Night Changes

21.

"Meet me in Central Park?" I had called up Eleanor since Asher was being beyond fussy and cranky. This was the same thing that happened after his last round of shots, he was more sleepy and didn't eat much after but the next day held a little bit different behavior.

I thought getting some fresh air would do him some good and maybe help to ease his irritated mood. Plus this gave me some more alone time with Eleanor which I didn't mind at all.

"Sure I would love to!" Eleanor responded as I pushed Asher in his stroller.

I had also taken Kasey's advice and invested in a stuffed animal for Asher. I decided on a soft bunny that I saw Asher grow an attachment too, I saw he was easy to grow attached to things. I only hoped that this would ease him of just a pinch of his anxiety.

"Okay, I'm almost there, meet me by the bridge." I told her smiling into the phone hearing her accept the invite. I had been smiling a lot more around Eleanor and I wasn't completely sure why. She just genuinely made me happy and I only hope I do the same for her.

Walking through the city of bustling people I watched as others talked on their phones and minded their own business. Always in a hurry and in need of being other places, stressed faces as they all moved around the giant cement jungle. Obsessed with their own agendas, people here were different then anywhere else. I asked myself multiple times if I really wanted to stay in the city, yes it was my home but I don't know if I loved it around here. Sure people were nice enough but now with a child, I didn't know if I wanted to raise him here.

His curious crystal blue eyes circling about with so much activity going on around him. I wondered what babies thought about, or even if they had thoughts at all. What did he think about the world? What did he think about me?

Coming into the park I walked to the bridge where I saw Eleanor leaning up against it with her elbows in place. Her dainty little hand pressed against her cheek as she waited for me alone. Her long brown hair in curls that rolled down her chest as it caught the light making it give off a glowing effect. Stalking while I looked from afar I couldn't help but admire Eleanor, looking at her now I knew I wanted to be with her. The only question I had was, did she want to be with me?

I had so much baggage and a past that still effects me today. I have done so many things I wish I could take back. If I could have a do over on some areas of my life I would gladly redo them. For starters I wouldn't have played all the girls I had. I saw now with more clarity that I was an asshole only looking for s*x and would do about anything to get it. I didn't want to be that guy anymore, I wanted to burry him away. I was ready to be someone new, not like the old me who only cared about meeting girls at the bar and drinking until I was completely wasted. I had a complete mess of a life, it was like a jigsaw puzzle that you couldn't put together.

I didn't want to put Eleanor through all my s**t. I cared about her more then I cared about myself, she was fragile to me. Then again I was pulling her into my messy life that was full of complications and bumps.

"Hey!" I waved to Len once I began walking towards her again. A smile plastering on her face as she took a few steps towards me.

"Hey!" She greeted coming and walking next to me while we went around aimlessly. With no particular place in mind we walked about Central Park.

"I heard about Asher with the doctor and everything. Is he okay?" Eleanor asked looking into the stroller at the little boy with bright blue eyes that looked back at her curiously.

"He's fine, I guess he just had a holding breath attack or whatever. You need to come with me next time, I can't do that alone again." I told Eleanor looking at Asher whose eyes were droopy even though he was trying to fight the sleeping urges.

"Of course, I couldn't imagine being alone and seeing that. You know I'm surprised and really proud of you." Eleanor spoke as we kept on our way to a path that went all over the park. Shaded I under the trees we walked past other mothers and runners that were wanting to be outside in the fall air.

"Why is that?" I asked her looking over at her honey brown eyes that caught the ray of light coming through the trees.

"You have really made an effort to change and the way you are with Asher! He loves you Harry! And I can tell that you love him just as much. I'm just proud to see you changed for the better." Eleanor smiled with those pearly white teeth.

"Well I'm glad to see that you've noticed. I've been trying to get my act together for Asher and I'm happy to hear your noticing." I smiled at her genuinely happy that others were able to see a change in me. Yes, it was going to be a process and I was going to make mistakes but that was all apart of the journey.

"Have you gotten any further in Valerie's case?" Eleanor asked me as we came to a bench and took a seat next to each other.

"I apologized to Madison because you were right."

"When am I not right Harry?" Eleanor moved her eyes upward as a little giggle escaped her lips. Making me chuckle from her cute little giggle and smile that accompanied it.

"Anyway, I told her I was sorry and asked a few questions but she didn't give me much. She said she can't say anything." Eleanor gave me a furrowed brow confused by Madison's lack of help she was giving us.

"Why not?" She questioned me uncrossing her legs as she turned more towards me to engage more into what I was about to tell her.

"She said that Valerie was afraid and that she didn't know what else to do. She said that Valerie wasn't in a good place and that she was stressed out over everything." I informed Eleanor on what I knew about Valerie which wasn't much.

"She may have been afraid but that's no reason to abandon your child. He's so helpless and the fact that she just left him in hopes that someone else will care for him isn't okay." Eleanor shook her head not agreeing with how the situation was handled. "Everyone is afraid to one extent or another but that doesn't mean you should give up your baby."

Our eyes meeting each other as Eleanor became passionate about the topic. I knew she cared about me and the baby but I didn't know she held these deep rooted feelings about us. Eleanor didn't like that Valerie abandoned our baby out of fear and stress; I didn't like it either.

Just because you are stressed over a situation does not give you the right to make bad decisions. Valerie had lied so many times it has become a spider web of unanswered questions. There was so much I didn't know about this girl that it made me crave the answers more and more each day passes by. If only I could get Madison to help me.

"Did you ever want kids?" I asked Eleanor as her gaze went to Asher who was peacefully asleep in his stroller, cuddled up in the blankets.

"Of course I do, I think motherhood is such a beautiful thing. It's a real privilege I would love to be able to participate in some day. Ever since I was a little girl I knew I wanted to be a mom." Eleanor opened up with a little smile curling up on her lips as her eyes lovingly looked at my baby boy.

"I think you would make a great mom one day." I inched my hand towards hers touching the top to grab it. Taking her hand into mine I squeezed it only to feel her squeeze it back.

"Thank you." She said to me giving me a little smirk as her eyes gazed into my own. I inched closer to her and began to lean in for a kiss. Something had taken over me and I hadn't ever felt this emotion before. My heart was burning and I was dizzy from this overwhelming feeling brushing up onto me. What was this emotion I was feeling?

Going for it I puckered my lips and laid them on Eleanor's. Giving her passion as my lips moved with hers I realized she didn't pull away from me, she rather moved with me. What did I feel for Eleanor? Was this what love felt like?

note// Aw looks like Harry went in for the kiss! I think the whole best friends since diapers relationship is cute! Also sorry for the lack of yesterdays chapter life has gotten a little busy! What do you think about Valerie and her reasons for leaving??