Different 29 (Patreon)

Author's note: Hello! How is everyone doing! How is your week going? I hope you are all doing wonderful. Here is a new chapter! Sorry for making you wait so long! 

The Christmas market buzzed with excitement, the air filled with the scent of mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, and the warmth of the holiday spirit. Stalls selling handmade gifts, colorful ornaments, and festive treats lined the cobblestone paths. Harry and Y/N walked hand-in-hand, surrounded by his family, who were enthusiastically browsing the various stands.

Y/N was admiring a beautifully carved wooden ornament when she noticed Harry stiffen beside her. Glancing up, she saw him glance down at his phone, his jaw tightening. The name on the screen was unmistakable—Ivy.

He tried to be discreet, awkwardly turning his body to shield the screen from Y/N’s view, but it was too late. Her stomach tightened at the sight, her festive mood instantly faltering. Harry hesitated, clearly debating whether to answer the call. After a few seconds, he declined the call, slipping the phone back into his pocket. But Y/N didn’t miss the way he was fidgeting, his focus no longer on the market.

“What’s up?” Y/N asked, her tone casual, though she couldn’t hide the slight edge.

“Nothing,” Harry said, forcing a smile. “Just a call I’ll handle later.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. She didn’t press him, though. She wanted to enjoy their day, not start a scene in the middle of a market. But as they continued walking, she noticed Harry’s discomfort growing. His hand in hers was looser, and every few moments, he glanced at his phone.

Finally, when they reached a corner of the market where the crowds thinned out, Harry stopped. “I’ll be right back,” he muttered, squeezing Y/N’s hand briefly before slipping away toward a quieter section of the market.

Y/N watched as he walked off, his phone already in his hand. Her chest tightened as she saw him answer the call, his voice low as he spoke. He was too far for her to hear, but the fact that he had taken the call at all gnawed at her.

She stood there, trying to focus on the twinkling lights, the laughter, and the joy surrounding her, but all she could think about was the distance growing between them with every minute he spent on that call.

On the other side of the market, Harry walked a few paces away, trying to create some space from the holiday cheer that surrounded him. His voice was tense when he finally answered.

“Ivy, now’s not really a good time,” he said, his eyes darting back toward Y/N, hoping she wasn’t too upset by his sudden departure.

“Harry,” Ivy’s voice came through, soft but with that familiar underlying sweetness, “I just... I miss you. It feels like we haven’t talked in ages.”

Harry exhaled sharply, trying to stay calm. “I’ve been busy. It’s Christmas”.

“I know,” Ivy sighed, “but I just wanted to hear your voice. We’ve been through so much, and sometimes I feel like…” She trailed off, letting her words hang in the air.

Harry pinched the bridge of his nose, frustrated. “Ivy, we’ve talked about this. There’s nothing more between us. You know I’m with Y/N.”

“I know, I know. I just... sometimes, I can’t help but think that maybe you miss me too,” she said, her tone coy, almost teasing.

Harry closed his eyes, trying to maintain his composure. “Look, I’ve gotta go. I’ll talk to you later.”

Before she could say anything more, he ended the call, slipping his phone back into his pocket and running a hand through his hair. He dreaded going back to Y/N, knowing she had probably noticed everything.

He turned back, taking a deep breath, ready to face her, hoping that this moment wouldn’t ruin the beautiful day they had planned together.

Y/N didn’t say anything as he approached. Instead, she handed him a cup of mulled wine, her expression neutral but her eyes searching his. Harry took it, his fingers brushing against hers, and forced a smile.

"Everything okay?" she asked quietly, though she already knew the answer.

Harry nodded, but the guilt was clear in his eyes. "Yeah. Let’s just enjoy the rest of the day." He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her temple, lingering there for a moment longer than usual.

Y/N gave him a small smile, though the tension between them was hard to shake. She nodded, deciding not to press him further, even though her mind raced with questions. Instead, she slipped her hand into his and squeezed it. "Okay," she whispered, trying to convince herself as much as him.

They rejoined his family, who were now gathered around a stall selling Christmas ornaments. Anne was enthusiastically pointing out her favorites while Gemma debated between a few quirky designs. The festive atmosphere felt like a stark contrast to the unease bubbling beneath Y/N’s skin, but she was determined to focus on the moment.

