I have at least 5 more chapters for the story! I hope you guys are enjoying everything I've done in the story!

trigger warning: some minor violence and alcoholism.

Also—one of my good friends highlou who has been helping me edit this story has a new Larry story called "I'm Fine, We're Fine" and a boyxboy story called "Adore You" you guys should go check them out! She's a really great writer and these stories are so good!!

**

Harry groaned when he heard his phone go off again. He felt a pair of arms around him and that's when he realized what he had done. He was quick to get up off the bed and there was a very confused man looking back at him.

Michael shot up from his deep sleep from the sudden movement from Harry, "What? What's wrong?"

"I shouldn't have ever stayed. Never should have slept with you." Harry rubbed his hands over his face and he was shifting from one foot to the other.

Michael sighed, "Should have figured that would have happened, you kept saying Louis in your sleep."

Harry frowned. "I'm sorry."

"It's all good, no worries. You're uh, welcome to shower if you'd like." He scratched the back of his neck, it was just a bit awkward.

Harry nodded and did just that.

About 10 minutes later a knock was heard on the bathroom door. "Umm, Harry? Your phone keeps going off. Your mom has called you multiple times and has texted you that something happened to that Louis fellow."

Harry almost slipped getting out of the tub and was quick to grab his phone.

"Sorry, didn't mean to look at them. Your phone kept beeping and it's all on the home screen."

"It's okay, thank you."

And that's when Harry knew he just managed to be the biggest fucking asshole in the whole world.

"I missed the birth of my babies," was all he said to Michael. He didn't move from his spot, all he did was slide down to the floor and put his head into his hands. "I'm a fucking idiot! I can't believe I did that! I told him I'd never leave him. I told him I'd never miss out on the birth." Harry felt numb, he didn't know how to react, he was just didn't know how he could have been so stupid.

Michael didn't know what to do for the sobbing man on the floor of his bedroom. "I really don't know how to help you, but you can't do anything sitting on the floor."

Harry just looked up at him, he finally got a good look at the man before him. He definitely looked a lot like Louis, he thought his drunken mind last night was playing tricks but it wasn't. The only difference we're those eyes that looked back at him, they were brown, and they showed sadness for what was happening right now.

"I've screwed up big, big time."

"How about I make some breakfast and we talk. Maybe speaking to someone that was never involved with anyone else can help you. Finish up whatever you need and I'll be in the kitchen." Michael smiled at Harry, patted his shoulder comfortingly, before he left him to collect his thoughts.

And that's how the rest of the morning went. Harry explained everything to Michael who just sat there and listened, he did however interrupt him every so often to have Harry explain something further, but for the most part he was quiet.

Once he was finished Michael let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding. "Wow, that is a lot to take in," he muttered quietly, he took a sip of his now cold coffee before he said something that made Harry's head snap up.

"I'm not saying that you never loved him, but did you ever think that you fell more in love with the idea of him carrying your children?"

**

It wasn't going to be for a couple hours later when Louis was able to see his children. Louis wanted Niall, Zayn and Liam to come with him to document the first moments.

Louis' family had left, only to promise they would be back in the morning.

When the first baby was placed on Louis' bare chest he started to cry, it was just so overwhelming for him that he couldn't hold it in.

"The baby on your chest is Baby A, your big boy," the nurse, who's name was Jordan, spoke with a big smile on his face. He went and grabbed Baby B and motioned for Niall to help place the second baby on Louis' chest.

"This one has been giving us a hard time, but he's definitely a little fighter." This baby was much smaller than his siblings, but Louis knew that he'd end up being the closest to him, he could feel it.

Then the little girl, the one that will definitely be spoiled by all of her uncles. The nurse motioned for Niall to remove his shirt, "Here you go, she's beautiful." Niall didn't have the heart to tell the nurse that he wasn't the other father, but when he felt the little girl being placed on his chest he was in awe.

He grabbed Louis' outstretched hand and kissed his knuckles.

"Such a beautiful family," Jordan spoke happily. He had noticed Zayn and Liam were taking photos of the pair, when he offered to take a photo of them all. "Let's get you all in a photo to share with your family." They didn't need to argue as they were hoping to get a photo.

Anyone that would see the photo would notice 4 men with three babies, but what they would overlook would be the way Niall looked at Louis after the photo was taken.

He held back so much, he was ready to finally admit to Louis that he was in love with him. He just hoped Louis would accept him.

"So Louis, what are the names?" The nurse was getting ready to fill out the birth certificates and he needed names for the babies.

