Maybe we can (L.S.)

21

"I've got three legs! Anyone wants an extra one?!"

"Legs! Legs! Anyone wants a leg?!"

"That must be Niall" Harry said shaking his head in disbelief.

"I'll go open. Watch the kids, will you?" Liam said already on his feet.

"Oii! You're having a pool party without me? Why wasn't I invited, huh?" Nial shouted as he plopped on the grass beside the pool end passed a big box to Harry.

"Thanks, Ni! And the water doesn't even reach your knees, it's just for the kids" Harry said opening the box to check if everything was alright.

"Yeah, yeah! Whatever. I scolded the man about the leg breaking, just so you know. Told him you could have hurt yourself and little Sam when it did and he added some stickers and a discount for the next time you need somethingthing" Niall said proudly.

"Niall! What did you do that for? It wasn't his fault" Harry scolded in disbelief.

"The stickers are cool, though! See?"

"Yeah, sure!" Harry chuckled.

"Anyway, what's for lunch?" The Irish man asked, making Liam and Harry shake their heads.

"I was about to go get it ready. Could you two get the kids out and changed meanwhile?" Liam said while getting back up again.

...

"Lunch is ready!" Liam shouted from the kitchen.

"Niall! You were supposed to help!" Harry shouted from the backyard.

"Sorry, I got excited" Niall said as he ran back outside to get a newly changed Sam inside.

"Up we go, Mikey. It's time to eat" Liam said as he picked him up.

"Oh, Harry. I forgot to mention it. We are going out tonight" Niall said out of nowhere.

"What?! I can't go out. I've got kids to take care of if you didn't notice" Harry said hopping inside.

"Yes you can. Your mum will be here in a while. I called her yesterday. She already agreed to take them for the night. She said she needed to see her grandchildren" Niall replied calmly.

"You did what?!" Harry screamed

"You're coming too, Liam. I'm sure she won't mind staying with Mikey too" He continued.

"Me? No! I can't!" Liam said, his eyes wide open.

"Yes you do. Both of you. You are both great parents but you are also young and I'm sure neither of you have done anything for yourself in a long, long while. You deserve to disconnect for a night at least. Besides, I want to go out with my friends. It's been ages since last time" Niall explained.

"But-" Liam and Harry started speaking at the same time.

"No buts. Now. If you please. Let's eat we're starving" Niall cut them as sat with Sam cuddled on his lap.

After lunch, and some more unsuccessful attempts to avoid Niall's plans, both Liam and Harry agreed to meet again before dinner at Harry's and everyone went back home.

When Harry entered the house he was immediately engulfed in a bone-crushing hug. He stumbled a bit, nearly tripping over the trolley, where a sleepy Emma was lying holding little Sam to her chest. He was quick to hug back as he recognised his mum's scent.

"Mum! When did you get here? Why didn't you say you were coming?!" He exclaimed without pulling back

"Just a minute ago. I was about to call you. Niall called me yesterday and he was quite worried about you, so I decided to come visit. How are you doing, Love?" She said after kissing his temple and holding him at arm's length to check him.

" 'm alright, mum... I'm just... scared, I guess..." He mumbled.

Anne kissed him again, pointed him to the sofa and pushed the trolley inside. She first took Sam to his crib, turning on the baby monitor, and came back for Emma, who was now fully asleep.

Once they were poth napping in their beds, she came back and sat on the sofa beside her son, who was now taking his prosthesis out of the box.

"Thanks, mum" He said, putting the leg aside to hug her again. Hoping that she knew he was thanking her for much more than putting the kids to bed. After all, it was her who had to take care of them and himself after the accident. And he hadn't been exactly easy on her during the first two months.

"No need to thank me, Love... I know you're scared. Being a parent is scary and you are doing great. They are really  lucky to have you. You care so much for them that everyone can feel it. But you need to care for yourself too, Harry. You need to keep healthy both physically and mentally for them, for me, and for yourself" She said, wiping a tear from his face

"I do take care of myself, mum..." He complained.

"Not enough, Love... So... Please go rest for a while and then get ready to go out with your friends and have some fun. You're a young, awesome, beautiful man. You need to enjoy life too"

"But-"

"No buts! I'll take care of the kids. They need to spend some time with their grandma anyway"

"Okay, okay! I'll go. Liam will be here before dinner with Mikey" He smiled raising his hands in surrender.