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It was on days like this that Harry was grateful he lived so close to the park. He was also extremely grateful he’d chosen to stick to virgin drinks at the bar last night, and that he’d made it home before midnight as well. He considered both things a win, especially considering the plans he’d made for today. Being barely ten in the morning, the park was still empty, children no doubt scoffing chocolate eggs at home while their exhausted parents looked on in a sleep haze, wondering how their children weren’t throwing up, and thinking how they couldn’t stomach chocolate before lunch. 

He set down the basket he’d prepared everything in, and looked around, finding the perfect patch of grass to create his mini Easter egg hunt for his two children. They had stayed the night with his mum, Anne, giving Harry a night off from his parenting duties. He always missed them terribly, but at the same time, he was grateful for a little breathing space, to be a twenty seven year old man for a few hours. That, though, was always interrupted whenever his phone screen lit up, his wallpaper a picture of his two grinning babies.

Harry reached into the basket and grabbed a few of the colourful foil eggs before he darted around the small grassy area, setting them down behind flowers, underneath leaves and wherever else he could think to hide them from two children with eyes like hawks when it came to anything sweet. Chocolate was most definitely a treat in the Styles home, meaning Cassie was all but exploding with excitement the closer Easter got. 

When all of the eggs were set, and Harry had placed a pair of fluffy bunny ears on his own head, he unfolded the picnic blanket he’d packed the night before, laying it down and sitting on top of it. The basket wasn’t quite empty yet, filled with snacks, drinks and changes of clothes, as Harry was well practised in going out of the house with two small children now. Chocolate being involved meant Cassie would definitely need a spare set of clothes, and he didn’t even want to think about the mess Joe was going to get into. 

There was no sign of his mum or his children yet, so Harry took advantage of the peace and quiet and laid back on the blanket, hands clasped behind his head. His eyes were shut, and he blocked out the few voices he could hear around him; the couples walking hand in hand, a man with his son playing frisbee not too far from where Harry was laying.

When Harry had been younger, Easter had been about dressing up smartly and going to church with his mum and dad, sitting and listening as the priest had spoken about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and what a special day it was. While Harry still respected the true meaning of Easter Sunday, he did enjoy the fun his children had brought back into the day, loving their excited faces as they discovered the treats the Easter Bunny had left for them around the house. It was lovely to see such joy on the faces of his babies, and he smiled at the mere thought of them, the utter lights of Harry’s life.

“DADDY!”

Harry shot up to a sitting position, beaming at where his daughter was running over to him in her flowery little jumpsuit, blonde curls flapping in the wind. He scooped her into his arms and hugged her tightly, kissing her hair several times before she giggled, pulling at his cheeks to look at him.

“Hello, munchkin… Happy Easter!”

“Happy Easter, Daddy, I missed you!” 

“I missed you too, baby girl… wait there a second…”

Harry carefully set her down on the floor, crouching down as his young son, Joe, toddled unsteadily over to him. He’d only recently got the hang of walking and preferred his much speedier crawling method, but Harry was keen to get him up on two feet. Still, Joe gave Harry a toothy smile and squealed delightfully as he sped up towards his father, almost jumping into his arms.

“You super boy, Joejoe! So clever, look at you!” His son laughed gleefully as Harry pressed kisses all over his tummy and up to his chubby pink cheeks, tiny hands yanking almost painfully at Harry’s hair. “It’s your first proper Easter, Joe.”

Joseph, or Joe as Harry and Cassie liked to call him, was born just a month before Easter the year previous. He’d obviously been far too young for chocolate last year, and Harry had barely caught Cassie shoving a tiny piece of Easter egg into her little brother’s mouth, crying when she thought she might have killed him. It had been a bit traumatic, to say the least. Now, though, Joe had had a taste of chocolate several times, and a little Milky Bar egg was waiting at home for the boy, along with a Disney Princess one for Harry’s little princess. 

Cassie was rummaging around in the picnic bag and pulled a bottle of flavoured water, tongue poking out as her little fingers tried to prise off the lid, huffing and puffing when it stayed steadfastly on. She tried again but gave up much quicker, running over to Harry who was by now hugging his mum, thanking her for having the children overnight.

“Daddy! Can’t open it, help please!”

Harry smiled at her manners and took the bottle from her, popping off the lid with ease. He handed his daughter back her drink and slipped the little clear lid into his pocket, knowing they could be a choking hazard if left laying around.

“You want to stay for a while?”

“I’d love to,” Anne said, but Harry knew she was about to deny his request. “But I promised Gemma I’d go round and help her with breakfast. I don’t think Connor slept well last night, and she’s exhausted. Unless you need me-”

Harry quickly shook his head, knowing his big sister needed the help much more than he did. Cassie and Joe were a handful, but there was nothing Harry loved more than spending time with his children, especially on a fun day of celebration like Easter.

“No, we’re all good. Go and see Gem, tell her me and the kids will FaceTime her later on. I don’t want to intrude with these two whirlwinds if she’s having a tough time.”

“You’re too good, my darling,” Anne replied, resting a hand on her son’s stubbly cheek for a second. “Come here and kiss Nanny goodbye, my loves!”

Cassie ran quickly at her Nanny, while Harry helped Joe to his feet, stooping low to hold his son’s hand as he walked over, tiny toes visible in his leather sandals. They were the cutest little toes in the world, and Harry just watched as Anne hoisted him up onto her hip, letting his red lips smack against her own in Joe’s own version of a kiss.

“I love you, Joejoe, yes I do! Happy Easter, my loves. Their eggs are in the bag there, Harry,” Anne said, nodding to the Sainsbury’s carrier bag sitting on the grass near the picnic basket, “and there’s one for you, too. This looks amazing, by the way.”

“Bit of fun,” Harry shrugged, knowing it was as much for his own enjoyment as it was the children’s. “Have a lovely day, Mum. Give Gemma and Connor a kiss for me.”

“Will do. Bye darlings, see you on Tuesday for dinner!”

They all waved as Anne hurried out, watching until she was a little speck until the children turned their attention back to Harry, sitting down on the picnic blanket. Cassie’s hair was getting knotty in the wind, so Harry reached into the bag, pulling out the daisy chain alice band he’d got her in the shops the other day. He shoved a teething toy in Joe’s hands as he sat his daughter between his legs, trying to tame her soft curls, much like his own.

“You didn’t want to let Nanny put your hair up, Cass?”

Cassie shook her head, Harry stilling his hands while she did so. He pulled her hair up into a high ponytail before he slipped the daisy band on her head, pushing it into place. She reached up and patted it, grinning back at Harry.

“Pretty!”

“Yes, you are,” Harry agreed, letting her hop up. “Right, are you two ready for....” He drummed his hands on his thighs as if to make a drumroll, setting up the excitement and tension, “an Easter Egg Hunt!”

“YES!” Cassie screamed, clapping her hands in excitement. Joe looked a little bewildered at that, but when he saw the joy on his sister's face, he clapped his pudgy hands together too, screaming slightly, as he usually did. 

“Dadadadadada,” he mumbled quite loudly, and Harry blew him a kiss, so proud to hear the name from Joe’s little lips. “Dadada.” His little hands opened and closed in Harry’s direction, his way of telling Harry he wanted to be picked up but Harry just shuffled over on his knees, helping his son onto his feet.

“On your feet, little love. Clever boy. Okay, so, Cass, you need to listen to Daddy’s rules, okay?”

She nodded seriously, standing in front of Harry. He saw goosebumps on her arms, but he knew she would avoid putting on her cardigan if he asked. 

“Right. So you have to stay in this area, near the blanket, okay? I’m going to walk around with your brother, so you need to stay where I can see you. Do you understand, sweetheart?”

“Yes, Daddy. Stay near Daddy and Joe. Where I put my eggs?”

“Well,” Harry grinned, knowing he’d prepared for this. “I have something in the basket. Go and have a look.”

She ran off excitedly, waving her bum in the air as she bent over into the basket, almost falling inside before she pulled out a little lilac plastic bucket, along with a red one for Joe.

“Buckets! Look Joe, a bucket for you! Red, your favouritest!”

Harry smiled as Cassie gently put the black handle of the bucket in Joe’s hand, his tiny fingers curling around it. Harry knew Joe didn’t have a clue what was going on, but still, it was going to be fun being out in the sunshine and collecting up some chocolate eggs.

“Off you go, then,” Harry said, and Cassie cheered before she ran off, immediately screaming in delight when she found a blue foil egg by a yellow daffodil, carefully picking it up between two fingers and plopping it down into her bucket. Harry was helping Joe onto his feet again, and he walked slowly around, pointing out flowers as they walked around, letting Joe’s curious fingers explore as he wanted. “Can you find an egg, love?”

Harry let go of his hand, hovering just behind Joe as his son stumbled towards a red wrapped egg laying on the floor, speeding up as he got closer. Joe collapsed clumsily onto his bottom before he reached over, snatching it up into his little palm.

“Yay! Well done you… put it in the bucket, love, we can eat it later. That’s it, good boy!” Harry praised as Joe let the egg land heavily in the plastic container, rolling around until it came to a stop. “You want to carry your bucket?”

Joe grinned at Harry then stood up, hand out for the bucket. Harry put it into his son’s hand and then turned, looking at Cassie skipping around, bending down near the base of a nearby tree, looking carefully for any treats she might find.

“Daddy! A pink one!”

Harry sent her a thumbs up and laughed gently as she tripped, her eggs spilling out onto the floor in front of her feet. She quickly got to her feet again, brushing off her grassy knees before she collected up all her eggs again, shoving them into her lilac bucket.

“Any more eggs, Joejoe?”

The little family carried on collecting eggs until there were none left on the floor, so Harry led his son back to the blanket, letting him sit down, placing a book about the Easter Bunny on his knees to distract him for a few minutes.

“Look! Look how many eggs I gotted,” Cassie screeched as she skipped over, barely stopping in front of Harry, waving her bucket excitedly in his face. “Can we count them?”

“Sure. Pop them on the blanket, then-”

“I got more than Joe!”

“Then we’ll be sharing them back at home,” Harry reminded her, wanting Cassie to know sharing with her brother was a good thing to do. “But you can count all the ones you collected for now.”

“‘Kay,” she smiled, not letting them roll too far as she emptied the bucket, peering in to make sure it was empty before she started to count, looking to Harry for reassurance. “Help count, please?”

“Off you go then. One, two…”

“NO, CLIFFORD COME BACK, OH FU- DAMMIT YOU DAMN DOG!”

Harry saw a streak of black whizz past his face and he barely had time to react before the black thing did an about turn, heading straight back in Harry’s direction, towards him and his two children at great speed.

“Oh my god-”

Harry barely pulled Cassie out of the way before the animal, a dog, apparently, zoomed past him, woofing loudly, tongue lolling out of his mouth.

“AAARGGGHHHH IT’S A MONSTER!” Cassie screamed, clutching Harry’s shorts for dear life as the thing leapt and danced around them, barking and wagging his tail. Joe was apparently unbothered, hands still on his book, holding it upside down as he looked at the pictures, babbling quietly to himself. 

“CLIFFORD, COME HERE YOU BLOODY MORONIC DOG-”

The voice came from behind Harry so he turned and glanced over his shoulder, seeing a man with a lead around his neck running towards them, angry and red cheeked. Harry quickly scrambled to his feet and brought a still screaming Cassie onto his hip, standing with Joe between his feet, the eggs now scattered over the grass.

The dog skidded to a halt in front of them and bent down, snout sniffing eagerly at the ground before he grabbed one of Cassie’s pink eggs, chomping it, complete with the tin foil.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry- Clifford, HEEL!”

The dog looked up before he entirely ignored who Harry assumed to be his owner, munching on yet another egg. Cassie was whimpering in horror as she watched her eggs disappear one by one, tears rolling down her cheeks, and Harry felt angry now, his heart racing at what a turn their Easter morning had just taken.

The dog ran one more circle around them, yapping and almost prancing in his steps, big brown eyes meeting Harry’s occasionally, drooling all over the grass and on Harry’s beloved picnic rug. The eggs that he hadn’t eaten were covered in slobber, pieces of chewed tin foil laying scattered on the grass, evidence of the utter carnage he’d created in just a few seconds. Easter morning had gone from heaven to hell in a split second.

“What the hell? Get your bloody dog under control!” Harry yelled, struggling to control his emotions as the dog failed to calm. Harry wasn’t especially a dog person at the best of times, preferring the cats he’d grown up with around the house, so this slobbering, barking, lolloping mess wasn’t an animal Harry wanted to get anywhere near.

“I’m trying!” the other man shrieked, yanking off his baseball cap and throwing it to the floor, glaring at his dog, who had a bit of green tin foil stuck to his lower jaw. “Clifford Tomlinson, HEEL! NOW!”

There must have been something in the man’s tone that told the dog to listen, and he sloped over, looking sadly up at his owner, sitting his ass on the floor, tail now entirely still. 

“You… IDIOT!” the man shrieked, yanking the lead from around his neck and hooking it onto the dog’s collar roughly, wrapping it around his own hand a few more times. “You come when I tell you to come!”

The dog whined and shuffled until he was laying down, his head between his paws, well and truly told off. Harry took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, reaching down and touching his son’s head, trying to soothe his still crying daughter at the same time. He felt a little calmer knowing the dog was under control, but he was still angry the man had let him off the lead in a public park. The dog was clearly a menace, and shouldn’t be anywhere near children.

“I’m so sorry-”

“Are you stupid?!” Harry spat out, lowering Cassie to the floor, his daughter still hugging his leg tightly, wiping her snotty nose on his shorts. “Your dog could’ve… could’ve EATEN my children!”

“A little bit of an exaggeration,” the man said, smiling slightly over to Harry as he bent down, rubbing his dog between the ears. “Clifford isn’t dangerous. Do you think I’m that irresponsible-”

“Um,” Harry protested, waving his hand around at the mess the man’s dog had left behind, “I do believe you’re that irresponsible, yes. Look at what your bloody dog has done!”

The man gulped before he looked around, wincing at the mess his dog had created of Harry’s Easter egg hunt, and then at his two children. Thankfully, the craziness seemed to have entirely missed Joe, and the boy was still happily looking at his book, one of his sandals now laying on the rug. Cassie, though, was still snivelling, and Harry had a feeling his clothes were covered in snot, tears and god knows what else.