He sighed, he never really discussed it over with Harry. Even though he was upset that he didn't show up, he wasn't not going to let him at least be there to name the kids.

"I think we need more time."

Jordan nodded. "Take your time. You have a bit before you need to decide. In the meantime, I'll leave you guys and I'll be back in 15 minutes."

Zayn was the first to speak, breaking the quietness of the room. "Have you and dumbass thought of names?"

"Yes and no. Like we have first names but not middle names."

"You know you don't need a middle name? Most people don't have middle names."

"I know, but I want middle names."

"Okay, okay. Just warning you whenever he shows up I'm not leaving him be. I'll be watching him." And there's the Zayn that Louis loves.

Louis rolled his eyes. He looked down at the two babies on his chest who were looking up at him with wide eyes. "Hi babies, I'm your daddy." Louis finally looked over to Niall and cooed, the girl literally was as quiet as can be. The most quiet she had been since she was born, she was looking at Niall, it was as if she recognized his heartbeat and it helped soothe her cries.

"Hi there, little one," Niall spoke quietly, he moved his finger and she grabbed hold of it and wouldn't let go. Zayn took that as a good photo op and he took the photo quickly.

**

Harry let Michael talk and for once in his life he understood where the man was coming from, he felt so bad for all the pain he caused and he wished that he would have never done what he did. He was selfish and only thought of himself.

The words that he heard ran a mile around Harry's brain and he was 100 percent right. He is not denying that he never liked him because he really did, but after he had found out about Niall's crush he needed Louis. He didn't want to lose Louis because of Niall.

So he hatched up the plan to get Louis pregnant so he wouldn't leave him. He thought it was the perfect plan until he started to get impatient when Louis wasn't getting pregnant.

He knew that if he waited around he wouldn't have been happy. He did in fact want children, but only with Louis.

"When did you realize those feelings start to change?" Michael asked him, he noticed Harry was mumbling and he had caught a few words that he was confused about.

"When I walked in on Louis and Niall cuddling on the couch."

Harry sighed, it had been such a long day and all he wanted to do was relax and enjoy the rest of his night with his husband. He pulled into the driveway of their home and he frowned when he noticed the familiar car that belonged to Niall.

He groaned. "Of course he's not alone." He slammed his car door shut, it was louder than expected, but he was so mad. He wanted to be able to come home some nights and just not have to worry about company.

He never really did have a problem with any of Louis' friends—except Niall. There was something about the man that didn't settle right with Harry. He knew that Niall had feelings for Louis in highschool, anyone with a pair of eyes could see it, but he wasn't sure if those feelings ever went away.

But when he walked into his house he knew right then and there that Niall still had feelings for his husband.

"What is going on?!" Harry screamed, he saw that Louis and Niall were practically on top of each other on the couch watching a film.

"Nothing? We are just watching a movie?" Niall spoke, a bit confused as to why Harry was acting like this.

"Why are you all up on my husband?"

"Come on Harry, we were literally just laying down. We didn't do anything," Louis spoke, annoyed at his husband for even suggesting that he would do anything.

"Laying down? On top of each other?" Harry pulled the blanket off of the two of them, they were still fully clothed, but Harry still felt like something didn't seem right.

"Come on Harry don't be like this. Niall is my best friend, nothing is going on and nothing will happen."

Harry saw the way Niall's face changed slightly, but Harry doesn't think Niall noticed he even made a face, when Louis uttered those words.

That's when Harry knew that Niall wanted Louis. After that day he hatched up his plan to get Louis' pregnant so he would never leave him.

"And how did that make you feel? Why did you think getting Louis' pregnant would have kept him from leaving you?"

"It made me feel like I was just there and the two of them were actually together. They always did everything together and I was always by myself. I honestly thought getting Louis' pregnant was a great idea because he always wanted kids so I thought it would save our marriage. But, in the end it's the reason why it ended."

Michael nodded, even though he just met this man, he was able to get him to admit to a lot of things. He could have sworn he saw Harry sit up straighter like all the weight had been lifted off his shoulders. They continued to talk a little bit more and Michael offered up to schedule weekly visits at his office or the house, wherever Harry is most comfortable, to help him through this hard time of his.

"I really appreciate you talking to me, I'm sorry I kind of just dumped everything on you like you're a therapist."

Michael just chuckled. "I do happen to be a therapist, why do you think I listened to you so well?"

"You must be a really good one then."

"I'd like to say that I am one of the best." Michael cleaned off the table and they just sat there in silence. "I put my number in your phone if you ever need anything."

