Together

Castle On A Cloud

Hello hello hello! I hope you've all had a nice day. I got some new dance stuff so yay!! I'm not sure if I'm excited to start back up again in a month, but a new leotard always helps with that! Okay, this is one of my favorite chapters of this entire book, so I really hope that you all like it. Enjoy/comment/vote if you would like xxx
-ab

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October 11, 2026

Harper

I wake up on my day off, after sleeping in from my two shows yesterday, to find a text from Taylor.

Taylor: Hey, love. I know that it's early and you're still probably sleeping in, but when you're awake, would you mind coming over today? Joe is at a photo shoot for a modeling gig that he has, and I just really need some company.

Harper: I just woke up. I'll be over in an hour or so.

I know how hard it is to transition into motherhood, as I've heard many stories about the first few weeks with your first child. Taylor probably just really needs a friend right now.

"Patrick," I say, walking into the kitchen and seeing him sitting at the table with a cup of coffee, "I'm going over to hang out with Taylor and Audrie today."

"Okay," he replies. "Would you care for some?" He holds up his mug.

I wrinkle my nose. "Ew, you know my answer to that. That stuff is so disgusting, and it does absolutely horrid things to your vocal cords."

"Suit yourself," Patrick laughs. "More for me."

"You can have it."

I begin to brew some water in the electric kettle for tea, and in a few minutes, I'm enjoying that with a scone.

Soon, I'm dressed in leggings and a red jumper, and I braid my hair. "I'm going to head over now," I tell Patrick.

"Alright. Have fun," he says. "Would you fancy going out for dinner tonight, after you're done at Taylor's, perhaps?"

"That would be lovely," I say, then planting a little kiss on his cheek. "I'll text you."

"Perfect."

At that, I slip on my brown ankle boots and Hamilton beanie, then leave the house.

Once I'm at Taylor's, she eagerly ushers me inside.

"How are you doing?" I ask her.

"Honestly? Not great," she admits. "I don't think I'll ever be able to leave the house again."

"What do you mean?" I ask her. "You look so beautiful."

"Don't lie to me," Taylor insists. "I can't seem to lose this baby weight, and I still have to wear my maternity clothes, but now, they have spit up all over them. And oh my god, I have to pump for her all of the time, and when I'm not pumping, she's hungry. I haven't had a real, intellectual conversation, with a fully grown human that isn't Joe and centering around Audrie since... I can't even remember. I haven't taken a real shower, uninterrupted, for almost two weeks, Harper. I don't think you know what that feels like. Don't get me wrong, I love Audrie with all of my heart, but I just don't know how I'm going to do this. And Joe has a movie that he's starting full time rehearsals for in a week."

"Hey," I tell her, wrapping her in a hug, "deep breaths. Now, here's what's going to happen. I'm going to watch Audrie, and you are going to go take a nice, long, warm shower. Play some music and sing. I won't judge. I'll feed her if she's hungry and change her if she's soiled. When you're done in the shower, you can come back down here and we will eat some yummy food and talk about whatever you want."

Taylor looks at me, and doesn't say anything for a moment, then, "Harper Elise Alwyn, what did I ever do to deserve you?"

"Hey," I tell her, "I always wanted a sister."

"I have breast milk in bottles in the fridge, so if she needs a bottle, then she can have that. There's a burp cloth on the table. Nappies and wipes are basically everywhere. If you can't figure out what it is that she needs, then you can come get me. You're the absolute best."

The two of us exchange a quick hug before Taylor scurries off to her bathroom, to take some time for herself.

Audrie continues to sleep in her bassinet for a few minutes, but eventually, she wakes up and starts to cry.

"What's wrong, sweetie," I coo, picking up the little girl. I notice that she needs a new nappy, so I find one of the many changing stations which Taylor has set up, and give her a quick change. That calms her for a few moments, but it isn't long until I know that she wants a bottle, so I hold her on my shoulder and walk to the fridge, where I grab a bottle, then we get situated with the bottle.

I'm so relieved that I took that babysitting course as a teenager, because that taught me how to properly care for infants. It's come in handy many times, and I babysat my way through the Royal Academy of Music. Right now, it's coming in handy again, as I know what to do with Audrie.

I watch the little girl as I hold her in my arms. She's absolutely beautiful. She's happily sucking away at her bottle. Every few minutes, I pull her up to my shoulder and burp her.

After Audrie is all done eating, I swaddle her so that we can cuddle for a little bit. She drifts off to sleep quite quickly, as I rock her and sing softly.

There is a castle on a cloud. I like to go there in my sleep...

I soon look up, mid-song, to notice Taylor standing in the doorway, just silently watching us.

"Well, you're quite good with her, it seems," Taylor smiles. She walks over and looks at her little girl in my arms. "Look at how happy she is."

I smile up at her. "Thanks, Tay."

"Do you mind holding her for a bit longer?"

"Not a problem," I reply. Taylor sits on the sofa, next to me and her daughter.

"So, did you have a nice shower?"

"It was exactly what I needed," she laughs. Taylor pauses before speaking again. "I really do think that she likes you, Harper. She hasn't taken too well to most people except for Joe and I holding her. She let her grandparents hold her for a few minutes, but you've been with her for a long time now."

I look at Taylor. "Really?"

"Really."

"Well, I love her so much, too."