Like A Dream

Chapter 18

The Doms were awakened by loud cries the next morning, coming from right next to them. Since they all slept in the same bed as Harry now, they were all snuggled together tightly, with their arms wrapped around one another and heads nuzzled into the crooks of each other's necks.

Niall sat up abruptly, the other Doms slowly blinking their eyes awake. He turned to his left and saw a very distressed looking Harry, who was bawling his eyes out and kicking his legs.

It had been awhile since Harry had been in his headspace, so Niall assumed he had slipped again. His cries were only that loud when he was little.

"Baby," he whispered, and reached a hand out to gently rub Harry's back. "What's wrong, little one?" His cries didn't sound just like they did when he was little — they were too intense for him to not be upset about something.

"Wetttt!" Harry cried, and the Doms shared a look. "Icky! Don't like," he wailed.

"Oh, sweetheart, it's okay," Zayn cooed. "We're not mad. Do you want a bath? We need to clean you up." He smoothed back Harry's curls.

The little nodded silently, his cries quieting at the prospect of getting clean again. He sniffled and reached his arms out to be picked up.

Liam laughed and scooped the boy up, not caring about how dirty he was getting. He had to change for work soon, anyway. Which reminded him ... who was going to take care of Harry?

Pushing the thought away for now, the brown-eyed Dom stripped Harry of his pyjamas and gently set him in the tub. "Does that feel nice, Angel?" he asked, wading a hand through the warm water. "Do you want some toys?"

Harry nodded and wiped his nose. "Wan' boaties, pwease," he said and blinked innocently at the Dom, making Liam chuckle fondly.

"Of course, baby." He gave Harry his toys and watched with happiness as the little squealed and played in the bath, all traces of distress gone.

It was odd, really, Liam thought. Harry didn't usually just fall into headspace without a good reason. Asking the sub himself probably wasn't an option either, he mused as he watched Harry giggling when the boat sank under.

"Daddy, look!" Harry smacked his hands straight down onto the water.

Liam winced as the water dangerously sploshed near the edge of the tub. "Hey, let's be a little more careful now, yeah?" he said kindly. "We don't want to make a huge mess."

Harry nodded, eyes innocently wide, as he saved his boat from submerging for any longer. "Sowwy, Daddy," he said.

Liam chuckled and booped his nose. "It's alright, Angel." He cooed when Harry scrunched his face up cutely. He picked up the shampoo bottle and squirted a dollop of it onto his hand. "Let's wash your hair now, little one."

"Nooo," Harry whined, sticking a wet finger into his mouth with a pout. "Wanna pway more."

"I know," Liam soothed as he gently scrubbed Harry's curls, grimacing at the knots. Honestly, the boy should comb his hair more often! "But Daddy and everyone else has to go to work, darling. We only have so much time in the bath."

"Meanie," Harry pouted, but Liam didn't comment on it, figuring that nothing he said would be able to satisfy the little.

"Head back, please," he requested. "Close your eyes." He rinsed the boy's hair from the shampoo and made quick work of washing his body, tickling Harry and smiling at his giggles.

He carried Harry back into the bedroom, where everyone was getting dressed and ready. "What do you want to wear, little one?" Liam asked and kissed his cheek.