Harry Who? Alternate Ending

Harry and Ellie sat on the couch in front of the television at her parent’s house. Snow fell in the cold Ottawa winter outside, but the crackling fireplace kept them warm. As the end credits scrolled on ‘Love Actually’ Harry turned to see if Ellie had any kind of reaction.

“Do you remember watching that? Two years ago, at my mum’s house...you and Gemma braided my hair?” Harry tried to jog her memory, but Ellie shook her head.

“I don’t, but I’m sure I liked watching it just as much the first time around,” Ellie turned to him with a smile.

Her mother entered with hot chocolate for the two of them. “Don’t you look cute in your matching sweaters,” she said as she handed them their mugs. “Dinner will be ready soon, and Vivian is just picking up Scott at the airport, so they’ll be here in about half an hour.”

“Thanks, mom,” Ellie smiled, and her mom returned to the kitchen where she and Ellie’s dad were cooking.

“I feel like I’m intruding on your family Christmas,” Harry said quietly to Ellie.

“Why? You said last time, we went to your mom’s house for Christmas, so for our second first Christmas together, we can do at with my parents’,” Ellie smiled and tried to reassure Harry. “I’m sure I felt like I was intruding, too.”

“I guess. But I feel like your parents don’t like me very much. Like, maybe they hold me responsible for-”

“No, not at all. They don’t blame anyone, because it wasn’t anyone’s fault.” Ellie cut him off.

“But they wouldn’t let you go on tour with me this fall,” Harry added, and looked down at the little marshmallows in his hot chocolate.

“They didn’t say I couldn’t go, considering I am an adult, but with my concussion not completely healed they thought it would be better if I didn’t. And, they’re right, because bright lights and loud sounds are not good with concussions. I’m getting better, though,” Ellie added.

“Really? Like, maybe good enough you could come on the second leg of the tour with me?” Harry’s eyes lit up, and he leaned a little closer to her.

She shrugged. “I can’t say for sure, but if I continue making progress, it is very possible.”

Harry smiled and pulled her in for a hug. “That makes me happier than you know. After I got you back this spring, I didn’t want to let you go; having to go on tour on my own and leave you behind was so hard for me.”

“I visited, but I know, it was hard for me too. But we have the whole winter together, right?”

“Yes, luv,” he kissed her forehead. “I have to work on my next album, but other than that it’s just you and I.”

“You’re next album? So what’s this one going to be about, if the last one was about losing your girlfriend?” Ellie asked.

“I guess it’ll be about getting her back,” Harry smiled.

“What a lucky girl; Harry Styles has written not one, but two albums about her,” she grinned. “I’m hoping this one will have some happier songs?”

“No, they’re probably going to be pretty depressing, you know…” He joked, and earned a light smack from Ellie.

“So, in the movie, that guy - the older guy who gets naked at the end?” She asked.

“Billy Mack?”

“Yes, his Christmas song was one of his hits, turned into a Christmas song. So, if you have to make one of your songs a Christmas song, which one would it be?” Ellie asked and bit her lip.

“One of my songs, or One Direction?” Harry raised his eyebrows.

“Just yours.”

“Jesus, um….” He thought for a minute, then broke out into song. “Just stop your crying it’s Christmas time!”

Ellie giggled and fell onto Harry. “That is not what I was thinking, but that works.”

“What were you thinking of?” He asked.

Ellie shrugged. “I don’t know, but that would be the saddest sounding Christmas song ever.”

“Maybe I’ll just do a Christmas album next,” Harry joked.

Ellie laughed and leaned on his shoulder. “When One Direction gets back together, you guys can do a Christmas album; that’d be cute.”

“Yeah, I’m sure the guys would go for that,” Harry joked. Their banter was interrupted by the arrival of Scott and his wife Vivian.

“Nice to see you again, Harry,” Scott gave Harry a bro-hug as Ellie helped Vivian with her suitcase.

“It’s nice to be back,” Harry replied. “And to have her back.”

The two watched Ellie and Vivian talk for a moment before Scott turned back to Harry. “She has improved so much; you can’t know how much you’ve helped her.”

“That’s good to hear,” Harry smiled. “I was worried it would be the opposite. I still feel responsible, somehow…”

“No, it’s not your fault.” Scott shook his head. “You’re one of the best things that’s ever happened to her.”

“Whether that’s true or not, she is certainly the best thing that’s happened to me,” Harry replied as Ellie returned to his side.

“Were you talking about me?” She gave him a suspecting look and nestled into his side. Scott left the two alone and joined Vivian in the kitchen with his parents.

“Nothing bad, don’t worry luv,” Harry leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I was just saying how much I need you, and I never want to lose you again.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Harry,” she returned his kiss and entwined her arms around him so they were connected. “I’ll be right here, always.”

Ellie heard Harry sniffling and looked up at him. She wiped a tear off his cheek and said, “Stop you crying, it’s Christmas time.”

This brought a laugh out of Harry, and he blinked away the remaining tears. “Come on, let's’ go get dinner before I accidentally write that Christmas album.”

“I can just see it now: ‘Harry Styles Writes World’s Most Depressing Christmas Songs Ever’.” Ellie teased, and the two giggled as the door to the kitchen swung shut behind them. The two settled in at the dinner table for what would be the first of many Christmas dinners for the pair in Ottawa, beside the crackling fireplace and the falling snow.

Notes

I posted this on the main story, but I thought I'd put the epilogue here as well. If anyone has any interest in a sequel, let me know : )

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