Parallel Universes 2

4

He had to wait three days for another dream to appear and he had never felt more relieved than when he woke up that morning. For Louis, it was still the same day as the day he left. Wicked strange. Usually, the dreams were three weeks apart. Thank God that wasn't the case now!

He hurried to get dressed and ran to the stairs to the attic and started to paint. It took him twenty minutes. It wasn't a masterpiece but the face of his friend Niall stared back at him. He was eating a hotdog.

He took the time to call Jay and tell her that he was leaving. He talked to the kids and said goodbye as well. As he hung up fear ran through his veins. What if something went wrong and they wouldn't be able to return here? There was a lot at stake. Their kids could lose them both.

He couldn't leave Louis stranded in an alternative universe either with a new one on the way. He had to risk it and bring him back.

He picked up the suitcases with determination. He was going to get his man back. He touched the painting and let out a breath of relief when it worked. Everything started spinning and he was pulled into the painting.

A second later Niall spotted a half-eaten hotdg in his face when he screamed.
"Harry!"

Harry turned around when he heard Louis' voice and dropped the suitcases so he could take Louis in his arms. Niall screamed again. He had dropped one of the bags on his foot but he couldn't care less at the moment. He cupped Louis' cheeks with both hands, examining him.
"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, how are the kids? They must be so confused." Louis said.

"They're fine. Your mum is spoiling them." Harry reassured him.

When he made sure that Louis and the baby were okay he turned to his old friend.
"Niall! I've missed you!"

Niall hugged him.
"I missed you too."

Harry looked at the other Niall.
"Are you okay?"

"Third priority, I see. I'm fine." Louis' Niall chuckled.

"You two really look the same. It's remarkable." Harry smiled. Then he turned to Louis. "Wanna meet my family?"

Louis looked down at himself.
"I'm in a robe and bunny slippers but sure. Doesn't your mum live in Holmes Chapel here?"

"I brought you some clothes. Yeah, ehm, we'll take the train." Harry said. Why had he dreamt about Niall who lived in London when it was his family that was in crisis? He would never understand this dream hoping through universes.

"I'll drive you. I have a vacation from work this week. You came at an excellent time. I can visit my best mate Liam. He moved to Holmes Chapel with his boyfriend a couple of months ago." Harry's Niall said.

"You exchanged me for a new gay bestie?" Harry questioned.

"You're around that much." Niall joked but Harry could see that it was some truth behind that statement.

"I miss you too." Harry replied. Niall smiled at him.

Louis got changed and they hit the road. Harry borrowed Niall's cell phone and called his mum to give her a heads-up. After the initial shock, Anne was happy.

It was almost midnight when they finally arrived at Holmes Chapel. Niall parked on the driveway.
"I remember the first time I took you to this house after you just appeared in the water. It feels like a lifetime ago." Louis said.

"Yeah, but in this universe my mum will open that door instead of some stranger. Come on!" Harry said and got out of the car.

He helped Louis to get out and took his hand. Even if his family knew his husband after countless phone calls over the years this was the first time he could introduce him in person. It made him happy and excited.

The door swung open and he stood face-to-face with his mother. She smiled happily and pulled him in for a hug.
"My sweet boy."

"Hi, mum. I've missed you." Harry said softly.

They stepped inside the house and Harry's sister came running to hug him as well.
"Hi, Gemma." Harry laughed.

Louis had kept in the back. Harry took his hand again and pulled him closer.
"Mum, Gemma, you already know Louis but I'm so happy to be able to introduce him in person."

Louis seemed shy. He held out a hand.
"Hi, it's wonderful to finally meet you for real."

Anne pulled him in for a hug. Gemma was next. They were both smiling.
"Hi dear. You look gorgeous." Anne said and gestured at the baby bump.

"It's getting some time to get used to it." Harry's Niall grinned.

"Oh, you already know Niall. That's also Niall." Harry said and pointed at Louis' Niall.

Gemma looked between the two Niall's.
"Spooky."

Louis was exhausted and Harry noticed so he told his family that they had a very long day and had to get some sleep. Anne understood and said good night. Harry showed Louis to his old room. It was a guest room now. Anne made two beds on the sofa in the meantime for Niall and Niall.

As they settled down Harry hugged his husband and caressed his stomach.
"You scared me."

"Well, I got shit scared meself, not gonna lie." Louis replied.

Harry hugged him closer.
"I don't know what I would do if something happened to you."

"Now you know how I've felt when you've traveled between our universes." Louis said quietly.

"I'm sorry. No more travels as soon as we get home." Harry replied.

"I don't know about that. Now we know that you're not the only one who can go through your paintings. What if your mum could visit us sometime? I would love for our kids to actually meet her, you know? Obviously, that's her decision but I think we should at least talk to her about it. What do you say?" Louis wondered and looked at his husband.

"I would love that." Harry smiled.