Harry Styles Imagines and Preferences Book Two

Thunder

Harry heard the rumble of thunder in the distance, as he stirred awake with a groan, rolling over to his back against the warm sheets. He could hear your soft, even breathing from beside him. Your legs were tangled together at the end of the bed, and you were pressed into his side, your cheek resting on his pillow. Harry peeked over at you, with heavy-lidded eyes, a sleepy smile gracing his lips, he could just make out your pillow mussed hair, from the pieces of light sneaking threw the curtains from the rain reflecting off the streetlights outside, and careful not to wake you, he leaned in closer to press his slightly chapped lips to your warm forehead, and you nuzzled tighter against him in your sleep, dropping your head to his shoulder.
Harry exhaled deeply in the warm silence that existed in the room. Only your even breathing filling the space. He listened to the heavy rain pelt the windows, skidding across the roofline, the wind whistling through the trees. Another rumble of thunder, and then the metallic cracking of a bolt of lightning shook the house, a brief flash of light illuminating the room. The storm that had been predicted to roll through, having finally decided to make its appearance. Harry bit his lip and held his breath nervously, staying completely still in the hope that the storm raging outside wouldn't wake Darcy, who had been particularly fussy and inconsolable earlier that night, both you and Harry having to take turns trying to lull her to sleep, after you had nursed her. Pacing up and down the hallway, rocking her gently and humming whatever tune would fall from your lips before she reluctantly drifted to sleep, and Harry laid her down, hushing her as he went, rubbing her back lightly and tucking her blanket around her securely, before you both tiptoed back to your bedroom and stumbled into bed, collapsing together in a heap of limbs and falling asleep that way.
"Oh no," Harry croaked under his breath as he could begin to pick up the beginnings of whimpers from across the hall. He ran a hand over his face, giving another heavy exhale of breath. You stirred next to him, clearing your throat as you slowly blinked awake, clearing the sleepy haze from your eyes.
"Is that Darcy?" you questioned, your voice a little raspy, mind still a little foggy from sleep. "The thunder must've startled her."
"Yeah," Harry whispered between you, already, beginning to untuck the blankets from around his waist, hand reaching down beside the bed to search for a discarded t-shirt. "I'll get her," he said quickly, as you too were beginning to untangle yourself from the sheets. You halted, slipping back down against your pillow, letting the sheets billow around your knees.
"You're sure, baby? You had a long day today," you mumbled, rubbing his bicep with your fingertips. Harry clicked on the bedside table light, momentarily stinging both of your eyes as they adjusted to the unwelcome burst of light. He was already yanking on a t-shirt, running his hands threw his hair.
"Yeah, I'm sure. I missed her today," he admitted voice faltering a little with the guilt that was welling up, having been in the studio with the rest of the boys most of the day, narrowly making it home in time for dinner. "I'll go rock her for awhile, and give her a cuddle."
"I think she missed you too," you noted, thinking maybe that had been the reason why she was so reluctant to sleep earlier. You knew it was hard on Harry to be away from the two of you for most of the day, only to come home most nights, to find that Darcy was already asleep and tucked into her crib, fast asleep. So he would tiptoe into her nursery, and lean over her crib to kiss her forehead, press his hand against her back as she slept. And often, if you couldn't find him for a while, you would pad upstairs, to see him sat in the rocking chair across from her crib, chin cupped in his hand as he watched her chest rise and fall, her fingers curl around the blanket he would always double check to make sure was swaddled around her, so she didn't get cold, before settling back in the chair, fighting his heavy eyes and fatigued muscles so he could watch over her for a while. Often falling asleep right there in the chair, and you would smile, and go to the hall closet for a blanket and drape It over him, tugging off his shoes, and kissing his forehead. Anything for just a few moments with her.
Harry smiled, as you cupped his cheek in your hand, and brought his face closer to yours to kiss his lips. Harry rubbed your shoulder lightly, nuzzling his lips into your neck, another crack of thunder interrupting the moment between you, as you heard Darcy's cries intensify in pitch. A rush of rain blowing against the bedroom windows.
Sneaking one last kiss on your cheek, he slipped out of bed, with a grunt, padding against the plush carpet and around the bed, slipping out the bedroom door, shutting it softly behind him, before walking across the hall to Darcy's nursery.