“Look at this one, Y/N,” Anne said, holding up an ornament shaped like a little snowman. “Isn’t it adorable?”

Y/N forced a wider smile and nodded. “It’s so cute. You should get it.”

Harry stood beside her, sensing the tension still lingering in the air. He wanted to make things right, but every time he looked at her, he felt that knot of guilt tighten in his chest. They spent the next hour wandering through the market, laughing with his family and sampling all kinds of festive treats.

Eventually, they reached a quiet corner of the market where a large Christmas tree stood, twinkling with lights. Y/N tugged on Harry’s hand, pulling him toward it. “Let’s take a picture,” she suggested, her voice soft but with an undertone of hope—like she was trying to grasp at something to bring them closer again.

Harry nodded, handing his phone to Gemma, who eagerly took on the role of photographer. He wrapped his arm around Y/N’s waist and pulled her close, the cold air biting at their skin but her warmth soothing his nerves. As they stood in front of the tree, the moment felt bittersweet. He leaned down just as the picture was taken, pressing a kiss to her cheek, feeling her relax slightly in his embrace.

"Perfect!" Gemma chirped, handing the phone back to Harry. He looked at the picture—Y/N's smile looked genuine, and the light from the tree made her look even more beautiful than usual. He saved the photo, making a mental note to send it to her later.

As they walked away from the tree, Y/N glanced up at Harry. "You sure everything’s okay?"

Harry sighed, stopping in his tracks. He couldn’t keep brushing her off. "Ivy called... again."

Y/N’s jaw clenched slightly, but she kept her composure. "What did she want?"

Harry hesitated for a moment, his stomach knotting as he quickly considered his response. He didn’t want to tell her what Ivy had really said, not after they'd just started to patch things up. The last thing he needed was more tension between them, especially with his family around. So he softened his voice and said, "She just wanted to check on us. You know, asking how the trip was going, and wanted to know how we’re doing."

Y/N studied his face, her brows furrowing slightly. She searched for any hint of something he might be hiding, something deeper, but all she found was his gaze trying hard to convince her. A part of her wanted to believe him—to trust him like she always had—but another part of her felt unsettled, like there was more than what he was telling her. Ivy had never been the type to just check in for no reason.

"That’s all?" she asked, her voice careful, almost too calm.

"Yeah," Harry replied quickly, the lie rolling off his tongue before he could stop it. "She was just being polite, nothing else. Don’t worry about it."

Y/N nodded slowly, but inside, her mind was spinning. She didn’t know what to say, how to respond. She wanted to believe him so badly. She wanted to trust him like she always had, but Ivy’s presence was like a shadow lurking between them, constantly reminding her of the wedge she had tried to create.

"Okay," she said quietly, though her voice lacked the usual warmth it held for him. She turned to continue walking with him, trying to push away the nagging feeling in her chest.

Harry squeezed her hand gently, but even he could feel the subtle shift between them. He’d hoped that keeping Ivy’s true intentions hidden would protect Y/N, but now it felt like that decision had created an invisible wall between them.

As they walked back to his family, Y/N forced herself to smile and engage with the festive atmosphere, but her heart wasn’t entirely in it. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

Christmas morning had been perfect. After a leisurely breakfast with Harry’s family, everyone gathered in the living room, surrounded by wrapping paper and laughter as they exchanged gifts. The house was warm, filled with the smell of cinnamon and fresh coffee, the soft hum of holiday music playing in the background.

Harry had just stepped out onto the back porch, a warm cup of tea in hand, when he noticed his dad already sitting there, bundled up against the cold, staring thoughtfully into the horizon.

Harry hesitated for a moment before walking over to join him, sinking into the chair next to his dad. The silence between them was comfortable, the kind that didn’t require filling. They sipped their drinks quietly, both lost in their own thoughts.

After a few minutes, Robin turned to Harry with a knowing smile. “Y/N’s something else, isn’t she?”

Harry blinked, slightly taken aback by the comment. He nodded slowly, glancing back through the window where he could see Y/N inside, laughing with Gemma and Anne.

“Yeah,” Harry replied softly, unable to hide the fond smile creeping onto his face. “She really is.”