“I’m so sorry. I really can’t believe he did this-”

“Well, he did. You’ve ruined my kids’ Easter Egg hunt. I spent hours putting this together-”

“I said I’m sorry, mate-”

“Not your mate,” Harry retorted, deciding to ignore the man, crouching down in front of Cassie. “Oh, love, it’s okay. Don’t cry, sweetheart.” He reached up and wiped her cheeks with his thumbs, pushing her daisy alice band up her head into place again. “Come on, we can-”

“It ate all my eggs!” she wailed, her tears and cries starting up again, possibly louder than before, ignoring all of Harry’s attempts to shush her. “I got none, and Joe’s got loads, and I’m SAD!”

“We can get more, don’t worry. Daddy’s got more at home…”

Harry spent a few more minutes calming her down before she sat on the rug next to Joe, the pair sharing some orange segments and banana slices Harry had prepared earlier on, the lid of the tub sitting on the rug. The dog, who Harry thought was named Clifford, watched on, and he glared back at it, willing it to stay away from his children. It had done enough damage.

“Look, I really am sorry. Cliff is usually such a good dog. He usually stays by my side, walks nicely and everything. He never runs off-”

“Well, he did today, didn’t he?”

The man nodded, arms folded over his chest, the lead still pulled taut so the dog couldn’t go anywhere. “He did, and I can’t apologise enough. I’m so sorry, your poor children.”

“They were scared,” Harry said, glancing back at Joe, who was still unperturbed by everything. “Well, my daughter was. I’m not sure an earthquake would bother Joe, if I’m honest.”

“Cliff’s usually good with kids. He’s always around my kid siblings, he loves them, licks them to death rather than anything else. I think he must have seen the eggs and decided they were for him…”

Harry shook his head, biting back a smile now things were calm, and his children had stopped crying. “But… isn’t human chocolate toxic for dogs?”

“Yep. He never bloody learns. He’ll be throwing up all night now, stupid bastard- oh sorry, should watch my language.”

A quick look to his children told them neither of them were paying them any attention, fingers sticky with orange juice, Cassie talking quietly to her brother as she handed him another piece of banana, watching as he popped it into his mouth.

“It’s fine. I think the fruit has distracted them for a minute. Seriously, though, is your dog going to be okay?”

The man shrugged, looking down with concern at his dog. “I’ll see how he goes. Might end up back at the vet later but we’ll just see.”

Harry suddenly felt quite guilty, worrying about the dog that had just moments ago been all but attacking his family. Now that the dog was calm, he looked quite placid and sweet, laying there, his tail brushing back and forth over the grass.

“Clifford? That’s his name, right?”

“Yeah. probably heard me yelling it enough…”

“It’s a cute name. May I…” Harry said, pointing at the dog. The man smiled and nodded, eyes on Harry as he knelt down next to the dog, reaching out gently, letting Clifford sniff his hand first. “Hello, boy. You calmed down now, hmm? You’re lovely really, aren’t you? Got me a bit cross…”

When Clifford was done sniffing his hand, Harry worked his way up to stroking the dog’s soft ears, admiring the velvety fur between his fingers. It was clear the dog was well cared for. He didn’t have that horrible doggy smell that Harry hated, and he seemed friendly enough, big brown eyes looking up at Harry as he nuzzled into Harry’s touch, his fingers now scratching between his ears.

“He’s lovely. How old is he?”

“Just turned one, so he’s an overgrown puppy, really. I’ve been training him and I thought he’d been doing really well… destroyed all that this morning, didn’t you, you daft lump.”

The dog whined and looked up at Louis with what Harry could only describe as a look of love in his eyes. He saw the man soften and he gave him a soft smile, resting a hand on the dog’s paw.

“I’m Harry,” Harry said, suddenly wanting to clear the air, his opinion of the careless dog owner rapidly changing. He stuck out his hand, wanting to be polite.

“Louis, Louis Tomlinson,” the man said, flashing Harry a cheeky smile. “Your kids are gorgeous by the way. Yours, I assume?”

“Oh, definitely,” Harry grinned, making a funny face at Joe, who was toddling over towards him, Louis and Clifford. “Hello, my boy. How are you?”

“Dadada,” Joe replied, gazing lovingly up at his dad. He rested his head on Harry’s chest, which Harry knew to be his way of saying he was tired. Even now, Joe still needed a good couple of hours of sleep in the morning, and it was nearing the time Harry would be putting him down for a sleep at home, so he let his son crawl into his lap, thumb in his mouth. 

“Oh god, my heart is practically exploding,” Louis said, reaching over and tickling the bottom of Joe’s foot gently. The baby boy’s toes curled up and he retracted his leg, big green eyes looking over to Louis like he was sizing him up. “What’s his name?”

“Joe,” Harry replied, stroking his hand through his son’s soft blonde hair. He somehow wasn’t surprised when his second child was a blondie as well, clearly taking after Harry when he was a small child. He might have dark brown curls now, but when he was little, he’d had a shock of blonde hair himself, only turning to brown when he went to primary school. 

“Looks about thirteen months,” the man sitting cross legged opposite Harry said, eyes still flitting back to Cassie, which Harry appreciated since he couldn’t see her from where he was sitting, feeling Joe’s body become a deadweight against him, telling Harry he was falling asleep.

“Fourteen, last week. How did you know?”

“I have six younger siblings,” Louis replied, watching as Clifford grumbled then flopped onto his side, looking like he was going to doze off like Joe. “You get to know kids pretty well when they’re in your house twenty four seven. He’s one of the cutest I’ve seen though. Bless him, I wish I could fall asleep that quickly.”

“He does love a good morning nap,” Harry smiled,  hooking Joe’s thumb out of his mouth, not wanting to affect his teeth. He’d managed to get rid of Joe’s dummy when he was a few months old, and while the thumb was a good comfort mechanism for his son, he didn’t seem bothered when Harry pulled it away when he was deep in sleep. “I, uh, I’m really sorry for yelling at you like I did.”

“Hey, I deserved it and more. I’m lucky you didn’t come and deck me on the nose,” Louis said, holding his hands up as if to surrender. “Seriously, you went lightly on me. If a crazy dog was leaping around me and my kids, I’d have lost my shit long before you did, and it would have been a lot more sweary than yours as well.”

Harry laughed at that, quite liking the man now he was getting to know him. This Louis seemed to have a good sense of humour, and his dog was fairly likeable too, laying there sound asleep, sunbathing.

“Well, I don’t usually lose my temper, so I just wanted to apologise.”

“It’s me who needs to say sorry. My stupid dog ate their bloody eggs, and on Easter Sunday at that. It’s a good job we don’t go to church, Cliff, we’d both be going straight to hell. Nice ears, by the way. I meant to say earlier.”

Harry blushed, reaching up and straightening the soft, fluffy ears he’d put on to entertain his children, slightly forgetting there would be other people in the park who would see him. Still, Harry didn’t often care what other people thought of him, so he nodded gratefully at Louis.

“Thanks. Thought I’d dress up for the occasion, you know.”

“Daddy,” Cassie called, coming over, still eyeing Louis and Clifford warily. She glanced down at her brother then knelt down by Harry’s side, her knees digging into his thigh. “Where’s the bunny?”

Harry pretended to think, knowing he hadn’t yet managed to put out the little stuffed white Easter bunny he’d bought for her, or the soft yellow chick for Joe. “Well, he’s been at home, I saw some eggs laying around the house before I came out-”

Cassie gasped, big blue eyes wide in wonder. “He came to Nanny’s too! I gotted eggs, so did Joe, Nanny let me eat one before my real eggs, the one from the chicken’s bum-”

Louis snorted at that, and Harry didn’t dare look at him in case he started laughing too. He knew Cassie hated being laughed at, but it seemed Louis masked it well, Cassie carrying on with her tale.

“Then Joe had one after his porridge, but he just mushed it and it got in his hair.”

“Oh dear,” Harry smiled, imagining Anne trying to deal with the chaos at seven o’clock in the morning on her own, a little guilty and grateful it hadn’t been him. “Was it nice though?”

“Mm hmm,” Cassie smiled, rubbing her belly. “A white one. My favourite!”

“Oh, I love the white ones too, so yummy,” Louis piped up, and Cassie turned to look at him, a hand resting gently on Harry’s shoulder.

“Did the bunny come to your house?” Cassie asked, and Louis looked quickly at Harry before he replied, his face open and kind as he spoke to Cassie.

“He didn’t, he must have forgotten about me. But it doesn’t matter, I’m seeing my mum later, she’s probably got an egg for me.”

Cassie suddenly ran away, rummaging in the carrier bag Anne had left before she came back, slowing down until she was standing in front of Louis, her hands clutching something in front of her little jumpsuit.

“You can have this. Daddy tells me to share. And you gotted none, so…” she pressed the small purple egg into Louis’ hand, the man biting his lip as he accepted it. “Happy Easter.”

Louis blushed then looked up, the egg still in his palm. “That’s… that’s so kind. Thank you so much, love.”

“My name is Cassie Styles,” she declared, and Harry knew from her tone she was warming to the stranger. “I’m 3 and…” she looked to Harry, needing to find out the rest.

“And ten months,” he whispered, which Cassie eagerly repeated to Louis, who nodded knowingly, as if he expected that.

“Well, Cassie Styles, lovely to meet you. I’m Louis, and my silly doggy there is Clifford. I’m really sorry he scared you and ate your Easter eggs. I’ll tell him off later, I promise.”

“Did he like them?”

“Like what?”

“The eggs,” Cassie said, throwing her hands up in the air, making Harry smile slightly.

“Oh. Well, the thing is-”

“He did,” Harry interrupted, knowing Cassie would worry herself silly if she knew the chocolate could potentially make Clifford quite poorly. “I promise you I’ll replace them at home, though, okay?”

“May I go on the swings?” she asked, looking over to where the swings were, just a few paces away from where they were sitting.

“I’m sorry, love. Joe’s sleeping, and I haven’t got his pushchair-”

Cassie pouted, folding her arms across her little chest, giving Harry a look that he knew he’d see much more when she became a teenager. She stamped her little sandal-clad foot, blue eyes flashing with anger for a second. “Not fair.”

“Cassie,” Harry said, warning her, and she quickly stomped off, angrily grabbing Joe’s book, turning the pages without even bothering to look at them. “Sorry, she still finds it hard she can’t have my whole attention sometimes. It was a difficult transition, bringing Joe into our home.”

“I bet,” Louis agreed easily, seemingly unperturbed by her little tantrum. “My sisters were the same when the twins arrived. They hated not having Mum’s attention all the time, so I sort of stepped in, making sure they went to the park, and to the pictures, soft play…”

“Good of you,” Harry smiled, wishing he’d had someone to do the same with Cassie. Anne had been working so she’d spent as much time as she could at the weekend, but still, Harry had had to struggle through Monday to Friday on his own, trying to keep his newborn son asleep for a few more minutes so he could finish a puzzle with his demanding two year old toddler. “It’s easier now, well, a little anyway-”

“I can take her to the swings. Only if you’re okay with that?” Louis asked, looking a little nervous.

Usually, Harry wouldn’t entertain letting his three year old go off with a stranger, but there was something about Louis he trusted. It was also entirely in Harry’s line of sight, and there was the fact he’d have to leave his dog with Harry. It seemed like a fair exchange, so Harry nodded, albeit a little hesitantly.

“If you’re sure… don’t let her boss you around, though.”

Louis winked, hopping to his feet in an athletic move Harry could only hope to emulate one day. “I can handle a three year old, love. Cassie, Daddy said I can take you to the swings!”

Cassie ran over, looking at Harry quickly to make sure the new man talking to her wasn't lying. “Can the man-”

“Louis,” Harry gently prompted. 

“Can Louis push me on the swings?”

Harry nodded, taking her little hand for a second. “He can. But you need to be sensible, and polite, okay?”

She nodded, her ponytail bouncing around at the back of her head. “I will! Louis, can you push me to the stars?!”

“I can give it a go,” Louis grinned as Cassie grabbed his hand, dragging him over to the swings. “Bye, Harry!”

“Bye Daddy!” Cassie called, the pair jogging the last few steps. Harry watched with fond eyes as Louis carefully lifted Cassie up and into the little black swing seat, pulling her back gently before he let go, Cassie swinging forward happily. She squealed happily, little hands gripping onto the black bar in front of her as Louis pushed her, picking up a little more momentum.

Clifford looked up and around, clearly looking for Louis, and Harry panicked as he got up, staring over at the pair. It seemed Harry’s fears were unfounded, though, as the dog circled him for a moment before settling down right at Harry’s side, his tail resting across Harry’s ankle.

“Good boy,” he muttered, stroking down Clifford’s long spine a few times until the dog settled back down entirely. “Your dad is just playing with my little girl. He’ll be back soon.”

It turned out those few minutes soon turned into nearly twenty, Cassie challenging Louis to get her a little bit higher each time, the man laughing at her squeals and screeches, little hands desperately trying to touch the clouds. Eventually, Louis’ arms tired because he lifted Cassie up and out of the seat, holding her hand as they walked back to Harry and Joe, who was beginning to stir, not entirely comfortable in Harry’s arms.

“-but the stone was gone!”

“Oh no! What happened next?” Louis asked as the pair settled back on the rug, so Harry stayed quiet, not wanting to interrupt Cassie’s story time.

“Jesus was goned! Then he came back and said SURPRISE! I NOT DEAD!” Both Harry and Louis chuckled lightly at that, Cassie encouraged by their smiles as she carried on. “God had bringed him back to life for all the peoples in the worlds.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. So that’s why we celebrate Easter?”

Cassie nodded seriously, then broke it with her next words. “Yes, and for the choccy.”

“Of course, can’t forget the choccy,” Louis grinned, opening the water bottle for Cassie as she passed it to him. “Oh, Joe’s awake. Hi, love, I’m Louis.” He gave Joe a silly wave, and the boy turned and buried his sleepy face against Harry’s stomach. “Aww, he’s all shy.”

“Usually is when he’s just woken up,” Harry confirmed, rubbing Joe’s back. “Probably need a bum change, don’t you, little love?”

“Is the stuff in your bag?”

Harry nodded, and Louis sprang back to his feet again, grabbing the bag for Harry and putting it by his leg. 

“Cassie, want to help me Clifford a drink while Daddy changes Joe?”

