Daddy Cool *larry au* (mpreg)

Twenty-Three

"He's so small, Daddy," Katie points out, climbing onto the couch next to where Louis is holding Nathaniel. Louis smiles and fixes Nathaniel's blanket a bit.

"Yeah?" Louis chuckles. "All babies are small, love."

"When are my Aunties comin'?" Katie asks, petting Nathaniel's blanket and feeling how soft it is. Louis smiles fondly and shrugs, not taking his eyes off his son.

"Soon," He replies. "Hey, don't bother Papa, okay? He's napping."

"Why?"

"Because Papa's tired and he needs some sleep," Louis explains, looking over to Katie. "Havin' a baby is a lot of work, babes, and it made Papa really tired. Baby's been up at night, too."

Katie nods, getting bored of the conversation and walking away. Louis is left alone with Nathaniel, but it's not like he minds. Louis leans down and kisses his forehead, smiling wide when Nathaniel opens his eyes and looks up at him.

"Hey, kiddo," He says softly, putting his index finger near Nathaniel's little hand. Nathaniel grasps onto it, and Louis smiles wider. "You got enough sleep? Ready to meet your aunties when they come? Your Nan is coming too, she'll be all over you, yeah?"

The doorbell rings and Louis smiles, holding Nathaniel to his chest and slowly walking to the door. He opens it to see his family and smiles wearily. "Hey."

"Let me see him, let me see him!" Jay squeals, walking up to Louis and looking at Nathaniel. "Oh, Lou, he's gorgeous."

"Thanks," Louis says in a hushed tone, smiling proudly. "Um, you can hold him if you want. Just-ah, just be careful."

"I've held just a few babies in my life time, love," Jay rolls her eyes, slowly taking Nathaniel from Louis. Louis watches nervously, biting his lip as he watches someone hold Nathaniel that isn't him.

"Where's Harry?" Lottie asks, looking around the room.

"Upstairs, he might be awake," Louis shrugs.

"Well go check, Lou," Jay urges, still looking down at a wide-eyed Nathaniel. "I want to see him!"

"I-" Louis twists his mouth, heart pounding as he looks at Nathaniel in arms that aren't his. "I-uh-okay. O-Only you hold him, though, okay? Don't give him to anyone else. I-I'll get Harry and the girls."

As if on cue Emily and Katie come downstairs, both smiling. "Emily! Your hair is growing in so nice," Fizzy gasps, immediately running her fingers through Emily's short hair. Emily smiles as Katie practically launches herself at Lottie. Daisy and Phoebe stay back near the door, both on their phones. Ernest and Doris toddle toward Emily. They've always loved Harry, and Louis thinks they like Emily because they're so alike.

Louis reluctantly walks up the stairs, walking into the bedroom to find Harry laying down in sweats, blinking lazily like he had just woken up.

"Hey, babe," Louis greets, leaning in the doorway and taking in how beautiful Harry is. The afternoon sun is peering through the windows, shining down on his face and giving it a sort of glow. His curls are unruly, sprawled around his head like a halo. He looks over to Louis and this sort of lazy smile grows on his full lips. He goes up to rub his eyes, leaning his head up a bit.

"Hi, Lou," He greets softly. "What time's it?"

"Don't know," Louis shrugs, taking a few steps toward the bed. "My family's downstairs, though, was just checking to see if you were ready to go see them."

"Yeah," Harry mumbles, rubbing his eyes. "Sure. Nathaniel down there?"

"Yep, waiting for Papa," Louis replies, making Harry beam. Louis helps Harry up since he's still a bit sore, and aids him in going downstairs.

"There he is!" Lottie sings, smiling brightly at Harry. "Mr. Mummy himself! How you feeling, Harry?"

Harry rolls his eyes and shrugs, hands in his pockets. "Fine, sore," He replies with a small smile. "How's Nate doing? Fussy?"

"He's been good," Jay assures, handing Nathaniel to Harry. "Gorgeous little boy, and Louis' so good with him. Protective, of course, but he does well."

"Yeah, I think I'll keep him," Harry says jokingly, absentmindedly reaching down with his spare arm to pay Ernie's head when he tugs at Harry's trousers.

"Can I hold him?" Fizzy asks, still running her fingers through Emily's hair the same way she used to with Harry's when she was twelve and it seemed to calm Harry's nerves during his first pregnancy.

"Of course," Harry says as if it was a silly question, walking over to Fizzy and carefully putting Nathaniel into her arms. Fizzy coos, looking down at her nephew and smiling.

"He's a Tomlinson for sure," She laughs, poking at Nathaniel's little button nose and cooing again. "Look at you, babe! I can tell Tasha and her new niece to eat my arse!"

"Fizzy!" Jay warns, rolling her eyes and shaking her head before turning to Harry and kissing his cheek. "How are you, love? You look incredible."

"'M fine, thank you," Harry says wearily, offering Jay a tired smile. "He's been keeping me up. Forgot about having to get up in the middle of the night to change him and such."

"Are you talking about Louis or the baby?" Phoebe asks, causing everyone but a pouting Louis to burst out laughing.

"Oi!" Louis whines, only smiling when Harry wraps his arms around him and kisses his cheek.