Chapter Text
One year later
“Come on, baby, come to Mummy,” Louis coaxed, sitting cross-legged in the middle of the den. He held his arms stretched out in front of him and he gave an award winning smile. “You can do it, love.”
Olivia, bless her little heart, let out a peal of laughter and stood on wobbly legs. She hovered for a few seconds before falling on her behind. Instead of crying, she giggled again and began to crawl away.
Louis sighed and dropped his arms. “Liv, darling,” He spoke to her, watching as she made her way to the basket of toys by the fireplace. “You won't even try to walk.” Olivia gave no response and began to pull the toys she could reach out of the basket. She inspected one, and tossed it. Again, and again, and again. Louis sighed. Another mess he'd have to clean up.
In the year since he'd had Olivia, pretty much nothing has changed. Sure, Harry was thirty-five and Louis was on his way to twenty-seven, Bean was seven, Lucas was turning six, the twins were three, and Olivia was one. There was a lot of them, and sometimes Louis got confused.
They still lived in the same house, had the same dog, who was getting older, and had the same amount of love as they always have. They were the tightest knit family Louis knew of, and he was proud of that accomplishment. Harry was still busy as ever with his company, but he never worked past four and he always made time for his family. They would take day trips, go to parks, zoos, restaurants, you name it, they've been there. The boys were thrilled to be spending so much time with Harry. It made Louis happy.
Louis pushed himself up off of the ground and planted his hands on his hips. He addressed Olivia with a mock stern face. “Alright, missy,” He said, scooping her up. “Since you won't walk, I guess Mummy will have to carry you, hm?”
Olivia giggled and squirmed in his arms. “Da!” She squealed happily. Harry wasn't even home and she was hollering out for him.
“Daddy isn't home, love bug.” Louis informed her, placing her in her high chair in the kitchen. “It's just you and I today.”
“Da?” Olivia asked, hitting her hands against the tray on her high chair. Louis scattered some dry cereal across the tray to keep her occupied while he began to make lunch.
“Daddy is working, darling. He's raking in the money so that we don't have to work a day in our lives,” He teased her. “Just kidding. Olivia Joanne,” He faced her seriously. “Do not become entitled. I know you're only a year old, but you do not need anyone to take care of you. You take care of yourself, understand? No man or woman can tell you what to do.”
Olivia tossed some cereal to the floor and laughed. Louis took that as a sign that she had heard. Good.
“Now, Liv.” He said, opening the cabinets. “What shall we have for lunch?”
“How about,” A voice said from behind him, making him jump. “Pizza?”
Louis turned around and saw Harry leaning against the door frame, holding a stack of pizza boxes in one ridiculously large hand. He was grinning and waving his finger at Olivia.
“Look, Livvy!” Louis walked over to Harry and took the boxes from his husband to set them on the counter. “Daddy's home!”
Olivia clapped her hands and threw more cereal on the floor. Her little legging clad feet kicked out and she reached for Harry, who swooped in to pick her up and snuggle her. He was wrapped around her little finger.
“Hi, baby girl.” Harry greeted happily, smacking kisses across her soft skin. She squealed in delight “Daddy missed you.”
“Da!” She responded, tugging on his hair, which was to his shoulders. Louis had a love-hate relationship with it. On one hand, he loved playing with it when Harry would lay next to him in bed or rest his head in Louis' lap, or when Harry would be hovering over him, thrusting in and out. He loved running his hands through it. On the other hand, he hated how Harry was always leaving hair in the shower drain or how the kids would always tug on it.
“Why are you home so early?” Louis asked, bringing down two plates from the cabinet. He turned to Harry.
“Want me to go back?” Harry asked, cracking a smile. He was hugging Olivia close, and Louis was positive that Harry wouldn't leave right now for anything. Louis shook his head and opened the pizza box. He wrinkled his nose.
“Are you normal?” He asked, pulling a slice from the box. “Who gets spinach on a pizza?”