The girl nodded, and Harry focused on changing Joe’s nappy while Louis impressed Cassie with his foldable doggy water bowl, letting Cassie clumsily pour the water from Louis’ bottle into it, half of it ending up on the grass but it didn’t seem Louis minded so much. Clifford struggled to his feet and lapped at it eagerly as Cassie cheered him on, apparently unafraid of the pooch now.

“Can I pat him, Lou?”

Harry looked up briefly, seeing the tips of Louis’ ear glow pink at the sweet nickname that had tumbled from his daughter’s lips. It was sweet, the way Louis was reacting to the attention of his children, but he quickly turned back to wriggling Joe’s trousers back on, the little boy getting fed up of being on his back and wanting to join in.

“Sorry, lovely. Want to go and see Louis?”

Joe was a little more reticent than Cassie was with new people, so Harry held his hand, leading his young son over to where Cassie was happily petting the dog, Clifford just lapping up the attention from little hands.

“Want to say hi to Clifford, Joe?” Louis asked, but chuckled when Joe just turned and buried his face in Harry’s t-shirt again, feeling shy. 

“Sorry, he’s just a bit unsure…”

“Don’t apologise, Harry, I’m not offended,” Louis said as Cassie made herself comfortable in Louis’ lap, the other man’s arm just draped around her, keeping her steady. Louis had an easy way with children that Harry definitely admired, and he couldn’t quite believe how comfortable he felt having the man around his most precious little people after such little time. “So, what else are you guys doing today?”

Cassie looked up at Louis, clearly wanting to be the one to answer so Harry stayed quiet, giving her the opportunity to talk to her new friend.

“We gonna go home and see if the Bunny leaved eggs there, then Daddy’s cookin’ a sheep!”

“Roast lamb,” Harry groaned, embarrassed at Cassie’s little slip up. He’d tried to explain all week that lamb was a baby sheep, but Cassie had then taken to telling anyone who would listen they were having sheep for dinner on Sunday. “It’s roast lamb, Cass.”

“Then maybe we have a nap, and I read to Daddy from my princess story book, maybe do some colourin’...”

“Sounds like a perfect Easter Sunday,” Louis said with a smile. All of a sudden, Joe got a burst of confidence and clumsily used Harry’s chest to push himself up, getting steady on his feet before he turned around, looking straight at Louis. “Hi, little guy. You can come over.”

Joe smiled and toddled over to Louis’ now open arm, stopping and watching what his sister was doing. He extended his hand but Harry suddenly felt worried for his little boy.

“Louis, are you sure…”

“I wouldn’t let him near them if I wasn’t sure, Harry. Here you go, Joe. Can you touch Cliff’s head?”

The baby boy did and then squealed at the feeling of soft fur underneath his palm, patting a little enthusiastically for Harry’s liking, but it didn’t seem Clifford minded at all. He just peered up at Joe before resting his head down again. Joe looked so happy, and Harry reached into his pocket for his phone, framing the three humans and one dog on the screen before taking several pictures.

“Sorry, hope you don’t mind…”

“Not at all,” Louis smiled. “Erm, do you want to…” he nodded over to the bag where Harry had hidden the small Easter Bunny and chick toys, smiling quickly at him, “I can hang onto these two for a minute.”

Harry didn’t hesitate to accept Louis’ kind offer. While Cassie and Joe were more than distracted, Louis teaching them how to put treats on the ends of Clifford’s paws now and making him wait to eat them, he went and hid the small toys not too far from each other, but not close enough they could see them from where they were sitting.

When he sat back down, Cassie ran over and climbed into his lap, hugging Harry tightly around his neck before kissing him.

“This is the bestest Easter ever!”

“And why’s that, love?” he asked in an amused tone as Cassie started playing with his hair, trying not to wince when she caught her fingers in knots. 

“‘Cos I gotted a new doggy friend and a new human friend!”

“Louis and Clifford are your friends?”

“Yeah!” she said, giving Harry an expression that simply said ‘duh’. 

“I think,” Harry began, gently putting Cassie’s feet onto the ground as he stood up himself, “if you look around, you just might find a little Easter Bunny for your-”

Before he’d even finished the sentence, Cassie was up and off, searching around like it was Christmas morning. He quickly followed her, knowing Louis and Joe were on their tails, just a little slower than his speedier three year old daughter. Harry filmed her on his phone for a few seconds as she checked behind all sorts of plants and trees, finally screeching with delight when she found the soft white bunny complete with a green ribbon around its neck. 

But when he turned around, what he saw melted his heart completely. Louis was crouched down next to Joe, an arm around the little boy's waist as they talked quietly together, the soft yellow chick toy in his son’s hands.

“- a baby chick, isn’t it cute! So soft, Joe. Can you squish his beak like this?”

Joe watched Louis’ fingers then tried clumsily to copy it, and Harry just hovered a bit of a way away, giving the two a moment together. Harry had always been a single parent, and had been happy raising his children alone but in that moment, he wondered why exactly he thought he had to do this alone. There were men out there like Louis, who liked children, who were good, kind men. Maybe one day, Harry could find one of his own he could share his life, and perhaps his children, with.

The sun was heating up now, and Harry wanted to try and get his kids home before it got too warm for Joe to be out. Both children were blessed with Harry’s pale skin, and he wasn’t about to risk them getting sunburnt or too hot, even if it meant saying goodbye to their new friend, which Harry was more reluctant to do than he wanted to admit. 

“Right, you two, we’d better think about packing up and getting home,” he said, and Cassie just nodded, running back to the picnic rug, already starting to pack things away. She was very sensible for her age, and Harry just loved her to pieces. Joe was looking tired again, but Louis quickly scooped him up onto his hip, Joe’s thumb going back into his mouth as he rested his head against Louis’ shoulder. “Oh, he looks quite comfy there. Sorry if he’s-”

“I wish you’d stop apologising,” Louis said as they walked back over to their things, Clifford perking up at the sight of his owner. “Your kids are amazing, Harry. It’s been lovely spending a bit of time with you all this morning. I’ll hang onto Joe for a second if you want to help Cassie pack?”

Harry nodded his thanks and dropped to his knees on the picnic blanket, shoving things back into the basket, folding the rug with Cassie’s help, even if he could have done a better job of it on his own, if truth be told. She was blinking slowly over at her dad now, and Harry knew that meant she was getting tired.

“Uh, right, if you could carry that bag from Nanny,” Harry started, but Cassie just pouted, looking up at Harry from under her eyelashes.

“Too tireddddd,” she whined, stretching out the second word, scuffing the toe of her sandals against the grass. “Carry me home, Daddy.”

“I can’t, love. I have to carry all of these things, and probably Joe as well-”

“Why does he get to be carried? I’m so tired, please,” she pleaded, and Harry wished he’d thought ahead to bring the pushchair with him that morning. Trouble was, he hadn’t expected to be out this long, and now the five minute walk home was going to be a nightmare if Cassie was going to whinge all the way. “My feet hurt.”

Harry sighed, raking a hand through his slightly sweaty hair, trying to work out how he could make this happen. “I mean, I could maybe give you a piggyback if you-”

“Um, can I have a quick word?” Louis asked, and Harry nodded, taking a couple of steps away from the children to listen to Louis. “It might be a bit presumptuous of me, but… let me help. I can carry Cassie while you take Joe and the bags?”

“Oh, I couldn’t even ask-”

“You’re not asking. I’m offering. Feel free to say no, but Cassie doesn’t look like she’s going anywhere soon, and Joe’s nearly asleep again.”

Harry glanced over to his children and, much to his chagrin, Louis was right. Joe was curled on his side, his chick clutched in his arms as his eyelids slowly lowered, and Cassie was on her back, eyes shut, hands on her belly. 

“Shit. You’re right. As long as you don’t mind? We don’t live far, just five minutes from here. Usually I’d bring the pushchair for Joe but… well. Today’s not been my finest day, has it?”

“It’s not a worry. Let me get Cliff up then ready then we’ll go.”

The two men quietly collected all of their things, and soon, were on their way home. Joe was pressed against Harry’s chest, head sleepily resting on his father while Cassie’s legs were wrapped around Louis’ waist, her blonde curls whipping up into Louis’ face in the breeze, not that Louis was moaning.

“Do you live far?” Harry asked quietly, determined to make at least a little conversation on the walk home. “I hope we’re not putting you out.”

“Just along by the canal. Cliff and I can walk miles on when we get going, so it’s honestly not a bother. As long as I can borrow your loo when we get there, it’s all good.”

Harry laughed, picking up the picnic basket. “Sure, that’s the least I can do! You ready?”

“Let’s go!”

*＊✿❀○❀✿＊*

Harry nudged open the door with his hip before he walked inside, leaving the bags in the hallway as he carried his precious cargo inside.

“Just… can you put Cass down on the sofa, Louis? I’m going to put Joe in his crib, loo is upstairs, straight ahead of you.”

“Will do,” Louis said softly in reply, and Harry kicked off his shoes, leaving them in a heap at the bottom before he went upstairs, thankful he’d made Joe and Cassie’s beds before he’d gone out the night before. He peeled back the soft blue blankets and laid Joe down, slipping him out of his trousers before he covered him back up, bending down to kiss his head.

“Sleep well and sweet dreams, my darling,” Harry said, turning to pull the blind down to keep the room dark for a little while. He bumped into Louis in the hallway, and let the man go into the bathroom, going by and heading back downstairs. “Oh, hi Cliff.”

Clifford was laying in the hallway, but his claws clacked on the wooden floorboards in the hall as he followed Harry in the living room. Harry looked at his sleeping daughter, loving how Louis had covered her with the crochet blanket Anne had made for them years ago, keeping her cosy.

“You want another drink? Come with me.”

Harry filled a cereal bowl with some cold water and set it on the kitchen floor, which is where Louis found Harry and Clifford a few minutes later. 

“Thanks, Harry. I should…”

“Do you want a cuppa or something? It’s warm out, you should probably have a drink before I let you go home.”

“I’m fine, but thank you. I should probably go, I promised Mum I’d be around this morning with the eggs for the little ones. Sorry.”

“Hey,  nothing to be sorry for. I appreciate you helping me home with all our stuff.”

“The least I could do,” Louis said, bending down and scratching Clifford between the ears. “I am sorry once again for trashing your Easter morning.”

“It was memorable,” Harry chuckled as he followed Louis into the hallway, watching the other man slip his feet into his Adidas trainers. The fact they were unlaced bothered Harry, but he couldn’t very well tell a fully grown adult what to do so he just leaned against the wall, hands shoved in the pockets of his shorts. “Happy Easter, Louis. Enjoy your day with your family.”

“And you, Haz. Come here, Cliff,” Louis called, hooking Clifford back onto his lead. “Oi, head out of the bags. You’ve stolen enough chocolate today.”

“You sure he’s going to be okay?”

“I’m sure he will, but I’ll keep an eye. Happy Easter, Harry. Say bye to Cassie and Joe for me.”

“Will do, and Happy Easter, Louis.”

Harry stood in the doorway and watched as Louis and Clifford ambled their way up the small pathway, blushing slightly as the other man turned and waved back, Clifford letting out a single bark.

“Bye, love!”

And then, Louis was gone.

Harry closed the front door quietly, but as soon as he made it back into the sitting room, he saw Cassie stirring, rubbing tiredly at her eyes with her fists. He sat down carefully on the end of the sofa, making sure he didn’t sit on her feet, resting his hand on her legs on top of the blanket.

“Are we home, Daddy?”

Harry smiled and nodded, pulling Cassie into his lap, letting her rest against his chest as his hand ran up and down her back. “We are, darling. You fell asleep on Louis as he carried you home.”

“Where’s he?”

“Gone home, sweetheart. He has his own family to spend Easter with… no, don’t get upset. Come on, lovely, give Daddy a cuddle.”

“I liked Louis,” she sniffed, her eyes full of tears, small hands clutching onto Harry’s t-shirt. “And I liked his doggy.” Her voice was in that squeaky register that meant crying was imminent, and Harry just willed her to do it quietly enough she wouldn’t disturb her brother. “Can he come back?”

“No, sweetheart,” Harry answered, deciding honesty was the best policy. “He was just a person we met at the park. I don’t have his number or anything. Sometimes we meet people who we only know for a short time, and that’s okay.”

“‘Kay,” she muttered, her little voice still heavy with sleep. “Is Joejoe asleep?”

“In his room,” Harry said, reaching for the remote and flicking on the tv. “Do you want to watch something while I go and do the veggies for dinner?”

It turned out that Cassie wasn’t very interested in watching tv. As usual, she wanted to ‘help’ her dad in the kitchen, so Harry sat her on the worktop next to where he was working, letting her hand him carrots and potatoes from their respective bags while he peeled and chopped. Cassie clearly had Louis on the brain, because he quickly came back in their conversation.

“Do you think the Easter Bunny went to Louis’ house?” She asked, passing Harry another carrot. “He should get an egg too.”

“I’m sure it did,” Harry replied, stopping when he heard a grumpy grizzle filtering from upstairs. “Oh, Joe’s awake. Want to come and get him with me?”

Cassie shook her head, shoving her daisy band wonkily up onto her head. “Nah. Can I watch Paw Patrol please?”

Harry set up the favourite tv show of the moment on the telly before he hurried upstairs, taking the stairs two at a time. He was soon arriving at Joe’s door and pushed it open gently, seeing the little boy standing up at the side of the cot, hands gripping on the bar as he gave Harry the biggest smile he’d seen on his son in a while.

“Look at that gorgeous smile! Did you have a good sleep, hmm?” Harry asked as he scooped Joe up, cuddling him tightly to his chest before he kissed his little lips, returning the smile. “Let’s change your bum, then find your sister.”

It didn’t take too long for Harry to expertly change the wet nappy, popping a fresh pair of shorts on his son, taking advantage of the warm weather. If Harry was a bit of a sucker for Joe’s pudgy thighs and wrinkly knees, then… well, he didn’t mind. With Joe on his hip, Harry headed downstairs, popping the baby onto the living room floor beside where Cassie was lining up her teddies.

“Can you two play nicely while Daddy gets dinner ready?”

Cassie grinned and nodded up to her dad, but Joe just carried on shoving the paw of a small teddy into his mouth, happy as long as he was by his sister’s side. 

“Well done, loves. I’ll just be in the kitchen. Be good!”

The rest of Harry’s Easter Sunday flew by, and the roast lamb was absolutely delicious. It had cooked for hours in the oven so the meat was tender, and thanks to a coating of gravy, even Joe was able to give it a try. Harry had always cooked fresh food for his children, learning how to make purees when Cassie was ready for weaning, so now, he was practically a whizz at it.

