Harry Styles Grammys - Blog Posts

Grammy Bunny

Sophia Tuxford likes to believe that everything happens for a reason. But as she looks at her phone that’s open on the text thread with her good friend and boss, Alessandro Michelle, she might think otherwise.

From: Lallo M.

“I fiori preferiti di Anne sono il garofano. Ringraziare dopo, mia cara.” (Anne's favorite flowers are carnations. Thank me later, my dear.)

To: Lallo M.

“Ti ho detto quanto adoro tutto il tuo essere? Perché lo faccio davvero.” (Have I told you how much I adore your entire being? Cause I really do.)

From: Lallo M.

“Not nearly enough, ma sono sicuro che Anne si sentirà davvero adorata una volta che le avrai regalato quei fiori. Don’t worry too much, mia cara.” (Not nearly enough, but I'm sure Anne will really feel adored once you give her those flowers. Don’t worry too much, my dear.)

To: Lallo M.

“Thanks, Lallo. You always know what to do when I worry too much. Non so cosa farò senza di te, ti amo amico mio.” (Thank, Lallo. You always know what to do when I worry too much. Don't know what I'll do without you, love you my friend.)

And that was that. Sophia Tuxford thinks that maybe some things don’t happen just for a reason, they happen because of the amazing Alessandro Michelle. Without him, Sophia might have never even met or had the nerve to approach her bunny.

Speaking of her bunny, Sophia exhales a sigh of relief upon checking for the nth time that she had no new messages or missed calls from him. She wouldn’t want to ruin Anne’s surprise for him just because her son was being the little clingy man-baby that he likes to be when with her, especially when they haven’t seen each other in person for more than a week.

Sophia halts the cab upon seeing a local London floristry from the window of her seat. With help from the driver for her single luggage, Sophia thanks him and heads straight to the door of the store. The heady scent of florals is an instant hit to her system, eyes instinctively closing to inhale one of her favorite smells in the world. She smiles, eyes lighting up to the familiarity of the scene. Whether from her local floristry just near her home in Italy, or here at a random shop in her second home of London, flowers will always bring immense joy to Sophia.

She goes ahead and asks for an arrangement of pink and white carnations, the kind lady finished preparing it in just about three minutes, and Sophia was out the door with a promise of coming back when she visits again. She’s sure that her best friend Cinzia would love an instant classic rose arrangement from them as props for her constant stream of Instagram content. Though Sophia can’t say much; Harry has rubbed some of his narcissism into her based on the rise of selfies and outfit pictures she posts on her own account.

The second cab ride, now heading towards Anne’s new home in London that Harry had gotten for her last Christmas, Sophia makes a mental checklist of what might go down today.

It’s Harry’s surprise post-Grammy win celebration that Anne had prepared and organized herself. Because of the restrictions of today’s situation, only Jeff and Glenne were fortunate enough to attend the event with Harry, and celebrate his win with him. Obviously, Anne was not a happy mother upon being denied access to travel to America, and who is she kidding? Sophia herself was no way near a happy camper upon getting the call from Alessandro that she won’t be able to see him wear the leather ensemble she had made for his Grammy opening performance in person. The green feathered boa was her idea! She has full rights to be on front row seats for that.

But Harry’s sad pouting face that greeted her on FaceTime, was an enough push to school her emotions and tend to her teary-eyed bunny who she’s sure would no doubt rival her own complaints. And up until now, as she reminisced to that time two weeks ago while sitting on this cab roaming the streets of London, Sophia feels a shiver down her spine just remembering the onslaught of tears that fell from Harry’s eyes not even five minutes down that FaceTime call.

It’s not even because of the outfit anymore and making sure it fit well and didn’t tear, it’s more about having someone there with him to support him in such a new and foreign environment. No matter the amount of award shows he has attended in his entire music career, the Grammys is a whole other realm. And it breaks Sophia’s heart remembering her fear-stricken bunny, crying tears of frustration for missing his family, friends, fans, and her. And both of them can’t do anything to fix it entirely, the way they want it.

So she was over the moon upon receiving the invite from Anne, that she was preparing an intimate afternoon lunch for Harry and his Grammy win together with close friends and family. There was not an inch of question within her when she asked Alessandro for a week-off, promising to do double the work when she came back. Obviously, since Alessandro was the one who introduced them to each other a few years back, he didn’t even bat an eye at her request and even recommended for her to bring a few bottles of wine for the party.

Since Lallo seems to know everything about love and friendship, Sophia carefully clutches in her hand the Gucci tote containing the four bottles of wine she had bought from Harry and her favorite winery in Milan, the carnations arrangement tucked by her chest and luggage behind. She was now outside the gates of Anne’s London home, security present at the front. Before they can even question if she was invited for the party or a lost girl looking for a hotel, Niall Horan emerges from the gates.

Niall was wearing a simple light yellow cotton button-up, white shorts falling just above his knee, eyes adorned with brown-tinted sunglasses. In Sophia’s opinion, the centerpiece, and most surprising detail of his outfit would have to be the classic Gucci monogrammed loafers on his feet.

When his eyes catch hers, a wide grin breaks into his face. Sophia rolls her eyes as Niall makes his way to her, whistling.

