Dad Next Door: Volume 1 (Under Editing Soon)

Twenty Three

Louis P.O.V

The weather has taken a turn for the worst.

It happened when we were eating dinner yesterday evening. The clouds were getting dark and thicker and gloomier, coming in from the South and with it, humidity.

Now, there's obviously not many things I'm scared of. I mean, I'm a tough cookie.

Spiders are creepy, they have eight legs and too many eyes so they can see you in all directions. They also move. Fast.

But as the first clap of thunder sounds and the thick rain drops splat down on the tent, it makes my heart hammer and startles me out of sleep.

A flash of lightning brightens up the tent, casting it in a bright blue from its walls and plummets back into darkness again.

My hands are clammy, teeth chattering. I bring the sleeping bag further up my head.

I hear mooching coming from one of the other rooms and a zip being pulled open.

Then the soft sound of Natalie saying, "Daddy, I'm scared."

And harry replying, "come here, pumpkin, daddy'll keep you safe."

Then two more sets of feet sound and little whimpers when another flash of lightning and clap of thunder occurs.

I really do hate being alone in storms. And I think Harry could do with some help. Yeah, that's it, he needs help keep the kids safe from the storm.

So I scramble up from my lilo, unzipping my flap open and creeping over to the opposite side of the tent.

I slowly unzip the flap and poke my head through to see them all cuddled up in Harry's arms.

"I'm er... I need daddy too," I mumble, climbing into the compartment and wedging myself between Harry and Robin.

Harry pushes my head away from his shoulder. "Louis, there's no room!"

"That's your shoulders' fault, why they got to be so bloody broad? Besides, there's plenty of room, you're just exaggerating."

"And you're scared of storms."

"Am not," I protest.

"Oh, you are too, admit it."

"Why would I admit something that isn't true?" We both know I'm lying but I'm going to keep fighting.

"Because it is the truth? You're scared."

Another flash of lightning and clap of thunder occurs and I jump, flinching.

"You flinched," he states.

"No I didn't, you flinched."

"No, you flinched and because it's so cramped in here, it made me move."

I get up. "Fine, just thought you needed help but clearly, clearly you don't need it. So, see ya, goodnight and all that jazz."

I saunter out and a clap of thunder comes, so I jump straight back into his room again, laying down where I was before.

"Actually, on second thought, I think it's comfier in here."

"Lou..."

"Yeah?"

"You're scared."

"Maybe just a little," I breathe, Robin snuggles into my chest, playing with the strands of hair beside my ear.

"Don't worry, I'll keep you safe." He kisses my temple and we all snuggle in close. He hums a lullaby to the kids but it actually lulls me to sleep too, me feeling safe within his arms.