The children both shared a bath, with Joe happily slapping his palms on the surface of the water until Harry was soaked to the skin as well, not that he minded. He and Cassie sang nursery rhymes while Joe gave them big smiles, just happy to be surrounded by his daddy and big sister. 

“You ready to get out, love?” Harry asked as he scooped Joe out of the water and into a towel sitting on his lap. He wrapped up his small son, trying to keep him warm as Cassie grabbed her bucket of bath crayons, merrily colouring the tiles behind the bathtub. “Ooh, you smell lovely. Let’s get you all dressed.”

Harry stood Joe onto his wobbly feet and dried off his little body, making a game of it so that Joe wouldn’t get too upset. His nappy and pyjamas were quickly put onto his body, and Harry handed him some stacking blocks to play with while he lifted Cassie from the bath, wrapping her in a towel before twisting one onto her head.

The Styles family walked into Cassie’s room, and Harry dried her hair, weaving it into a plait for the morning so she’d have the wavy hair she loved so much. Joe was almost falling asleep on the floor, so he left Cassie playing with her dollies on the floor while he took his son to his bedroom, shaking the bottle of milk he’d prepared just before their bath.

“Come here, my gorgeous boy,” Harry said softly, lifting Joe into the crook of his arm, much like he’d done when Joe was just a newborn. He was larger and heavier now, but Harry knew his arms would never be too small for his babies, no matter how big they got. “Drink up, darling.”

It wasn’t too long after he started feeding that Joe’s eyes started to flutter shut, sleep overtaking him. Still, he sucked the bottle dry in his sleep, and Harry gently rubbed his back, bringing up some wind before he laid him down, covering him with his soft blankets. Harry just stood and stared at his son for a few minutes, stroking his soft hair back from his warm forehead.

“I love you to the moon and back, I hope you’ll always know that,” he whispered to his son, feeling a bit emotional all of a sudden. “Both you and your sister are my world.”

He closed the door, making sure Joe’s boat-shaped night light was switched on before he went back to Cassie’s room, unsurprised to find her curled up on her bed, nightie covering her legs. 

“You tired, princess?”

She just nodded, blinking slowly up at her dad.  Her favourite story of the moment was laid next to her and she shuffled across, making room for Harry. He slid into the bed next to her and his daughter rested her head on Harry’s chest as he started to read, his low, deep voice lulling her almost to sleep.

“Can we get a dog?” She mumbled as Harry gently climbed out of bed, trying not to wake her but to no avail. “Want a doggy.”

“Why’s that, Cass?”

“Like Cliff. Lou said Cliff is his best friend and I want a best friend too.”

“Well, humans can be best friends,” Harry suggested, hoping a dog wasn’t going to be Cassie’s latest obsession. “So-“

“Is Louis your best friend?”

“No,” Harry chuckled, shaking his head, “we don’t really know each other, love. But he was a nice man, even if Clifford was a bit crazy. You get some sleep, okay? We’ve got lots of things to do tomorrow!”

“I love you, Daddy,” she said, wriggling down into the covers until only her face was visible.  “You the best Daddy in the whole big world.”

Harry was fairly sure that if he could see himself in a mirror right now, he’d be glowing and puffed up with pride. Ever since Cassie had been born, he’d done his best by her, and hearing those poignant and loving words from her lips meant the world to him.

“I love you more, sweetheart,” he whispered, leaning down and kissing her. “Sweet dreams, goodnight.”

“Night Daddy.”

He left the room and pulled her door to behind him, sighing as he leant back against the wall just outside her room. It had been a heck of a day, thanks to one thing or another and he felt worn out. 

As he closed his bedroom door behind him, throwing his clothes onto the floor and getting into bed in his boxers, his mind ran away with him for a minute. As scared as he’d been when Louis and his nutty dog had run over, he’d soon calmed Harry and dismissed any fears Harry had had about the man and his dog. He was kind, apparently unbothered Harry had two children, and the way Cassie warmed to him was definitely something.

He flicked off the light and laid down, his hands resting on his belly as he tried to push the thought of Louis’ face out of his mind. If Harry was being honest with himself, he thought Louis was attractive. How could he not? He’d always had a weak spot for men with scruff and a nice smile, and Louis definitely had both of those… not to mention a great body as well. He was most certainly the sort of man Harry would have gone for in another life. 

But right now, his priorities were his children. It didn’t matter how many times his mum and sister Gemma nagged him about getting a love life of his own, he was happy to be at home, giving his babies his full attention. It hadn’t been an easy road bringing them into his life, so he wanted to make the most out of every second. 

There’d be a good few years until Harry would even contemplate letting someone new into his life, let alone into his family. Cassie and Joe were his entire world, and that was the way Harry wanted it to stay. 

*＊✿❀○❀✿＊*

“Can we play in the garden? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease,” Cassie pleaded, looking up at Harry with her big eyes, leaving Harry struggling to resist. 

“In a bit. We have that baking to do first, remember? Auntie Gemma gave us all those Easter cake cases and the mini eggs-“

“EASTER NESTS!”

Joe startled at the sound of his sisters excited screech but soon clapped his hands together, realising there was something to be happy about if Cassie was dancing around with a big smile on her face. 

“Are you going to help me, then?”

Cassie nodded, little hands on her hips, looking ridiculously sassy. She’d picked out some navy star print leggings and a pink top today, and Harry thought she looked unbelievably cute. “I am the bestest cook EVER.”

Harry smiled and walked into the kitchen, leaving the children playing for a few minutes by themselves. He’d recently got a bit better about leaving them alone for short periods of time now, and Cassie was a brilliant big sister so he definitely had no concerns.

He’d just set out the mixing bowl, bar of milk chocolate and cupcake tray when the doorbell rang. He frowned, looking up at the clock. Anne had said she might pop around today but that wouldn’t be until after lunch as she was volunteering at the church group that morning. Given it was only just ten, he knew it couldn’t be her.

“Leave the door,” he warned as Cassie stretched up on her tippy toes, trying to reach the latch. “You know you can’t open the door until you’re 18.”

She pouted but stepped back, letting Harry slide the safety chain back, letting the door open. But who he saw on the doorstep was a huge surprise, and he just gawped, mouth hanging open, catching flies. It was Cassie who came to her senses first,

“LOUIS!”

“Hi, Cassie,” Louis smiled, giving her a lovely smile, and Harry quickly rearranged his features into a similar smile, looking down as he felt Joe’s little hands using the hem of his shorts to pull himself up. “Hey, little man! Look at you!”

Harry looked down in surprise as Joe let go of his leg and toddled off towards Louis who, in full credit to him, immediately bent down, dropping the bag hanging from his hands to the floor as he opened his arms for Harry’s son, bopping him on the nose. Harry brought a hand to his face, covering the small smile he was displaying at the easy interaction.

“Sorry… I didn’t mean to disturb your Easter Monday…”

“You’re not, don’t worry,” Harry insisted as Louis stood up, Joe still staring up at his new friend. “Would you like to come in?”

“Sure, I just… can I?” He indicated down to Joe and Harry nodded, grabbing Louis’ bag as the man hoisted his son up onto his hip, making Joe squeal with delight. Cassie stood quietly and watched it all happen, closing the door behind Louis as they made their way into the living room. Louis sat down on the sofa, Joe on his leg and Harry tried not to feel left out as Cassie squished up to the other man, leaving him alone on the second sofa, shifting a Lego truck out of the way so he could sit. “Right. So. I do have a reason for turning up here today.”

“Where’s Cliff?” Cassie asked suddenly, her little face full of concern. “Did you forget him?”

“Never,” Louis revealed with a grin, shaking his head. Harry watched a strand of his hair fall across his forehead, and he practically sat on his own hands to resist the temptation to come and tuck it behind his ear again. “He’s with my Mum, actually. I dropped him off on the way over here.”

“Why?”

“Cassie, stop hounding Louis-”

Louis looked over to Harry, giving him a gentle smile. “She’s fine, honestly. I just thought it might be easier if I left him home today, Cass.”

“Oh. Well. I miss Cliffy. He was a nice doggy. Daddy, can we get a dog like Cliff?”

Harry snorted, shaking his head. “No way, love. Trying to sort you two out every day is enough for me at the moment!”

Cassie pouted, and Harry was grateful when Louis diverted the conversation from the dog, distracting Cassie long enough she seemingly forgot about wanting a new pet. “So… I came over for a reason. I wanted to apologise again for what happened yesterday.”

“It’s honestly fine,” Harry said softly, as Cassie wriggled away from Louis and back onto the floor, grabbing one of her Barbie’s and pulling at its hair. “They’re not scarred or anything. We’re over it, I promise.”

“Well, I still feel bad. So… I bought something to say sorry.”

“Tell me it’s not a puppy,” Harry deadpanned, but then suddenly, his heart fell, truly fearing that might be what Louis had done. “Louis…”

“It’s not a dog, I wouldn’t do that, Harry,” Louis joked, getting up with Joe still clinging to him. Harry was about to offer to take his son, but it seemed Louis had read his mind yet again. “He’s fine, honestly. Light as a feather, aren’t you, buddy?”

Joe just cooed in his usual baby like way at Louis as the two made their way out of the room, returning again a second later with Louis struggling with the large bag Harry had seen in his hand at the front door. At seeing the bag, Cassie stumbled to her feet but before she could make it to Louis, Harry had grabbed her around the waist and heaved her into his lap, making her wriggle and protest.

“You need to be patient,” Harry mumbled quietly in her ear, making her still. “Whatever Louis has in that bag, you need to sit quietly and wait for him to show you. Be a good girl, okay?”

She nodded, and Louis sat back down, the bag between his feet, Joe still on his thigh. Harry looked at the sight of Louis’ hand tucked around his son’s waist, how easily Louis seemed to interact with the small children, like he’d done countless times before, rather than just meeting his children for the second time. He felt Cassie’s little bum wiggle around impatiently, and he tugged the hem of her t-shirt down a little before giving Louis his full attention.

“Since Clifford ruined your amazing Easter Egg hunt,” Louis began, nervously tapping a foot on the floor as Joe reached for the watch Louis was wearing, desperately trying to get it in his mouth. “I wanted to do something to make up for it. Cass, love, come over here a sec?”

Cassie looked up to Harry, who just nodded and let her slide down, running barefoot over to Louis, where she stood in front of him. Harry moved along the sofa so he could see his daughters face, and bit back a smile as he reached into the bag, putting what looked like a large wicker basket into her hands.

“Wow, it’s huge! Thank you Louis!”

Louis grinned as Cassie turned around with a shocked face, walking quickly back over to Harry where she dumped it on his lap. He looked down to see the cellophane covered gift, and the amount of treats inside it. He collected his thoughts and reminded Cassie to go and thank Louis properly.

“This is ‘mazing! Thank you, Lou!” Without warning, she dived into Louis’ arms, the other man barely catching her as he balanced Harry’s two children, Cassie’s arms wrapped tightly around his neck. Harry knew just how tight her hugs could be, but before he had to rescue the other man, Cassie released him and ran back over to her basket, little fingers fumbling with the bow holding it all together. “Help please, Daddy!”

Harry obliged, and unpicked the ribbon, letting the cellophane fall from around the basket and onto the floor. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Louis putting a slightly smaller basket onto his other leg, letting Joe bash at his own gift with his hands, enjoying the different sounds the crinkly material could produce.

“Daddy, look! A princess hairbrush, and a pink Easter Egg! And some hair bobbleys and… OH! Look, a cuddle bunny, it’s SO SOFT! Feel, Daddy!” Cassie pushed the soft ears of the bunny against Harry’s face, making the fur graze against the beard he hadn’t bothered to shave off that morning, not expecting any visitors at all. “I love it!”

“Wow, it’s… wow. Louis, you didn’t have to.”

“I know,” the other man shrugged, still trying to help Joe one handed with his, and Harry decided to take pity on him. He quickly got to his feet and sat Joe on the floor, unsurprised when Louis immediately joined the little boy, cross-legged and looking more than comfortable on Harry’s big rug. “I wanted to. I felt so bad yesterday, knowing Cliff and I had destroyed your lovely egg hunt. I saw these, and… well, I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. It’s a really thoughtful thing to do. Oh, look at that, Joe! A train!”

Joe’s pudgy hands were wrapped around the wooden toy, and of course it went straight into Joe’s mouth, his five teeth grinding against the wood, seemingly satisfying the little boy. Harry just laughed, and helped Louis lift out the last few things, moving the plastic away from little hands, knowing what a danger it could pose to both Joe and Cassie if they were left unattended with it.

“I’ll put this in the bin… can I get you a tea or coffee? I’m being a terrible host…”

“You’re not at all, but I’d never turn down a tea.”

“Milk and sugar?”

“Splash of milk, thank you.” He pulled a face at Joe who giggled in that beautiful baby way, crawling back over to Louis, using the man’s shirt to get himself onto his feet. “What’s that, hmm? Can you shake it? Look, like this.” Joe’s face lit up as the little bell inside the squashy toy egg rang out, and he snatched it rather eagerly from Louis, who leaned back just in time to stop the toy vigorously colliding with his face. “Your son’s got a good right hook on him!”

“Hasn’t he just,” Harry smiled as he left the room, ramming the plastic into the bin before he started preparing the tea. He added some watered down apple juice into Joe’s beaker, and gave Cassie some milk which he left on the table, both children already knowing they weren’t allowed drinks in the living room. “Cass, drink is on the table! Louis, would you mind bringing- oh, hi.” He smiled dopily as Cassie walked Louis into the kitchen holding his hand, Joe again on his hip. 

“Louis, you can sit here. This is my chair,” she said, pointing at the pink booster seat, and then ran around the table to the green highchair, “and this is Joejoe’s. He can’t sit in a proper chair yet, not ‘til he’s big like me!”

“Good job he’s got you to show him how to do things,” Louis said easily as he put Joe into his chair, strapping him in. Harry just watched on wordlessly, finding all of this a bit surreal. “Is that one Joe’s, Harry?”

“Uh, sorry. Yeah. If you just leave it on his tray, he’s got pretty good at doing it himself. You want some apple, Cass?”

“Please,” she nodded, sipping carefully at her milk. “Do you like milk, Louis?”