“Well look who the Italian sun brought here in dreary London,” Nial embraces her in a half-hug, a peck placed on her cheek which she returned.

Niall takes the tote bag filled with bottles of wine and chuckles at the weight of it.

“I don’t think I’m the only that the Italian sun brought here,” Sophia looks at his feet for emphasis.

Niall points out his right foot in front of him, seemingly inspecting it, “Oh, this old thing here? Honestly just found this one lying around my closet; wonder where I got it from.”

Sophia looks at him with a raised brow, amusement written on her face for his faulty excuse.

“Alright,” Niall surrenders, “Harry might have hinted a few times that they're a comfy pair of shoes, so thought I might give them a try.”

“And?” she wiggles her brows up and down.

Niall rolls his eyes before laughing while admitting, “Alright, fine! These Gucci loafers are fucking comfy and worth every dime! Happy?”

Sophia laughs, clutching the flower closer to her, “Assolutamente felice! Always good to have some validation for your hard work, as you might probably know well of, with you being a musician and stuff.” (Absolutely happy!)

“Yeah, just being a musician and stuff,” Niall makes fun of her words from earlier, he leads her towards Anne’s gate where the guards are still situated.

“Boys, I’ll take this one from here, don’t you worry.” he addresses the guards who are still looking warily at her, “This woman right here is precious cargo that must be taken with utmost love and care. Just ask your boss and he’ll be happy to respond to questions about anything or everything related to this woman.”

Sophia laughs and lightly hits Niall on the arm, his unnecessary flowery words making her cheeks heat tinted pink.

“What?” Niall chuckles at her, “Harry can talk for ages about you, mate! I ask about bloody loafers, and he talks my ears off about how you personally hand-stitch some of them and that you know the specific different shades of brown for the thread to be used, and that you prefer the one with a bit of faux fur at the end cause you-”

Sophia covers his mouth with her free hand, cheeks completely tinted red now. “Oh mio dio, Niall! The guards don’t need to hear all that.” (Oh my god, Niall!)

Her flustered reaction earns a full-belly laugh from Niall who claps his hands together before actually leading her inside the gate of the house. They reach the front door of the house itself, Niall’s laughter still boisterous with Sophia’s constant murmurs of disapproval floating around the air. Before they can even knock, the door swings open with Louis Tomlinson greeting them at the end of it.

“Oh shit!” Louis possibly shouts to the entire house, “The precious Italian cargo has arrived, ladies and gents! Harold will for surely cry his fucking eyes out now, for fucking sure!”

If it was even possible, Sophia feels like actually melting to the ground in a puddle of embarrassment. Before she can even be subject to more teasing, Anne appears from her view and she positively smiles at her.

“My lovely, Sophia!” She opens her arms to hug her, “So glad you could make it! How was your flight?”

Sophia returns her hug before answering, “Pretty good, slept the whole way through to be honest. These are for you by the way.”

Anne accepts the flowers that she has outstretched on her hand, positively beaming with happiness and surprise, “Oh love! You shouldn’t have! And carnations? My favorite! Well I guess Niall didn’t need to get more flowers after all.”

The two ladies turn their attention to Niall and Louis who are still quietly snickering by their side. Sophia narrows her eyes at them, seeing the mischief clearly written in their irises.

“She even brought some wine, Anne!” Niall shares enthusiastically, raising the Gucci tote in his hand.

“A proper daughter-in-law etiquette, huh Anne?” Louis chirps playfully.

Anne laughs as Sophia narrows her eyes further, free arms now crossing across her chest. Anne places an arm around her shoulder as some sort of protection.

“You boys stop teasing Soph, alright? Harry won’t appreciate hearing his two best mates poking fun at his girl.”

The fact that Harry’s mom categorized her as ‘his girl’ regardless of the lack of label the two have, made her tense a bit. And the knowing glances of the two boys at her was not helping at all. She knows that Anne didn’t mean to tease her or anything, that’s just how it looks to her, and to everyone apparently.

“Why don’t you choose a room to place your luggage at, Soph?” Anne turns to her, “You can also freshen-up a bit if you want, before you make your rounds at the party and before Harry’s arrival. Actually, you can just stay in his room cause the poor boy has been missing you dearly.”

The frown on Anne’s face upon mentioning Harry’s misfortunes about missing her, ultimately diminishes any underlying feeling of embarrassment for the implication of sharing a room with her son. Sophia herself frowns, thinking about what her bunny might have been saying to his mom, not liking the thought that he was missing her too much to the point where he had to find solace with his mom.

“Yeah, I think I’d take you on that one Anne.”

“Wonderful!” Anne claps her hands with a small smile on her lips now, “It’s the first room right after the lounge area upstairs. Can you carry your stuff yourself or should I instruct Lou to help you up?”

Louis smirks, “Open for service here, Ma’m. My dear friend Haz would not appreciate his lady toppling down the stairs, yeah?”

“No, I’m alright. I think our dear friend Haz would appreciate it better if you two help his lovely mother with the wine and flowers I brought with me, instead of teasing me all the time, yeah?”

