time skip!

---

harry groaned as louis' dainty fingers dug into his shoulders. he slumped against the chair and tilted his head back, clenching his eyes shut in relaxation.

"you need to see a chiropractor or a masseuse," louis chimes. "because i'm not gonna be it."

harry whines. "but you're way better than them, lou!"

louis giggles and leans down to kiss his nose. "sorry, lion. but raven will be getting all of the rubs."

"favoritism at its finest," harry huffs and louis shuts him up with a kiss. he hums and holds his cheeks, feeling louis grin against his lips.

"you're a brat," the pregnant boy says. his fiancé chuckles and louis stands back up, straightening his posture.

"your birthday is in two weeks," harry says. "and raven should be here within three," he hums. "you've almost made it full-term, that usually doesn't happen."

"yeah, well, i'm just that awesome," louis shrugs. "and she's making me miserable. i'm hurting all over."

harry pouts. "and i've had you on your feet while you didn't tell me?"

louis shrugs again and sits on the bed. "you needed it, honey. i could see you were tense."

the gang member rolls his eyes and lays in the bed. "but you come first. you're my priority. you're pregnant-"

"not handicapped."

"-but still," harry groans.

"just shut up and cuddle me," louis pouts. harry cooed and pulled him down, snuggling against the boy and wrapped his arms around him.

"sorry, sweetums," he murmured and kissed below his ear. "are you okay?"

louis nods and strokes harry's arm. "'m okay, my back just hurts."

harry offers a heating pad but louis declines because he doesn't want to get too hot with the heater also running in their home. the older man gently rubs the small of louis' back and drags his fingertips down his spine, causing louis to shiver under his touch.

"you'll be twenty three soon," harry coos. "what do you wanna do for your special day?"

"just sleep, sleep sounds nice," louis responds and lays his head on harry's chest. "maybe a blowjob."

"that can easily be done," harry hums and sneaks his hands down louis' shorts. his hand cupped one of his cheeks and louis let out a teasing "mm," before tucking his head in his lover's neck.

"you're the bomb, baby," he says and kisses his slight stubble.

"i know," harry says smugly and parts his lips when he feels louis sucking on his neck. "make them visible."

"done," louis says. harry tilts his head to the side and louis latches on, scattering hickies along the side of his neck and collar. red welts appeared with teeth marks and louis took the sleeve to his jumper to wipe excess spit away. "and done."

"good boy," harry kisses his forehead. "where's little man?"

"he should be over on his bed," louis says and harry peeks over his shoulder to see joker snoozing away on his little cot. the pit was curled up with a tiny blanket over him because louis spoiled him as if he were a real child.

"he's sleepin'," harry whispers. "can't wake the baby up."

"haz, he's two."

"exactly."

louis snorts and places his hand on his tummy. "goin' to sleep. take a nap with me."

"sounds like a plan," harry murmurs and louis pulls their duvet over them, practically smothering harry with his body and was out in minutes.

---

zayn and harry were out and about, grabbing things for raven and what louis will need in the house once the baby comes.

they didn't have a baby shower since they had almost twice as much of what they already needed plus more, louis felt like it would be "greedy" to throw a gift-receiving party. harry tried objecting and saying they could use more things but the hundreds of outfits, diapers and even bath stuff stashed in raven's closet said otherwise.

"her room is purple and black," harry says as they walk down an aisle.

"well duh, i painted it," his brother snorts and harry punches his arm. zayn winces and mocks a pout, rubbing the sore spot and picked up a little stuffed octopus he saw on a shelf. "look how precious," he fawned.

harry smiled softly. "you could surprise lou with it," he offers.

zayn hums and carefully puts it in the cart. "for princess raven, from her favorite uncle."

harry chuckles and pushes the cart down the walkway. "you're ridiculous."

they continued to browse for potential necessities that weren't really necessities, like essential oils for louis' relaxation and some healthy ways to relieve stress if he needed it. harry got him a massage set with certain lotions and oils inside, bath things like candles and smelly-goods and even some lazy clothes like leggings and oversized sweatshirts. zayn thought harry was stupidly in love but he really was, he loved louis with every bit of him.

the brothers finished their shopping spree and loaded everything in the car. zayn got a bigger vehicle because he felt like his mustang was too small. plus niall always kept extra things in the car so they were kinda running out of room. harry kept groaning that the december weather was too cold to handle and he quickly hopped in the car. zayn rushed to get everything in and sighed.

