Louis was beyond thankful his company was only a ten minute drive to the hospital. Asauna was in the waiting room when they got there.
"Asauna!" Louis called as soon as they walked in and the middle aged woman turned around. "Where is he?"
"The nurses took him back, you'll have to ask." Asauna pointed over to the reception desk.
Louis scurried over to the desk while Zayn introduced himself to Asauna and sat down to wait.
"Hi, I'm looking for Harry Styles." Louis said to the lady at the desk.
"Mr. Styles was just taken back to be readied for a c-section. Are you Mr. Louis Tomlinson?" The receptionist questioned without looking up from her computer.
"Yes, I am, now where is he!?" Louis questioned.
"Room 39, through those doors then take your first right then first left." The woman directed him and Louis took off.
He walked quickly down the hallway, speeding up as he neared the room Harry was in and hearing him cry out.
"Baby!" Louis exclaimed, hurrying into the room.
"Louis!" Harry cried as a worker ready the epidural.
"Shh, darling I'm here, it's okay." Louis hushed him, walking over and taking his hand, running his other hand through Harry's slightly matted with sweat curls.
"Don't tell me it's going to fucking be okay! You're not the one in pain here!" Harry snapped, wishing the worker would hurry up.
"I know, I know... be thankful it's not twins like my mum had... twice." Louis said leaning down to kiss Harry's forehead.
Harry rolled his eyes and then let the worker do the epidural. A short while later the doctor walked in with a smile.
"Hello Mr. Styles, are we ready to get started?" She questioned picking up a scalpel.
"Yes, get her out!" Harry ordered, wanting to meet their daughter but also just have her out of him.
The doctor chuckled and touched the blade to his skin, "Can you feel that?"
"No." Harry answered, still grasping Louis' hand tightly.
"Alright then, we can proceed." The doctor responded and set to work.
It doesn't take long at all for piercing cries to fill the air and Louis can't hardly see anything through his tears as a nurse worked to clear out the babies nose and mouth.
"Would you like to cut the umbilical cord?" The nurse questioned looking at Louis.
Louis took the scissors with a shaky hand and cut the cord where he was instructed to.
"Congratulations Mr. Styles, you've got a healthy baby girl weighing seven pounds nine ounces and measuring twenty one point six." The nurse said smiling over at Harry. "We're just going to get her cleaned up real quick then bring her back. I'll need a name then."
Louis looked down at Harry with tears blurring his vision and leaned down to kiss his lips softly.
"Did you see her Haz?" Louis asked, voice wavering. "She's so perfect, just like you honey."
"Like you too Lou." Harry smiled weakly, ignoring the doctor stitching him back up. "We make pretty babies." he giggled.
"That we do babe." Louis chuckled, squeezing Harry's hand.
"You should text the others and let them know everything is good." Harry said when Louis' phone buzzed in his pocket.
Not long after Louis had sent a text to everyone, the nurse came walking back in with the baby. She placed the baby on Harry's chest and Louis sat down carefully on the edge of the bed, hunching over to kiss her little head and then Harry's.
"Alright, have you decided on a name?" The nurse questioned looking between them and they both nodded.
"Skylar Brooke Tomlinson." Harry spoke, looking at the little bundle in his arms.
Louis smiled as the nurse wrote down the name and reached out to brush a finger over their new baby's cheek. She's got stormy grey eyes right now and Louis' praying they turn green. Her hair right now is fairly light and her lips seem to be a mix of his and Harry's. Her nose however, appears to be all his - it's cute as a button.
"Mr. Styles, would you like us to bring in your other daughter?" A nurse questioned from the doorway.
"Please." Harry nodded then looked over at Louis smiling. "Love you."
Louis smiled softly back at him and leaned forward to kiss him, "I love you too." he murmured against Harry's lips.
A few minutes later Anne came walking in with Scarlet. She released her hand and let her wonder over to the hospital bed where Harry was. Louis stepped aside so she could get closer and look at the baby.
"What's her name?" Scarlet questioned, reaching out and hesitantly touching the baby's soft head.
"Skylar." Harry answered watching their daughter interact with her new sister.
"S' pretty." Scarlet responded.
