There's One More Night

The Word Spreads

Louis shook my head, "Didn't even finish year three of dinners..."

No one heard me though. I walked around the house for a while, ignoring the kids. But they didn't mind, they were in their own world anyways. As I walked up to the stairs I noticed someone coming down them.

"Lou!" Anne shouted. I looked up and saw her bright face coming towards me with her arms extended, giving me permission to hug her. I opened my arms and let her hug me. She said as I hugged her, "Lou honey! I haven't seen you since last Christmas!" I smirked again at the memories of that awful Christmas.

About a year back...

"Oh no Lily!" I heard Harry yell from downstairs. I was upstairs helping Emma find her purple stud earring that would only match her dress.

I was on all fours searching under her bed while Emma was looking through her jewelry boxes. Suddenly Harry ran into the room holding his shirt in his hand, wearing only his pants.

"Lily just threw up on the couch," I climbed out from under the bed and sighed.

"We gotta be at Anne's soon we need to leave now!" Harry groaned and ran back downstairs. I stood up and turned to Emma, "Find another outfit Em, we gotta go." Emma sighed and said, "Fine," and walked to her closet.

I left the room and went downstairs to help Harry with Lily. When I walked into the living room I saw Lily on the couch with a bowl of vomit in her lap. I yelled, "Harry!" And ran to clean her bowl.

You shouldn't let an 10 year old continue holding the bowl of vomit in her lap. I got to Lily and asked softly, "How you feelin?" I felt her forehead and she was burning up.

Lily said in a raspy voice, "Like I gotta throw up again," I nodded my head and ran into the kitchen only to find Tanner sitting and playing with his toy cars all over the floor.

I groaned and walked out and into the laundry room, where I found Harry standing over the washing machine trying to get it started. I ran over and turned it on for him. He turned to me smiling and said, "Thanks-"

I cut him off, "Go and put another shirt on, clean up Tanner's mess and see if Emma's ready and get them in the car. Now move!" I smacked his butt causing him to jump and smile. Then he ran out of the laundry room.

I laughed and shook my head as I went to the closest doors to find another bowl. I found a few plastic bags for the car ride, and another silver bowl that Lily could use while I washed the other. I ran back into the living room and quickly switched the bowls.

Lily muttered, "Thanks," I nodded my head and ran to wash out the dish. I gagged as I rinsed out the vomit and cleaned the bowl with dawn soap. Once clean, I set the bowl to the side and ran out of the kitchen to find Lars and Zak. I ran up to Zak's room and found the two little boys playing video games on the small TV Zak had in his room. I said, "Power it off and get your shoes on and get to the car! Move it boys!"

The two of them hopped off the bed and shut off the games and scooted past me. I followed then down the stairs and saw Harry leading Emma out the door while holding Tanner in his arms. I smiled as I watched his big strong arm hold up little Tanner. 'He's mine. All mine' I thought to myself.

I shook my head and realized I need to get Lily to the car. I walked over to my sick child on the couch. I felt a pain of guilt flush over me as I said, "We gotta go to grandma's love... You ready to go?" Lilly shook her head before throwing up again into the bowl. I sighed and said, "But honey we have to go we can't stay?"

Her weak voice said quietly, "Please stay with me," I swear I was about to cry right there. I never felt so bad for a child in my life. I then walked around the couch and sat next to her. I grabbed a hair band that was sitting on the table and pulled her long wavy hair into a pony tail. I said, "I'm not going anywhere," she smiled a little, before moving her head to inside the bowl to throw up again.

I sighed and pulled out my phone. I texted Harry, 'Lily and I are staying home for this Christmas, tell Anne we may come later but I'm not sure.' I pressed send and then pulled Lily closer to me so I could cuddle her. I turned the TV on and we sat and watched some cartoons for the majority of the afternoon.

Right around 10:30 she stopped throwing up and put her bowl on the floor. Then at 12:30 she asked for food. I made her some soup and she sipped it for about an hour before asking if we could still go to grandma's house.

I felt her forehead. She wasn't that warm at all anymore. I sighed and said, "You sure you wanna go?" Lily nodded her head furiously and I said, "Alright let me go grabs some bags in case," I walked into the laundry room and grabbed the bags I had found earlier. Then I went upstairs to the bathroom and got some fever medication for her.

I made her take the medicine and then we got in the car and drove to Anne's. The car ride was very pleasant and Lily wasn't sick in fact, she was acting like she hadn't thrown up at all! I was thrilled and started expecting this Christmas to turn out better then it was.

Once we got to Anne's I realized that almost all of Harry's family had showed up at the Style's home. I was excited to see everyone again. I parked the car and I went to get Emma out of the car. I unbuckled her seat belt and told her to bring the bag in with her. I scooped her up and let out a moan as I did. I felt like I was growing old. I backed up and shut the door. I walked inside with the now healthy Emma. I kicked off my shoes and hers and walked into the kitchen where I heard voices.

There I saw Anne cleaning up the dishes. She saw me and smiled, "Hello love! How's Emma?" Emma turned her body towards Anne and said, "I'm not sick any more!" She laughed and said, "Well that's good! Hey why don't you go say hi to your aunt Gemma huh?" Emma nodded and ran out of the kitchen. Then Anne looked up at me again, but her smile was gone. She said, "Harry is throwing up in the upstairs loo."

I sighed and said, "Oh for god's sake..." Then I turned around and headed upstairs to check on Harry. I opened the bathroom door quietly and said, "Harry?" I heard a moan.

I opened the door and walked inside. I saw Harry lying helplessly on the floor of the bathroom, sweating like he just ran a mile. I walked over to him and sat in front of his legs. I reached over and moved those seducing curls out of his eyes.

"Even when you're ill you know how to turn me on," Harry let out a little laugh and said weakly, "Oh shut up," I smiled and moved so I was sitting next to him. I put my head on his shoulder and he out his head on my head. I smiled and said, "Merry Christmas Haz," I could tell he was smiling by the way he said, "You too boo,"

"Let me touch your curls once more Haz," I said as Anne was hugging me.

She pulled back quickly and asked, "What?" I shook my head and said, "Oh never mind," she said, "Oh..." And then looked at the floor.

Anne asked seriously, "So how's Harry?" I shook my head and said, "Uh... I don't know yet." I fought back my tears as I turned to face to wall next to me. I could tell he knew something was wrong. He pushed the hair out of my eyes, revealing my red puffy face.

Anne's eyes started to water as she pulled me into a gentle hug, "Should we pray?" Anne whispered. I didn't want to. I honestly wasn't very religious at all.

Harry wasn't either, I remembered him saying that he didn't want a lat of religious attention at any events for him. So I knew I eventually had to control Anne.

I sighed and nodded my head as she grabbed my hands. Her hands were warm and soft.... They felt like Harry's except smaller. I remembered holding Harry's hand for the first time...