"I can't."

He frowned. "What do you mean you can't?"

"You know exactly why, Harry." She shot him a pointed look.

"Can you not move it up to next week?"

"Are you even being for real right now? I have worked my ass off for this and you're asking me to fucking reschedule??"

Harry huffed and rolled his eyes, indicating he was annoyed with her. His annoyance was nothing compared to Moira's, however. Better yet, the anger radiated off of her as she ran a hand through her hair and chuckled, the tone of it lacking humour.

Fate must have despised them a lot. Because as it turned out, the big launch of the -by Moira designed-condos was on the same night as the Crescendos -where Bones was nominated in three categories and Harry himself in one.

Needless to say, Moira understood why Harry could not simply cancel the biggest night of his life. So why did he not understand her point of view? For the past two months, she'd worked herself to the notch; dead tired after she came home and with dark bags gracing her face as she woke up the following morning to go back to the office.

She'd put her heart and soul into this condo project, and Harry had seen it all. How she'd drink cups and cups of coffee to stay awake, he'd experienced her stress and frantic phone calls. So why on earth, did he not understand? Moira could sympathize with his disappointment; because she wouldn't be at the award show to support him in flesh and blood. After all, she felt the same about him not being at the launch. Though that wasn't an excuse for his behaviour.

Not going to the launch would mean all her hard work had been for nothing.

"Come on, baby, this is the Crescendos we're talking about.. Biggest music award show in the world!"

"I know.. But if I don't go to the launch, I'll probably get fired." She sighed. "And besides, I support you regardless of anything. My presence isn't necessarily required to know I love you and I'm proud of you."

Completely ignoring the last part of her speech, he said "So? We have enough money to last us a life time. Plus, you'll be able to spend a whole lot of more time with Ollie and I if you don't have a job."

Moira stared at him for a second then stood up shakily, letting her legs carry her away.

"Where are you going?" He snapped from his spot on the couch, his eyes blazing with something specific as he closely followed her every move.

Never did she give him a solid answer. In that moment, he wasn't worthy of her words. Moira continued making her way upstairs and into their bedroom, shutting the door with a slam and locking it behind her -thanking her lucky charms Ollie was at her mom's place, or else she wouldn't have been able to make as much noise as she had.

Moira had only just sat down on the bed, frustratedly trying to withhold her tears, when footsteps approached fast and furious, heavy feet slapping against the hardwood floor. Laboured panting could be heard on the other side of her barrier from Harry, and she watched on with anticipation as the door trembled when his fist pounded on it repeatedly.

"Moira! Open the god damn door!"

Keeping her eyes locked on the door, she scoffed and shook her head. Of course she wouldn't open the door with him screaming at her like that. "Calm down first and perhaps then I'll reconsider.

The door handle rattled rather aggressively. "I swear I'll break it down." He warned.

"Try me." She challenged, not moving from the bed, grumpily staring ahead with her arms crossed.

"Fine then, have it your way."

Moira's heart pounded painfully in her chest as she waited. Her my palms grew sweaty, her ears straining to listen for any noises, and her eyes never strayed from the door.

But there was nothing.

---------------------------

"Haz, quit fidgeting." Finn hissed from beside him, placing his hands over both of his, securing them there to keep his friend immobile.

"Sorry." Harry sighed, trying to keep his voice down so the other guests wouldn't be tempted to try and listen in on their conversation.

"You look fine if that's what you're worried about."

"Very funny."

The grin slipped from Finn's face. "Is it Moira?"

Pushing his friend's hands away, he focused on his suit pants and faked interest as he traced a pattern. "You think I'd stay over at your place for three days because I missed our sleepovers?"

"Fair point."

Harry was quiet, concentrating on the presenter's voice as he announced the next performance. Mindlessly, he clapped along with all the other guests and watched as the singer appeared into view -dressed in something that looked like a plastic bag.

"Have you talked to her since the fight?"

"No."

"Have you tried?"

"No."

"Well, there's your answer then."

Harry tilted his head, his hands tensing into fists. "She could have easily contacted me."

Finn gulped down the last remains of his champagne and politely gestured a waiter for another fill. Once satisfied with the filled glass, he took a small sip and turned back to his friend. "Why would she?"

"Are you saying I'm in the wrong?"

"Hell yeah you are." Finn said condescendingly.

In one way or another, Harry felt a barely noticeable ounce of betrayal. Throughout the past three days, his best friend had listened to his endless venting without complaining or stating his opinion, just nodding or shaking his head whenever appropriate. And because of this, the current turn of events took Harry by surprise. "On whose side are you!"

