night shift // l.s.

extra: visiting hours

riley stared down at the swaddled newborn in front of him. "he's itty."

"uh huh. itty bitty," louis nodded. "say hi to rio, guys."

"hi," the older siblings say, one on each side of louis. curled up in the hospital bed, the now four of them have just gotten settled in after louis made sure riley wouldn't jump around too much and wake his brother up.

"daddy?" raven looked over at harry, who was unraveling a thinner blanket for riley.

"yes, rae?"

"are you gonna say hi to rio?"

chuckling, harry said, "i have said hi to rio all day, sweetheart. it's yours and riley's turn to say hi."

raven nodded her head and laid her cheek against louis' arm. "can i hold him?"

"of course you can, give me just a second." louis kissed the top of her curls. "haz?"

"coming, baby." harry sat in front of raven and took rio from his husband. he couldn't do much twisting or turning, let alone bending or stretching since he had a third cesarean section. he could accidentally rip his staples out.

louis put a drop of hand sanitizer on raven's hands. "rub it in," he reminded her.

"and me?" riley asked.

louis grinned and gave his son some sanitizer, rubbing his little hands together. he helped massage it in and held his hands.

"give me a hug, monster," he told him. "but be careful. i got a boo-boo."

"oh no," riley gasped. "i kiss it?"

"no kissing this one, sweet boy. it's alright. it just hurts to move."

the oldest son nodded and stood to hug louis' neck.

louis smiled and kissed the side of his face. "love you."

"love you," riley hummed.

louis gave him a very gentle squeeze before requesting for him to sit back down.

raven was in love with rio like she was with riley (until riley learned how to walk, talk and throw his toys at her face, then it was game over), cooing over how tiny he was, his little fingers, his little nose, she was ecstatic.

finding out she wasn't having a baby sister was okay, louis guessed. she wasn't the happiest, but she wasn't particularly sad. she said avalon was her sister, in a way. they were always together whether it be avalon staying a night with raven or raven just spending the entire weekend at zayn and niall's. not only that but raven would bug the shit out of one of her fathers to use their phone and call her.

"what color are his eyes?"

"gray," harry murmured. "they'll change over time. give it about a year."

"he better have blue like me and dad. riley has green."

"like me," harry grinned. "riley looks just like me. rio too. you look just like daddy lou."

"which is why i'm the prettiest."

"all of my babies are pretty," louis argued softly. "you, riley, rio, and daddy harry. prettiest babies i have ever laid eyes on."

harry bit his lip, a shy grin breaking out as he continued to cradle his hands underneath raven's elbows to keep her steady while holding her baby brother.

"he's so warm," raven giggled.

"very warm," harry agreed. "him's nice and cozy, all swaddled up. did you see his little
hat?"