Robin gave him a sidelong look, full of the wisdom that came from years of experience. “You’ve brought people around here before, but none like her.”

Harry chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck. “What do you mean?”

Robin leaned back in his chair, his breath visible in the crisp winter air as he exhaled. “She’s different, Harry. You can see it in the way you look at her, and the way she looks at you. Reminds me of how I felt about your mum.”

Harry’s heart did a little flip at Robin’s words. He had never been the type to talk about his feelings so openly, especially not with his dad. But something about the way he spoke made Harry feel like this conversation was important.

“When I met your mum,” Robin continued, his eyes softening with the memory, “I didn’t need to know everything about her future or mine. I just knew I didn’t want a future without her. That was enough.”

Harry swallowed, feeling a lump form in his throat. “How did you know she was the one?” His voice was quiet, almost uncertain, as if he was afraid of the answer.

Robin gave him a thoughtful look. “I didn’t know, not right away. But I knew I’d risk everything for her. And that was all that mattered.”

Harry nodded slowly, letting Robin’s words sink in. His mind flashed to Y/N—the way she made him feel both calm and excited, the way she understood him better than anyone else. He had never felt this way before, and the realization was both exhilarating and terrifying.

“I feel that way about her,” Harry admitted after a long pause, his voice steady. “I’d risk everything for her.”

Robin smiled, clapping a hand on Harry’s shoulder. “Then don’t let her go. If she’s the one, don’t waste time waiting for the perfect moment.”

Harry shifted in his seat, his gaze distant as he considered Robin’s words. “I’ve been thinking about what comes next. A lot, actually.”

Robin raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

“I don’t know... things have been crazy with college, but I’ve been thinking about... marriage,” Harry said, the word feeling heavier than he expected. “When I think about the future, it’s her I see.”

Robin didn’t respond right away, letting the weight of Harry’s words settle in. After a thoughtful pause, he nodded. “There’s no right time for something like that. You’ve got to decide what matters most to you.”

Harry hesitated, his hand tightening around his mug. “And what about medical school?”

Robin looked at him, his voice gentle but firm. “If she loves you, Harry, she’ll make room for you in her future, just like you’ll make room for her in yours.”

Harry was quiet, his thoughts swirling. He’d been so caught up in his career and Y/N’s ambitions that he hadn’t let himself think about what it meant for their relationship in the long run. But hearing his dad talk about love and risk, he realized that he’d been overcomplicating things.

At the end of the day, he loved Y/N, and that was enough.

Robin’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Harry, if you love her like I think you do, everything else will fall into place. You’ve just got to trust that.”

Harry nodded, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. “Thanks, dad,” he said quietly, the gratitude clear in his voice.

Robin smiled warmly. “You’re welcome, mate. Now, go back inside before your mum wonders what we’re up to out here.”

Harry laughed softly, feeling lighter than he had in weeks. As he stood up to head back inside, his mind was made up. He knew what he wanted, and more importantly, he knew who he wanted to share his future with.

Y/N curled up next to Harry on the sofa, his arm draped casually over her shoulder as they shared smiles with his mum, Anne, and his sister, Gemma. Everything felt right. Comfortable. For once, Y/N had allowed herself to relax completely.

But just as the last of the presents had been opened and the conversation had settled into a quiet lull, there was an unexpected knock on the door.

Harry’s brow furrowed as he glanced toward the hallway, his arm dropping from Y/N’s shoulders as he stood to answer it. "Who could that be?" he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Y/N watched him, her heart suddenly racing with a strange sense of unease. She couldn’t put her finger on why, but something felt off. The cozy calmness of the morning shifted slightly, and a heavy weight settled in her chest.

Gemma raised an eyebrow at Y/N, sensing her sudden tension. "Did you invite someone else?" Gemma called after him, half-joking, half-curious.

Harry paused as he opened the door, and the moment the person on the other side stepped into view, Y/N’s stomach dropped. Ivy stood there, bundled in a fashionable coat and scarf, her eyes bright with excitement as if she hadn’t just walked into a home where she clearly wasn’t invited.

“Merry Christmas!” Ivy chirped, stepping forward with an air of confidence that made Y/N’s blood run cold.

Harry froze, his hand still on the doorknob. “Ivy?” His voice wavered, clearly caught off guard.