All Fun And Games
Sheâd been upset all day and you noticed it. Your daughter, at the peak of turning five years old in just a week, had hung her head around all day and was unusually quiet. She usually was active, running around and playing with her baby brother Noah, who was at the early stages of his walking.
âDarcy, whatâs wrong, sunshine?â You tried to pry it out of her all day, but with Noah on your hip and grumpy, it was hard to have a moment to sit with her.
You watched as she shook her head, climbing on to the couch and grabbing one of her coloring books. âWhen is daddy coming?â
âHeâll be home soon, pumpkin. Do you want to tell Mama whatâs wrong?â A sigh fell from her lips as she shook her head, her little body spreading across the couch. A couple of whines and groans came from Noah, his head lulling to your shoulder.
âOkay, my love. I think itâs time for bed,â you kissed the top of his head. âDarce, do you want to help me put Noah to sleep?â
She was always excited to help you with her brother, whether it was feeding him or putting him to sleep, she obliged to help. But you watched as she shook her head, looking up at you from her spot on the couch.
âNo,â she mumbled, her eyes turning to focus on the television. You felt your heart sink and the weary toddler on your hip growing impatient, wrapping his arms around your neck.
âMama,â he mumbled, his eyes tired.
âI know, baby, weâre going to sleep right now.â You pressed your lips to the top of his head, his curls a mess as you made your way up the stairs and to his nursery. When he realized he was close to his crib, his head fell to your chest and he sighed contently.
âYou are so tired, arenât you, my mister?â He mumbled a few inaudible words, his talking now beginning to blossom. No more than a few minutes later, standing the middle of the room and rocking him, heâd fallen asleep against your chest. You shuffled over to his crib, laying him down softly as he slept. Making your way out, you turned off the light and headed downstairs.
âDarcy, do you want a snack, my love?â She was quiet, her response almost a whisper.
You were quick to make your way over to her, sitting down next to her and opening your arms. âCome here, baby.â
She accepted, sitting up and crawling into your lap. Her head pressed to your chest, your cheek resting on top of it. It was quiet for a few moments, the only sound coming from her breathing.
âAre you feeling okay?â You looked down at her, her eyes looking up to meet yours. She shook her head, her head tucking back down into her own chest. You raised the back of your hand to feel her forehead, making sure she didnât have a fever. âWhatâre you feeling, sunshine?â
Your heart broke when she looked up at you, her eyes brimming with tears and she broke into sobs. âIâŚI want daddy.â You quickly swiped the tears from her cheeks, your lips turning down and frowning.
âHeâll be home soon. Whatâs wrong, baby? Whatâs got you all worked up?â She didnât answer, her sobs becoming more frequent.
âOkay, okay. Take it easy, breathe, baby. Daddy will be home soon and itâll be okay,â you pressed your lips to her head, her face burying into your neck.
Youâd never been in a situation like this; your daughter, who was usually tough, curious, and outgoing, was now balling her eyes out. You couldnât think of anything that couldâve been wrong; she didnât look sick, she wasnât warm. Maybe something had happened at school yesterday; maybe a child was bullying her. Your heart sank knowing there was a chance.
She wasnât like the other kids in her class; she was smart, much smarter for a child her age. She was always asking questions, her mind trying to break down the world around her. She was beautiful, a spitting image of her father; dark curly hair that now rested right above her shoulders, bright emerald orbs that were always full of happiness. But right now, they were dull and full of distress and you felt like you couldnât do anything about it.
She didnât have a life like the other kids in her class, no. Their dads werenât well known band members. Was she having a hard time making friends because of it? You looked down at her once more, your eyes closing and your hands rubbing into her back.
âYouâre okay, my love.â
Sheâd fallen asleep on the couch before you stuffed a couple of pillows below her head and throwing a fleece blanket on top; her favorite one that Anne had given her. Itâd smelled of Harry and home, her two favorite things. It had a couple of holes and stains, but she didnât seem to mind only because they were from Harry. Your thoughts were broken up when you heard the front door click in place, your husband peaking his head into kitchen.