Louis wrinkled his nose, smiling at Harry as he slid a plastic Cinderella plate across the table in front of Cassie, some apple slices on it. He put a peeled one into Joe’s hand, watching his little teeth dig into the soft fruit. “Not so much, only in my tea or my cereal.”

“I gots Coco Pops. What do you got in your house?”

“Coco Pops too,” Louis revealed, making Cassie gasp. “What? Is that bad?”

“No, but Daddy always says only children like the Pops ‘cause they are too sweet!”

“Nothing wrong with a sweet tooth,” Louis said with a wink, finally accepting the hot mug from Harry. “Thank you, Harry. This looks lovely.”

“When I drinked my milk, can you help me put one of my new bobbleys in a ponytail, Lou?”

Harry glanced up at Louis as the name slipped from Cassie’s lips, but it seemed the other man wasn’t bothered, because he nodded, blowing gently over the top of his tea to cool it. Harry stayed close to Joe, giving him another apple slice when the first was done, while Cassie’s had long disappeared.

They all chatted easily around the table, and Cassie asked enough questions to keep there from being any kind of silence at all, which Harry was kind of grateful for, if he was honest. He wasn’t sure what it was about Louis that made him clam up and act like he’d never been around a man before, but he felt he’d retreated to being a shy awkward teenager again, let alone a twenty seven year old father of two. 

All of a sudden, Harry was very aware of two pairs of eyes boring into him, Joe too busy with the slippery piece of apple in his hands to pay any attention to what anyone else was talking about. Harry had the feeling he’d missed something, and he swallowed down the sip of tea he’d just taken, looking between Louis and Cassie.

“Sorry, what was that?”

“I asked Louis if he wanted to stay and make the easter crispy thingies,” Cassie said a little impatiently, like she was fed up with her dad not paying her any attention. “And he said to ask you. So can he?”

“Can he what?”

Cassie sighed, and Harry could already see the sassy teenager she was inevitably going to be creeping in. “If Lou can stay and help me!”

“Oh. Uh, I’m sure Louis has his own things to do…”

Louis cut in, a small frown on his face as he pushed back from the table. “Harry, can I have a quick word?”

“Um, sure.” Harry got up and followed Louis back into the living room, already hearing Cassie chatting away to her poor brother who had no choice in the matter. “Sorry, is something wrong?”

“I’m not sure,” Louis replied honestly, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his jeans. “I feel like you… I don’t know. It’s not that I feel you don’t want me here, but…”

“Shit. I’m so sorry,” Harry blurted out, suddenly feeling awful that this kind stranger who had somehow wormed his way into his family’s life was feeling bad about turning up with gifts for his children. “It’s not that, I promise. I just… I haven’t had someone in my home like this before, befriending my kids… and me.”

“Am I coming on too strong? I told my mum what I was planning on doing, and… well. She said it was a bit much. But I wanted to. I honestly felt awful about Clifford yesterday. I berated the bloody dog when I got home, I promise you. He puked most of the day, stupid git.”

“Oh no, is he alright?”

“He’ll be fine. Might teach him not to be a gluttonous pig again, you never know,” Louis said, chuckling as he said it. “Seriously, though. He’s fine. He’s eaten worse, trust me. But if this is too much, tell me. I won’t be offended.”

“It’s not,” Harry decided there and then, giving Louis a decisive nod. “It’s fine that you’re here. And we’d love for you to stay and make Easter crispy nests with us.”

“Oh!” Louis said, eyes widening, showing Harry just how truly blue they were. “That’s what Cass meant!”

“What did you think she meant?”

“Honestly, mate, I didn’t have a clue but she was so excited, I didn’t have the heart to ask her what she was on about!”

They both laughed and shared a small smile before they rejoined the children in the kitchen. Louis gathered up the now empty cups and plates, ignoring Harry’s protestations and then stood waiting while Harry put Cassie’s ‘ Daddy’s Little Helper’ apron on over her clothes, turning Joe’s high chair so he could watch the action. 

“Right, chefs. Are we ready to cook?”

“YEAH!” Cassie screamed, waving about a wooden spoon almost a little hazardously, leaving Louis chuckling along behind her. “Come on, Louis, you can do the bestest bit with me!”

“What’s that, love?”

“Melting the CHOCCY!”

The hour or so absolutely flew by as the four worked together to create some Easter treats. Cassie was a little over-excited thanks to the presence of Louis and being able to cook, which was one of her favourite things, but Louis had some sort of sense of calm running through his veins, using a soft voice to keep her chilled out, impressing Harry no end. 

Harry stood aside, watching as Louis’ big hands topped Cassie’s, helping her gently turn over the cornflakes into the melted chocolate, making sure she didn’t crush them. He heaped a few cornflakes onto Joe’s tray and watched his son push them around, concentrating hard as his finger moved them around on the shiny white plastic surface.

“Daddy! The cases, please!”

“So polite,” Harry praised, pausing to drop a kiss on his daughter’s head as he rummaged in the cupboard, bringing them down. “Here you go, sweetheart. Want a hand?”

“Nope,” she grinned, showing off all her teeth, her smile so wide. “Me and Louis’ got it!”

“Sorry, do you want to-”

“Oh no, you carry on,” Harry grinned, taking a step back and going to sit with his son again. “Do we like Louis, hmm?” he asked the little boy, reflecting Joe’s smile on his own face, so in love with the little human in front of him. “You’re such a happy little man, aren’t you? Is it because you love life? Because you’re so happy and so cute?!” He tickled Joe’s feet gently, making the little boy giggle and wriggle away, little toes flexing under his dad’s touch. “I love you, Joejoe.”

“Ta daaaaaaaaa,” Cassie screeched about ten minutes later, startling both Harry and Joe, who were now sitting quietly together, Joe’s thumb in his mouth, ready for a nap. “Daddy, come-” she paused as Louis leaned down to whisper something in her ear, nodding with a serious face. When she spoke next, her volume was much quieter. “Daddy, please come and see.”

“Good girl,” Louis said, and Harry felt him tense as he set a hand on Louis’ shoulder, peering over at the creations his daughter and Louis had created. “She did a great job, Harry. I can tell you cook with her a lot.”

“We do. I love getting her involved, and when this little one,” he said, jiggling a sleepy Joe a bit, “gets big enough, he will do too. They look amazing, by the way. Do you want Louis to help you put them in the fridge, Cass? Remember, the chocolate has to be set before you can eat them.”

Cassie nodded and turned to Louis, showing Harry the smear of chocolate on her cheek as she did so. “Lou, could you please help me put them in the fridgey?”

“Sure.”

By now, Joe was all but asleep, and Harry’s arms were aching a bit from supporting his weight. 

“I can stay with her a minute while you put him down if you want,” Louis offered, and Harry quickly accepted it, slipping off and up the stairs to lay Joe down in his crib. He made quick work of changing his nappy and thankfully, Joe didn’t stir at all, already too deep into his sleep to let something like that disturb him. 

Cassie was curled up on the sofa when he returned, her face and hands clean again no doubt by Louis who was banging around in the kitchen.

“You sleepy, love?” Harry asked, and Cassie nodded, smiling up at her daddy before she looked back at the telly, immersed in her programme again. “I’m just going to see Louis, okay?”

“‘Kay, Daddy.”

For some reason, Harry wasn’t surprised at all to see Louis up to his elbows in suds at the sink, scrubbing at the mixing bowl he and Cassie had used to make their Easter nests. A few stray Mini Eggs were rolling around on the worktop, and Harry snatched one up, popping it into his mouth.

“I saw that.”

“Oops?” Harry offered, picking up a tea towel and coming to dry up next to Louis. “Thank you. For cooking with Cass, I mean. It was fun to watch you both, and to spend a few minutes with Joe.”

“You have lovely kids,” Louis shrugged, rinsing the bubbles off the bowl. “They’re not hard to be around, trust me.”

Harry could feel his chest puff up with pride, and he nodded, knowing Louis was right. He’d been so lucky with Cassie and Joe, and felt privileged to be able to call himself their daddy. It seemed Louis saw the good things about them, just like he did. 

They finished the washing up together, side by side, and Harry quickly put everything away afterwards, liking a clean kitchen, especially since he’d be cooking dinner in a few hours time. There was nothing worse than leaving the sink full of dirty dishes to come back to. 

“I’d better leave you to your Easter Monday,” Louis said as he wiped his hands off on the tea towel, hooking it over the handle of the oven as he did so. “I’ve already taken up enough of your day.”

“Not at all,” Harry said, following Louis into the hallway, suddenly feeling like if he let the other man go, he’d never see him again, and that thought made him feel stranger than he expected to. “You, uh, you don’t have to go.”

“I really do,” Louis said, shoving his feet back into his trainers. “Mum’ll kill me if I abandon her with Clifford and the kids all day. I’ve probably been too long as it is but… hey, I’m a sucker for little girls who ask me nicely to make Easter treats.”

“Louis, you goin’?” 

They both turned around quickly and saw a tired looking Cassie shuffling over, and Harry didn’t hesitate to bend down and pick her up, letting her nuzzle into him.

“Lou has a home to go to, love. He has to go and get Cliff, remember?”

“But I’ll miss you,” she pouted, and Harry’s heart all but melted as Louis reached over and tucked her hair behind her ears, the pair never quite having gotten around to the ponytail she’d asked for earlier. “Come back?”

“You be a good girl for Daddy, okay?” Louis asked before he kissed two of his fingertips and then pressed them to Cassie’s cheek, making her smile slightly. “And give that little brother of yours a big squeeze for me too.”

“But Daddy says not too tight ‘cause then he can’t breathe-” Cassie mumbled, interrupting herself with a big yawn. “Kiss Cliffy.”

“I will. Bye, loves!”

“Thank you, Louis. Bye,” Harry called as he masked his hurt with a smile, his heart aching as he watched the other man walking away, hitching Cassie up a little higher. She was feeling more like a deadweight now, and Harry knew that meant she was falling into a deeper sleep, barely able to keep her head up. “Let’s get you to bed, little lady. Come on. Off we go.”

It was later that night when Harry was finally sitting down and ready for a glass of wine that he spotted something. The baskets were sitting by the fireplace, some of the things the children hadn’t used yet still sitting in them, which made Harry smile. Both Joe and Cassie had taken the stuffed toys Louis had given them to bed, falling asleep pretty quickly after a long day of fun.

Harry reluctantly hauled himself up from the sofa, pausing the TV show he was quite invested in and wandered into the kitchen, reaching down a wine glass from the top shelf. It clinked as it came to rest on the worktop, and Harry headed for the fridge, reaching for the bottle of wine he’d started the night before. But instead of just the usual wine, milk, cheese and other food items, there was a folded piece of paper in there, standing just behind the bottle he’d taken out.

His fingers snatched it up and he knocked the fridge door shut with his hip as he put the bottle down next to the glass, already fumbling with trying to open the piece of paper. He smiled to himself at the handwriting written there, and at the small message the man had scrawled.

Harry, I loved spending time with you and your amazing kids. I’d love to see you again… maybe just us? Call me. Louis.

His heart beating erratically in his chest, Harry’s eyes dipped down to where eleven digits were written down. He’d honestly thought saying goodbye to Louis earlier had been forever, but knowing he’d gone to the effort of leaving his number behind, going so far as to suggest that they go out together, without his children. 

Still in a bit of a daze, Harry left the piece of paper on the worktop while he poured his wine, condensation soon appearing on the glass. Harry ran his finger through it and decided to mull things over, sure a clear head in the morning would help him work out what to do. The bit of paper was safe there by the bread bin. He could deal with Louis’ message another day.

*＊✿❀○❀✿＊*

One month later

“Cassie, hold onto the pushchair please, darling,” Harry instructed as he hooked the handles of the plastic bag over the pushchair handle, letting it settle down before he walked off. “Good girl. Now, we’ve got some dinner, and Nanny’s birthday card. What else do we need?”

Cassie thought on it as her little sandals slapped on the floor with each step, Joe happily gurgling in his seat. Harry loved to let Joe walk around as much as possible, but when they were out in town together, it was just safer to keep him strapped down, and it gave him more eyes to watch his sneaky daughter with.

“Flowers! We could have some pretty flowers in the house, Daddy.”

Harry smiled, stopping at the zebra crossing, only walked forward as the blue car coming toward them came to a stop. “I love that idea, Cass. Which ones do you want?”

“I like yellow ones.”

“Daffodils?”

“Yes! Like Nanny had in the kitchen jug.”

“You mean the vase,” Harry replied with a smile, leading Cassie into the bookshop. Anne had slipped him ten pounds when they’d left her house the other day, telling him to buy each of the children a new book. Harry wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the face, and today seemed the perfect time to pick up something to read that night. “Okay, love. Straight to the back to the children’s section, okay?”

Cassie nodded, and Harry strolled behind her, expertly weaving Joe’s pushchair as he followed Cassie’s curls, held up in two blonde pigtails, the two bobbles from Louis’ easter basket fastened around them. He caught up with her as she was on her knees by one of the picture book boxes, rifling through eagerly.

“I’m going to look at the board books with Joe, okay? Come and show me when you’ve picked a book you like. Just one!”

“‘Kay, Daddy! I’m gonna find the bestest book in the whole shop!”

“You do that, darling,” Harry smiled, setting on one of the small chairs, dragging Joe in front of him. He pulled a few books from the shelf and let Joe look at each one, reading the blurb about the story to him before the boy settled on ‘Where’s Spot’, loving the cardboard flaps which he could lift and try to find the yellow dog. “That’s a good one, Joejoe!”

Just as Joe had made his choice, Cassie came running over, clutching a book with a glittery cover. Harry smiled at the title and let her wriggle between his legs, beaming up at her daddy.

“Fish book! Want this please!”

“The Rainbow Fish. I love this story, Cass, great choice! Let’s go and pay, and you can phone Nanny later and say thank you very much.”

The family of three made their way to the counter, and Harry winced as Cassie slammed the book down a little roughly, grinning up at the lady behind the till.

“Would you like separate bags for them?”

Harry nodded, knowing Cassie would love to carry her own bag back to the car, and paid for the book, popping the change in the charity box next to the till. He accepted the bags and made sure Cassie thanked the nice lady before they headed out. There was a flower stand just up the street so Harry headed that way, pulling his sunglasses down to cover his eyes.

“I thought we could make some fairy cakes later on, maybe use your sprinkles that you got in Tesco the other day. Then I think-”

Harry stopped beside the flower stall, eyes fixated on the man just outside the bank in front of them. Cassie hadn’t noticed anyone yet, picking out a small bunch of daffodils that she was waving in Harry’s face, trying to get his attention. 

