**Three Years Later***
"Skylar! Give that back to me!" Scarlet demanded as her little sister rushed over and snatched away Harry's kindle that she had been using for her summer reading for school.
"Daddy says dinner time!" Skylar giggle and kept running, little legs taking her out of the office and towards the kitchen.
"Skylar!" Scarlet yelled as she got up and hurried after her.
They're fourteen and three now, Skylar's birthday hadn't come yet - it was still three months away. It's moments like these ones though that Scarlet can't help but wish her sister was still one and not taking things from her.
"Skylar!" Scarlet called again following her sisters giggles. "Don't you dare lose my place in that book." she exclaimed, hoping her sister would exit out of the screen.
When she gets to the kitchen Skylar is offering the kindle to Harry with a smile. Harry took it from her, marked Scarlet's page and then shut the device down.
"Dinner time." He stated, looking over at her.
"Yeah, I know. She told me after taking it from me." Scarlet grumbled, shooting a sharp look at Skylar.
"Easy." Louis cut in, walking over a pressing a kiss to Scarlet's forehead, musing her chocolate curls as he did.
"Can't you tell her to stop doing that?" Scarlet requested with a pout. "I don't look at the page numbers I just read them and mark where I've left off if needed."
"Well maybe you should start looking at the page numbers." Louis suggested, going to the cabinet and pulling down glasses for them.
"What's the point in technology then?" Scarlet questioned, crossing her arms and watching as her father moved to get ice.
"To make things easier." Louis answered simply.
"You should still use your brain love." Harry spoke up, "I don't think it's too much to ask for you to remember some numbers."
Instead of replying, Scarlet just rolled her eyes and went over to the dinner table where Skylar was waiting to be placed into her high chair so she could reach the table.
"Up." Skylar demanded looking up at her sister.
Sighing, and really unable to stay annoyed with her sister, Scarlet picked her up and placed her in the seat. Harry walked over with two plates of food, one for himself and one for Skylar, and motioned for Scarlet to go make her own plate.
-*-
Married life hasn't been all bliss. There are times when they simply get on each other's nerves and need some space. It never lasts long though, by night they're always asleep in the same bed - one of them always murmuring apologies to the other.
After three years of marriage, they still work together, still move in sync and knows what the other is feeling. Sometimes it makes it easy and sometimes it makes it harder. Like when Louis' just had a bad day at work and Harry knows he's upset but Louis won't talk to him. It's on those kinds of days when one of them walks away because they need space.
Louis' learned when he gets aggravated he needs to walk away and cool off. Nearing their two year anniversary, he hadn't walked away one time and honestly he was questioning if he was going to be celebrating their anniversary or if he was going to be signing divorce papers.
_*Flashback*_
_It's two days before their second wedding anniversary. Louis' been working all day and in the few spare moments he has he's busy planning his and Harry's anniversary date. His mum is watching the girls and he's trying to set up a romantic night for Harry._
_At first he's glancing at the clock frequently because he's promised to go to Scarlet's game this evening and he has to leave at a certain time in order to get there. However as the day goes on and more things start piling up, he forgets and he stops looking at the clock._
_He's had to deal with complaints for artists. He's had to deal with employees not doing their jobs. He's had to deal with running to and from the recording booths, listening to singles and making sure things are being done right. He's had to call the restaurant he wants to take Harry to a dozen times before he finally gets through and gets a reservation. He's been on the phone with the flower shop and the jeweller. And on top of it all he's been swamped with paperwork._
_Honestly, it just hasn't been his day._
_Sometime around five-thirty he thinks he hears his phone go off but he's on the phone with an American producer that's willing to let one of London Sound's new artist be the opening act for his American popstar. By the end of the phone call, it's all set up and Louis has completely forgotten that his phone might've rung._
_It's eight-thirty when his day finally comes to an end. He's caught up on most of his paperwork, done with all of his meetings, and has started figuring out tours for two of the bands he has signed. He's dead on his feet when he comes out of his office though. It's been a seriously long and very trying day. He's at the point where he doesn't even care about food and would just like to collapse in bed and sleep._
_However, when he gets home he feels immediately like something is off. He feels as though he's forgotten something. He shrugs off the feeling and toes off his shoes and hangs his coat in the closet before heading towards the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea. It's when he enters the living room that he meets his husband sitting on the sofa with his arms crossed and a deep frown on his face._
_"Hey babe..." Louis spoke slowly, unsure why Harry was glaring at him._
