Chapter Text
„So I was thinking about adapting Snow White for the production this year. The kids absolutely adore the idea of rewriting the fairy tale together, they have already thought about putting the dwarfs more to the centre of attention and talk about their story and why they live all alone in the woods. They have some truly amazing ideas, Mary and Jake for example had a small fight over who would get to play the evil queen and then finally they agreed that the king had to be just as evil as the queen. And that’s how Jake got the role of the queen and Mary is playing the king. It’s just really lovely to see that they get along so well and do not really care about gender roles because I think that’s what teaching should be all about, getting them to think liberally and use their imagination!”
The headmaster, Paul Higgins, smiled at Louis’ enthusiasm: “Well I am sure that this production is going to be a great success. I actually wanted to talk to you about where you wanted to show the play because since you have taken over the drama department, more and more people have come each year and I am not sure we can fit all of them into the school’s auditorium. Also, I was wondering what you are intending to do once you have your baby, because surely you will want some time off.”
Louis beamed at that and said: “Well, as I told you I will need a substitute for my English classes but my husband will be home for three month after the birth of our son and therefore I will be able to be here for a few hours every week for the drama classes and- OH!!”
He broke off with a surprised but pained sigh.
“Are you alright Mr Styles?” Mr Higgins asked in a concerned way.
“IT’S THE BABY! He’s not supposed to come just yet ohgodohgod what did I do wrong he’s going to die please help me do something HE CAN’T die please NONONONONONO!!” Louis screamed. By now, blood was starting to soak through his trousers and he was starting to feel dizzy because of his shallow breathing.
He didn’t really know what happened next because everything passed in a blur. He doesn’t remember being brought to the hospital, but here he was, doctors and nurses rushing in and out of the room.
But Harry was not there. He had missed Darcy’s birth but none of the other three girl’s. Louis was convinced that he could not go through this alone again. But Harry was in South Africa for the last two concerts of the tour, because obviously the baby was not meant to come for another month.
Louis would feel so much safer if Harry was here. Even though this time he would not be allowed in there because the birth was “high risk” due to the fact that something strange happened. (Louis had no idea what the doctor said happened but he DID know that it was life-threatening to his baby-boy.)
At least he knew that his girls were safe at home with his sisters, Zayn and Niall. He appreciated that his mum and Dan (dad, he reminded himself, but even after seven years it was difficult to comprehend that he actually had a father who was not related by blood but loved him just as much as he loved his own children) were outside, mentally cheering him on or something.
He was convinced, that Harry was freaking out at the moment.
~~~
Louis was right, Harry was officially freaking out. He was already in London at the airport because he had wanted to surprise his family by coming home one day earlier but they are not yet opening the plane doors and his husband was in a high-risk birth and could possibly die together with their son and Harry just wanted to be there.
When they finally opened the door, Harry was the first to rush out. He didn’t even bother to get his baggage, he was sure Liam was going to get it, because Liam is brilliant like that. He ran to the exit, got into a taxi and told the driver to take him to the hospital.
Upon arrival, Harry threw money at the driver (it was probably more than the man usually made in a week but Harry couldn’t be bothered) and rushed out the car to the front desk.
Even though Louis was on the fifth floor, Harry ran up the stairs (and tripped and hit his nose which started bleeding – but whatever) because he could definitely not wait for the lift. When he arrived in the waiting room, he met the shocked expression of his parents-in-law and Jay actually called a nurse for Harry’s nose before she even greeted him.
(The nose was broken.)
Around three hours later, Jay and Dan left to go to the cafeteria, but Harry could not leave. Every five minutes, he had been asking how Louis was doing and if he could go in. So far, nothing had changed even though Harry was sure that Louis’ screams were getting louder and louder. He had not screamed like that during the birth of their daughters.
Suddenly, the cries stopped altogether. The only thing Harry heard was the beeping of a machine. He hoped it was the one monitoring Louis’ heartbeat, because then at least Louis would be alive.
The door was ripped open and a nurse was hurrying out. He tried to ask her what was going on but she ignored him and scurried down the corridor only to come back later with two more nurses and another doctor. Harry was scared to death. They needed more people which means something went wrong. Maybe his two babies were dying, maybe they wouldn’t make it, maybe Louis died already and this is why he stopped screaming and they were only trying to save their boy.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, but couldn’t have been more than half an hour because Jay and Dan were still gone, a nurse walked out, smiling tiredly. “You can go in now, your husband is alright, he is completely worn out and slightly delirious from the pain meds we gave him”
Harry felt relief flush through him before he realised something. “But what about our son?? Is he okay?” he almost screamed.
“We did everything we could, Mr Styles,” she said and Harry’s heart sank. They lost their baby boy. He felt like he was choking. Why the fuck is that bitch smiling at him like this is good news? Does she not have feelings, that witch??
That’s when the nurse realised how Harry had taken her statement and was quick to correct herself: “Oh dear, no, I’m so sorry, I worded that wrong! I didn’t mean to scare you. We did everything we could and we got him to breathe and he is just going through some check-ups but you can hold him as soon as the doctors are done. So congratulations on your son Mr Styles”
Harry couldn’t believe his luck, he had four beautiful daughters, the most wonderful husband and now he had received a son. He felt like he was floating while he was following the nurse inside. Louis was lying on the bed, looking very pale and exhausted.
“I love you”, Harry whispered. Louis looked up and giggled.
“Well hello,” he said. “Did I die and go to heaven? Are you an angel? I thought angels were naked all the time and I thought they were chubby not as strong and muscly as you are.”
“Lou! Love, it’s me, Harry?” Harry asked insecurely. Did his husband honestly not remember him? Was this a side effect of the medicaments? “You just gave birth to our son love, we’ve already got four girls at home!”
“Oh,” Louis said. “Well then I’m a lucky one.” And then he just turned and fell asleep.
~~~
When Louis woke up again 32 hours later, the meds had worn off. He was allowed to go home and take the baby with him.
The girls immediately swarmed their baby brother and everyone was laughing about how usually boys are protective of their little sisters but these four girls were certainly going to protect their brother with their lives.
But probably, nothing else could be expected of a family in which the one called “mummy” is actually not the one who had given birth to them. (Nobody really knows when or why Darcy started calling Harry Mummy instead of Papa, but he loved it and this is why he had a four daughters between the ages of two and ten who called him mum or mummy. It was quite certain that their son would do the exact same thing once he starts talking.
And if Harry took picture of the six most important people in his live and put it on instagram with the caption “I am the luckiest guy on earth. We love you William Edward Styles”, well then the whole world had to know that Harry had kept his promise and had stayed with Louis and Darcy through the good and the bad times.
And if Harry’s instagram was more of a homage to his family with only pictures of Louis, Louis’ pregnant belly and the girls, than to his tour or music, well then everyone who did not want to see that could kindly fuck off.
Because Harry was the most happy person in the world. Maybe except for Louis. Yeah, maybe Louis was even happier than Harry. But also Louis deserved to be happy more than Harry so everything worked out just fine.