“I do,” Harry answered, leaning over Louis' shoulder to peer at the pizza he'd ordered. What was wrong with spinach and chicken? “I think it's delicious.”
“I think it's revolting.” Louis replied, handing Harry his plate. He took Olivia into his own arms and kissed her cherub cheek.
“Don't knock it til you've tried it.” Harry said, kissing Louis' neck. Louis shivered at the warm lips on his skin. A kiss from Harry never failed to make him melt inside.
“I'll stick to my pepperoni and mushroom, thanks.” Louis gestured to his own half of the pizza. He made sure there were no stray spinach leaves on it before lifting it to his own plate. “You did remember to get the boys there pizza, right?”
Harry nodded and carried himself and his plate over to the table. “I did,” He answered. “Especially Lucas' weird concoction.”
“Hey,” Louis defended his son. He carried Olivia back over to her high chair and strapped her in. “Bacon, onion, and chicken on a pizza is hardly a weird concoction.”
“It is if instead of the regular tomato sauce, you get barbecue sauce.” Harry raised his eyebrow. “And then ask for the barbecue sauce to be drizzled across the top.”
Louis shrugged and carried his plate and two bottles of water over to the table. “I think it's good, and Lucas likes it.”
“Then if he likes it, it must be good.” Harry decided.
“He'll make you eat a piece in front of him now,” Louis warned. It was true; Lucas had to see it to believe it. He was just that type of boy.
“Whatever makes him happy.” Harry shrugged, chewing on his pizza. Louis made a face and cut up a few tiny bits of his pizza to hand to Olivia. He made sure there were minimal toppings as well as minimum sauce on the pieces. The last thing he wanted was sticky pizza baby hands all over his face. If he could avoid it, anyway.
“Where are the boys?” Harry asked. It wasn't a school day, and neither of their mothers had come to get the boys.
Louis stood and grabbed some napkins. “Liam and Niall took them for the day. I think there's some science thing going on at the zoo today.”
“Liam and Niall are going to watch our kids willingly?” Harry asked in surprise. Their kids, bless their little hearts, were the orneriest little monsters to grace the Earth. Don't let their sweet, adorable dispositions fool you.
Louis nodded. “I know. I was equally as shocked. But hey, if they want to corral six kids around the zoo willingly, who am I do deny them? Besides, Olivia and I have been practicing walking.”
Harry looked over at Olivia and smiled at her. “Oh really?” He asked. “Any progress?”
Louis shook his head and laughed when Olivia tossed a piece of her pizza at Harry. “Not in the least. She's more content to crawl.”
“Well, if you remember, Bean was content to have me carry him everywhere. I think I carried him until he was three.”
Louis smiled at the memory. Bean hated to walk when he had Harry around. It was quicker transportation, and he could spend the whole time tugging on Harry's hair. “You're his favorite person in the whole world, you know.”
Harry smiled proudly. “I know.” He preened. “At least I have one kid on my side. You've got four.”
No truer words have ever been spoken. If Lucas, the twins, and Olivia had to choose between Louis and Harry, they'd be at Louis' side before anyone could blink. Bean would choose Harry.
Louis abandoned his plate on the table and lifted Olivia out of her high chair, nosing along her face and smacking kisses across it. “I can't help that my babies love me.” He defended.
Harry watched with love in his eyes. “Of course not.” He said softly.
Louis looked over at him. “Hey, sappy,” He laughed. “Help me put her down for nap time so we can spend some time together.”
Harry practically ran up the stairs.
-
An hour and a half later, Louis was laying naked in Harry's arms. They were both a little sweaty and breathing a little hard. But it was worth it. Louis traced all of the tattoos on Harry's chest, stopping to pay special attention to the ones that commemorated their family.
“Hey,” He said all of sudden. “Why don't you have a tattoo for Duke?”
Harry glanced over at him. “As much as I love him, I refuse to get my dogs name tattooed on my body.”
“The kids would get a kick out of it.” Louis hummed, poking each of Harry's nipples. Harry caught his hand and held it in his own.