_"Do you know what today is?" Harry questioned, ignoring Louis' greeting._
_"Umm Thursday?" Louis answered, his eyebrow lifting some in confusion._
_Harry's glare hardened, "Scarlet's football game."_
_"Oh..." Louis' mouth formed a perfect O._
_He had completely forgotten about her game._
_"Oh. You missed her game and all you have to say is oh?" Harry inquired, stepping towards his husband, anger written all over his face._
_"Look Haz, work was crazy today. So many things were going on and you see how late I'm getting home. I've had meetings and stuff all day long." Louis defended himself. "I forgot."_
_"You promised you would go." Harry responded, uninterested in Louis' excuse._
_"I know that. We can't always keep our promises though. I was busy and I couldn't get away, it's my work - my business, I can't just not do the things I have to do as the boss." Louis stated, feeling himself growing annoyed._
_"Louis she's your daughter." Harry insisted._
_"Yes, Harry. I know that. But there will be other games." Louis retorted immediately._
_"It's not about there being other games. It's about the fact that you promised to be there tonight, and you weren't. And what's gonna happen come the next came and suddenly you're too busy? Are you gonna miss that one too and say there's still more games?" Harry questioned, his voice low and angry._
_"Don't start with me." Louis snapped finally losing his cool. "There are priorities in life and football games aren't at the very top of the list. There will be other games. Will I make it to them? I don't know. But I do know she'll get over it! My work is important. The company is my responsibility. I can't just go running off to a football game because she wants me to."_
_"That's not fair to her!" Harry's voice rose._
_"Well sometimes life isn't fair!" Louis yelled back._
_"But she's your daughter!" Harry exclaimed with wide eyes._
_"I pay for everything she does! I buy her the best cleats money can buy and I pay for her to go to the footie camps. That shit isn't cheap! It shouldn't be a big deal if I didn't go to one fucking game!" Louis growled, moving his hands around in annoyance._
_"You haven't been to any! And who cares if you pay for everything? That's not the same as her seeing you in the stands cheering her on!" Harry snapped, pointing at Louis._
_"Did they even win tonight?" Louis questioned, glaring at Harry._
_"No... what does that even matter?" Harry responded._
_"Then what does it matter if I were there? They didn't win." Louis stated as though it was the craziest thing he'd ever heard._
_"Well maybe if you had been there they would have! She looked up at the stands to find you and saw you weren't there and it threw her off her game." Harry replied, crossing his arms over his chest again._
_"Oh don't you fucking dare blame the team losing on me!" Louis roared. "Have you ever considered that maybe if she just got her head in the game and didn't play like shit over something so minuscule then they would have won!?"_
_A sniffle coming from behind Louis has been whipping around to see his thirteen year old daughter standing there, blue eyes filled with tears and arms limp at her sides. Harry stood behind Louis, rooted in his spot with a hand over his mouth in horror. She's heard every single word._
_"S-Scarlet..." Louis stuttered, he imagines he's deathly pale - he's sure every ounce of blood has drained from his face._
_Scarlet opened her mouth but nothing more than a sharp sob came from her. She backed away from him._
_"Scarlet..." Louis tried again, stepping forward and reaching for her._
_She bolts. Both of them can heard her heart wrenching sobs as she runs away and a few seconds later her door slams upstairs. Louis stared at the spot where she had been, running a hand over his face and through his hair as he turned around to look back at Harry. The younger man was frozen only for a second before his horrified expression turned into one of sheer anger._
_"Get out." Harry hissed making Louis' eyes widen. "Get out!"_
_"Harry..." Louis whispered but Harry cut him off._
_"I fucking warned you! I warned you what would happen if you ever hurt her!" Harry growled, getting in Louis' face. "Now get the hell out! I don't give a shit where you go, just get out!"_
_Harry reached out and gave Louis a rough shove and the older stumbled back a couple steps. With fearful eyes, Louis scrambled out of the living room and out into the garage. He doesn't leave though. He just gets in his car and sits there. It catches up with him quickly. He may have just ruined his relationship with his daughter. His relationship with his husband. And just his life in general because he's nothing without them and he knows it. The tears come quick and race down his cheeks. He's an idiot._
_A number of hours later, light cuts through the garage and Louis glanced over and saw Harry standing in the door leading into the house. As Harry walked over to the SUV, Louis got out and stood there._
_"I thought I told you to leave." Harry stated, eyes still angry._
_"I couldn't." Louis responded quietly. "Harry I... I couldn't leave. I hurt our daughter, not intentionally, but I hurt her and I can't just give up and leave without having tried to fix it."_
_"And what makes you think you can fix it?" Harry questioned coldly. "She's never cried so much in her life."_