Anne looks at her with a proud smile, having been able to hold her ground with the boys’ teasing which is a difficult feat to do considering they’re twenty-plus year olds who definitely still act like teenagers.

“Well, you heard her! Come on, make yourselves useful and help me along in the kitchen.” Anne orders the two boys as Sophia looks at them smugly, especially when she notices the small frowns forming on the boys’ faces as Anne instructs specific tasks for each of them.

It wasn’t difficult for Sophia to bring her single luggage up the stairs, nor to find Harry’s room as the boy had a penchant for placing his initials on the stuff he owns. Her fingertips glide softly on the gold blocks spelling out HS right in the top middle of the door; her mind can’t help but float to the similar rings adorned on his fingers who’s touch on her skin seemed such a foreign feeling now.

The room doesn’t have the same comforting scent that Harry’s room has in his Hampstead home, causing a pout on Sophia’s lips to form. It only lasts for a few seconds though cause as she surveys and inspects the room to gain some familiarity, she notices that the vanity in the bathroom is fully-stocked with Harry’s favorite brand of soaps, shampoo, aftershave, perfume, and all other beauty and hygiene products he keeps in his own bathroom.

Nobody should be surprised really that Sophia’s blatant enthusiasm for this discovery led her to only one conclusion: to have a shower and use the bloody stuff.

She smells like him is the first thought that comes to her mind upon drying herself of any droplets of water, making her way back to the bathroom where her outfit for the party is placed. Sophia feels extra giddy when she spritzs herself Harry's favorite Tom Ford perfume on her linen-buttoned vest, even spraying a bit on her matching cream linen trousers. She kept her makeup simple, thinking that smudging it is the last thing on her agenda as she’s sure that a showering of kisses and cuddles are inevitable later.

Once she feels confident in her appearance and that she feels ready to socialize and mingle around Harry’s abundant amount of close friends and family, she finishes her outfit by tying the laces of her new Jordans in Harry’s favorite color: baby blue. Sophia bets that it’s going to be the first thing Harry notices on her look for the day, instantly recognizing the meaning behind the gesture which is similar to everytime he wears anything lilac: her favorite color.

***

The extremely kind and sociable person that Harry is, definitely garnered him a lot of friends in the span of his 27-years of existence on this earth. But as Sophia makes rounds in the living room, kitchen, and the backyard, she’s thankful to notice that everyone here in Anne’s home ready to celebrate Harry’s first Grammy win, are nothing but part of his closest friends. Being best friends with him for about six years now, Sophia has seen firsthand the tragedies Harry had experienced when it comes to exposing fake friends and finding out who are the ingenuine ones that want nothing but to leech on his fame and all the privileges that come with it.

Sophia lingers with Louis and Niall for quite a bit in the kitchen, catching-up on the two musicians busy lives of preparing for postponed tours and new albums on the horizon. Obviously, Sophia doesn’t fail in trying to coax them into getting Gucci to dress them for some of their upcoming shows but was instantly denied (as always) saying they’re not as posh as Harry is who needs custom suits for every bloody concert. Her nose twitches in distaste as Louis even shares that sometimes he doesn’t wear clean clothes for his concert and nobody really gives a fuck about it cause according to him: “They come hear to listen and enjoy my music, not oggle my body with my fancy, fashion show, runway-esque clothing.”

Sophia doesn’t take offense on that, knowing he was only joking and that far more worse words have been spoken to her. Besides, it only fuels her drive to dress him, Niall, Harry, and even Liam, in matching sparkly Gucci suits that is for sure every damn One Direction fans’ are dreaming about.

When the two boys are whisked-away by some of their former One Direction crew members that Harry remained in close contact to, Sophia finds herself beside Nick Grimshaw in the backyard patio together with Mitch. She finds it amusing and interesting at the same time how Harry’s two closets, yet extremely polar opposite friends, are here right now discussing the latest episode of Love Island while waiting to celebrate him.

“I’ve always encouraged this one to audition,” Nick motions to her, placing an arm around her shoulder for emphasis, “Mitch, don’t you think she’d be a bloody brilliant contestant on the show? I think she’s going to be the little innocent heartbreaker on the island.”

Mitch actually laughs out loud at that, “Not sure man, I think the only heart Soph will be breaking is H’s heart by joining the show. Don’t think he’d take that lightly.”

“Oh he’s going to bawl his eyes out if she actually gets accepted yeah? And write bloody heartbreak songs about it for sure.” Nick says amusedly like Sophia was not sitting so close to him hearing him say all these.

“I don’t think we have to wait until she gets accepted before H cries his eyes out. Just the moment she tells him she plans on auditioning, not a minute later he’s going to be knocking on Sarah and I’s door in the brink of a breakdown and pours his broken heart in a new tune. I bet my favorite guitar that he’d even get a custom Gucci suit in her favorite color to fully embody his sorrow.”

“MITCH!”

And that was left at that; Sophia’s screech of his name has signalled his lovely girlfriend Sarah to come to the rescue, pledging full support for Sophia’s complaints about his and Nick’s relentlessly teasing. A minute later, she spots Gemma and Michal in the living room talking with Harry Lambert and Anthony Pham, which she suspects have also just arrived like the couple.

