It starts like it did last time, with the morning sickness.

Harry wakes up as the sun is rising, sprinting to the washroom and falling to his knees in front of the toilet. It's not long before Louis pads into the washroom as well, sitting down next to Harry and holding his hair back.

"Let it out, babe," He mumbles, voice thick and raspy with sleep. If Harry weren't puking his guts out right now, he'd be turned on. Once he's done, he leans into Louis' side miserably. Louis kisses the top of his head. "I'll call in for you in a few hours. I can stay home with you, if you want?"

Harry shakes his head, wrinkling his nose at the acidic taste in his mouth. "'S okay, you should go to work. I'll be fine."

"You sure?" Louis frowns, eyelids still droopy with sleep. "I don't mind."

Louis is so incredibly sweet, as always, and it makes Harry smile despite how gross he feels. "I'll be okay, L," He assures. Louis sighs softly, standing up off the tiled floor before helping Harry up as well.

He stays with Harry as he brushes his teeth, and while he walks him back to the bedroom to get a few more hours of sleep, Harry's gut tells him. He realises the last time he felt like this was when he was sixteen, and pregnant with Layla. He knows he's pregnant again. It must've been the honeymoon a few weeks ago.

Louis is back asleep within minutes, but Harry stays up, staring at the ceiling and thinking about how he might, maybe, possibly, be pregnant again.

♛

The test he takes while Louis' at work confirms it.

He's still nauseous, but not as much as he was earlier that morning. With wet eyes and shaky legs, he stands up off the washroom floor, the positive test still in his hand. He remembers being in this exact position six years ago–crying on the floor of the washroom in his Mum's house. There's just a few key differences; he's a little taller, Louis doesn't have cancer, and they're not kids (not that they don't act like it).

They both have jobs, and a steady income, and a flat that could, potentially, fit one more member of their little family. So, all things considered, Harry isn't mourning this like he did the last time. He's happy, still a little nervous, but he isn't crying into his pillow and thinking about how it will ruin his future. Much different than last time.

The door opens, and he can hear little footsteps scatter into the flat. Sighing softly, Harry sticks the pregnancy test into the bottom drawer of their vanity before exiting the washroom.

"Papa!" Layla cheers as he makes his appearance.

"Papa's not feeling well, love, remember?" Louis reminds, putting his hand on top of Layla's head. "So let's keep the volume down a little."

"I remember, Daddy," Layla huffs.

"'S okay, Lou," Harry grins, his smile widening when Layla runs over and attacks him in a hug. "How was school, bub?"

"Good!"

"What'd you do?"

"Nothin'."

"Ah," Harry nods, and Louis smiles amusedly. "Sounds like a great day."

Five minutes later, Layla is climbing onto the couch to watch TV while Louis is making Harry a cuppa. "You still feel nauseous?" Louis asks, snapping Harry out of his thoughts about how good Louis looks in his dress shirt and tie.

"Just a little," Harry says softly, smiling as Louis sets his tea down in front of him. "Um, actually, I have to talk to you about someth-"

"Daddyyy!"

Louis sighs a little, giving Harry a weak smile. "One sec, babe," He walks out of the kitchen and to the lounge. Harry sinks down in his chair a little, pouting. Should he be jealous of his six year old daughter? No. Is he? Possibly.

When Louis comes back and sits back down across from Harry, Harry is once again prepared to tell him. That is, until his mobile starts ringing. He's ready to ignore it until he realises it's Gemma. She almost never calls him. Cautiously, he answers the phone, ignoring Louis' worried eyes. "Hi, Gem."

"Harry, hi. Are you busy?"

"No, why? What's up?"

"I, um. I need to talk to you about something," Harry frowns. "It's serious."

"O-Okay," Harry feels like he's going to be sick again. Louis watches him carefully as he stands up out of his chair, taking his tea and leaving the kitchen. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Harry closes the door to their bedroom behind him. "It's Mum, actually. She's sick."

"Oh," Harry sets his tea down and sits on the edge of the bed, his stomach dropping a little. He hasn't seen his mum in, what, six years?

"I know you haven't seen her in a while, but...I thought you should know. She has breast cancer, 's stage IV. That's..."

"Terminal," Harry chokes out, swallowing thickly.

"Um, yeah," Gemma's voice is shaky. "I took her to her doctor's appointment today. It's spread to her lymph nodes, and since they caught it so late she's..."

Gemma doesn't finish, can't finish, but Harry gets it. She doesn't have a lot of time. He can feel his eyes sting with tears. Which, is weird, because he feels like he shouldn't care this much, but he does. "Oh," Harry says again. "Um. Okay. So. Is there...is there anything you need help with? Anything I can do?"

"Uh, I think we're fine for now," Gemma replies, and Harry rests his head on his knees as she does. "I'll call you with any updates. If you have any questions, you can text me anytime."

"Okay," Harry says softly. "Thank you, Gem."

They hang up, and Harry can feel it. The world crashing down around him. Sure, they don't have the best relationship, but that's his mother. He closes his eyes, the tears that had built up spilling out as he hears a knock on the door.

"Haz, love?" Louis enters the room cautiously, frowning at Harry's position on the bed. Harry looks up at him, sniffling, and Louis is quick to sit down next to him and wrap him up in his arms. "Oh, baby."

"My mum is sick," Harry can feel Louis wiping the tears dripping down his face. "It's cancer, Lou. It's...really serious."

Louis tucks Harry's head under his chin, holding him tight while Harry weeps into his chest. "I'm so sorry, pumpkin," Louis mumbles, using the silly pet-name he coined when they were teenagers. It makes him feel a little better.

But, it doesn't change the fact that he should still go and see his mum.

this chapter is kind of lame but they'll get longer & better :P