âHi, baby.â He grinned, his arms coming to snake around your waist. His head rested over your shoulder, his lips pressing soft kisses to it. âWhere are the kids?â
âNoah fell asleep a while ago and Darcyâs asleep on the couch,â you sighed, your hands pressing against the counter. âSomethingâs wrong, Harry.â
He let go, coming around to lean against the counter next to you, his eyes wide with concern. Â
âWhatâs going on? Are you okay?â His voice was frantic, his eyes searching yours for answers.
âItâsâŚItâs Darcy.â
In that moment, he felt his world stop. Not his baby girl, no. There couldnât be something wrong.
âWhat happened to Darcy?â His voice was a whisper, the words barely making it out. You shook your head, setting the last of the plates out to dry. Rubbing your face, you turned to look at him, your hip pressed against the counter.
âSheâs not herself. Somethingâs bothering her and she wonât tell me whatâs happening. Sheâs been crying for you all day, she cried herself to sleep on the couch.â
He knew something was wrong when he left this morning; her hug a bit longer than usual and her arms wrapped around him tighter than he was used to. He looked at you, his eyes wide in fear.
âWhat could it be? Is she sick?â Â You were quick to shake your head, a sigh escaping your lips.
âNo, sheâs okay. No fever, no aches or pains. She just wonât open up to me and I feel soâŚâ you let your head drop for a second. âUseless.â
âOh, baby.â He wrapped his arms around you, his lips pressing to your forehead. âYouâre not useless, my love. Please donât ever say youâre useless. You gave me two of the greatest blessings in my life and I couldnât be more grateful,â he cupped your cheeks in his palms. âYou are an incredible wife and an even more incredible mum and I love you so much.â He leaned to press a kiss to your lips, letting it linger for a few extra seconds.
âYou should go talk to her,â you whispered up at him. âShe wants her daddy.â He pressed one last kiss to your forehead before he walked out of kitchen and through the foyer, stopping behind the couch in the living room. Her body was so small under the blankets sheâd been tucked into her, his on top and cuddled into her cheek.
He made his way around, sitting on the end by her feet and gave her a soft squeeze. âDarcy,â he whispered, his voice soft and comforting. âIâm home, my love.â
She groaned, her eyes fluttering open as she turned over, stretching her tiny legs out in the process. He let out a muffled laugh, rubbing her legs over the blanket softly. âRise and shine.â
He watched as she rubbed at her eyes before she sat up, squinting and focusing in on her curly haired father. âDaddy,â she croaked and quickly climbed into his lap, her arms locking around his neck. âHi, daddy.â
His arms wrapped around her and he pressed a kiss to her cheek, a smile on his face. âHi, beautiful girl. I missed you,â he cooed into her ear, her face nuzzling closer into his neck, taking in his comforting scent.
âI missed you too, daddy.â He pulled her back, his hands resting on her bum to support her against his knees. He noticed her eyes were puffy and she was tired, her eyes blinking slowly.
âWhatâs wrong, my love? Hm? I heard you were upset today and you know how much I donât like when my Darcy is upset.â She pouted, her face falling to his neck once more.
âIâm scared, daddy.â He pulled her face back to watch her, his eyes inspecting her face. âWhatâre you scared of, sweetheart?â
âTomorrow,â she whispered. Then it clicked. Her nerves had overcome her, just like how his did when he was nervous. She was set to play in a miniscule football match, something sheâd been looking forward to up until tonight. Niall had taken her out at least twice a week on to the field, giving her a couple of lessons before her game tomorrow.
âOh, Darce,â he smiled. âThereâs nothing to be scared of, baby. Remember how excited you were when you played with Uncle Niall? Itâs going to be just like that and weâre going to watch and cheer you on.â
âWhat if I do bad?â Her eyes were locked on his, her fingers twiddling within one another.
