Archive of Our Own ^beta

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Taking a deep breath, Louis wipes his sweaty palms on his jeans, noticing a scuff on his white Vans and feeling his nerves grow upon seeing the flaw. He needs to get the courage to knock on the oak door in front of him, but as soon as he knocks, he will meet the child who he’s going to hopefully nanny this summer. He never thought a night of drinks would lead him to be standing at a massive door attached to a massive house to be interviewed as a nanny, but here he is. A hesitant fist hovers, ready to knock on the hard surface, when suddenly the door swings open revealing a small child with a huge smile plastered on her face.

“You’re here, finally!” She beams up at him, haphazardly brushing her orange hair away from her eyes. 

He can’t help but let a grin fill his face at her anticipation. Bunching his pants at his ankles, he crouches down to her level. “You must be Margret.” 

“Actually, only my daddy calls me that when I’m in trouble,” she explains with an assertive tone. “So you can call me Margo.”

“Well, Margo , it’s nice to meet you. I’m Louis.” He laughs lightly at the small girl's sassiness. The two quickly get interrupted when there's a booming voice echoing through the corridor.

“Margret Lynn, what did I say about opening the door without me?” The deep voice startles Louis slightly as he stands up, watching as Margo hangs her head in shame.

“Told you,” she mutters and crosses her arms with a pout on her lips. 

A ring clad hand comes from behind the doorway and sits atop her head, fingers gently mussing the orange curls. “You’re not making a great first impression with your listening skills, are you?” The man teases her, making her blush into his thigh. Louis looks up to be met with one of the most gorgeous men he’s ever seen. 

He’s stunning and obviously much older than Louis, judging by the barely there crows' feet wrinkled by his eyes as he smiles. Broad shoulders fill the white shirt he’s wearing. His brown curls are short and fluffy, a few silver strands peek through from the sunlight above them, and thick hair adorns his top lip along with some stubble causing Louis to stare longer than he should. 

“I’m Harry, Margo’s father.” He lifts a hand out for Louis to shake. 

Fitting his smaller hand in Harry’s to shake, Louis says, “It’s so nice to meet you.” Louis gives him a stiff smile, his lips tight to hide his nerves and they drop their hands. His eyes meet Harry’s, noticing they match the little girls between them, mossy green outlines the pupil fading to an olive-like color. The two could be twins aside from the hair color.

“Come on in.” Harry opens the door wider and steps aside, allowing Louis to step inside. Margo sticks right beside her dad, following as they venture further into the house. Everything looks expensive and Louis is scared to move, scared of ruining something.

“You can set your shoes beside mine, right here!” Margo points down towards the pair of small pink flats. Louis nods, toeing off his Vans and setting them where she wanted. “I love your socks!” She says excitedly, eyes wide at the pink color.

“Thank you! It’s my favorite color!” Louis tells her, making her cover her mouth in excitement.

“Mine too! Daddy, Louis’ favourite color is the same as mine!” Margo tugs on his pant leg excitedly as Harry nods, raising his eyebrows in amusement. Louis barely catches the smile on Harry's lips before he says they can talk in the kitchen. 

“Why don’t you go do some coloring in the sitting room, baby?” Harry brushes a few stray curls out of her face. “Louis and I are just going to talk about boring stuff.” 

She nods eagerly and hugs his leg before bounding into the next room. Louis clasps his hands together, playing with his fingers, trying not to show his nervousness.

Stepping into the huge kitchen, he notices the white washed counters and matching cabinets that fill the room. A marble island sits in the middle with silver appliances throughout. Louis notices there's a few drawings on the fridge and alphabet letters scattered spelling ‘Margo lovs Dady’. The misspelling shouldn't be so endearing. Harry motions for Louis to take a seat on one of the island stools, so he does, hoping he doesn’t come off as anxious as he feels. 

“Would you like a drink? Water, coffee?” Harry asks him, pouring himself a glass of water from the pitcher in the center of the island. Louis tries not to judge the fruit floating in it.

“Oh! No thank you, I’m fine.” He smiles gently and lets his eyes follow Harry as he sits on the chair beside him. Louis can smell his cologne, a tobacco and vanilla mix that somehow only  makes him more attractive.

“Sorry to ask you to come over so late.” Harry cringes, checking the time on the stove, reading six-forty. “Brandon just spoke so highly of you and I wanted to meet right away. I’m glad you contacted me,” Harry starts, lifting his glass to take a drink. Louis nods, now fiddling with his fingers at the thought of them talking about him.

“No worries, I wasn’t busy at all,” Louis assures him, lifting his eyes. “And yeah, I had just mentioned to him that I was looking for a job this summer and he said he knew someone; you guys sounded like a perfect fit,” Louis explains, which was completely the truth. He had been out for drinks the other night with his group of friends, celebrating their last exams for the year, and Louis was whining about how he needed a job over break because there was no way he wanted to go back to Indiana to wait tables all summer. He wanted to take an extra course next year on top of his Child and Youth studies, specifically a methodology class to add onto his resume for when he graduates the following May. He knew he couldn't afford it just with student loans so Brandon, a friend he made first year, had mentioned that his boss from his summer internship at the law firm was looking for a new nanny. Louis couldn’t imagine working at a law firm for free all summer; the things law students will do. But, Louis instantly asked for the contact information because he adored kids and he needed the money. The experience for his degree was just an added bonus. 

Nodding, Harry asks, “So, what does your availability look like? I’m looking for someone full time, since my work schedule is hectic with a new case that just came up, and being a partner at the firm.” He turns his larger frame to face Louis, resting an elbow on the island counter. 

“I’m available anytime. I just finished my third year at OSU so I'm free all summer,” Louis tells the older man, causing him to hum in thought. 

“What are you studying?” He surprisingly asks next. Louis smiles at his interest and stops himself from going on a thirty minute tangent about his coursework and how much he loves it.

“I’m majoring in Child and Youth studies.” Harry raises his brows, nodding for him to continue. “I want to be a child psychologist when I graduate. I adore kids. Unfortunately, I’m an only child and I didn't have younger siblings growing up, which I would have loved, but I always picked up babysitting jobs in highschool and worked at camps in the summers when I was younger.”

“Oh wow, so you have experience in this?” 

“Yes! Well, I like to think I do at least.” He tries not to blush because he really does love kids and this job would be perfect for him, but he doesn’t want to come off cocky.

“That's great, it sounds like you really enjoy this,” Harry says sincerely. “What I’m looking for is someone to be here every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from eight-thirty in the morning till around five o-clock, sometimes a bit later. Wednesdays are my days off during the week, and you will have weekends off as well.” Louis nods as Harry explains, mentally writing everything down, cursing himself for not bringing a notebook. “The job would obviously be caring for Margo, cooking her meals, taking her to ballet on Tuesdays and Fridays, keeping her active and busy during the day to make sure she’s tired by bedtime, things like that. Some light housework, too, if you’re up for it, just laundry and keeping hurricane Margo’s mess to a minimum. I try to keep the house clean, as you can see.” Harry pauses again and waits for Louis’ nod in confirmation before continuing. “You’ll be paid seven hundred weekly—,” Louis tries not to let his eyes bulge out of his head at that: it’s more than he’s ever made in his life. “And I can give you extra money towards gas for taking her to dance and such.” 

“That's great, I can definitely do all of that,” and more, which he refrains from adding. He wouldn’t let Harry’s house get messy of course. He can do his dishes, sweep, etc. He's not an animal. Also, he should do that little extra for seven hundred dollars a week. 

“The days and time are fine for you? The pay as well?” He asks, a hopeful look in his eyes as he takes another drink of his water. 

“Yes, absolutely. It all sounds great.” Louis smiles. He catches Harry eyeing his leg that’s been bouncing anxiously. He stops immediately, feeling his cheeks heat up from his nervousness.

“Margo’s amazing and I’m not being biased.” Harry lifts a hand in mock defence making Louis laugh lightly into his hand. “She’s a little spit fire and we’re trying to work on her sassiness,” the man says honestly.

“She seems great, very confident,” Louis states and turns his head suddenly at the sound of feet running across the floor. He sees Margo slide into the kitchen on the tile floor, stumbling slightly, losing her balance. Louis notices there's a pink rag doll in her hand.

“Louis! Louis!” She bounces, running over and setting the doll in his lap. “Look at what I have!” She bounces on her toes in excitement, grinning up at him. Louis runs his fingers over the material of the doll and matches her smile.

“Oh my goodness!” He gasps, over doing it just a little. “I love it. I used to have one quite similar when I was younger!” He says and her mouth drops open. He can't help but notice Harry resting his chin in his palm, watching his daughter talk about her doll.

“No way! That's so cool, isn’t it daddy?” She whips her head around and looks to her dad, who nods eagerly. She then puts her arms up for her dad. He reaches down and lifts her up onto his hip as she busys herself with running her fingers through the doll's hair. Louis once again notices how much they look alike with their faces so close together. The only prominent difference is their hair colors. Louis assumes it's a feature she gets from her mother. 

“So, when can you start?” Harry asks, swaying to music only he can hear and making Margo giggle in response to the movement.

“Oh wow, really?!” Louis says, sitting up straighter at his words. He didn’t think he would get hired right on the spot, he figured Harry would have to think about it more, maybe even ask for references.

“Yes, I think we both would love to have you, right Mar?” Harry bends his head down, nuzzling her cheek and making her laugh and pushes his head away because ‘ that tickles, daddy .’ 

Louis tries not to think too hard about Harry saying he wanted to have him because this is a professional setting and the man is most definitely straight. Not to mention that he’s going to be his boss soon. But he can’t help his brain from noticing how unfairly good looking he is. 

“Oh, thank you! Uhm, I can start whenever you need me,” Louis replies with a hopeful voice, wanting it to be sooner than later. 

“Start now!” Margo bounces in her spot on Harry’s hip, pressing her hands together in a praying motion. “Pretty please!” She begs and Louis laughs at how cute she is. Harry shakes his head fondly as he sets her down on the counter and squeezes her sides. 

“We don’t need Louis here when I’m home, silly,” Harry explains as she forms a dramatic pout on her lips. Her big green eyes grow in sadness, and Louis already knows that look will be deadly. 

“But I want to play…” she says slowly and picks at a patch on her doll's leg. Louis wants to reach out and comfort her, but Harry beats him to it. 

“We could give Louis a tour instead?” Harry asks, raising his eyebrows in question at her. The girl between them squeals excitedly and reaches over to grab Louis’ hand in hers.

“Yes! You have to come see my room, I have a princess bed!” Margo pulls his arm and Louis helps her off the counter before letting her take him towards the huge staircase through an open concept living room/dining room. There is a black sectional that wraps around the walls, filling the majority of the space. He notices a few toys and books scattered over the cushions and a cartoon playing in the background on the giant TV. They climb the stairs, Margo trying to skip a step every time and Louis telling her to be careful. He genuinely forgot Harry was following them until he noticed him standing in the doorway of Margo’s room.

She was right, her bed was princess themed. The whole room is a pastel pink, matching her bed set. The head board is shaped like a crown, a pink duvet covers her mattress, and a pile of pillows and a bunch of different stuffed penguins fill the rest of the space. She has fairy lights hanging on each corner, ballet ribbons and certificates tacked onto her wall, and a bin overflowing with toys and even more stuffed animals underneath them. There's a huge closet and bookshelf to the left, filled to the brim with stories. Louis would’ve killed for a room like this as a kid.

“Wow Margo, I love it,” Louis says in awe, looking around as she lets go of his hand and runs over to her bed, jumping onto it with a giggle. Louis notices a framed picture on her bedside table of her and a woman that definitely has to be her mother, the red hair is a huge indicator, as well the fact that the woman is kissing her cheek as they hug. Louis can’t help but notice she hasn't mentioned her mom once, and neither had Harry.

“Thank you! Daddy helped me decorate, but it was all my ideas,” she says proudly, holding her head high. Louis turns when he hears Harry snort behind him. He’s leaning on the doorframe, arms crossed and an amused look on his face as he rubs his facial hair on his jaw and Louis imagines what it would feel like on his thighs.

“Well, you have great taste.” He winks at her and she covers her mouth with both her hands in a laugh. She hops off her bed, running past the two and calling for them to follow her down the hall. 

They continue the tour, Margo opening the doors to show him the bathroom upstairs, a guest room for when ‘my aunty, uncle, and cousin come over for sleepovers’. She points to which room is Harry’s, which they don't enter. The trio make their way back down stairs after and Harry shows him the main level bathroom and the backyard. Margo attempts to get them to play on the swing set but Harry threatens to throw her in the pool— yeah, there's a pool— if she doesn’t get her butt back inside. 

“Well,” Harry claps his hands together when they make it back into the hallway of the front entrance. “It’s getting close to bedtime for you missy.” Before she can even whine in disagreement Harry gives her a look and she sighs knowingly. 

“I don’t want Louis to leave just yet.” She walks over and wraps around his leg as he struggles to put his Vans on. 

“I work on Thursday so Louis will be back then, alright?” He crouches down and runs his fingers through the orange locks, peeling her off of Louis. He assumes that is a comfort thing for her since Harry seems to do it a lot. Noted. “Say goodbye to Louis and go pick out some pyjamas, okay?” He kisses her cheek as he stands.

“Bye Louis! I can’t wait to see you in two sleeps!” She says holding up two fingers and then bolts out of the hallway up the stairs before he can even reply. Louis goes to open the door, but Harry steps into his space and grabs the door knob before he can, opening it for him. He pointedly does not notice how close they get. Instead, he takes a step outside, turning on the top step before walking down.

“Thank you again, I’ll see you Thursday?” Louis says it more as a question, hoping he didn’t misunderstand anything and did indeed get the job.

“See you Thursday,” Harry confirms with nods and a charming smile, following with, “Have a great night, Louis.” 

“You too!” He gives a quick wave and walks down the steps, making his way towards his car, it's an old Toyota RAV 4, thankfully spacious enough for when he’ll have to drive Margo to dance. When he settles into his seat, he slaps a hand over his mouth in shock and does a small dance. He got the job, on the spot! A job that pays better than any he’s ever had before. And the girl he’s going to be looking after is an absolute darling and his boss is smoking fucking hot. He’s not sure what angels blessed him today but he’s thankful because—

What the fuck.

✩°̥࿐

Louis’ first day goes better than he expected. 

He had a hard time sleeping the night before due to nerves and excitement. He makes sure to wake up early though, and gives himself enough time to get ready. Zayn, his roommate and best friend, stumbles tiredly into the bathroom as Louis is brushing his teeth to wish him good luck. He makes sure to hug Zayn goodbye and puts a blanket over him when he falls back asleep on the couch.

He arrives five minutes early, making sure he doesn't show tardiness because he needs to make a good impression on his first day, of course. When he knocks on the door it only takes a few seconds before the door swings open to reveal Harry, who's wearing an expensive looking button up sweater vest combo— are those lambs?  

“Good morning,” Harry says, motioning Louis inside. His hair is styled nicely atop his head, Louis notices as he steps inside because he really wants to run his fingers through it. When the door closes behind him, he watches as Harry starts rolling up his white sleeves and buttoning them to his elbows.

“Morning!” He replies, toeing off his shoes and setting them where he did a few days prior. Harry waves him to follow him into the kitchen to reveal Margo, who’s happily eating cereal while perched on a stool  at the island. She lights up when she notices Louis' presence and gasps loudly.

“Louis, you’re here!” She beams, going to climb off her stool when Harry stops her with a stern ‘ Finish first. ’ Staying put, she shoves another bite of froot loops into her mouth. 

“Hey Margo! I can’t wait to hang out all day, we’re going to have so much fun,” he says sincerely because he actually is going to have so much fun today and he already knows it. She nods, agreeing, refraining from speaking with her mouth full. He catches Harry's smug look at his good job at teaching her that manner.

“So, I left a list here to get you started. It’s mostly just important notes about what she enjoys doing during the day, her favorite foods, and emergency numbers; my office, my mom's cell, her pediatrician — you have mine already right from when we talked over the phone?” Harry points as Louis nods following along the list. He reads quickly, skimming over the important points. He can smell Harry’s cologne once again, and he does everything he can to not notice it. 

Harry rounds the island to kiss Margo on the head and grabs a travel mug from the counter, most likely full of coffee. “Alright, I’ll see you later. Be good for Louis okay?” She smiles wide.

“Don’t worry, daddy I will be the bestest I can be,” she assures him as he laughs at her words. He says an ‘ I love you ’ to her before he’s off and Louis makes sure to wish him a good day before  he’s gone with the sound of the door shutting.

“Well Miss Margo, why don’t you finish up your breakfast and we’ll make a plan for today? How does that sound?” Louis suggests, pulling out the other stool beside her and sitting down. She nods happily, her sleep mused curls bounces at the movement. She takes another spoonful into her mouth and Louis has to tell her to slow down at one point because she gets too excited.

Their day goes like this; Louis helps her pick out an outfit and she swears she didn’t purposely match with him. She swears. Margo then sits Louis down, showing off her stuffed penguin collection, and Louis attempts to memorize each name because there's a lot . They do the same puzzle three times because ‘it's my most favorite puzzle my gran got me’ . Margo then begs him to go on the swings with her because her dad only pushes her and doesn’t swing with her because ‘ he has old man knees’ . Louis tries not to laugh. He then makes her a snack around eleven, consisting of cheese and crackers, and she watches Happy Feet in the living room while she eats because it's her favorite movie . He had to double check the note Harry left to confirm they’re allowed to eat on the couch. They are. As she eats, Louis settles into the couch next to her, smiling when she curls up into his side when she’s finished her lunch. After, per Harry’s instructions, Louis sends Margo up to her room afterwards for quiet time, and he’s surprisingly pleased by her lack of arguing. While she’s in her room, Louis does some quick tidying up around the house, picking up Margo’s toys scattered and doing the dishes from the morning. When he’s done, he makes himself a quick sandwich while he has a few extra moments. 

Now, the two are sitting on the floor of the living room, Margo fitted snugly into Louis crossed legs as he leans his back against the couch. She is attempting to braid her dolls hair as Louis braids hers while some music plays softly in the background. There are a few curls that escape and fall into her face, which she’s okay with, she assures him. Louis is listening intently as she tells him a story about when she and Harry went to the zoo a few weeks ago, celebrating her last week of kindergarten. 

“The monkeys were scratching their armpits and it was so funny when daddy copied them! He made a monkey noise, and everyone made a face, but I was laughing so, so hard!” She tells Louis as he lets out a soft laugh, picturing the older man pretending to be a monkey is hilarious. He focuses on his fingers as he collects the hair to braid. “I also got to see tigers which usually we don’t get to see because they’re always sleeping.”

“That’s so exciting! I have never been to the zoo before but I would love to see the zebras. They're my favorite animal,” Louis tells her honestly. She gasps, turning around while Louis has to hold his spot on her hair so the braid doesn't fall out. 

“We have to go.” Margo puts on a serious face, and Louis knows she means business. “We should go now!” Her eyes widen with excitement, going to stand up but Louis stops her. 

“Oh, we can’t today unfortunately. It’s too late, we’d barely have any time before we’d have to be back for dinner. But maybe we can go another time?” He suggests. “What's your favorite animal?” He asks to divert the conversation so she doesn't get upset. She instantly forgets that he said no and goes about telling Louis what her favorite animal is and why: Penguins because they find another penguin that they will love forever, did you know that? He did, but he doesn't let on.

After Louis finishes her hair they rush to the bathroom so she can see herself in the tall mirror. Louis lifts her up onto his hip so she can look. 

“Oh, it’s beautiful! Thanks, Lou!” She says in complete awe, pulling the long braid in front of her and playing with it. She hugs his neck tightly in his hold and Louis does everything he can to hold back tears because she’s so sweet. He feels immediately lucky that he gets paid to do this all summer.

As the afternoon turns into evening, Louis can’t believe it when he hears the front door open. He looks at the clock on the stove as he reads five—twenty. His first day flew right by, in a good way, of course.

The sound of keys jangles and they can hear Harry shuffling about the hallway as he and Margo are sitting at the island doing some coloring. Margo is trying to quickly finish her picture because it was specifically going to be for her dad. Louis is finishing his last doodle of a flower when Harry walks into the kitchen, a huge smile on his face, a dimple popping on his cheek. Louis almost melts into his stool.

“Well, well, well, look at you two! What's going on here?” The older man asks, dropping his briefcase at his feet and walking over on the opposite side of the counter to face them. His eyes crinkle when he sees Margo trying her best to hide her drawing with her tiny hands. 

“Wait! Don’t look, I have to finish one thing, close your eyes!” She gives him a stern look and he puts his hands up in defence. 

“No ‘hello daddy, so happy to see you’?” He teases but covers his eyes anyway. Louis watches, leaning his head in his palm and then leans in when Margo waggles a finger at him to come closer.

“Can you write ‘to daddy, love margo’ for me, please?” She tries her best to whisper, cupping her hand on the wrong side of her mouth towards Harry. Louis holds in his laugh while her dad lets out a low chuckle. Louis nods and takes the red crayon from the small hand, quickly scribbling the words and then passing her back the writing utensil. “Okay! All done, you can look now!” She announces and holds up her drawing proudly in front of her chest. 

“Oh wow, Margo!” Harry gasps, a loving look spreading across his face. Louis can see even through his tiredness from his long day that he still gives Margo all his energy and attention. “It’s amazing, baby. Thank you.” He takes the piece of paper, and puts it on the fridge beside the other drawings. Louis is obsessed with the fact Harry is treating a stick figure drawing of him and Margo at the zoo with monkeys like he’s staring at the Mona Lisa. It’s honestly endearing as hell.

And more than a little bit attractive. 

“Thanks daddy, I did it all by myself!” 

“You did? You had no help?” He questions, eyeing her and then looking over at Louis and back to her again. She bites her lip and then deflates. 

“Actually, Louis helped me with the writing because I’m not the bestest speller yet,” she admits and Louis runs his hand over her braid. 

“Margo did all the work, I just helped out a little. Right?” He says twirling the end of her hair in his fingers. She nods and agrees, telling Harry she drew it.

“That was very nice of you, I love it very much but,” he drags the word as he quickly rounds the counter and picks her up. “I especially love you!” He laughs, blowing a raspberry into her cheek. Giggles fill the room and Louis feels his cheeks hurt with how much he’s smiling.

When Margo finishes telling her father about her day and what they got up to, Harry tells her to say her goodbyes. Today’s goodbye is hard for her, and even though it was only their first day together, Louis can feel the adoration from the girl and he definitely feels the same. She has a sad look on her face as Louis puts his shoes on as she's sitting on Harry's hip. She leans her head on Harry's shoulder and pouts. It’s so adorable, Louis’ heart clenches.

“I’ll be back tomorrow bright and early, I promise!” He says, opening the door. Harry tells her to say goodbye and she waves sadly. Louis wants to run back in and cuddle her for the rest of the night, but knowing his limits, he says goodbye and shuts the door before he can’t resist.

When he gets home he practically sulks to the couch, plopping down beside Zayn who's playing a video game on the Playstation.

“How was your first day?” He asks, pausing his game and throwing the controller onto the coffee table. Louis lays down, resting his head in Zayn's lap. He didn’t realize how played out he was until now, but an active five year old has kept him busy all day, so it's not surprising.

“Amazing actually,” Louis says, yawning into the back of his hand, smiling and thinking about his day with Margo. “I can’t wait to go tomorrow, I’m excited.”

“Excited to see her or excited to see him ?”

Louis hits him on the shoulder as he laughs. “Fuck off, obviously her,” he groans in annoyance. “One, he’s my boss . Two, he’s the father of the kid I'm nannying.” Zayn gives him a look that says ‘and? ’ “I regret telling you that I think her dad is hot,” Louis groans, throwing a couch pillow over his face to hide his blush. 

The thing is, you really can’t blame him. Harry is honestly the most gorgeous man Louis has ever seen. He’s exactly his type, which doesn’t help at all, and he’s absolutely wonderful with his adorable daughter.. Unfortunately, Zayn did some facebook stalking and noticed all of this too.

“Am I wrong?” Zayn pinches Louis' side and that makes the smaller boy sit up and chuck a pillow at Zayn's head. He starts walking towards the bathroom to get away from his best friend's knowing smile.

“Gonna go have a bath, I can’t handle this harassment.” Louis throws him the finger when all Zayn does is cackle.

“You can’t handle the truth! Just admit you love DILFS,” Zayn calls out to him and Louis doesn’t answer.

Because he is absolutely right.

✩°̥࿐

Louis can’t recall a time where he’s actually enjoyed going to work. But here he is, arriving almost fifteen minutes early every day because he’s so excited to start his day. They’ve already settled into a routine, him and Margo. Harry doesn’t seem to mind at all when Louis shows up early, especially since Louis has started preparing his morning coffee before he even has a chance to get downstairs.

It’s the next Friday, meaning it's already been a full week with Margo, and the whole week has seemed to fly by. The previous weekend, after only two days with the little girl, he had found himself painfully antsy and unsure of what to do with himself. (He actually got a lot done around the apartment, distraction cleaning can be a real godsend to a messy home). In the short time he’s worked for the family, he’s quickly gotten to know Margo; her quirks, personality, likes and dislikes — which he adores greatly. He’s also gotten to know Harry; how much of an amazing father he is, his charm, and his kindhearted nature. Louis knows where Margo gets it from. He should add that the dad jokes are also unbelievable.

On this Friday morning, the two men decide to let Margo sleep in. Harry mentioned before Louis started up the stairs to wake her up that she had a hard time sleeping last night and went to bed late, something about monsters under her bed. He will have to figure something out to help with that later. 

“Tell her I love her and give her a hug for me,” Harry says, fixing his shirt collar as Louis passes him his travel mug filled with coffee, just how he likes it — splash of milk, no sugar.

“Will do, have a great day!” Louis smiles as Harry matches it and calls a swift goodbye and then he's out the door. Louis busies himself with wiping down the counter, he notices he spilt a little coffee. He moves into the living room, continuing to tidy up, fluffing the couch pillows and fixing them at each end, collecting a pair of Margos socks from the carpet that she must have taken off last night. He makes his way to the laundry room to put them into the hamper when he almost jumps out of his skin.

