Call Me Baby: Chapter 6 part B
Sorry this took so long, I hope you like it. :)
When Harry got home that day, he and the twins were greeted by the sweet smell of cookies wafting from the kitchen, loud, happy chatter following it. He helped the girls remove their shoes, then followed them as they scurried into the kitchen.
Upon entering, he noticed two things: one, the kitchen was a mess. Two, his mother and Louis were sitting at the breakfast bar, laughing and chatting like old friends over tea and freshly made biscuits. He immediately knew that Louis was the cause of the mess, as his mum was completely spotless. Louis, on the other hand, had flour in his fringe and on his clothes, and batter streaked across his face and arms. Louis’ cast, Harry noticed, had not escaped the mayhem, and was coated in flour as well.
While Harry was annoyed at the mess that he would end up having the clean, he couldn’t be angry when Louis was smiling at him like that. When Louis jumped up to greet him with his customary hug, however, Harry stopped him, holding Louis’ arms in their open position.
“Slow down there, Lou. I don’t much fancy being covered in flour,” he reached up to finger Louis’ fringe, rubbing the pale powder between his fingers as he chuckled, “How about we clean you up first. Your cast looks like you just dunked it in the flour!” Louis looked at him skeptically.
“Fine, but only if we can cuddle after,” he told him, his face lighting up as Harry snorted out a “sure”, and scampered off up the stairs-all the while yelling for Harry to hurry up.
Harry ignored his mother’s pointed smirk as he followed Louis out of the room. He found Louis in the bathroom, rummaging in the cupboard under the sink-only wearing his boxers. He glanced up at Harry as he entered the room, surfacing with a plastic bad.
“You’re gonna help me, yeah Haz?” He asked innocently. “I can’t wash my hair properly with one hand.”
“Yeah alright-what are you doing! Keep your pants on!” Harry yelped, startling Louis, who was in the process of removing his boxers. He paused, rolling his eyes at his friend.
“Come on, Harry! We’re both boys-it’s nothing you haven’t seen before,” he told him exasperatedly.
“No, Louis,” Harry said firmly. A naked Louis would cause problems for Harry that Harry really didn’t want to deal with-soaked boxer briefs were bad enough. Louis sighed, muttering a “fine” and releasing the hem of his pants. He held the plastic bag out to Harry, a petulant look on his face. Harry rolled his eyes at his immature friend, accepting the plastic bag, and tying it around the orange cast. Once the bag was secure, he walked over to the tub, turning the nozzles and forcing a stream of warm water to gush into the porcelain basin. Louis stepped into the still filling tub, circling once, like a dog, before sitting in the water. He leaned his arms on the side of the tub, gazing up at Harry with innocent eyes.
“Wanna join me?” he asked sweetly. Harry choked, his face flushing. He recovered quickly, clearing his throat to cover up his awkwardness.
“No, I-ah-think I’m just gonna stay dry,” Harry answered fumblingly. Louis glared thoughtfully at him, before reaching down into the water that had risen around his waist. Harry’s eyes widened as he realized what Louis was doing, scrambling up and hastily trying to back up. “No, Louis, no, don’t-”
He was cut off by splash of water dousing his face. He spluttered, inhaling a bit of the water. He shook his now soaked curls out of his face, flipping them over his head and wiping his eyes, opening them to see that a smirking Louis had shut off the faucet. Louis turned slightly, using his good hand to cup the water before letting it fall through his fingers again, the tinkling sound mocking Harry.
“It’s on,” he said, looking Louis dead in the eye as tossed his soaked shirt over his head, and shucked his trousers. Louis squealed sending another wave of water towards his friend as he charged at the tub. Harry flung himself over the side, narrowly missing the wall, but still achieving his goal. An enormous splash doused them both-and the rest of the bathroom. Louis shrieked, laughing through the water dripping down his face.
He shot forward, tackling Harry back against the wall. Harry laughed heartily, gripping friend’s waist as the water sloshed over the sides. They wrestled, dousing the bathroom with water as they splashed and hit and rolled, gripping each other and sliding around the tub, raucous laughter filling the house.
Anne looked up at the ceiling as a particularly loud thump sounded, followed by some more delighted laughter. She snorted and turned back the board game she was playing with the twins. Daisy moved the red piece three spaces, then looked up at Anne.