âThis isnât about you doing good or bad, this is about you having fun and having a good time on the field. I donât want you so upset over this, okay? If you donât want to do it, you donât have to. But if you do, weâll all be right there to cheer you on, my love.â He watched her smile, her arms quickly wrapping around his neck again.
âI want to do it, daddy.â
âAre you sure?â She quickly nodded, her head rested on his shoulder.
You heard the eager footsteps making their way down the hall and your bedroom door burst open, Darcy quickly making her way to the bed.
âDaddy! Mama! Wake up!â She giggled, her small hands grasping the duvet as she pulled herself up. Harry rubbed his face, a yawn escaping his lips before he reached his arms out for her. She landed on his torso, earning a grunt from him and a giggle from you.
âGood morning, sunshine.â You smiled up at her, your lips puckering up for a kiss. She quickly obliged, her lips pressing against your quickly for a kiss. âMorning, mama!â She leaned down to press her lips against Harryâs, a smile forming on his. âMorning, daddy!â
âGood morning, my love.â His voice was raspy, clearly still tired from his slumber.
âCome on, daddy, we have to go!â
A whine came from down the hall, growing louder and louder before you sat up. âThatâs my cue,â you laughed, turning to him. âSheâs right, weâve got to get ready, babe.â You climbed out in nothing but his shirt as you padded out of the room and down the hall. âMamaâs coming, baby!â
You found your son standing in his crib, his hands gripping the bar and a wide smile forming on his lips. âMama!â He called out, his hands reaching for you.
âHello, my beautiful boy.â You grinned, lifting him into your arms and peppering his face with kisses. âYou had a nice sleep, huh?â
âBabe!â You heard Harryâs voice call from down the hall before Noahâs head shot up, his eyes focused on the door clearly recognizing the familiar voice.
âIs that daddy?â You playfully gasped, making your way out of the room. âAre we going to see daddy?â His hands slapped at your chest softly in excitement, his tiny legs kicking beneath him begging to be let down. You placed him flat on his feet and he wobbled for a moment before you stood behind him, taking his hands in yours above his head. âCome on, go find Daddy!â
He made large unsteady steps, his eyes occasionally looking up at you for reassurance. Once he finally reached the bedroom, he made his way in, his eyes quickly finding his father. A squeal escaped his lips, causing you to laugh as he continued to quickly make his way over.
âIs that my handsome boy?â Harry was quick to make his way over to him with wide arms before he scooped him up. âGood morning,â he peppered his face with kisses, Noah giggling and crashing his head against Harryâs shoulder.
âDarcy getting ready?â You looked up at him, digging through your closet.
âYeah, she went to go put her uniform on.â
âHello! Are the Stylesâ ready to go?â The Irish accent flooded the house before he heard footsteps running down the stairs.
âUncle Niall!â Darcy shot towards him and heâd opened his arms just in time for her to fall into, quickly lifting her into his arms.
âWell, hello, darling! Howâre you doing?â She giggled, her lips pressing a kiss to his cheek.
âGood,â she smiled, her arms wrapped around his neck. She had a deep love for the blue-eyed boy and he did for her, a bond everyone admired.
âAre you ready to kick some a-â
Harry was quick to clear his throat, halfway down the stairs and shooting daggers at his band mate.
âKick some butt?â He quickly corrected himself, an innocent smile playing on his lips. She nodded quickly before he set her down and she was quick to run off.
âHi, Niall.â You smiled with a beaming Noah on your hip, playing with the necklace that seemed to keep him occupied.
âGood morning, love.â He grinned, taking Noah into his arms. âWe better get going.â
She was nervous again, he could tell by the look on her face. She was staring out on to the field before she looked up at him. He swiftly leaned down to eye level with her, his fingers pushing back a strand of hair that fell from her braid she insisted on having.
