Laurel pulled back a little farther in Harry's embrace. "You're asking me on a date?"

"I am," he returned resolutely.

"Don't you think that's, I dunno, backwards?" She chuckled with heat in her cheeks.

"That's the problem, it shouldn't be backward. I want to date you, I want to earn you. I think I was just so used to you being there when I called, and I was happy and busy, but I didn't see you weren't. Can I try to make you happy?" his earnest face was too much.

Laurel palmed his face sweetly before pushing it away, "You can try to make me happy! But I warn you I plan to be high maintenance.  Ok Casanova, what are your big damn plans, how will you wow me? I know the village is amazing, but what historical site are we going to see? Maybe the Tesco, or the tailor, oooh, I know, the pub."

"Are you laughing at my grand gesture?" Harry dimpled and reeled her back in. "You don't think we could have an amazing time at the pub?"

"Yes, I'm laughing at you. Meh, of course we can have a great time at the pub, we can have a great time anywhere. In fact, since its my date, I demand you take me the pub. My pub, where my mum bought me my first drink," her smile broke a little on the last sentence.

" well, I wanted to give you a perfect night, if that's at your local. Show me to it!"

"No, no, no, we aren't going now, it's 10pm. It's bedtime. You can date me tomorrow." Ands she dragged him back into the house. Laurel stopped in the kitchen and poured and drained a glass of water down before heading to the hallway to her bedroom, knowing that he would follow. "where do you think you are going, hm?"

Harry gave her a confused smile, "Wasn't your proclamation that it was bedtime?"

"Oh, it is, but you are sleeping on the couch, we haven't even been on a proper date yet and I'm not that kind of girl. I don't sleep with boys on the first date, or before the first date," She said teasingly while running her hands up his t shirt and around his neck.

Harry smirked at her, "I happen to know different," His tongue pushed against the back of his front teeth and he leaned in to kiss her again.

He was met with her hand pushing his face away. "Well, that was when we did things backwards, this time you are wooing me, so the sofa is calling your name, can you hear it, 'Harry, Harry'" she mimed and laughed at his sour face. "Good night, Harry," and she slipped into her room. There was knock on the door while she laughed under her breath. She opened it and Harry quickly pressed his lips to hers.

"Good night, Can't wait to wine you and dine you," he singsonged walking backwards to the living room.

He stumbled over his feet and caught himself on the wall and Laurel's giggles followed him to the couch.

In the middle of the night, he woke up to her body settling onto his and her hair in his mouth. "pft," he spit it out, "What's this?" he croaked, but when he felt the wet spots on his t shirt, he knew, so he just wrapped her up in his arms and pressed a kiss to her head. He waited until her sobs subsided to snores before he nodded off again.

Laurel was subdued the next morning, so they spent time cuddling on the couch and Harry brought her tea and toast there. They watched crap TV and Harry was obnoxious and silly until she was laughing. 

They got takeout for lunch and started boxing up the living room. Laurel had to sit down to have a cry every once in a while and Harry tried to ignore it when she snuck out of the room to hide it from him. She didn't need to, but he would respect it if she wanted to be alone. He'd do everything short of leaving her mother's house.

At 4 o'clock Laurel excused herself to the bathroom, and he was pleasantly surprised when she returned freshly washed and in a black fit and flare dress. "You look lovely, maybe a bit dressed up for the pub."

"It's our first date, I'm returning your gesture, idiot" she curtsied.

"Excuse me!" he returned and brushed by her, making sure to cop a feel of her waistline, "I'll go freshen up too."

They were walking into the pub by 5 and Harry was momentarily confused by the cry that went up.

"EHHHH!" 

"Play her song!"

"Laurel's here!"

"Sorry about your mum love, first rounds on the house, In honor of Donna," The barkeep said and set up two pints of Stella for them.

"Thanks Paulie!" Laurel said and saluted his cheers to her mother. "That ok? Know you don't drink beer" Laurel gestured to his glass with a condescending tone. 

"It's fine, should I be worried your an alcoholic? They all know you."

Laurel laughed, "No, no worries,  we just used to come here. When I was little I was..."

But she was interrupted by some loud Irish music from behind the bar and before he knew it she was on top of it doing an Irish jig that put Niall to shame.  The whole pub was clapping and hooting and Harry could only watch his girl with her hair flying and her feet keeping time. She danced through the whole song and was sweaty with her chest heaving before she took a bow and he hoisted her down to the ground.

She kissed him unabashedly, like there was no one else in the room and he was proud to be on her arm.

"So, you are a local celebrity?" Harry laughed as he handed her her pint.

"A bit, I was in a dancing troop."

"Obviously," he interrupted.

"Obviously, I was pretty good, and I stood out among all the blondes and red heads. My mom did Irish dance growing up and when she put me in, I was good at it and I liked the costumes, if not the girls I danced with," Laurel explained, downing her beer in one go, "I'm thirsty, another please Paulie."

"Any other hidden talents?" Harry beamed at her completely charmed.

"Well...." she started before being interrupted by the bar keep.

"She'll hand you your arse at darts or pool, your choice Mr. Styles."

Harry was surprised they recognized him and happy no one seemed to care. "I'm best at pool, wish there was ping pong, then I'd own your arse!" He flirted.

"Like you don't already, c'mon, I want to beat you at something," Laurel pulled him behind her to the tables in the back.

And beat him she did, he pretended that he was so distracted by watching her play pool that he kept missing his shots, but the truth was, she was better than him. She really schooled him at darts though and made him take two losers shots that she filmed in celebration.

"Ehhhh, you are never supposed to shoot scotch," he whined.

"Winners choice," she said as she took her own vodka shot.

"What do you want to do now, I think you've sufficiently ruined my pub for me."

Harry gave her a quizzical look, "Why've I ruined it for you?"

"Dunno, guess this doesn't feel real, is this real Harry? Are you serious about this?" She had started the question surely, but finished timidly.

"This has been a perfect night, and the week has been lovely, though I know its been hard for you. Yes, I'm serious about this, you Galway Girl, I'm serious about you." And this time he kissed her like nobody else was in the room.