Parallel Universes 2

5

They slept until ten and got dressed before they headed downstairs. After they had greeted Harry's family they used his mother's phone to call to check in on the kids.
"When are you coming home?" Darcy whined.

They had already been gone a week in that universe.
"It will be a while longer I'm afraid." Harry said. He didn't have one of his special dreams when he slept. He just hoped he would have one the next night. For each day they stayed here another week would pass for the kids. He was already stressing out about it, but it wasn't like he could control it and dream on demand. He had just been lucky that he could get to Louis after three days. Thinking of it, it could take three weeks here and that meant they would be away from the kids for five months! Oh, God!

Louis noticed his state of mind and said goodbye to the kids after he promised they would call soon.
"What if I don't have another dream for three weeks? That's five months, Louis!"

"Breathe, Harry. I'm sure you will but if that isn't the case me mum will take good care of them and we'll explain it to them." Louis said.

"Tell them the truth? They're way too young for that." Harry said.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. This isn't your fault, Harry." Louis said softly.

"Of course, it is!" Harry said.

"It's my fault. I touched the painting. I'm so incredibly sorry, guys." Louis' Niall said, looking heartbroken.

"It's no one's fault." Louis started and Niall looked a little happier.

"Oh God, I'm sorry Mum. I forgot. How are you holding up? Robin will be incredibly missed. I'm so sorry for your loss." Harry said and focused on his mother instead.

"Thanks, darling. I know it's selfish but I'm glad you're here. You too, Louis. I know you worry about my precious grandchildren and I do too but Jay is a wonderful woman. They're safe with her. In the meantime, I'm going to take care of you two and put in an express request for a funeral so you both can attend." Anne answered.

Harry hugged her.
"I love you, mum."

Harry's Niall took a step forward.
"Thanks for housing me and Niall tonight. We're gonna let you have some time by yourself so I'm taking Niall with me to live at my friend Liam's place for a couple of days."

"How are you gonna explain him?" Louis chuckled.

"Long lost twin brother?" Niall grinned sheepishly.

"Oh, I wanna see that. Can I meet your new bestie?" Harry asked.

"You're still my best friend, Harry but sure." Niall said.

"Me too! Me too!" Louis smiled excitedly.

"Sure but uhm, maybe you should wear a big shirt it something. I don't know how to explain that." Niall said and pointed at Louis' baby bump.

Louis huffed and cradled his tummy. Anne smiled.
"You can borrow one of Robin's sweatshirts."

"Alright." Louis hesitated.

Anne went to get it and returned shortly thereafter. Louis put it on and he was drowning in it. Harry giggled.
"So cute."

They got in the car and drove to Liam's house which he shared with his boyfriend. They were sitting out on the patio when they arrived. As they got out of the car Harry's eyes fell on the boyfriend and he broke out in a delighted smile.
"Zayn!"

The boyfriend furrowed his eyebrows looking confused.
"Yeah, have we met before?"

Shit! Harry totally forgot that the Zayn he knew was in the parallel universe. Two Zayn? Mindblowing.
"Uhm, no. Niall told me about you. Sorry." He stuttered awkwardly.

Louis tried to quiet his giggles. Liam and Zayn looked at all of them and jumped back when they saw someone that looked just like their friend.
"Right, ehm, this is my twin brother, eh, Niall."

"Your parents named you both Niall?" Liam questioned. Mouth hung open.

"Yep. Very common in Ireland." Niall lied poorly.

"Isn't that a little confusing?" Zayn questioned. He looked equally baffled.

"Eh, yeah." Niall chuckled.

"Right... Hi, I'm Liam." Liam introduced himself.

"I'm Harry. This is my husband Louis." Harry introduced them and shook Liam's and Zayn's hands.

"Can I offer you tea?" Zayn asked.

"Sure." Louis agreed.

They took a seat outside. Liam and Zayn went inside to make tea.
"Twin brother? He looks at least ten years older." Zayn mumbled to Liam.

Harry's Niall overheard them.
"Drugs!" He shouted desperately to come up with something to explain their age difference.

Liam turned around. His cheeks were flushed.
"I'm sorry. You weren't supposed to hear that. So rude of us."

"Huh?" Louis' Niall said unintelligently.

"Zayn said you look at least ten years older than me. I just explained that you eh, used to be a drug addict." Niall explained.

Louis' Niall glared at the other Niall angrily.
"Yeah, former. Been clean for a long time. It was rough. Don't want to talk about it." He lied through gritted teeth.

"Of course. Again, really sorry." Zayn apologized and they hurried inside.

"Niall, seriously? Stop with the lies, man. You're throwing Niall under the bus." Louis said.

"I'm sorry. I panicked." Harry's Niall said and hung his head.

"Payback is coming." Louis' Niall muttered.

When Liam and Zayn returned with tea Louis' Niall started to tell them lie after lie about his "twin brother" Niall and the things he did while they grew up in Ireland, the next one worse than the previous one.

Harry's Niall just sat there and took it at first but then he started to get back at his evil twin and fabricated stories about Louis' Niall. Harry and Louis had a hard time keeping it together. An hour later they decided to leave the two Niall's alone and head back to Harry's family home for some peace and quiet. They walked back since it was just a couple of houses away.
"Niall and Niall, what a disastrous combination." Louis chuckled.

"Yeah, but they're a lot alike. They even laugh the same way." Harry smiled.

When they arrived back home they helped Harry's mum and sister plan the funeral. Anne had managed to arrange for it to be moved and it would be held in two days.
"That means a month away from our kids but I really want you to be able to attend the funeral, Hazza. You always spoke highly of Robin."

"Thank you, Lou. It means a lot. We'll talk to the kids. It's not like I've had a dream anyway." Harry said.

"Yeah." Louis replied. He was starting to get worried.