“Oh! Margo, you scared me,” he says resting a hand on his beating heart. The little girl is rubbing her tired eyes as she stands at the bottom of the stairs. She looks still half asleep, hair pointed in every direction and her favorite rag doll cradled close to her chest. 

”How did you sleep, honey?” Louis asks, throwing the pair of socks in the direction of the laundry room, making a mental note to pick them up later. He walks over and picks her up, resting the girl on his hip. She yawns loudly and shrugs. Louis carries her into the kitchen and sets her on the island stool.

“Had bad dreams…” she says quietly, watching carefully as Louis pours her a glass of orange juice and cuts up an apple with peanut butter for her to eat. He makes sure to put it in her Winnie the Pooh cup because he knows it will make her happy and sets the drink in front of her. She takes the cup in both her hands and takes a slow sip. 

“What about? Do you wanna talk about them?” He asks sincerely, leaning his elbows on the counter in front of her, tilting his head in question once he’s finished preparing her breakfast. 

She shrugs sadly, taking a slow bite of her apple slice. Louis can see in her eyes how tired she is and he knows that she really must've had a rough night. 

“Monsters chased me. The ones in my closet and under my bed. Don’t like them, Lou,” she tells him and takes another drink of her juice. He frowns because he remembers when he used to think there were monsters under his bed. It’s not a nice feeling.

That makes an idea pop into his head.

“You know how we can fix that?” He leans in closer with a whisper. Her eyes widened in question, shaking her head ‘ no ’.

“We make a ‘monster away’ potion, of course!” He exclaims, making the little girl gasp, mouth dropping open and green eyes going wide. “But we mustn't let them hear us, do you want to know the recipe?” Louis whispers, putting a finger to his lips.

“Yes, yes!” She yells and then quiets down immediately, whispering, “I mean, yes please…”

“C’mon, I’ll show you.” He rounds the counter, holding out his hand and she grabs it, hopping down her stool and following Louis into the bathroom.

Louis gathers a few items from underneath the bathroom sink he remembered seeing there when he was looking for Lysol one day. He grabs an empty plastic spray bottle and a package of lavender epsom salt. Margo pulls over her small step stool to see what Louis is doing on the counter. He fills the bottle up with water, pouring in the flowery scented salt, twisting on the cap, and shaking it quickly to mix it together.

“Monsters hate this smell, did you know that?” He asks and Margo shakes her head in response. “I used this when the monsters in my room bothered me, they never bothered me again.” He squirts the bottle a few times, aimed into the sink to activate it. 

“It smells pretty,” Margo states as they make their way towards her room. Louis agrees and hums, opening up her bedroom door carefully. He sees her sheets haphazardly thrown off the bed and pillows on her floor. He sets the bottle on her night stand and quickly makes her bed. Margo helps, picking up her pillows and putting them back on the bed dutifully. 

“So, what we do is spray this where the monsters are…'' Louis explains and walks over to her closet. He makes sure the bottle is on mist and sprays twice and the sweet smell of lavender fills the room. 

“Under the bed too!” She announces, pointing underneath her bed. She has her doll clutched tight to her chest again, her bottom lip protruding in her fear.

“Of course!” Louis gets on his knees, lifting up her blanket and spraying twice there too. Margo claps excitedly once he’s done.

 “No more monsters?!”

“No more monsters,” Louis smiles. He grabs a marker from her desk and writes on the bottle ‘Monsters Away Potion’ and sets it on top of her book shelf. “Now you will have it handy, just in case. But, I know for certain they won’t come back.” Louis walks over to the freckled girl, bending down to hug her tightly. 

“Promise?” She asks, still clearly wary of the idea of them coming back.

“Promise,” he says, holding out a pinky for her to wrap her smaller one with his. She giggles when he pulls her closer to tickle her sides, giggles leave her mouth as she begs him to stop.

“Let's go brush your teeth and get ready for the day, how does that sound?” He asks and she agrees thankfully with no fight.

The rest of their day is spent inside, doing puzzles and lots of coloring in the sunshine, and dealing with a very cranky Margo. 

Louis suggests a nap after lunch since she’s clearly still tired from her lack of sleep the night before. She luckily agrees and falls asleep instantly when Louis shut her light off after tucking her in. He tidies the kitchen while she’s asleep, putting away the clean dishes and sweeps the tile floor before vacuuming the carpet in the living room. He’s begun to enjoy the quiet two hours after lunch when Margo has rest time, using the time to clean up from their day and recharge himself. Usually, he even misses her a bit while she’s in her room, but today it’s a welcome break from her crankiness.

It's around two-forty when Louis wakes Margo and tells her that she needs to go get ready for her ballet class. Louis laughs into his hand when she drags herself to her closet to put on her black leotard and pink tutu, still half asleep from her nap. 

One thing he knows about Margo is that she loves to dance. Louis thinks she also just likes hanging out with the friends in her class, but that's okay too. When she comes running down the stairs, a hair brush in her left hand and a pink scrunchie in her right, Louis sits on the couch and waits. She sits patiently as Louis puts her hair into a ballerina bun — or at least tries his best. Her hair is thick and curly, but it's not quite long enough for a proper ballerina bun, unfortunately. 

“I like when you wear these, because we match for ballet,” Margo says nonchalantly, tapping his knee and then his foot. He didn’t realize his black leggings match her leotard to an extent and the pink socks he’s got on match her ballet slippers. She is so observant.

“We do, don't we?” He says as he finishes off her hair, tapping her on the shoulder indicating he’s done. “Alright, let's go get your coat on, it’s raining out.” Margo makes a disgusted noise at the thought of rain and Louis can’t help but agree. 

The two rush out of the house, trying to duck from the rain. Louis carries her to his car and buckles her into the car seat. Thankfully, Harry had an extra seat that he kindly set up in his car. It was so much easier to just have the seat permanently mounted in his backseat than having to set it up twice a week when he takes her to dance. Plus, watching Harry manhandle it into place was quite the sight to take in.

As Louis drives the short fifteen minute route to the dance studio — perks of living in the city —  he plugs his phone on so they can sing along to ‘Somebody To Love’ from the Happy Feet soundtrack, Margo’s request of course. As they finish belting the ending lyrics, Louis pulls in the parking lot, he sees a few of Margo’s friends rushing into the building as they run from the rain. He parks quickly and grabs her dance bag, pocketing his phone. 

Thankfully, they manage to get inside without getting too wet. Louis helps her take off her coat and takes her hand as they walk towards the studio door. Margo waves politely to the receptionist who greets them, and he smiles at her confidence. Louis was nervous when he took her here for the first time last week, thankful that Harry had already told everyone that Margo would be coming with someone new and it helped to settle his nerves when he was greeted warmly. Everyone was very welcoming, the other moms have made him feel comfortable, inviting him to sit with them during class. He gets to hear a lot of gossip about other moms in their group, but he stays out of it. He doesn’t want the drama, but he likes to know what's going on because, who doesn't?

“Hello Miss Margo! Hello Louis!” Ms. Williams greets them with a wave as they enter the studio. Margo grins and waves just as fast back. 

“Hi Ms. Williams! Look, me and Louis are matching!” She calls pointing at her own and then Louis leggings. He blushes deeply as Ms. Williams coos at them. Margo lights up when she notices her friend, Kaylee, running over to her. “Kaylee, Kaylee!” She chants and bounces on her toes, Louis swears she's vibrating. 

“I’ll see you after class okay?” He says and she nods, hugging his leg quickly and running off with her friend. 

Louis walks over to the row of chairs at the back of the room and he takes a seat at the end near a few empty ones, not wanting to force himself into conversations with the other women already seated. He takes out his phone and checks a few emails, scrolls through his instagram feed and answers a text from his mom. His mom was one person who was so excited for him to start this job. He made sure to call her the night he left Harry’s to tell her the exciting news. She told him that this was perfect for him and he’ll be amazing at his job. He’s pretty sure he’s been quite annoying with all the pictures he sends of him and Margo, or just Margo in general; since he started he’s probably sent over thirty photos (Margo dancing, selfies of them, pictures of Margo swinging and her in the pool on her pool floaty). But, his mom keeps insisting that she doesn’t mind. His mother always responds, be it heart eye emojis or a string of hearts. He won't mention how he sends every one of them to Harry as well, knowing he’s saved them since the younger boy noticed a picture he took of Margo is now the man's screensaver. 

“Sitting all by yourself?” Louis hears a voice ask, taking him out of his phone and forcing him to look up. Janice, one of Margo’s fellow classmate’s mothers, is sitting beside him suddenly. She sets her purse by her feet, taking a long sip of her Starbucks drink.

“Yeah, just checking some emails and such,” Louis says, motioning towards his phone and locking the screen. She nods and crosses her legs. “How are you?” Louis asks.

“I’m alright.” She doesn't even let Louis say anything before talking again. “Diana gave me such a hard time this morning. I'm pretty sure I’ve got myself free birth control now,” she sighs dramatically. 

Louis nods in understanding, even though he can’t quite relate. They continue to make small talk throughout the rest of the class. Well, Janice talks, Louis listens. He kind of wishes he sat with the other parents now since they had warned him last week about Janice and how she's a complainer. 

Louis is about to excuse himself to the bathroom, but his phone vibrating in his lap stops him. He picks it up and excuses himself for a different reason, thankful for the excuse. Exiting the studio, he leans up against the wall of the hallway and sees Harry’s contact on his lockscreen. He answers quickly.

“Hey,” he says breathlessly, not realizing he was holding his breath in. He hears the crackle over the phone and then Harry’s deep but smooth voice comes through.

“Louis?”

“Yeah? Everything okay?” He asks, getting a little worried because Harry rarely ever calls him.

“Yeah. Can you stay a little longer tonight? I have to stay at work late, something got fucked up — Sorry, uh — and I have to fix it tonight,” he explains, rambling on and Louis is sure this is the fastest he’s heard the man talk. He can already picture him running a stressed hand through his hair.

“Yes Harry, that's no problem at all,” he states, reassuring Harry that it's definitely okay. He doesn't mind staying and would honestly drop anything to help if need be.

“Oh, great. Thanks so much, Louis,” he can hear hesitation in his voice and then Harry continues. “Margo's mother is going to be picking her up around six-thirty.” There it is . “It’s her weekend with her. I asked if she could come earlier so you didn’t have to stay late but she’s refusing, claiming that it’s ‘inconvenient for her to come early’, fuckin’ ridiculous,” Harry scoffs under his breath and Louis nods, forgetting Harry can't see him. 

“Harry, don’t worry. I don’t mind at all, Uhm,” he stops, biting his lip and then asking; “Does Margos mom know I will be there when she picks her up or...?” The only reason he wants to know is if she doesn’t know will she be shocked at all?

“She hung up before I could tell her. I texted her, but she never responded, so I’m not sure.” Harry sighs, and Louis thinks he sounds really stressed. “Margo knows pretty much what to pack and what to take with her, just maybe help her fold her clothes into her bag. Make sure she doesn’t forget her ragdoll and her toothbrush”

“Okay, sounds good,” Louis says, voice light, hoping Harry can’t hear his apprehension through the speaker. 

“You’re amazing, thanks again Louis. I gotta go though, text me if you need anything, okay?”

“Okay, have a good evening! Bye, Harry.” He hangs up when Harry says bye, pocketing his phone and taking a deep breath. He's going to meet Margo's mother, the woman who Margo talks about very seldomly about. Even though she has never talked much about her mom, when she does it's usually something like ‘Oh, my mommy likes that ’ or ‘Me and mommy do that sometimes ’. He knows Harry never speaks of her, only when he had told Margo that he mixed up the weekends last week.

When Margo’s ballet class is over she bounds over to him, chugging half of her water and excitedly telling Louis about what she learned. He tells her she did amazing, of course. They bid their goodbyes to everyone and head to the car. Thankfully the rain has let up and they don’t get wet as Louis buckles her this time. 

When the pair get home, Louis tells Margo she needs to have a bath and she groans disinterestedly, but Louis promises to make bubble beards with her if she complies. He’s never seen her run so fast to have a bath.

As promised Louis makes sure to put lots of bubbles in the water. Margo’s giggles fill the house as he makes a beard out of the bubbles and then plopping a huge clump on her head. As he washes her hair, she tells him something about ballet, and he listens vaguely, nodding along when necessary.

Truthfully, he’s feeling uneasy about meeting Margo’s mom. He knows he shouldn’t be too worried, since he’s the nanny and not a threat to her at all. He decides to blame it on first time meeting jitters and not because he has to converse with the woman who was once with Harry .

When she's out of the tub, squeaky clean and in a fresh pair of lounge clothes, they sit on the couch trying to successfully play rock, paper, scissors. 

“Again, again,” she begs, clapping her own hands together and Louis shakes his head.

“We actually gotta pack, it’s almost time for your mom to come pick you up,” Louis says as he checks the clock hanging above the TV.

“Aww…” She frowns and Louis pokes her cheek, sinking into the dimple that matches her fathers. “But daddy’s not home yet?” She tilts her head confused. She's too smart for her own good. 

“Your daddy had to stay at work later than usual, he called me when you were at dance,” Louis explains, standing. Margo nods and follows as they head up towards her room to pack her bag for the weekend.

When Louis hears a knock at the door he feels his heart rate pick up. He’s not sure why he’s so nervous, it is only Margo's mother. She’s also Harry's ex, though, and from the sound of things, seemingly not the best communicator. Margo jumps off the stool in the kitchen and runs to the door, getting there way before Louis could even dry his hands from the dish water. Thank god he made dinner when he did.

“Mommy!” He hears and then the door opens. A woman's voice fills the hallway as he steps closer. When he merges into view, he sees Margo and her mother hugging. Their hair completely melting together, the color the exact same. She looks young, not his age but younger than Harry. Her features are sharp and her thin frame makes her seem more intimidating.

“Hey sweetheart,” she says, either ignoring him or hasn't noticed him standing there yet. He throws the dish towel he was using to dry his hands over his shoulder and steps closer and their eyes meet. “Oh.” 

“Mommy! This is my new bestest friend!” Margo announces, leaning against her mothers leg as she stands up straight, eyeing him. Louis smiles widely and sticks his hand out for her to shake.

“It’s so nice to meet you, I’m Louis.” 

“Beverley,” she says flatly. Louis wants to curl away when she shakes his hand quickly, the jerk is tight and fast. Her gaze falls back down at Margo whose eyes are lit up, watching two important people in her life meet for the first time. “So, you’re the babysitter?”

“Uh. Well, the nanny actually,” he utters with a small laugh and she hums in response. When Margo starts babbling to her mother about what she did today and her ballet class, Beverley interrupts her and tells her to go get her bag and shoes on. Louis tries not to frown when he watches her leave the room to retrieve her bag. He has always hated when adults treat children like they’re a bother, like their thoughts are unimportant.

“Unbelievable.” Louis swears he hears her mutter with a chuckle under her breath, he wrings his hands together in front of him and turns his head.

“Pardon?” 

“Oh, nothing! Margret hurry up, let's go!” She calls out and Louis bites his lip feeling like maybe his worries before weren't just him over thinking because is she serious? Margo comes back into the entry with her backpack hung on her back and she slips her shoes on quickly. 

“Bye Lou, see you on Monday!” She smiles, looking up at him as she hugs his leg tightly. Louis runs his fingers over her hair and bends down to hug her the right way.

“Yes, I’ll see you Monday!” He kisses the top of her head and then Beverley is taking her hand, whisking her out the door with perhaps more force than is necessary. Louis stands there a few seconds after, trying to process the events that just occurred. 

Before he leaves for the day he decides to finish the load of laundry he was doing, not wanting to leave half washed clothes for Harry when he got home after what sounded like a long day. He didn’t realize he stayed an extra hour after Margo had left, putting in another load of laundry, folding the articles and realizing he did a load of Harry's clothes instead of Margo’s. He tries not to think of how domestic it is, pushing the thought away quickly. 

He finishes the dishes from dinner when he hears the front door open. He's drying a plate when he sees Harry enter the kitchen.

“Hey, you're still here?” He asks breathlessly, setting his empty travel mug from the morning into the sink. He steps behind Louis, giving him a faint whiff of his cologne, to get to the fridge where he grabs a drink of water.  

“Oh, yeah I got caught up on laundry and didn’t realize the time. I hope that's okay?” He voices, unsure of Harry's thoughts. He instantly relaxes his shoulders when Harry smiles, a dimple popping on his cheek that Louis can’t help but notice.

“That's no problem, always make yourself at home. Thanks for finishing up the laundry, I appreciate it.” Harry says, leaning against the island and taking two big gulps of his drink. Louis watches his Adam's apple bob and quickly turns his head to distract himself with folding the dish cloth he had been using. 

“I don’t mind, I actually like doing laundry, if that’s even believable.” Louis laughs when Harry raises his brows in question because who actually likes doing it. 

“Well that makes one of us,” the older man chuckles. 

Harry moves to the other side of the island, rolling his shoulders back and stretching his neck from side to side. Louis turns at the noise, biting his lip ever so slightly as he watches him visibly relax from the movements.  

Louis feels his mouth go a bit dry, and stammers over the question; “Do you want dinner?” Harry raises an eyebrow at him and Louis feels his cheeks flush. “I made rice and chicken for Margo and I- there are leftovers in the fridge I could warm up for you.” 

“Wow,” Harry replies, his smile genuine and making Louis a bit weak in the knees. “You’re better than any of my exes.” 

Louis can’t tell if he’s joking or not due to the teasing tone in his voice. He hopes he isn’t. Louis really flushes at that, and worries that he perhaps went too far. “I… I just thought it might be nice, since you had to work late.” 

Harry nods, moving back to the fridge and pulling out a plate of chicken and rice. “This looks delicious.” He moves past Louis once again, squeezing his hip on his way to the microwave. 

Louis preens a bit under the praise, though he tries to hide it, and he feels Harry’s hand on him long after he pulled away. “I’m going to just go fold the last load of laundry, then I’ll get out of your hair,” he says softly, feeling what he thinks is tension in the room, though he can’t decide where it came from. 

Harry turns at that. “Oh, uh, yeah… You can come sit, if you want, when it’s done. If you’re free, of course. I’d love to check in after your first week.” 

“Sure,” Louis replies with a small smile. He turns and heads back to the laundry room located off the side of the kitchen. Once alone, he sets his palms flat on top of the dryer and takes a deep, steadying breath. Had Harry been flirting with him? He pushes the thought out of his mind, he can’t let himself mess up this incredible job over a silly crush on an older man. There was no way Harry felt the same; he was obviously straight for fucks sake! 

Louis makes quick work of folding the laundry, setting the basket just inside the door of the kitchen for Harry to take upstairs. While folding Harry’s underwear was one thing, putting them away felt like a whole different level of intimacy. 

Harry is scrolling on his phone on a stool at the island in the kitchen, but he looks up when Louis returns. He’s still dressed for work, looking unfairly stunning in his work clothes, the undone buttons making it possible for Louis to see his bare chest. He needs to breathe. Louis gulps as he walks back over to join him, standing to face him on the other side of the marble countertop. 

“So, you’ve had a good first week, I hope?” Harry begins. 

Louis can’t stop himself from grinning. “Yes! This is maybe the best job I’ve ever had! Margo is an absolute sweetheart, and you’ve been so great too.” 

“I’m glad. Margo is special, isn’t she?” Harry muses. “But I guess I’m biased.” He chuckles, stiffening a bit before his next question. “Did everything go well with Beverley?” 

Louis pauses. He doesn’t know how much he should share. “It went okay?” He starts first. Harry gives him a look and then he continues before Harry can comment. “She seemed very…” He holds the word trying to find the right words, not wanting to offend Harry if he even could. “Closed off-ish?” He suggests and Harry nods in understanding.

“Yeah, she can be,” the older man agrees, running a hand through his hair. Louis notices he does that a lot, mostly when he’s stressed or unsure of something. “I was worried she would be like that and of course she was.” He sighs, an annoyed tone in it. “She’s always been difficult. Especially when she sees others care for Margo. I honestly don’t understand it,” Harry explains, his voice etched with genuine confusion and it sounds like he wants to say more but refrains. Louis nods and hums letting Harry know he’s listening, secretly urges him to say more, to shed light on how a woman like that could ever be with a man like Harry. 

Harry instead decides to divert the conversation and Louis isn’t sure if it’s for Louis' sake or his own. “I’m probably holding you back from some Friday night plans, am I?” Harry asks as he takes his last bite of his meal.

“Oh not at all,” Louis laughs lightly, shaking his head with a shrug. “I’m probably just going to go home and head to bed honestly.” Maybe he should’ve lied and told him he had some plans to go too to make his life sound a little more interesting.

“Well, I shouldn’t hold you too late. Thanks again for staying later and doing the laundry, it really helps me out,” Harry says sincerely, talking as he takes his last gulp of water. He then stands to walk Louis out. Harry stands there, leaning against the hallway wall as Louis slips on his shoes. “Have a good night, see you Monday?” He says. Louis tries not to think of a small girl who asked him the exact same thing earlier.

“Yep, bright and early.” The younger boy flashes him a quick smile and opens the door, waving goodbye. 

When Louis enters his apartment Zayn is standing in their open concept kitchen, plating what looks like a hot pocket. He doesn’t turn at the sound of Louis entering and continues putting his plate in the microwave. “Long day?” 

“Yeah, sort of,” Louis says, taking off his shoes and walking to the fridge to grab a drink. “I met Margos mom…” Louis mentions warily, almost choking on his drink when Zayn whips his head around to look at him.

“No way, how was that?” 

“Interesting to say the least,” Louis sighs and then perks up at a thought, “On a better note I think Harry was flirting with me today.” Zayn lowers his eyes and then chuckles at his friend, Louis hits his arm in defence. “I’m serious!”

“Just because you think he’s flirting doesn’t mean he is. ” Zayn turns again and takes his hot pocket out and leans his back against the counter and takes a brave bite. 

“Well, you're terrible at reassuring me. I'll go cry about it in the shower, have fun burning the roof of your mouth.” Louis pushes Zayn's head back with his palm as he passes by and walks into the bathroom. 

Maybe Louis is reading too much into things? He tries not to think about it as he showers, wanting to wash away the events from earlier today. He hopes he and Beverley are able to resolve the obvious tension eventually for the sake of Margo. He knows that he will inevitably have to see her again, and he doesn’t want to make things uncomfortable for her…

He can only hope.

✩°̥࿐

The start of his second week goes with ease. Margo seemed to be pretty exhausted Monday morning, assuming the weekend with her mom was a busy one so she was pretty inactive. That didn’t stop Louis from getting her to do a puzzle, play a board game, and even go on the swings outside for a bit before lunchtime. 

Louis also almost couldn't hold in his squeals when Margo went for her quiet time. When Louis went into the laundry room and seeing that there was no laundry to be done, but a note stuck to the lid of the washer machine instead that said;

I don't have washboard abs but if I did, I'd do my laundry regularly... get it? Anyway, I got the laundry this time. ;)

He takes a quick picture of the note and sends it to Zayn. He peels the yellow sticky note off, biting his bottom lip as he re reads it again. His friend responds with a shocked face emoji followed up with,

you weren't wrong about the bad dad jokes…

The day ends with Harry coming home with a knowing look on his face, waiting for Louis to bring up the note, which he eventually does. He admits it did make him laugh and Harry pumps a victory fist in the air shouting ‘ Yes! ’ It shouldn't be so endearing to watch him get excited over his own dad jokes, but here he is, doing just that. 

Tuesday on the other hand starts off hard. Margo is being a little difficult this morning and Louis tries to get her to talk to him about it after she snaps at him for putting too much milk in her froot loops. She tells him that she’s missing her daddy, and it breaks Louis’ heart a bit. He’s now racked his brain for hours trying to think of something to help when an idea finally comes to his head. 

“Margo?” He knocks on the little girl's door, opening it slightly and peeking his head inside. She is sitting crossed legged on her furry pink carpet at the end of her bed, sadly running her fingers over her rag dolls head. “How are you feeling, bug?” He gets a shrug in response as he walks into the room and sits in front of her, waiting for her to look up. “I have an idea,” her eyes perk up at that. “What if we go to the store, you can pick something yummy to make for daddy for when he gets home? You can pick anything, ” he suggests, knowing he needs to get groceries for the house and to possibly make Margo feel better in the process? It's a win-win.

“Anything?” She repeats. He nods in response, watching as he can practically see the cogs turning in her tiny head. He hopes she doesn’t make him regret it. “What if we make tacos? It’s daddy's favourite, he will love it!” She claps her hands excitedly, standing up quickly and trying to pull Louis up with her. He smiles, happy to see her out of her little slump. “Let's go! Let’s go!” 

“I’m coming, I'm coming!” He says, letting her drag him out of the room and down the stairs to put their shoes on. 

Louis is a bit grateful for the fact kids like to act older than they are. Margo begged to walk beside him, hand in hand instead of sitting in the cart at the grocery store. He doesn’t have the muscles to push a growing five year old and a cart full of groceries for that amount of time anyway. 

Margo happily skips beside him, swinging their hands back and forth. She helps Louis pick out all of the ingredients for the tacos: lettuce, hamburger meat, tomatoes, sour cream, taco seasoning, shells, and ‘ lots and lots of cheese’ according to Margo because it’s her favourite ingredient. 

“Which cheese? Cheddar or marbled?” Louis asks, picking up each option and showing the small girl. She stands on her tippy toes, putting a finger on her chin and hums. 

“I like that one!” She points onto the marbled cheese. “It’s so yummy, do you agree?” She questions turning her head. 

Nodding, Louis puts the block of cheese in the cart. “Yes! It’s also my favourite!” The orange haired girl claps excitedly, eyes crinkled in a smile and her cheeks dimpling.

They continue throughout the grocery store, Louis carting a few things they need for the house as well. He’s trying to decide which coffee to stock up on and he feels a tug on his jeans. 

“Lou?” Margo says. He looks down to be met with pleading eyes. He’s not sure where she picked up the candy bar but here she is, holding on so sweetly in her hands. “Can I have this?” 

“You already chose your treat, remember?” He reaches in the cart and pulls out a package of Oreos. “Did you want the candy bar instead?”

“No, both.” 

“You can only choose one,” he states and he instantly regrets it. 

“No! I want both!” Margo crosses her arms and stomps her foot down, whining out. Louis crouches down to her height, frowning when she turns her head up away from him. 

