Over Again

We arrived at the hospital as early as possible the following day. It was too late. Dad couldn't survive, as when the bullet hit his shoulder, it hit a nerve in his neck. I was allowed to see him, as it wasn't too long since he'd passed, but they made me leave him after a heart breaking goodbye. My dad meant so much to me. Knowing I could never see him again was tearing me apart. Harry did all he could to comfort me, but all I could do was cry. I couldn't help it, and I didn't want to make Harry feel so bad, but it wasn't intended.

My mum and I had never really got along very well. It was always my dad that I went to for problems that any normal teenage girl would've gone to their mothers for. I went to my dad for everything. The bitches in school, the boys, whenever I needed sanitary towels for my period...

I sat in the church in my black, velvet, knee-length dress, black tailored blazer, black flower in my braided hair and black heeled shoes. My hands were clenched in my lap as I bit my lip, forcing back tears. Harry, in his black three-piece suit, reached over his hand and held it tightly. The preacher continued to preach.

There was a difference between my mum and dad. Right there.

My mum was an atheist whereas my dad and I were of the Christian faith. He weren't hardcore, but we enjoyed going to the church when we got the chance, and we believed and prayed to God. We had both read the bible and both agreed that when we were to marry or die, we would have a Christian ceremony. My mum wasn't all up for the whole faith funeral, but I talked her into it, because that is what dad wanted.

Another thing dad wanted, was for me to play the piano at his funeral. When The Last Song came out, and watched it together in the cinema, I was crying at the funeral scene. Honestly, I cried through half of the film. But dad leaned over to me and said;

"When I die, promise you'll play the piano at my funeral."

I agreed and let it rest. Never did I think that that day would come so early.

"Marie?" I heard my voice being called, which snapped me out of my trace. I looked up and the vicar signalled the piano with a warm smile. I looked up at Harry as he gave a little nod. I slowly stood and walked up to the piano. I rearranged the sheet music on the stand and took a deep breath. I swept a quick glance over the 'audience' and nodded.

"Thank you all for coming. Dad wanted me to do this at his funeral. I just hoped I wouldn't have to do it so soon," I greeted the audience and gulped back tears. I then peered peered over to his coffin. "This ones for you, dad." I whispered.

I sat on the stool and let my fingers trace the ebony-and-ivory keys. I took a deep breath in before playing the piece.

My fingers travelled the keys as they elegantly hopped from note to note. I was so familiar with the piece that I hardly needed to look up at the sheets at my eye level. Tears threatened to brim from my eyes as sweet memories came flooding back to me.

-----FLASHBACK-----

"Dad!" I giggled.

"Marie!" He mocked.

"Stop tickling me!"

"Not until you tell me who this boy is!"

"Fine! I give up, I'll tell you!" He ceased his tickling and sat next to me, looking at me in an expectant manner.

"It's Harry," I shrugged.

"I've never heard of a Harry," he winked.

"You have! I went to school with one and I met another recently!"

"Oh! Prathead Harry from school... It's not him is it? Oh lord have mercy!"

"No! Dad! No, it's not that Harry!"

"So it's new Harry?"

"Yeah," I smiled.

"Singer Harry?" He wiggled an eyebrow.

"Yes!"

"Well, lets hope he doesn't break your heart," he cooed, pulling me in for a right hug.

----END OF FLASHBACK----

The piece began to climb, picking up pace and the texture becoming thicker. I couldn't help but smile at the memory. The smile was short lived as another memory flooded into my mind.

-----FLASHBACK-----

"Oh, princess. It's not your fault!" He comforted.

"But it is! His fans hate me!"

"They just are so obsessed with the boy that they can't see past that! They can't see that you love each other!"

"It's all my fault! Everything is going to change now! I won't even be able to be his friend!" I sobbed.

"Does he hate you? Or does he still like you?"

" I don't know... I don't think he hates me..."

"Then you'll be fine."

At that moment, my phone rang and the caller ID flashed as Harry.

"Answer it," he ushered, smiling.

