𝓫𝓪𝓭 𝓵𝓲𝓪𝓻 [ MULTIPLE]

ten

"did I hear you right? You want to take them clubbing?"

There is no good explanation for what Liam had just said. Maybe he'd missed the memo that Jay had just died.

"He- they need the distraction Tills! A little booze won't hurt him!" her mouth is wide open. She keeps bouncing Freddie, holding him close to her chest, one hand on his neck and the other below his legs.

Next to her, Harry frowns. This obviously didn't sit well with him either. Freddie gurgles as he plays with Harry's ringed fingers.

"Yeah, you think so? What about the paps? Are they taking the night off?" Liam frowns, clearly unhappy with her not liking his plan.

She knows, however, that there is no point fighting it. If he's presenting her this only now, then that means Lou and Lottie were already in it. She sighs, trying to look everywhere but to Niall, in his burgandy sweater, behind Liam.

"It's on you then. I'm going back to my flat with Freddie."  her voice is more tired than annoyed. Alongside Harry and Liam, she'd come to support Louis at his performance. Staying backstage with Freddie, she had been more than prepared to call it a night as soon as Lou was ready to leave. And it turned out the plans were different now.

Also, no-one had told her Niall would be there.

"Go with them, love." she carefully turns, mindful of Freddie, to face Anne, who alongside Robin and Gemma, had made their way to London to support the Tomlinsons as well. "We all know you came to look after Louis and Freddie. And if he's going, then Louis is going to need you there. I'll stay with Freddie. We'll go to Harry's and you pick him up in the morning."

Matilde sighs. Anne was always the voice of reason. She exchanges looks with Harry. The subtle nods makes her shake her head. That was that.

"Kay..." she passes Freddie off to Anne. "Haz, be a dear and hand off the baby bag to your mum. I've got a boyfriend to call. Lord knows what photos will be on the press tomorrow."

Pulling the phone out of her pocket, she tries to pretend she hadn't seen Niall wince at the word boyfriend.