“Sorry, um… can you give the lady the money, darling?”

He pressed a two pound coin into her hand and watched her scuttle off, thanking the lady who owned the stall before she shoved the flowers back at Harry, where he stowed them under Joe’s seat. He was desperately trying to work out what to do when Cassie of course spotted the other man, jumping up and down excitedly as she shouted his name.

“Louis! Hi Louis, hi Cliffy!”

Harry watched as, almost in slow motion, Louis turned and set eyes on them for the first time since he’d been around their house that Easter Monday. Harry hadn’t been able to bring himself to text Louis, certain that the other man would quickly tire of a man who couldn’t put him first, and had two small children in tow pretty much everywhere he went. It had hurt, but Harry had ignored his own pain, carrying on as normal, sure that Louis would be someone he’d forget sooner or later.

“Cassie! Hey, love, how are you?”

Harry’s eyes flitted over to the blonde woman standing next to Louis, giving him and his children the eye. He gave her a friendly smile, but didn’t miss how she slipped Clifford’s lead from Louis’ hand, hauling the dog over to sit next to her while Louis focused his attention on Cassie. 

“Good! We been to the shops, and I gotted a new book, and some daffydils for the jug-”

“The vase ,” Harry reminded her with a smile, locking eyes with Louis as they smiled at each other over her small slip up. 

“Yeah, the vase. And Joejoe got a book… you wanna see mine? It’s a fish book!”

Before she even gave Louis a moment to answer, Cassie was pulling her new book out of the paper bag, barely catching before it blew away on the breeze. To his credit, Louis was already crouching down next to her, looking as she babbled about the shiny scales on the front, nodding at whatever she was saying.

Harry peered over the top of the buggy, checking on Joe before he looked up again, seeing the blue eyes of the woman next to Louis on him. He tried to smile at her again but she looked away once more, hand coming to rest on Clifford’s head where he was patiently sitting, waiting for Louis to be done with the small child in front of him.

“-come round and read it to me?!”

“Oh, uh…” Louis stuttered, clearing his throat before he stood up, giving Joe a small wave, which the baby returned happily, kicking his bare feet around in the sunshine. “I’m sure Daddy is super at reading books to you!”

“He is, he’s the bestest!” Cassie proclaimed, making Harry grin over to her. “We read stories every night before bed, and then we-”

“Cassie, we should let Louis and his friend get on with their day,” Harry said, causing both his daughter and Louis to look up at him. “Say goodbye, okay?”

“Can I pat Cliffy? Please, Lou?”

Louis nodded, watching as Cassie skipped over to Clifford, patting him in a friendly manner on his head.

“Nice to see you again,” Louis said quietly to Harry, his hands back in the pockets of his shorts. It reminded Harry of when Louis had stood in front of him in his home last month, how he’d told Louis he wanted him there. Then he’d not text the man back when Louis had all but asked Harry to, and he felt awkward enough, trying to act like this was a normal interaction when really, it felt anything but. “How have you been?”

“Yeah, good,” Harry said, accepting back the bag with Cassie’s book in from Louis, putting it on the pushchair handles. “You?”

“All good, ta, making the most of the sunshine,” Louis grinned, reaching down to grab Joe’s hand. “How is it he looks like he’s gotten bigger since I last saw him?”

Harry smiled almost shyly, looking to the floor. He loved how Louis seemed to notice the small things, in particular about his children, and it made a small pang of regret rise in his chest, wondering for a brief second if things could have been different. “He has. Just had to drop a small fortune on a new wardrobe for him, bless him. Getting my big lad, aren’t you, Joe?” The baby just smiled up at his daddy, blinking into the sunshine. 

“Well, lovely seeing you all,” Louis said as Cassie came to stand at Harry’s side again, slipping her hand into his. “Take care, yeah?”

“Bye, Lou!” Cassie called as Harry just about managed to nod, certain his voice would wobble if he tried to talk. The woman next to Louis just stared at the three so Harry turned away, heading back towards where he’d left the car just over an hour ago. “Daddy, why we not see Lou anymore?”

“I don’t know, love. Some people only come into our lives for a short-”

“HARRY! Harry, WAIT!”

Harry stopped suddenly, apologising quietly to the woman who nearly walked into the back of him as he watched Louis running after him, Clifford trotting happily at his side, tongue lolling about. He frowned and tugged Cassie closer to his side, keeping her out of the way of everyone else walking on the pavement.

“God, you walk fast, I… let me catch my breath,” Louis panted, a hand against a tree for a moment as he composed himself. Harry wondered for a second where the woman who had been with Louis was, because there was no sign of her now. “Sorry to stop you, I… I couldn’t let you walk away like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like… like we’re not going to see each other again.”

“Louis…” Harry began, raking a hand through his hair, finding this more than awkward now. 

“I don’t make a habit of giving my number to many cute men,” Louis confessed, and Cassie giggled at Harry’s side, making Louis raise his eyebrows at her, sending her a little wink. “In fact, I spent a good ten minutes taking that note away and putting it back again before I finally got the balls to leave it there.”

“He said balls ,” Cassie gasped, and Harry decided she didn’t need to hear anymore. He reached down into Joe’s baby bag and found a small packet of Milky Bar Buttons, tearing off the top before he handed it to Cassie, distracting her long enough they could speak a little more freely. “Ooh, choccy!”

“Share with Joe, please,” Harry said, focusing his attention back on Louis. “I did get your note. I just…”

“Didn’t want to text me, or call? It’s fine, Harry, I just… I thought maybe there was something there. We got on, really easily, actually.”

“I know, I…” Harry sighed, deciding if he should just be honest. “I have two kids, Louis. I know you know that, but they’re my life. They come first.”

“I’m well aware of these two monsters,” Louis grinned, accepting a chocolate button from Cassie. “Thank you, sweetie. Make sure Joe gets one, please.” He looked back to Harry, bending slightly to pet Clifford’s head. “I don’t believe it’s a coincidence we saw each other today. I’m not sure I believe in fate and all that shit, but… something drew me to you today- drew us together. I want a chance, Harry.”

Harry just blinked, letting Louis’ words sink in. If he was honest with himself, he was terrified. He was scared of letting someone in, of letting a person in so deep that it would hurt if he ran away again. Keeping himself single, devoting himself to his children was the best way for Harry to protect himself. But there was something about Louis that made Harry want to throw caution to the wind, to take a chance. 

“I… how?”

“Let me take you out. Even if it’s just as friends for now. I’d like to spend more time with you, with your kids. Those two days that I saw you, that I hung out with you, Cassie and Joe… I was happy, Harry. And I think you were happy too.”

“I was. So… yes. I’d like that, Lou.” They shared a small smile for a second before Harry’s feel, realising he had to mention her. “What about your girlfriend?”

“Who?”

“The woman you were with. She… she didn’t like the look of me. Now I see why…”

Louis snorted, shaking his head as he laughed, a beautiful tinkling sound that made Harry’s heart sing in harmony. “That’s Lottie. My sister. She doesn’t like anyone that I’m interested in. She’s too protective, convinced someone’s gonna break my heart.”

Harry's cheeks flushed, embarrassed at the assumption he’d made. Thankfully, Louis didn’t seem bothered because he handed over his phone almost instantly, asking Harry to put his number in. Cassie squealed at the wallpaper she peeked over her dad’s arm, telling Louis that Clifford looked really beautiful in the picture, making him promise to send it to Harry so she could look at it herself. They parted with smiles, promises to see each other again, and, much to Louis’ delight, a cuddle from Cassie and another sneaky chocolate button. 

“You happy, Daddy?” Cassie asked as Harry lifted her into her car seat, clipping her belts across her chest to keep them safe. Joe was gurgling away in the seat next to her, clutching the squishy egg toy Louis had given him a month ago, something that had proved to be a firm favourite with the little boy ever since. “You smilin’!”

“I am,” Harry agreed, pressing a kiss to her forehead, pulling the straps a little tighter. “I really am.”

*＊✿❀○❀✿＊*

“It hurts…” Cassie whined, using the sleeve of her jumper to wipe away her tears. “Daddy, my belly hurts so bad.”

“I know, poppet,” Harry sighed, carefully pushing the plastic syringe into the top of the Calpol bottle, measuring out the dose appropriate for a three year old. “If you take some of this, it’ll help your belly ache go away, okay?”

She nodded and, in complete trust, let Harry push the syringe between her lips, swallowing down the strawberry flavour liquid until it was all gone. Afterwards, Harry let her shuffle down the bed, tucking her covers back over her body. He stroked her hair back from her sweaty forehead as he pondered his own bad luck. 

Tonight was the night he was supposed to have been going out with Louis, but of course, life had other plans. Cassie had come home from playgroup earlier moaning about feeling a bit rubbish, but Harry had just put it down to too much sunshine in the playground with her friends, and by the afternoon, she’d perked up, playing in the sandpit with Harry and Joe until he’d gone inside the make the dinner. 

She’d wolfed down her plate of spaghetti and meatballs at quite a speed, and had chatted away about her friends Rachel and Sarah and how they’d played princesses all morning, and how she was the queen, but had then made them queens because she didn’t want them to be left out. Everything had been fine until half an hour after dinner, when she’d sat whinging on the sofa, rubbing her tummy.

Thankfully, she’d managed to get herself to the toilet in time before a bad belly had hit with a vengeance, and Harry had abandoned Joe on his playmat to take the stairs two at a time, comforting her while he cleaned her up, his least favourite part of fatherhood if he was honest. Now, she was all bathed, in fresh pyjamas and still with a temperature, which meant Harry was going nowhere.

“Cooee! I’m here,” Anne called from downstairs, letting herself indoors. Harry heard her chatting away to Joe who was in his playpen, bashing his stacking cups together, so he left them to it, flicking on Cassie’s nightlight.

“I’m just downstairs. If you need me, shout, okay?”

“I’m thirsty,” Cassie pouted, and Harry knew that a few sips of water probably wasn’t going to hurt. “Can I have choccy milk?”

“Nope, but I can get you water,” Harry offered, and it was testament to Cassie’s need that she nodded helplessly, curling up against her giant teddy as Harry headed back downstairs. “Hi Mum, just getting Cassie some water…”

“You’re not dressed,” Anne stated, following Harry into the kitchen, Joe on her hip. “Why are you not dressed? Have I got the wrong day?”

“No, but… let me give this to Cass, then I’ll explain, okay?”

Harry ran back upstairs and allowed Cassie a few sips before he tucked her back in, staying with her until she’d thankfully fallen asleep. She’d cried when Harry had to leave before she’d dozed off so Harry carefully extracted himself from her hug, kissing her before he closed her door, letting her get some much needed rest. He collapsed on the sofa, smiling at the sight of Joe cuddled up on his mum’s chest, eyes fluttering shut as he fought sleep. 

“What’s going on, Haz?”

Harry sighed, turning his head to look at his mum again. “Cass is sick.”

“Oh no, Poor love. Anything serious?”

Harry shrugged, turning his body so he was laid out on the sofa, legs crossed at the ankles. “Just a twenty four hour tummy thing, I think.”

“Okay. Well, go and get ready-”

“I can’t leave her,” Harry said, feeling aghast that his mum would even suggest such a thing. “She’s sick, Mum.”

“Right. And she’s with her nanny. I did raise two whole children to adulthood, you know, Harry. I can stay with her, and call if-”

“I’m not going. Not tonight. I’ll call Louis. He’ll understand. I’m sure he will.”

“He may well do. But… do you think it’s a good idea?”

“If he doesn’t understand me not wanting to leave my sick daughter, then he’s not a man I want to date, or have around my children, is he?”

Anne sighed, realising she wasn’t going to be able to argue with her son when he was in this mood. “Fine. Let me put Joe to bed then, so you can call Louis. I’ll do his bottle and get him ready. You can kiss him before he goes to sleep.”

Harry agreed, and when he heard Joe’s bedroom close and his mum’s feet on the ceiling above him, he pulled out his phone, hoping that this was going to go well. He pressed Louis’ contact before he could change his mind and almost held his breath as it rang a few times, until there was a soft click and then a gentle “Hello, love.”

“Hiii,” Harry drawled, suddenly nervous to explain to Louis he was going to cancel their date despite the texts shared between the pair of them talking about how excited they were to spend some time alone together. “Uh, I’m really sorry…”

There was a soft chuckle on the other end of the line, then Louis’ raspy voice came through, but luckily, there was no sign of anger in his tone at all, instead, it was laced with concern. “It’s alright, love. What’s happened? Are the kids okay?”

Harry’s heart felt full at how quickly Louis had asked after his children, and he bit back a smile as he answered. “Not really. Cass has picked up a bug from preschool, so she really doesn’t want me to leave. I mean, Mum is here, but I know if I go out, I’ll just worry about her, and it’ll be-”

“Harry.” Louis’ voice brought Harry’s bumbling to a stop and he paused, waiting for something more. “It’s fine. She’s your daughter, I totally understand you wanting to be with her. We’ll reschedule, it’s just dinner. We can do it another time, love.”

“You’re not… angry?”

“Why would I be? I’d probably actually think it was a bit shit if you came out anyway and left her home. You’re doing the right thing for you and your family. How can I be angry with that?”

It was with those words that Harry realised he’d done the right thing taking a chance on Louis and letting him into their lives. He was definitely a man worth holding on to.

*＊✿❀○❀✿＊*

Two weeks later

 “Da da da da,” Joe babbled at a grinning Harry, the two splayed out on the floor as the sun filtered in through the open windows, the rug around them littered with the toy trains that Joe had become obsessed with over the past few weeks. “Da da da.”

“That’s right, lovely. I’m your dada,” Harry said, full of pride as his son came and crawled on top of him, staring up at the little boy’s chubby cheeks. “And how lucky am I to have you call me that, hmm?”

Joe slumped down and buried his face in Harry’s neck for a minute, and Harry took the chance to hug his young son, enjoying his slight weight against his chest. The older Joe got, the less he liked sitting still in the daytime, wriggling out of hugs to go and toddle around the house, so Harry always took full advantage whenever he got these precious quiet moments with his little boy. 

“Daddy? Can I play?”

