Same Mistakes

Same Mistakes: Chapter Seven

Louis and Harry stood in the corner of the hospital room, where Abigail’s parents were crammed in the other corner, the entire room silent as Abigail held her baby for the last time.

Luke was sitting quietly next to her, a hand on her shoulder in comfort as they both gazed down at their sleeping son, who was about to be handed over to the Bixlers.

“We love you,” Abigail whispered, and Luke rubbed her back gently, as he words caught in her throat, “We love you so much. And don’t even doubt that, if we’d just been older, we-“ Abigail’s voice cut off with a throat sob and she shook her hand, pulling Alfie even closer to her chest, “I love you so much.”

“Me too, buddy,” Luke whispered, lowering his head and brushing his lips on Alfie’s forehead, “I know your Mummy and Daddy will tell you how much we loved you. And we’ll be around to remind you of it, whenever you get old enough to ask about us. We’ll be there.”

Aflie squirmed slightly in Abigail’s arms and Luke bent down, gently pulling the child into his own arms and walking over to where his dads were sitting. He held out Alfie slightly and Harry glanced at Louis before carefully taking his baby grandson in his hands.

“I thought, maybe, you’d like a goodbye,” Luke whisper, voice cracking and Harry was thankful that Louis took over in comforting Luke, pulling him into a side hug, while Harry continued to stare down at the baby.

Luke’s mistake had become another family’s blessing.

Just like Luke had been a blessing in disguise.

The same mistakes had come full circle.

“Hey kiddo,” Harry whispered, and Alfie yawned, only a few seconds later, slowly blinking up at Harry, flashing his bright eyes, before his eyes closed again, face scrunching back up in sleep. “I know you won’t remember this, but I won’t forget holding you in my arms. This will probably be the only time. And I gotta say, you’re pretty heavy for a newborn-“

“Harry!” Louis hissed, but he smiled at his husband, still holding Luke close to his side.

“That’s your other grandfather, Louis. He’s the real old man here,” Harry bounced Alfie slightly in his arms, rocking the baby back and forth, “I told Luke I was too young to be a grandfather, but Louis would’ve fit right in-“

“Dad,” Luke rolled his eyes and Harry smirked, shaking his head as he continued to stare down at the tiny bundle in his arms.

“But honestly Alfie. You are going to have a great life and family, and they are so excited to take you home. Just know, so many people love you, and know you’ve been given all you need to live your life to the fullest. So live it.”

Harry watched as Abigail’s Mum slowly walked over to where they were huddled and reached for the baby, and Luke kissed the wispy infant hair one last time, before stepping back into Louis’ side grip, watching Abigail’s mum take the baby over to the Bixlers.

Almost immediately, Abigail broke down crying and Harry sighed in relief as her father took to console her, leaving Luke out of it. From the looks of it, Luke didn’t need to be doing any consoling at the moment.

His face was pale and hands shook slightly, as if the emotions from the past couple of days hit him all at once, and Louis caught his eye as Luke sunk further into his grip.

“I gotcha,” Louis whispered, slowly leading Luke out of the room, where Abigail continued to wail, and down the empty hallway, Harry following behind. AS they continued down the hallway, tears began to fall from Luke’s eyes, and they’d only barely managed to make it to the chairs in the hallway, when Luke collapsed, landing on the hard plastic chair.