"You want to hold her love?" Louis questioned and Scarlet nodded her head. "Okay, but you have to sit on the sofa."
Scarlet walked over and sat down on the small sofa in the room while Louis took Skylar from Harry. He made sure she was swaddled good in the thin hospital blanket before bringing her over to Scarlet.
Scarlet held out her arms and Louis carefully placed the baby in them, not letting go until Scarlet had her cradled close. Louis made sure the baby's head was elevated properly then sat down next to Scarlet, keeping on hand under the baby just as precaution.
Anne snapped a picture of the three of them with her phone then turned to Harry.
"How are you feeling?" She questioned.
"Tired and like I've lost ten pounds." Harry answered with a sleepy smile.
Anne chuckle and reached out to ruffle her sons curls.
"Get some rest, I'll keep an eye on them." Anne said leaning over to kiss his forehead.
Harry nodded, looked over at Louis, Scarlet, and Skylar with a smile on his lips, and slowly let himself be pulled into sleep.
When he woke up, his mum and Scarlet are gone but Louis' still sitting on the sofa and he's got Skylar held close to his chest with a bottle in one hand feeding her.
"How long was I asleep?" Harry questioned, causing Louis to startle slightly.
"Hey you're awake." He smiled then looked up at the clock. "About three hours. She got hungry so the nurse brought her a bottle. How are you feeling?"
"Good, little pain." Harry replied, watching as Louis set the bottle down and moved Skylar so he could rub and pat her back to burp her.
"Nurse can give you something for that, the button's right there." Louis said nodding his head towards the little red button.
-*-
Three days later Harry and Skylar were released from the hospital. Louis put Skylar in her car seat while Harry got into the SUV with the help of a nurse. Once they arrived home, Louis got the car seat from the back and handed Scarlet the keys to the house so she could open the door. Inside, Asauna has cleaned the entire house and made it ready for their arrival.
"Mum said she put some food in the fridge, all we need to do is heat it up." Harry said walking slowly into the kitchen and pulling open the fridge to see a few dishes with labels.
"I'll do it!" Louis said hurrying up behind Harry before he could reach for one of the containers. "You go rest and look after Sky, I'll heat up dinner."
"Louis, I'm not invalid." Harry laughed turning to face his boyfriend.
"I know but you just had her three days ago... and... you shouldn't have to do anything." Louis sighed, pulling Harry into a careful hug. "Just, please let me handle everything right now, at least for a few more days."
"Alright. Thanks." Harry responded, tilting his head to kiss Louis. "Scarlet come help your dad with dinner!"
"Why did you do that?" Louis chuckled.
"Because I trust her more in the kitchen than I do you." Harry smiled sweetly then walked off to the living room where Scarlet was sitting and looking at the sleeping baby in the carrier. "Go on bug, go help your dad... make sure he doesn't burn the place down."
Scarlet nodded and leaned over to kiss the baby's head before hurrying off to the kitchen. There was a couple of clatters of pots being taken out to heat the food in and a couple of scoffs from Scarlet.
"You can't turn it on that high Dad! It'll burn!" Her voice floated through the air and Harry couldn't help but chuckle.
"Well now who made you a chef?" Louis questioned in reply.
"Daddy." Scarlet answered. "And Daddy says never to start heat cold food on a high temperature. He says low and slow and to stir it so it doesn't stick and burn."
Harry smiled proudly, Scarlet had actually been listening to him whenever she had joined him in the kitchen when he was making dinner. Skylar woke up and began to cry so Harry picked her up out of her carrier and placed her on his shoulder, rubbing her back and whispering to her while walking to the kitchen.
"Scarlet, come here bug." Harry said calling their oldest daughter over. "I need you to help me mix up the formula for the baby."
Harry instructed Scarlet and watched to make sure she was measuring the formula powder correctly. He let her shake it up and then had her put it on the stove in a pot of water to heat up just a little.
"Just tap it against my hand." Harry ordered, holding out a hand so he could test the temperature of the formula and it's perfect. "That's perfect bug, switch off the burner." He said taking the bottle and walking back to the living room.
A while later, after Skylar was fed and burped and sleeping soundly again, Louis announced that dinner was hot. Anne had prepared them a pasta with tomato basil sauce and made them a fresh loaf of Italian bread to go with it.