Sophia is greeted warmly by the new company, Lambert saying high-praises about all of Harry’s Grammy outfits saying how excellent her execution was of their vision. Anthony even opens his camera to share some of the shots he took of Harry that truly exemplifies the entire look, and eagerly accepted Sophia’s request for him to send her some of the pictures she liked. Gemma and Michal also shared some stories about their recent trip in Cornwall, England, where they watched Harry’s Grammy performance saying how much Harry and her would definitely love it there and should make a holiday out of it.

Sophia doesn’t notice the minutes that pass-by, being too submerged in the couple’s stories about their trip, and also sharing some of her own from her trip with Alessandro in Tuscany and Florence to gain some new inspiration for new collections. The next thing she knows, Anne announces loudly to the room that Harry’s five minutes away with Jeff and Glenne, and then Louis is ushering her to the kitchen saying something about “surprising Harold’s fucking face with a cake.”

Apparently she’s part of the surprise, so Sophia is left to peek at the corner of the kitchen archway as instructed by Louis before he left her there, cake in her hand as all others wait excitedly in the living room for Harry’s arrival.

Sophia feels him before she can see him, nor before she hears the outburst cheer of the guests as every single nerve in her body tingles, like it just knows Harry’s there a few feet away from her. She can feel his energy from her hidden position, and she’s pretty sure he’ll feel it too in less than a minute; it’s a them thing. Two energies attracting and forming into one has always been their thing, always will be the thing that will keep them intrinsically connected.

“She’s here,” she hears Harry say, not in a question but in a definitive statement.

“Who’s ‘she’?” Louis asks, acting confused, “Are you referring to your bloody song again, mate? Cause I’m pretty sure we’re here to celebrate your Grammy win and not talk about boring tour stuff.”

Sophia hears everyone laugh at that, can actually imagine the roll of eyes Harry might be giving his best friend for his comments.

“No, she’s here.” Harry says with more edge, “I can feel her, she’s here, in this house, and you guys are probably hiding her the fuck away from me. Is she in my room or something? Is she asleep and you guys didn’t even bloody wake her up before you planned to surprise me?”

Sophia laughs quietly at the alarm and disbelief in his tone, and she guesses Harry might actually believe his theory was correct judging by the protests of people saying that he should stop going up the stairs cause she’s not there.

“Can you guys just tell H where Sophia is, cause I don’t want him crying in the next second.” Jeff says eliciting more laughter around everyone.

Well that’s her que to enter, Sophia thinks to herself. And just like that, she quickly lights the candle on top of the “Congratulations for your first Harry Grammy!” with a bunch of watermelons decorated with icing around it.

Sophia’s heart actually melts upon catching her first eye-full of the beauty that is Harry Styles. He’s dressed in a full Gucci ensemble of a baby blue button-up, dark brown specks nestled atop his curly locks, black bandana acting as a necklace on his neck, and white flared trousers with her red stitching of “Loved” on the bottom, completed with a classic white leather Gucci loafers.

“Bunny.” Sophia can’t help but exhale upon making her way right in front of him, cake in her hand completely forgotten.

“Sunflower.” Harry answers back, dimples popping on his left cheek, eyes softening as he looks at her. “Did you bake this for me?”

For a moment, Sophia is confused about what he’s talking about, but as his eyes dart down to her hands, a cheeky smile thrown at her, she remembers.

“Oh! No, I didn’t. I think Anne got it somewhere for you.” She rambles uselessly, clearly already lost with Harry’s presence in front of her.

Harry giggles cutely at her reaction, “Well, I can assure you that your cake will still taste better than this, sorry mom.”

Everyone laughs at the interaction, Niall coaxing Harry to blow the damn candle already so he can have a slice of the cake for himself. Harry follows dutifully right after sending a wink at Sophia, the latter giggling at his antics.

Cheers passed around the room after the candle had been blown, Harry got the cake from Sophia’s hold and handed the cake to the waiting hands of Niall. And once no obstructions were in between the two, Harry envelopes her in a tight bear-hug, bending down to reach her height and face tucked into her neck the same hers is nuzzling at his neck.

“Mi è mancato così tanto il mio girasole” (I missed my sunflower so much.)

“Bunny.” Sophia whimpers rather pathetically as a reply, mind still reeling so fast from everything happening.

She feels overwhelmed with Harry’s scent and warmth filling her senses after so long of longing for it, combined with the eyes of their audience is just too much for her.

Harry giggles once again, “Is that all you’re going to say to me for the entirety of the day?” and he squeezes her tighter to his body, uncaring to everyone and anything around them.

“No, missed you too, my bunny. Mi sei mancato così tanto che mi fa male il cuore.” (I missed you so much that my heart hurts.)

Sophia feels the sharp in-take of air that Harry took after she said it, her own self filling with emotions as he seems to follow the same sentiments.

“Il mio cuore ha smesso di battere per essere così lontano da te, amore mio.” (My heart stopped beating for being so far away from you, my love.)

That actually makes Sophia chuckle, chuckle wetly that is. She feels the tell-tale signs of the tears resting just at the side of her eyes, Harry must have heard it too cause he groans and nuzzles further into her, nosing affectionately at the side of her neck.

