Journals

Dakota’s POV

Merry Christmas to everyone.

I smooth my dress out thinking of the smooth fabric Harry bought for this very occasion. His family is coming any minute and my thoughts are everywhere. Everything’s done and up for decorations. Duchess is dressed in a sweatshirt that says ‘I believe in Santa Paws’. Harry’s dressed nicely in a classic button up with the top few undone. There’s presents for every family member coming. Absolutely nothing to worry about except for myself.

Never in my life have I been good talking to new people, especially some that matter. I’m just going to mess up and get them to hate me like Gemma does. The the list of people who loathe me. I rub my face wanting to wash away the worries. But there’s only one person that can do that.

“Dakota?” Harry pokes his head into my little used room. Ever since he came back, we mostly slept in his room. Not for dirty purposes. My room is more of a closet now. He walks up next to me in the mirror and wraps his arms around me. “How are you doing?”

I sigh, “Truthfully, I feel like I’m gonna screw up and embarrass myself in front of your family.”

He shakes his head, “You aren’t going to mess up. You may not be the best with introductions, but I’ll be by your side as long as need me." He pushes some of my hair back to expose the left of my neck. "It's Christmas Eve, think of all the good things to happen."

I huff, "This is the first I've celebrated Christmas. I don't exactly know the Christmas spirit."

His grin widens, turning me to meet his bright eyes. "Let me show you then." He grins leaning down to press his soft lips against mine. I smile and place my hands on his shoulders, enjoying the love he shows. He cups one of my cheeks and deepens the kiss. Over the course of the five months we've been together, I've learned not to pull away from his touch. Unlike everyone, his touch is pure love and gentle gestures. It's time I accept them.

I push myself up on the tip of my toes and try to even out our height. His one hand on my waist travels to my lower back and pulls me closer. The sweet feeling grows until I pull away when the doorbell rings. I blush and bite the inner bottom lip. I hold his hand as he drags me downstairs with a over excited Duchess behind us.

Harry unlocks the door and greets a set of cousins I've never seen. Two guys and a girl. All baring little resemblance to Harry. He pulls them inside and I hide behind Harry with my heart racing. "Guys, this is my beautiful girlfriend, Dakota," He gently brings me to his side to meet them. Their smiling faces ease the tension a little,but I still feel sick. "Dakota, this is Ethan, Jacob, and Faye." Duchess sniffs each one of them before trotting behind us again.

Faye smiles, "It's nice to meet you." She reaches over to give me a hug I hold onto Harry tighter. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No. Dakota's just not too fond of new people touching her. Before you ask, it's a long story," I look up to him and smile. He's staring back at me with love in his gaze. I go back to laying my head on his chest as he continues intros. "Anyhow, let's go to the living room." He guides us to the couches before going to answer the door again. Duchess decides to wander the house leaving me alone.

I sit in the armchair and pull my legs up to sit Indian style. With my lips pressed into a thin line, I quietly observe everyone surrounding me. Faye has wavy brown hair, fair skin, and brown eyes. Ethan has black curly hair tamed into a short ponytail, fair skin, and blue eyes. Jacob has straight brown hair in a quiff, some pigment in his skin, and green. Kind of like if you mix Harry with Zayn.

"Hi," I mumble while paying with my necklace.

Jacob smiles, "Hi. I'm Jacob, but you can call me Jake." I nod not meeting his eyes. "So, how long have you and Harry dated?"

I smile at the ground, "Five months. Seems like not much, but to me that's the longest someone's ever loved me."

Ethan nods, "It's just nice to know Harry's settled down with a girl even if it's not official. This is the fastest he's fallen and there's no signs of him falling out of it."

Harry comes back in with an older lady even shorter than me. Once she sees me, she pats his arm. She says something with a warm smile and Harry chuckles. Ethan, Jake, and Faye get up to greet her and exchange merry messages. I bite the inside of my bottom lip and watch her walk with Harry's assistance. I look at Harry's eyes to ease the fear.

"Dakota, this is my grandmother. Grandma, this my lovely girlfriend, Dakota," He introduces us. Her wrinkly eyes squint when she smiles and sits down next to me in the small seat next to me. This seat is so big that my body only fits half the seat.

I lower my legs and look at my knees. I feel her small cold hand touch my face and I meet her gaze. She smiles and pushes some of my hair out of my face. "You're even more beautiful than Harry explained." For some reason, she didn't scare me with her touch. She was gentle and has a kind feeling around her. "You seem like the kind of girl Harry needs. He needs someone special in his life."

Without any words, I smile at her. Harry sits down on the arm of the chair and pulls me close to him. "She is that special someone." I giggle when his arms go around my shoulders.

His grandma holds my hand, but I flinch. She doesn't do anything, but continue to grip my hand. "You two are such a cute couple. Don't lose each other."

Harry held me tight, "Wouldn't dream of it." I look up and meet his tender gaze and hold the hand on my left shoulder. “I’d lose half of me when I lose her.”

His grandma touches my face before kissing my cheek. “You’re a such a good girl for him.”

