Restore (Sequel to Purge: Larry au)

Chapter 10

The next morning

Harry draws his head up from the toilet, gasping as he tries to catch his breath. His stomach finally feels empty, but he's still nauseous. 

He glances at his phone, which is lying on the counter beside him. It's only 6:37. It's still so early and he's been awake for an hour, puking his guts out. 

He really hates being pregnant. 

He waits for a few minutes, kneeling on the floor by the toilet until he's sure he's not going to vomit again. Then, he shakily gets to his feet. He washes his mouth out with water from the sink and looks in the mirror. 

With his shirt off, he can just barely see the beginnings of a baby bump, although it's mostly just bloating. He knows they should tell their friends about the baby soon. He and Louis are going to a check-up later that day, and if everything goes well, they'll start telling people right after. 

Harry places his hands on his belly, rubbing his thumbs against the skin. He already has stretch marks from when he carried Darcy and he knows he's going to have even more with this pregnancy. He's never minded it though. To him, the stretch marks are just more scars on his body. Just more beautiful reminders of how strong he is, and how he's been through so much to have the wonderful life that he does now. 

Quietly, Harry sneaks out of the washroom, trying not to wake Louis, who's still asleep in bed. He walks downstairs to the kitchen, pulling a cup out of the cupboard and going to fill it with water.

As he turns around, taking a sip of his drink, his eyes catch on an empty bottle of vodka sitting on the counter. A glass lays on its side next to the bottle, clearly used and forgotten. 

Harry sighs. He's sure Louis finished it last night when he went to "clear his head". Harry doesn't mind that he drank, per say, but he does mind that he didn't clean up after himself. 

After finishing his glass of water, Harry grabs the bottle and Louis's empty cup, and washes them both in the sink. Carefully, he throws the glass bottle into the recycling can, and he places the cup in the dishwasher. 

It seems weird that Louis finished the whole rest of the bottle in one night, because last Harry remembers, it was more than halfway full. But he also hasn't looked at it in months, trying to stay away from alcohol. It's entirely possible that Louis's been drinking it gradually, taking a little at a time. That's what Harry chooses to believe at least, and that should ease his mind. 

But he still feels a little unsure. 

He starts to make pancakes for breakfast. After about an hour, he hears rustling upstairs, and he goes up to see Darcy leaving her room, trying to shut her door quietly. 

"Hey baby girl," he says softly. "Good morning."

Darcy beams up at him. "Hi Papa!"

"Wanna go downstairs and eat some breakfast?" Harry asks. "I think Daddy's still sleeping."

"O-kay!"

Harry takes his daughter's hand and leads her down the stairs. When they reach the kitchen, he puts her in her little booster seat so she can reach the table. Then, he plates a pancake, cuts it up, and drizzles it with syrup. 

"Bon appetit!" he says to the toddler.

Darcy looks up at him confused. 

"Go ahead and eat it," Harry translates, laughing slightly. "It's yummy I promise."

Darcy shrugs and begins to eat her pancake. Harry sits down a few moments later, starting on his own breakfast. 

He looks across the table at his daughter, admiring her beautiful blue eyes and her curly hair, still messy from sleep. Her chubby cheeks make her look like an adorable chipmunk as she eats, and her little hands grip her fork awkwardly. Her skin still has that soft, rosy baby quality to it, and Harry thinks she's probably the most gorgeous toddler in the whole world.