“Course, sweet pea,” Harry replied as Cassie skipped into the room, resplendent in her lemon print sundress. She’d come home with it the other day after Anne had taken her shopping, and she’d worn it pretty much ever since, Harry desperately trying to wash and dry it overnight so she wouldn’t be disappointed in the morning. She flashed her pink knickers as she tumbled to the floor, and she leaned in, kissing Harry’s forehead. “Love you!”

“I love you too,” Harry grinned, returning her kiss easily, and then giving Joe one as well for good measure. If there was one thing Harry wanted his children to be able to say, it was that they were loved, and always felt loved. “What are we playing, then?”

“Shops and trains,” Cassie asserted, gathering up a few of Joe’s trains as the little boy finally slid down from his daddy’s chest onto the floor, watching his big sister with curious eyes. “You be the ‘troller, Joe be the train man.”

“Alright,” Harry agreed, arranging some of the trains so that Joe could push them around the carpet. Cassie had a habit of taking over a little bit when they all played, but he knew her heart was in the right place, so he always guided her to ensure her little brother could be part of their game too, even if it was only for the few minutes before Joe inevitably got bored and crawled off to do something else. “If I’m the Controller, does that make me the boss?”

Cassie stared at her daddy for a moment before she nodded, grinning widely at him. “Yeah, but I’m your deputy!”

The Styles family played together for the next hour or so, Harry shocked by the fact Joe was actually joining in and playing with his sister. The game didn’t make much sense, with Cassie changing what was going on as she pleased, but it didn’t matter to either Harry or Joe. Just spending precious time with his children was all that mattered to Harry, and he was grateful he had the chance to do that.

It was when he got up and stretched out his back that he heard his phone ping on the other side of the room. He made a point to leave his phone away from them when he was spending time with the children, ensuring he wasn’t distracted but given he was already up to make them drinks, he quickly stole a glance at it, smiling when he saw Louis’ name on his lockscreen. 

They’d had their first date a week ago now, and Harry had pretty much been flying high on how he’d felt throughout it ever since. Being out with another adult, a man nonetheless, had given him a thrill like nothing else had in years, and he loved how many people flashed jealous looks his and Louis’ way as they shared a pizza and bottle of wine together. They had decided to stay local, keen to not travel too far from home, but they’d stayed out until past midnight, Harry a giggly, happy mess by the time he got in, stirring his mum awake where she’d dozed off on the sofa. 

Conversation between the pair had been so easy, and Harry had found himself talking about something other than his children, Louis prompting him with interesting questions, clearly keen to find out more about his date. They’d had a jokey argument about pizza toppings, Harry relenting and giving in to Louis’ demands, but he hadn’t minded. He was just so happy to be spending time with Louis, and if he was honest, he couldn’t wait to do it again.

“Daddy! Joe bonked his nose on the train!”

“Oh no, love, are you alright?” Harry asked, crouching down next to his son and rubbing his nose gently, making the boy giggle. “Good lad. Let me get you guys some drinks. I’ll be back, okay?”

He was answered with silence, so Harry unlocked his phone and saw Louis’ message, a little surprised by its short nature. Louis had a habit of sending lengthy messages, which Harry eagerly replied to, so this one seemed out of character, but was no less intriguing. 

Hey love, you busy? If not, please meet me at the park in half an hour! Xx

Harry quickly replied, telling Louis he couldn’t as he had the children, but that they could meet later if he wanted. He’d just made Joe’s apple drink when his phone pinged again, the message lighting up his screen. 

Well, obviously you’ve got the kids. I meant the three of you. Up for it? Xxx

With a smile, Harry smiled that he was, and hurried through to his babies, picking up Joe and hurrying Cassie back into the kitchen to where her drink was waiting for her. He plonked Joe in his chair as he sat down, looking between them.

“So… Louis wants to meet us at the park. Would you like to go?”

Cassie nodded eagerly, so fast that Harry was worried she’d do herself an injury if she carried on. “Yeah! We go swings?”

“Maybe,” Harry agreed, his hand hovering nearby as the boy grabbed the handles of his cup, bringing it to his lips. “I don’t actually know what he has planned, but Louis said we all had to meet him.”

“Me and Joejoe too?!”

“Course, love!”

“Wow!” Cassie grinned, clearly thrilled to be in on whatever plans Harry and her dad had together. “Why?” Being just three years old, her favourite thing at the moment was to ask ‘why’, and Harry found that he had the patience of a saint when it came to answering her never-ending curiosity. 

“Because he wants to hang out with us. Is, um, is that okay? That Louis is hanging out with me, with us, more?”

“Yeah. Like Louis.”

“Me too, Cass. Me too.”

Forty minutes later, the Styles finally left the house, Joe grumpy in his pushchair as he’d been desperate to walk. Harry wasn’t willing to risk it given he didn’t know how long they’d be out, and Joe tired of walking quite quickly, meaning Harry ended up with an aching back when he had to carry Joe around until they made it home. He’d text Louis as they’d left apologising for his lateness, so he pushed down the buggy board, letting Cassie stand on it just in front of him for sheer speed. 

“Come on, come on,” Harry muttered as he waited at the crossing, tapping his foot impatiently on the floor. He was sure he’d forgotten something in his haste to get out of the house, but as soon as he saw Louis, standing there with his arms folded across his chest, sunglasses on his face, all of his stress melted away.

“LOUIS!” Cassie screeched, hopping down from the buggy board and running at the man full pelt. She leaped into Louis’ arms, and Harry watched as Louis spun around a few times, making his daughter laugh at the top of her voice. “Hi! We at the park now!”

“I see that! Hi, Joe,” Louis smiled, leaning in and holding his hand up for a high five, which Joe gave, giggling as his tiny hand collided against Louis’. “Thanks for coming, all of you!”

“You’re welcome,” Harry said shyly, almost unsure on how to greet Louis in front of his children. Louis shifted Cassie to his hip instead of dropping her to the floor before he walked closer to Harry, kissing his cheek softly. Harry tried not to shiver as Louis’ beard scruff brushed against his own bare cheek, certain he was blushing despite trying not to. He looked over Louis’ shoulder, seeing the fair he’d forgotten was visiting town, his heart falling as he realised they probably couldn’t safely relax in the park. “So, what are your plans?”

Louis rummaged in his back pocket for a second before he held out four small pieces of paper to Cassie, letting the little girl try and puzzle out what was going on before she handed them to Harry, quietly asking for help. 

“I hope I’m not being too forward, but… I wanted to spend some time with the three of you. I thought we could have a look at the fair, go on some rides, get some lunch…”

Harry could see a slight apprehension in Louis’ face, like he was worried he’d done the wrong thing, so he reached for Louis’ hand, squeezing it briefly before he dropped it again, letting Cassie hold the tickets. “It’s a lovely idea. Cassie loves the rides, and Joe’s never been to a funfair before.”

“Great,” Louis said, a smile splitting his face open, making him even more beautiful in Harry’s eyes. They all headed for the entrance, where a couple of men in high-vis vests were standing, collecting tickets from the families entering. Louis quickly commandeered the pushchair, and Harry took full advantage, taking Cassie’s hand and letting her skip alongside him, the little girl beyond excited at the prospect of a day at the fair. “I’m kind of classing this as our second date, if that’s alright with you?”

Harry nodded but slowed slightly, falling into step next to Louis. “Yeah, but… the kids are here…”

“They’re part of you, and therefore part of us. Part of…” he shrugged one shoulder, both hands taken up with steering the pushchair over the slightly bumpy grass below them, “part of whatever we are. As long as that’s alright with you.”

“More than,” Harry grinned as they came to a stop. He saw the man at the gate looking at them with a small smile, and he realised they must look like a family; Louis with the pushchair, Harry with their eldest child. “Can you give the man the tickets, Cass?”

She pouted, holding them tighter to her chest so Harry quickly knelt down, asking her what was wrong. “They’re mine,” she revealed, bottom lip trembling at the thought of giving them up. Harry wasn’t sure what to do, but as usual, Louis swooped in, saving the day.

“I’m sure if we ask the man really nicely,” he started, loudly enough for the security guard to hear, “he’ll let you keep your ticket to take home.”

“Sure, love,” the gruff voice said, and with a little encouragement from both Harry and Louis, Cassie handed them over, beaming with excitement when one was handed back to her. She let Louis take it, putting it safely in his pocket since she had no pockets in her sundress, but she made him very solemnly declare he’d give it back at the end of the day.

“So, what first?”

“Um, we could just wander, see what we like?” Harry suggested, and luckily, the others seemed to agree with that. It was almost midday so it was fairly busy, but not so much that they couldn’t walk around easily, most people keeping out of the way of the pushchair, not that Louis was going to let that stop him going anywhere he wanted to.

“Teacups, Daddy,” Cassie said, urgently tugging on the hem of Harry’s shirt, patting frantically at his leg when she didn’t get his immediate attention. “Daddy! Wanna go teacups.”

“Alright, love,” Harry grinned, seeing the queue was thankfully fairly short. “We can do that. Lou, are you alright to…”

“We’ll be watching, won’t we, little man?” Louis asked, patting Harry’s bum as he walked past, heading for the back of the small queue with Cassie in tow. The little girl looked on with wide eyes as the ride went around for its duration, pointing out exactly which teacup she wanted to sit in with Harry. 

“Up you go,” Harry said, holding Cassie’s hand firmly as they climbed on, letting his daughter run frantically to get in the purple teacup she wanted to sit in, making room for her dad. Harry brought her closer to his side and spotted Louis with Joe now on his hip, and he pointed them out to Cassie, waving happily at the pair. The ride began, its soft music playing out as they span round in slow circles, and Cassie’s laughter was lighting up Harry’s entire world. She was forced against his side every now and then,  but her head was thrown back in happiness, and he loved when she screamed “HI LOU, HI JOE!” on every other rotation of the ride.

“That was THE BEST!” she screamed as Harry lifted her down onto the grass, watching as she ran over to Louis, regaling him with what she’d just done. Harry grabbed the handles of the pushchair, leaving Louis to tote Joe and hold Cassie’s hand at the same time, but his… friend looked more than happy doing so. “Lou, you come on?”

“On the next ride? I can do, love, if your dad doesn’t mind?”

“Dad definitely doesn’t mind,” Harry said, quite happy to have his feet back on firm ground. “I wouldn’t mind hanging out with Joe!”

The next ride was a mini ghost train, and while Cassie was all confident about it as she and Louis strutted up to the queue, hands on her hips as she chatted away about something, Harry could see a change in her demeanour the closer they got to the front of the queue. Joe was nibbling on some of his favourite snacks in the pushchair now, his sunhat perched floppily on his head, but Harry’s anxiety was creeping up, seeing Cassie get more and more nervous.

Louis, though, seemed to have it all under control. They were next in line, and Harry watched as he crouched down in front of her, holding both of her hands as he spoke quietly to her, Cassie nodding in front of him, mumbling something back. Harry blinked back tears as his daughter then threw her arms around Louis’ neck, the two embracing fully in front of him, prompted only by the fondness they had for each other. Harry was a goner. 

Cassie screamed a goodbye to Harry and Joe as she and Louis were strapped into the little carriage, the comically awful ‘spooky’ music coming from the ride, and Harry glanced down, seeing their hands held tightly between them, Louis’ other arm wrapped around her shoulders, reassuring her. While the ride took place, Harry walked over to a bench near the exit and sat down, turning the pushchair around so Joe was facing him, and he drummed his fingers on Joe’s bare thighs, making his son smile up at him. 

“You think Lou’s good for us, hmm?” Harry asked his son, of course not expecting an answer. He pulled his phone from his pocket and snapped a picture of his son, sending it off to Anne with the caption ‘funfair day!’, promising to call her that night. He was just sipping on a bottle of water when Cassie came hurtling across, her hand in Louis’ as the pair ran for them. “Hey, brave girl!”

“I was brave!” Cassie laughed, diving into Harry’s lap, kissing his cheek sloppily. “I’m thirsty.”

Harry sat her on the bench next to him while she drank, and he looked at Louis, smiling before the other man came and sat down next to him, their thighs touching, Louis’ hand coming to rest on Harry’s leg.

“Was she alright?”

“She had a wobble,” Louis admitted, extending his hand to Joe, who took it, trying to shove Louis’ fingers in his mouth. Teething was such a fun time. “But we had a chat, and I told her I’d hold her hand the whole time. That she could give me her scared feelings, and that I’d give her my brave ones. She seemed okay after that, if she needed you, I’d have called-”

Harry wasn’t sure what made him do it. Whether it was just how amazing Louis was with his children, or just how easily he’d dealt with Cassie’s little drama, but he was completely overcome with feelings for the other man, and without hesitation, leaned in, pressing their lips together. Neither Cassie or Joe were paying any attention, but Harry wasn’t sure he’d have cared if they were. Louis was more than a friend to him now, and he was proud of it. 

The kiss was quick, but Harry loved every brief second of it. Louis’ scruff rubbed gently against his chin, but it was in the sweetest way, teasing Harry, sending his nerve endings into action. His lips were warm and soft against Harry’s, and somehow, they just fitted together.

“Oh,” Louis breathed out as they parted, a light blush spreading across his cheeks, biting back a smile. 

“Was that okay?” 

“More than okay,” Louis confirmed, reaching for Harry’s hand and giving it a gentle, reassuring squeeze. Cassie, by now, was bored and trying to shove her water bottle back in Joe’s baby bag, and Louis spotted it, leaping into action and helping her before she could spill water over everything. “What’s next then?”

“DODGEMS!”

The next few hours at the funfair passed too quickly for Harry’s liking. Between them, they made sure Cassie went on everything she wanted to, while Joe fell asleep in his pushchair, a little too young to fully enjoy what was going on, not that he seemed to mind too much. It was only when Cassie started to whinge about being hungry that Harry realised they were almost an hour late for their typical lunchtime.

“I’ll get us all some lunch,” Louis said as they headed over to where the catering vans were all lined up. Thankfully, the queues weren’t too bad, and the family stood and looked at the options. “What do you want the kids to have, Haz?”

Harry glowed at the name, and how Louis had immediately asked him about what he wanted the children to eat rather than barrelling on and making a decision himself. “I’m thinking… hot dogs or burgers?”

“HOT DOG!” Cassie yelled, jumping up and down excitedly at Louis’ side, still holding his hand. “AND CHIPS!”

“Don’t be greedy,” Harry chided, rubbing her hair gently. “Is that alright with you, Lou?”

“I’ll eat pretty much anything,” Louis laughed, trying to calm Cassie down. “What about Joe?”

