sunflower - h.s.

fifty two

I've always loved kids.

Since I was thirteen and started babysitting, I loved kids. I thought they were the coolest - still think they are.

But I never realized I could get so easily attached to two girls that call me Aunty Florence.

Harry and I spent most of the day with the girls outside. We walked down to the park, fed the birds, I sang Once Upon A Dream to the girls upon their request, and showed them lady bugs on some flowers. Harry took it upon himself to take photos of us to send to Lexi and Bella in between picking the girls up and swinging them on his shoulders or chasing them around in the grass. We walked back with Marz on Harry's shoulders, and Lucy on my back. She played with my hair and told me I looked like a strawberry.

Once we got back to the house, I told the girls they could have one cookie each if they promised not to tell Lexi. They happily agreed and munched on them as Lucy showed me more of her paintings, Marz showing Harry the songs she knew on her recorder in between bites. They giggled and made jokes at Harry and I, Lucy braided my hair into a dozen little sections as I braided Harry's curls and he twisted Marz's curls into little sections.

We watched half of Zootopia before Lexi and Bella came home and the girls raced over to them, ready to tell them every single detail of what we did together. Harry and I exchanged a look with each other, both of us taking in the other's hair. He chuckled and lifted up one of the braids near my face.

"I think Lucy should be your personal hairstylist."

"She has quite the vision." I tell him, pinching his chin and kissing him once. "Braids look good on you."

"Everything looks good on me, darling."

"No, everything does not look good on you, Harry." Lexi says for me and makes me laugh loudly in the process. Harry's mouth drops open, but he just starts taking the braids out of his hair. "How did things go?"

"Great! I had a blast, the girls seemed to enjoy themselves."

"They definitely did." Lexi chuckled as Harry starts chasing the girls around the living room once again. We watch them for a moment, Lexi watching her daughters more than Harry.

My eyes are focused solely on Harry.

His face is flushed and his smile is so big it reaches his eyes. He looks so freaking adorable with them. It made my heart sing.

"Are you guys leaving tonight or tomorrow for your grandparents'?" Lexi asks, leading me into their kitchen as Bella and Harry played with the girls.

"Tomorrow morning. We're staying over at Holland's tonight, though, so we don't miss our train or anything in the morning."

"You think you two will need security?" Lexi asks, making me think of something I wanted to push to the back of my brain. I bite into my bottom lip.

I worried about that. My grandparents place was a ways out of the city, but we already planned on having a night out in the city, and chances were Harry or I would get recognized. I didn't want to be, especially with my family around me - I didn't want them to have to deal with that shit - but it was probable.

"We'll be careful. I'll text you if we need anything, though." I tell Lexi, but she shoots me a look like she doesn't believe I'd actually ask for help. It's justified. "I promise."

"Are you lot going out for your birthday?"

"Nope. I don't like doing stuff for my birthday." I shake my head and Lexi smirks. "What?"

"Don't hate me for this then, hang on." And then Lexi leaves me in the kitchen, waiting for her as she walks into a hall before coming back with a box in her hands - it's wrapped beautifully in black and silver paper. She sets it on the counter as I give her a little look.