“Grandma Anne,” she asked, “why don’t daddy and Louis kiss like normal parents?” Anne chuckled.
“They’re not normal parents, though, are they?” She asked as Phoebe rolled the dice.
“You mean because they’re both boys?” Phoebe lisped. “They love each other, don’t they? Isn’t that all that matters?”
“Well, yes, love,” Anne replied, “But Harry and Louis aren’t together.”
“Well, but-why?” Daisy asked petulantly, tossing her piece on the board. “They cuddle all the time!”
“And Louis never smiled properly until Harry came-even before we moved here,” Phoebe added. Daisy shot her sister a look.
“No, no! That’s not true,” Daisy told her, “it’s just his smile’s different now, yeah? Happier.” Phoebe smiled dreamily.
“Yeah… Flick and Lottie are planning their wedding,” she told Anne joyfully, which was answered with a raised eyebrow.
“Are they,” she asked curiously. Daisy and Phoebe nodded, the game forgotten. They looked up a moment, pausing in their conversation as a thump and a shout sounded from upstairs, followed by another cascade of giggles. Anne shook her head, smiling. “Well, at the rate they’re going, we’re going to need it soon.”
Daisy and Phoebe’s faces lit up, identical excitement shining in their identical faces.
“Really?” They asked in unison. Anne laughed.
“Dunno, loves. You’ll have to ask Harry when he’s going to ask Louis to marry him,” she told them, delighting in the mischievous grins that lit the twins’ normally innocent faces. “Alright, enough gossiping. Back to the game, girls.”
*~*~*~*
Lottie dropped her back pack on the ground, following Flick into the kitchen, where Anne and Georgia where making something to eat.
“Where are Dad and Lou?” She asked, stealing a biscuit off the plate. Anne gestured towards the living room.
“In there,” she said, “I think Louis’ asleep.” Lottie nodded, munching on the cookie as she went in search of her brother and his friend. She stopped dead in her tracks upon entering the living room.
Harry glanced up from his book, noticing Lottie and smiling at her.
“Hey, love,” he greeted, “How was school?” Lottie inched a bit closer, eying his wet hair.
“Fine,” she answered slowly, “Isn’t that uncomfortable?”
“Isn’t what uncomfortable?” He asked, confused. Lottie gestured towards him, and he glanced down. “Oh, no. He’s fine there-deep sleeper. Doesn’t squirm a lot, though he does mumble a bit.”
“Isn’t he heavy?” Lottie queried, peering curiously at her brother, who was sprawled across Harry’s chest, his face tucked into his friend’s neck. Harry looked back at Louis, a soft smile on his face.
“He is a bit-he’s asleep, so he’s a deadweight-but I don’t mind. He didn’t get much sleep last night, and his cast’s been bothering him,” he shifted his book a bit so it rested more lightly against Louis’ back, “and this is the first time I’ve had time to read in weeks, anyway, so that’s fine, too.”
“Why aren’t you married?” Lottie asked abruptly. Harry started, looking at her incredulously.
“Pardon?”
“Why are you not married to my brother?” Lottie clarified. Harry shot her a look.
“Because we’re not in love with each other,” he told her sternly. Lottie scoffed.
“Right, I totally believe you. It’s not like you’re cuddling him right now, or anything else romantic,” she told him sarcastically, “Look, dad, you need to just buck up the courage and ask him-before somebody else does.” With that, she flicked her hair, walking back towards the kitchen, chuckling as Harry’s indignant shouts followed her.
“I won’t have you quoting Harry Potter at me, young lady!”
*~*~*~*
A half hour later, Georgia went in search of her brother, looking for someone to take her to the play park. Her Grandma Anne had sent her to find Louis and Harry, saying it was time for Louis to wake up, anyway. She wandered into the living room, seeing her brother and Harry on the couch. Where Harry had been reading a half hour ago, he was now fast asleep, his right hand hanging off the couch, the book open, its pages curled around his fingers, his left arm wrapped tightly around Louis’ middle. Georgia sidled up to the couch, carefully removing the book from Harry’s hand and putting it down on the coffee table, face down. She then shuffled back over to where her brother and Harry were sleeping, reaching out a finger to poke Harry’s face.