“I brought a pouch with me for him, don’t worry.”

“Okay. You want to find a table, and I’ll grab the food?”

“Sure. Cass, you going with Lou or coming with me?” 

“LOU!”

“Lou, wait, I’ll give you some-” Harry began, reaching into the back pocket of his shorts for his wallet, but Louis was already heading off, Cassie at his side.

“I’ve got it! See you in a minute.”

A quarter of an hour later, the family of four were sat around a picnic bench together, Cassie with an enormous hot dog in front of her that Harry knew she wouldn’t completely eat, while Harry fed Joe the remainder of his lunch pouch, the little boy eating eagerly off the plastic spoon as Louis and Cassie tucked in. they were sharing a small portion of chips, and Harry just watched fondly as Cassie ate three chips for every one Louis managed to get. 

“Hey, let me finish that off,” Louis offered as he swallowed down another bit of his burger. “Your food will be cold.”

“It’s fine-”

“Come on, share the load. Let me help you, Haz.” As he spoke, Louis’ foot came to rest on top of Harry’s under the table, applying just a gentle pressure, as if to remind Harry he was there. Harry nodded, and let Louis stand up and collect the boy, returning to the other side of the table. “Here we go, lad. Open up.”

“Thank you, Lou,” Harry said as he picked up his burger, mouth-watering at the sight of it. “Slow down, Cass, don’t drop ketchup down-”

Too late.

*＊✿❀○❀✿＊*

“One more ride?” Harry asked, and Louis nodded, carrying a sleepy looking Cassie, while Joe was wide awake after a second power nap in his pushchair. They’d let him out a little earlier and he’d toddled around clutching onto Harry’s hand, babbling away to himself. 

“What were you thinking?”

“The ferris wheel?” Harry suggested, looking up at the large rotating wheel, knowing it was something they’d be able to do as a family. “You could have Cass, and I’ll have Joe on my lap…”

“Perfect.”

They headed over, and let the lady in charge take away the buggy as they situated themselves in the little carriage, pulling the safety bar down on top of them, making sure it wasn’t going to squash Cassie or Joe which it thankfully didn’t. 

“How high we go?” Cassie asked in wonder, staring around and startling slightly when the ride creaked into motion, slowing for the next pod to empty and refill with new customers. “Oh!”

“Look up there,” Louis said softly, directing her gaze up to the top of the wheel, where the top pod rocked back and forth slightly. “Quite high. We’ll be able to see all over the fair from up there.”

They didn’t talk much as the wheel lifted them higher and higher towards the sky, Cassie making the odd remark when she spotted a ride she’d been on. The crowds were definitely thinning now, most families started to make their way home to beat the rush, but Harry wasn’t in any kind of hurry. It had been a pretty perfect day in his opinion, and he wanted to make sure Louis knew it. This was, after all, completely thanks to him.

“We’ve had an amazing day,” he said softly into Louis’ ear, loving how the other man leaned in to his touch. Their heads rested together for a second before Louis looked up, shifting his body slightly so they could look at each other. “I mean it. How you included Cass and Joe… it means so much to me.”

“Good,” Louis whispered back before he brushed their lips together again, stealing a quick kiss. “I’ve had a fantastic day, too.”

Joe bashed his little hands on the bar then, breaking Louis and Harry from their daze, and Harry was surprised to see Cassie staring up at them, her little face scrunched up in confusion.

“What’s up, Cassie?”

“You kiss.”

“We did,” Harry nodded, his heart racing in his chest at Cassie’s honesty, wondering what to say. “Is that okay with you?”

“Why you kiss?”

“Um,” Harry floundered, but Louis stepped in, jiggling Cassie on his leg so she could look at him.

“I really like your daddy, Cass,” he began, and Harry was sure he was the only one who could hear the wobble of nerves in the other man’s voice. “And when you really like someone, sometimes you kiss them to remind them, or show them that you like them.”

“I kiss Daddy and Joe.”

“You do, because you love them. And I want Daddy to know I like him a lot, so I gave him a kiss.”

“‘Kay,” she shrugged, turning back around and pointing out the tall helter skelter she’d been too scared to go on earlier in the day. “Ooh, so big!”

It seemed that was that. Harry was grateful Cassie was so accepting of whatever this was between himself and Louis, and if the couple held hands the rest of the ride, then it was no one else’s business but their own. As they disembarked a little while later, Harry went for the pushchair while Louis took Cassie out of the way. He was knelt in front of the pushchair, clipping Joe in and tucking a blanket around his legs when a woman in the fair uniform approached, Cassie’s cardigan in her hands.

“Your boyfriend dropped this, they went too quickly so I thought I’d return it.”

“Oh, thank you so much,” Harry smiled, loving how the woman had called Louis his boyfriend. He hurried to join the other two, and clearly, Louis had spotted the smile on his face, giving him a questioning glance as they finally headed for the exit.

“What’s got you grinning like the cat who got the cream?”

“Well,” Harry said, stopping at the roadside to let a car cross. “A woman back there. She, uh, she called you my boyfriend. And I didn’t correct her.”

“No?” Louis said with a smile, and Harry quickly shook his head. “Good. Been calling you that in my head since our date the other day, anyway.”

“Well, boyfriend, want to come home with us and help put the kids to bed? Could share some wine after if you’ve got time.”

“I’ve always got time,” Louis smiled, taking Harry’s hand and bringing it to his lips for a kiss. “Let’s go home.”

They were slow on the way home, Cassie now asleep on Louis, slowing them down slightly. Joe was nodding off too, and by the time they arrived at Harry’s front door, he was sound asleep too. The pair worked together silently to leave the buggy on the doorstep as they carried their sleeping charges inside, creeping up the stairs.

“Where’s his pj’s?” Louis asked quietly, and Harry replied they were on the side of his cot, and that Louis needed to change his nappy before worrying that was too much to ask and offering to do it himself. “I can manage a nappy, love. Not much scares me off.”

Harry nodded and took charge of Cassie, waking her enough that he could get her into her nightie and brush her hair before laying her in bed.

“Where’s Lou?”

“Putting Joe down. I’ll make sure he comes and says goodnight,” Harry whispered, reaching for her stuffed bunny and tucked it into bed next to her. “Did you have a good day with Lou?”

“Best,” she replied, yawning as she spoke. “So fun. Like Lou.”

“Me too,” Harry replied, kissing her quickly. “Sleep tight, darling. I love you so much, Cass.”

“Love you,” Cassie whispered, smiling softly as she saw Louis appear over Harry’s shoulder. “Lou!”

“Oi, go to sleep,” Louis joked as Harry moved out of the way, letting Louis perch on the side of her bed. “Have lovely dreams, okay?”

“Yeah, night Lou.”

Harry watched as she stretched up her little arms, wrapping them around Louis’ neck and kissing his cheek before she finally let him go. They whispered more goodnights to her before they left, shutting her door behind them.

“I’ll just say night to Joe. You can help yourself to the wine,” Harry said, and Louis nodded, smiling at Harry before he headed downstairs. Harry walked down the hallway into Joe’s room where his son was now sound asleep, tucked in soft blankets and his little blue checked pyjamas. “Night, Joejoe. Love you.”

By the time Harry made his way downstairs, Louis was curled up in the corner of his sofa, a bottle of red in front of him, two half full glasses waiting. There was also a sharing bag of crisps, and Harry grinned, sitting down right at Louis’ side, almost squashing the other man. Louis leaned forward and grabbed both glasses of wine, handing one to Harry.

“Thank you,” Harry said, resting into Louis’ body, making himself comfortable. “God, I’m knackered.”

“I won’t stay too long, then,” Louis said. “I could do with an early night too. Work tomorrow and all that.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Harry sipped the wine, enjoying the rich, fruity taste for a moment before he swallowed. “Lou?”

“Yes, love?”

“Thank you again, for today, I mean. We really did have a lovely time.”

“You’re welcome. Mum mentioned it the other day and I thought it’d be nice for all of us to go. Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Just… are you real? Did you seriously go on a second date with my kids in tow?”

“I did, and I bloody loved it. They’re amazing, Harry, a real credit to you. I loved hanging out with them. They make life fun, somehow.”

“They do, don’t they?” Harry answered with pride, swirling the remaining wine around his glass carefully. “They really like you as well, you know. Cass’s pretty good at telling me when she doesn’t like something, so the way she is with you… that says it all to me.”

“They’re important to you, of course they are. I can see it in how everything you do is for them. So I want to make sure you know I’m in this completely. For you, and the children. I understand they’re always going to come first. That some days you’ll be too tired to even bother phoning me, and that’s okay. I just… I want to be there for you. To make you happy, and to support you. And maybe one day…”

They shared a secret smile, knowing exactly how Louis wanted to end that sentence. With three little words that Harry hadn’t ever said to anyone except his mum, sister and his children, but words he somehow knew he’d be happy saying to Louis in a while if things kept going so well. It might only be their second proper date, but it felt like a lot more than that.

“It means a lot that you say that. It took a lot for me to get them. It was hard to find a surrogate who understood I was a single dad, that I wanted to do this alone. But when I did, everything just fell into place, and then Cassie came along, and a few years later, Joe. They completed me in a way I didn’t know I was missing.”

Louis smiled, running his free hand through Harry’s hair, keeping them connected. “Then they’ll always know how wanted they were. And I feel lucky to even be a tiny part of your family.”

Harry reached and put his wine glass back on the table, doing the same with Louis’ a second later. He crossed his legs in front of him and reached out, cupping Louis’ cheek with his hand. “You’re pretty bloody special, Louis Tomlinson,” he whispered, and Louis smiled shyly, ducking his head slightly. “I mean it. I’m kinda glad you and your crazy dog crashed our Easter Egg hunt, you know.”

“Really?”

“Really,” Harry confirmed, smiling before he sealed his words with a kiss.

*＊✿❀○❀✿＊*

Two years later

“Where’s Lou?”

Harry glanced at his watch, sighing lightly. “He’ll be here, love. If not, we’ll go in and see Mrs Harris ourselves, okay?”

Cassie pouted at his side, her school summer dress stained with the yogurt Harry had put in her lunchbox earlier in the day, and a streak of mud Harry assumed was from playtime on the field. “But I want him here!”

As if Cassie moaning had summoned him, Harry saw Louis pulling into the car park, the windows sliding up and into position. He jogged across the car park to meet him, and reached into the car, pulling their six month old son Archie into his arms while Louis wrestled with a grumpy looking Joe.

“Hello, love-”

“Sorry, sorry I’m late!” Louis said, locking the car and coming to Harry’s side, kissing him quickly on the lips as they walked back to where Cassie was waiting for them. “The bloody nursery was running late, I thought I was going to miss it - hiya, love, I’m here now, sorry!”

“S’okay,” Cassie said, grinning up sweetly to the man who had become her second father over the past two years. “Can we go in now?”

“Sure,” Harry agreed, the family of five heading into the primary school that Cassie attended, now a proud Year 1 student. “We’ve got a couple of minutes, take your time, sweetheart.”

Harry managed to keep Archie quiet as they took a seat on the benches set out for waiting parents, Joe and Cassie running over to where the teachers had set up a play area full of Lego, puzzles and books to keep children amused while their parents spoke to the teachers.

“Parents of Cassie Tomlinson-Styles?”

Harry stood up and looked down at Louis, who was still sitting on the bench, eyes on their children. “You coming in?”

“You sure?”

Harry rolled his eyes, grabbing Louis’ hand and pulling him to his feet. “Of course I’m sure. She’s our daughter, right?”

Louis grinned and nodding, taking Archie from Harry as they walked over to where Cassie’s teacher was sitting, greeting them both with a handshake. They listened proudly as Mrs Harris told them how well Cassie was doing, what an eager student she was, and what a kind friend she was to everyone in the class with her.

“She talks about your family all the time,” Mrs Harris said with a smile, waving fondly at the little boy bouncing gently on Louis’ knee, happily chewing on the end of Louis’ tie. “He’s so adorable, how old is he?”

“Six months last Sunday,” Louis grinned proudly, stroking Archie’s soft hair back from his face. “He’s such a good baby, we’re very lucky.”

The teacher launched into an explanation of Cassie’s predicted levels for the next few primary years, and Louis and Harry looked intently at her books, loving her phonetic spelling and childlike drawings scrawled all over the pages. 

“Thank you,” both men said, thanking the teacher as they walked away, making room for the next set of parents to speak to her. “Cass, Joe, come on, loves.”

“We goin’ home?” Joe asked, and Harry nodded, taking a hand of each Cassie and Joe as they headed out of the school. “See Cliffy?”

“Yep, we can go home and see Clifford,” Harry smiled, coming to a stop by his car. They’d already arranged that he’d drive Cassie home, and Louis would take their boys, meeting at home for the takeaway they’d promised Cassie if she got a good report, which they always knew she would. “Get yourself in the car, love, I’ll check your seatbelt in a sec.”

Louis had parked just a space up, and Harry stood and watched as he strapped Joe in, Archie already nestled in his baby seat next to his big brother. Harry pulled a face at his youngest son, his blue eyes as piercing as Louis’ own, his hair the same shade of sandy brown too. Harry loved how much Archie looked like his daddy, how easily he’d completed their family. 

“I’ll see you at home, love?” Louis said as Harry turned back to him, nodding dopily, taken for a second by Louis’ beauty. “Earth to Harry…”

The sunlight caught on the gold band on Louis’ ring finger as he closed the door, and Harry just stepped closer, giving his husband a rough kiss, not caring who might be watching. “Yes, Lou, I’ll see you there. Follow me home?”

“I’ll follow you anywhere,” Louis said fondly, and Harry rolled his eyes, secretly loving when Louis got romantic like this with him. It was everything he’d ever wanted in a husband, and taking a chance on Louis had definitely been the best thing Harry had ever done in his life. His children were now being raised in a happy home, with two parents who loved both of them with everything they had, and who loved each other equally as much. “I love you, Harry.”

“I love you too, Lou.”

Louis had been Harry’s chance to begin again, to have the family he’d always wanted. While Cassie and Joe had been that for him, there was nothing quite like coming home to his husband and three children, watching them play together, eat together, having fun together. Laughter filled the Tomlinson-Styles household every day, smiles adorned their faces each morning they woke up, and Harry was the happiest he’d ever been. All because one man and his mad dog, who coincidentally Harry now loved to bits too, had crashed into his life one Easter morning. 

Lucky didn’t begin to describe it.