"Are you readyyy?"

"Yes, pumpkin, we're ready."

Gracie walks out from the washroom, all sass, in her new outfit from Barbara. It's a purple pinafore with a cat on it, a pink and white striped shirt underneath. She's wearing little pink trainers, and frilly socks. She stands with her hands on her hips, showing off her freshly manicured nails. Louis is seriously indebted to Barbara. Not that he doesn't want to take his five year old all around town, to the nail salon and the shopping centre, but he actually really doesn't.

"Ooh," Louis grins, Harry's fingers in his hair as Gracie does a little spin. "Looks beautiful, G."

"Really?" Gracie asks, eyes sparkling as she looks up at Louis, preening under the praise the same way Harry often does. "I wan' wear this on the first day."

"I think that's a lovely idea, Gracie," Harry chimes in, his fingers still in Louis' hair, scratching at his scalp lightly. Louis could melt.

"Let me try on my otha' ones," She says, twirling the skirt of her pinafore with a giggle. "I got losta stuff."

"I hope you said thank you to Barbara."

"And sorry to Niall's wallet."

Harry giggles. Gracie, who doesn't get the joke, chirps, "I did!" before running back to the washroom to try on her next outfit. Louis looks to Harry, who gives him a soft smile, one that he can't help but return.

"So," He starts out, and Harry raises his eyebrows at him, waiting expectantly. "Have you...taken a test yet?"

Harry's face settles into fondness. "No, love, I haven't," He says quietly, moving his hand down from Louis' hair to his face, cupping his cheek. "It wouldn't detect anything for a few more days."

"Oh," Louis blushes a little, and he doesn't really know why. Maybe it's the thought of Harry carrying his baby again, or him not knowing how long it takes for a pregnancy test to detect a pregnancy. But the pink in his cheeks seems to make Harry laugh a little, so Louis' not bothered.

"I'll take it in a few days," Harry assures, crossing his legs where they're resting on Louis' lap. "Don't get your hopes up, though, it might be negative."

"I don't know, we seem pretty fertile," Louis chuckles, and Harry snorts while Gracie walks back out, this time wearing some floral leggings and a white shirt with a cardigan to match the flowers on the leggings. Louis gasps dramatically. "Gracie Mae, you look lovely!"

"You're going to be the prettiest girl in the class," Harry adds-on. Louis realises this much praise may give their daughter a serious narcissism problem. Oh well. If anyone deserves to be narcissistic, it's her.

♛

"I'm not going to school."

Louis raises his eyebrows. He and Liam were in the middle of talking, actually, and he found that a little rude. Harry's on top of it before he can say anything, though. "Gracie Mae, we don't interrupt when other people are talking. Say excuse me."

"Excuse me!" Gracie frowns.

"You're excused," Louis can't help but grin a little. "What's up, G?"

"I'm not going to school tomorrow."

"Why, love?" Harry furrows his eyebrows. "I thought you were excited."

"I'm not gon' have any friends," Gracie pouts, stabbing at her peas with her fork. "I wanna stay with you n' Daddy."

"You're going to make lots of friends, bub," Louis assures.

"Me and your Dad met in year one," Liam points out, a huge grin on his face. Louis doesn't think he ever stops smiling. He's like a puppy. "You're gonna have lotsa fun, Gracie."

"What if nobody likes me?" Gracie frowns.

"How could anybody not like you?" Louis asks. "Dunno about you guys, but Gracie's the coolest kid I've ever met."

"Agreed," Liam nods enthusiastically. Gracie looks skeptical.

"What about Doris? Or Ernie?" She asks.

"Ernie's a narc," Louis mutters, still bitter even though Jay said she had given him a talk about eavesdropping.

"Louis," Harry laughs, giving him an incredulous look. "Gracie, you're going to love primary school. There's going to be toys, and a playground, and lots of books you've never even read before."

"And if any boys try and talk to you," Liam points his fork at her. "You tell them your Uncle Liam is ripped."

"'S a little late for that," Louis mutters. He still shudders thinking about it.

The door swings open, and in walks Niall, Barbara in tow. "Uncle Niallll!" Gracie scrambles to get out of her chair, running towards him and launching herself at his leg.

"Had to see ya before you start your first day of primary school!" Niall grins wide, putting his hand on top of Gracie's head. "You excited, G?"

"No," Gracie says, voice muffled by Niall's trousers.

"Why not?" Barbara frowns. "You were so excited when we went shopping."

"I'll just stay with you guys," Gracie stands up straight again, giving Niall and Barbara a big grin.

"As much as we would love that," Niall scoops Gracie up and carries her on his hip to the kitchen. "You have to go to school. You'll love it, I promise," He sits Gracie down on top of the counter. "Now, Barb and I have a very important question for you."

"What is it?" Gracie's eyes light up, seemingly forgetting about her primary school woes.

"Well," Barbara smiles. "Uncle Niall and I are getting married, and we were wondering if you would be our flower girl?"

Gracie squints her eyes, seemingly thinking about it. "What is that?" She asks after a moment.

"Well," Niall says. "When Barb and I get married, you get to walk down the aisle in a pretty dress, and throw flower petals, and you'll be the star of the show."

"Really?" She gasps.

"Yup," Barbara puts her hand on Niall's shoulder. "You're the best one for the job, I reckon. What do you think?"

"I'll do it," Gracie decides. "Will my dress be pink?"

"Maybe," Barbara laughs. "We haven't decided yet."

"I'll do it if it isn't, too," Gracie says. "But I'd prefer pink."

Louis glances over at Harry, who just grins at him, fond, and rolls his eyes. Louis has no idea where they got her from–no child has ever been so sassy (except, maybe, him).

defo a filler sorry