“Hey, no crying lovie. Cause that’s only going to make me sad, and when my Sunflower is sad it will make me cry. Nobody wants the celebrant of the party to be a cry-baby.”

Sophia sniffles a laugh, willing her tears to no longer continue their descent, knowing full-well that Harry’s really speaking of the truth and the two of them crying together after a simple hug will never be forgotten by their friends and family which will be made known by the relentless teasing that will surely ensure.

“I’m not going to cry anymore.” She assures herself more than him to be honest.

“That’s what I’d like to hear, no more of those tears, alright Sunflower?”

She nods her head in reply, still reluctant to leave the comforting confines of his neck.

“Use your words please, lovie?”

Harry detaches from their embrace, one arm still wrapped around her waist to keep them close, ringed fingers tilting her chin up to have clear eye-contact with each other. Lost in the abyss of his green eyes, Sophia nods again and replies verbally.

“Okay, Harry. No going to cry anymore, promise.”

Her soft voice was close to a whisper, but it still etches a tender smile of acknowledgement to form on Harry’s lips. He bends down to press a kiss on her forehead before gently rubbing his nose to her in an eskimo kiss.

“Tell you what, I’d go now and make rounds with everyone here just to be polite and be a fabulous host since I am the guest of honor,” he smirks, the narcissist that he is always shows up in some form, “While I’m doing that, why don’t you join Glenne and Gem in helping mum arrange the food on the long table at the backyard? That way you can place all the dishes you fancy most by our seats so Niall doesn’t end up eating them all. That way, I can finish talking to everyone quicker and I’m justified in giving all my attention to you after that.”

“Okay, but maybe try rescheduling your attention-shower on me after lunch? Perché sai che amo il cibo più di te.” (Because you know I love food more than you.)

Sophia quickly smacks a wet sweet kiss on his dimpled cheek before leaving him there with everyone, an affronted noise of protest echoes after her as she and Glenne, linked by the arm, make their way to the kitchen to provide Anne some assistance.

“He really had no idea you were going to be here.” Glenne smiles at her as they make rounds transfering dishes from inside to the outside of the house.

“Really? I would have assumed someone would have dropped hints or something.”

“Nah, Jeff and I have been getting quite a laugh at his soppiness about missing you to be honest,” both girls giggle at Glenne’s words. “And I know you two genuinely miss each other so much, but babe! You can’t deny how absolutely hilarious Harry gets when he becomes too dramatic. The boy was complaining on the car ride here about how Jeff’s driving would cause you car sickness, and how he would definitely ‘throw hands’ if he finds out Jeff offered to drive you somewhere without his prior knowledge.”

Sophia’s jaw drops for a minute, registering this information. She laughs heartily, wishing she was there to record the entire thing.

“Throw hands? I don’t think I can trust him with that!” Sophia responds amusedly, “Harry won’t even kill a bloody ant even if it tried biting him.”

“I actually said that you won’t even subject yourself to that harm in the first place, and he should just stop moaning at the fact that you are definitely a strong independent woman who needs no man to drive her around.”

“Amen to that, babes!”

Besides, Sophia thinks she doesn't even like driving cars and would rather ride her pastel yellow Vespa around Italy to do her personal errands. She’d even offer Harry to tag-along from behind with his arms enclosed around her waist as she cruises them around cobbled streets under the heat of the Italian sun. That’s definitely a plan she’s sure her bunny won’t even think twice before agreeing.

***

The late outdoor lunch began soon after, everyone claiming seats around the long table where the feast will be held.

Sophia is waiting patiently for all the guests to pick the seats they wanted, assured by the fact that wherever Harry sits, she must follow along beside him as the celebrant had wanted.

“Sunflower,” Harry cranes his neck to search for her, when they lock eyes, he smiles at her. “Vieni qui accanto a me, per favore.” (Come here beside me, please.)

Their cheeky friends whistled good-naturedly at the exchange as Sophia makes her way to him, chair already pulled-out for her like the true gentleman that he is.

“There you go, darling.” Harry tucks her chair in when she has seated.

Sophia turns to him when he is seated too, placing a sweet kiss on his cheek in thanks. She notes the slight pinking of his cheek and how he eagerly starts attending to her by reaching for her favorite dishes (which she did strategically placed in front of them) and serves some of it on her plate. He even fetches the pitcher of mango juice and fills her glass mostly full of it before he attends to his own food.

Sophia’s sure that Harry can feel her eyes on him even as they’ve started eating already, conversations around the table sparse due to everyone’s rapt attention on their own hungry tummies.

“Is there something on my face?” Harry turns to his side to face her, eyebrows furrowing. “You keep on staring at me, lovie.”

“Nothing,” Sophia shakes her head with a small smirk on her lips, “Just think you look real cute and all, with your Gucci fit. I should tell Lallo to give more thought to this type of picnic aesthetic look you’ve got on so maybe he can make more for a possible summer collection or something.”

Harry nods his head slowly while chewing on his Yorkshire pudding, “Are you sure that’s all?”