“Margo, we can only choose one treat,” he says calmly, not wanting to get the girl more upset. He watches and it’s like slow motion as her lip juts out and tears start to pour. 

“You’re being mean! Why can’t I have both! I want them!” She cries, throwing her arms down with the candy bar. Louis shakes his head, picking up the bar and the girl in one swoop. He bounces her on his hip as she wails. 

“Margo, I am offering to get you a treat, how am I mean, honey?” Louis runs his hands through her hair, trying to calm her down. He scoots them farther over to the edge of the isle to let people walk by. 

“Because I want both.” Crossing her arms again and pouting with a sniffle, Margo mutters.

“I know you do, but daddy and I only want you to have one treat a day and you know what happens when you have too many treats?”

“More dentist visits…” She sighs. Louis reaches up and wipes away her tears with his thumb with a nod.

“Exactly, so which would you like?” He asks again, picking up each treat and showing her options. 

“This one.” She points a sad finger onto the Oreos. Louis tells her it’s a good choice and thanks her for cooperating, she apologizes with a soft voice and thanks him for still letting her have a treat. He sets the candy bar back where it came from as Margo grabs his hand again to start walking when he almost bumps into someone. 

“Oh! Sorry,” he starts, balancing himself onto the cart. 

“No worries, dear!" A woman looking around his moms age tilts her head in awe at them, "I just wanted to say how much you remind me of when I was younger with my two girls. You’re doing amazing,” she says, eyes bright as she smiles at them.

“Oh, Uhm...” He blushes, going to tell her that he’s just her nanny when she cuts him off.

“You’re young and so good with her! You handled it so well, I wish I was that calm when I was mothering,” she admits and then pokes Margo’s nose who giggles. “And you! You’re gorgeous!” Louis just smiles at her and tells Margo to say ‘thank you, ’ which she does shyly.

“We appreciate it but—” He tries again when she waves a hand for him to stop.

“Oh please take the compliment, dear. Have a great day!” And she’s walking away as Louis says ‘ You too! ’

“What a nice lady!” Margo giggles as they continue through the isles. Louis agrees, grinning when she starts swinging their hands again. Louis leaves the store with a huge blush and a smile on his face.

When Harry arrives home that night the two in the kitchen are just finishing up cooking the meat mixed with taco seasoning. 

“Something smells good,” Harry announces, walking into the room. Margo hops off her stool, running over to her dad and jumping into his open arms. 

“Daddy’s home!” She cheers as he picks her up and snuggles into her neck. “I missed you so much, daddy.” She plops a huge kiss on his cheek.

“Missed you so much too, my baby,” he says, setting her down and shrugging off his suit jacket, he drapes it on the daybed that sits against the far wall and walks over towards Louis. 

“What are we cooking?” Harry steps in close, leaning over Louis’ shoulder. Hitching his breath, Louis feels the warmth of the older man against him. He shuts the stove off and turns his shoulder, making more room to show Harry what was cooking. 

“Margo wanted to make you something special so she decided on tacos.” 

“My favourite. Margo, did you help Louis with the cooking?” Harry asks her. Louis turns and sees Margo bouncing on her toes.

“I grated the cheese and set everything up! Come look!” She says excitedly grabbing Harry's hand and Louis shrugs when Harry gives him a look as he’s dragged away towards the dining room. Louis smiles as he hears Harry praise her from the other room..

Louis brings in the meat in a bowl and spoons for the other ingredient, setting it on the table for the two to dig in. “I’ll tidy up quickly and then I’ll head out.” 

“What? You’re not eating with us?” Margo says sadly, as she climbs onto her chair at the dining table. 

“There’s plenty, if you don’t have plans you’re more than welcome to stay,” Harry says. Louis tries not to notice the hope in his eyes because — he’s reading into it.

“Are you sure?” Louis says unsure.

“Yes! Pretty please, stay!” Margo begs, hands clasped together. Louis quickly looks over at Harry who shrugs his shoulders with a grin, telling him to sit down. As Louis pulls out a chair that's across from Margo, she starts cheering excitedly.

“Me, Daddy, and Louis are eating tacos together! This is the best day ever!” She says making Harry laugh in his spot beside them at the head of the table. 

Margo continues talking as they assemble their tacos, telling Harry about what they got up to during the day. When she gets to the part telling him about the grocery store visit Louis feels his cheeks already heat up knowing what she's going to say. Harry obliviously continues to listen intently as she uses her hands as she talks.

“I was kind of being bad and not listening to Louis because I wanted two treats...” Before Harry could say anything, his eyebrows pressed together, taking a slow sip of his water, Margo continues, “But! This lady came up to us and she thought Louis was my mommy!” She giggles while taking a bite of her food. 

Louis' eyes go wide, turning his head when he hears Harry choke on his water. Margo reaches over to pat her fathers arm as he clears his throat. “Are you okay, daddy?”

Harry sputters for a second, Louis biting his lip nervously, before the older man clears his throat and nods.

“I tried to tell her the truth but she was not having it.” A hesitant laugh leaves Louis’ lips as he tries to explain. 

Harry rests a hand over Louis’ on the table, a soft expression on his face. “It’s alright, Lou.” 

Louis can almost feel the tension in the air, at least he thinks he can. The nickname makes his cheeks flush, as does what Harry is saying; he doesn’t mind that people think he’s Margo’s parent? He can feel the heat of Harry’s gaze, the moment between them broken by the cute little girl. 

“It was so funny !” She laughs, standing up and scrambling onto Harry’s lap now that they have finished eating. Louis relaxes his shoulders as the air around him feels calm again. Margo is now chattering away again but happily tucked into Harry's lap. 

By the time Margo has talked the two men's ears off about her day, Louis can see her visibly start to sag into her daddy’s chest.. Her head starts to nod off and her words slow down as Harry and Louis start talking. Harry’s been telling Louis about his day after Louis had asked, sharing stories from the office. 

“I think someones tired.” Louis rests his head in his palm, leaning on the table and smiling at Margo who is half asleep in her father's lap. Harry looks down and brushes her hair out her eyes, rubbing a thumb on her soft cheek. 

“Tired, bug?” He asks and the little girl nods against his chest. “I’ll go put her to bed. Don’t worry about cleaning up, I got it.” Harry gives him a pointed look, standing up with Margo in his arms. Louis starts stacking their dirty plates as soon as Harry leaves the room anyway.

He’s in the kitchen, washing up the dishes when Harry walks in, hands full of the rest of the bowls that were from the dining table. “I told you not to do them,” Harry tells him, walking over and setting the dishes in the sink. 

“I don’t mind, you know that,” Louis says, sinking his hands further into the soapy water. “Did she go down easy?” Louis asks, watching Harry as he starts to put away all the leftover ingredients into the fridge. 

“Yeah, she was pretty tired, fell asleep right as her head hit the pillow. You guys were busy today from what I heard.” The older man starts wiping down the island.

“Yes, pretty eventful,” Louis starts, unplugging the sink and wiping his hands on a dish towel. “But she did get really upset today…” 

Harry reaches above the fridge, pulling something out of the tall cabinet. He’s holding a bottle of red wine, raising his eyebrows in question. “Want to talk about it over a glass?” 

Louis can’t help but agree with a blush.

That's how the two end up on the couch, TV on low for background noise, as they're talking and slowly sipping their glasses of red. (Louis would prefer white but wine is wine, and after the day he had, he figures he deserves a glass). He has just finished telling Harry about Margo and her cranky spell. Harry explains that she often gets like that after weekends with her mom, which brings them to their current subject: Beverley

“If it was my choice, Margo wouldn't have to see her regularly at all. But, custody is such a tricky situation.” Louis thinks it must have been hard for Harry to not win full custody. From what Louis can tell, Beverley is nothing like Harry or even Margo. “Beverley’s kind of…” 

“...a bitch?” Louis supplies, smacking a hand over his mouth as soon as he says it. Maybe the glass of wine is hitting him more than he thought.

With a laugh, Harry responds, “Yeah, pretty much.”

Louis shakes his head. “Sorry, that was rude of me.”  

“Hey, it’s okay.” He reaches over, setting a warm, comforting hand on Louis' thigh. He feels the press of his fingers on his inner thigh and it feels a bit electric but then the feeling is gone. Harry dangles the now free arm over the back of the couch and Louis wishes his hand was back on him. Lifting his eyes to meet Harry’s, he watches the older man takes a sip of his wine. 

“I can’t imagine how hard it was to fight for custody of your own daughter,” Louis says honestly, sinking further into the couch and watching Harry nod in agreement.

“It was hard, especially since I know how these types of things work. It’s literally my job…” He chuckles at the irony. “I met Beverley at a bar. We had some mutual friends and things just went from there. I felt pressured, in a way, to get married and start a family. I had always wanted one; kids, a big yard for them to play, time to spend with them. We were young, I was only twenty-five, but even after about a year and a half of being with Beverley, we still weren't married and it all just happened so suddenly, we were only together for about two years when she got pregnant. Even though Margo wasn't planned, I wanted her. Despite what I thought, Beverley and I weren't on the same page.” Louis catches his eyes rolling slightly. “She wanted to be a mom, but not full time. She told me ‘I want a life at least’ but still wanted to be with me... it just didn’t sit right with me.”

Louis nods, letting Harry know he’s listening. He wasn’t expecting that exactly, but everything makes more sense now. Why they aren’t together, why Beverley only gets Margo every other weekend— why she was such a bitch. How could someone like Harry be with someone like her? 

“She left when Margo was about eight months old. She wanted to party, go out with friends, and depended on me to support her and her lifestyle, both emotionally and financially. I was miserable and told her I needed help. I was working six days a week while I tried to make partner at the firm, and being the primary caregiver for Margo, and she just did nothing. She got mad and left. It sucked at the time, of course, but I think I was hurting more for Margo than myself. I didn’t love her anymore and she didn’t love me either. We both knew this but Margo... She was so young, not even talking yet. It’s hard for her to understand, especially now that she's getting to an age where she asks questions all the time. And she's so smart.” Oh, Louis knows. “Margo asked me a few months ago why she doesn’t see her mom like other kids get to because Beverley canceled at the last minute one weekend. It was so hard to listen to her tell me that she feels her mom doesn’t love her. It upset me a lot, obviously, seeing her hurt like that... I talked to Beverley and she said that she’ll try harder and do more with her on her weekends. I think it’s getting better, but Margo’s still coming home cranky so…” He sighs heavily with a shrug. 

“That’s so hard, Margo’s such a sweet and smart girl, I’m sure it would feel confusing to her. You’re an amazing father, Harry. I hope you know that. Can I ask how you’re still able to be civil with someone like that?” 

“Thank you, I really appreciate it, Louis. You’re also so amazing with her, I’m so happy you two are working out so well together. And to answer your question — which you can ask me anything — I guess it’s because she is Margo’s mom, I would never want to take her mother away from her just because of my own feelings. I don’t hate Beverley by any means, yeah maybe she needs a little growing up to do, but I’m content with everything in my life now.” He smiles, his eyes meeting Louis’ who mirrors him. “I’m sorry for dumping all of this on you, I guess the wine hit me a little.” The older man chuckles, eyeing his empty glass. “I just thought you should know, since you’ll be around for a while.” 

“Thank you for telling me, I’m sorry that happened.” Louis frowns slightly at the thought of Harry having to deal with all of that on his own. He’s a little surprised that Harry opened up to him like this, but he can't help but feel a bit giddy at Harry saying he'll be around for a while. He hopes that’s true.

Harry nods and then checks his watch quickly. “Shit it’s late, I didn't realize.” The older man stands, shaking his head and Louis stands when Harry does.

“No, it's fine! I would’ve probably just gone to bed when I got home anyway.” The younger boy shrugs, waving his hand dismissively. 

Walking to the door, Harry asks to take Louis' empty glass and set them on the counter before coming back into the entryway. He leans on the door frame as Louis slips his shoes on quickly, feeling hot under the man's gaze. “Thanks again for listening to me go on like that, I find wine gets me too relaxed,” Harry says, leaning over and opening the door for Louis. 

“Again, it’s no problem, my friends always say I’m a great listener.” Louis gives him a soft smile, a small blush fills his cheeks, warm from the wine and from the smell of Harry’s cologne that rolls over him in the warm summer breeze. 

“They aren’t wrong,” Harry says almost as a whisper. “Have a good night, Lou. Drive safe, yeah?” 

“Bye, Harry!” Louis gives him a small wave before turning to walk down the path to his ratty old car. When he slips into his seat he waits two seconds to breathe, to think what just happened and then turns on the engine and slowly drives down the driveway. 

When he gets home later than usual, of course Zayn is awake waiting for him on the couch with a curious look filling his face.

“What?” Louis asks, biting into his lip, attempting to hide a smile. He walks over, flopping onto the couch beside his best friend who just raises an eyebrow. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Why are you so late, hm?” Zayn hums, turning the TV on mute before lifting Louis’ legs into his lap.

“Oh nothing… just that Harry asked to have a glass of wine with me and we talked…” Louis says non-chalanty. Zayn turns towards him, eyes wide.

“Talked?”

Louis groans, hitting his friend's arm, “Yes, Zayn, just talked.” Scoffing Louis says, “I was telling him how Margo’s mood was down today, that’s all. Who do you think I am? An animal?” 

Zayn reaches up to rub his now sore arm, “Well I do know you have the hots for him so when you say you shared a glass of wine what am I supposed to think?” He shoves Louis this time who just throws his head back in a laugh.

“Well he did put his hand on my thigh but—”

“Ha! So he’s flirting with you!”

“No, he isn’t, what happened to ‘he’s not flirting with you’?” Louis rolls his eyes, mocking his friend and  kicking a foot to poke Zayns side. “That's not... he’s just nice and, as I said, again, he is the father of the child I take care of, thank you very much.” 

“And?”

“And? Zayn!” Louis hits him again which causes Zayn to yell ‘ Ow! ’ and Louis doesn’t even feel bad this time. “Nothing else is going to happen! I am not going to fuck Harry.”

“Will he fuck you though?”

Standing up, Louis throws his hands up, exasperated. “Do you hear yourself?”

“Yeah, why not? Margo clearly adores you, I bet she wouldn’t mind a step mom, especially if it's you,” Zayn teases, wiggling his eyebrows trying not to laugh at his own joke. Louis puts his hands on his hips and gives him an unimpressed look. “Well?”

“Actually, speaking of that,” Louis begins, eager to try to change the subject. “A lady complimented me today at the store about how good I am with her. Margo told Harry the lady thought I was her mom and he almost shat himself.” Louis cringes slightly at the memory from dinner earlier.

“See! I wasn’t even far off!”

“You're the worst. I’m going to bed.”

“Try not to dream about hot DILFS,” Zayn calls as he walks down the hall towards his bedroom.

“Fuck off.” He flips him the finger.

And Louis wouldn’t admit that he did dream about hot DILFS that night. A hot greened eyed one with perfect curls to be exact.

✩°̥࿐

Wednesday’s always seem to go by the slowest as they are Louis’ days off. He usually spends the day cleaning while Zayn’s at work, tidying up his room, reorganizing things, and doing his own laundry (and Zayn’s because he's a good best friend). You would think he wouldn’t feel like cleaning his own space since he spends all week doing it at someone else's house, but he genuinely enjoys it. He doesn’t mind cleaning; he actually finds it relaxing, especially with a good playlist going. He always opens the windows, letting the fresh air into the small apartment, and as well as opening the blinds to let the natural light in. He hopes that the music playing over his speaker doesn't annoy his neighbours too much, though he actually doesn't care.

Louis is just organizing the bathroom when he hears his phone ding from the counter. He picks it up and almost drops it when he sees who texted him.

An unopened message from Harry sits on his lock screen and he dumbly stares at it for a second before he gets worried, fearful that there is maybe an emergency with Margo. Harry doesn't text him unless it's an emergency, so he opens it quickly to then feel his whole body suddenly relax as he reads the words on the screen. 

Looking down at his phone he sees a selfie of Harry and Margo laying on the couch together. Her big smile brightens the whole picture, her arms wrapped around Harry's neck as his cheek is pressed into hers. Louis wants to run over and give her a big hug when he reads the message.

Somebody misses you! She asked me to send you a picture so you wouldn’t forget her face. Sounds a bit dramatic to me… 

Louis places a hand on his heart, almost wanting to cry at how sweet that is of her. He quickly types out a response.

Aww!! My heart! Tell her I miss her so much and I could NEVER forget her!! I can't wait to give her a biggg hug tomorrow :)

Louis doesn't even notice he’s staring at the picture for so long until he sees the typing bubble pop up. 

She says good and you better because she's waiting :)

There's another picture attached and this time. It's just Margo. She's now standing in front of the couch, her arms spread wide like she's waiting for a hug. Louis can’t help but smile thinking of Harry and her spending the day together, just them being silly watching movies and just hanging out.  

Before he can respond another message comes in.

Have a good rest of your day off  :)

Louis instantly feels butterflies in his stomach. He knows deep down this is just Harry being nice and he can’t read into it. Harry is just the man who hired Louis to nanny his daughter, not someone for Louis to gain a little, okay huge, crush on.

I will! You too! Enjoy your day with miss Margo! :)

Will do!

Louis locks his phone, turning the volume of his music up higher, hoping to drown out his inner thoughts regarding his feelings as he continues organizing his bathroom.

His day couldn’t go by any slower.

✩°̥࿐

When Louis arrives to work the next day, he barely makes it up the front steps when the door flies open. Margo is screaming excitedly, running down the path in her bare feet, still clad in her pajamas. She jumps onto Louis who wraps her in his arms. “Well good morning to you too,” he laughs, picking her up so her feet don’t get too dirty.

“I missed you, I missed you, I missed you!” She bounces on his hip and hugs Louis' neck tightly. “I don’t think you should not come over on Wednesdays anymore, okay? You can just sleep in my bed on Tuesdays,” she says seriously as they enter the house. Louis toes off his shoes, setting his keys on the entry table. Margo is still in his arms as he laughs at her comment. “Not funny, Lou.”

“Sorry, bug.” He walks into the kitchen, not seeing any sign of Harry and assuming he’s still getting ready upstairs. “Wednesdays are my day off, and besides your daddy is here so I don’t need to be.” Louis sets her on the counter and quickly gets started on Harry's coffee. Even though he doesn’t have to, and he’s reminded almost every morning of such, he still makes it every morning. It’s less of a hassle for Harry and it’s a nice gesture, Louis’ happy to be a helping hand wherever he can be one.

“So? You can still hang out with me and daddy. He even said that himself.” Louis whips around, almost dropping the coffee cup in his hand.

“He did?”

Nodding proudly, Margo hums, “Yup!” 

Louis turns around, facing the counter again, biting away a smile. Did Harry actually say that and did he mean it? Just then Harry emerges from the doorway, he's looking down trying to tie his tie, not watching where he's going. 

“Whoever invented these things are my worst enemy.” His deep voice fills the room making goosebumps rise on Louis' skin. Margo giggles as she watches her father struggle and Louis just finishes off Harry's coffee with the usual dash of milk. 

“Do you need help?” Louis asks, walking over, setting the coffee on the island. He picks Margo up and puts her on the ground. She whines slightly at that, but then decides to crawl onto one of the stools. 

“If I say yes, will you promise not to tell anyone?” Harry looks up at him and smirks. Louis raises his eyebrows and pretends to think about it for a second, his pointer finger on his chin.

“Promise,” Louis says, smiling. He then reaches up and starts fixing the messy tie. He can smell Harry’s expensive cologne from being so close which forces him to steady his breathing.

“Shouldn’t you know how to do that, daddy?” Margo asks from her seat. Harry shoots her a teasing glare which causes her to cover her mouth in a giggle. 

“I should, but I don’t, babes.” 

“It’s okay! Now you have Lou to do it every time you need, right?” She smiles wide as Louis looks over at her. 

“Right,” Harry says. Louis quickly looks back and their eyes meet. He didn’t even notice he stopped tying, his hands just resting on Harry’s chest now, who clears his throat. Louis shakes himself out of it, finishing up his tie fast.

“There, should be nice and tight.” Louis tugs the knot once and Harry clears his throat as he throws on his suit jacket. Why did he say that? Louis smiles nervously and steps back, picking up Harry’s coffee cup again and handing it over. 

“Thanks, Lou.” The older man lifts his cup in cheers, taking a sip. 

“No problem,” he says, turning away from the man to try and hide his blush.

The day went on, Louis went about their normal routine, helping Margo get ready for the day. He tidied around the house, asking Margo to pick up the toys she wasn't playing with. They went outside after lunch and played on the swings, Margo begged to go in the pool, but of course he didn't have swim trunks, so he promised he would bring them the next nice day. 

Near mid-afternoon Louis notices Margo acting differently, not a bad different just… different. She constantly asks when Harry will be home, almost every hour. She runs to her room and back into the living room giggling over five times, Louis lost count. He follows her once and she stands in front of the door and says he can’t enter, that results in him scooping her up and taking her back downstairs and tickling her to spill the beans, her laughs of protest filling the house. He wants to know what’s so funny and secretive. 

Now they were sitting crossed legged in front of each other on the floor in front of the couch as Margo tries to pick a color of nail polish. She asked very politely if Louis could paint her nails, how could he say no?

“I think… pink!” She says plucking the pink nail polish out of the pile of colors. “Can I pick two Lou?” She asks, eyes big with question.

“Of course, we can do a cool accent color!” He tells her, looking at the colors as well. 

“How about…” She hums scanning the options with her green eyes, squinted in concentration. “This one!” She hands Louis a bright yellow color.

He gasps and nods along with her. “I love these.”

“Me too!” She giggles, placing her open palm into Louis’ so he can start on her tiny nails. 

As Louis carefully paints each finger, he glances up at Margo who intensely watches his every movement. 

“I asked my mommy to paint my nails when I was over and she said no,” Margo states, she doesn't frown, or make any face at all actually, her expression completely neutral. Her voice was lower than usual though. “I even asked if I could do hers but she said that I would do a bad job so I didn’t. Daddy used to do them with me but I don't like bugging him ‘cause he’s so busy…” She sighs with a small shrug, frowning sadly at her hands. Louis feels a pang of anger but mostly sadness because how could her mother deny something so simple and small. 

“I don’t mind… I actually used to do my own when I was younger, you know?” He tells her honestly.

“Really?” She looks up and smiles. Louis finishes doing the ring and middle finger with the yellow and lets the rest dry with the pink polish. 

“Yes, all the time,” he assures her. “Alright, all done!” Margo looks at her nails, in awe now that  he's done. She squeals excitedly at them.

“Thank you, I love them!” Standing she hugs Louis' neck who is still sitting. He sways them back and forth before she pulls back. “Can I do yours?!” 

He thinks for a second and then a huge smile fills his face. “Yes!” Margo claps her hands, plopping back down on her bum and grabbing the two polishs she has.

“Can we match?” 

“Duh!” Louis says obviously.

Louis isn't sure why he thought letting a five year old paint his nails would result in anything other than a mess, but at least it’s an adorable mess. The tips of his fingers are colored almost more than his nails themselves, but the smile on Margo’s face makes it worth it. The small girl was just finishing up his last thumb when they heard the front door open. 

“Hello?” Harry calls into the house, Margo continues to paint his thumb, tongue stuck out of the side of her mouth in concentration. 

“In here!” Louis calls to him, looking up as Harry walks into the room. 

“Wow, you decided to paint your nails without me? How rude…” Harry teases, crossing his arms in the doorway. Louis almost drools at how good he looks; hand rung hair messed up from a stressful day, his tie undone and hanging loosely around his neck, a few buttons undone on his button up. Margo giggles, bringing Louis out his trance. He instantly blushes, looking away when he sees Harry smirking at him — shit. Luckily, Margo is jumping up and running into Harry’s legs, hugging her arms around them, breaking the moment between them. 

“Sorry daddy! Forgive us?” She says, reaching her arms up for Harry to hold her. He bends down, picking her up and blowing raspberries into her cheek. Louis stands up, gathering up all the other discarded nail polish when he hears Margo whispering in Harry’s ear not so quietly.

“Can I go get it now?” She asks and Harry chuckles, setting her down on her feet. 

“Yes, you can.”

“Finally!” Margo screams, bolting up the stairs Louis assumes towards her room. Louis can't help but give Harry a confused look who just shrugs ‘unknowingly’ with a smug look on his face.

“I knew something was up,” Louis confesses, walking over towards where Harry is standing against the wall and putting his hands on his own hips.

“I know nothing!” He holds his hands up in defense and then Margo comes bounding back down the steps.

“Lou! Lou! Sit down on the couch!” She says bouncing on her toes, obviously holding something behind her back. Louis eyes her curiously and slowly sits down. Harry walks over, taking his suit jacket off in the process and sitting beside him, setting an arm on the couch behind Louis.

Margo stands in front of them, arms still behind her back. Louis reaches forward and brushes a stray curl out her eyes. “Okay I made you something,” she announces.

“You did?” Louis feels his eyes tear up and he doesn't even know what it is yet. 

“Yes, you need this also.” She brings a hand forward and hands Louis a pink gel pen. He nods and waits anxiously. 

“Okay…” She eyes Harry who Louis can see nodding in the corner of his eye. “Here!” The tiny girl proudly shows a homemade card in her hands, holding it out for Louis to take.  

Louis reaches out and takes the pink construction paper card from her hands slowly. As he opens  it he smiles so wide that his cheeks hurt. In a messy red crayon he sees the words: 

Dear Lou,

You are invited to come to my ballet recital on July 1st at 6 at night time. Would you please come?

Circle YES or NO

“Margo…” he says in awe, looking over every inch of the card she made for him. There's a few doodles, a heart, and two penguins on the blank side where there is no writing. “This is beautiful, wow!” 

“Thank you. Daddy helped me with the spelling but I did it all by myself!” She smiles proudly and then her eyes widen. “Are you going to answer?” She leans forward, looking at the card nervously. 

“Oh! Of course!” He quickly uncaps the pen and circles the yes. He opens his arms for a hug which she falls instantly into. “Thank you so much, that is so thoughtful of you! It would be an honour for me to come watch you dance!” 

“Lou! I am so excited! I can’t wait.” She jumps in her spot and claps her hands excitedly. Margo then climbs onto the couch and sits on Harry’s lap. “Daddy Lou said yes!” 