“Daddy,” she whined, “daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy.” Each word punctuated by a poke to the face. Harry finally stirred, blinking blearily at her.
“Georgia?” he mumbled groggily, “What time is it?”
“Nearly five,” she answered daintily, as though she hadn’t just accosted his face. He sighed through his nose, shifting slightly under Louis’ body, wrapping his other arm around his friend, and closed his eyes once again.
“Wake us when dinner’s ready,” he slurred sleepily. Georgia frowned.
“I want to go to the park,” she told him. Harry let out another sigh.
“I’m sorry, love-I’m not awake enough,” he rumbled, “ask Grandma Anne. I’ll take you tomorrow, I promise.” Georgia huffed, but agreed nonetheless. She left, in search, once again, of her grandma.
*~*~*~*
When Harry woke up next, it was dark, and he was cold. His first instinct was to reach for Louis, who was supposed to be in bed with him. His arm hit the side of the couch, and he winced. He sat up, rubbing his eyes sleepily. His head felt fuzzy, his eyes blurring. He stood up slowly, stumbling towards the light in the kitchen. Louis looked up as Harry came in, smiling as Harry’s hands came up to shield his eyes from the light.
“Hey, sleepy,” he chuckled.
“Hey,” Harry mumbled, “Time’s it?”
“Almost nine,” Louis answered. Harry grunted, shuffling over and wrapping himself around Louis, pressing his face into his neck and sighing.
“Missed dinner, then,” he huffed, “Time’d you get up?”
“Only like a half hour ago,” he told him, “I’m making pasta, you want some?”
“Sure. Where’re mum and the girls?”
“Lottie and Anne are downstairs watching some chick flick, and your mum put down the twins and Georgia for us. Flick’s reading, upstairs,” Louis explained, stirring stiffly, trying not to jostle Harry. Harry grunted again. Louis glanced at the curls that obscured his friend’s face from his line of sight. “You falling asleep on me, Haz?” Harry groaned into Louis’ neck, and Louis laughed. “Come on, love, let’s eat this and go to bed.”
Harry sighed, standing up and stumbling over to the breakfastbar, where he dropped heavily into a seat, his head landing on the table with a light thump. Louis plated the food, chuckling, and followed Harry over, taking the seat next to him. Harry lifted his head, grippig the fork loosly in his hand, slowly bringing the food to his mouth. Louis finished his food off quickly, watching Harry eat lethargically. He rolled his eyes as his friend missed his mouth, smearing sauce across his cheek. A confused look crossed Harry’s face, not really understanding why his face was wet. That was the last straw for Louis, and he burst out laughing, Harry looking at him, even more confused. When Louis’ laughs subsided, he picked up a napkin, gripping Harry’s chin and turning it towards him so he could wipe Harry’s face.
Taking the fork from Harry’s lax hands, he brought Harry’s plate towards him.
“Open,” he comanded, offering the forkful to his friend. Harry’s jaw dropped compliantly, his eyes still half closed with exhaustion. After Harry was done chewing, he opened his mouth again, urging Louis on with a small “ah” in the back of his throat. Louis chuckled again, scraping the food onto the fork, and shoving it into Harry’s mouth.
“Come on,” Louis said when they’d finished. Harry nodded, standing up and waiting for Louis to rinse their plates, then followed him up to the bedroom. Harry fumbled with the button on his trousers, his fingers feeling fat and clumsy. He gave up, tossing his shirt over his head frustratedly, and shuffled over to the bed, where Louis was already lying. Louis gazed up at him, as if considering something. He sighed, scooting over to the side and sitting up, he reached out and grabbed the waistband of Harry’s trousers, pulling him in so he stood in front of him. Harry watched silently as Louis popped the button, undid the zipper, and yanked Harry’s trousers down so that they fell around his ankles.
Harry stepped out of his pants, climbing into bed as Louis moved back against the wall. His sleep addled brain subconsciously pushed him into Louis’ embrace, curling his arms around his waist and drawing him flush against his chest. Louis sighed contentedly, tucking his head under Harry’s chin, and curved his fingers into the indent made by Harry’s collarbone.
“Night, Haz,” he mumbled sleepily.
“Night, Lou.”