

“They’ve been like this their entire lives, I swear.” Hannah said as she walked up next to him. Fight like cats and dogs, over the stupidest shit.”

“I have a sister, I know. Though, they take it to another level sometimes. Do they ever agree on anything?”

“They do, from time to time.” She smiled, “I’ve known them pretty much all my life, underneath all the bickering and name calling, they love each other and will always have each other’s backs. So, don’t let this put you off either of them.” Then she turned to Nichole and said,
“Hey Nicky, Momma needs us to go help Nanna. She’s got some more sides out in the truck and needs help bringing it in.”

“Oh good lord. Fine,” she sighed. She turned to Harry and asked “Baby, can you help him?” He leaned down and kissed her, rubbing her shoulder softly,

“Yeah, yeah…we got this, beautiful. Go help your Nan.”She touched his face and softly said,

“Thank you.” Then she turned to Dylan and said, “You play nice…or I swear to god, Dylan Michael…”

“Oh Jesus Christ, what do you think I’m gonna do, Nick?”

Harry laughed and swatted her bum, “Go miss...we will be fine.”

“Harold, so help me…” He just looked at her, waiting for her to finish. She just groaned and followed Hannah out of the room.

After they managed to get the table positioned in a way not to crowd everyone, Mike came in with some more chairs to set around the table.

“So your name is Harold?” Dylan asked. Mike and Harry both started laughing. “What’s so funny? Nick called you Harold, so I thought…”

“No, it’s just Harry. She calls me Harold when I’m being a pain in her arse. Or at least when she thinks I am anyway.”

“To be fair, H…you usually are a pain in her arse.” Mike chuckled. Harry just shrugged his shoulders and grinned.

They stood there, admiring their work, as the others where in the kitchen, putting finishing touches on things before dinner. Harry turned to go see if there was anything he could do to help when Dylan stopped him.

“Hey, Harry…can I talk to you, privately?” Harry glanced over at Mike and he smiled and nodded. It was time for that heart to heart that Harry had been expecting since they’d arrived.

“Sure, mate. Lead the way.” And Harry followed him outside.

They stopped near the fence and while Harry waited for Dylan to speak, he just took in the scenery. It still was breathtaking, even without all the bluebonnets in bloom.He couldn’t help thinking about what it was like for Nichole to have grown up here. It had to be one of the most amazing experiences for her and her brother.

“Harry, I love my sister…a lot. I know you get that,” Dylan said quietly, looking out over the fields as well.

“I know.”

“My selfishness wants her to stay here, in Texas, on this ranch….”

“But that’s not what she wants,” Harry interrupted.

“I know. She’s not had much luck when it comes to the men in her life. It wasn’t long before you came along that she told me the only men she could rely on were Daddy and me. And then you came crashing in to her life and she’s off on the other side of the ocean.It’s hard for me. I want to look out for her.”

“She knows that.”

“I guess, what I am trying to say is…look, we got off on the wrong foot and I am sorry about that. All I wanted to do was protect her and with her being so far away, I blamed you for it. I’m really sorry.”

“It’s ok, if it was Gemma, I can’t say I would’ve reacted any differently. We’re good, man.”

“I see how much you care for her.” He continued, “She’s not been this happy in a very long time, and that’s because of you. Just please take care of her. She likes to come off as this strong woman, and she really is, one of the strongest, but sometimes, she just needs to be taken care of. She doesn’t trust easy and for her to trust you like she does, that has to say something about you.” Harry couldn’t help but smile.

“Yeah, it’s not been easy for me either, but with her, it just works. Even when we fight, it works. She’s got a wicked temper. Did she tell you about getting lost in Ireland because she was mad at me and left the hotel not paying attention to where she was?”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” he laughed, “Man, I hate to say it, but that temper is a family trait so get used to it.”

“I’ve never been more terrified in my life when she didn’t come back right away. When she finally called saying she was lost and to please come find her, I don’t think I’ve ever felt more relieved.”

“Do you love her?” Dylan finally asked. Harry turned back to the fields around them and thought for a moment. They’d told each other how they felt and Harry could picture their future together. It was still far away, but he could see a wedding, kids, dogs…all of it. And it scared him, but it felt so right at the same time. He only hoped she was thinking about the same things. Harry looked over at Dylan, who was waiting patiently for an answer.

“I know it seems like it’s going so fast, mate. It feels like I’ve only met her, but also like I’ve known her forever. So, yeah I do. I love her.”

“Then take care of her. And makes sure she knows it, every day. Because, so help me, if you hurt her in any way….”

“I know.” Harry grinned at him.

~*~*~*~

The day was insane, as expected. So much food and wall to wall people. Nichole loved every minute of it, not knowing when she’d be home next, and having Harry around her family was more than she could’ve hoped for. He was gracious and kind to her younger cousins and Hannah’s little sister, gifting them with the One Direction merch and autographed posters and CDs he insisted on bringing for them once Nichole told him about the fans in her family.
Harry even took the teasing in stride while watching football and it came out that Green Bay was his team and he was in the middle of a Cowboys family, giving it back as good as he got.

~*~*~*~

“Nicky Marie…than man of yours. He’s a keeper, I swear to god.” Nichole turned to find her cousin, Misty coming outside where she was talking with some of her other cousins.Nichole couldn’t help but smile as she sipped her wine and ask,

“What’s he done now?”