“Yes, I told you he would, bug.” He leans down and kisses her cheek. Margo leans into him happily. Louis is still in awe, looking at the beautiful, thoughtful card made for him. The pink construction paper is folded four times, glitter falling onto his lap as he looks over every inch of it.

“Why don’t you go pick out some jammies and then we can watch a movie before bed?” Harry suggests to her and she nods, sliding off of the couch. 

“Lou, are you leaving now?” She turns, asking sadly.

“Yeah I need to go, but I’ll see you tomorrow though, alright?” He says reaching over to give her one last hug.

“Okay! Bye bye, see you tomorrow!” She squeezes him tightly before bounding up the stairs.

“Walk Margo!” Harry calls as he stands from the couch. Louis mirrors him, fixing the pillow that fell on the ground before they start walking to the door. Harry leans on the wall as Louis pulls his shoes on and then he sighs.

“I hope Margo asking you wasn’t over stepping anything…” 

Louis whips his head up, face etched in shock. “What?” He stands up fully. “How?”

“Well, it’s kind of like… for parents? She only gets to invite two people and it’s always the parents that go, yanno? She had asked Bev but… she gave her false hope and I had to tell Margo she couldn't make it last minute. Being the bearer of bad news isn't fun, especially since it includes her mom. She was so upset that she wouldn't have both her parents there like the rest of her friends.”  Harry runs a hand over his face and rubs his chin, an obvious sign of stress. Louis reaches a hand out, gripping his free hand. Louis feels his warm skin against his.

“Harry…” The older man looks up and there are bags under his eyes. He looks noticeably stressed and Louis wishes he could do something more to help.

“I’m sorry, fuck, I keep dumping all this on you, I just—” Louis cuts him off by squeezing his hand. He would rather listen to Harry talk about Beverley than the man ever to apologize for telling him his thoughts and feelings.

“Don’t apologize, it’s okay, seriously.” Louis nods at him to show he means it, dropping his hand from Harry’s even though he would rather keep it there. 

“Okay well, I’m getting off at three tomorrow so I can help her get ready, so you’ll have time to go home and get ready yourself,” Harry explains. 

“Sounds great, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Louis says as Harry nods with a soft smile, opening the door for him like always . Louis waves goodbye and steps outside.

Louis isn’t sure he takes a breath until he gets inside his car. 

✩°̥࿐

Louis arrives at the studio where Margo practices fifteen minutes early. He had texted Harry and asked if he needed a ticket or anything to which Harry replied that he would come and get him at the front. He texts Harry ‘here!’ before he hops out, pocketing his phone and keys. He tightly holds the bouquet of sunflowers he purchased for Margo in his other hand. He sees Harry exit the front door before he reaches it, watching as he holds it open for a few people who were just entering. He smiles wide when their eyes meet as he gets closer.

“Hey!” Louis says breathlessly, the summer wind brushes his face as he shivers. 

“Hey, how are you?” Harry asks, letting Louis walk in before him and then following close behind. Louis melts completely into Harry's touch when he feels his hand rest on his lower back. Louis notices some of the moms from Margo's dance class and he waves. They wiggle their fingers at him in reply, almost with smug looks as they see him and Harry walking in together. He can’t imagine what this looks like. He can't bring himself to be mad.

“I’m good, excited! How are you?” Louis asks, turning to glance at Harry who's already looking at him. 

“Great, excited as well. She was hoping to see you before she was made to go get ready but I assured her you’d be watching,” the older man explains, leading Louis towards a door and pushing it open. The room is bigger than the room they practice in, there's a mini stage and rows of chairs set up for the parents. Almost all of the seats are filled, so Harry walks them over to two empty ones near the front.

“Hopefully she’ll see me,” Louis says, sitting on the inside row and setting the flowers under his chair gently. Harry takes the outside and leans back in his chair, legs spread and their knees knock, pressed together. Louis doesn't move away. It’s weird seeing the older man dressed semi casually, as he is usually in suits and formal wear, but today he’s in a pair of dark jeans and a patterned button up, unbuttoned, with a white tank top underneath. He looks good no matter what, of course, and Louis is glad he decided to dress semi casual as well with his black skinnies with a maroon scoop neck.

They’re making small talk as they wait for the recital to start, just discussing Harry’s latest case, when Louis feels a presence sitting down in the empty chair beside him. He looks over and sees Janice sitting there. “Oh! Hi,” Louis breaths, startled.

“Hello Louis, hello Harry,” she says, leaning forward to see Harry behind Louis' head.

“Hi Janice, how are you?” Harry asks politely with a charming smile.

“Good, excited to see the little ones dance. It's kind of unfair that the lead role’s parent doesn't get front row, if you ask me,” she says, annoyed and crossing her arms. Louis laughs nervously because he’s pretty sure there are no main roles in children's ballet. He then feels Harry lean into his ear.

“Gonna go to the bathroom, have fun.” Louis gives him a look of betrayal as Harry practically runs out of the room. The bastard.

Louis sits and listens to Janice complain about anything and everything for a while, barely listening until he hears Harry's name.

“I didn’t know you and Harry were together, though honestly we all saw it coming. Beverley was always a right bitch when she came here, don't know why someone like him was with someone like her anyways,” Janice scoffs loudly and Louis wants to ask her to keep her voice down because they aren't together. 

“Oh uhm, we aren't together…” Louis laughs awkwardly. 

“No way!” Janice’s eyes widened.

“Uhm, Beverley couldn’t make it, so Margo asked me to come, and yeah…” Louis fiddles with his fingers as he listens to her go on about how she thought for sure they were a couple.

“What a shame, glad you’re here then,” she says and maybe Louis does agree on something with Janice.

Harry makes it back to his seat just in time before the lights dim and a small spot light shines onto the stage. Miss Willams, Margo’s teacher, walks onto the stage holding a paper.

“Thank you all for coming, I know your littles are very excited…” She trails off, giggles erupting from behind the curtain. “To perform for you all tonight,” she continues, explaining the performance’s name and reading the name of each dancer. Harry and Louis hoot a little too loud at Margo’s.

“Alright, shall we begin?” She asks and the audience claps, waiting patiently. 

Suddenly music starts playing on a speaker, slow and soft. (Louis is pretty sure it’s that one popular song from Twilight when Bella and Edward get married). He doesn't keep his eyes off the stage as he watches the dancers come from behind the curtain one by one, clad in their matching leotard, frilly tutus, and high ballerina buns. He sees red hair, big green eyes, and a bright smile walk out and he feels a huge amount of pride fill his chest. He can’t imagine how Harry’s feeling.

Margo walks the length of the stage, arms out beside her and toes pointed perfectly. Her smile doesn't falter but Louis notices her eyes scanning the crowd eagerly. Harry then lifts an arm to wave, which makes her completely break into a giant wave and toothy grin. The crowd laughs fondly and she gets right back into position after. 

“Oh she’s so cute, I can’t deal!” Louis rests a hand on Harry's knee, leaning in to whisper excitedly. Harry smiles, agreeing wholeheartedly. His eyes are lit up as he watches his baby girl shine on stage. Louis almost faints when Harry reaches an arm behind Louis' chair and rests it there. He can feel the warmth of Harry's body against his and Louis bites his lip, feeling his cheeks heat up. He’s glad the lights are off.

The song continues and the group actually does a good job at sticking to some type of routine, especially for a bunch of four and five year olds. Louis feels Harry shift, taking his arm away from the back of his chair. He notices in the corner of his eye that Harry was fiddling with his rings for a second. Suddenly, he feels Harry place his larger hand on his right knee and squeezes lightly before resting it there. If Louis wasn't in a public place he would combust fully into a pile of mush. Harry rubs a thumb onto the inner side of his knee as Louis keeps his gaze forward, wanting to melt completely, but he keeps pretty calm and he’s proud of himself. He waits a bit before glancing over at him to see a smug look on Harry’s face, eyes still trained on the stage but he knows, he has to know what effect he has on him. .

Janice's daughter does have a solo after all, and Louis makes sure to comment on how good she was to Janice when the dance is over for his own sake. Harry’s hand stays on Louis' knee the remainder of the recital, even when Harry struggled to fetch his phone out of his pocket to get a picture of Margo twirling. He’d rather struggle than remove his hand and if that isn’t romantic Louis isn’t sure what is.

At the end of the short recital the group finishes with each dancer standing in the center and bowing. Louis makes sure to get a good picture of Margo when she bows, both he and Harry cheering loudly. When the lights turn on everyone’s still clapping and the dancers get a standing ovation, of course. 

When Margo comes running off stage, her tutu bouncing with her as she skips towards them, she has a grin on her face that makes Louis’ stomach flop. She jumps into Harry's arms who's holding his own bouquet out for her. She hugs him tightly, taking her flowers, admiring the roses. 

“Did you see me daddy!?” She asks excitedly as Harry picks her up onto his hip. 

“Of course sweetheart, you did amazing! I’m so proud of you,” he praises, handing her the flowers. She looks at her flowers, smelling them and then notices Louis who's standing back a bit while they hug. She wiggles in Harry's arms to be put down. 

“Louis!” She yells and runs over to him. He bends on his knees to her level and opens his arms for a big hug. “Did I do good?” She asks, eyeing the sunflowers.

“Good? No, you did great !” Louis kisses her cheek and she giggles, hugging his neck telling him ‘ Thank you ’.

The two stay behind for a few more minutes as Margo talks to her peers, discussing their performance. When Harry tells Margo it's getting late and they need to leave she says goodbye to her friends and Miss Williams. 

She skips out of the building happily, deciding to hold Louis’ hand instead of Harry’s because she had missed him. They walk to Louis' car first. Margo is wound up over her adrenaline from performing; she talks a mile a minute. They both listen intently, of course.

“Well Miss Margo, thank you for inviting me. I’m so happy I got to come,” Louis says, turning to face her when they reach his car.

“Thanks for coming, Lou! Me and daddy were so happy you said yes!” She smiles up at Harry who’s now scratching the back of his neck with his free hand, the other holding both of Margo’s bouquets of flowers.

“Oh really?” Louis says, raising an eyebrow and looking at Harry. 

“Yes! Now we’re both happy.” She squeezes his hand and swings it back and forth.

“Alright, time to say bye,” Harry says quickly, a nervous chuckle leaves his mouth. He sets a light hand on Margos' head to tell her it's time.

“Bye Louis, see you Monday!” She says hugging his leg and then grabbing Harry's hand.

“Thanks again for coming,” Harry says quietly. His eyes are soft, matching the smile on his face.

“My pleasure.” Louis grins at him and then gives Margo a small wave as they start walking towards Harry's car. “Bye!”

“See you, Louis.” Harry waves back and so does Margo.

And Louis is sure the smile on his face doesn’t falter until he falls asleep that night.

✩°̥࿐

The Tuesday after Margo’s recital starts off terribly. Louis wakes up at his normal time, has his breakfast and gets ready, deciding to dress comfortably due to the rainy weather. Leggings with rain boots shouldn't be allowed but he’s allowing it today.

When Louis goes to start his car, it doesn’t even come to life and he knows he is going to be late. He spent a little extra time doing his hair for undisclosed reasons and now he’s having car troubles. He groans loudly, ripping his keys out and rushing inside to try and not get wet. He unfortunately has to wake up Zayn on his day off to drive him. Ordinarily, he would have just borrowed Zayn's car, but he was going to visit his mom today and needed the car, because the one day Louis’ car fails, Zayn actually needs his.  

By the time Zayn finally gets up, it’s almost nine o-clock. He’s late-late and Louis’ has never been this late for a job in his life. He texted Harry already to tell him but got no answer back. Zayn assures him it will be fine and that Harry would understand car troubles. 

When they turn into the driveway Louis is bouncing in his seat anxiously. As soon as Zayn starts pressing the brake Louis is already leaning over and kissing his cheek quickly before he opens the door to hop out. 

“I love you! Thank you! Don’t know what I would do without you!” He calls as he's walking backwards up the steps waving to Zayn who's already driving away. Just as he hits the last step he turns and jumps when he sees Harry standing there in the opened doorway.

“You're late,” is all he says dryly, a harsh frown etched in his brow. Louis presses a palm on his own chest in surprise.

“Oh, uhm, I’m sorry. I texted you,” Louis says honestly, stepping inside when Harry moves aside. 

“Was too busy getting ready to check. Doesn’t matter now, Margo is having breakfast already. I need to go, I'm late.” He grabs his keys and before he leaves he stops. “Try not to be late again.”

Louis stands there for a minute after Harry shuts the door. He feels terrible and he doesn’t want Harry upset with him all day, but he left before he could even explain himself. He breathes out once and then heads towards the kitchen to see Margo sitting at the island eating half a bagel.

“Daddy’s mad,” is what she says to him. Louis drops his smile instantly.

“Yeah, but it’ll be alright, bug,” he assures her, walking over and running his fingers through her tangled curls. “Finish up and then we’ll head upstairs and get this nest brushed, alright?” He teases her by ruffling up her hair more.

“Don’t make it worse, Lou!” She says taking a bite out of her buttered bagel.

“I would never,” he replies.

All throughout the rest of the day Louis is worried about how upset Harry is with him. The older man did seem quite irritated that Louis was late, but it was unfair that he didn’t even allow him to explain. Louis hopes that when he arrives home he will have time to explain what happened and Harry will have cooled down by then. Louis understands, of course. By being late, he made Harry late, and Harry’s punctuality is depended upon by his whole office and his clients. 

Margo is in her room for quiet time when he calls Zayn to talk to him about the situation. He has the phone in between his ear and shoulder as he dries the dishes from lunch. “I honestly feel really bad and I know he’s mad.”

“Lou, it'll be fine, just explain to him what happened when he gets home. He can’t seriously be that upset, it’s not like you were out drinking and were hungover and that's why you were late.”

“You're right, I just… I thought…” Louis admits. He did feel over the last week things with him and Harry felt different. It wasn't a huge change, but there was something there amidst the soft touches and lingering glances. He might be completely wrong about everything, but he feels something stirring between them.

“It’ll be alright, I promise. From what you told me I think he’s a really nice guy.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” 

“I know.”

“Okay don’t get a big head now. Pick me up at five-thirty?” He says sweetly into the phone.

“Sharp. Bye, Lou.”

“Bye, Zayn.”

Then he hangs up, sets his phone on the counter and leans against it with a sigh. 

Now he waits. 

Harry gets home a little early, which is a surprise. Louis and Margo are sitting on the couch watching her other favorite movie, Happy Feet 2. Louis jumps slightly at the sound of the door shutting, signalling Harry’s arrival.

“Daddy’s home!” Margo cheers jumping off the couch and running towards the entryway. Louis pasues the movie and stands, walking slowly to where he figures the two must be, in the kitchen.

He sees Harry digging in the fridge for something when he tells Margo to go back to watching her movie. 

“Okay, should I wait to unpause the movie for you?” She says oblivious, turning to Louis who shakes his head. 

“No, you go ahead, bug,” he says and watches her run into the living room. Harry shuts the fridge as soon as she's out of ear shot. He has a beer in his hand, pulling open a drawer to get a bottle opener and pops it open. Silence.

“Harry, I can explain about this morning,” Louis starts, watching as Harry leans his back on the counter, taking a slow sip. 

“You don’t really have to explain anything, Louis,” he says with a cold tone. A confused look fills Louis' face at his words. “I just thought this was…” He points between them to empathize. “Mutual.”

“Wait, what ?” 

“So, obviously it’s not then? You’ve had someone this whole time… Jesus christ,” Harry says, pinching his nose, voice dropping to a groan. Louis watches his throat as he takes a huge swig of his beer, his brain nearly short circuiting as he tries to process what Harry is saying.

“Wait, hold on. I wanted to explain why I was late… my car wouldn't start this morning and I had to ask my roommate and best friend,” he emphasizes, “to drive me.” Louis watches a look of realization spread across Harry’s face. “You weren’t even mad because I was late, were you?” Louis asks, stepping closer towards Harry who just keeps his eyes on him.

“I—”

“You were mad because you were jealous?” 

Before the smug look can even fill Louis’ face Harry steps forward, into Louis' space and grabbing Louis' chin with his fingers. The taller man's other hand cupping Louis’ slimmer waist, feeling the warmth of his digits spread throughout Louis’ body. He begins to lean in, but Harry’s nose bumps into Louis’, leaving the two laughing in hushed tones.

“Sorry,” Harry mumbles, an uncharacteristically shy smile stretched across his face. 

But all hesitation is forgotten when their lips finally touch. The older man's lips are like honey dripping slowly off a spoon, like pillows too inviting after a long day. Louis can feel his heartbeat quicken in time with the movement of their lips.

Suddenly the softness goes away when quickens his movements, Louis gasps by the hard kiss letting Harry grip his chin. Harry’s mouth opens when Louis leans up into it, wanting more, chasing the feeling. The kiss is more urgent and hasty than Louis would have imagined their first kiss to be, but he can’t complain, especially when he feels the tips of Harry’s cool fingers wrapped around his hip slip under his shirt, pulling Louis flush against him. The taste of beer fills Louis' tastebuds when he licks Louis' bottom lip, deepening the kiss further. 

Louis lets a whine escape his throat when the older man moves his fingers on his chin to rest his palm on his cheek. The larger hand feels rough, foreign against the soft skin. Louis reaches up, twisting his hands into Harry's half unbuttoned dress shirt.

When Harry pulls away Louis almost falls into his chest, desperate for more. He thinks he’s definitely dreaming and he hasn’t even woken up for the day yet because this can’t really be happening . 

“Was that okay?” Harry asks quickly, gentle eyes searching all over Louis’ face for any sign of discomfort. Louis doesn't even answer, the younger man just leans back in with a smile, pulling Harry's head down to kiss him again. He makes sure to leave a few pecks on his lips before pulling away completely, taking a step back to stop himself from kissing him more.

“Does that answer your question?” Louis' knees almost buckle at the toothy grin Harry shoots at him. Harry takes a step forward to lean in again when they hear little feet scamper across the floor, getting closer to them. The two pull apart from each other quickly.

“Louis! Louis! The penguins are all dancing now, you have to come watch!” Margo flies into the room, grabbing Louis hand and starts tugging him away. 

“Talk after bedtime?” Harry suggests and Louis nods, smiling before he is pulled into the living room to watch a bunch of cartoon penguins dance… the things he does for this girl.

After the movie ends, Margo is visibly tired. Louis thankfully remembers to text Zayn to tell him to pick him up later than they had originally planned, (to which he replied with a confused face emoji).

Margo is now curled up into Louis' side on the couch, eyes heavy as the credits roll on the big screen. Louis reaches a hand to tuck an orange curl behind her ear.

“Wanna get ready for bed?” Louis suggests watching as she looks up at him with big eyes, her head nodding slightly. “I’ll go get your dad.” 

Louis goes to stand but she stops him. He stills and watches as she climbs off the couch, linking their hands together. “Can you both tuck me in?” Louis grins and hums, thinking.

“Let's go see what daddy thinks.”

Margo giggles, almost running into the kitchen with him. Harry’s sat at the island, finishing up his dinner. The older man raises his eyebrows at the two, seeing Margo looking excited. “What did you do?” He asks, eyeing the small girl.

“Nothing! Can Louis help with bedtime tonight?” She rocks onto her toes. Her dad gets off his chair, putting his dirty dishes in the dishwasher and turns towards the two in the doorway.

“Well, of course.” He smiles, dimples matching the girls standing beside him. Margo cheers the whole way up to her room as they follow right behind.

Margo gets tucked snuggly into bed with a hug from Louis and a kiss goodnight from Harry, before the older man turns the light off as they exit the room quietly. Louis goes back into the living room to fix up the couch, folding up the blanket he and Margo had been using and fluffing the pillows. Harry gets them both glasses of water and as he walks into the living room Louis sits on the cushion, taking the glass when Harry hands it to him as he sits. 

“So,” Harry says, taking a sip of his drink and setting it on the coffee table in front of them. He turns his body more towards Louis and throws an arm behind the couch. His hand is mere inches away from Louis’ shoulder, but Louis already wishes they were closer. 

“So,” Louis parrots back, chewing on his lower lip. He doesn’t quite know what to say. Was this all a big misunderstanding? He holds himself back from shaking his head. No. Harry had kissed him.  

“I guess… I guess I need to tell you that I don’t really date,” Harry begins, his gaze is steady, not a hint of insecurity in his tone. “I haven’t dated, actually. Not properly, not since Beverley and I, not since Margo was born. I’m very protective of the people I care about, and I’m wary of bringing people into my life, into Margo’s life, if they’re not going to be sticking around.” 

Louis nods. He has seen glimpses of that, in the way Harry is so keen to keep Margo safe, to have the right people around her. He thinks back to Harry’s reaction to seeing Zayn this morning that started this whole mess and feels his cheeks turn pink. 

“I need to know if you’re in this. If you want to try this out. But know that I’m all in, to see where this goes. Basically… I want to ask you out, but I need you to be aware that I’m not just some guy. I’m not looking for a quick hookup or a cheap date, I've got a family. I’m looking for a relationship or nothing at all. You can say no, of course. We can pretend that kiss never happened and go back to normal, I won’t fire you or anything. I don’t think Margo would forgive me if I did. But I… I really like you, Louis.” 

Louis cannot believe this is happening, he can’t believe he didn’t make up the tension he’s felt between them. “I want that too. I mean, I like you too, Harry. I’m not really one for a quick hook up either.” He licks his bottom lip as he allows his eyes to trail up Harry’s body, taking in the slightly nervous look on the man's face. “I’d love for you to take me out sometime...” 

And, he does. 

Harry ends up taking Louis out the following weekend to the Golden Lamb aka the fanciest restaurant in all of Ohio . Louis’ never felt so special in his twenty two years of life. 

It's a warm July night when Harry picks him up on Saturday, six pm sharp — like the older man promised the night before over text. Louis’ car is still in the shop getting fixed so Harry offered to pick him up, of course.

Harry’s dressed to the nines in a silk button up that was not buttoned all the way, showing his hard chest, tattoos, and chest hair. The black slacks he has on make his legs look a mile long and Louis can’t help but trail his eyes back up and notices that his facial hair has been trimmed nicely, which the younger man finds makes it hard to keep his mouth off the other all night. Especially when Louis’ cheeks flushed after Harry rested a warm hand on his waist and said he looked beautiful in his navy blue button up, the white buttons that match the white collar underneath actually buttoned all the way to the top unlike the other man’s. (His blush grew even more prominent when Harry kissed his cheek and complimented his makeup, and Louis is glad he put on extra highlighter along with the mascara coating his long lashes which he batted as he pleased). 

Louis was nervous at first, just like he would be on any first date, but he got comfortable quickly because it’s just Harry . The older man has spent the night constantly cracking his dumb dad jokes and telling Louis how happy he was that they’re out doing this together, and admitting that he had had a small crush on the blue eyed man since the second week after they had met. Louis couldn’t help the giggle that left his tipsy lips. Maybe three glasses of white was too much.

By the end of the night, bellies full of maple glazed salmon and lamb shank, the two men leave the restaurant hand in hand. The simple action leaves butterflies in Louis’ stomach for the remainder of the drive back to Harry’s, who asked if he wanted to go for a night swim in his pool, to which Louis excitedly agreed. He borrowed a pair of Harry’s swim trunks, tightening the draw strings so they didn’t fall down, which he got teased for by the other man. Louis made sure to pull him under the water as pay back. 

The remainder of the evening is spent with lots of shared kisses, playful laughs, and a few coy splashes — it is the most perfect first date. Louis feels so carefree and seeing this side of Harry really makes Louis realize that this will be easy for him, dating Harry. Harry’s funny, kind, genuine and, of course, handsome . Louis couldn’t ask for a better first date or potential boyfriend. Despite Louis being his daughter's nanny, he felt like Louis not Louis, Margo’s nanny.  

The night ends with Harry kissing him goodnight on his doorstep, hair still wet from their swim, droplets dripping onto his forehead as their lips move against each other. 

Now, Louis is standing in his living room blushing redder than a fire truck as Zayn bombards him with questions.

“One,” his friend holds up his pointer finger, “why is your hair wet?”

Louis rolls his eyes, walking over and plopping down onto the sofa. “Why does that have to be the first thing you ask me?” He shakes his head so the still damp hair rubs onto Zayn’s shoulder.

“Why not?”

“We went swimming at his place after dinner…” His friend eyes him warily which makes Louis pinch him and gasp, “Zayn!” which causes his friend to snort knowingly.

“Yeah? What else did you two do?” He pokes Louis’ side.

“Well he took me to dinner, like I said, but you’ll never guess where!”

“The Golden Lamb?”

“How did you know?” Louis frowns, his excitement fades.

“You posted it on your instagram story? Are you dick dumb or something?” And this time, Louis actually hits him.

“Fuck off! No, I’m not dick dumb, how could I be when dicks were not even involved this evening.” Zayn purses his lips and shrugs. “Harry’s... Different,” Louis sighs, resting his head on Zayn and looking up at him. “I really like him, Z.” 

Zayn smiles genuinely and wraps a comforting arm around Louis' waist. “I know, Lou. I’m really happy you had a good time.”

Smiling, Louis turns to Zayn. “Me too.” 

They sit in silence for a minute before Zayn asks another question. “So, was it weird that he’s your nanny kid’s dad? Or that he’s so old?”

Louis gasps. “Harry isn’t old!” Zayn gives him a Look. “And being Margo’s dad was fine. We didn’t even really talk about her that much, which was nice. It felt like there was some separation there, you know? And she wasn’t home, so it wasn’t like I ran into her or anything.” 

Zayn hums thoughtfully with a genuine smile. “Again, I’m glad you’re happy, Lou. You deserve it.”  

Louis stands this time, the grin on his face clearly never going away at this point. “Thanks, Z. Me too.”

✩°̥࿐

The following Friday, Louis wakes up to his phone vibrating next to him. He picks it up without looking at the caller, still half asleep, answering with a groggy “Hello?”

“Lou, did I wake you?” He’s met with a deep hoarse voice over the speaker. Instantly he sits up after realizing who it is.  

“Hey! Yeah it's okay, are you okay? Is Margo okay? Am I late?” Louis quickly checks the clock seeing it's only six am. He feels himself more awake than two seconds ago, the unsettling feeling of Harry’s voice makes it easier to wake up, worry filling his chest. 

