"Good morning, love," Louis yawns, walking into the kitchen of their little flat. Harry looks up from his cuppa, grinning at Louis sleepily. Louis leans down and pecks Harry on the lips, opening his eyes and grinning when he sees Harry giggle. He can't help but kiss him again.

Being married to his best friend is, like, the best thing ever. Even the domestic little things, like bringing Harry tea when he's up late studying, or grocery shopping together, or falling asleep on the sofa together while they're watching a movie. He loves all of it.

"Hey, um, I need to talk to you about something," Harry says, sounding a bit timid.

Louis' face softens. He sits down at the table with Harry, folding his arms on top of it. "Of course, yeah, what's the matter?" He asks gently.

"Um," Harry bites his bottom lip, looking down at his lap. "I...I'm pregnant, Lou."

Louis' heart almost jumps out of his body. Oh, holy shit. He almost thinks maybe he misheard Harry. "You're...you're pregnant? Like...with a baby?"

Harry laughs nervously. "Yeah, I think so," He reaches into the pocket of his joggers, handing Louis a white stick. Louis takes it with a shaky hand, staring down at it. It's positive. Oh fuck. Oh, holy fuck.

"O-Oh my God," Louis stutters. "Oh my God, Harry. This is...oh my God."

"Louis," Harry's voice brings Louis back down to earth. He looks up at him and sees how scared he is. "I-I don't know what we're going to do."

"I don't either," Louis admits quietly. "Holy shit, baby. This...is kind of amazing? And terrifying, holy shit, we're not super ready for this."

"I'm not ready for this," Harry sniffles, eyes watery. Oh, geez.

"Haz, you've been talking about having babies since you were sixteen," Louis points out fondly, but his hands are trembling. "We're married now. It's...our mums can't yell at us about that shit anymore."

"You're right," Harry takes a deep breath. "You're right, we both need to relax."

"Come here, beautiful," Louis says gently, holding his arms out to Harry. Harry smiles weakly, standing up from his chair and sitting on Louis' lap instead. Louis nuzzles his nose into Harry's upper arm. "I know you want to keep it, love. You're just scared."

"Why can you read me so well?" Harry giggles, his nose pink, eyes wet. "I am scared, this is scary. I'm still in law school. We're so young, Lou."

"There's no one else I'd rather be young with," Louis murmurs. Harry's cheeks turn bright pink, and Louis grins to himself smugly. He loves getting that kind of reaction out of Harry. "We can figure everything out, pet. I'll start working more hours. Uh, we might need to ask our parents for some help."

"Lou," Harry says hesitantly.

"I'm not saying it's definite, but. Maybe."

Harry sighs. He leans down and nuzzles his nose into the crook of Louis' neck. "We'll be okay, L, right?"

Louis grins to himself, resting his hand against Harry's flat stomach. "We'll be okay, H."

♛

Louis wakes up with a terrible headache. Harry is already up and in the washroom getting ready, and Gracie must still be asleep. He sighs sleepily, burying his face into his pillow. His throat is a little sore when he swallows, and he's so fucking tired.

Harry walks into the bedroom, and Louis closes his eyes again. He can hear Harry sigh softly, and it isn't long before he feels soft, familiar fingers stroking his cheek. "Lou, 's time to get up," He says gently.

"Mmph," Louis opens his eyes again, seeing Harry standing over him, looking sleepy. "I don't feel good, Haz."

"Should I take your temperature?" Harry asks, running his fingers through Louis' hair. Louis preens under Harry's touch, closing his eyes again in bliss. He nods slightly. "Let me get the thermometer, okay? I'll be right back."

Harry removes his hand from Louis' hair, and Louis can't help but pout as he hears him walk away. As much as he'd like for Harry to stay home and take care of him while he's sick, he knows he shouldn't get his hopes up.

Harry comes back with the thermometer, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Under your tongue, love," He says quietly. Louis obeys, and waits with it in his mouth. It beeps, and Harry takes it out and frowns. "Thirty-eight. You're staying home today."

"Will you stay with me?" Louis asks, feeling a bit like child. His whole body feels warm when Harry smiles sleepily, a fond look on his face.

"Sure," He nods. "Let me get G up and ready, and then I'll come back home. Do you want me to pick you up anything on the way back?"

"No thank you," Louis whispers.

"We're going to have to take you to the doctor later, though," Harry points out. Louis groans. "Let me wake Gracie up. Why don't you go back to sleep?"

"M'kay," Louis sighs, closing his eyes. "Love you."

Harry is quiet, but after a few moments Louis hears a tender, "love you too." He can't help but smile to himself, even with his cheek smushed into his pillow. He feels the bed shift, and Harry leaves to wake Gracie up. It doesn't take long for Louis to fall back asleep.

♛

"Louis, you decided you were old enough to provide for yourselves when you got married," Jay argues, her arms crossed. Louis can't believe his own mother doesn't have his back right now.

"All we need is a little bit, just to get us on our feet," Louis is practically begging. "Harry's pregnant. We need it. I don't know what else to do."

"Louis," Jay's tone is much gentler now. "I can't help you. I'm sorry. This is something you and Harry have to get through together."

"Mum," Lottie says softly, only 17 years old, as she sits next to Harry on the sofa, her hand on his back. "Maybe just a little, just to get them on-"

"Charlotte, enough," Jay interrupts. "Louis, you are an adult. You have to be able to provide for your own family. I warned you about this when you told me you and Harry were engaged, and you told me you were ready for this. I think it's clear you were wrong."

Louis stares at his mother for a moment. "All you had to do was say no," He says softly, clearly hurt. He turns and walks away, and Harry is quick to stand up off the sofa. He stops and turns to Johannah.

"I know you're right," He says quietly. "But I really wish you weren't."

♛

The second time Louis wakes up that day, Harry is next to him. He doesn't get to wake up like that too often. Harry is on his laptop, but he immediately notices that Louis has opened his eyes. "Good morning, sunshine."

Louis just hums softly, closing his eyes again. "I still don't feel good."

"I'm sorry, babe," Harry frowns, putting his hand on Louis' forehead. "You still feel warm. Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm alright," Louis assures. "Thanks, H."

"Maybe you should eat something," Harry suggests. "Might help with your headache. Do you want me to make you soup or summat?"

"No thank you," Louis whispers. Hesitantly, he adds on "Can you lay with me?"

Harry's entire face softens as he looks down at Louis. He glances back at his laptop before slowly shutting it and setting it down on the bedside table. He slips under the covers with Louis, laying down with their faces only centimetres apart.

Louis wraps his arms around Harry's waist. His eyelids are drooping, begging to be closed, but he doesn't want to miss an opportunity at looking at Harry's face this closely. All of his features Louis has familiarised himself with: the tiny freckles on the bridge of his nose, a few acne scars on his forehead that have been there for ages, the way his long eyelashes dust his cheekbones when he blinks. He hasn't had the chance to take it all in in a while.

"You look sleepy, sun," Harry says gently, softly brushing Louis' cheeks with his thumb. Harry hasn't called him that in so long. "You can sleep. 'S okay."

"Will you still be here when I wake up?" Louis asks.

"Always," Harry whispers. That alone soothes Louis enough to fall back asleep.

to be continued !!