Parallel Universes 2

2

Harry dreamt one of his special dreams that night. That wasn't unusual. He had one of those often but he always ignored them.

He woke up early with a feeling that he shouldn't ignore this one. He slipped out of bed quietly so he wouldn't wake Louis and headed up to the attic. They had converted it into a studio when they moved in so he would have somewhere to paint where the kids couldn't go.

He found a blank canvas and put colors on his pallet before he began to paint. An hour later a painting of Niall stared back at him. His Niall in his world. He missed him a lot. He was very good friends with Niall in this universe and even if they were a lot alike they weren't copies of each other. Knowing both of them he could point out specific differences.

Why did he dream about Niall? He hoped he was alright. He better call him immediately to check up on him. He got up to find his phone but Louis beat him to it.
"Honey? Are you here? Your mum is on the phone."

Louis came up the stairs and handed him the phone.
"Hello."

"Hi, sweetheart. I have some sad news." His mother Anne said.

"What?" Harry said, panicking inside. He grabbed Louis' hand for support.

"Robin died last night." Anne said and started to cry.

"I thought the chemo was working?" Harry questioned.

"It did at first but then he quit responding." Anne explained.

"Why haven't you told me that?" Harry wondered.

"Oh, I didn't want to worry you. You are where you are." Anne said.

"Mum! I'm still a part of the family! I'm so sorry for your loss. Robin was a wonderful person. I'm gonna miss him." Harry replied, teary-eyed from the sad news.

"Thank you. I wish you could attend the funeral but I understand that's impossible." Anne sighed.

"Uhm, yeah. Mum, I'll call you back in a little while. Okay? I have to tell Louis what happened." Harry said.

"Alright. Love you." Anne said.

"I love you too, mum." Harry replied and hung up.

"Robin died?" Louis asked. He looked concerned.

"Yeah." Harry sighed.

Louis hugged him.
"I'm sorry. Your mum must be devastated."

"Yeah." Harry sighed again.

Louis glanced at the painting.
"Did you have one of those dreams?"

"Mhm." Harry said.

Louis let go of him. He caressed Harry's cheek.
"You should go home. Help your mum. Attend the funeral."

"You're pregnant! I would have to stay at least a week, maybe more. That's seven weeks for you guys!" Harry protested fiercely.

"It's okay, Haz. I'm only 17 weeks pregnant. There will be plenty of time left. You should go." Louis said.

"I can't just leave you alone with the kids. They're a handful." Harry protesters weakly.

"I'm sure me family will help us out. You need to do this. You don't get to see your family and I always feel bad about it. We will have a new baby soon and I know you won't go then. Your family needs you now. I want you to be able to say your last goodbyes to Robin. It shouldn't have to be over the phone. We'll be fine here, Harry. It's just a couple of weeks." Louis insisted.

Harry bit his lower lip.
"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely." Louis replied.

"God, I love you so much. Okay, I'll go, and we'll keep in touch. I'll come home if something changes with the baby. I'll paint my return painting right away." Harry said.

"Alright. Go pack. Then we have to talk to the kids." Louis said and pecked his lips briefly.

"We'll talk on the phone every day. I make sure to buy a new one as well. It's time for an upgrade." Harry said.

"You do that." Louis smiled.

Harry hugged him tightly.
"Thank you for being so amazing. I love you so much."

"You gave up a whole lot to live in this universe, love. I hope you know that I'm not taking it for granted and that I wish that you could see your family in person all the time?" Louis said.

"I know, honey." Harry smiled and caressed Louis' hair lovingly.

"Alright, pack a bag while I feed the kids." Louis said.

"Okay." Harry said.

They headed down the stairwell. Harry disappeared into the bedroom to pack a bag while Louis walked to the kitchen to get the cereal boxes and milk.

Harry threw random clothes into a suitcase and then he remembered that he needed a suit and found a black one. He grabbed a tie and a button-up shirt as well before he headed to the bathroom to pack toiletries.

He closed the bag and carried it out of the room and decided to bring it to the studio. Louis came up a minute later.
"All packed?"

"Yeah." Harry confirmed.

"The kids are eating breakfast. So what are we telling them?" Louis asked.

"The truth. Robin died and I have to go home to my family for a while." Harry said, looking sad.

"And when they ask why they can't be with you?" Louis said.

Before Harry could answer Niall popped up.
"Here you are! Darcy let me in. Are you ready to go golfing, Harry?"

"Shit! I totally forgot about that. I'm sorry, Niall. Rain check. I have to go home." Harry said.

"Home? Oh! Your parallel universe? Cool. Is that a painting of me?" Niall asked and stepped forward.

Everything happened so fast. Niall reached out a hand to touch the painting. Louis shouted "No!" and grabbed Niall's other arm. Harry's eyes grew wise when they both were sucked into the painting and disappeared.
"Louis!" He shouted.

He reached out a hand to touch the painting but stopped last second. He couldn't leave the kids all by themselves! He was freakimg out. Louis had disappeared right in front of him! His pregnant husband was missing!