Levirate [Haniaal/Zarry]

Chapter 27

A/N: Thank you for the 5000 reads on this book and the continuous support. I appreciate each and everyone of you, even the silent readers. Here is an extra update as a token of my appreciation

Thank you🥰🥰🥰

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Harry's delivery is as smooth as childbirth can ever be. Anne and Gemma arrived a day before the scheduled c-section and the Styles spend the whole day cooped up in Harry's room, helping to keep him calm. The bell was used once or twice by Gemma but she insisted that she was just checking if Zayn would really arrive timeously even though she had asked for extra pillows and a glass of water the second time around. For Harry of course. Trisha was supposed to have arrived already because as the mother-in-law she is the one who is supposed to help Harry with the baby. Her arrival time has been delayed though due to Anne and Gemma both being there and both having to return to work within 2 weeks of the birth due to work commitments. Trisha agreed to then let them be there and she would take over from week 3 to week 10.

Harry is up already at 5am. He steps into the shower and uses the special soap that Dr Corden had given to him and advised that it kills all bacteria on the skin to reduce the risk of infection during the c-section. A comprehensive list of all baby items that will be needed has already been placed on the kitchen table, for Zayn and Gemma to go shopping later after the birth. Anne was helpful enough to include other things that the two would not have thought. His bag for the delivery is in the living room already with all his medical documents. Anne is waiting on his bed when he steps out of the bathroom and the two smile widely to each other. She hands him his phone that has a message filled with emojis from Dr Corden. He is such a goofball sometimes.

Zayn and Gemma are already downstairs, fully showered and eating breakfast quietly when the mother and son duo make their way downstairs. Harry is wearing a simple sweatpants and has tied his hair with a hair clip. He has no jewellery on him at all, which makes his hands feel a bit lighter for him. Dr Corden advised that he should avoid solid foods for 8 hours before the surgery and is limited to a few drinks. He opts to just drink one glass of water and the gang is out. The excitement is buzzing in the car and Zayn is constantly on the phone with his parents checking in on progress. When they arrive at the hospital, Dr Corden is all ready for them and sends Harry and Anne to the reception for check in and signing of consent forms. 

Anne comes back to the waiting room alone to join Zayn and Gemma and update them on how things went. She is called in for her to wear her scrubs and mask and join Harry in the operating room. He finds him already laying on the operating bed, waiting for her and slips his fingers between hers as soon as she is close enough. Anne kisses him on the cheek and tells him how brave he is and how proud she is of him. Harry and Anne opted for an intrathecal instead of an epidural and thus the anesthesiologist injects  Harry in the back to numb him from the rib cage down. Dr Corden pokes him a bit to check if he can feel any pain and once he is satisfied that the anesthetic works,  Harry is given Bicitra to neutralise his stomach acids, and a catheter and IV is set up. A curtain is pulled across his midsection and he focuses all his attention to his and Anne's joined hands and her smiling face.

Akilah, his gorgeous little princess is the first baby to be pulled out. She has black hair just like the Maliks and a good pair of lungs based on loud her cries are. She is placed on his chest momentarily then a nurse appears and takes her away to be cleaned up. Azad is more quieter when they eventually get him to cry and he is more clingy when he is placed on Harry's chest. He has brown hair much like Harry's and a cute button nose. It is a bit of a struggle to get him to let go of Harry but they manage to and Harry is cleaned and closed up. When his babies join him in the recovery room post-delivery, they are wrapped in blue and pink blankets respectively and Anne is by his side already couching him on how to hold the babies. 

The nurse encourages Harry to get the babies to latch on his tits for feeding and Akilah seems to be fussy and turns her head away as soon as she comes into contact with the skin. Sensing Harry's frustration, Anne quickly suggests that Harry try to calm down first then try with Azad. Azad does the same however he tangles his fingers to the tit and plays with it. The nurse suggests that Harry join a nursing class that the hospital runs and assures him that this is normal for babies. As soon as the nurse exits the room, a well broke in him. The tear drops trailed continuously down his cheeks as if they were in a race. Everything in his life had come still at this very moment. Dr Corden had explained to him that his emotions might run amok after birth and Harry had thought that he is prepared for that but not at this magnitude. There are tears of joy mixed with longing and pain and grief and realisation of the situation he is in. It takes him falling asleep from exhaustion for the tears to stop. Dr Corden is called in by Anne and he advises that giving birth can be overwhelming for other carriers and can sometimes present an epiphany sort of moment. There is nothing to worry about at the current moment.

Harry and the babies spend the next 5 days at the hospital, mostly sleeping and attending the nursing class that the nurse had suggested. Harry's emotion are still haywire and he finds himself in tears when even a little thing does not go his way. The babies still refuse to latch on and that is one of his biggest frustrations. Despite the doctors informing him that babies can sense their carriers emotions and thus might be reluctant to feed when he is feeling down, Harry's mood has not improved at all. After numerous failed attempts, Harry is then advised to pump the milk for the babies. The babies seem to fuss within an hour of each feed and Harry is concerned enough to ask the doctor about it. Dr Corden advises that the milk Harry is producing is not enough to feed two babies and thus increases his dosage for oatmeal at the hospital and advises Harry to discuss other options with the doctor that runs the nursing classes. 

With the help of the doctor, Harry now gives the babies formula first but puts a bit less formula in the bottle than what the babies normally drink. By giving the bottle first, the doctor says that the babies will not  be frantically hungry when they come to the breast and may be more willing to work at learning to breastfeed well. Azad has latched on a few times but not nearly enough to appease Harry's concerns and Akilah is as stubborn as ever. 

Zayn and Anne have been busy the past few days preparing for the arrival of the trio. Gemma says all that they are doing is excessive and rather unnecessary and spends her time buying clothes and toys for her nephew and niece. The nursery is set up upstairs in one of the guest rooms and an artist was commissioned to draw animations all over. All the necessities have been bought as well as other added comforts which are not really essential. The house has been baby proofed and Harry's things have all been moved back to his room upstairs.  Everything looks beautiful and Zayn and Anne are excited for Harry to see it all. Zayn fetches the trio while Anne and Gemma put up banners and decor for the "welcome home party" with just the Styles, Zayn and Fahima. 

The ride home is quiet and Zayn knows that something is very wrong. Harry is fussing over the babies and has not spared as much as a glance towards Zayn. As soon as they park, Harry steps out and unbuckles Azad's car seat and hands him over to Zayn who is waiting eagerly on the side. As soon as Akilah is unbuckled as well, Harry outstretches his hand for Zayn to hand over Azad and he does so without hesitation. When they step in, Harry smiles briefly at the decorations and makes a stop by the nursery but requests them to move the cots to his bedroom and crawls into bed immediately, with his babies by his side.