“Lou, babe, breathe,” the older man chuckles and then falls into a fit of harsh coughs. Louis remembers Harry having a stuffy nose on Wednesday when they were saying goodnight on the phone and Thursday when he left for work that morning. When Harry came home that evening, Louis could tell the older man felt worse. Louis almost caved when Harry pouted after Louis said he would only kiss Harry’s cheek goodbye but Louis wasn’t risking it. And now he’s glad he didn’t. Even though he assured Louis it was his allergies. Louis recalled the man telling him he was only allergic to dogs, and they didn’t have a dog.

“I knew you were getting sick!” 

“I’m not sick.” Suddenly, there's the muffled sound of Harry blowing his nose and then picking up his phone again. “Okay… maybe I am sick. But I called in today so you take the day off, I’m just gonna put some movies on and ask Beverley to take her to ballet later, okay?”

“No, I’m coming,” Louis states, jumping out of bed, making sure to rest the phone between his ear and shoulder while trying to block out Harry’s protests on the other end. “I’m coming over, end of discussion. You also wouldn’t want to upset Miss Margo by telling her I won’t be there today now would you?” Louis teases, his voice high and light, knowing how the little girl would react to that news.

Harry sighs, the rustle from the other end probably meaning that he’s getting more comfortable in bed. “I can’t believe you’re using my own daughter against me…” Louis just snorts in response. “Fine, but please stay far away from me so you don’t get sick, too.” 

“We’ll see,” Louis sing-songs, walking into the bathroom to quickly freshen up. “I’ll be there in thirty.” 

Thankfully Louis got his car back yesterday from the shop so he didn’t have to bug Zayn anymore, once again giving him the freedom to go where he pleased.

“You really didn’t have to come, Lou,” is the first thing Harry says when Louis walks into his bedroom. The older man is cuddled up in his bed, blankets pulled up to his chin. His nose is red and his lips chapped. He looks pitiful. 

Louis tries not to think about how this is the first time he’s stepped into Harry's bedroom. The cream colored walls are adored in pictures of Margo and his family, and there is a huge window pane with the currents closed making the room dim. Louis plops down the grocery bag full of tissues, Vicks, and the ingredients for him and Margo to make soup later.

“I wanted to.” He frowns seeing Harry this way. Louis digs into the bag and hands Harry a new box of tissues and the bottle of Vicks for his nose. The older man gives him a look, thanking him, which just makes Louis want to kiss him.

“Margo is still sleeping, she doesn’t know I’m home,” Harry says before grabbing a tissue and blowing his nose. Louis nods, reaching over and running a hand over his forehead, feeling the warm, damp skin. He then runs his fingers through Harry's curls, smiling when the man relaxes into his touch.

“I’ll go wake her, keep her occupied. Just rest, okay?”

Waking Margo up was a small challenge, as it is every morning. He explains that her daddy is home sick, and though she wanted to run and comfort her dad, Louis says that he is resting and they would see him later.

“Want to color while I make you breakfast?” Louis asks, grabbing the sleep rumbled girl's hand in his as they make their way down the stairs. Margo nods, leaning into Louis’ side.

Margo colors in her penguin coloring book while Louis makes her eggs, scrambled of course. She asks him almost every five minutes if she can go see Harry and Louis frowns again and again, saying she should let him rest. 

“But when I’m sick daddy always gives me hugs and kisses so I feel better.” Margo rests her cheek in her hand, sadly coloring in the water with a blue crayon.

“What happens if you get sick, though?” Louis lightly pokes her nose. “We wouldn't want you to get sick,” Louis says, setting down her food in front of her along with a glass of apple juice.

Sighing, Margo agrees with a sad “yeah, I guess so.” 

Remembering what he brought from the store, Louis grins. “Later, how about you help me make soup for daddy for lunch?”

Margo perks up, dropping her crayon in excitement. “Yes! That would be so good, he will feel a lot better.”

“Yes he will.” Louis smiles hopefully.

A few hours later, Margo and Louis whip up homemade chicken noodle soup, one of Louis’ grandmother's famous recipes. Trying to keep the excitement down so they don’t wake up Harry or disturb his resting is a challenge, but Margo can’t help it when Louis plays Boogie Wonderland from the Happy Feet sound track over the bluetooth speaker.

When they successfully finish in the kitchen, the two quietly walk into his room, Louis is holding the soup bowl as Margo carries in a bag of crackers in her small hands. The lamp on the bedside table dimly lights the room so Louis is able to see Harry’s body move underneath the blankets. 

“Daddy, are you awake?” Margo tries to whisper, but fails to keep her voice quiet. Harry turns his upper body, and smiles at them standing beside the bed. 

“Am now, bug,” he sniffles, voice hoarse from coughing all day.

“Sorry.” Louis cringes slightly. “We have soup?” he gives him a smile, lifting the bowl slightly in his hands as in a way of asking if he wants some.

“For me?” Harry says, sitting up and resting his back against the headboard. “Did you help Louis, Mar?” Reaching out for the bowl, Harry smiles gratefully when Louis carefully sets it in his hands. 

“Yes! I even tried it, daddy! And ate all the veggies inside, are you so proud of me?” She asks, setting the crackers on the bed before excitedly climbing onto it, kneeing her way closer to him. Louis swiftly reaches over and grabs her hips, hoisting her up and onto his hip instead. “Hey…” she whines.

“Daddy’s sick, we can’t let you get sick too, remember? Then you wouldn’t be able to go to ballet,” Louis tells her and she frowns, crossing her arms.

“I just wanted to hug daddy.”

“I am very proud of you, baby. Louis is right though, you can’t get sick,” Harry tells her, blowing on his spoon first before trying the soup and humming at the taste. “I’ll give you all the hugs and kisses when I feel better.”

“Fine…” she sighs and rests her head sadly onto Louis' shoulder. 

“We have to get ready for ballet soon, wanna go set out your tights and tutu and I’ll come braid your hair?” Louis asks, running his fingers through her orange curls. He sets her down onto the ground when she smiles big. Forgetting her grumpy mood from seconds ago, she perks up and runs out of the room. When Margo is out of sight, Louis sits on the edge of the bed, playing with a loose thread on the duvet as Harry spoons in the soup. 

“Good?” The younger asks, eyeing him with a smirk. Nodding, Harry raises his eyebrows and eats more.

“I can’t believe you got her to eat this! It has vegetables in it.” The shocked tone makes Louis shrug smugly. 

“I may have fibbed and said that it’ll make you feel better if she at least tried it.” 

“You lied to my daughter? That's low ,” Harry teases, reaching for a tissue and sneezing into it. “Maybe you should listen to your own advice.” Harry motions towards Louis sitting dangerously close to him. Their knees knocked each other slowly. Louis ignores him completely and reaches a hand up to his forehead. His skin is still warm, but better than this morning.

“You still have a fever.”

“Thanks, doc.”

“You’re a dick, make your own soup next time.” Louis pokes his cheek teasingly and stands up. He takes the empty bowl from Harry's hold. “I’ll see you after ballet, get some more rest, okay?” 

“Okay, babe. As you wish.” The sick man buries further into his blankets and snuffles. Blowing a kiss as he walks out, Louis slowly shuts the door behind him. 

When Louis and Margo return from ballet that evening, Harry is bustling about the kitchen making coffee. 

“I thought you were supposed to be resting?” Louis asks, eyebrows raised. He sets down Margo’s dance bag and crosses his arms as the small girl runs over to Harry, hugging his legs.

“Daddy’s not sick anymore!” She bounces slightly, looking up at her father. Just then Harry falls into a fit of coughs, making Margo run over to Louis again. “Never mind…”

“I can’t go without coffee, Lou, you know that,” Harry tells him, putting in the milk and stirring it with his finger. 

“Yeah, well, I thought since you're sicker than a dog it could wait until I got back.” Louis walks over to him and takes the cup from him and pushes his back towards the stairs with his free hand. “Back to bed.”

“I can carry my own mug, you know.”

“I know.” Louis gives a shooing motion, making Margo giggle at the two as Harry starts walking back upstairs empty handed.

After Harry has fallen back asleep and his coffee has gone cold, Louis puts Margo in the bath and after she's all squeaky clean the two make their way into Margo’s room to pack her overnight bag.

“Oh Lou!” Margo squeaks running over to her vanity and grabbing her makeup kit off of it, skipping back over to Louis who's folding her clothes neatly into a bag. “I’m bringing my makeup so me and Mommy can do it together too!” 

Louis smiles with a nod, remembering when he did her makeup last week, even though the cheap child makeup is hard to work with, he still managed to make it do a decent job. (He even let her add some lipstick and blush onto his own face and he won’t soon forget the way Harry had almost kissed off all of the lipstick when he had said goodbye that night). 

“I think that's a great idea, bug!” Louis takes the box and fits it tightly into her bag. Beverley would be there soon to pick up Margo for the weekend and this is now the second time Louis will still be here when she comes. He’s nervous, considering their last encounter wasn't the smoothest, but he hopes it at least goes better. 

Of course, it doesn't.

When there's three harsh knocks on the door forty five minutes after six, Margo jumps up from the couch and runs out of the living room. Louis takes his time collecting her bag and dolly to bring out to the entryway. Beverley is standing in the doorway picking her nails and tapping her foot impatiently as Margo smiles up at her, babbling about how she made homemade chicken noodle soup that day.

“Hello,” Louis greets, he can’t help but let a nervous smile etch onto his lips. He sets Margo’s bag onto the ground by her shoes. Beverley's head snaps up and her eyebrows pinch together.

“Where's Harry?” She asks dully towards Louis, not waiting for an answer. Her eyes advert down to Margo and then quirks her eyebrow. “Where is your father?”

“Daddy’s sick, he is in bed resting but it’s okay! Me and Lou took good care of him today!”

“I’m sure you did,” she hums with an annoyed grimace, barely giving Louis another glance before bending down to pick up Margo’s bag. “Let’s go.”

“Uhm,” Margo fumbles, swaying onto her toes for a second, looking between Louis and her mom hesitantly. Louis bends down, crouching onto one knee and opening his arms for a hug. 

“Say goodbye, hurry up,” Beverley sighs. Grinning widely, Margo falls into Louis’ arms and nuzzles into his neck. Louis makes sure to hug her tightly, knowing he won’t see her again until Monday, and giving her an extra hug for Harry’s sake.

“Bye, Lou!” She calls as they pull apart and she grabs her mom's awaiting hand to leave.

“Bye, Mar!” 

When the door clicks shut Louis makes his way into the kitchen to tidy up the leftover mess from earlier. He makes sure to also put in a load of laundry before heading up stairs towards Harry's room. Slowly opening the door with a creak, he peaks in and sees Harry’s body moving from his deep breathing underneath the covers. Louis tiptoes over to the opposite side, kneeing ever so slowly onto the bed until he can reach out and feel Harry's forehead. The skin is warm but not like this morning. That's when he stirs awake, his tired, glazed over eyes cracking open as he sniffles. Louis sits back on his knees, resting his hands in his lap as Harry rolls onto his back, stretching his arms.

“How are you feeling?” Louis asks, untucking his legs from underneath himself and crossing them. Harry holds his head up in his hand and smiles tiredly. 

“Feeling much better.” He reaches over and sets a hand onto Louis' knee and rubbing his thumb over his clothed skin, making Louis look down at the touch. It’s still so new to him, that they can be like this now, after pining for him for so long. “Thanks to my little nurse!” Harry suddenly grabs Louis' hips, pulling him into his chest and rolling him onto his back with a strong grip. Louis yelps, laughing as he tries to pry his way out of Harry's arms.

“You’re sick, let go of me!”

“I can’t help that you’re so holdable,” Harry sniffles, nuzzling his face into Louis’ neck, the facial hair that's been growing tickles Louis skin, making him push the man's head away teasingly. 

“Harry, I swear if you get me sick,” Louis warns him with a sharp side eye. 

Harry ends up shaking his head, promising not to.

Louis ends up agreeing to stay the whole weekend, after much persuasion from Harry. Louis knows once the staying over on the weekends starts he’s going to find it much harder to switch back to being Margo’s nanny and not Harry’s boyfriend by the time Monday morning comes around, even though the older man is worth it.

Saturday was spent cuddled up together on the couch as they watched the Jurassic Park series, since Harry’s never seen it, claiming it was too scary. 

“I have a little girl, Lou, why would I watch this?”

“This was released before said little girl was even a mere thought, you’re not getting out of this, now pass me the popcorn.”  

By Sunday, Harry is feeling much better, but still refuses to properly kiss Louis the way the younger man is desperate for, for fear that he’ll get him sick. Louis could argue that the fact that they’ve spent the weekend in each other’s personal space would share whatever man-cold Harry was bogged down with, but he refrains.   

However, Louis has a plan to get around that little barrier.

Louis feels his body start to wake up from his deep sleep early that morning. He pulls the blanket higher to his chin, not wanting to wake up to reality just yet. The harsh reality hits that his weekend alone with Harry is soon going to be over but he can dream a little longer. 

Harry's sleep heavy arm is laying over his waist, his warm palm pressed under Louis’ borrowed shirt on his belly and his chest against Louis’ back. When Louis sinks further into his hold, he feels Harry’s body shift with his. The movement causes Harry’s hips to align with his and suddenly the pressure of a cock is pressed into his clothed backside.

Harry’s hard.

Harry’s hard and still snoring into his hair which makes him want to wake the man up and shove his cock down his throat until he comes undone from Louis’ mouth.

So, that’s exactly what he does.

“H,” Louis whispers as he reaches a hand to interlock and plays with the rings on Harry’s fingers that are pressed into his belly. The man behind him pulls Louis’ body closer which makes Louis laugh under his breath. “Harry, wake up.” He turns his body in Harry's hold so he’s now facing him. 

The light coming in from the large picture window makes it easy to see the slight pout on the sleeping man's face as tufts of air escape his slightly parted mouth. Louis frowns as his eyebrows are scrunched together and Louis wants to know what he’s dreaming about. Louis reaches up and runs his fingers through the tangled curls and leans in to pepper kisses on Harry's warm cheek. Then Louis hooks a leg around Harry’s hip, still on their sides, and runs his nails softly down the man's back.

“Hm?” Harry stirs when Louis presses more kisses over his face. “I’m sleeping,” he mumbles before Louis can answer. 

Louis laughs and rests his hand on Harry's naked chest. His tattooed skin makes it difficult for Louis not to lean down and suck bruises. 

“I think you should wake up,” Louis says quietly, swiftly rolling Harry onto his back. He makes a surprised noise in his throat as Louis straddles his hips, squeezing his thighs to empathize that the man needs to wake up. Harry unconsciously bucks his hips as his hard cock presses into the round curves of Louis' ass.

“What are you—” Harry reaches up to tiredly run a hand down his face, the other hand grips Louis' hip to still him from rocking slowly. Even though this isn’t the first time Louis has done something remotely sexual, it is the first time he and Harry have. He feels nervous at the fact he could fuck things up by doing this, but he really just wants to suck his man’s cock.

“Baby.” Harry's rough sleep voice brings Louis out his thoughts, a chill running down his spine which causes Louis to look down at him, eyes wide. “Are you—”   

Louis leans down, cutting Harry off by pressing his lips onto his. They haven't kissed for days because Harry was sick all weekend and thank god he’s feeling better. Louis missed this feeling. 

Wrapping his arms around Harry's neck, he kisses him with deft, deliberate technique. Scraping his teeth over Louis’ lower lip, Harry cups his face gently. Pulling Louis impossibly closer, the older man rocks his hips up and groans from deep in his throat. Louis smiles against his lips, nipping at his bottom lip.

“Can I?” Louis whispers as he pulls away, dragging his nails down Harry's stomach towards the bulge in his Calvins. He lets his delicate hand cup over Harry’s length, pulling down the band of his underwear and stopping when the dark hair appears. His skilled fingers splay on his stomach. Harry suddenly grips Louis’ waist with two strong hands. 

“You’re asking?” Harry asks him, shocked, eyebrows raised. Louis nods as a reply as a shy smile fills his lips. “Can you be any more perfect?” 

“H, stop.” Louis hits his chest playfully, resting his palm on his chest as the older man chuckles, the soft rumble vibrating his hand. He lets a reassuring palm rest on Louis' bare thigh, the t-shirt he’s wearing hikes up from Harry’s wandering hands. Louis slowly shimmies down his body, not breaking eye contact as his thighs are now straddling Harry's shins. He leans forward to lay an open mouthed kiss onto the line of his V, Louis licks up the left laurel tattooed on his hip bone and makes Harry twitch underneath him. His fingertips catch the band and pull them down the whole way off his legs. Harry rests a palm on Louis cheek, watching as he wraps his hand around his hard length. 

“Babe,” Harry says. He quickly lifts Louis’ face up for a deep kiss and Louis instantly opens up for his tongue. He dryly moves his hand over Harry’s length, feeling the heaviness in his palm, and Louis feels himself get harder by the second. With one last nip on Louis’ bottom lip, Harry pulls away and Louis leans back down towards his groin.

Slowly, Louis gives a tentative lick up the underside of his cock. He’s big and Louis isn’t being biased. He’s had boyfriends, but none of them had the girth and length like Harry does. The voice in the back of his head chanting ‘ Older men are hotter’ makes it hard not to come right there. 

Harry feels heavy on his tongue in the best of ways. Harry jerks upward suddenly as his tongue falls into the slit of the tip of his cock. Louis can’t help but laugh, tongue still pressed to the tip with a grin filling his lips. “It’s been a long time, huh?”

“Way too long,” Harry sighs, leaning his head back into his pillow, one arm behind his head. Louis watches his neck stretch, a vein prominent under his skin and Louis wants to lick it. Instead, he quickly takes most of his length into his mouth. Harry’s pleased grin dissolves into a slack-jawed mess the second Louis starts to suck him off. “Holy fuck.”

For the most part, Harry lets him set the pace, bobbing his head and taking as much of his length as he comfortably can, but after a short while his hands are buried in Louis' hair as he fights the urge to buck into his throat. With a particularly rough snap of his hips and a tug on Louis’ hair, he groans out. Louis pulls up, letting a long string of spit fall from his mouth, and quickly ducks down to swallow Harry’s cock whole, letting the tip hit the back of his throat skillfully.    

“I bet your mouth is as wet and tight as your pussy, huh?” Harry says almost as a grunt, tightening his hold in his hair.

The second the words register in his hazy brain, Louis whines high in his throat, rutting down onto Harry's leg. The younger man almost comes instantly, feeling the tightness in his lower belly. 

“Yeah you like that?” Harry rocks his hips. “Just like that, baby,” he mutters, watching intently as Louis sinks his mouth further onto his cock. Grinding hard onto the man's leg, Louis lifts up. 

“Yes, please,” he whispers, not really sure what he’s asking for but then—

“Gonna come, Lou.” Pulling himself slowly out of Louis' mouth. Louis pants as he leans back down to lick up the underside of Harry's cock, the wetness from his mouth easily glides up and down. Louis looks up at him as the tip of his tongue lays flat on his cock and Harry stutters out, “Fuck.” Pressing his hips further into the mattress as Louis lightly slides his teeth over his sensitive skin. He ignores his words, wanting him back inside his mouth.

“Come on my face,” Louis breathes, licking over the pre-come dripping down Harry’s length, taking Harry back down, he hollows his cheeks and sucks hard. He doesn’t even realize he’s still grinding over Harry's leg until he moans himself. The tight feeling creeps up on him as Harry holds the base of his own cock and jerks himself quickly, which makes Louis pull off. Louis leaves his mouth open, tongue flat, looking up through his lashes at him. He reaches a hand down to relieve himself. Suddenly, his breath hitches in his throat when the first drop of come hit his cheek. Harry’s grip tightens in Louis' hair as he continues to pump his cock with his other hand, his Adam apple bobs in his throat as a low groan leaves his chest. 

“Jesus, fuck , I love your mouth,” Harry grits through his teeth as he finishes, the orgasm hitting him and the last bit of come lands on Louis’ cheek. When Louis leans down to lick the remaining drops off Harry's softening length, he makes Harry's hips jerk. “Are you trying to kill me?” 

“No,” Louis hums with a smirk, picking up Harry's hand and sucking the middle finger into his mouth. 

“You’re definitely trying to kill me,” Harry sighs, pleased as he eyes Louis. 

Louis then sits up on his knees and lifts the baggy t-shirt to wipe his face as best as he can, dropping the fabric when Harry groans again. Tilting his head, Louis asks. “What?”

“You got off?” Harry eyes motion towards the wet patch on his tight briefs. Louis instantly slaps his hands over his face, heat prickles his cheeks in embarrassment. “Hey, no baby.” Harry sits up and wraps his strong arms around Louis’ slim waist, pulling him closer. He kisses up Louis’ neck, nuzzling the skin there. “That’s so hot, are you kidding me?” He runs his hands down Louis’ back before resting them on the swell of his ass. 

“I really enjoyed when you said… you know,” Louis says shyly, a warm blush filling his cheeks while Harry grins and pulls him into his chest.

“Yeah?” Harry smiles fondly, cupping Louis cheek as the younger nods, looking up at Harry through his lashes. Harry shifts so he’s sitting up straighter in bed, making Louis giggle into his neck as he tightens his hold under his bum. “Before I get hard again, we need to shower, but I owe you.” Harry winks, standing up he throws Louis over his shoulder, one hand gripping the back of his thigh and the other on his lower back. 

“Can I walk?!” Louis shrieks as Harry maneuvers into the ensuite saying a stern ‘ No ’. 

Not that he wanted to anyway.

Their shower consists of Louis trying to wash his own hair as Harry gawks over his body. Forgetting this is the first time Harry’s seen him naked, especially wet and soapy, he’s not sure how he ended up not getting the man off for a second time. 

Prying Harry’s hands off his ass is harder than expected but eventually Louis succeeds. He leaves the other man groaning when he pulls back the curtain and steps out of the shower, swirling his hips just enough to make his bare ass jiggle. 

“If you didn’t spend the whole time mauling me you could have been done sooner,” Louis says, grabbing a towel from the rack and wrapping his body in it, shielding from the cold. 

“I didn’t hear you complaining.” Harry quirks an eyebrow as he sticks his head out from the curtain. Louis rolls his eyes and pushes the sopping head back into the steamy shower. 

When Louis steps back into the bedroom he goes over to Harry's wardrobe and pulls on a pair of joggers and an old t-shirt shoved in the back of his closet, hoping since it’s back there Margo won’t recognize it. Quickly he picks up all the dirty laundry that’s scattered across the floor to start a load when the sudden ding of a text message fills the room. Realizing it’s Harry’s, he continues to pile up the dirty clothes into his arms when he jumps at the sound of another ding and another. A worried feeling fills his chest that something could possibly be wrong with Margo. He picks up Harry’s phone and rushes into the bathroom where the shower is still running. 

“H,” Louis says as he walks in. 

“Yeah babe?”

“Your phone is dinging like crazy, I was worried maybe something was wrong…” Louis says, hoisting himself up onto the sink counter.

“Oh, just check for me?” 

Louis nods even though the man can’t see him. He swipes and unlocks it without looking at the preview. When he opens the messenger app there's three awaiting texts from Beverley. 

We need to talk.

I’m coming to drop her off now. 

It’s about Louis and Margo.

Louis frowns as he rereads the messages over and over. What could they possibly need to discuss involving himself? Does she know about them? 

“Lou?” Harry questions. He shuts off the shower and opens the curtain, quickly wrapping a towel around his waist after noticing the frown etched in Louis' eyebrow. “What's wrong?”

“It’s Beverley…” He hands out the phone and Harry takes it from his palm. The man quickly reads the texts, his eyes scanning over the words as his eyebrow furrows deeper.

“The fuck is she on about? Jesus christ.” Harry sighs, throwing his phone onto the counter beside Louis’ thigh. Louis fiddles with his fingers insecurely, picking a loose thread on Harry's worn joggers. He’s not sure what had happened in the short 36 hours Margo was there. 

“Lou.” He feels a finger press under his chin, making him look up. Their eyes meet and he notices small droplets of water fall onto Harry’s forehead from his still soaked hair. “It’s okay. I promise. You know what she's like, and you and I both know Margo adores the ground you walk on, right?” He cups a palm onto Louis cheek and pulls him into a soft kiss. Louis nods into it, agreeing.

“C’mon, I’ll make us some coffee, they should be here soon.”

When the doorbell rings, indicating that Beverley and Margo are there, Louis' heartbeat quickens. He stiffens in the stool that he’s sitting in at the kitchen island, bouncing his knee nervously as he sips his coffee. Harry presses a quick kiss to his cheek as he passes by to go to the entryway which calms him down a little. When the sound of the front door opening and Margo’s excited screams of ‘Daddy!’ reach the kitchen, Louis feels himself instantly feel more at ease. He hears Harry murmur a ‘Hello bug ’ and tell her to head to the kitchen for a surprise. 

When the red haired spitfire slides into the kitchen her eyes light up at the sight of Louis. He quickly puts a finger to his lips indicating for her to be quiet. He really doesn’t want Beverley to know he’s here right now, just in case that makes whatever she’s upset about worse.

“Are you my surprise?” Margo whispers excitedly, running over and crashing into Louis' legs. He picks her up and nods with a smile because she's such a smart girl. Louis sets her down on the stool beside him and walks over to the junk drawer to pull out some crayons and paper when suddenly he hears yelling from the hallway.

“She’s wanting to wear fucking makeup Harry! She’s five! Who bought it for her anyway, was it him?” Louis hears Beverley’s voice boom from the front door. He frowns when he sees Margo unphased by the yelling. 

“Are you kidding me? It’s harmless fun, it’s not even real makeup! You’re being ridiculous.” He cringes at Harry's harsh but subdued tone; he’s obviously uneasy over this and notices Harry trying to be quieter for the sake of Margo. “And I bought it for her because she asked, not like you would do the same.” 

“Oh, fuck you, Harry. You really think it’s okay for him to be doing her makeup and teaching her that? She said she put it on him. ”

“Teaching her what?!” Harry laughs bewildered by the words, obviously taken aback. “Teaching her how to have fun and express herself? She enjoys it and Louis is doing nothing wrong. She’s a little girl. ”

“Exactly, she's a little girl not a teenager.” 

“You’re being irrational, Beverley.”