He really knows her well, “And that your attentiveness to me is so cute, I like how you take care of me a lot. Also, you have some of the vegan roast on your plate and I didn’t get a chance to get some awhile ago before it was finished. May I please have a taste from yours?”

Harry just looks at her for a moment with a growing smile, letting her words register in his mind. When it does, he chuckles to himself.

“I think that can be arranged, as long as you share some of your vegan lasagna with me then you get yourself a deal.”

Sophia nods eagerly, “Affare, lovie.” (Deal, lovie.)

Harry gladly spoon-feeds her some of his vegan roast, while Sophia does the same with her vegan lasagna. Their whole lunch consisted of taking turns either feeding each other, or helping themselves to each other’s plates while they indulge in small conversations with their friends and family. Everyone at the table was already highly used to the twos’ affectionate exchanges, not batting an eye at Harry wiping a bit of tomato sauce that went to the side of Sophia’s mouth with his own thumb before placing his finger on his own mouth to suck-off the sauce, nor the way Sophia hand-feeds Harry some of the baked potatoes drenched in ranch with the latter’s mouth releasing a ‘pop’ sound when her fingers left his lips.

When dessert came around, it was a wise decision to just share a big plate of the cake from earlier. Since Sophia wasn’t that big of a fan of cakes in general, she happily indulges Harry to feed her again with his own fork whilst conversing with Gemma and Michal about their trip to Cornwall, suggesting the same thing to him as they did with Sophia.

“I wouldn’t mind being away from the city for a week,” Harry says, turning to Sophia to feed her again. “I’m honestly down to go, if you are, Sunflower. Do you have some slaving to do for Lallo and his clothes next week?”

Sophia giggles at his joke, “I do have some slaving to do for Lallo and his clothes next week, and you’re kind of the reason for it since I am staying here in London for a week and not going to work for him right now.”

Now that was a surprise for Harry. It was a rare occasion for Sophia to leave work for a week without being planned for months as taking her away from making clothes is a very difficult feat to accomplish. Harry himself has to inform her two weeks before if he plans to have dinner with her when he’s visiting Italy.

Harry whistles, throwing a smirk at Sophia, “Must mean I’m a special boy then, if you’re leaving Lallo and his clothes for me, for a whole bloody week. Fuck, I think I might actually cry.”

He jokingly sniffs and wipes his dry eyes, their friends and family including Sophia are chuckling at his dramatics.

“You kinda are... special, I mean.” Sophia says shyly that Harry intertwines his right hand with hers, giving the back of it a reverent kiss.

“You are too, so special, my Sunflower.” He whispers back, squeezing her hand and bringing their joined hands to rest on his thigh. “Does this mean we’ll postpone our Cornwall trip for another time, and instead I’ll bring you with me to Homes Chapel for the rest of the week?”

Sophia should have guessed that after staying in such a busy city that is Los Angeles, California, Harry would want to stay for a bit in a more chill and quiet place like that of his family home in Cheshire when he arrives back in London. It’s just that she’s never been there actually. Harry and her have not yet reached that stage in their friendship/relationship whatever limbo that they’re in where they take each other to their hometowns and childhood homes. It seems quite a big deal for Sophia, like the next step after meeting the parents - kind of serious.

She honestly doesn’t want to impose herself in Anne’s home, knowing that she would probably want to soak up as much time as she can have with her son too before he goes off to plan and do his tour. But Sophia doesn’t think she can answer anything else but a ‘yes’ as Harry’s green wide doe-like eyes peer up at her all softly, like it would seriously hurt him if she says otherwise.

Before Harry has the chance to pull-out the matching pout to convince her, Sophia is nodding her in answer with an all too knowing look on her face.

“Yes, I’ll go to Homes Chapel with you, sciocco bunny.” (silly bunny.)

The winning smile that overtakes the whole of Harry’s face, stays for the entirety of the day as he kisses her cheeks and nose in utter excitement.

***

After the late lunch in the backyard, most people stayed to converse with Harry and the others some more, while some said their goodbyes and left for other engagements. Much to Harry’s earlier promise, he had kept Sophia by his side the majority of the time they were talking to their friends, one hand either at the small of her back, her hip, around her waist, or on top of her thigh when they have found themselves lounging in the couches at the living room.

By this time, most people have already left before dinner. The only ones left staying are his sister and her boyfriend, Niall, Louis and Nick, Jeff and Glenne, Lambert and Anthony, and his band. They have just popped a movie on the TV via NetFlix while Jeff, Harry and Niall went to the kitchen to serve some of the bottles of wine she had brought.

Harry returns with four wine glasses on his two giant hands, handing two to Gemma and Michal, and the last one to Sophia; noting that it’s so sweet of her to have brought fresh from Italy their favorite wine.

“Up you get, Sunflower,” he motions for her to stand-up from her position on the couch. Sophia follows his order and Harry situates himself comfortably in her previous position and taps his thighs for her to sit on.

She carefully sits sideways on his lap, not wanting to spill their glasses of wine in Anne’s new and pristine white couches. Harry’s arm circles around her waist to keep her in place on his lap, and they clink their glasses together before taking a sip.

