Stand By Me ~Zouis Family

Fourteen

 Louis sat at the kitchen table on Sunday morning, a cup of coffee in one hand and the weekly news paper in the other; Harry often made fun of Louis because he was ‘the only person in the whole world who still reads the news paper’. Though, this morning Louis wasn’t actually reading his news paper, he was peaking over the top watching his curly haired son as he sat on the couch in the next room fiddling with his phone.

Louis wasn’t stupid, nor was he ignorant. He knew his sons and his husband well enough now to be able to tell when something wasn’t right, and something was definitely not right with Harry. It was the lack of interest on his face, his hunched over posture and the dull look in his eyes that gave him away. So yeah, Louis knew something was wrong but could he for the life of him figure out what?

No.

It wasn’t something as simple as a small fight with a friend that was keeping him so low, Louis knew that much. He was running over all the possible scenarios, maybe he broke up with a girl? Maybe he was being bullied? The list seemed to be endless and Louis continued to stare, to think, to worry.

He didn’t quite know what he was missing and he was terrified that he was being a bad father for not knowing, but at the same time he was unsure wether he should ask Harry what was on his mind or wait for him to come and tell him when he was ready.

“Babe?”

Louis looked over to see Zayn standing in the kitchen, Liam in his arms running his small hands over the stubble on his face.

“Hmm?” He hummed his mind on other things.

“Why aren’t you dressed yet?”

Louis stared blankly at his husband, it was only ten in the morning why would he need to get dressed? And then Liam let out a small giggle as Zayn attempted to lick his curious hand and Louis suddenly remembered. They had to take Liam for a hospital check up today. “I’ll go and do that now.” Louis replied, finishing the last of his coffee and standing up from his seat, casting one last glance over at Harry before making his way up the stairs to get dressed.

Louis decided he didn’t need to shower, he could do that tonight he pulled on some jeans and a simple T-Shirt, grabbed some shoes and headed back towards the stairs, peeking his head into Niall’s room and seeing the seven year old still asleep, his body spread out and taking up most of the room in his bed and his blankets kicked onto the floor. Louis smiled gently and quietly crept into the room, he picked the duvet up and covered his son’s small body, he pressed a soft kiss to the side of his warm face and promptly left the room, not wanting to wake him.

“Harry.” Louis called as he descended the stairs picking up some of Liam’s scattered toys on the way down.

 Harry turned on the couch to face his father, “Yeah?” 

“Me and Papa have to take Liam for a hospital check up, would you mind watching Niall. He’s still asleep for the moment, but even so he isn’t that hard to take care of.”

“Yeah, I’ll stay with him.” Harry replied, not meeting his father’s eyes, his voice lacked enthusiasm but not necessarily for the fact he had to stay home and babysit, it was in general lack of enthusiasm for anything and that bothered Louis immensely.

“Thank you, you’re the most perfect teenage son in the world.” Louis smiled kissing Harry’s forehead and ruffling his hair as he made his way over to where Zayn was stood, Liam still in his arms fiddling with the car keys. “Have fun, we should be home by four!” Louis called as he was walking out the door.

Harry let out a loud sigh as the door clicked closed. He’d been texting Nick all morning and Nick was asking why Harry was being so withdrawn and Harry wanted to tell him, he needed to tell him because it hadn’t even been a week but he just couldn’t deal with the stress of having no one to talk about it to. He needed to get this off his chest but he just didn’t know how do word it and it was killing him.