"You got all your cooking skills from your mum." Louis commented, shovelling another bite of pasta into his mouth.
"You knew that. I always lingered around her when she was cooking. Paid off didn't it?" Harry responded, handing Scarlet a napkin and gesturing to her face where there's a bit of sauce.
"It did." Louis nodded in confirmation. "I picked up Scarlet's make up from school. Her teacher said she's got a week to do but I'm sure she'll be done in a couple of days knowing her." he continued, looking over at Scarlet who just smiled.
And it's true, a couple days later Scarlet was finished with her make up work and had turned it in.
-*-
"Louis..." Harry mumbled, his face pressed into his pillow as cries came through the baby monitor.
"Mmm?" Louis groaned, shifting around in bed some.
"Louis... Sky.." Harry muttered sleepily. "Get the baby."
Louis sighed and stretched under the covers before getting up and padding out of the room down to the baby's room. Inside, Skylar is wailing in her crib, face red and cheeks wet.
"Baby..." Louis cooed softly, reaching down to pick her up. "Hush now honey."
He carried her out of the room and down to the kitchen to make her up a bottle already knowing she was hungry. He placed her in her carrier so he could have both hands free to make up her formula and sighed heavily as she continued to cry. Once her formula was mixed and warmed, he picked her back up and carried her back up to her room. Sitting down in the chair, he fed her until she didn't want any more then set to work on burping her. After she did, he cradled her in his arms again and looked down at her. Her eyes had changed and were bright green like Harry's which Louis was ever thankful for.
Standing up he swayed back and forth near her crib and began to sing to her.
_Isn't she lovely, isn't she wonderful_
_Isn't she precious, less than one minute old_
_I never thought through love we'd be_
_Making one as lovely as she_
_But isn't she lovely, made from love_
_Isn't she pretty, truly the angel's best_
_Boy I'm so happy, we have been heaven blessed_
_I can't believe what God has done_
_Through us he's given life to one_
_But isn't she lovely, made from love_
By the time he finished singing, Skylar was soundly asleep. He laid her back down in her crib and covered her with her blanket before returning to bed with Harry.
The next morning was awful. Skylar was once again wailing at the top of her lungs while Harry tried to make breakfast and Louis was trying to get ready for work. Scarlet came walking into the kitchen where they both were with an annoyed look on her face. Her hair is a bit mused and she's got pale bags under her eyes.
"Does she ever just stop?" Scarlet questioned, crossing her arms and glaring at her wailing little sister.
The thrill of having a new sibling had worn off and as sleepless nights set in Scarlet became less thrilled.
"She's hungry." Harry responded, hurrying over to flip the bacon before it burned.
"Did I do that?" Scarlet asked looking at Harry.
"You weren't quite as loud but you did cry yes." Harry nodded, pulling the bacon off the pan.
"Then why can't she take a hint? The only thing she's doing is ticking everybody off!" Scarlet grumbled.
"Scarlet." Louis warned from where he was finishing tying his shoe.
"What? She kept me up last night! I could hear her in my room!" Scarlet exclaimed turning to face him.
"She's a baby Scar, she's got no other way to communicate yet." Louis reasoned with her as he got up to make Skylar her formula.
"But she never shuts up!" Scarlet nearly yelled over the sound of crying. "All she does is cry! She can't possibly always be hungry, it's like she can't stand to have your attention on anything but her! It's annoying!"
The slap that comes to her backside takes her by complete surprise and she whirled around to find Harry standing there looking more livid than he ever has with her.
"Knock it off." Harry snapped at her. "She's a month old and unlike you she can't get up and get food whenever she wants it. She can't call for one of us when she needs us. She's a baby and we have to take care of everything for her. Now, stop acting like a brat and like this only affects you. Go sit down and keep your mouth shut."
Scarlet stood there in complete shock for a moment, Harry had never raised a hand at her. Instead of going to sit down like he told her to do, her blue eyes welled up with tears and she ran out of the kitchen and upstairs to her bedroom. The sound of her door slamming shut echoing through the house.
