We MaDe It

23.

"Zayn, you listening?"

Louis prodded at him with his foot when after telling him his problem, Zayn stared blankly in space like he's not listening.

"What, Louis?"

"I've just poured my heart out about Bella and the fact that she wants to leave the house."

"Isn't she young for that?"

"I've just said she's going to live with Eleanor, Zayn." Louis scoffed. "Isn't it funny how you ram problems down my throat but you can not even take a minute to listen to mine."

Zayn cared about Louis. But had enough problems of his own to unpack someone else's.

"Lets go to the kitchen and let him rest." Zayn said glancing down at Harry sleeping, head on his lap.

Softly, in a barely there touch he combed Harry's curly hair with his fingers. Harry had finished his last day of gruesome five day in a row radiotherapy treatment and was blighted with migraine, nausea and body aches.

Those were not Harry's only woes. With a restricted diet as it was, he lost his appetite, wasn't eating. On day three of treatment he spent the night in hospital for hydration via a drip.

In honestly what Zayn wanted was to be alone with his husband and wished Louis to just leave but didn't want to be rude. He grabbed a cushion, and slipped it under Harry's head, got up made his way to the kitchen.

"So, Bella wants to live with her mom. How is that a problem?" Zayn asked putting the kettle on.

Louis frowned watching him sombrely dragging his feet. "What's wrong with you?"

"Harry's cancer is back stronger than ever. This was his last day of radiotherapy. He's given a week for his body to recuperate then chemo. Want tea or coffee?" Zayn said blasé going for the milk in the fridge.

"Oh my god. Is he, erm_" Louis clutched his chest. "Is he okay?"

Zayn didn't answer right away going on to make tea for them both, handed Louis one then took a seat opposite him. "Excuse me I'm going to be a bitch for a minute apologies in advance. For all the times you've barged uninvited in our house you've ever known Harry to sleep in the middle day? Even on holidays? Shouldn't your first reaction when you saw him out of it, covered in blankets up to the neck ask if he's alright, Louis? Cancer aside."

"Zayn, I'm_"

"It's a fucking Saturday. Harry has never failed to take Elijah for soccer practise, he asked your husband to do it. Didn't it crossed your mind to ask why? That's not normal behaviour for him, right? But sod that, you're not here for that. You're here for yourself. And yeah I wasn't listening to you, Louis, but listening to Harry breathe worried he will die and I will fucking miss his last breath_" Zayn got up abruptly, "Mary is off this weekend, I have to start on lunch before the kids starts grumbling."

Louis watched him move around the kitchen, getting bread and stuff out of the fridge to make sandwiches it looked like. "What you making?"

"Ham sandwiches." Zayn wiped his teary eyes before washing his hands. "It was unfair to lash out on you. You didn't know Harry's cancer is back. I'm sorry."

"You already apologised, Zee. Water under the bridge."
Louis smiled. "Your girls always say I make better ham and cheese sarnies than you. I could help with that. If you let me."

"You're pregnant and shouldn't be doing too much."

"You sound like my husband." Louis stood up to wash his hands. He was seven months along.