----END OF FLASHBACK----

The piece began to die back down again. More peaceful. More graceful. Not once had my practised fingers slipped on the keys I was pressing.

----FLASHBACK----

"You make sure Harry looks after you this time, yes?" He asked seriously, holding my arms and looking me directly in the eyes.

"Yes, dad. He will," I whispered, holding back tears.

"I'll be back soon. Don't you worry about me. I'll be back before you know it."

"Dad, don't go. Please. There's other men-"

"Marie, sweetheart, there are other men, but they need me. I'll be back as soon as I can. It won't be long. Now I love you, and I'll miss you. You be strong," he looked into my tearful eyes, not wanting to see me cry. He pulled me into a powerful hug.

"I love you, dad," I wept.

"I love you, too honey. Stay safe. Stay strong. I'll write every week. Let Harry look after you. And look after your mother." I snorted at that. "You love her really."

"It's hard to communicate with her."

Dad smiled and pulled away. He walked over to mum and gave her the tearful goodbye and a kiss before jumping into the car and driving away.

----END OF FLASHBACK----

Since then, I had received letters from him every week and I never failed to reply as soon as I could.

The music came to and end. Tiny tears dropped from my eyes and onto the piano.

I went and sat next to Harry again. I cuddled into his chest and held back sobs. He stroked my back and hugged me.

A while later, we stood by the grave, watching his coffin get lowered into the ground. Once he was six feet under and in peace, Harry and I drove home. I couldn't face the family that would be attending the wake. I just wanted to lie on the sofa and sleep.

*

**Harry's POV**

A month later, Marie had started to perk up again after her dad's passing. It was terrible, watching her so upset and so tearful. Lately she had begun to smile again. Her smile was spellbinding. Every moment when her twinkling eyes shone and her lips curled or parted into a smile or laugh, the second was captivated. I couldn't help but stare at her when she did this. Every time she talked, all I wanted to do was kiss her. She was so incredible, beautiful and selfless that I couldn't help but find her the most attractive woman I had ever met. Whenever she caught me staring, she'd blush. I loved making her blush. She was cute.

The weather had begun to get colder once again. It was almost a year since the passionate kiss in the rain that bought us closer together. It was almost two months since she found out that her dad had been killed. We snuggled up on the sofa, thinking. We weren't a couple to constantly converse with one another. We liked to sit in the silence and enjoy each others company by holding our hands and sitting in silence. We would talk, but there were just times when the quiet was perfection.

"Harry?"

"Mmm?" I smiled, staring down at her.

"Have you got anything to do tomorrow?"

"Um.... Yes. I have to do a radio interview. Why?"

"I wanted to visit dad," she sighed.

"I'll come with you after, if you like?" I offered.

"No.... No it's fine. I'll meet you back here when we're done."

She seemed upset now. She had been all smiles and rainbows lately, but she did seem a little down that day. She'll be fine, I convinced myself. She was so beautiful as she placed her head back into my chest and she fell asleep. Just then, my phone buzzed, signalling I had a text. It was from Thalia, a friend of mine.

'You doing anything tomorrow? Could do with a quick catch up :)'

I thought for a moment. After the radio interview, Marie didn't want me to go to the graveyard with her. I guessed that I wouldn't be long, so with that thought, I replied to Thalia.

'All right. Meet you at about 1? Can't be too long though. An hour tops :)'

I thought an hour would be more than enough time, even if I hadn't seen her in a while. From what I remembered, Thalia had never been much of a talker, but she always knew how to make an interesting conversation. I didn't want to spend too much time with her, just in case Marie was a little shook up from seeing her dad's grave. That was partly why I offered to go with her, so she'd be all right. Thalia replied;

'Okay. Meet you in Starbucks tomorrow at 1.'

I didn't bother to reply. Instead, I stuffed my phone into my pocket and carefully lifted Marie in a bridal style, carrying her up to bed. I lay her down and covered her over with the duvet. I stripped off my clothes and left myself in my boxers before I slid next to her, wrapping my arms around her, holding her protectively close to me. Our bodies fitted together perfectly. This was perfect. This is how I wanted us to stay.