"how's he doing?" zayn asks when he sees louis' name come up on harry's phone with a text message.

"he's in a little pain," harry says. "but i think he's okay. he said he will live," he chuckles.

zayn laughs at that and starts the car. "he's a trooper."

"most definitely," harry agrees and buckles up.

"are we picking him up from work?" zayn asks as he pulls out of the parking lot.

"yes sir," harry nods curtly. "and niall, of course."

"my honey," zayn says in a dreamy tone and harry snorts. maybe zayn was the one who was stupidly in love.

once they reach bounty, harry steps out of the car and brushes himself off. he makes his way through the door after greeting donny and finds his heavily pregnant fiancé propped up against the bar, stirring his ice water around with a straw.

"mr. styles," harry clears his throat. "your limo has arrived."

"hi, honey," louis grins and puckered his lips. harry plants a soft kiss against them before sitting on a stool. "i should be getting off here in a few minutes."

"take your time," harry waves it off. "zayn's waiting on niall."

"he's stocking the deli and he will be done," louis hums and takes a sip of his drink. "so how was your day?"

"good," harry grins and takes louis' hand, rubbing his thumb along his knuckles. "we did some shopping for the baby. how has work been?"

"boring," louis sighs. "i want to go home and take a nice shower, eat the rest of the ice cream that's in the freezer and spend the rest of the night watching movies."

"we can do that," harry declares. "anything you want," he adds.

louis grinned, "you're perfect."

"i think you are talking about yourself, baby," harry kisses his hand and niall pops up out of nowhere with a bag of chips in his hand.

"merry christmas," the blonde man says as he places them in front of louis. "i'm done, i'm ready to get the hell out of here."

"ditto," louis says. minutes later, the next few employees show up and clock in, leaving louis and niall to clock out. harry walks beside louis, holding his hand on his lower back for support and he sits in the back seat with the boy, immediately nuzzling his head in the crook of his neck.

"did you miss me?" louis teases.

"i did," zayn winks at him through the mirror. niall punches his shoulder and buckles in, taking his shoes off and sitting criss-cross in his seat.

"i have to get some gas before we head back," zayn announces as he pulled off. "h, how do you feel about having a guys night in? you don't mind, do you?"

harry and louis share a few glances and louis shrugs. "i don't mind," he says softly. "our house?"

"fine by me," harry shrugs and kissed his nose. louis cuddles into his side, seatbelt giving him a barrier to completely sink into harry's body but he managed to get comfortable. other than the music playing from the stereo, the ride was silent. harry had his arm wrapped around louis' shoulders, rubbing his arm gently. niall and zayn were holding hands up front and louis was almost asleep by the time they made it to the nearest gas station which wasn't even five minutes away from the club.

zayn parks at a pump and he and his fiancé step out, heading inside the store. niall grabbed them all some drinks while zayn paid for fuel and when they went back out, zayn's head snapped to the side when he saw a navy blue sports car speed in and park sideways.

"ey, malik!"

"shit," zayn hisses. "niall, get to the car."

"what's goin' on, zee?" niall asks.

"niall, baby, just go to the car, please," zayn begs. "i'll be there in a minute."

niall bit his lip but nodded, making his way to the vehicle. he set the bag of drinks in his seat and filled the car up with gas, watching every movement his partner made. harry watched with furrowed brows and squinted eyes, confused as to why zayn was turning red and aiming for his side.

"i hate to do this," zayn said. "but i need you to go or else something bad will happen."

"what?" the man in front of him snorts. "you're gonna call your daddy to come kill me?"

"maybe," zayn shrugs and pulls out his pistol, aiming it at him. "or maybe i can just do it myself."

