The Perfect Match.

Chapter 68

Sunday afternoon rolls around faster than Harry or Louis have even wanted.

Harry had spent every minute he could with his girls all day Saturday, watching them play with Beckham in the front yard, watching Louis show Emma how to properly take him out for walks.

Now, suddenly it's already 5 in the afternoon on Sunday and Harry wonders where those precious hours went.

He sits by the pool, his feet in the water while Emma is swimming with Lottie and Gemma; he's holding Olivia in his arms, smiling at her kicking her feet and getting excited over watching them swim.

"How's dinner coming?" Harry hears his mum asking Louis from the patio table.

"Uh, I don't think I've burned it," Louis laughs from the grill, looking over at Harry, who's already staring at him. Louis' whole entire face turns into a beautiful, radiant smile when he sees his husband smiling a real smile.

"Are you sure they're edible?" Liam asks with a snicker from beside Louis.

"Bugger off," Louis snaps at him, making Harry chuckle some.

Olivia starts whining, reaching down to the pool and Harry looks over at Gemma, "hey, sis, I think she wants back in with you."

"I'll get her," Lottie offers with a grin as she's making her way over to Harry. Olivia reaches for her and Lottie says, "aww, come here, sweetie."

Harry grins while Lottie takes her into the water again, letting Olivia splash the water with her hands.

"You look like you're feeling alive this afternoon," Zayn smirks at Harry as he's coming over, a beer in his hand.

"I'm... I'm actually feeling pretty good at the moment, yeah," Harry looks up at him, "took a good bit of medication, but hey, I'm enjoying myself."

"Sometimes you've gotta do what you've gotta do," Zayn grins and offers a hand to Harry.

Harry smiles and takes it, standing slowly. "Thanks, man."

"I'm glad you're feeling so good," Zayn tells him, "I hope that means that tomorrow will go smoothly and then the recovery process won't be so long."

"Well, I don't know," Harry shrugs some and looks over at Louis and Liam by the grill, "I mean, narcotics are really all that's keeping me going at the moment. It's... it's sad, but... I wanted to enjoy this weekend with my girls... with Louis. I still can't really fathom in my mind what it's going to be like being away from them."

"I know, babe," Zayn nods and says quietly, "but... hopefully we will all get to visit like last time and you won't be held in isolation or something."

"That's my worst fear," Harry whispers, keeping his eyes on Louis on the other side of the patio, "I just... I can't imagine not seeing him, you know? I want to see him every day I'm there... I want to see my girls every day."

"I get it," Zayn replies, "and I mean, that's only natural by now. You've been married for over a year... being here at home with him and the girls is all that you know. I couldn't imagine being in your shoes, Harry."

"You wouldn't want to be in my shoes," Harry sighs and crosses his arms, "I'm getting cold. I'm gonna run in and grab a sweatshirt."

"Gotcha," Zayn nods before he's walking off to join Louis and Liam.

Harry glances back at the pool before he disappears inside the house.

He shuts the patio door behind him and just looks around the living area for a moment, then the kitchen to his right, only thinking how weird it's going to be to actually be away from all of this.