"Nobodies. You're my best friend but she's the only person in the world who was able to tame you and I respect that." He uttered casually, grabbing a handful of salted almonds from a nearby snack bowl. "You basically told her your job is more important than hers and unknowingly belittled her. And instead of acting like a total bitch and offending you in all ways god forbid like she used to, she walked away from the conversation, and you walked away from her."

Harry swallowed thickly. "I'm so stupid."

"Tell me something I don't know." Finn laughed, finding himself hilarious as he pointed at Selena Gomez -who was seated a few tables away from theirs.

Ignoring his friend's comment, Harry dug into his suit pocket for his phone, and continued to send his fiancé a quick text once he'd grasped hold of the device.

When Moira heard the familiar message tone coming from her clutch, she had the strong urge to make up some lame excuse to end the conversation with one of the condo buyers. And all because she wanted to see who the text was from.

This was how it had gone for the past couple of days, every time her phone went off; she'd hope it was Harry, begging for her forgiveness. And every time without failure, she was disappointed to find everyone but Harry calling her and sending her texts.

Still, she refused to be the one to contact him first. He was the one who'd left, after all. And so, Moira had deemed him guilty of making the situation even worse. The fact Ollie was so upset by his daddy's absence only added to that feeling.

Finally able to distance herself from the filthy rich, perverted man, Moira made a quick escape towards the bar and sat down, ordering a Gin and Tonic.

The launch was being held in the ballroom, on the ground floor of the apartment building in which the condos were located. The entire space was decorated in expensive details, chandeliers, mahogany standing tables, marble floor, and so on.

To say Moira felt out of place would be an understatement. She liked the rustic and minimalistic styles much better than one as flawless as this one. She felt she couldn't touch anything or else she'd have to pay the price with an organ or a limb, everything looked so expensive and.. sickly perfect.

Taking a large gulp from her cocktail, as if to prepare herself, she zipped her clutch open and pulled her phone into view. She clicked the home button and her heart momentarily stop beating.

Harry:

Faster than ever before, she typed in her password and clicked the messages app.

Harry:

Without further ado, she threw the entire glass of alcohol back and dashed from the bar stool, in the direction of her boss.

"Mr Starck?"

The old man turned around, his lips sinking into a kind smile as he saw who called his name. "Hello Miss King, I was just telling Mr Gregoriz here how great of an asset you are to Starck & Co."

"Uhh thank you." She smiled uncomfortably. "I hope I'm not disturbing?"

"Nonsense, silly girl. You could never disturb me!"

Moira nodded stiffly, "Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Certainly!" he said, facing the man he was previously talking to. "You'll have to excuse me Mr Gregoriz, duty calls!"

"Of course." The man said before leaving them to their conversation.

Taking a deep breathe, she puckered up the courage. "You've been a wonderful boss and I am very thankful for all you've done but I uhh.. I quit. I can't do it anymore, I'm sorry. I'll come by with my lawyer to discuss the contract tomorrow and I-I.. I have to go."

Not giving him the chance to possibly deny her, she tried to make a run for it. But before she could disappear out of view, he called her name. "Moira?"

She turned around. "Yes?"

"I'll miss you."

Smiling in reply, Moira waved and continued to rush outside, quickly fetching her coat on the way out. She held a cab and jumped in, trying to remain polite and not scream the address at the driver. It was then, as the darkened NYC skyscrapers passed by, that equal amounts of relief and surprise rushed over her. That was a lot easier than expected.

She sent Finn a text.

A minute later, she got a text back.

- -

Like he asked, Moira sent Finn a text when the cab was a few miles from where this year's Crescendo Awards were being held.

The car came to a half in front of the venue and she quickly paid the driver. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and tried to push her way through the crowd of paparazzi blocking the entrance. Questions were being thrown at her from left and right and evidently, they knew a whole bunch more about her than the last time she'd been in a similar situation.

Like Harry had taught her, she kept her head down and ignored each and every question. A nervous looking Finn came into view and rushed to her aid, helping her through the stream of paparazzi.

Once inside, he shot her a stern look. "You owe me big time, everyone probably thinks I have diarrhoea from the amount of time I've been gone."

The nerves settled in when they entered the grand hall and Moira was faced with every famous person in the music business one could possibly name. And she'd never felt less important than right then. Especially since quite a few of them inspected her from head to toe, judging her and presumably wondering why she wasn't wearing a $5000,- dress like the rest of them.

Instead, she wore sparkly, black, floor-length dress that had 'only' been $800.

They approached a table and Moira could recognize the mop of curls out of thousands, even from behind. A shiver ran down her back and she had to resist the urge to say 'screw it' to these damned Crescendo Awards, to go home and make sweet love to her fiancé all night. She'd missed him these past days, especially his warmth after the son had gone down. Moira made it her sole mission to show him how much she'd truly missed him, later on.

