The One-night Stand

10

He had managed to get the house in order. Jay had showed up the next day with a car full of boxes. They carried them inside and went through them.
"Now if there's something in here you don't want Lee to wear I totally understand. No hard feelings." Jay assured him.

He had clothes for a year ahead, including rubber boots, raincoats, winter overalls, and everything in between.
"It's great! Thank you so much, Jay. This is really helpful." Harry smiled shyly.

"Anything for family. Now, where is my grandson?" Jay asked and Harry showed her to Lee's room. He had just woken up from his nap.

Louis helped him put Lee to bed every night. He sang him lullabies and read him fairytales. They spent a lot of time together. Harry had suggested that they would go out shopping and Louis was so excited. He ended up buying half the toy store and cute little outfits. Harry said he could keep the things at his place but Louis shook his head.
"These are suitable toys right now. He will outgrow them. I rather have him play with them than have them collecting dust at my place."

"Maybe you can have him at your place while I get a haircut?" Harry suggested since Lee seemed comfortable around Louis already.

Louis lit up with a smile.
"Really? I'd love to! When?"

"Saturday?" Harry suggested.

"Absolutely." Louis beamed.

"But... Only you, okay?" Harry said hesitantly.

"First time, absolutely but Harry, Eleanor is me girlfriend. I have to include her in the future. She's really sad right now. Feeling left out." Louis said.

Harry only nodded his head. He didn't want to push too far. Hopefully, Eleanor would come around and like Lee if she got to spend some time with him?
"Let's just take it in steps. There are so many new people around him right now. I really like your mum but I'm nervous for Lee's sake when I start work on Monday."

"You can call her as many times as you want to check up on Lee." Louis said.

"Oh, trust me, I will." Harry chuckled.

Eleanor spent the weekend at Louis' place and Harry kept to himself. He took a walk around the neighborhood on Friday afternoon to get some fresh air and get a feel of the place. When he returned Louis and Eleanor were walking out the door. Louis immediately came running up to them but Eleanor waited by the car. That didn't mean that Harry couldn't feel the death glares she was sending his way.
"Hi, Harry. How's Lee?" Louis asked.

"He's fine." Harry replied.

Louis hunched in front of the stroller and made silly faces, making Lee giggle.
"We're going out to dinner but I'll be home in time. I'll come over and help you put him in bed."

"You don't have to. Enjoy an evening out." Harry replied.

Louis wrinkles his eyebrows.
"I want to. I'll be home in time. Bye, Lee. Dad loves you."

It was the first time he had uttered those words to Lee. It melted Harry's heart. No matter how messy this situation was Lee was lucky to have Louis in his life. Harry would remember that.

Louis walked away and Harry headed inside. He made some dinner and made sure Lee ate. He bathed him afterward and dressed him in one of the pajamas Louis' mother had brought.

Louis knocked on the door a couple of minutes before the clock turned eight. He seemed to be in a bad mood but that changed as soon as he got to hold Lee. They put the toddler to sleep, having a routine by now. When they walked out of Lee's room Harry glanced at Louis.
"Are you okay? You seemed upset when you arrived."

"I'm fine. I have to go. See you tomorrow. Can I still have Lee while you get a haircut?" Louis asked.

"Of course. I'll bring him over by eleven." Harry said.

"Great! I'm looking forward to it. Have a nice evening, Harry." Louis smiled but it didn't reach the eyes.

Harry let him out and turned on the alarm. He watched tv for a bit before he went to bed.

The morning went by fast. While he got ready to take Lee to Louis' place he looked out a window and saw Eleanor leave. She looked pissed as usual. Harry almost felt sorry for her. He knew this couldn't be easy for her. Her boyfriend suddenly had a kid on his hands and she was left out.

He picked up the bag he had packed and brought Lee over to Louis' house and rang the doorbell. Louis opened the door with a smile that Harry felt in the pit of his stomach. Did he have to be so damn attractive?
"So, I've packed everything he might need. He hasn't had lunch and he's probably starting to get hungry. I..." Harry rambled nervously.

"Harry! He'll be fine. I'll promise to take good care of him. Go get your hair cut. You're starting to look like a hobo." Louis teasingly cut him off.

"Heeey!" Harry protested but he was smiling. He hugged and kissed Lee goodbye before he handed him over to Louis.

Lee whined a little and Harry immediately froze.
"He'll be fine. Go." Louis said.

Harry hurried to his car and drove to the hair salon. An hour and a half later he was heading back home.

He knocked on Louis' door and he let him in.
"How did it go? Where's Lee?"

"Nice haircut. It went great. He ate lunch and now he's napping." Louis answered.

"Oh. Good." Harry replied.

"Can I offer you a cup of tea?" Louis suggested.

"Sure." Harry agreed.

He sat down on a kitchen chair while Louis made them tea. They had a nice chat, mostly talking about work and what Louis expected from him. The baby monitor went off and they walked upstairs to get Lee who smiled when he saw Harry and made grabby hands. Harry picked him up and changed his diaper.
"Wanna check out the park nearby?" Louis suggested.

"Sure." Harry agreed.

They packed toys for Lee and fetched the stroller from Harry's house and walked to the park where they spent a couple of hours playing.

When they came home Eleanor was waiting outside Louis' house. Harry shuddered from the death glares she sent him and Lee.
"We're gonna go home. Thanks for today, Louis."

"I had fun. I'll come over at eight." Louis smiled before he kissed Lee on the cheek and walked over to his girlfriend.