Keeping Up With One Direction 2

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TWENTY-TWO: Love Languages 

Despite his initial warning, Niall came home that night with the swear from both of his husband's they'd be going to counseling the very next morning. 

It wasn't new for the family to go, in fact, Niall had thought they were making fantastic progress in their sessions - clearly, it was more-so onesided. 

Harry like every morning fixed breakfast, Louis staying at his side feeling a bit clingy towards his Daddy this morning. He helps bring the toast and eggs to the table, hands Liam his sippy cup, and carefully helps Harry make Zayn's coffee the way he liked.

"Thanks, bubba," Zayn mutters bringing the mug towards his lips, "Y-you's welcome," Louis chirps standing on his tiptoes grinning at Max in his highchair, he brings the plastic spoon towards his brother's lips making fake plane noises earning a giggle. 

Liam frowns scooting down from his booster seat at the interaction, "T-too, me, too,"

Louis rolls his eyes offering the spoon with Max's oatmeal to Liam's mouth, "Baby food silly," he informs, Liam lifts an eyebrow testingly, he didn't always trust Louis. 

It was just the other day that Louis told Liam a monster lived under his bed that would eat Liam if he touched his rangers, and he'd tested the theory after making Max pick them up first. 

Parting his lips for the oatmeal, Liam hums happily, "Y-yum yum!"

Louis pets his younger brothers ears, "You's silly Leelee,"

Rocking with Max in the recliner, Niall glances at Harry that enters the room fumbling with his keys, he would be lying if he said his nerves weren't shot by the idea of being in a room alone with Zayn and forced to talk about his feelings.

His husband just made what he felt feel wrong. 

Zayn's anxiously shifting on his feet as he sways with Liam before placing him on the floor with a kiss to his hair, "Be good for Baba-"

"I go?" Louis calls entering the livingroom dressed to leave, "No-"

"Yeah!" Harry rushes, his eyes snapping towards Zayn that had protested, "I-I think it would be-benefit him, to-to see us getting along." Harry inquires rubbing the back of his neck nervously, Zayn rolling his eyes as he shrugs extending his hand, "C'mon then," Louis grins blowing kisses to his baba and brothers, "B-bye!"

It was a thirty-minute car ride of silence.

Harry hoping Louis would at least fill the silence even by singing the ABC's, he's a little offended that his loudest child picks this of all moments to relish in the quietness. He'll remind Louis of this time the next time he wants to cry when told Max and Liam are napping and that he needs to be quiet.

"You have to be quiet in here bubba," Zayn's the first one to speak once he shifts his truck to park, Louis, meeting his eyes in the rearview, "why?"

"Because Papa said so," Zayn remarks frustrated already that he'd let Louis come. This was supposed to be his and Harry's time to be vulnerable, he couldn't possibly be that way with his kid tagging along.

Harry sighs, "Because Papa and I are going to be talking to Mrs.Carol and we need her to listen to us," Louis nods at the explanation, "Was that hard?" Harry questions insultingly towards Zayn, the husband glaring in response. Harry always had a way of making Zayn feel like the worst parent.

Carol greets the man ushering the family into her office, she sets out her blocks to keep Louis entertained. Grabbing a notebook she uncaps her pen gesturing for Harry to begin.

"Maybe we don't need to speak cruelly to each other in front of the children," Carol suggests glancing down at her notes, today's session was a bit different considering that it was just Harry and Zayn. She had realized before how much talking Niall did, what she hadn't noticed was that it kept the painfully obvious problems hidden.

Louis sits between the two furrowing his eyebrows at the woman's words, "'W-wat's that 'mee-an?"

"Hush," Zayn scolds passing his husband the box of tissues next to him, "Don't fuss at him, he asked a question, Zayn." The name passing between his lips sounds vile as he glares, "Cruel means hateful, you know how Papa is to Daddy sometimes-"

"Harry!"

Carol sighs laying her head in her hand for a moment, she's rubbing her temple tapping her pen on the notebook, "Ok, a new tactic," She mumbles rising from her chair, strolling towards a bookcase she smiles pulling two books from the shelves. Returning to the men she gives each one a copy of the hardback, "What the fuck is a love language?"

"Zayn!"

Harry groans pulling Louis onto his lap letting the hybrid see the book, "A love language Zayn is what people in love use to tell the other person of their love," Carol explains gently, the man scoffs, "Mine's English," Glancing at Harry he smirks, "I love you."

Harry can't help but laugh, he shakes his head blinking the tears that formed away, even though Zayn drove him crazy, and sometimes to tears; he loved him.

Pressing a thin smile on her lips she clears her throat, "A love language is how people communicate their way of showing love. It sounds like you two don't speak the same one." Harry wipes his eyes glancing at the man, "I-I do love him-"

"No is questioning that, and that's not what I'm doing. There is love here, it's just finding out how to properly show it.-"

"Maybe not putting me down all the damn time," Zayn growls, Harry's eyes widening as he whips his head to look at the man, "I-I put you down!?"

Zayn scoffs keeping his eyes on the carpeted floor, "Hard to believe someone so kind could, right?"

Carol lifts her hand stopping Harry from responding, "Could you speak more on that, Zayn? How does Harry put you down?"

The man meets her eyes sighing, "I just feel like I'm the worst Papa in the world. My-my oldest is scared of me, and my-my youngest never even calls for me. I know I can be tough but, H, you just make me feel like I'm going to wake up one day and never see you again."

Louis perks his head up sliding off Harry's lap, he moves Zayn's arms that rested on his knees squeezing between them, grabbing Zayn's cheeks he kisses his nose, "I-I no 'fraid of you papa,"

"Z," Harry calls softly, he wipes his own red-rimmed eyes crumpling the tissue in hand, "I didn't know I made you feel that way. I-I'm never going to leave you,"

Carol hands Zayn the box of tissues smiling softly towards Louis that sweetly dabs at Zayn's cheeks with the tissue he had in his hand, "I think progress has been made here today, but this isn't over. You all have a beautiful family that wants to see a happy Papa and Dad." Louis nods at her words, "Happy," he repeats giggling when Zayn pecks his cheek, "My assignment to you is to go home and find out your Love language."

The car ride home was another thirty-minute trip in silence.

Yet, this time it was comforting. Words didn't need to be said, they already had. Love was there, it just needed to be shown. Harry inhales deeply grabbing Zayn's, their faces staring out the windshield, "You're the best Papa, and one of my favorite people."

"I wouldn't want to parent with anyone else," he muses tightening his hold on Harry's hand.

>Cute little chapter, a little sad, but I threw in some adorable Louis to make up for it. I am so so sorry for the horrific wait - I just moved and had to wait 10 weeks to get internet! And now I finally have the time to start updating again! So expect to see this story updated more often again! Send in any prompts you have! All the love, Emma :)