*~*~*~*

An hour later, everyone we invited is here and showing the Christmas spirit. I stay mostly with Harry, but when he wants to talk to people I stay with Anne, Robin, and Grandma. I feel so awkward here. I can't even bring up the nerve to talk to most of these people and no one has the same feeling Grandma has around them. She's naturally comforting. They're not.

Grandma smiles, "Why don't you go talk to one of the girls?"

I shake my head, "Girls scare me."

She chuckles, "But you are one." I only shrug, staring at Harry's back as he talks to Jake and another on of his cousins that came, Leon. What happened to staying at my side when I need him? "Ethan." He turns away from the table with a mouth full of cookies. I laugh when some crumbs fall out of his mouth. "Come over here."

My heart starts beating fast. She doesn't expect me to talk to him, right? "Yes, Grandma?" He swallows his cookies.

"Talk to Dakota. You're the only one not busy," She says before adding, "And cookie eating doesn't count." He sighs before wiping off the crumbs off of his face.

"How are you, Dakota?" He smiles.

I shrug, "Bored. This is my first Christmas. I have no idea what to do."

His eyes widen, "This is your first Christmas?!"

I nod, "My weren't too fond of... well things, but they never had time either. They were always out or fighting."

He grabs my hand causing me to flinch. He doesn't notice when he grabs my hand and drags me to the kitchen. I panic internally wondering where in the world is he taking me? He pulls me into the kitchen and brings out something that looks like milk. It says 'Eggnog'. "Ethan, what is 'eggnog'?" I ask.

He opens it and pours two glasses. He hands one to me before downing his. "People drink eggnog during christmas. It's kind of like a tradition. I'm not exactly sure what's in it, but it's good," He says motioning to the glass.

Hesitantly, I inspect the glass before sipping some of it. I furrow my brows, "It tastes odd."

He shrugs, "Not everyone likes it, but I do."

I drink a little more before leaving it on the counter. "What else is there to do on Christmas?"

"Well, there is fruit cake, but almost no one likes that. There's also the cookies and pasteries and all that cinnamon-y stuff. Wait, have you stood under mistletoe?" He asks. I shake my head not understanding what 'mistletoe' is or why you would stand under it. "Come with me, but stay behind me."

I follow him through the door before he turns around and tells me to stop. "Where are you going?"

"I'm gonna get Harry, just stay there," He says before running to Harry. I look up and see an odd leaf thing above my head. I look back to Harry as he walks over to me.

"Harry, what's mistletoe?" I ask.

He chuckles before holding my waist. I blush and grip his shoulders. "It's a Christmas tradition. Two people stand under it and kiss and if they don't they get bad luck." He takes hold of my hand and points up to the leafy thing. "That, is mistletoe."

"Oh," I sigh. Then the pieces fit together. I'm under the mistletoe with Harry.

He leans down near my face, "When Ethan said you were under the mistletoe, I was excited. Something I haven't done yet and I get to share it with my girlfriend." I giggle looking into his loving eyes. He leans down slowly kissing my softly. I cup his cheek and hold one of his hands.

I see a flash go off and a chorus of awes. My gently pull away and bury my face in his chest. "That was adorable," Anne says. "That is definitely my next Christmas card."

"Mum!" Harry whines holding me tight.

"Harry, let me have some joy. I thought you were going to grow old alone," She says making us all laugh.

Harry's POV

I'm cuddled with Dakota when the doorbell rings. Most of them are napping somewhere in one of the many guest rooms. I decided to stay by the fire with her, but I didn't think people would be coming. It's one a.m. Duchess lifts her head from her sleeping position in front of us. Dakota glances at me with curiosity in her eyes.

I kiss her forehead before leaving her under the blanket. I turn on the hallway light and open the door. To my surprise, it's not the paparazzi or any media heads. It's a couple that doesn't look too amused. "Um, do I know you or... what are you doing here?"

The lady smiles and flips some of her curly hair behind her, "Is Dakota here?"

"Why?" I ask not really thrilled by her manners. "What does my girlfriend have to do with any of this?"

"Just answer the question, boy," The man says gruffly.

My head turns to see if Dakota followed me, "I'll call her if you tell me why."

She smiles, "We just haven't seen her in a while and we thought Christmas would be the perfect time."

I inhale deeply, "Stay here." I don't have a good feeling about this. Dakota's staring at me when I bend down behind her, "People are here to see you." She furrows her eye brows before clinging to me. I take her to the door where she refuses to look up. "Dakota."

She looks up and her eyes fill with dread. The couple wrap their arms around her, pulling her away from me. Dakota starts crying and thrashes around in their arms. "Dakota!" She yells in a hushed voice. "Stop it!"

She shakes her head and whimpers. "Harry!" She cries.

I push past them and hold her close. Her body shakes in sobs and holds me tight. Duchess comes running up and growls at the couple. "Watch your mutt." She glares. "Dakota come over here. Is that any way to treat your mother?"

"Mother?" I say, confused.

The woman straightens out her clothing and smiles irritably, "We are Dakota's mother and father."

Notes