"Darcy, what's the matter, my love?" he cooed as he pushed the door open, and switched on the light by the door, in the corner to find the thirteen month old gripping the railing at the side of the crib, to keep her wobbly balance, wispy curls stuck up wildly, floral print, pajama onesie wrinkled and full lips stuck out in a pout, eyes filled with tears that were threatening to spill, her cheeks wet with tear marks from a few that had already escaped. She whimpered and reached for him when she spotted him. "Oh, oh," Harry cooed again. "Did the thunder scare you, sweetheart?"
She reached up for him to take her, and he scooped her up, cradling her warm body against his, an arm around her shoulders and just below her hips. She clung to the fabric of his t-shirt at each sleeve, gripping it with her long, delicate, fingers, and then dropping her full cheek to his shoulder, her cries beginning to slow, as she nuzzled against his warmth and safety, and he could feel her tense, panicked muscles relax.
"Daddy will hold you for a while, my love. No more tears. I'm sorry, the thunder scared you." He swayed side to side, keeping his feet firmly planted and cupping one of his hands at the back of her head, stroking her curls lightly. He pressed light kisses to her flushed, warm, skin, on her cheeks and forehead. "You're alright, Daddy's got you." He rested his own cheek against her temple, as she continued to whimper. "I'm here, I'm here now, sweetheart." It came as both reassurance to her in that moment and a promise that he would never be far away, she would never have to face anything alone, he wouldn't let her, his arms were always there to hold her when she needed him.
The wind rustled the trees outside, and the rain continued to beat against the windows. In the distance there was another beginning rumble of thunder and then it cracked loudly, sounding as though it were right outside the nursery window.
Darcy jumped in his arms, and cried out, clinging tighter to his shirt and trying to press herself tighter against his body, crying in earnest now, high pitched, hiccupping sobs, her little frame beginning to tremble as the noise startled her.
Harry tightened his grip on her, hushing her softly and quickening the pace of his swaying, bobbing movement. "You're okay, my precious girl," he promised. "I know, the thunder's scary, huh? But you're okay. He kept peppering kisses to her forehead and rocking her, trying to soothe her back to sleep. She hiccupped against his shoulder, the panicked cries quieting.
Harry reached down into her crib for the well-loved, sheet worn and slightly fading, fuzzy, polka dot patterned blanket that was in a heap at the corner of the crib's mattress. Darcy whined when he shifted her in his arms, thinking he was about to place her back in the crib.
Harry rubbed her back gently, with his fingertips, cooing lightly to console her. "It's okay," he murmured, kissing her temple. He tossed the blanket over his shoulder, before padding over to settle back in the rocking chair, setting her on his lap, her cheek still pressed firmly against his shoulder. He draped the blanket over the both of them, before beginning to rock steadily. He felt one of Darcy's hands reach for his, and she curled her fingers around two of his own, the other keeping hold of his sleeve and she nuzzled against his shoulder.
Harry smiled, dropping a kiss to the top of her head, keeping his hands rested on her back. He breathed in her soft smell, burying his nose into her feathery hair, the powdery scent of her baby lotion, mixed with milk that clung to her lips. And as the storm continued to dampen London, here in this moment, it was only the two of them; content in their warm little haven they had created. He peeked down at her to see her eyelids getting heavy, that she was fighting her drowsiness. With a smile, he kept the kisses pressed to her forehead, beginning to hum, in the hope that the vibrations from his chest might be enough to help her drift off to sleep, coupled with the beat of his heart. He began to quietly sing to her.
"A summer rain is passing over, and it feels like a dream," he sang softly, keeping his voice low and lulling. "I could run and look for shelter, but you hold on to me. I'm under your skies.
I'm caught in your eyes
. Don't you know you stop the room?
And all that I can see is you.
I'm standing where the lightning strikes.
I know this doesn't happen twice.
You must be my once in a lifetime, in a lifetime.
You must be my once in a lifetime."
Harry felt her relax against him, her breathing going soft and even, her eyelashes fluttering against her cheek, her warm breath on his neck. This was all he would ever need. Many things could come and go, work, friends, opportunities, but this, being able to make things disappear with a snuggle and a kiss, was forever, and he could get used to that.