Pride {l.s.}

73- A.M.

The Story So Far:

Harry and Louis fought and made up. Louis decided that he wants to marry Harry (not just because it rhymes).

"Remember how we used to kick around just wasting time?" Zayn says offhandedly as he takes another swig of beer. Zayn and I sat in lawn chairs on the roof of the apartment building that Harry and I lived in. The roof access is probably restricted, but Zayn might have "accidentally" broken the lock. It doesn't matter. A nice evening with Zayn and a beer on a roof is worth it. 

"We used to go clubbing all the time," I laugh at the memories. "We got drunk so many times. We were a mess."

"I'll admit that it's been awhile since I've thrown up from drinking, and I don't miss it that much," Zayn admits with another giggle. He stands up from the chair with his beer bottle in hand as he makes his way towards the edge of the rooftop. The flat cement ended against a small brick railing, the only thing between us and falling over ten stories. 

I follow Zayn up to the railing. We both lean against it and look out over the landscape as the sun sets over Orlando; the reds and oranges are a painting from Mother Earth and a painting that I don't bother to try to recreate. Nothing ever really does compare to the real thing.

"Do you think that I would be a good dad?" I blurt out. The street is practically silent below since everyone is already home and in bed. The only sound other than my voice is the air conditioning system on the rooftop behind us. 

Zayn turns to look at me. "Of course you would be a good dad. Why do you ask?"

"Olivia," I reply. "Remember? I went to a wedding with Harry that he was photographing?"

"Oh, oh, she was the cute little girl that fell asleep in Harry's arms at the end of the night," Zayn recalls our conversation. "She was an orphan, right?"

"Yeah, yeah she was," I reply as my mind flashes back to that wonderful night. 

Harry and I walk over to the railing of the patio and overlook the small pond. Olivia rests her head on Harry's shoulder, and I watch her eyes finally close. Her breathing slows down as she drifts off to sleep. I can hear some insects around the surrounding wooded areas, and I feel the peace that nature has. I look over at Harry and feel even more peace.

"What about her, Louis?" Zayn asks as his curiosity begins to grow. 

"Earlier you asked me if I wanted to get married for sure, and the answer is yes," Harry explains as he down at Olivia. "I want this. I want to wake up in the morning and look over and see someone that I love. I want to lean over and kiss them. I want our kisses to be interrupted by our child hopping on the bed. I want the smell of pancakes on the morning of a birthday. I want popcorn movie nights. I want to read bedtime stories until she eyes close. I want all of that. Do you?"

"I want that too. That sounds amazing and perfect," I admit as I look over at Harry and Olivia. Harry looks down at Olivia too and presses a small kiss to her forehead.

"I wish that we could get her out of the foster system," Harry mumbles as he looks down at her. I see the sadness in his eyes.

"You can adopt," I blurt out. "I mean you're gay, so you're not going to like have a kid. Adoption in Florida is pretty good. You can be single or married. It's something to always think about. You would be a great dad."

"You think so?"

"I know so," I admit as I see Harry gently push some hair out of Olivia's face that fell there in her fit of sleep. I let out a sigh. If anyone walked by and saw us, I bet they would have thought we were just a gay couple with a kid. A small part of me wishes that we were like that.

"Harry keeps a notebook. He writes little poems in it usually. Sometimes he shows me them," I explain to Zayn, "and I found one the other day that I can't stop thinking about."

"Was it about her? Olivia?"

I nod my head.

"Do you remember what it said?"

"'When you go and I'm alone, you live in my imagination. The summertime and butterflies all belong to your creation. I love you. That's all I do. I love you'," I recite. I easily remember the flow and love in the words. "It then goes on to say 'I live for you. I long for you, Olivia. I've been idolizing the light in your eyes, Olivia.' It repeats that and then says 'don't let me go' a couple times, and that's it. That's the end of it."

I remember the flow of his lettering together. I wonder when he wrote out, how close it was to meeting her. I wonder if it was that night or if she came back into his thoughts later. I'll admit that I do think about Olivia sometimes too. 

"Woah... What do you make of that?" Zayn asks with shock in his tone. 

"We loved her that night, Z. She was sweet and so lovely, and we liked it. We liked protecting and loving something together, and she was an orphan," I mumble before I take another sip of beer. 

"Oh my gosh. He wants to adopt Olivia," Zayn blurts out. His eyes are wide as he looks over at me. Just by looking at me, he understands. "You want to adopt Olivia, too."

It goes silent between us, but I can imagine it. I can see Harry making another plate for dinner. I can see me holding her on my shoulders so she can see the lions at the zoo. I want to take her to Disney and to meet my family. I want to raise a child, and I want to raise her with Harry. 

"Is that crazy?" I ask just above a whisper. I don't want Zayn to shoot down my dream too hard; his acceptance means everything to me. 

"Lou, you would make a great dad. You and Harry would be great parents," Zayn reassures me. He wraps one of his arms around my shoulders to reassure me. "It's not crazy."

"Is it crazy if you help me pick out a ring next week?" I ask. "Harry and I are planning a trip to Disney in May. You know how much he loves those movies; I figured it would be the perfect place for it."

"All of my favorite conversations between us are at this weird time between night and day," Zayn comments as he looks back out over the city. "We're growing up, Lou."

"We may be growing up, but we won't grow apart. You'll always be my best friend, Zayn. He isn't replacing you," I reassure him. "I'm not dreaming out loud. I want this, Zayn. I want this next step with him."

Zayn turns to look at me. It's a steady gaze as I watch him pause before replying to me. Just this one gaze reminds me of everything we've been through. We roomed together in college, graduated together, opened a business together, and found our partners together. We do everything together, and I want to step into this next part of my life with his support. 

"I'm free next week on Wednesday after we close the store," Zayn says with a small smile. "Let's go get your boy a ring."

A/N

More happy chapters before I crush your souls. You're welcome. 

xoxo raindropkiss1