Harry looked where Scarlet had just been standing, a bit shocked himself. He's never spanked her before, he's never needed to. He's not against it or anything, his mum gave him a few pops to the bum when he was younger, but he's never needed to do it with Scarlet.
"H..." Louis said, standing with the baby bottle in one hand, looking at him with concern.
"I've never..." Harry started but cut off.
"It's okay Harry." Louis assured, walking over and handing him the bottle. "Here, you feed her and I'll go talk to Scar."
Harry swallowed thickly and nodded his head, taking the bottle, "Thanks Lou."
Louis pressed a quick kiss to Harry's forehead then hurried off to Scarlet's room.
"Scar?" Louis called through her door, knocking lightly.
All he gets his sniffles in reply so he opened the door and walked in. She's curled up on her bed with a pillow against her chest.
Louis walked over and climbed onto the bed, reaching out to rub her back.
"Scarlet, you have to understand this isn't easy for any of us. We all have to adjust to having a baby around the house. Your dad hasn't had a baby since you, I haven't since my last siblings were born, and you haven't at all." Louis explained to her. "Your sister is too small to take care of herself and she can't talk yet, crying is the only way she can let us know she needs something. Also, she'll start sleeping all night soon enough and she won't wake you up much anymore. Until then, however, you need to try and be understanding. Okay?"
"Yeah, okay." Scarlet replied, sitting up to grab a tissue off her night stand to wipe her nose.
"Let's go eat breakfast, we need to get you to school." Louis said, getting up off the bed and holding his hand out.
Scarlet slipped her hand into Louis' and let herself be led back downstairs where Harry was still feeding Skylar. Louis fixed Scarlet a plate of food and handed it to her before getting his own and moving to sit at the table.
They ate in silence. Scarlet, every now and then, glanced up at Harry nervously - worried that he's still cross with her.
When Skylar had finished her bottle Harry set it down on the table and proceeded to place the month old on his shoulder to burp her. He's grateful she doesn't spit up much. The last time she had, it was on Louis and he couldn't help but chuckle at Louis' face since he had forgotten to put her burp cloth over his shoulder. Harry had teased him about, asking if Louis forgot from when his sisters and brothers were babies.
Scarlet finished up her breakfast then headed back upstairs to get her shoes, jacket, and backpack. When she came back down Harry had handed Skylar over to Louis and was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. He held out his arms and she walked into them, pressing her cheek against his chest.
"I'm sorry for earlier bug. We're all just a bit tired." Harry said, bending to kiss the top of her head.
"I know, Dad told me." Scarlet responded, keeping her arms tight around his waist.
"We'll be sleeping all night again soon." Harry assured her.
"Love, we've got to get going or you'll be later for school." Louis said walking over. "I put Sky in her little swing, it's not turned on."
"Alright, thanks." Harry replied letting go of Scarlet. "I'll see you when you two get home." he told both of them.
Scarlet pulled on her jacket and grabbed her backpack while Louis got his wallet and keys.
"Hey..." Harry said reaching out for Scarlet. "Love you bug, have fun at school."
"I love you too Daddy." Scarlet smiled tip toeing to kiss his cheek then walk over to the door.
"I'll see you later babe." Louis smiled slipping his arms around Harry's waist. "Love you."
"Love you more." Harry responded, tilting his head for a kiss.
"Not possible." Louis chuckled, giving him another kiss before backing away and following Scarlet out the door.
Harry went into the living room where Louis had left Skylar. Sugar was sitting by the swing snoozing while Oliver watched from the sofa, still unsure of this new 'thing' in the house that made so much noise.
Skylar gurgled when she saw Harry, her legs kicking out in her little cheetah printed onesie.
"Hi baby." He smiled, reaching down to tickle her tummy. "Are you comfy in there?"
She squealed in response and Harry chuckled, watching as she lost interest in him and started playing with the butterfly mobile hanging over her. Once he's sure her food has settled enough, he turned on the swing and let it swing her gently to sleep.
It doesn't last terribly long as she's soon waking up crying and in need of being changed. Instead of placing her back in the swing when he's done changing her, Harry carried her over to the sofa and got comfortable with her laying on his chest. He played some quiet music on his phone and played a few games until she was sound asleep before letting him drift off as well. The next time he opened his eyes it was once again because Skylar was crying, wanting food this time. He placed her in her swing and went to the kitchen to prepare her bottle before returning to the living room and feeding her.
