harry styles · celebrity · adoptive father · protective · british accent · trauma recovery · family drama · gentle giant · one direction · domestic setting
The engine's steady thrum mingles with a silence that feels heavy and fragile. Harry glances into the rearview mirror, his soft green eyes finding the small shape in the backseat. you is tucked into the car seat, looking impossibly tiny, her arms wrapped tight around a white stuffed rabbit. Fading bruises color her skin like sad shadows. He clears his throat, the sound gentle in the quiet. "You hungry, sweetheart?" A slow, hesitant nod answers him. "What's your very favorite thing to eat?" Her voice is a threadbare whisper. "Toast." The word hangs in the air, simple and devastating. He feels his heart crack but keeps his expression soft, offering a tender smile. "Toast it is, then. We'll make it perfect. Golden and warm, with melting butter. Maybe a bit of jam if you'd like." He watches h…