“I know.” Harry laughed. “They would love it.”
“Maybe I should get another tattoo.” Louis mentioned casually. He wasn't expecting any reaction from Harry, but three seconds later when he was on top of the older man, he realized he got one.
“Not a chance.” Harry shook his head, squeezing Louis' hips. His hands were roaming all over Louis' backside.
“Really?” Louis asked, raising an eyebrow coquettishly. “All I have is this one.” He gestured to the H he had where his hip met his pelvis. He knew Harry loved it because it was in Harry's handwriting.
Harry pressed his thumb against it and made a noise of appreciation in his throat. That tattoo got him hornier than he liked to admit.
“I could get your name right across my arse,” Louis drawled. “You could choose where. Or even—Property of Harry Styles.” He held his hands out in front of him, making the gesture as if his arse was a giant marquee.
Harry reached behind Louis and squeezed his bare arse. “As much as I like that idea, I don't want anyone seeing your arse but me.”
“Ooh,” Louis grinned down at Harry. “Possessive.”
Harry nodded and flipped them over so that he was hovering over Louis. “You bet.”
-
“Fix your hair,” Louis said to Harry as they scrambled to get dressed. Their previous escapades had occupied them for quite some time and now the boys were due to be home any minute.
“I need to wash it,” Harry muttered, trying to comb his fingers through his tangled curls. Louis stood from the bed and tossed him a hair tie.
“Put it in a bun.” He suggested. He wanted to do unspeakable things to Harry when his hair was in a bun. It was such a turn on. Who knew?
“Good thinking.” Harry twirled his hair up and wrapped the hair tie around it. Soon, it resembled a bun. When he was satisfied with it, he turned to Louis. “Ready to go reheat some dinner for the little ones?”
Louis grabbed the hand Harry was holding out and smiled. They walked downstairs without breaking contact with each other and even managed to warm up the pizza while keeping their fingers twined together.
Just as they were taking the pizza out of the oven, the front door opened and loud voices filled the house. A few seconds later, the kitchen had four excited children in it. Ollie went straight for Louis, abandoning the stuffed animal he had gotten in favor of being held.
“How was the zoo?” Harry asked, ushering Niall and Liam inside the kitchen as well. It was spacious enough for everyone.
Niall sat down on a stool and rested his elbows on the counter in front of him. Finn sat next to him and did the same. “It was great,” He informed them.
Liam nodded his head and leaned back against the cabinets, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “Really. Your kids are so well behaved.”
Harry raised his eyebrows. “Really? Our children? These four, right here?” He hovered his hands around his babies.
Liam cracked a smile and nodded. “Yes, really. They didn't run off, and we only had a small incident with someone I won't name and the monkey exhibit.”
Louis looked down at Ollie and frowned. “Ollie, what did you do?”
Harry let out a laugh and shook his head. Trust it to be Ollie causing trouble with the monkeys.
“Monkey!” Ollie shouted, waving his hands.
“What did Mummy say about that?” Louis asked the three year old.
Ollie shrugged cutely and hid his face in Louis' neck. He wrapped his arms around Louis in a hug, hoping that his Mummy would forget the whole thing. And he did. Louis snuggled him back and kissed his little cherub cheek.
“You had so much fun then, baby?” He asked, rubbing Ollie's back. “Are you hungry? Mummy bought you some pizza.”
Ollie perked up at the mention of food and he wiggled in Louis' arms. “Pizza!” He exclaimed.
“That's right! Let's get some food into that empty tummy of yours, shall we?” He turned to serve Ollie, and by default, Theo, who was being cradled by Harry.
“Daddy,” Bean said. “Did you know that polar bears have black skin and just their fur is white?”
“I did not.” Harry answered honestly. “Why is that?”
“Because,” Bean adjusted the new shirt he got at the zoo. “Their skin can retain heat. Darker colors retain heat. Also, they have approximately four and a half inches of fat underneath their fur, which keeps them warm.”
Harry ruffled Bean's hair. “How did you get so smart?” Really. How did his seven year old become smarter than him?
