The Perfect Match.

Chapter 63

Harry wakes the following morning, his eyes slowly opening to see the curtains pulled closed and the room quite dark. He rubs his eyes and can feel the pain radiating through him instantly. He sighs and lies on his back, staring up at the ceiling, wishing the last few days had been nothing more than a nightmare... but they haven't. This is his reality again... and he knows he's going to have to accept it.

He hears Louis' voice just down the hall a few moments later, breaking him out of his thoughts.

"Em, you about ready?" He's calling as he's knocking on the bathroom door.

"Yeah, she's almost done with my hair!" Emma calls back to him.

Harry glances at the time on his phone before he's sitting up slowly, running his fingers through his hair. He can smell breakfast being cooked downstairs and he realizes how hungry he is, even if his body is telling him not to get up.

He sighs and climbs out of the bed, aching all over as if he has the flu; but he's all too familiar with these symptoms... though, he had almost forgotten what it felt like to feel the way he does once again.

He's grabbing clothes and turning the shower on in their bathroom as quick as he can. He doesn't want to miss taking Emma to school; he wants to keep things as normal as possible for her and Olivia both.

He's washing his hair when he hears Louis' beautiful accent in the bathroom.

"You're awake," he says before he's peaking in the shower at Harry. He's smiling at him in an instant as Harry's eyes meet his.

"You seem shocked," Harry smirks before he's rinsing the shampoo from his hair. "Do you know how much easier it is to wash my hair now? God, it's nice."

Louis smiles even more, "I'm glad to see you're in a good mood."

"Why wouldn't I be?" Harry asks before he's turning around and running his face under the water next.

"Well, yesterday you weren't in such a grand mood and all," Louis mumbles out and watches Harry rinsing himself off.

"I'm better today," Harry manages to smile and rubs the water out of his eyes. He turns the water off and opens the curtain, Louis holding a towel up for him. "Thanks, babe."

"You're more than welcome," Louis says softly as Harry begins to dry off. "I wasn't sure you'd wake up to go with me to take Emma to school... and I didn't want to disturb you..."

"I want to go," Harry looks back at Louis, "I want... I want things to stay as normal as possible around here, Lou... at least while I still have some control over this situation. Once I start the chemotherapy, I'm... I'm not sure I'll be leaving the house at all."

"None of us expect you to," Louis whispers, "everything will be taken care of that week, including you."

"I know," Harry nods a little before he's smiling, "you know, as crazy as it sounds, I'm actually quite glad I'm having it done at home, and that you'll be here for it this time... because you don't realize how much I'm going to need you."

Louis swallows hard, wrapping his arms around Harry's waist as he stares at him, "well, I'll be here... the entire time. I won't leave your side."

Harry kisses him gently before he's grabbing his clothes and starting to get dressed; he pulls his skinny jeans up, feeling how loose they are in the waist and he sighs. "Guess I know why these have felt bigger on me lately... better get my smaller sizes back out."

Louis goes and takes a seat on the bed while he's watching Harry go through his pants in the closet, looking for the ones he hasn't worn since before the first transplant; he had gained so much weight and was glowing again... now, Louis wonders just how much he'll lose this go around.