“Oh, he’s definitely got you wrapped around his finger, that's for sure ,” she scoffs. Louis can see her crossed arms and upturned nose from here.

He turns and looks back to Margo who's playing with her doll's hair, humming to herself as her mom and dad argue in the background. His heart breaks into a million pieces. 

“Daddy and mommy are upset with each other.” She frowns. “Mommy got mad when I asked her to do my makeup a-and when I said you did it for me she said that... you’re… not supposed to.” Her sad green eyes look up at Louis who’s matching her frown. “But I like it when you do my makeup and make me look pretty like you, is that bad?” 

He feels terrible for causing this, but he truly didn’t think playing with toy makeup would be a big deal. He used to do it with his girl friends all the time when they were Margo’s age. Before they can listen to anymore yelling, he quickly scoops her up and exits out the back door towards the deck. Sitting her down on the swing, he bends down in front of her, resting his hands on her knees. 

“I don’t think it’s bad, no,” Louis says honestly. “But we should listen to your mommy and if she and daddy don’t want you playing with makeup anymore, well, then maybe we shouldn't.” 

“But makeup makes me feel pretty and you look so pretty with makeup too,” Margo tells him as she swings her small legs slowly. His heart warms at her words.

“I’ll talk to daddy and we will see, okay?” 

“Okay.”

That's when they hear a loud slam of the front door and then the sound of a car speeding away. Louis stands and turns when he hears the patio door slide open. Margo jumps off the swing and runs over to her dad who's looking quite defeated at the moment. He bears a fake smile anyway for her. 

“Daddy! I missed you!”

Harry picks her up when she jumps into his arms, spinning her around quickly. “I missed you more my baby.” He kisses her cheeks and nuzzles her neck as she giggles.

“I can’t believe Louis is here! On a Sunday!” She cheers and grins widely at Louis. He walks over slowly to the pair as Harry sets down the small girl. 

“I know, so exciting!” Her dad says back, squeezing her shoulder. “Wanna go inside and unpack your bag and pick out a movie we can watch later?” Harry suggests and Margo nods eagerly, running inside without a second thought.

They watch her small form disappear inside, making sure the door is shut before either says a word.

“I’m sorry,” the two men blurt at the same time. 

Harry's eyes widened, confused. He reaches forward and pulls Louis into a hug. “Why are you sorry?”

“I...I’m the one who caused the fight and got Margo in trouble. I honestly didn’t think it was a big deal.” Louis shakes his head and pulls away from Harry’s hold. 

“Hey, it’s totally not a big deal, Lou.” Harry grips his hand, trying to pull him back. “I bought her the makeup. It’s just harmless fun, don't feel bad, okay?” Harry dips his head to make eye contact with him. “It’s okay,” he reassures, leaning in and pressing his lips to Louis'. Instantly the smaller man melts into it, letting Harry pry his lips open in an open mouthed kiss. When they pull apart, Louis’ still frowning, unable to help feeling sad for poor Margo having to deal with her mother upset with her. 

“Baby.” Louis shivers at the pet name letting a small smile reach his lips.

“Hm?”

“Don’t go all quiet on me, let’s go inside and see which movie Margo picked out.” Harry rubs a comforting thumb onto Louis cheek and he leans into the touch. 

“You know I have to go home eventually and get ready for work tomorrow.”

“But you’re already at work.”

“You’re the worst, let’s go.” Louis rolls his eyes and turns Harry around by the shoulders, pushing his back towards the door.

“Am I wrong though?” Harry questions teasingly, opening the door before he faces plants into it.

“Shut up and walk.”

When Louis arrives home that evening, still in Harry's clothes, he shoves a palm into the direction of Zayns and says, “Don’t even start.” Causing his best friend to roar with knowing laughter.

✩°̥࿐

The Tuesday morning after their blissful weekend spent together, Harry ends up asking Louis something he was not prepared for, causing the boy to have a small breakdown, and now Harry is trying to calm him down while he occupies himself with haphazardly picking up toys around the living room.

“You can’t ask me the day of to be your date to a work party!” Louis stops, resting his hands on his hips after chucking the toys in a bin. “I need to like— prepare Harry!” He motions towards himself wearing a loose cropped hoodie and black high waisted biker shorts, his feet clad in pink ankle socks as always. Harry laughs as Louis continues to stress out over this. Louis’ going to hit him. “I’m going to hit you if you don’t stop laughing.”

“I know, I completely forgot, but Lou, it’s fine,” Harry chuckles, stepping towards him and cupping his cheek with a warm palm trying to get Louis to stop pouting. “I’m getting off early, Margo’s going to Kaylee’s for the night. After we drop her off, I’ll take you to your place to get ready, okay?” 

Louis sighs, visibly relaxing his shoulders at Harry's calm voice. “Okay fine.” He lifts his palm and rests it on Harry's hard chest, leaning up to whisper in his ear. “But laugh at me again and I’ll give you blue balls for a week.”

“You wouldn’t.” 

“I would,” Louis fake coos, pushing him away this time. He bends down to pick up the last Barbie when Harry grabs his ass. “Hey! Go to work, you’re going to be late.”

“As you wish, sweetheart. Say goodbye to Margo for me, okay?” Harry kisses his cheek and he’s gone before Louis can answer. He stands in the middle of the living room for a second, sighing to himself. Even though Harry’s reassuring words are playing in his head, he’s still nervous. He’s going to meet all of Harry’s co-workers, his friends, and... this is big. He’s going to be a date for a work party.  

Thankfully he has a rambunctious little girl to keep him occupied all day. They go about their regular morning routine with one significant change; Margo is an even bigger pain to get out of bed, saying she's not feeling well. Worried that she may have caught what Harry had over the weekend, and confused to how he didn’t catch it himself considering, he takes her temperature and sighs in relief when he sees that it’s normal.

“You don’t have a fever… What’s not feeling well? Your belly?” Louis asks while he sits on the edge of her bed, rubbing her arm for comfort. He sees her think for a second, her face goes blank and then her face scrunches up again. 

“Yeah my belly,” she whines, rubbing it over her pajamas. Louis can tell instantly she's faking it, the way she's over doing the voice and action. 

“That's too bad, I know you were supposed to go to Kaylee’s for a sleepover tonight...”

“No! I am feeling better now, see!” She jumps up and stands on her bed with her arms wide open. Louis gives her a pointed look and she frowns. “I don’t want to go to ballet today,” she admits, plopping back down and hanging her head.

“Why not? You love ballet, Mar,” Louis asks, tucking a stray orange curl behind her ear, concern filling his voice. The little girl pouts and falls into Louis' shoulder, leaning her head on it to look up at him.

“I want to stay with you all day, and the sun is out, Lou,” she whines and then a smile breaks out onto her face, perking up instantly at whatever came over in thought. “We can swim!” 

Louis sucks his teeth into his mouth, making a hissing sound. When he speaks though it’s clear he’s teasing, “I don’t know…” He says holding the last syllable.

“Please! Pretty please!” Margo begs, giving Louis the famous puppy dog eyes and pouty lip. 

Pausing, Louis eyes her, and of course, gives in. “Fine...”

“Yay!” Margo jumps up and bounces on her bed, cheering excitedly. Louis grabs her waist and pulls her back down in case she falls and hurts herself, nuzzling her neck. 

“You’re going to get me in trouble with your father… He pays for those ballet lessons you know,” Louis says, wagging a finger at her. Margo gives him a look, one that says ‘ Yeah right .’

“You know daddy could never be mad at you! Me maybe, but not you , Lou.” She starts to crawl off her bed, using Louis' knees as support. Slowly, Margo then starts backing away towards her door, making Louis furrows his brows at the little girl. “That's why you always let me get away with things…” and she's gone, running down the hallway laughing maniacally.

“You’re such a little sneak!” Louis screams back, jumping off the bed and chasing her down the stairs.

When Harry gets home that afternoon, earlier than usual as he had promised that morning, Louis and Margo are in the living room watching Happy Feet 2, for the 17th time . She’s sitting between his legs on the floor as he braids her wet curls. Louis had insisted she bathe before Kaylee’s to get out all of the chlorine in her hair from their day of swimming. There was minimal arguing, since Louis promised to do her hair after. 

“Hey you two,” Harry says, making his presence known, setting his work bag on the ground and shrugging off his coat. 

“Hi daddy!” Margo says turning her head the best she can while Louis tames her hair. Louis turns at the same time and smiles at him, to which he receives a bigger one back. 

“I heard someone didn’t go to ballet today…” Harry frowns coming over and sitting on the couch behind Louis. Instantly Louis leans into him, making the older man smile down and wink at him, waiting for Margo to come up with a reply. They keep in mind that Margo is facing the TV and not them, but all Louis wants to do is tilt his chin up and kiss him. 

“I’ll go Friday I promise, okay daddy?” Margo says. “Can I still go to Kaylee’s?” Louis finishes off her braid quickly, tying the hair tie at the bottom. He taps her head to tell her she's finished and the small girl jumps up and turns to look at her dad. Louis makes sure to sit up a little straighter when he knows she's looking. Margo rests balled fists on her hips and cocks one. “Well?”

Harry lets out a laugh at his daughter's sassiness and leans forward a little. “Were you good all day?” Harry asks, even though he knows damn well she is going to Kaylee’s tonight. Louis tries to hide his small laugh.

“Of course I was! Wasn’t I Lou?” She snaps her head towards Louis, who nods quickly, trying to indicate that, yes, she was good for him all day. Even listened well when Louis told her to get out of the pool even though she didn’t want to just quite yet.

“Yes you were, I can confirm.” Louis nods and winks at her, feeling Harry’s gaze on him. 

“Then yes, you can go to Kaylee’s.” Harry nods, smiling when Margo cheers. “How about you go pack your overnight bag, baby. We’ll leave in a bit.” 

Margo obediently runs to her room, leaving the two men with a few glorious moments of freedom. 

As soon as Margo is out of earshot Louis reaches up, resting a soft palm on Harry's cheek and pulling Harry’s face to his. Louis presses a hard kiss onto Harry's mouth, melting into the feeling of Harry being so close and all of Louis’ senses scream Harry Harry Harry . Harry instantly parts his lips, running his wet tongue onto Louis' bottom lip and gaining access from the younger. 

“Wanted to do that the second you walked in,” Louis breathed out when they parted. Harry just leans in with a grin, kissing Louis’ cheek, then his jaw, and back to leave one peck on his mouth. Louis shivers as his facial hair tickles his cheek. 

“How was your day?” Harry asks, leaning back into the couch, and Louis pushes himself up onto the couch to sit beside him, their thighs now pressed together. Harry rests an arm behind the couch as Louis sits sideways to face him, leaning his head onto the crease of his elbow.

“Good, great actually. Missed you though…” He curls out his bottom lip making Harry roll his eyes, reaching over and running a dry thumb on his lip to push it back up.

“You’re too cute, you know that?” Harry tilts his head at his words, the crinkle by his eyes make Louis lean in again for another kiss. Losing track of time, Louis kind of forgets that there’s a little girl in the house, but when Harry starts holding his hip and deepening the kiss he kind of forgets everything actually. 

So, when he hears a small gasp and a thud, it makes the two pull apart so fast that Louis falls against the opposite end of the couch. Harry stands instantly, and Louis starts biting his nails out of habit. Louis' eyes fleeting towards Harry and then to Margo who’s picking up her stuffed penguin like she didn’t just see her nanny and her dad making out on the couch.

“Mar…” Harry begins, bending down to her height, but she stops him with a hand up to his face.

“I think…” she starts, crossing her arms. “Since Louis gets a kiss, I get a kiss?” She leans her cheek towards her dad who looks at Louis in the corner of his eye and then back at Margo. 

“Yes, of course but—”

“No buts daddy!” Margo gasps, crossing her arms. “Kiss!” She points to her cheek and Harry leans forward slowly, pressing a kiss to her cheek. 

“We will talk about this, okay?” Harry says to her and she shrugs, skipping over to Louis happily and leaning her head on his lap.

“Can I pretty please have a cookie?” 

Louis doesn’t move, still in shock at how she has reacted to this situation. He quickly looks up at Harry who's shrugging, eyes wide at him. 

“Yeah sure, let’s go get one then we’ve got to go.” He stands up and takes her hand which she held out for him. They pass Harry, who's still frozen in shock at what just happened. Louis looks back at him quickly and shrugs when Margo continues to pull him into the kitchen, babbling about how she should get two cookies since she cleaned her room today. 

Louis agrees without a second thought. 

Getting in the car with Margo and Harry feels incredibly domestic; it makes Louis smile. Even dropping Margo off at Kaylee’s house feels just as monumental. He waits in the car, still feeling a bit awkward about where the line is between boyfriend and nanny. But then Harry is slipping back into the driver’s seat, looking far too good in a perfectly tailored suit. He had changed while Louis checked on what Margo had packed for the sleepover, walking out moments later in a fresh suit and perfectly styled curls. Louis saw him in a suit four days a week, but somehow knowing that he was going to be this man’s date made things different. It feels electric and Louis was glad for Margo’s distraction — otherwise, he’d probably have jumped Harry right then and there. It gets especially harder when Harry reaches over and grips his thigh through the thin material of his tight biker shorts as they drive towards Louis’ apartment. He fights against the urge to squeeze his legs together, looking over instead and watching as Harry hums along to the radio while he rubs the inside of his thigh with the pad of his thumb. 

“What's got you so quiet?” Harry asks, glancing over at him and then back on the road in front of him.

“Honestly, thinking about earlier and how she was so… okay with it? With us?” Louis says, more as a question. Harry nods.

“She’s smart Lou, she knows a lot more than we think she does. I think what shocked me is she didn’t even question why or when? She just accepted it because… well, it’s you,” Harry says honestly, looking over at him. “I mean, we didn’t really get to talk about it, so when we do get the chance we’ll see, but honestly babe,” he squeezes Louis thigh where it rests in his hand, “I think it’ll be okay. She loves you and adores the ground you walk on. I think she would disown me if we didn’t get together eventually to be honest. ” 

Louis laughs and agrees because yeah, he’s right. That talk would be very interesting though.

“I’m actually nervous, like really nervous for tonight...” Louis admits, biting the corner of his thumb nail.

“What? Why, baby? You have nothing to worry about.”

“I’m meeting all your co-workers, what if they think I’m like your sugar baby or something?”

“What do you mean, you are my sugar baby…” 

Louis reaches over and slaps Harry's arm playfully. “Be serious here! I’m stressed out and you’re teasing me.”

“If it makes you feel any better I’m actually really nervous too.” Louis gives him a confused look. “I’m meeting your best friend for the first time, and the fact that he knows I thought you two were together…”

“He’s used to it, everyone at school with us thinks we’re dating.” Louis brushes it off like it's nothing, but then the grip on his thigh tightens and Harry frowns. “Hey, but we’re not, obviously.” Jealousy looks good on Harry and Louis hates that he likes it. 

“Well, I do want him to like me.” Harry gives him a quick glance.

“I never shut up about you and Margo, so he has to at this point,” Louis teases. A fond look falls over his face at the thought of Harry being nervous to meet Zayn because, that's cute. 

Harry doesn't respond, but the smile on his face is a good enough answer for Louis.

When they arrive at Louis' apartment, Harry parks in front of his building, making sure to stop in front of a free parking space to avoid a ticket. The two make their way into the apartment building, hand in hand, up to the third floor. Louis felt a bit nervous seeing as Harry is about to step foot into his very mediocre apartment. It's not much, but it’s good for two college students. When Louis notices Harry not batting an eye at the outdated carpet and creaky stairs, Louis relaxes visibly, unlike Harry who feels stiff next to him.

When Louis unlocks the door and steps inside he fails to see Zayn standing in the small kitchen as he toes off his shoes. A loud clang makes him jump and Harry rests a soft grip on his hip to balance him. Louis looks up and locks eyes with a very shocked looking Zayn and thankfully a plastic cup rolling on the floor. 

“You scared me!” Louis scolds standing up straight and seeing Zayns jaw hanging open now. He hears Harry clear his throat behind him which then makes him realize why . “Oh! Zayn, this is Harry, Harry this is Zayn,” Louis introduces the two, stepping aside to stand beside Harry instead of in front of him. The two just stare at each other. One has a shocked expression and one with worried wide eyes. “Zayn, can you please not be weird for once in your life.” Louis rolls his own eyes and links his fingers with Harry’s, pulling him towards his best friend.

“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Harry greets, holding his free hand not linked with Louis’ out for Zayn to shake. 

“Bro, I’m not going to lie, I thought Louis was fucking with me this whole time but you’re actually here...” Zayn slowly shakes Harry’s hand when Louis reaches across and hits his friend's arm.

“What the fuck?” Crossing his arms, Louis scoffs in disbelief. 

Zayn shrugs and asks “What? ” This causes Harry to chuckle low in his throat as the two bicker.

“You’re actually the worst,” he pauses, “and you!” He points to Harry who then lifts his hands up in defence. “Do not laugh, you're encouraging him.”

“Sorry, baby.” Harry lets the nickname slip and it makes Louis blush noticeably. He wants to slap the look off Zayn's face but decides against it.

“Okay, I need to get ready.” Louis waves around a hand as he speaks, “Talk about something, Cars? Beer? Football even, I don't care just— not about me.” Louis gives a pointed look at Zayn with hard blue eyes. Louis presses a quick kiss to Harry’s cheek and starts down the hallway to his room. 

He hears Zayn mutter “Speaking of beer, want one?” He doesn’t hear Harry’s answer before he shuts his door. 

Figuring out what to wear only causes Louis a little stress. He keeps in mind he will be meeting Harry’s coworkers and he already knows what they're going to think. Or at least he thinks does. Louis is obviously younger than Harry and Louis’ friend literally works for Harry and set him up with this job. His nerves are over the roof. But he stands in front of his mirror, finally dressed in his tight, slim cut dress pants, a sleek black button up, and a cream colored tie. 

He turns slightly to the side in front of his wall length mirror to check his backside. The tight fabric fits over his bum nicely, and thankfully he cannot see the outline of the baby blue lace he’s wearing underneath. Even though he’s certain that this wouldn’t be a problem considering what had happened a few days prior, Louis hopes his boyfriend will enjoy the lingerie. He already feels his nerves heighten at the thought of revealing it to him later.

When Louis steps out into the living room he sees Zayn rambling on, he assumes about the recent UFC fight. Harry seems to be listening intently, even if he doesn’t understand what the other man is talking about. The two don't notice Louis until he’s standing in front of them with a small smile. Harry has his lips wrapped around the tip of his bottle of beer, downing the rest, and his eyebrows raise when he sees Louis, an impressed smirk fills his lips while he finishes the rest of his beer. 

“Ready to go, babe?” He asks, setting his bottle down on the table as he stands. 

“Yep, all ready!” Louis smiles wide, reaching a hand out for Harry to interlock their fingers. “Glad to see Zayn didn’t bore you with his fight talk.” Louis eyes Zayn momentarily.

“Not at all, I think I might start watching it actually, it sounds entertaining.” Louis groans instantly, and glares at Zayn who shrugs innocently as he sips his beer. “Oh, c’mon. Can we watch it together?” Harry asks with a smile, a dimple popping in his cheek.

“God, why me? Why?” Louis sighs, looking up at the ceiling as Harry pulls him towards the door so they can leave. The older man laughs at the dramatics but Louis can’t help it. He’s going to strangle Zayn. 

“Have a good night you two!” Zayn waves from the spot on the couch, he kicks his feet up in the process. “It was so good to finally meet you, man!” He adds nodding towards Harry.

“You too! See ya.” Harry salutes, reaching a hand to twist the doorknob and opens the door for Louis to step out. 

“Bye traitor,” Louis grumbles as he slips out the door, only hearing Zayn cackle as the door clicks shut. 

When they start walking towards the staircase to the exit, Louis walking a foot in front of Harry, he starts to say “I can’t believe—” when he’s suddenly being pushed up against the wall of the apartment building's hallway. Lips attach to his and the smaller boy melts into it instantly, a hum falling out of his lips. 

“Fuck, I wanted to do this the second I seen you,” Harry whispers into Louis cheek, pressing a kiss there for a second. “I can’t wait until we’re alone tonight. There are so many things I want to do to you right now.” His hands tighten on Louis' waist, making the smaller boy squirm in his hold, desperately leaning up to try and kiss him again.

“We’re alone now,” Louis says, obviously looking around at the deserted hallway.

“Are you ready to go? ” Harry asks, ignoring his comment and pulling away and walking backwards towards the stairs. 

What a fucking tease.

“I was ready until you just mauled me back there!” Louis says, exasperated, following Harry with a slight pout on his lips as he stomps down the stairs.

“Huh that's weird... it’s like Margo is here with us…” Harry says with a light tint in his voice, hinting at Louis’ pouting and heavy feet. 

Groaning, Louis pushes at Harry's arm towards the exit. “Shut up and go.” 

Louis had thought he was ready, but it’s a couple hours later and he is about to lose his damn mind. 

When they first arrived at the building, Harry showed him around his office before they even entered the conference room where the party was being held. Louis almost cried when he saw the framed picture of a baby Margo and a younger looking Harry posing for the camera in front of an expertly decorated Christmas tree. Harry smiled beside him, a warm hand resting on his waist, as the older man whispered We’ll need to print out a picture of the three of us sometime. Louis actually melted.

The rest of the room had plants and brightly colored paintings adorning the walls. During the short tour of his office, they also may have made out against the large oak desk, but no one has to know that.

When they eventually enter the room where the party is being held, hand in hand, Louis instantly locks eyes with Brandon, his friend from college that got him this job and the sole reason he is here tonight with Harry. Brandon's eyes go wide, a smile on his face when he sees Louis until they drift down to their hands which causes his brows to crease. Brandon mouths ‘ No way ,’ with a smug head shake. All Louis can do is give him what he hopes is a nonchalant shrug. 

After Harry introduces Louis to everyone individually in the room, he can’t help but blush knowing that they are all looking at him. Harry seems to have a huge smile on his face while he talks to one of his coworkers, Garrett. He soon remembers that Garrett is his managing partner and best friend; Louis also remembers Harry telling him about Garrett and the things they would get up to when they were younger on their first date. Louis won't mention how he had gotten butterflies when Harry introduced him as ‘ My boy ,’ and Garrett had replied, ‘I know ’ with a soft grin.

As the evening progresses, Louis finally is able to sneak away from Harry when he gets pulled into a boring conversation about work things and finds Brandon by the bar. The two finally catch up on life, seeing as they haven't interacted with each other since the last couple days of classes. Brandon begs Louis to tell him everything and, of course, Louis does so happily. He fills in with Brandon on what has been going on since they had last seen each other, telling him how this is the best job he’s ever had and how he and Harry just kind of happened. His friend gives him a firm shoulder squeeze with a smile and an, ‘I’m happy for you,’ soon adding, ‘it makes sense why the boss man is not as cranky as usual… thanks dude. ’ 

And now, the reason Louis is going to lose his damn mind is because Brandon just left to go to the bathroom and an obnoxious, very drunk man is stumbling over to the bar. He’s drunkenly rambling on about something Louis doesn’t care about, making him progressively more uncomfortable in the process.

“—and you know what’s crazy? I just got hired here not long ago and I’m already moving up, that's why we’re celebrating.” The guy — Derek? Dylan? — Louis didn't care to remember, took a rather big sip of his vodka soda, cockiness radiating from him in waves. Louis nods, trying to be polite, but if he moves one inch closer he will scream because he reeks of alcohol. “I think since this party is for me of course, we should do a toast.”

“A toast for… yourself?” Louis asks, a confused lilt in his response, as he fiddles with the now warm drink Harry had poured him earlier.  

“Yeah, don’t you think? I mean, I’m worth it aren’t I?” He winks and Louis wants to vomit. 

“Uhm, I—” 

“Alright, hear me out,” he interrupts, leaning a wobbling hand onto the table and making the drinks shake slightly. “I know you’re with Styles, I get it.” He waves his hand around, making his drink slosh over the sides. “But, think about it, you’re young, I’m young. You’re good looking, I’m good looking.” He points towards himself. “I think the old man’s got a few tie downs, if you know what I mean… Anyway, you and me? Logan? Is it Logan?”

“It’s Louis.” 

“Right, Louis. I think if we skip out of here, he won’t even notice, right? He’s busy talking about some stupid new case. C’mon, I got a nice back seat that needs warming up.” The guy reaches out a free hand and wraps it around Louis' wrist. The touch of his cold fingers feel foreign against his skin, the hold is harsh, and Louis wants to scream.

Thankfully, he feels Harry before he hears him. A warm hand snakes around his waist and pulls him towards the older man's side, “Babe? You alright?” He relaxes when the guy drops his hand and backs up a foot.

“Uh, yeah,” Louis says nervously, looking up at Harry who is now staring at—

“Daniel. I think you’ve had enough to drink, don’t ya say?” Harry suggests, not taking his eyes off the drunk man in front of them. 

“Nah boss.” He lifts up his half empty glass. “I was actually thinking we will make a toast, yeah?” A smirk falls on his face as he downs the rest of his drink in one messy gulp. 

“You should sit down,” Harry suggests, reaching out to grab the guy's shoulder to steady him. 

“The party just started! And Louis here never answered my question. So what do you say, babe?” He reaches out to grip Louis' wrist again, but this time Harry stops him by grabbing his arm, and Louis leans further into Harry's hold on his hip at the gesture. 

“I think that’s enough.” The lowness of Harry’s voice is concerning; in fact, he’s never heard him speak like that. Not even when he’s upset with Margo. 

“I think it’s time for you to head out, Boss. Won’t you be tired in the morning? I know older people need their rest,” Daniel laughs, like it's the funniest thing anyone has ever said. 

Thankfully, Louis sees Garrett walking over just when he notices Harry getting more agitated by the second. Thank god his boyfriend is professional, unlike some people.

“Hey, H,” Garrett calls. “Sebastian wants to show you his new motorbike, he’s passing his phone around like a hot potato.” The man laughs, running a hand through his short hair when he notices Harry’s posture and probably how uncomfortable Louis looks. Garrett’s eyes then fall onto Daniel, who’s still rambling on about something unimportant.