"fuck," harry groans and carefully removes himself from louis. he jumps out of the car, brushing past niall and tackled the other man to the ground before he could lay a hand on his brother. the lad tried to push harry off of him but with zayn kicking at his side and harry holding him down with his arm against his throat, it was useless.

"what the fuck is even going on?" harry says while the lad knocks out under him, laying limp against the ground. luckily nobody was around but then again, they were on the other side of the building with no eyes to see them.

"i jipped his mate out of some shit and he wanted to confront me about it," zayn shrugged. he leaned down to where he was beside the man's ear, breath ghosting over it. "tell your friend to grow some balls and come to me as a man instead of sending his little guardian angels to find me."

"you're bloody ignorant."

harry and zayn stand, both turning to see the exact man zayn was talking about. he had his arms crossed against his chest, looking at zayn so hard that harry himself could feel his eyes digging into his soul.

"where the fuck is my shit?" he asks.

zayn shrugs. "did you snort it all?"

"don't get smart, stupid bitch," the man steps up and pulls zayn to him by his shirt collar.

"hey," harry steps up and pushes him off. "get the fuck back."

"or what, curly?" the man snorts. "you're nothing but a pussy, too. just like your father."

"fuck you," zayn spat. "don't speak on my father or he will be the one to put a bullet in your head."

"oh no, i'm shaking in my boots!" shawn gasps dramatically. "i just want what i paid for, malik. and if i can't get that then i'll just have to get something else."

"like what?" harry seethes.

shawn shrugs smugly and looks at the pump the car was parked at. "maybe the blonde, or the pretty little one with the baby in him."

"no way," harry steps forward more to where he was almost nose to nose with the man. "don't you dare touch them."

"too late," shawn smirked. "your brother wants to short me? i can short him. two can play this game."

he whistles and zayn was pulled away, arms grasped tightly across his back and harry leaped forward to plummel shawn against the concrete. he grabbed his hair and continued to slam it down on the concrete, telling him between hits that he wasn't going to get his way if his life depended on it.

zayn eventually gets free when niall once again pops up out of nowhere, whacking the man who was holding him upside the head with a stray rock. the man falls limp to the ground, blood pooling from his ear and onto the blacktop.

"zayn!" niall yells when he sees their car easing backwards. harry snaps up at his piercing shriek and he felt like everything froze around him as the vehicle contined to roll back into the street. he drops shawn and doesn't spare a glance at the boys behind him before he dashed across the lot. he ignored the oncoming cars and was able to yank the driver side door open, jumping in despite the continuous rolling and he pressed onto the brakes, halting the car. he shut the door and pressed on the gas after changing the gears, cursing to himself as the tires did nothing but squeal in their spot.

"haz?" louis groaned and rubbed his eyes.

"don't puke," harry warns. "gonna go fast."

"what?" louis sits up and looks side to side. "why are we in the middle of the road?"

"louis, stop asking questions. just please don't freak out," harry says, trying to shift gears into something that would work and once he finally got the car to move forward, he let out a breath of relief.

"c'mon, come on!" he yells and punches the steering wheel. niall was running towards them but zayn pulled him back, promising that harry had this and it would be even riskier if they tried to help.

"hazza," louis says sleepily. "baby wants food."

"i know, i'm trying," harry says. "give me just a moment, okay, baby? we're gonna be home soon. just hold tight for me, okay?"

louis nods and dozes back off, not even realizing the headlights shining their way through the window as a truck slides against the snowy ground from trying to stop.

"dear god, please don't let this happen," harry whispered to himself. he went to jerk the car into four-wheel drive and made it across the traffic line before a car heading from each way slid to the side, squeezing harry and louis between them with harry's head hitting the steering wheel and louis laying limp, blood hitting the window and beginning to pool onto the seat.

---

whoops.

i apologize for the drama (not really), but we need some tea around here.

was shawn's appearance reasonable? why was zayn so calm? why didn't zayn go after the car?

thank you for 70k, i promise i will update soon and not take weeks to publish a new chapter. dont give up on me. and please dont hate me for the ending of this, i love you all very much and i know you will forgive me in the end because well...you just will.

lots of love x