Finn, being the gentleman that he was, wordlessly gestured for her to sit in his empty chair while he went to search for another. Moira gave him a thankful not and briefly squeezed his shoulder as she sat down.

Harry turned to face her and was about to say something when he stopped, their eyes locking.

"Moira?" he asked incredulously, looking like the epitome of flabbergasted. "What are you doing here?"

"What does it look like, dumbass."

Before she could say another word, he moved to cradle her shoulders, crushing her between the tight muscle of his bicep and the platform of his chest. She could barely look up at him in shock before his lips were pressed to hers hurriedly, catching her by surprise. Their skins touched and the nerve-wrecking tension she felt between them dissolved.

It was a new kind of kiss.

Although his mouth moved against hers aggressively -like he tended to in passionate moments-there was a deep, raw emotion behind it, not just the need to quench an undeniable thirst for friction and lust. He was frantic. There was something almost desperate to the way his mouth crushed hers, his lips moulding to the shape of hers and sucking greedily on the red flesh. He didn't drag the kiss on, keeping it short and brief -probably because they were surrounded my thousands-but when he backed away, a popping noise following the removal of his lips from hers.

"You look breathtaking." he muttered softly as he pecked her lips twice before loosening his hold on her.

"...and the Record of the Year goes to... Moira by Bones."

A loud round of applause resounded through the venue as Harry was dragged away from her before she could even realize what was happening. The five men ascended the stairs that lead up to the stage and Moira blinked away the quiet, happy tears that she didn't know were racing down her cheeks, that is, until she noticed multiple cameras zooming in on her face.

Isaac held a short speech, followed by Cade and then, Harry. "Massive thank you to all our fans, who have supported us all this time. But in particular, I'd like to thank my beautiful fiancé Moira, who inspired me to write this song. I love you, and we couldn't have done this without you. Cheers!"

There was more applause and an echo of 'aww's as hundreds of heads turned her way. Suddenly flustered under this spotlight of attention, Moira attempted to hide her face by taking sips from her glass of champagne. She could feel her cheeks heating up and she grumbled internally, wiping quickly at her eyes. Stupid cheeks, stupid embarrassment, stupid blushing.

The boys returned and Moira tightly grasped onto Harry's hand, whispering into his ear, "I love you, Stones."

"Are you proud of me?" His voice was high pitched and he tripped on his words as he spoke, making her giggle.

"That's an understatement."

Harry's mouth burst into a big, giddy smile. Looking like he'd just won the lottery.

In the end, Bones won the award for Best Rock Performance by Group and Harry got a Crescendo Award of his own for writing Moira.

The after party was an experience of its own, something to not forget. Never in her life had Moira seen so many drunk celebrities in the same room and probably never would again unless she went to another award show with Harry. She was tempted to humour herself and take pictures of them, but refrained from doing so.

In the cab back home, the pair of them could definitely not be defined as sober. While Moira giggled uncontrollably and spit out a bad joke every second or so, Harry was a rather horny drunk; kissing every inch of her even as she shared said bad jokes, and trying to slip a hand under her dress at every given chance.

Suddenly serious, Harry asked, "Did the launch end early?"

"No, I quit."

"You quit??"

"Yep." she said, popping the 'p'.

"Well, that's.. something."

She groaned, "Let's talk about that later, I not in the mood for serious thing, dude."

Harry shook his head at her childish antics. "How's Ollie?"

That made her burst out giggling again, for some reason. Finally coming down from her laughing fit, Moira wiped an imaginary tear from beneath her eye. "He misses you a lot." She said before casually stating "Oh and he said Dada when he saw you on TV."

"What?"

"Yeah it was really cute." Moira giggled with an expression of extreme fondness gracing her face.

Harry however, was not amused. "And you failed to tell me!? Call me?? I know we had a fight Moira but that's just low.."

"Calm down grumpy," she flicked his nose. "He was doing this silly dance so I was filming him when your pretty face popped onto the screen and he literally screeched dada."

For a split second, Harry seemed at loss for words. "Really?"

"Yes are you deaf or something, gosh." she huffed, causing Harry to roll his eyes -amused and he asked, "Can I see it?"

"Of course!" Moira exclaimed as she fished her phone from her clutch and opened the video.

Forest eyes blazed into the screen of her phone, analysing every move and every sound Ollie uttered until finally.. "Dada!" and an explosion of warmth erupted inside of him, racing through his veins like fire.

"Oh fuck that was so cute."

"Did you like it?" Moira asked with wide, innocent eyes and he couldn't help but smile at her cute, drunk persona. Grasping the back of her neck, he pulled her close to him and connected their lips in a tender kiss.

"I loved it, baby."

@PienPouwels & @DaddyUnknown

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