_"She's a smart girl, she's obviously got your brain and not mine." Louis answered, rubbing his arms to get rid of the goose bumps covering them. "Please just let me try. Harry... I can't... I can't lose you guys. Please."_
_"Whatever." Harry finally responded. "But... Louis... I swear... if she doesn't forgive you..."_
_He doesn't need to finish the thought, the unsaid words are loud and clear in Louis' head. If he can't fix this... that's it._
_As soon as he got inside the house, Louis headed upstairs and straight into Scarlet bedroom. Walking over to her bed and peering down at her he can see that her eyes are puffy, her lips are bright red, and her cheeks are tear stained. He feels like a monster for making her cry like this._
_Apparently he stares a little too long and suddenly Scarlet shifted in bed and was looking up at him. Immediately she shies away when he reaches out to brush her hair off her forehead._
_"Leave me alone." She choked, turning away from him so he can't see, but he knows she's got tears slipping down her cheeks again._
_"No." Louis murmured, pulling at the covers some before slipping under them._
_She fights him at first but eventually he manages to get her cuddled against his chest and he lets her cry as he strokes her hair, rubs her back, and kisses the top of her head._
_"I want you to listen to me okay?" Louis requested after a while and when she doesn't say anything he continues. "Sometimes we have really bad days and we end up saying things we don't mean because we're tired and stressed and everything just seems to pile up. I've had one of those bad days today. But I had absolutely no right to act the way I did tonight. I'm supposed to be mature and handle things better than someone, say, your age would."_
_She doesn't acknowledge him in any way other than her first clenching the front of his shirt._
_"Sweetheart..." Louis spoke softly. "I didn't mean a word of what I said tonight. It's true I was very busy and I honestly did forget, but everything else I said was uncalled for. I should have never, ever said what I did. I think you're a wonderful football player. Far better than I was at your age honestly. And I know what it's like to be disappointed when someone doesn't come to your game and you were looking forward to them being there. I know how it can throw you off your game. I'm so sorry I even implied it was your fault you guys lost, because it wasn't, not in the least bit."_
_Still the only response he gets his her hand fisting his shirt a little tighter and her pressing her face against his chest._
_"Scarlet..." Louis cooed quietly, kissing her head and cuddling her as close as possible. "I love you. I love you so, so much. I promise I didn't mean to hurt you baby girl, I'm so sorry."_
_"Love you too." Scarlet whispered._
_It's not forgiveness and he knows that. It's going to take work and it's not going to happen overnight. The wound is still fresh but he thinks it's a good sign that she still loves him. He thinks she understands everything he's told her. Now he just can't screw this up again, if he does he knows for sure there will be no second chances for him._
_Louis remained silent after Scarlet spoke and chose to remain there, rubbing her back. Eventually her breathing evened out and he slowly crawled out of the bed. He fixed her covers around her then leaned over to kiss her forehead, whispering I love you before walking out of the room. He walked down to the master bedroom and entered expecting to see Harry asleep, but he was still awake. Even though its nearing two AM, Louis went into the bathroom, stripped off and showered before returning to the bedroom in just boxers._
_He slipped into bed next to Harry and the younger lad turned his back on him, shifting to his side of the bed. Sighing, Louis leaned over and kissed the back of Harry's neck._
_"I love you." Louis whispered against his husband's skin before moving back onto his own side._
_He heard Harry let out a breath and snuggle deeper into the covered before responding, "I love you too."_
_*End Flashback*_
Louis didn't miss a single game after that night, unless he had to, and eventually Scarlet forgave him and so did Harry. It had been the biggest relief to him, knowing he wasn't going to lose his family over his own stupidity. He was determined to never let it happen again and he always made sure to leave the office at the right time whenever Scarlet had a game. It wasn't often that he missed a game now, though sometimes he did. Whenever he couldn't make it, he made sure to call Harry and let him know and to tell him to wish Scarlet good luck and give her a kiss for him.
There anniversary that year hadn't gone exactly as planned since Harry had still been rather cross with Louis. They still went out for dinner and enjoyed themselves, Harry still loved the flowers Louis got him, and he had immediately put on the ring Louis got him with a blue topaz stone in it. It hadn't ended with any mind blowing time in the bedroom but Louis couldn't complain about that, he knew he was lucky to be holding Harry considering things at that time.
So, no. Marriage had definitely not been 100% bliss, but they still worked together. They're still deeply in love, even more so than they were when they got married.
For a while after Skylar had turned two, they had tried for another baby. Harry had brought it up at random and had hinted at it before he just started stating that he wanted another baby.