âHey, hey. Look at me, my love.â She looked up from the ground, her eyes meeting his. âYou have nothing to worry about, nothing at all,â he smiled comfortingly. She nodded, her tiny arms latching around his neck.
It was just the beginning of the second half when she was just beginning to have fun, a smile on her face as she ran; her little legs taking her across the field and much to everyoneâs surprise, sheâd scored the only goal of the game.
Harry was already out of his seat, but when she had managed to one up the score, he jumped, his hands flying into the air. The cheers erupted from the small crowd, mostly of parents and the rest of the boys and their girlfriends.
âThatâs my girl!â He screamed out, his smile beaming as he slipped his arm around your shoulders. You smiled up at him, watching how proud of his little girl he was before he leaned down to press a kiss to your head. Noah watched as the crowd burst into excitement suddenly, his eyes going wide before his lips puckered and he broke into tears. A small laugh escaped your lips before you rubbed his back, planting a kiss to the top of his head.
âOh, itâs okay, my love. Youâre okay,â you smiled. âDo you see Darcy? Isnât she doing so so good?â You watched as he reached up to rub his eyes and turn back to the field and back up at you.
âDa,â he grinned. You smiled, leaning down to press a kiss to his nose.
âThat was awesome, mate! Sheâs going to be so sick at this in just a few years,â an excited Niall squeezed Harryâs shoulder, causing him to laugh.
âYeah, if she wants to.â He smiled, his eyes falling back to his little girl. âRemember the charity game?â
Niall laughed along with the rest of the boys, nodding and sticking his hands in his jean pockets. âHow could I forget? You were so excited when you made that goal, just as excited as Darcy right now.â You laughed, leaning into Harry as Niall continued.
âHey, it was pretty wicked!â He laughed, looking back at the Irish boy.
âYeah, you almost knocked me to the ground with the hug you gave me. âThat was for you! For you!ââ He laughed, mimicking Harryâs accent.
âOh shut up,â Harry laughed, rolling his eyes and turning his head back to the field. He caught her eye, a wide smile on his face when she waved. He quickly waved back, blowing a kiss in her direction before she took off again.
âThatâs my girl,â he said again, the smile not leaving his face.
âDaddy! Did you see me out there?! We won!â She beamed, running towards him and jumping into his arms.
âI sure did, my love! You did so great! Iâm so so proud of you!â He smiled, peppering her face with kisses.
âYou killed it out there, babe!â Niall yelled, leaning over to press a kiss to her temple. âGreat job!â
She grinned, her eyes bright and her smile wide. You watched as Harry admired her, his eyes not leaving her face and his lips pressing kisses to every part of her face. He set her down, his hands pushing the loose strands of hair out of her face.
âLook, daddy!â She lifted her leg, showing him a scrape sheâd managed to get from falling on the field. He leaned down and his brows furrowed.
âOh, baby. Does it hurt?â He looked at her, his lips pouty. She shrugged and took his hand, already making her way to the car with him.
âYeah, but itâs okay because I had fun!â Your eyes looked around to the group of men and woman surrounding you, smiles breaking into their faces.
âAnd thatâs all that matters, isnât it, my love?â He grinned, picking her up into his arms and she was quick to wraps her tiny ones around his neck.
âYes! I had a lot of fun, daddy.â He grinned, opening the car door and setting her down into her car seat, turning back to the rest of the guys, watching as they piled into their own cars. He turned back to his daughter, her smile not fading and she kicked her cleats off.
âIâm glad you did, baby. I love you,â he leaned down to press a kiss to her head as he buckled her in, his eyes meeting yours as you settled Noah into his own seat. Smiling at them both, you felt your heart was going to melt at the scene in front of you; her smiling face looking up at him, his loving eyes looking down at her, and she leaned up to press a kiss to his cheek.
âLove you too, daddy.â
Voila, there you have it, darlings! Thank you to the anon who requested this, I hope you as well as everyone else enjoys! Donât forget to stop by my ask to leave some feedback or anything else! Love you, dolls.Â