“Do you hear that?”

“What?”

“Silence…Ethan is not screaming, and Ayden is fast asleep in Aunt Carolyn’s sewing room. And I am going to have a glass of wine.”

“And Harry is somehow responsible for your drinking problem?” They all laughed as Misty poured her wine and she said,

“No…that’s all on my husband, but between Ethan being fussy, and Ayden being into everything, I haven’t had a moment’s peace…and your man…offers to take Ethan for me so I can get Ayden to lie down. Haven’t heard a peep from Ethan in fifteen minutes. Whatever he’s done…I love him for it. If I wasn’t already married, I’d be on that like white on rice, so help me. Girl, you got yourself a good one, don’t let him go.”

~*~*~*~

Nichole found Harry sitting in the back den, away from the noise, rocking Ethan to sleep. She stood in the doorway, smiling, feeling her heart clench in her chest and her stomach flipping seeing him like that. He was cooing softly as he rocked her baby cousin to sleep. Her mind went down a road she never thought she’d go, with anyone. Suddenly she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to see him holding his own child, their child. She caught her breath and Harry looked up at her, smiling.

“Did you make a new friend?” She asked quietly, stepping into the room.

“Yeah, Ethan and I are getting to know each other. Misty was having a rough time with the two little ones, so I took this young man off her hands so she could settle his big sister.”

“Otherwise known as ‘demon spawn.’”

“Let’s just call her energetic.” He winked as he stood up to put the now sleeping baby in his pack and play.

Nichole put her finger though his belt loop and pulled him to her, standing up on her tip toes and placing a kiss on his lips. Their arms wrapped around each other and he asked,

“What was that for?”

Nichole just giggled softly into his chest, “Because I love you.”

Smiling, he turned her face up so he could look into her eyes and he whispered, “I love you too, my beautiful girl.” Then he pulled her into one of his mind-blowing hugs.

Nichole felt her heart skip and the smile she couldn’t hide if she wanted to creep over her face. She was sure she would never get used his compliments.

~*~*~*~

It was well past dark when everyone started to leave. While most of the cleaning up had been done, there was still a bit to do and Carolyn wasn’t going to leave it for the next day no matter how much the rest of the family whined that it could be. Harry had walked in from helping put Ethan and Ayden in the car for Misty when Carolyn handed him a stack of dishes she’d gathered up from around the living room.

"Can you take these into the kitchen, Harry?" Carolyn asked.

"Yeah, sure." He replied, as he took them from her. She was supervising Nichole and Dylan putting the table back in order after dinner.

"Lord have mercy, if you two don't stop bickering...you would think y’all were still in grade school."

"Well she's..." Dylan started just as Nichole said,

"I can't help it he's an..." Harry just shook his head and walked into the kitchen.

"Should I put these in the sink?" He asked Nanna who was just finishing the washing up. She turned around and sighed.

"Just hand them here, hon. Dishwasher is full so I will just hand wash these." She turned and started to fill the sink. He quickly set them down and said,

"Let me do it." She smiled and moved out of the way and told him, "We'll both do it. You wash and I'll dry. Gives us some time to visit. I've been trying to get you alone all day." Harry couldn't help but smile.

"I'm all yours." He smiled as he sunk his hands into the hot, soapy water.

"You make my girl very happy, Harry. We've not seen her this happy for a long time. My heart is so full watching her with you."

"She makes me happy, too."

"As she should. She's a bit stubborn, that girl. Takes a lot to get through to her sometimes."

"Don't I know it," he laughed. About then they heard Nichole raising her voice at Dylan again. Something about him being "dumber than the south end of a north bound jackass." Harry couldn't do anything but laugh. "She got quite the temper...and mouth."

"She does. Takes a lot to handle the women in this family." Harry just nodded as they continued to wash the dishes up, the conversation stopped for a few minutes until she grinned and said,

"You remind me of an old friend."

"So I've been told."

"And just as talented to boot."

"Thank you. You've listened to our music?” he asked, a bit shocked.

"Of course. My granddaughter is not going half way around the world and I'm not going to be aware of who she's with. I do my research, young man."

Again he just laughed again and said, "Fair enough. So, what do you think?"

"Not bad...I'll be honest, didn't really care for the first two...but really like the last two. This new one, I play it in my truck a lot. Definitely my favorite."

"I'm glad. I think it's our best work. We're all very proud of it."

"You should be. Nicky says you boys are taking a break now. What are you going to do?"

"Haven't decided really. Take a proper break and then see what happens I guess."

As they finished up, she said to him, "It's easy to get caught up in life and forget to look after your heart, Harry. Nicky Marie has given you hers, and I know she has yours. Take care of each other. Promise me that."

"I promise."

"Good," she said, patting his shoulder, "Now let's have some tea."

Notes

I haven't fallen off the planet, have just been having some inspiration issues, but I'm here, I swear.

Harry blending in with Nichole's family warms my heart, I hope it does yours, too. And the pair of them having thoughts about the future...wow..

What do you think? Let me know..Feedback is love

Oh...and another thanks to whoever nominated Follow Your Heart for The Cowellys...I am still beyond shocked...I started this as a way to exercise my writing muscles again and it makes me happy that someone thinks so highly of my work.