Love Is All That Matters

The name 'Harry' was forbidden at the mansion, at least when Zayn was home. This was one of the rules that Zayn had imposed on his family and Louis since getting discharged from the hospital. But the fact was that Harry still invaded Zayn’s thoughts without his name being mentioned. Zayn could still feel the taste of Harry’s lips in his. He felt the emptiness in his room every time he looked at his neat bed and remembered how he and Harry would always leave it messy.

Since the day he came home from the hospital, he felt the need to be a new version of himself; a stronger, braver version and a better father. The thought of having Emma back in his life, bringing her home, was the sole reason for all his strength.He still shed some tears for Harry, he still loved him. But if Harry was the first to leave, why should he be the last to stay? Maybe "forever" was not one of the mottos of his life. And maybe, it was for Emma that he did not let himself fall apart.

Harry, on the other hand, was a total mess. The shooting was nearing its end. He would note down each day he had spent without Zayn. It had been 32 days. He still wondered how he was surviving without Zayn. The truth was that Harry never thought love really existed, but when he met the actor, it was as if Harry had received the best friend and best lover wrapped up in a bow.

"Brothers in Trouble" was his new favorite show. Megan, Zayn's teenager fan, was right…the show was addictive, and that was the only way Harry could feel even a bit closer to Zayn. Niall told him that he was a masochist, and that he liked to suffer. Maybe he was right, Harry thought. Or maybe love had a very thin line between pain and pleasure. He felt that he already had his share of pleasure, now it was the turn of pain. And he had never thought love could hurt so much. He still blamed himself for abandoning Zayn, for doing what he thought was right for Zayn and not bothering to find out if Zayn thought the same.Harry tried to call the actor on his cell phone several times but every time he got the same response that the number was non-existent. Then, he would call the home number. Monica answered but she always said the same thing, "I'm sorry, my son, but he does not want to talk to you.", until he gave up and stopped calling. He had then sent Niall to the mansion to make sure Zayn was all right. Niall's response as he came back from Zayn’s place gave him both relief and frustration."He's fine. When I reached the mansion, he was laughing with Louis, then he took me to see his greenhouse…what a beautiful place." Harry was glad that Zayn was well, but at the same time, it was devastating to know that his absence might not have affected Zayn as much as Zayn’s absence was affecting him.

Harry heard the doorbell. Zayn's image faded from the screen as he turned off the television. He walked towards the front door.

"Emma." Harry exclaimed at the sight of the little girl he had missed so much. "Are you alone? What are you doing here?" Harry asked, looking around, scared.

"I thought you missed me." Emma smiled, making grabby hands at him.

"You can’t even imagine, my princess." Harry took her in his arms, a beautiful smile on their faces. "How did you get here?" Harry asked with Emma still in his arms.

"Long story." Emma replied, tapping Harry's hand to be put down. Harry understood and put her down gently. "I came here because I need answers." Emma walked over to the sofa and sat down.

"You want answers?" Harry smiled, crouching in front of her. "And, what are these questions?"

"There are a lot." Emma placed both hands on Harry's face, Harry took one of her hands and kissed it. "But you can answer while you’re making me pancakes. What do you think?" Emma grinned showing all her teeth, Harry laughed.

"I think it's a great idea, I'll make your favorite pancakes." Harry answered, pulling her in his arms and walking towards the kitchen.

****

"How did she run away? I'm going to kill you, Lindsay. If anything happens to my daughter, I swear I'll kill you." Zayn screamed on the phone. "You thought wrong, she’s not here." Zayn was pacing around, visibly worried. "I don’t know where she might be. Have you called the police?"

Everyone was staring at Zayn in alarm. Where could Emma have gone? Liam and Trisha had thought of a thousand different places.

"I'm can’t believe this is happening, Mom." Zayn hugged Trisha.

"But how did it happen?" Monica asked, and sat down, as her legs felt wobbly.

"Lindsay said they were in the same room. She was reading a book…Emma was watching Frozen…Lindsay got a phone call, it was my lawyer. She ended up arguing with him, and by the time she hung up the phone, Emma was not there. She could not find Emma in any corner of the house." Zayn took one of the glasses; Celine had brought water for him and Monica. "She called me thinking Emma might have come here.” 

"My God, Emma alone in the city at night!" Liam said.

"Liam, start the car, we need to find her."

****

"I sneaked away from the security guards, and luckily, there was a taxi right in front of my grandmother's house. The taxi driver knew you, Harry, and he told me that you lived here." Emma told Harry, eating Nutella pancakes with whipped cream, her favorite.

"That’s really weird, a taxi parked right in front of Lindsay's house and the driver knew me? What was he like?" Harry asked, totally confused.

"He was tall, his hair was a little grey…His name is Danny."

"Danny?" Harry remembered Danny, the amiable taxi driver, who had taken him to the hospital when Zayn got into an accident. "You got lucky, Emma. Never do that again, this city is too dangerous for a beautiful girl like you." Harry smoothed her hair, there was some whipped cream on the ends.

"At first, he asked me where I wanted to go. Then he recognized me and said he was going to take me home. I told him ‘I want to go to Harry's house but I don’t know where he lives’. He said he knew where you lived, and brought me here.

"How did he know where I live?" Harry asked himself. "I only met him once and that was when I rode in his taxi." Harry was finding it all too strange. "And how did you know I was not living in your house anymore?"

"I didn’t know, I found out just today, that's why I ran away."

"You should not have done that."

"And you should not have left my house." Emma said, getting off the chair and sitting on his lap. "You promised me that you would never leave me and my father, why did you leave him as soon as I was gone? My father is sad, Harry. He is only happy when he is with us." Harry smiled at her. How could a 6-year-old have more sensitivity and maturity than an adult?

"I did it for your sake, my love. Do you think I'm happy here? I'm not. You're still too young to understand. I want you to know that I will always love you and your father. Both of you are very special to me." Harry kissed Emma on the forehead.

"You're not my father's boyfriend anymore, are you?" Emma asked, making Harry's eyes widen in shock.

"What? Who told you that?"

"My grandmother was angry with her lawyers. She was telling them she could lose me because now you aren’t my father's boyfriend anymore and you don’t live together anymore."

"Look, Emma, this is too complicated for you to understand."

"It's not complicated, Harry. You love my dad, my dad loves you. It doesn’t matter if you're friends or boyfriends. Love is what matters. My dad’s happiness is important to me, you being with us is important to me. We are the Malik family, remember? "

"You're the wisest person I know."

"And you're the best friend I have." Emma hugged him.

"I'm going to take you to your father's house." Harry said, wiping the tears that from the corners of her eyes.

"I want to take you home, too."

They smiled and looked at each other, they knew that they needed to find their way back to where they belonged—the Malik mansion.

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AN: I just love Emma  😍.... What do you guys think about Danny? I believe that this story will have only a few more chapters. I hope you have enjoyed this chapter. Until the next😘😘