Everyone watched the movie while contentedly sipping on their glasses of wine, occasionally breaking into small conversations every once in a while. As the movie nears the end, everyone is pretty much wine-happy and laughter around the living area can be more prominently heard. Harry in particular had immersed himself in a full conversation with Nick and Louis about footie and making plans to have a ‘rager weekend like the good o’l lads time before becoming proper wifed-up popstars’ when the World Cup time arrives.

Sophia has decided to just listen around her, saying things here and there when she wants too, but majority of the time she has found comfort in completely going pliant against Harry’s body with her head resting on his shoulder and nose occasionally nuzzling at the side of his neck.

At a particular lull in his conversations, Harry returns the gesture and nuzzles his nose at Sophia’s neck, properly sniffing it afterwards.

“Did you use my perfume?” He looks at her with a small frown on his forehead.

Sheepishly, Sophia giggles and hides her face on his neck, trying to avoid eye-contact.

“Heeeyyy…” Harry giggles back, “Why are you acting all shy now, Sunflower? I just asked a simple and innocent question.”

The hidden tone of teasing in his voice is very apparent in Sophia’s ear, “What if I did, use your perfume or something like that?”

“So is that a yes, then?”

“I asked you a question first, don’t be naughty.”

Harry does a belly-laugh at that, squeezing Sophia closer to him.

“Me? You’re the one who was being naughty and used my perfume, lovie.”

“Alright, I used it. Così quello che ora?” (So what now?)

Sophia feels Harry take a lungful of her scent again, “Nothing, you just smell like me.”

Sophia can’t confirm if that referred to something good or bad, so she goes out of her hiding from his neck, piercing her curious blue eyes with his green orbs. What she finds is the slight pinking of Harry’s ear, a tell-tale sign of flusteredness.

She throws him a smirk, “You like it, you like me smelling like you.” she says it definitively, no room for questioning. “Cattivo, cattivo bunny.” (Naughty, naughty bunny.)

Harry positively turns pink now, all over his neck to his cheeks. He giggles shyly, then ducks to find his face on her neck this time.

“Not being naughty…” he mumbles in a baby voice on her skin. “Adoro il tuo odore come me. Really are my Sunflower.” (I just adore how you smell like me.)

Sophia can’t help but smile, so endeared by the affection Harry was giving her. She was already used to his sweet nature ever since they became close friends. It just catches her off-guard right now as it has been awhile since has experienced it beyond a virtual screen.

Harry situates himself comfortably in that position, arms still wrapped around her body sitting on his lap, his face squished and nuzzles on her neck, sometimes dropping kisses on the skin of her collarbones and even at the cut of her jaw. Sophia returns the attention by massaging the curls on his head, lips finding his forehead every now and then.

They’re no longer wine-happy, they’re more in the wine-cuddly state now; immersed at each others’ touch and warmth. God, did Sophia really miss having her bunny in her arms to love on.

***

Sophia’s arms and legs are wrapped tightly around Harry, the latter’s arms supporting her weight as he carries her upstairs to his room.

“Stop squeezing my ass, H.” Sophia giggles while Harry opens the door with his right hand, the other squeezing one of her backsides’ cheeks.

“Never! I missed you, lovie. Give a man a fucking break!”

He enthusiastically seats them on his bed, bouncing at the impact of his fast action resulting in laughter to ensue between them.

“Baby!” Sophia screeches, squeezing herself tighter around Harry when her straddling position gives him better access to squeeze her ass cheeks.

“Bloody fuck, did I miss everything about you.” He groans, dropping his head on her neck to litter wet kisses on the skin. “And you’re going to be wearing my perfume from now on too, you smell delectable, Sunflower.”

Sophia sighs contently, allowing Harry’s suckling on her neck. “Bunny, don’t think that can happen. Lallo will fire me if he smells me in your Tom Ford perfume, they’re still our competitors, remember?”

Harry giggles and leaves one last wet kiss on the red mark he made at the side of her neck, “Is he still bitter about that?” Sophia just nods her head while smiling.

Harry rolls his eyes good-naturedly, “Tell your boss to get over himself! I am allowed to love other things aside from Gucci, and besides, if you weren’t employed to him I’d probably have asked Lambert to find me another fashion house to do my next tour.”

Sophia’s mouth drops in shock at his joke, hands slapping his shoulder automatically, “Oh mio Dio, sei così morto per Lallo!” (Oh my god, you’re so dead to Lallo!)

“I’m just joking lovie! Don’t tell on me!”

“Na-uh, say goodbye to your boas and sparkly vests for tour.”

She pretends to reach for her phone in her side pocket and Harry swiftly delivers a spank on her bum, halting her actions in a laugh as he quickly turns them around and lays her body on the bed with him resting on top of her.

“Harry Styles, we are going to have a talk about your sudden obsession with my bum, this is not going to be a healthy habit bunny.”

Harry laughs at her disgruntled face, “Not sudden though, I have always loved your bum.”

“Yeah? So you are a bum guy then?” She asks cheekily, giggling at his raised brow.

“What's that comment supposed to mean? I swear you young ones have new meanings for everything.”

