Eighteen [Narry AU]

[12]

Niall

I was currently on Theo watch. Harry was at footie practice, so Louis came with me.

"Theo please stop touching everything-" I groan as I chase him around. Today he seemed to be in a mischievous mood. He was laughing at every threat I sent his way, which just angered me but I force myself to calm down because he's only 2.

Louis and I manage to trap him, me picking him up from behind so he couldn't run anymore. As soon as I pick him up he starts wailing.

"Theo-" I frown and run my free hand through my hair, tugging at it. "Please don't cry, I don't like when you cry" I pout but he doesn't stop.

"Theo, you could get hurt running around the house. You could trip and fall or run into something and if you keep touching everything you might break something and get hurt." I try to explain but I'm obviously not helping, as he just cries harder.

"Theo bud, do you want a snack? I can get you a snack?" Louis asks him softly, but he just shakes his head, continuing to cry. Louis sends me a look. We're both quite stressed out and annoyed.

"Theo if you don't stop crying I'm putting you down for nap" I threaten. Bad idea. Now the boy is in hysterics. "Damn it- no-"

Louis takes him out of my arms, trying his best to console him but it's not working very well. I text Greg, asking what the hell i should do. He just texts me back saying to let him cry himself out, he'll get over it.

That felt kind of harsh to me, I didn't want him crying himself to sleep or crying until he made himself sick.

"Theo, bub, what will cheer you up?" I ask, desperate for an answer to calm him down.

"I wan Hawwy" he sobs "he nice! He wet me pway!"

I frown and hold my head in my hands. I was not okay with being the mean one. It broke my heart.

"Harry doesn't get out for another 20 minutes" I sigh, rubbing my face. "Louis, let him run around again. Maybe he should learn his lesson if he runs into anything"

"No, that'll just make him cry more!" He protests but reluctantly puts Theo down. The boy sniffles and just goes over to play with his toys quietly. I must've scared him.

"I mean, you probably put the thought of him smacking his head off the coffee stand in his brain" Louis groans. "I'm rethinking having kids"

"Me too, this is tiring. How do they do this?" I frown "it's stressful"

30 minutes pass by and I hear Harry walk through the door and I am relieved. Theo has been crying while pretending to entertain himself with his toys for the last half an hour.

"I'm hereee" he calls as he walks into the living room. Theo bolts up from his spot and runs to Harry, tears still streaming down his face. "What did you two do to the poor kid?" He frowns as he picks him up.

"U-uncle Ni m-mean" he cries into Harry's shoulder. I cover my face with my hands as I hold back my own tears of frustration and guilt. I didn't necessarily do anything wrong but my nephew thinking I'm mean really hurts.

"What did he do?" Harry asks softly, glancing at me.

"H-he no w-wet me pway. H-he say I-I gonna g-get hurt" theo whimpers.

"What were you doing bud?" He rubs his back gently, his voice so much calmer than Louis' and mine.

"W-wunning" he sniffles.

"Theo, your uncle Ni was just looking out for you. He didn't want you to run into anything and get an owie. Have you been a good boy today, or has uncle Ni and lou had to chase you around?" Harry looks him in the eyes.