It's kinda like reliving the past. She looks a lot like Scarlet did when she was a baby except Skylar's eyes are green and not blue. Taking care of a baby again brings back memories of how tiring it was for the first couple of months. As he stared at Skylar while she ate, sucking happily on her bottle, he thinks she's it. No more. He didn't mind being pregnant except for when his back and feet began to hurt and he was throwing up due to morning sickness - but the sleepless tonight's have really gotten to him this time. When he had Scarlet, he snapped at his mum and step-dad more than he cared to remember but this time around he had been snapping at Louis. He had known his parents weren't going to leave him and he knew Louis wasn't going to, but he just really hated fighting with him. And sure every couple is going to have some arguments, but those things won't be over petty things like they had been when he was just tired and everything ticked him off.
There's also the matter of knowing Jay had given birth to two sets of twins. And to be quite honest, he doesn't want to know what it's like to carry twins. So yeah, he thinks this is it. They're a perfect family of four with two pets - it's perfect.
-*-
When the weekend comes, they've planned a trip to Gemma's since she hadn't been able to see the baby - having no free time between work and taking care of Caden while Brandon was at work and just life getting in the way in general. So on Saturday morning they loaded into Louis' SUV and headed off to Gemma and Brandon's house.
They get quick hugs before Gemma is taking the carrier away from Louis and walking over to the sofa with it, cooing at Skylar.
"Oh my, aren't you a pretty baby!" Gemma cooed, unbuckling the baby and picking her up. "Hi baby! I'm your Aunt Gem."
Scarlet looked up at Harry and Harry did nothing but shrug his shoulders.
"She did the same thing to you. She had been out of town when you were born and I barely got a greeting when she came back, she was much more interested in you." Harry chuckled turning to watch his sister.
"Where's Caden at Aunt Gemma?" Scarlet questioned a moment later.
"In the kitchen finishing his breakfast love." Gemma answered then turned her attention back to Skylar.
Scarlet walked off to the kitchen where Caden was sat with Brandon eating breakfast.
"Scar!" Caden cheered causing Brandon to look up from the newspaper sitting on the table.
"Hi Cay." Scarlet greeted walking over to the table. "Hi Uncle B."
"Hello love." Brandon greeted her, offering her a plate with pancakes and berries.
Scarlet settled down at the table, fork in hand, and ate with her cousin and uncle until Louis walked into the room.
"Now who said you could have pancakes and berries without me." Louis gasped in mock horror, walking over to Scarlet and hugging her from behind and kissing her cheek.
"Dad..." Scarlet grumbled shrugging him off.
"Feel the love." Brandon chuckled, handing a napkin to Caden and motioning for him to type his face.
"Oh. I feel it." Louis laughed, grabbing Scarlet hand and moving quickly to take the bite of pancake right off her fork. "Mmm delicious."
"Dad. Get your own." Scarlet whined hovering over her plate as though protecting it.
"Yep, you're feeling it." Brandon mocked playfully and Louis stuck his tongue out.
"Daddy says sticking your tongue out at people isn't nice." Scarlet huffed, looking up at Louis.
Brandon's laughter rang out through the house as the ten year old called out the twenty-nine year old.
"You've remembered everything your daddy told you didn't you?" Louis questioned fondly.
"Yes." Scarlet replied with a nod and Harry's chuckle was heard from the doorway.
"I raised her right, she'll call out anybody." Harry smiled, Gemma following him into the kitchen with Skylar.
"I sure hope Cay is remembers everything we've taught him." Gemma smiled, ruffling her sons hair as Louis took Skylar away from her.
"I'm sure he will, if you raised him anything like mum raised us." Harry responded, moving to stand next to Louis, hooking his chin over his shoulder and wiggling a finger at Skylar.
Scarlet walked over and Skylar squirmed, turning her head so she could look at her older sister.
"You've got the cutest girls I swear." Gemma stated, looking at them.
Louis and Harry smiled down at their two girls, both of them turning their eyes to their parents.
"We do." Harry smiled happily, "We really do."