“Yeah for sure, man.” Harry turns towards his friend, pulling Louis with him as his hold on the younger man tightens. Before they start walking, Harry whips his head back towards Daniel. “Congratulations on your promotion. I hope I won’t regret it.” Harry smiles tightly. “Come to my office at seven sharp Thursday morning, we need to have a talk.” 

“Sure thing, boss,” Daniel says with a smirk. 

Harry starts leading them towards the group of people who are passing around a phone at one of the tables, a few people standing around to get a look at the screen, and Louis is sure he hears Garrett say something to Daniel. When they reach the group, he glimpses back and Daniel is gone. Thank god. As they’re standing with the group, Harry is now talking to Sebastian as they chat about his new bike. Brandon comes to stand beside Louis and he gives him a small smile.

“Hey, don’t let Daniel get to you, he’s a smart guy but can be an ass.” He then lowers his voice to a whisper. “Are you guys leaving soon?” Louis shifts slightly in his spot. 

“I’m not sure, but soon probably.” He smiles with a reassuring nod. He’s not sure if he should say something to Harry or leave it for later. He feels how off Harry is considering what Daniel said.

“Damn, I was hoping you guys were so I would have an excuse to leave too,” Brandon chuckles, nudging his shoulder teasingly. That's when Harry walks back over, wrapping another protective arm around his boyfriend's waist, Louis leaning into it out of habit when the grip tightens comfortably. 

“Ready to head out?” Harry asks, his green eyes falling onto Louis' face when the younger of the two tilts his head up to meet his eye. 

Louis hums with a nod, looking at Brandon and winking. His friend smiles as Harry announces their departure, the group booing at that. “Sorry folks, will see you all bright and early on Thursday!” Harry waves, lifting his free arm up. Brandon says he’s leaving as well and the trio exit together, saying goodbyes as they reach their cars.  

The ride back to Harry’s is short, seemingly shorter than the ride to the office. It’s full of possessive little touches that Louis can’t help but pick up on, like when Harry squeezes his thigh a little tighter at a stop light or bites his lip when he’s got a spare second for a kiss. So, it’s no surprise when as soon as they get through the front door, Harry’s jumping him, pressing him against the wood. He feels it, something is different this time around. Being held against the door that he was so afraid to walk through all those weeks ago feels drastically different compared to squirming under Harry's intense touch and possessive mouth now.

“I hate the way he touched you,” Harry breathes, pinning his wrist by his head. He leans forward to kiss one but not the other, realizing that it’s the one Daniel had touched. “Only I can touch you like that, right baby?”

Louis’ body arches forward at his words, going pliant in his hold, whining into his mouth, “Yes, only you.” 

“I need to fuck you,” Harry pleads through a groan, pausing to look at Louis. “Can I, baby?” 

“Fuck, please, ” Louis whimpers as Harry nuzzles his nose against his cheek, hot breath wetting his neck.

The events that happen next makes Louis whine so high in his throat he’s pretty sure the next town over heard. Harry swiftly grabs his hip, pulling him flush against his bigger frame, making their bodies fit together like puzzle pieces, only taking a moment before dragging them away from the entrance and up the stairs to his room. They stumble their way up the steps, trying to maintain as much contact as possible while simultaneously tripping out of their shoes and tugging off excess clothing including Harry’s suit jacket which is tossed to the floor haphazardly as they stumble into his bedroom. 

“I have something to show you? Or for you,” Louis says breathlessly, pushing Harry’s shoulders softly so the back of his knees hit the mattress. 

“A surprise?” Harry chuckles lightheartedly, sitting down on the edge of the bed, undoing the tie Louis worked so hard to construct earlier. “Don’t know if I can handle that right now.”

“You’ll probably regret saying that.” Louis smiles, looking up at Harry under his lashes. He turns his body around so his back is towards Harry, his nimble fingers unhook the buttons on his pants, turning his head slightly to the side right before he starts to pull them down. When the waistband falls under the curve of his arse, he hears a short hitch in Harry’s breathing behind him.

“ Louis …” Harry says almost in awe. “Can I touch you, baby?” 

“Why else would I put these on if I didn’t want you to touch me,” Louis asks, pivoting around and taking a step closer to Harry. He leans down, resting his hands on Harry’s knees, gracefully kicking the trousers from at his ankles. Leaning in, Louis whispers into his ear, “I want you to be rough with me.” Louis nips his ear lobe playfully and continues, “Please leave marks on my skin. ” 

“You’re mine, right?” The older man assures, breath hitting Louis' skin as he whispers it, the small hint of his cologne filling Louis’ nose from the proximity. 

“You’re right,” The smaller boy nods and tries to hold it together, feeling himself getting worked up already. Louis lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding in, “So do something about it.”

Everything after happens so fast, Louis is sure time actually sped up. In the haziness of Harry gripping his hips and pulling him onto his lap, Louis was too preoccupied with the rough hands on his body to realize he was being flipped onto his back. Louis grins, looking up at Harry as the older man leans over him. Louis watches as his eyes scan over his whole body, lingering at the pale lace adoring his hips. 

“You’re so gorgeous,” the man above him whispers against his skin as he leans down, licking a fat strip up Louis' neck to his ear. 

Feeling the hard press of his cock against his own hardening length, Louis whines when he grinds up into Harry's groin. Harry reaches around and grabs a handful of his ass, grinding his hips down. Realizing that he hasn’t kissed him in a while, Louis twists his hands into Harry's hair and grips the longer strands on top with his agile fingers, pulling Harry’s face to his, pressing a hard kiss onto his lips. He instantly opens his mouth, running his wet tongue onto Louis' lip and gaining access from the boy beneath him.

Louis starts pawing at Harry's chest, his broad shoulders, and bulging muscles feel pleasing under his touch. He runs a soft hand through the sparse hair on Harry’s chest, over his pecs and down his stomach, hooking his fingers into his tight briefs and pulling the band down so his hard cock hits his stomach. Harry grips Louis' hips tighter, hitching his breath when Louis wraps a dry hand around him, running his thumb over the wet tip. Louis feels a blush form on his neck when he feels the cold press of Harry’s rings on his heated skin— he wants them inside him.

“Open,” Harry says slowly, eyeing Louis' parted mouth. He lets his jaw relax and suddenly Harry’s pressing two fingers inside. Louis closes his eyes instantly, feeling the heaviness of his digits in his mouth. He flattens his tongue and wetting them as much as he can as he sucks. 

“The things I want to do to you, baby,” Harry says, making Louis whine, the fingers still in his mouth muffle the sound slightly. “You gonna be good for me?” 

Louis nods quickly, opening his eyes to see Harry looking down at him. Pulling his wet fingers out, Harry shuffles down the bed so his head is now between Louis' thighs. He presses soft, wet kisses on the softer part of Louis belly, making him squirm under the touch as he drags his wet fingers on the inside of Louis inner thigh. The second he feels his tongue wetting the lace covering his hole, Louis squeezes his thighs against Harry’s ears. 

“H…” Louis whimpers when Harry pries his legs apart, looking down Louis can see Harry looking back up at him with a dopey smirk on his lips. “Please.”  

“Please what?” Harry licks the skin between the crease of his thigh and the hem of the lace, humming when Louis falls lax when Harry throws his legs over his shoulders. The man groans when Louis reaches down and pulls at his hair.

“Please, I want—” Louis pauses, squirming when Harry flattens his tongue onto the now damp lace. He pulls up on Harry’s hair, making him come face to face with him, loose curls falling onto his forehead from leaning in so close. A blush creeps onto Louis' cheeks when Harry quirks an eyebrow.

“Words, baby, I need words,” he reminds him, running a soft hand over the front of the pale lace.

“Eat me out, please, H,” he begs, closing his eyes. “Need it.”

“You want me to eat your pussy, baby?” Harry asks, settling back down between Louis legs, waiting for an answer. 

Embarrassed to admit it, Louis keens at his words, then Harry starts rubbing soothing circles into his inner thigh, an indication that it's okay. “Yes, yes, please.”

“Bet your pussy tastes so sweet, gonna feel so good on my tongue, baby,” he eggs on, his voice staying low, Louis can feel his hot breath on his inner thigh where he’s leaving kisses there. Suddenly, Harry pulls his hips up, Louis' body jerking at the motion, letting Harry put him in any position he wants as he presses his rough hands onto Louis’ meaty thighs. “You want me to lick you with your panties on?” 

Louis sinks his top teeth into his bottom lip so hard it might bleed. Shaking his head, Harry looks up at him from between his legs.

“Words, Louis. ”

“Yes, please eat my pussy,” he whines. Hearing the words leave his mouth and Harry pulling aside the fabric to hold it with two fingers as he ducks down and runs his tongue over his puckered hole which has him crying out. Gripping harder on Harry’s hair but not pulling, he starts rocking his hips when Harry gets a quick rhythm, licking and sucking on his puckered skin. 

“Baby, you can pull my hair as hard as you want when I’m between your legs,” Harry breathes against his thigh when he lifts his head. Their eyes meet momentarily before Louis heeds his words and his fingers tighten, tugging harshly downwards trying to get Harry to go back to licking him out. He jerks, tightening his legs when the feeling of his boyfriend's wet tongue licks over him again, watching the movement of his head and the feeling match up.

Louis doesn't know how much time has passed, too blissed out to focus on anything but the warm mouth on him, until he feels two fingers prodding at his hole. In his foggy state, he recognizes Harry getting lube and wetting fingers before sliding inside him quickly, then slowly, curling upwards. 

Hearing the hitch in his throat, Harry presses on his prostate, breathing harshly. “Shit, you’re already so fucked out and I haven’t even got my cock in you yet.” 

As his body moves against the fingers inside him, Louis cries, “Then get inside me.” Reaching forward to pull Harry up, he plants a kiss on his lips. Louis moans into his mouth when the older man pulls his fingers out, gripping Louis’ thighs and pushing them up against his chest. 

After putting a condom on, fisting his cock, and adding more lube, Harry rubs the tip of his cock on his hole first, teasing. When Harry first enters Louis, he feels like all the air is punched out of his lungs, fisting the sheets below as he pushes inch by inch, waiting every few seconds until the boy adjusted. 

Harry starts to fuck him, it starts slow, his hips move in small circles, getting used to the feeling until Louis whines, begging him to go deeper. “Fuck, I love the sounds you make,” Harry grunts, jabbing hard into Louis' body pushing him up the bed as Louis whines fill his throat, mouth wide open as gasps are punched out of him from each thrust. 

“Please, don’t stop, ” Louis begs underneath him. Harry’s hands plant on his hips, fingertip bruises pressing into the skin as he fucks him into the mattress below. Louis twists his fingers into the sheets, pulling up at them and slapping a palm down when Harry thrust right into his prostate. A loud moan escapes his mouth making Harry groan above him, a thin layer of sweat on Harry's chest and brow making Louis want to lick it off.  

“Are you gonna come for me?” Harry asks as he leans over him, their eyes meeting only for Louis to squeeze his shut from pleasure. He can simply nod, the only sounds able to leave his mouth are whines and moans of pure bliss. Louis suddenly feels a thumb on his mouth, parting his bottom lip. When he opens his eyes, a tear rolls down his cheek as Harry is breathing heavily above him. 

“Open your mouth. ”

Ready for a finger or two, the sudden shock of Harry spitting directly into his mouth makes Louis come instantly, his body tensing as he finishes over his belly. Harry stills his hips inside him, coming only a second after him. The man above him watches intensely as Louis swallows his spit and moans, falling lax beneath him.  

Thankfully, Harry can hold himself up with one arm, the other holding Louis' cheek softly. Still coming down from his glorious high, Louis smiles, pulling Harry down by his neck as the older man leaves open mouth kisses on his warm, wet skin. 

“You’re… incredible,” Harry says, sitting back up and staring down at Louis, running a hand through his hair, pushing it out of his face. 

“Me?” Pointing to himself Louis blushes, feeling empty when Harry pulls out and flops beside him, instantly pulling Louis into his hard chest.

“Yes, who else?” Harry laughs, breathing slowly steadying from just fucking Louis’ brains out. 

Blushing, Louis curls into his side, whining suddenly at the uncomfortable feeling of the lace chafing his skin. Harry realizes and sits up to pull off the soiled fabric, throwing it towards the laundry bin. 

“You owe me new ones.”

“I’ll buy as many as you want, baby,” Harry hums, nuzzling his hair as he kisses his temple.

The two lay there for what feels like hours, but it’s only minutes before Louis is about to suggest they go shower when Harry squeezes his hip and chuckles.

“So... spitting, hey?” Harry nudges him.

“Shut up, don’t even talk right now.” Louis reaches up a blind hand to cover his mouth which causes the man to muffle a laugh against it. 

“You came untouched, again. ”

“What did I say? No speaking,” Louis groans, turning away from him but can’t get away without cuddles for more than three seconds when Harry wraps a strong arm around his waist.

“Baby, don’t be embarrassed. Do you know how hot that was for me?” Harry asks, hooking his chin over Louis shoulder and kissing the skin there for comfort. 

“Pretty hot I’m assuming, since you know.” He waves around a hand and runs it down Harry’s arm wrapped around him. “You came right after me.”

“Okay, now you need to not speak.” 

“Go shower, you stink.”

“So do you.”

“Then carry me to the bathroom.”

“Okay.” Suddenly Louis is being lifted into Harry’s arms and swept away into the ensuite. The cackle that leaves his mouth is almost as embarrassing as Harry almost slipping in the tub from all the soap he used in his hair just to make a bubble beard. 

Louis is in love with him. 

After the two slept together and Louis came to the realization that yes, he’s in love with Harry, their relationship continued to flourish. And, after Margo had caught them kissing, it opened a whole other can of worms. For example, right now, being the day after, she’s bombarding Louis with questions which he understands, but he finds it difficult without Harry here, knowing they planned to talk to her about this together but after Harry had got off work.

“So, since you and daddy are kissing—”

“Margo!” Louis warns, whipping around from washing dishes, forgetting his hands are soaking wet and water flies everywhere, including onto Margo who wipes it off quickly with a gross look on her face.

“What! You kissed him, not me!” She says pointing to herself and… touché.

“I said we would talk about it when your dad gets home, okay?” he says, trying to keep his voice calm and turning back to the dishes at hand. 

Sighing, Margo flails against the back of her chair. “Fine…” 

She holds the last syllable a little too long for Louis' liking — he deals with it anyway.

The day goes on and Margo continues to flood Louis with questions as she follows him around — the pitter patter of socked feet behind him is constant during the day. As he goes to do laundry she asks, “Do you take care of daddy like you take care of me?” Then she questions him when he’s vacuuming the carpet in the living room, “Can I be the flower girl when you get married?” And again as he’s folding her clothes in her room, “Do you love him? Do you?” She pokes his leg, leaning up on her tippy toes. “ Do you?”

“Margo!” Louis raises his voice slightly, dropping a shirt from his hands and closing his eyes to breathe. 

“What? ” 

“Please, just—” Louis bends down to pick up the dropped shirt, and kneels in front of her looking down to fiddle with the fabric. “I said we would talk about it later.”

“Well, I wanna talk about it now.” She crosses her arms scrunching her eyebrows together and looking a little too much like her father. 

Louis pauses for a second, struggling to find a way out of not exposing the answer to her question. “If you stop with the questions, I’ll play mermaids with you in the pool?” 

She just looks at him.

“And I’ll buy you ice cream later.”

“Okay!” She screams, completely seeming to have forgotten the conversation they were having, running over to her dresser with her bathing suits picking one out. 

When it’s about time for her father to get home and Louis’ hair is damp from the pool, he finds himself  blankly staring at a spot on the wall, massaging his temples to alleviate the tension — Margo’s still trying to pry information out of him. He’s politely ignoring her at this point while she colors in her book, only snapping out of his stupor when he hears the rattling of the front door and Margo stops talking. The click of Harry’s shoes have the pair looking up just as the man rounds the corner, standing in the archway with his bag over his shoulder. 

“Finally,” Louis sighs in relief the same time Margo cheers an exasperated, “ Finally! ”

Harry cocks his head with a confused smile. “Finally?”

“Finally we can talk since Louis ignored me all day.”

“Not true, Margo.” Louis deadpans and eyes Harry with a look that says, ‘please save me from this hellion.’ 

“Okay before you two bite each other's heads off, let’s talk,” Harry stops and looks at Louis curiously and questions, “Why is your hair wet?”

“Don’t ask.”

The three sit down on the couch. Margo sits in Harry’s lap, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders for comfort. Louis sits across from them, his back leaning against the arm as he  nervously bites his nails and Margo fiddles with her doll’s hair.

“So,”  Margo tuts, breaking the silence. “Are you like,” she pauses, leaning back into her dad's chest as the two just make worried eye contact, “in love ?”  Louis’ eyes can’t help but bulge out of his head, while Harry chokes on his own spit. Harry quickly resituates Margo in his lap so she’s facing him more. “Well?”  The small girl says, looking up at Harry with confusion in her eyes and Louis bites his lip to not laugh.

“Louis and I like each other.” Harry pauses for a second to meet Louis' eyes, who nods for him to continue. “A lot...”

“I know.”

“And we hug, and hold hands and…”

“I know … and you kiss, like auntie Gemma and uncle Sam, I know…” She says with a slight annoyance in her voice because she knows. “Oh! And you have sleepovers without me, which is kind of rude, daddy.” Margo rolls her eyes. Her gaze falls on Louis with the same squinty look. Louis covers his mouth to mask his giggle, tucking his legs under his bum when he shifts under her gaze. Who knew five year olds could be so scary?

“Yes, well we do, is that… okay?” Harry asks her with a small laugh, running a gentle hand through her curls, the orange strands get tangled in his fingers but she goes unphased.

“ Duh ,” she says obviously, rolling her eyes. Harry makes a shocked face wondering where this is coming from but Margo wiggles her way out of her fathers lap before he can say anything. She crawls towards Louis who opens his arms for her to cuddle into him. “I love Louis.” She smiles, cheek pressed onto his belly. “He makes me happy and makes you happy and you better make him happy.” She points to her dad and tightens her hold on the boy. 

“He does,” Louis laughs lightly, speaking for the first time in what feels like forever. He kisses the top of her head quickly. “He makes me very happy.”

“Good.” She lays her head on Louis' shoulder and closes her eyes. “But daddy can’t have your attention all the time, Lou. I’m still here.”

“Margo!” Harry exclaims, but Louis cuts him off. 

“Of course not,” he leans down to whisper in her ear, but makes eye contact with Harry as he says poking her belly. “You’re my favorite, don’t tell daddy.” 

“I won’t!” She sits up, and wraps her arms around his neck in a tight hug. “Can we go get ice cream now?” She then asks in a bored tone, making Harry shake his head in endearment and confusion at the same time.

How did he get so lucky? 

✩°̥࿐

“Can we please go see the penguins now?” 

Louis hears Margo groan for the seventh time — he counted — since they arrived at the zoo that morning. The trio decided the night before that they would go to the zoo as their early birthday treat for Margo because she’s been so good lately. Louis did promise he would take her and the small girl never forgets anything. She begged Louis and Harry, even making a card asking if they could go. The picture on the inside pretty much sold him, personally. He regrets, and so does Harry, only slightly that they told her yes that night because getting her to bed was a challenge on its own. Cranky, tired Margo is not fun to deal with and they all know it. The fact that they desperately wanted some alone time together was, obviously, just an added incentive.

“Soon. We still have to see the tigers and the zebras, check your map,” Harry tells her, pointing towards the flimsy piece of paper in her hands. She grips Louis hand tighter as she tries to open the map with one hand but fails.

“Daddy, can you help me?” She puffs frustrated and hands her dad the map aggressively. Louis smiles down at the slightly grumpy five year old, clad in her denim overalls and yellow froggy hat, orange curls spilling from underneath it. Louis also notices how much more her freckles come out in the sunshine that's beating down extremely today. Thank god Louis packed extra sunscreen.

Harry hands Margo the now open map so she can see all the cartoon animals in different spots all over the park. She looks up, eyeing her surroundings and then back down at the paper, gasping, “Lou!”

“What?” He asks, stopping immediately thinking someone has happened. 

“Look!” She holds out the map for him to see pointing at a cartoon animal, “Zebras are next! Your favorites!” 

Louis lets a grin fill his face, knowing she had remembered his favorite animal, because of course she did. Harry chuckles beside them as Margo picks up the pace, dragging Louis along , giving him no choice but to run alongside her. He glares back at Harry who is watching  them with an amused smile. Almost bumping into people along the way, since the zoo is packed considering it's a sunny Saturday in the last week of July, he mumbles out apologies for Margo and himself as she jumps excitedly when they get closer to the striped animals. 

“Look! Look!” she cheers, squeezing Louis’ hand and jumping in her spot, noticing her dad lingering behind and she grimaces and calls back to him, “Daddy hurry up, slowpoke!”

“I’m coming, sorry! Old man here, can’t keep up with you young ones,” he teases, finally reaching the two but wrapping a strong arm around Louis’ waist and pulling him into his side. Louis laughs as he leans into his body, watching as Margo excitedly looks at the zebras behind the wire fence. “Why are zebras your favourite animal?” Harry then asks Louis.

Shrugging, Louis crosses his arm over his chest and purses his lips in thought. “I think it’s because they’re… mysterious,” Louis answers, making Harry look at him like he has five heads. “Are they black with white stripes or white with black stripes? No one will ever know.” 

Harry stares down at him with a stupid look on his face for a second before shaking his head. “I can’t with you, seriously what ?” The man laughs, leaning down to leave a soft kiss on Louis’ forehead. 

“Hello?! You’re missing the zebras!” Margo comes over and pulls on Harry's pant leg to get their attention and points towards the field full of zebras. “They're runnin’, Lou!”

“Oh wow! Look at them!” Louis says bending down to crouch beside Margo as they watch the animals run happily across the grass. “Look Mar, a baby one!” Louis points, leaning into her cheek to make sure their eyes are looking at the same spot. 

“Oh my gosh!” She grins, turning to look back up at her dad who is smiling so wide with fondness, his phone out and obviously snapping pictures of the two. Louis reaches a hand out to cover the phone camera. Standing quickly, Louis goes to grab his phone to check the pictures, making sure he doesn’t look horrible in them. 

“Let me see them, H,” Louis groans as Harry hides his phone behind his back. “What if my ass is out?” Louis whisper-yells, referring to the shorts he’s wearing, knowing he shouldn’t have trusted Zayn when he asked if they were too short.

“That's fine.” Harry shrugs and Louis hits his arm playfully. 

“There are children here.”

“Says you,” the older man teases, wrapping another arm around his waist as Margo says she’s ready to start walking again, already bored of the zebras. “I'm teasing, they’re fine, baby. I promise.”

“Fine,” Louis groans.  “We should probably get going before the cranky bum starts death glaring at us.” Louis starts walking again, eyeing at Margo as she pulls on Harry’s jeans. She ends up hooking her fingers in the knee holes of the loose denim and pulling him from there.

When the three finally arrive at the penguin attraction, Margo is vibrating with excitement. Even though she’s been here before with Harry, she’s still just as excited to see them again. She runs ahead slightly which makes Louis tense in worry but Harry squeezes his hip to tell him ‘it's okay.’ The small girl presses her face tightly to the glass, looking at the blue water and the webbed footed birds.

“Daddy, Lou, Happy Feet!” She squeals, looking back at them pointing up at the penguins diving in and out of the water, swimming down right in front of the little girl who is mesmerized by their movement. Margo starts pointing towards the tank and naming off the penguins she sees. “There's a mommy, daddy, and a fluffy baby.” 

This time, Louis pulls out his phone and takes pictures of Margo in front of the tank of water as she watches them swim around. “I’m sending these to my mom, she’s going to scream at the cuteness overload.” Louis nudges Harry and shows him the pictures he took as people bustle around them. 

They stay at the penguin exhibit a little longer than necessary, but the two would stay forever if Margo wanted to. When she announces she’s hungry, rubbing her belly and dramatically putting a hand on her forehead, Harry shakes his head and lifts her up, putting her on his shoulders so she doesn't have to walk the far distance to the food court.

By the end of the day, Margo is especially tired, showing it as she drags her feet on the dirt path. But, not before she pleaded for yet another stuffed penguin from the gift shop. Of course, she got her wish, as her birthday was fast approaching, making it even more difficult for Harry to say no. Harry also secretly managed to buy Louis a stuffed zebra while he and Margo were distracted playing with a monkey in a barrel toy by the exit. Louis had kissed him so hard, trying to hide his excitement because he never received a stuffed animal as a present from a significant other before. The smallest things make him happiest and he’s not sorry for it.

As they make their way towards the exit, the sun is starting to set, their whole day spent out in the fresh air. An exhausted Margo is now being piggybacked out by her father, her arms loosely wrapped around his neck as Harry holds her tiny legs in one hand while the other is linked with Louis’. He hikes her up slightly, the dead weight causing him a minor struggle, he swears it’s minor.

The two continue to talk about their day when suddenly they’re being interrupted by a tap on Louis’ shoulder. He turns to see two younger girls, probably in their early teens, standing there holding out a stuffed penguin. 

“I think she dropped this,” She motions towards a very asleep Margo, whose head is lolled onto Harry’s shoulder. Louis almost laughs because of the obvious drool spot on his shirt from her parted mouth. 

“Oh! Thanks so much,” Louis says, surprised that someone had thought to return it when they saw it drop from the sleeping girl's hand. “She will really appreciate this,” Louis assures them with a grin, gently taking the penguin from them. 

“Yeah, thanks girls,” Harry pipes in, giving them a half smile as they grin back. 

“No problem! We also just wanted to say how cute you are together, your daughter is so sweet! We saw you earlier with the penguins,” one of them says, slightly blushing at how they remember the couple. 

“Oh, uhm—”

“She’s a devil in disguise, don’t be fooled by her, the hair definitely isn't a myth,” Harry teases them and Louis' eyes grow at him for not correcting them that Margo is in fact not his daughter. Even though the title does make his heart rate pick up and he’s not mad, at all. The two girls laugh loudly at his joke and Louis knows it’s not because he’s funny, he knows. “Anyway, thanks again girls, have a good rest of your evening!” Harry waves, linking his hand again with Louis and they start walking towards their car in the parking lot when Louis turns to him. 

“You… You could’ve said I’m her nanny.”

“Why would I do that?” Harry asks, opening the back door and maneuvering Margo’s sleeping body into her carseat. 

