fire and the flood - l.s. mpreg

two

"Haz?"

"Hm?" Harry wrinkles his nose, his sleep interrupted. It only takes a moment for his sleepy brain to realise that Louis made it back home, and he reaches out for him before he even opens his eyes.

Louis catches Harry's hand in his own, and when Harry opens his eyes, Louis' giving him a soft smile. "Hey, darlin', 'm home."

"Good," Harry says, groggy as Louis sits on the edge of the bed, squeezing his hand. He closes his eyes again, taking in the feeling of Louis' skin against his as Louis puts his other hand on Harry's too, pressing a kiss to it. "Come to bed. Millie's not as warm as you."

"Millie's not supposed to be in the bed at all, I reckon," Louis points out, but he takes a hand away from Harry's to scratch at the dog's belly. Millie just sighs appreciatively, tail wagging lazily against the sheets. He's quiet for a moment before saying, "I'm so sorry, Harry."

Harry keeps his eyes closed, sighing softly. "'S okay," He assures.

"I thought about it the whole time I was gone," Louis admits. Harry can hear his boots hit the floor as he takes them off. "It's horrible, I feel horrible. I don't know how I forgot."

"I'm not mad," Harry assures, opening his eyes again, a little more awake now. He sees the weak smile Louis gives him as he squeezes his hand again.

"I'm not apologising because I think you're mad," He says. "I'm apologising because I feel awful. 'S like, the most basic thing husbands are s'posed to remember, besides, like, your middle name or summat. It's my PIN for my debit card. Fuck, Paul 'n I were talking about getting tatted again soon 'n I was thinking of getting it on my wrist."

Harry laughs a little, eyelids still droopy. "Really?"

"Yeah, but after tonight 'm definitely going to do it," Louis says, chuckling. Harry grins, pulling Louis down to kiss him briefly. He smells like smoke, like he usually does after the bigger fires. Harry's never minded it.

"Y'do remember my middle name, right?" Harry asks against his lips. Louis leans back, and makes a fake panicked face, and Harry leans up and nips at the tip of his nose. "Wanker."

"Oi!" Louis laughs, kissing him one more time, mumbling "I love you, Harry Edward."

"There we are," Harry grins.

"Let me go change 'n stuff, gotta be back at the station in-" Louis glances over at the alarm clock on the nightstand. "Four hours."

"Or you could stay here with me all day," Harry coaxes, only half-kidding. Louis smiles, fond.

"I would if I could," He says, voice softer and a little sadder than before. "Kittens that need to be saved from trees and all that."

"I know," Harry sighs in disdain, leaning back into his pillow again. Louis sighs quietly, standing up off the bed and reaching over Harry to lift Millie up off the bed. She whines in protest, and he laughs, holding her like a baby in both of his arms.

"Sorry, little lady, that's my spot," He coos, walking towards the bedroom door. "Back to the lounge for you."

When he's gone, Harry runs his hands over his face, staring at the ceiling. There's a sour feeling in his stomach, still, and it's not just the forgotten birthday. It's the bickering and the tears when Louis' gone and the big hole in his chest that should be filled with his fantasy of marriage.