“Hey! FYI, you’re just a year older than me, so don’t tell me I’m that young, I appreciate the flattery though.” They share a laugh at that, “And the question I asked has no ulterior meaning bunny, just asking for your confirmation that you really are more of a bum man than a boob man.”

“Boob man?!” Harry asks, shocked that the phrase even came out of Sophia’s mouth.

Sophia giggles, “Yeah, boob man. Like, you prefer these,” and she presses her chest to him from their position, “Or my bum.”

Harry smirks, “Can I not be both? Like, I adore both parts of your body, Sunflower. Can’t choose a favorite, I think. Wait, lemme check.”

All of a sudden, one of his large hands find their way on her ass with a squeeze, the other doing the same at one of her breasts. Sophia’s breath stutters at the unexpected intimate action.

“Um,” Harry says, like he’s thinking, and delivers another squeeze at both body parts, “I think I love them both dearly, so that makes me an ass and boob man, yeah? Actually, Sophia's ass and boob man is more like it.”

She groans at his cheekiness, Harry only laughs at her undeniably pink and flustered state as he delivers an eskimos kiss with their noses and hugs her tighter to him with his whole body flopped on top of hers.

“Alright, that’s enough touching bunny, have to get off of me.”

“No way, cuddle me forever and ever now that you’re back with me!”

“Can’t give you your present if that’s your plan.”

That shuts him up, never one to decline presents especially from her, “What present? It’s not my birthday yet if you forgot.”

She rolls her eyes and gently squeezes his love handles, “Obviously I know, it’s more of a special present since you won your first-ever Grammy even though you deserve to have won the other two as well that you were nominated for.”

Harry snorts at her collarbone where his face is resting, “Better stop stroking my ego, lovie. Reckon won’t be good for narcissists like myself.”

Sophia fondly squeezes his love handles again, “I’m not stroking your ego, Ti sto solo apprezzando come meriti.” (I’m just appreciating you as you deserve.)

Harry hums softly in answer, placing a deep kiss on the cavity of her collarbone before removing himself on top of her and sitting down on the bed.

“I suggest you fetch that gift already before I pounce on you to show my own appreciation for you.”

Sophia laughs at the look of seriousness on Harry’s face, making her way to his closet where she unpacked her suitcase and the green Gucci parcel she wrapped herself before flying to London.

Sophia makes her way back to the bedroom, sitting beside Harry who’s waiting obediently with a child-like smile of excitement on his face upon seeing the familiar parcel on her hands.

Sophia giggles and places the parcel in front of him “Pressie time!”

“Thank you, Sunflower. Already know I’m going to love it cause it’s from my love.”

His cheesy words make Sophia roll her eyes, “Stop being a sap and just open it already.”

“Alright, alright. Such an impatient flower today, huh?”

Carefully, Harry places the Gucci parcel on his lap, delicately opening the various layers of package with his glistening ringed fingers. Sophia watches in anticipation beside him, fetching her phone to capture the moment in video.

The moment the present is revealed to his eyes, Harry loudly gasps and softly runs his hand on the pink leather of the Gucci Jackie bag that he adores so much.

“It’s pink, do you like it bunny?” Sophia asks while giggling at his continuous look of awe, focusing the camera of the phone on his face.

“Of course I fucking love it! It’s bloody pink, my favorite color, Sunflower!” He places the parcel on the bed, bag still inside, and closes the gap between the two of them by pulling her to him in a hug, surprising Sophia with a squeal.

Harry quickly rearranges them back to a straddling position, arms wrapped around her body tightly with her own around his neck. He deposits a kiss at the side of her mouth, smiling so big that Sophia has no choice but to return it.

“Grazie amore mio. Ama sempre ciò che mi dai.” (Thank you my love. Alway love what you give me.)

Sophia giggles at his cuteness, heart always warming whenever Harry speaks Italian. She returns his kiss on his forehead, thumbing-away that one stubborn curl always falling there.

“Sei sempre il benvenuto, bunny. I know that Lallo doesn’t sell your favorite bag in pink, so I requested this right after you got nominated cause obviously, I already knew you were going to win. And also, I especially asked for this kind of pink, this Harry pink, like the shade you love so much on your debut album. I even had to go back a few times to the craftsmen department just to make sure they got the right shade of pink. Bless Lallo for not ordering me to just make the bag myself after I’ve ‘harassed’ his workers continuously.”

Her rambling has endeared Harry tremendously, always transfixed everytime she just lets her words run down from her mouth. As someone who’s usually more observant and reserved, Sophia rarely rambles in this fashion, Harry or Alessandro being the only ones who are able to unleash this side of hers.

“God, you’re fucking amazing.” is all that Harry has the power to say, the English vocabulary lost somewhere in the back of his brain as everything in him has been replaced by everything about his Sunflower.

Sophia likes to believe that everything happens for a reason, that maybe having Alessandro in her life is the reason why she met Harry.

But what if that didn’t matter?

Sitting on the lap of the boy she utterly adores, surrounded by his warmth, love, and energy, makes Sophia believe that whether because of Alessandro or not, she was placed on this earth to care and protect this real-life curly cherub of a man. No other reason is needed for Sophia to fulfill that.