"Thank you. I should get going. I need to find out what happened, why he had the babies so soon."

"Let me know if everything is okay." Harry nodded and was quick to grab his things and took the short walk back to the bar to retrieve his car.

Once he got into his car he looked at all of the texts and calls. He decided to call the one person who probably didn't even want to speak to him.

"Harry Edward! How dare you?!" His mother's voice screamed into his ear, he had to pull his phone away from his ear and he could still hear every word she said.

"I know mum, I screwed up."

"Screwed up?! You did more than screw up! I got a phone call from Zayn last night who gave me an earful of what you've done. Harry I did not raise you to be like this. What did Louis ever do to you?!"

And that's when Harry snapped and he screamed.

"WHEN HE FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS BEST FRIEND!" Then Harry broke down, he started sobbing to his mother. He always knew that Louis was in love with Niall and vice versa. He always felt like an after thought because they always were like two peas in a pod. Same goes for Louis and Zayn.

He always had this inkling that if him and Louis never got together that it would have been Louis and Niall. It was always Louis and Niall regardless.

"Harry where are you getting this from? Louis loved you, he practically praised the ground you walked on."

"You never saw the way he looked at Niall. He was always with Niall. The way he looked at him, he was in love with him."

"Is that why you acted the way you did towards him? Were you afraid of losing him? Honey, Louis would have never done that to you and you should have known that. If you had those thoughts why didn't you speak to him about it?"

"I don't know? I guess I thought it was all in my head. I wanted to forget that it could even be possible. I thought it would go away if I didn't think about it."

His mother sighed over the phone. "Harry you're definitely something. Just please go see your babies. Be there for Louis."

"I'm sorry mum."

"I'm sorry too."

"Niall is coming over later. He said he'd help me paint the nursery."

"Why is it Niall? I thought Zayn would be coming over?"

"Zayn had to go to work, Niall was going to come regardless." Harry was going to go out but because Niall was coming over he had to stay. It wasn't like he didn't trust Louis, he didn't trust Niall.

"What's the look for?"

"What look?" Harry rolled his eyes, he knew he gave him a look when he said Niall was coming over.

"What's your problem with Niall?"

"Nothing! I don't have a problem with him," Harry lied, he always lied when it came to his feelings toward Niall. He tried his hardest but sometimes he didn't hide his feelings very well.

"You've always had a problem with him! He's my best friend! You have friends you hang out with that I don't particularly like but I never say anything! Those friends make you happy and Niall makes me happy. Why can't you accept?"

"Sometimes he makes you happier than me!" He screamed, storming out of the house leaving a stunned Louis where he left him.

Louis wouldn't move until Niall broke him out of his trance 20 minutes later. Louis told Niall what happened and he just frowned. He never did anything wrong to Harry, why does Harry hate him?

Harry knew there was always feelings lingering between the two men, he wasn't stupid or even blind, he saw how they acted around each other. The subtle glances that changed over time to loving glances.

Harry knew, he knew the whole time that no matter how much Louis loved him, he always had a space in his heart for Niall. The way he looked at Niall was the same way he looked at him. Harry hated it.

He was still sitting in the parking lot of the bar when he was scrolling through Instagram when he came across a photo that was posted on Niall's page. It was the photo that Zayn took of the pair, the caption read.

Three beautiful babies were brought into this world by my bestest friend in the whole world. I love you.
Photo creds: @zayn

Harry threw his phone, he had it. He was done. He couldn't believe it. He was just about to pull out of the parking lot but since he was already at the bar, he could have a little bit of fun.

When he walked in the same bartender was still there from the night before, he gave him an odd look, but didn't question it as he was still in the same place as well.

"Rough night?" The bartender asked, Harry finally got a good look at the man before him and he found that his name was Andy. He was a tall man with broad shoulders, the light from the room gave his skin a nice glow, the skin that already was a nice golden brown. He kind of almost looked like if Shemar Moore had a son, he had the same facial structure and all. His hair neatly styled to show off his thick curls. He was definitely a beautiful man.

"It's been rough the last few months." Harry took the seat directly in front of Andy, he didn't really care what was given to him, he just needed to forget.

Andy however, knew with how Harry was last night was hesitant even giving him alcohol because he was pretty sure Harry was still slightly tipsy.

"What's stopping you from giving me a drink?" Harry asked, he expected something sitting in front of him already, but there was still nothing.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I'm here aren't I? Now give me your strongest whiskey."