_*Flashback*_
_"Look Lou..." Harry pointed as they walked through the mall._
_There was a small store full of baby and toddler clothes, some displayed on little mannequins._
_"What Haz?" Louis questioned turning in the direction._
_"The little yellow footie set in the window." Harry responded, smiling at the two little outfits._
_One was white with yellow giraffes and the other was yellow._
_"Oh, yeah they are cute." Louis commented, spotting the clothing items then moved on._
_//_
_"Louis, look at that." Harry said, stopping in front of a dark wood crib that converted into a toddler bed, a day bed, and then a full size bed. "Wish we had thought of this before."_
_"It would have been nice." Louis chuckled, examining the furniture._
_"It's a good idea." Harry responded, glancing at the price of the crib._
_Louis just hummed and grabbed Harry's hand, pulling him on through the store._
_//_
_"Look at those booties!" Harry gushed, picking up a pair of little baby booties designed to look like classic vans._
_"Too bad we never had a pair of those for Sky." Louis replied, glancing at the shoes, then continuing on his way._
_//_
_"Louis?" Harry spoke one night while they were watching a movie after the girls were in bed._
_"Hmm?" Louis hummed, still looking at the screen._
_"What do you think about having another baby?" Harry questioned and immediately Louis' attention was off the movie._
_"What?" Louis inquired thinking he hadn't heard right._
_"I said, what do you think about having another baby?" Harry repeated, giving him a hopeful look._
_"You want another baby?" Louis questioned after a moment of silence._
_"Yeah." Harry confirmed. "Miss having a baby..."_
_"I don't know H..." Louis sighed, unsure whether he wanted another baby. "Let me think about it, okay?"_
_Harry nodded and settled back against Louis' shoulder after kissing his neck sweetly._
_//_
_"Is that why you've been pointing out random baby items?" Louis questioned a month later when Harry continued to point out little outfits and shoes._
_"Well... I mean... he'd just look adorable in this wouldn't he?" Harry inquired in response, holding up a pale blue onesie with little ducks printed on it._
_"He?" Louis quirked an eyebrow and Harry blushed. "You want a boy?"_
_"Yeah... I'd be just as happy with a girl but I'd like a boy." Harry responded with a soft blush spreading on his cheeks._
_"Oh darling..." Louis chuckled, pulling Harry into a hug and kissing his cheek. "I'd love to have a baby boy."_
_"Really?" Harry questioned hopefully. "Does that mean...?"_
_"Yeah love, we can try for another baby." Louis smiled and laughed as his husband tackled him in the middle of the store, not caring who saw._
_Their hopes of having another baby were soon dashed as months went by with absolutely no luck. Soon a year had passed, Skylar was three and Scarlet was thirteen and still Harry wasn't pregnant._
_He feels a bit defeated. He had really wanted another baby but apparently it's just not supposed to happen. They've done everything they can do to increase his chances of getting pregnant without him getting injected with anything, but still nothing._
_"Maybe we're just not meant to have another." Harry murmured quietly as he tossed yet another negative pregnancy test into the trash can._
_"Hey... It's okay. We've got two beautiful girls." Louis said, letting Harry tuck himself into his side seeking comfort. "We could always adopt?"_
_Harry shook his head and Louis felt wetness on his neck, "I want m' own baby. Wanna carry them and let you rub my tummy."_
_"Oh baby..." Louis cooed, holding Harry tight as a soft cry escaped the curly haired man. "Shhh... it's okay love, we'll keep trying."_
_*End Flashback*_
It had been nearly another year since then since Skylar's fourth birthday was in just three months. Still Harry was not pregnant and the younger man simply gave up. He had decided that they weren't meant to have another baby, if they were he would have been pregnant after nearly two years of trying.
Louis had noticed Harry seemed a bit down so he planned a date night for them, asking Anne to watch the girls. She does of course and Louis took Harry out to his favourite restaurant. He treats him to the delicious dinner, dessert, and wine before driving back home and leading the younger up to their bedroom. While they were gone he had instructed Niall to go to the house and set up the bedroom and he can only hope it looks good.
He's almost as shocked as Harry when they walk into the room and see red and white rose petals scatted everywhere along with a tray with a champagne bottle tucked into a bucket of ice along with chocolate covered strawberries.
"Lou..." Harry murmured, turning to give his husband a loving look. "You did this?"
"Well... Niall did this, but I asked him to." Louis replied as Harry looked around the room again.
"Thank you." Harry finally turned back to him, smiling. "Thank you so much, I love you."
"I love you too sweet-cheeks and you're welcome." Louis responded.
Reaching out, Louis took Harry's hand and led him over to the bed.
"Are you in the mood for champagne and strawberries right now?" Louis questioned, releasing Harry's hand and moving to pick up the tray.