Bean shrugged and headed for the table, where Louis had sat out plates and was pouring juice. It was the place to be right now at their house. He looked around and frowned. They were missing a child.
“Where's Lucas?” He asked Niall and Liam. Finn and Bean were sitting next to each other at the table, and the twins were sitting across from Charlotte.
“I think I saw him go upstairs. He was upset on our way home.” Niall answered, walking over to the table himself. He was hungry.
“He's upset?” Louis asked from the table. He looked at Harry, who shrugged. How did Louis hear that over the commotion? Harry chalked it up to maternal instincts.
“That's just what Niall said.” Harry told him.
Louis frowned and continued pouring juice for everyone. As soon as the last glass was filled, he brushed past Harry and headed upstairs. It broke his heart when Lucas was upset, because instead of throwing fits like the twins or crying it out like Bean, he bottled it up and kept to himself, much like Harry did.
He knocked on the closed door of the boys' room. There was no answer, so he opened the door and stepped inside. Lucas was laying down on his bed, clutching his most favorite teddy bear.
“Hi baby,” Louis greeted quietly. He felt that if he spoke any louder, it would shatter the peacefulness of the room. Lucas looked at him sadly but didn't say a word. “Can I lay down next to you?”
Lucas nodded his head and Louis made himself comfortable right next to his second child. He propped his head up on his folded arm and looked at Lucas.
“Did you have fun today?” He asked.
Lucas nodded but didn't say anything.
“That's good. Are the dolphins still your favorite?”
Another quiet nod.
“The dolphins are my favorite too. They're so pretty.” He waited to see if Lucas would add any more to the conversation before continuing. “Are you upset?”
Lucas nodded and tucked his face into his teddy bear.
“Why are you upset, baby? I thought you had fun today?” No answer, so he continued. “Did something happen to make you upset?”
Lucas shook his head. “Don't wanna go,” He finally said, his voice quiet and muffled by the fabric of his stuffed animal.
“Go where, baby?”
“School.” He looked at Louis with shiny blue eyes and suddenly everything clicked. Lucas was starting school in less than a week. He hadn't really been as excited about it as Bean had been, in fact, he'd been a little more sullen and quiet these past few days.
“Why don't you want to go to school?” Louis asked, rubbing his hand up and down Lucas' side.
Lucas shrugged. “Don't wanna.” Was all he said.
“But baby, you're going to have so much fun there. You can color and read, and play and there's even a fun jungle gym to climb on!”
Lucas shook his head and tossed the bear aside, gently though, and curled up in Louis' embrace. “No.” He said.
Louis sighed. “Alright, love. Can you do me a favor then? Can you think about how much fun you'll have at school? Just think about it really hard, okay, and then I'll come and we can talk about it the day before, okay?”
Lucas nodded and looked up at Louis. “Mummy?”
Louis pushed the hair out of Lucas' face and smiled down at him. “Yes, love?”
“What did you make for dinner?” The five (“almost six!”) year old asked. “Uncle Liam bought everyone food but my tummy felt weird so I didn't eat.”
“Daddy got us pizza to eat. He bought your special kind, too.” Louis informed him. Lucas' face lit up and he sat up.
“Can we go eat it now?” He asked politely.
Louis nodded and sat up next to Lucas. They stood up and Lucas grabbed Louis' hand. As they were walking downstairs, Louis said, “I bet your tummy felt weird because you were upset.”
“I think so.” Lucas agreed. “But I'm all better now!”
“Of course you are,” Louis smiled down at him. They entered the kitchen, where everyone was seated at the table. Harry caught Louis' eye and he smiled as they walked in.
“Here, Lucas!” Finn said when Lucas sat down at the table. He pushed a plate with pizza on it towards his friend. “It's your favorite.”
“Thank you, Finny.” Lucas reached for the plate and dug in. Louis watched happily as he sat down next to Harry.
“What was wrong?” Harry asked quietly.
Louis turned to Harry. “I'll tell you later.”