Andy sighed, "I'll get that right away."

And that's how the rest of the afternoon basically went until Andy cut him off. He should have cut him off sooner, but when he disappeared a guy in the bar ordered Harry five drinks for him because he wanted to.

"How dare you! I'm a paying customer!" Harry slurred, Andy just shook his head.

"I'll call security to escort you out if you don't stop. You've had enough, I'll call you Uber to get you home."

"No, I don't need your help! I don't need anyone's help!" Harry stumbled out of the bar and started to go into the direction of the hospital.

**

Louis was sound asleep when he heard some commotion outside of his room, which made Niall leave quickly, leaving him alone for the first time in a long while.

He couldn't help but overhear Harry's voice and Niall yelling at him, "You're drunk Harry! Louis definitely won't want to see you like this!"

Louis carefully got off of the bed, he was still a little sore so it was a little bit difficult to get up, but he managed to walk slowly to the door to see what was going on.

"Was this your plan the whole time?!" Harry yelled, this wasn't the same Harry everyone knew.

"What are you talking about? What plan?"

"Stealing my husband? Was this your plan from the start? I knew you loved Louis and this is what you did! You turned him against me so you can have him all to yourself!"

"Harry what are you even talking about? There was no plan! I would never do that to you and to Louis." Niall tried to reason with Harry and before he knew it Niall dropped to the floor after Harry swung and punched him right in the nose.

Niall knew at the moment that his nose was broken as the blood was pouring out of his nose like a faucet running.

Louis didn't really know what just happened, but he saw nurses injecting Harry with a sedative as the security guards were having a hard time trying to keep a hold on him. Drunk Harry was strong and squirmy—who also kicks.

Louis finally managed to snap out of his trance to see if Niall was okay. He frowned at the scene before him and his eyes watered because he feels like this is all because of him.

The nurses helped him into Louis' room and they unfortunately had to set his nose back into place. "Looks like you'll have two black eyes, let's get you to X-ray to make sure the bone didn't chip or anything. I'll be back in just a moment."

"Fuck Niall, I'm so sorry! I don't know why—"

"Not your fault, Harry is just an asshole." Niall went over to Louis who was still standing frozen by the bed, he was afraid to approach the man because of possibly hurting him.

Louis was looking everywhere but at Niall, he was sniffling as the tears started to slow freely. "I'm sorry that you've had to deal with all of this. I really don't deserve you."

Niall pulled Louis into a hug and rocked him back and forth.

"Is it true though?" Louis asked quietly against Niall's chest.

"Is what true?"

"That you wanted me all to yourself?" Louis asked, but Niall heard a bit of a teasing tone in the way he spoke.

Niall just rolled his eyes. "If I wanted you for myself I'd lock you away in a castle."

Louis smacked his chest playfully. "Don't get any ideas."

Niall would be lying if he honestly didn't want him all to himself, but not like that.

**

Niall came back a few hours later and the doctors told him that there was nothing further that needed to be done, but he'd need to get it looked at in two weeks to make sure nothing was going wrong.

When Niall came back, Louis was not in the room and he frowned, but he had a feeling where he might be. He left the room and followed the hallway down to the NICU and was shocked to see Louis was in the hallway and Harry was the one that was being introduced to his children.

Louis looked over at Niall and he smiled. "He's not able to hold them because of what happened, but he wanted to see them, but only if I was watching."

Niall nodded. "Did you decide on names?"

Louis nodded and smiled big. "Our big boy is Elliot Quinn, our little fighter is Nathaniel James and our princess is Abigail Anne."

"All beautiful names for beautiful babies."

The two of them stood there and waited until Harry was done and they all went their separate ways. When Louis and Niall got back to the room Zayn and Liam were there waiting for them.

"Oh shit dude what the fuck happened?!" Zayn asked, he noticed Niall's nose and eyes.

"Harry came here in a drunken rampage and punched me. Claiming I've been planning to steal Louis this whole time and all that."

Zayn rolled his eyes. "Wait until I—What are you doing in here?" They all looked where Zayn was looking at and saw Harry.

"I just wanted to see how Louis was doing."

"He's fine now, leave."

"Not until he answers me."

But Louis stood there quietly. He could feel his heart quicken in his chest.

Zayn walked over to Harry and got into his face. "You got two seconds to leave or you'll be the next one with a broken nose."

"Make me."

And well, he did tell Zayn to make him leave. So he punched him.

"Next time you hurt one of us, I'll hurt you too. Watch it Styles."