"Not really no..." Harry managed to get out.
Louis hummed and smirked at him making Harry blush and shift in his spot. He moved the tray from the bed and set it on the night stand before moving to grab Harry again. The younger man sat down on the bed and allowed himself to be stripped and kissed all over slowly. As soon as Harry was bare, Louis urged him to lay down in the middle on the bed while he rid himself of his own clothes and grabbed lube from the dresser drawer.
He prepped Harry slowly, pressing lingering kisses to his lips and nipping gently at his neck. Harry moaned and whined and wiggled underneath him, begging for more. Louis finally obliged and removed his fingers, grabbing the lube again. He slicked himself up and pressed in slowly until he was fully inside of Harry. For a moment he just stayed completely still, letting Harry get used to the stretch and also just taking a moment to appreciate the man beneath him. He scans over his face - the eyes, nose, and lips he fell in love with so many years ago.
"Lou... move." Harry pleaded, digging his short nails into Louis' shoulders.
And really, who is Louis to deny him what he wants?
He moved slowly, pushing and pulling and putting everything into his movements. He wants there to be absolutely no doubt in Harry's mind that he loves him and only him and always will for the rest of his life. Eventually though, Harry requests that he speeds up and Louis can't help but do just that. He loves the feeling of being inside Harry; loves how tight Harry always is. He loves how intimate it is and how it makes him tingle all over when they're connected like this.
"L-Lou..." Harry breathed out, hands clinging to Louis' back.
"Go on baby." Louis encouraged, knowing Harry was close. "I'm almost there too... go on."
Harry came between them with a cry of Louis' name and the blue eyed man dipped down to press his face to Harry's hot neck.
"I love you so, so much darling." Louis panted against Harry's skin. "You are my moon and stars - my beautiful darling."
"Lou." Harry gasped as sensitivity began to set in, but he clenched around Louis, bringing him to his climax.
"Harry!" Louis moaned loudly as he released deep inside of Harry.
Harry moaned softly at the feeling of being filled and let his legs fall from where they had been around Louis' waist. Louis pulled out shortly after and hurried to the bathroom for a flannel to clean them up. Once he was done, he tossed it back into the bathroom then crawled in bed with Harry. They cuddled together despite being sweaty and hot, exchanging sweet nothings and short, sweet kisses that meant everything.
Before they drifted off to sleep, Louis put the champagne and strawberries in the fridge for another day then hurried back upstairs. After settling in bed, he drew Harry as close as he could and they both fell asleep, both of them happy with their lives.
***Three Months Later***
He had a horrible cough that wouldn't go away for the past three days and a fever that developed during the night.
"Please just go to the doctor Haz. I know you don't like it, but that cough is horrid..." Louis pleaded with the curly haired lad.
Harry sighed heavily and nodded his head, earning a triumphant grin from Louis. He made the appointment for the next day and went in with Louis by his side, he had insisted on driving since Harry was so busy coughing and had a headache from doing so so much. They waited hand in hand in the waiting room until the nurse called them back. After Harry's weight, blood pressure, and temperature were written down, the female nurse led them into a room and told them the doctor would be in soon.
Ten minutes later there was a knock and Doctor Clark stepped into the room.
"Hello Harry! Louis!" She greeted, shaking both their hands. "What can I do for you today?"
"I've got a horrid cough and was running a fever yesterday." Harry explained then promptly turned his head away to cough. "And um... I've had a bit of a sharp pain sometimes on my right side.." he added, gesturing to the right side of his abdomen.
"Since I've got the sonogram machine on we can just check that way to make sure everything is okay. It could just be you needing to bring more water." Doctor Clark stated. "Let's go ahead and check out that cough first."
As soon she was done checking out Harry's chest, listening to his lungs, she prescribed him something to help the cough and then led him over to a different room with Louis.
"Alright, you know the drill." She smiled as he laid down and pulled his shirt up.
She spread the cold gel over his abdomen and began moving slowly over it, looking at the screen. Louis and Harry chatted quietly until the doctor squeaked, quite literally, and the wand stopped moving.
"Well then..." Doctor Clark laughed lightly. "This explains a lot."
"What?" Harry and Louis questioned at the same time.
Doctor Clark looked back at them and smiled brightly, reaching with her free hand to tap the screen.
"A bit smaller than I would have expected this far along, which is why you're not showing. But I'd still estimate about nine to eleven weeks." Doctor Clark stated and chuckled at the two men's faces.
"W-What... nine to ten... I'm..." Harry stumbled over his words.
Doctor Clark smiled happily and nodded, "Congratulations Harry... you're pregnant!"