Through The Dark

Leveled

         A few hours pass, Sam makes her casserole, and we pack up the kids. "Mason, did you bring your backpack?" I ask him. He carries around a little Seattle Seahawks backpack with his epi-pen and Benadryl. He nods and buckles himself up in his carseat. I clip Meredith in her carseat and hand her her blanket. Olivia's diaper bag is in the back and she all buckled in. "We're good to go!" I crawl in the drivers side, backing out as soon as Sam is in the car. Katie and Louis follow us to Harry's house. The ride is short and quiet with the kids watching the scenery change and Sam on her phone. I pull into the driveway, type Harry's code into the gate and park behind Liam. Harry comes out around the back of the house, with Darcy at his side, waving us over. I help Sam unbuckle the kids and carry our casserole over to the back patio.

"Last one to show up, as usual." Harry smiles and takes the food. "You were a lot more punctual before you had that baby." He looks down in Olivia's car seat, which is set up on the picnic table, then tickles her little plump belly.

"Okay, okay. Like you're never late?" I badger.

"Oh, we're always running late. It's just expected of us now, since the twins were born." He walks back over to his grill, flipping over the hamburgers. "Twins are tricky, Niall. But there's no stopping us now." He smirks and elbows me.

     "Does that mean you want more kids?" I ask as I unhook Olivia and pick her up. Sam has found her way over to the picnic table with Madi, Katie, and Christin.

     "I mean, what ever happens happens, you know? I'm not against it. I love Madi and these kids more than anything." He rubs Darcy's head and shuts the grill again.

     "You do know there are ways to not just 'let it happen'." I take the beer he hands me and sit down in the lawn chair, with my baby on my lap. Harry joins me in the chair beside me, with Darcy soon climbing onto him.

     "I know, I know. It's really up to Madi, but I wouldn't be opposed. Maybe when the twins get a bit older, and a little less crazy, we can try for another. They're the best." He looks down at Darcy, who's resting his head on his chest, gazing over at Olivia.  "Would you want more?"

   "She's the best thing that's happened to me, after marrying her mother." I smile and leave a little kiss on the top of her head. "I think once Mere and Mason get settled here and into a better routine, we can try for more. Not yet. Sam always wanted a big family, but it all happened very suddenly. Maybe two more... It's all up to her."

     "And you're the one that said they'd have one kid maybe, two kids tops." He smiles.

      "They make me a lot happier than I ever could have thought." I smile and look over to Sam. "And watching her with them makes it even better. She's incredible."

      "I have to get up, hun." Harry picks Darcy up, setting her on her feet and she walks off to Madison. Harry pulls the burgers off the grill and sets them on the table behind us. "Lunch is ready!" He calls to everyone and they all stand up. Harry takes the first plate, then I follow behind with a plate in one hand, baby in the other. Sam fills my plate as she helps Mason and fills a plate for Meredith. She sets a small plate in front of Meredith and Mason at the small kids table and goes back to get her own. The table fills with chatter as we eat.

      "Football after we eat?" Liam asks and of course everyone says yes.

      "You know I'm terrible." Christin mumbles to him. We haven't seen much of her really. I've heard from Louis that she's been staying over at their place a lot and she seems to get along well with Taylor. Everyone seems to like her, as she's a very nice girl.

     "Shut it, they don't let terrible people play college football, Chris." He shakes his head.

    "It wasn't co-ed! You boys are going to level me!" She says, louder than I've heard her speak before.

     "I won't let them level you!" Liam replies.

      We quickly finish the meal and,  after eating way too much of course, proceed to find the nearest football and clear the yard. The kids play in the expansive play place Harry built for them. Sam and Madi are the only ones sitting and watching us, shaking their heads as we play. We probably all look like old men struggling to fight off a food coma as we kicked the ball around.

      I take a hard pass from Louis and kick it to Christin, who's being manned only by Liam per his request. With a swift elbow-to-the-temple as Liam steps in front of her, she's on the ground. "You said you weren't gonna level me!" She whines and sits back up. The game comes to a screeching halt as we all circle around her.

     "I am so sorry!" He pulls her off the ground. "Your head is a lot lower than I thought it was." He rubs his hand over her temple and she stumbles forward. "I'm so glad I defended you to keep you safe." Anyone could see the regret on his face. "We should get you to the hospital, I probably gave you a concussion or something." He takes her hand and walks over to Madi. "Can we get ice?"

      I sit next on the ground next to Sam's chair and catch my breath. "Well, that was fun while it lasted." Olivia reaches for my hair and takes a good fist full. "Ow, Olivia!" I turn towards her. "Daddy doesn't like when you pull his hair. Thank you very much." I run my hands through my hair and rub my scalp. "But mommy does." I wink, and immediately flinch as she whacks the back of my head.

"We should be getting home." Sam sighs and stands up, about two hours later.

"But why?" Harry drags out, much like Darcy does when Leo goes home. "Can he please spend the night Sam? We'll be good!"

"Maybe another time." Sam laughs and pulls me towards her, hand in hand. "I'm not feeling well and it's getting late. Thank you so so much Madi. We'll have to do this again." They exchange their hugs as I gather the kids, pulling them away from the playscape. Mason walks with his backpack around his shoulders, and tells us both about the tall slide as we buckle him up. But as soon as the car starts moving, all three of them are out like lights.