“Well because...” Louis fiddles with his fingers, not sure what to say because he’s happy the man didn’t correct them. Shutting the door, Harry steps forward and rests his hand on Louis' cheeks, making him look up at him, their eyes meeting. 

“You are basically her parent, Lou. You’re a better mother to her than her own, you know?” Harry removes his hands from his face, and rests them onto Louis' hips now. 

“You really think so?” Louis asks nervously, hopefulness in his voice because he's always wanted this.  

“Of course, Lou. You’re so important to her and I know how important she is to you. I’m serious .” The reassurance in Harry’s voice causes Louis to reach up and pull the man into a kiss as a response, no words could describe the overwhelming feeling inside Louis at this time. The kiss only lasts a few seconds when they pull apart and decide they should actually head back to Harry’s to get Margo into bed.

When Louis says goodnight a few hours later and finally gets into his car alone, he already misses the noise of a five year old in the back seat. As he drives home, he realizes that this was one of the best days he’s had in a long time. 

✩°̥࿐

August kicks off with Margos' sixth birthday, which Louis was aware of due to the countdown on the fridge and the constant reminders, ‘I turn six in four days, gonna be a big girl right, Lou?’

The little girl is adamant on making Louis help her plan the big day. Of course they had to go decoration shopping, picking up pink streamers, balloons of every color, and a rainbow piñata. Margo had tried to be nonchalant with her pointing out what she wanted for her birthday as they went through the aisles, and just Louis smiled knowing he had already picked out her birthday gift a while ago. He made sure to show Harry, who reassured him she would love it.

It’s a beautiful Saturday morning when Louis arrives at the Styles’ residence for Margo’s birthday party. Of course he couldn’t miss such an important event, seeing as the birthday girl is sort of a big deal to him. He made sure to get there early before anyone else shows up to help Harry set up. When he swings the door open he barely gets one of his shoes off before something hard is crashing into his legs. 

“Lou!” Margo screams excitedly, tightening her hold on him. Louis grins, bending down and picking up the small girl in a spin. 

“Happy birthday, bug!” He drops his bags and crouches down to hug her. “Oh my goddess, look at you!” Louis says nuzzling into her cheek and admiring her frilly dress, standing up and setting Margo on his hip. The dress is pastel pink with sparkles littering the top while the skirt overflows over Louis' hip in layers. He bends down to grab his bag and the pink gift bag to then continue into the kitchen. 

“Do you like it? Daddy got it for me!” 

“Of course I do!” Louis answers. Margo giggles and starts babbling about how she's excited for cake and presents. Louis nods along and walks into the kitchen only to see that it's empty; he was expecting Harry to be there. Setting Margo on the counter, he puts his bags on the day bed in the corner and continues listening to the small girl. 

“—And Nanny, Oh Auntie Gemma, Uncle Sam and cousin Carly are going to be here, too!” Louis pauses as it sinks in. 

He’s going to meet Harry’s family.  

He’s about to meet his boyfriend's whole family and it’s just sunk in now. How had he forgotten about this? Quickly he grabs a cold water bottle, shutting the fridge and turns towards Margo with a nervous smile. Of course she doesn't notice, too excited about all of the people she loves coming to hang out for the day and celebrate her birthday.

“Right! It’s going to be a blast!” he adds in taking a long sip of the cold liquid. 

Her smile doesn't falter and then she gasps in thought. “You brought a swim suit this time right? You better not of forgotten, Lou!” 

“I did not forget, don't worry.” He pinches her nose and grips her hips to lift her back down onto her feet. “Where’s your dad?” he asks, letting curiosity get the best of him.

“Oh, he’s cleaning the pool. I was supposed to come get him when you got here.” She shrugs and puts on an innocent smile. “I guess I got too excited. Oops! ”

Louis laughs at how sweet she is before he’s being dragged out towards the back door that leads to the pool deck. Margo skips happily with Louis in one hand as she struggles to push the sliding door open. When the two emerge, Louis can't help but let his eyes land on the man on the other side of the backyard standing opposite of him. 

He’s standing on the other side of the pool wearing only black swim trunks that cut off about two inches above his knees, shirtless, and looking absolutely delicious. His arm muscles move when he uses the pool net, scooping up debris from the night before, probably having forgotten to put the pool cover on. A blue hat sits on his head, his hair tucked behind his ears and out of his face. His skin almost shines from the thin layer of sweat on his shoulders and pecs from the beating sun.

Louis wants to lick him.

“Hey you two.” Louis is brought out of his thoughts when Harry's gravely voice fills his ears. The older man taps the pool net on the cement to get the leaves out.

“Daddy! Louis is here!” Margo announces, dropping Louis' hand and running off the deck towards her father.  

“Don’t run, babes,” Harry says watching closely as his rambunctious daughter gets close to the edge of the pool. The man looks up and smiles at Louis who's still standing on the wooden deck, eyes trailing down his body and back up. 

Louis waves, twiddling his fingers at the older man. He was thankful Zayn convinced him to wear his jean shorts with a pastel pink tee, a pair of pink heart shaped sunglasses fitted in his hair, holding the runaway fluffy strands off his forehead. 

Margo then speaks, bringing the two men out of their gaze, asking when everyones going to arrive because she's getting impatient. A trait from her father, definitely. 

“Soon, Mar.” He runs his fingers through her orange hair. The two walk towards Louis and he feels his cheeks heat up from the way Harry’s looking at him. He’ll blame it on the weather. “Why don’t you go get the streamers off the table? I know you were waiting for Lou to do them,” Harry suggests. Margo nods excitedly and bolts into the house. 

The second she's out of sight, Louis feels two big hands on his hips pulling him flush against the other man's body. He quickly reaches his hands up to tangle in the hair at the base of Harry’s neck and is pulled into a kiss. Harry licks into his mouth, the tips of his fingers pressing hard into his skin to breach the band of his shorts. Louis hums, sucking Harrys bottom lip into his mouth. His hands move from his neck, slowly down his front to rest on the man's chest.

“Missed you, baby,” Harry mumbles against the younger man's lips, leaving two more pecks on his mouth, moving the kisses to his cheek, down his neck. Louis giggles pushing Harry away from his neck, not wanting marks all over him when meeting his family.

“It’s been less than twenty four hours, you fool,” he teases and accepts another quick kiss. Harry wraps one arm around his waist squeezing there. 

“And? Am I not allowed to miss you?” Harry says, leaning in and biting playfully on Louis' cheek.

“Yes, you're allowed to miss me, but you’re not allowed to maul me.” Louis pushes his chest this time lightly, pressing his fingers into the heated skin for a second just to feel . Harry leans up, a grin plastered on his face. 

“That’s bullshit, you love when I maul you.” He sways them slowly, eyeing Louis carefully. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Louis answers too quickly, fixing his face to show no sign of something being wrong. 

“You’re lying. Is it because Beverley’s coming?” Harry asks, trailing his fingers down Louis' arm and linking their fingers together. Louis honestly didn’t think twice about Margo’s mom coming. They’ve met, she obviously doesn’t like him even though Louis gave her no reason to and he’s planning on avoiding her at all costs today considering she doesn’t know about them.

“No, not at all,” he assures him. “It’s just…” Louis bites his lip nervously looking at his feet. “I’m meeting your family… like your whole family, H.” He feels the press of a finger lift his chin up and their eyes meet.

“You know they’ll love you, right?” He rubs his thumb on the soft skin of his chin. Louis smiles hopefully. Harry pulls him in by the light grip on his chin and connects their lips in a kiss. “ Trust me. ”

“Okay,” Louis agrees with a small smile. He does trust Harry, with everything and anything, even though they’ve only been together for almost a month. It's crazy to him how comfortable and easy it is with the older man. Of course, he was worried — worried about how his relationship would affect his job but honestly, nothing’s changed. Margo knows that the two are together, which she is over the moon about. They keep the PDA to a minimum around her, but still hug and kiss goodbye which makes her jealous because her dad gets attention from him too now. It’s so endearing.

“Let’s go see if she got lost finding the streamers or is peaking at her presents.” Harry squeezes his hand one more time and they enter the house.

They do end up finding Margo with the streamers, but said streamers are tangled around her whole body. Harry mentions how much she looks like a rainbow mummy and Louis can’t help but snap a picture as the poor girl pouts with her arms crossed. Not knowing how it happened, she held out her arms, defeated, asking for help. The two men help unravel her from the decoration, making a huge mess in the process.. Louis offers to clean it while Harry starts preparing the food for the party that starts in an hour. 

Louis and Margo start decorating for real after the mess is cleaned up, but Louis does most of the work, considering Margo can’t reach high enough. She does, however, puts the table cloth on and sets up her party cups with childlike determination. 

“I can’t wait for Kaylee to come!” Margo says excitedly thinking about her friend from ballet coming over. 

Louis hums, letting her know he's still listening as he finishes off the streamer on the deck railing. He steps back and nods at his hard work; the pink and white balloons floating in each corner of the yard, streamers covering the fence, deck rails and part of her swing set (Margo’s idea) and Louis is pretty proud of it. He’s suddenly brought out of his daze when they hear the doorbell ring. 

“Someone’s here!” Margo announces jumping off the chair she was sitting on and running into the house. Louis tries to quickly calm his nerves before finding something to do to keep himself distracted. It could be Kaylee and her mom, or one of Harry's close friends from work, but with Louis luck, it isn’t.  

Margo comes barreling out back onto the deck where Louis is, pulling someone with her. “Lou! Lou! This is my cousin!” she says, a huge smile on her face.

“Hello! Are you Carly?” Louis smiles at the girl. He remembers Harry telling him about his sister, Gemma, his brother in law, Sam, and their daughter, Carly, who is now eyeing him carefully and popping the gum in her mouth. 

“Yes. Are you Margo’s babysitter?” She flicks her long brown hair over her shoulder and crosses her arms. Louis hopes her mom isn’t as intimidating. 

“Well, technically I'm her nanny but yes,” he explains with a soft smile. It starts to falter quickly when she lifts her nose.

“Aren’t you too young to be a nanny?” 

Louis nervously laughs, praying Harry comes out soon; he’s not good with teens — they’re not really his forte.

“He is amazing!” Margo jumps, butting in before Louis embarrasses himself in front of a fucking teenager . Louis could kiss her little head for that. Thankfully, Harry then walks out with an arm full of food and drinks. 

“Oh, do you need a hand?” Louis walks over quickly taking a few things off the load. 

“Thanks, babe,” Harry says. He knows he was the only one who heard but his stomach still fills with butterflies at the fact that Harry’s so comfortable saying things like that around his family.

When Louis sets down the fruit tray he sees three more figures emerge from the patio door onto the deck. 

“Louis, this is my mom, Anne. Mom, this is Louis — I told you about him.” He motions towards the older women on the right. He can tell right away it’s Harry's mother; the resemblance is uncanny. 

Louis steps forward and reaches out a hand. “Hi, it’s so lovely to finally meet you!” he says and, before his hand shakes, he’s being tugged into a tight hug. 

“Sorry dear, I’m a hugger,” Anne says, pulling away from the hug. “It’s so nice to meet the person who makes my boy so happy.” 

Louis can feel his cheeks heat up, smiling when he sees Harry flushed as well.

“This here is my older sister, Gemma, and her husband, Sam.” He points to each person Louis makes sure to nod accordingly and smiles. “And you've met my niece, Carly,” Harry says, resting a warm hand on Louis' lower back, directing him towards the group. “Everyone, this is Louis…” he murmurs, squeezing Louis’ hip for comfort, letting him know it’s okay. 

Louis makes sure to breathe and smile widely, about to say that he’s excited to meet them all when an excited voice cuts in. 

“Louis is my bestest friend, especially when he has sleepovers with daddy because he lets me stay up late and watch Happy Feet, even though daddy says no,” Margo giggles, running over and hugging Louis legs. He instantly runs a hand through her hair out of habit and then blushes a deep red. 

The smiles that cover the faces of Harry’s family members make Louis' heart slow down from beating out of his chest. Suddenly, the doorbell rings again, Margo grabbing Carly's hand and dragging her to go greet whoever has arrived. He remembers when Harry had told him that he broke the news to his family about them — Louis got nervous, wondering how they would take Harry and his daughter's nanny together. Harry reassured him his whole family was so excited to meet him and that was proven by today’s events and the recent encounter. He’s heard so much about Harry’s family and they're definitely just like how Harry described them. 

Why was he nervous? Louis asks himself by the time the party is in full swing, the clock rolling around two. The sun is now high in the sky and beating down on them, warming Louis’ skin and making the pool feel like bath water. He’s sitting on the edge of the pool talking to Gemma, their feet wading in the water as the party goes on around them. He’s relieved that he and Harry's sister are getting along so well. 

“It’s a beautiful day for a party. I guess my brother knows what he’s doing,” Gemma teases, eyes scanning the backyard, seeing the people in Margo’s life gather for her special day. He’s already met Harry's co-worker and good friend, Garret, when he went to the staff party a few weeks ago, so it was comforting knowing someone else there.

“Right? Margo was so worried it was going to rain. Thank god it didn’t for her sake — she’s been talking about the party for weeks.”

Gemma nods, her eyes falling onto something over Louis’ head, and she scoffs. It makes Louis turn curiously only to see Beverley, who's talking to Anne, with her own mother standing beside her, clearly butting into the conversation the two are having.

“I hate that mom tries to keep the peace with her.” The brunette shifts her body towards Louis again, laughing under her breath, “I don’t even talk to her, not that she even tries to talk to me anymore, which is completely fine.” 

Louis lets out a nervous laugh, swinging his legs in the water slowly. “Yeah… not sure she likes me so much,” he starts and then drops his voice in a whisper. “Even though she doesn't know about me and Harry.”

“She doesn't? ” Gemma asks, eyes wide in confusion. Louis notices she looks a lot like Harry while making that face.

“No... It’s not that we hide each other. It’s just…” Louis trails off.

“I get it, don’t worry.” Gemma gives him a reassuring smile and a pointed eye roll. “I know that if she did know, it would be a shit show. She’s got a flare for the dramatics, that's for sure.”

Louis will find out that yes, Beverley is in fact an over reactor just twenty minutes after his conversation with Gemma. He’s sitting on one of the deck chairs having a conversation with Anne, with Kaylee’s mom, who is sitting to his left, listening in as well. Harry and Garrett are talking by the BBQ to the right as Harry cooks up the food for later, wearing a ridiculous apron that says ‘I like big buns and I cannot lie’ with a hamburger printed on the front. The fond eye roll Louis gave him caused a pout from the older man and a confession of ‘Especially yours…’

Louis is now picking at the flaking nail polish Margo did for him a few days prior, zoning out of the conversation only for a second when Margo and Kaylee come barreling over towards them, jumping onto the deck. Louis grins at how happy and excited she looks. 

“Lou! Lou!” she yells crashing into his legs, giggling loudly as her friend laughs at her silliness. He doesn’t notice the hard glare he gets from across the patio.

“What’s up, birthday girl!” Louis squeezes her in a hug, nuzzling her warm cheek.

“Me and Kaylee are going to swim!” she announces motioning towards her and her friend already in their bathing suits. Margo is wearing a yellow one piece with sunflowers and frilly seams. Louis remembers when they picked it out together on one of their shopping trips. 

“But, I wanted to know if you could put my hair in a pretty braid like last time we went swimming.” She claps her hands together bouncing on her toes. “ Please! ” she begs, holding the last syllable.

“Of course!” Louis says, making Margo grins widely, plopping herself down onto the floor between Louis' legs as she always does to get her hair braided. “Can you do two braids?” she asks kindly, turning to look at him. 

Louis smiles and nods, he quickly starts gathering half of the tangled mess of orange hair into his fingers to start the french braid. He listens as Kaylee rambles on to her mom about the unicorn pool floaty Margo has. Then, as he's halfway done with one braid is when things get a bit ugly.

“You know you’re not her mother, right? I am.” Louis hears the shrill voice of Beverley coming up beside him, her footsteps stop two feet away from his chair. Louis stiffens, the motion of his fingers freeze, dropping Margo's hair instantly from his hands. 

Taking a quick breath, he leans down towards Margo's head and whispers quietly, “Hey Mar, why don’t you let mommy do your other braid?” He tries not to let the tightness in his throat distort the way he talks, masking his feelings for the little girl. 

“But, but I want—” Louis squeezes her shoulder, turning her towards him and her familiar green eyes meet his, a strong pout on her lips. 

“For me? Please.” He curls his lip up in a half smile when she sighs, letting Louis go without arguing, slumping back into her spot.

“Does mommy do a better job, Margo?” Beverley coos, sitting in Louis' now vacant seat as he quickly rushes inside before he can hear Margos response. 

Stopping at the counter to steady himself, he lets out the breath he was holding in, trying not to cry but failing miserably as tears prickle his eyes. The embarrassing feeling of Beverley saying that in front of Kaylee's mom and Anne makes his eyes burn with frustration. He can’t believe that Margo and Harry have to deal with a person like this. 

Hearing the patio door slide open, he quickly wipes away the wet tears that have fallen onto his cheeks, straightening up and letting out a quiet sniffle. A soft hand rests onto his shoulder, causing Louis to turn around and face Anne. A hurt expression clouds her features, and Louis relaxes into her touch before wiping his eyes again and smiling sadly.

“Darling.” She rests a comforting palm on his cheek. “Do not let her words hurt you like this,” she says genuinely, and he struggles to respond, feeling his throat tighten again. “I’m so happy Harry found you. You’re so amazing with Margo, and we can all see that.” She sets two reassuring hands on his shoulders, shaking him a little. “Margo adores you and obviously so does my son.” 

A smile breaks out on Louis’ face which Anne mirrors. Louis can’t help but duck his head with a wet laugh at her words. 

“Thank you, Anne,” Louis says sincerely. “I don’t want to cause any trouble, I just want Margo to have a good day but Bever—” He feels his throat get tight again and he shakes his head. He’s so incredibly happy Harry’s family can see how much he actually adores the two just from the short time they’ve been here. He’s also glad that Anne had noticed Beverley’s behaviour and he wasn’t over reacting.

“Of course you wouldn’t, and she knows that.” Anne squeezes his shoulder. “She’s a smart girl. I'm sure you know that,” she teases with a smile. 

He nods and looks up when suddenly he hears the patio door slide open again, noticing Harry walking inside and looking distraught. 

“Lou— Mom, what happened?” Harry asks quickly, his eyes shift to his mom and back to Louis who was clearly crying, tears drying on his cheeks. Harry grabs his hand and squeezes it. “Are you okay, Lou?” 

“Yes, I’m okay.” He gives Harry a reassuring smile when he sees Anne has stepped back outside. Harry is too concerned about him to notice her absence. 

“Clearly you’re upset, baby, what happened?” he asks again, reaching a comforting hand up to rub Louis cheek softly. 

“Uhm,” Louis hesitates for a second, leaning into Harry’s touch. He feels himself calm down from the smell of Harry’s cologne and sunscreen mixed together, just being in his space makes him feel content. “Beverley had said something—”

“What? What the hell did she say?”

Louis rests a hand on Harry’s arm, squeezing there for a second, “She said that—” He takes a small breath and another pause before explaining, “I’m not Margo’s mother just because I was braiding her hair.” 

Harry’s eyebrows furrow into confusion for a second and wraps his arms around Louis who falls into his hold. “What is she on about? Margo loves when you braid her hair. And it’s just hair , I don’t see an issue?” Harry says honestly. 

Louis shrugs, resting his head on Harry’s shoulder, not really knowing how to reply. The older man rubs a thumb down his back, and ends it in circles at the base of his spine. “I’ll talk to her, okay? Don’t worry about it, Lou. You’re amazing at everything you do for Margo and I. We appreciate you so much. Truly, we’d be lost without you.” 

“Thank you, H.” Louis leans up and presses a soft kiss to his stubbled cheek. “I didn’t want to cause trouble, that's why I walked away and let her be the one to do Margo’s hair,” he explains with a simple shrug. 

“Don’t worry about it, baby? I’ll talk to her.” Harry tightens his hold, kissing the top of Louis’ hair. “Ready to go back out there? Margo is hungry and impatient.” Harry chuckles which causes Louis to grin at the sound. They quickly give each other a kiss and head out back to the party. 

When Louis joins back with Gemma and Anne, who gives him a knowing smile, he feels calmer and better now that he’s talked to Harry about what happened.

As the party continues and everyone has eaten, candles have been blown out and bellies full of Harry’s delicious BBQ, Margo is now begging her dad to open her presents. Harry, unable to say no to her, complies and asks Sam and Garrett to help him get all the gifts from inside.  

Margo had asked Louis to sit beside her while she opened her presents. Overwhelmed with the previous hours of fun, all the toys, clothes, and, by the look of contempt on Harry’s face, more stuffed animals, the action strangely eased him. By the time Margo had reached for the yellow gift bag with a huge pink bow on it, Louis felt his heart pick up knowing it was his. Thankfully, Margo had learned to always open her cards before pulling out the gift so, when she announces the present is from ‘Her Louis’, he feels a warm feeling in his chest. When she reaches in and pulls out the book and a fluffy blanket with small penguins printed on it, he bites his lip nervously.

“Is this…” she says slowly, flipping the book onto the front and her eyes fly open. “Lou! Penguins!? ” She holds the book in two hands and smiles wide at it, nuzzling the blanket onto her cheek as her eyes scan the words quickly. She uses her finger to slowly sound out each word as she reads the title, “And Tango Makes Three … Oh, I can’t wait to read this for bedtime! Thank you, Lou!” 

She jumps up and throws her arms around his neck. Louis smiles wide, glancing quickly over at Harry, who has a knowing look on his face — considering they’ve discussed such things — he’s heard about the book about two gay penguins. Louis makes sure to embrace her back tightly but can’t help but feel the burning gaze from Beverley from across the deck. 

Through the gifts and chatting, the rest of the party flies by, and the group quickly dies out, people leave with hugs and kisses for Margo. Anne, Gemma and their crew stay a little later helping the two men clean up. Margo fails to do her part by asking Carly to play with her new toys. 

Before Louis plans to leave, Margo begs him to stay for her night time routine which he helps Harry with. Together, they’re tucking a very tired Margo into bed and, before her eyes can close, she reaches out for Louis’ arm, “Can you read the penguin book?”

Louis glances at Harry, their matched tired expressions deepen but, because they can’t say no, Louis grabs the new book and sits on the chair diagonal to Margo’s bed. Harry sits on the floor between his legs, back pressed against the chair. Getting comfortable, Louis cracks open the book and starts off, “In the penguin house, in the zoo…”

As Louis sleepily reads the words, he mindlessly cards his fingers through Harry’s hair. Continuing to read, Margo interrupts in with, “Daddy and Louis are like the penguins in the book!” 

Louis almost combusts with tears and love for her, pausing to choke down the waterworks, and Harry squeezes his knee deliberately. Knowing the man as well as his daughter, who is already dozing off, he can feel how tired Harry is. By the time Louis is halfway through, he can hear how his breathing levels out: Harry’s sleeping.

After realizing both the Styles’ are sleeping, he only reads a sentence before he decides that it’s time for him to go. Before he stands, he nudges the man's cheek trying to wake him up. Leaning down to whisper in his ear, “H, wake up, Mar’s sleeping.”  

Sleepily, Harry shifts his body to look up at Louis, eyes barely open. “Hm?” he hums.

“I’m gonna head home now, you should go to bed, babe,” Louis giggles at his tired boyfriend who can barely keep his head up. Grabbing Harry’s hand, he has a hard time pulling the man up. Now, the tired man has got his arms wrapped tightly around Louis’ waist, chest pressed to his back as they maneuver out of Margos room. Louis shuts the door quietly, so as not to wake her, and Harry sways back and forth with Louis still in his arms. 

“Stay,” Harry mumbles, barely above a whisper.

“H…” Louis warns, turning his head to kiss the man's cheek softly, slinging his arms over Harry’s.

“Please? We can watch Jurassic World?” he bargains and starts leaving wet kisses down his neck. How could Louis say no?

And of course, the two fall asleep on the couch, Harry squished behind him and his arms tightly around his waist so he doesn’t fall off the edge. 

His sore neck and Margo jumping on them the next morning is entirely worth it. 

✩°̥࿐

“I can’t wait to make you fall apart on my mouth, gonna bend you over right here on the counter.” 

Harry wetly kisses Louis’ neck, hands tightly seated on the dip of his waist as Louis tries to unsuccessfully pour a cup of coffee. Of course, he spills some when Harry’s wandering hands make their way under the waistband of his leggings, pressing his hips hard into his backside. He hums against Louis’ skin, his facial hair tickles and makes Louis squirm. 

“H,” Louis giggles, reaching back and pushing Harry’s head out of his neck. “You have to stop.” Unfortunately.

“Can’t help it, baby. You know that.” His thumbs smooth circles into his soft skin, the feeling almost encourages Louis to do whatever he wants, but they can’t. Margo is still here, packing her bag upstairs for her weekend with Beverley. 

“You know,” Louis says, turning his head to the side so he can see Harry better. “You sure are horny all the time for an old man.” 

“Ouch, Lou.” Harry unwraps himself from Louis’ back making the younger man bark out a laugh. Louis grabs his hand to pull him back towards him. Now facing his front, Louis leans up on his tippy toes to kiss Harry’s nose.

“I’m kidding, ” Louis whispers, a sharp smile on his face.

“You know my age is a touchy subject,” Harry pouts, reaching behind him and pinches Louis’ ass, making him yelp in response.

“You’re not even old, please!” Louis shoos a hand in his face, turning slightly to grab his mug. Suddenly, Harry pulls him back into his space, kissing him heatedly. Louis knows Harry is about to hoist him up on the counter by the way he’s gripping the back of his thighs under the curve of his ass when they’re interrupted by the text tone from Harry’s phone.

“Ignore it,” Harry whispers, licking into his mouth hastily. Louis doesn't stop him, kissing back just as hard. 

Ding.

“Harry,” Louis hums, the sound of their mouths doesn’t drown out the sound of yet another text coming through. “H, your phone.” Louis is able to press against his chest, pushing him enough to get his mouth off him.

“Fuck,” he groans, picking up his phone and swiping it unlocked. “Who is—” Pausing suddenly, he rolls his eyes and sighs, quickly texting a response and chucking his phone back on the counter. Louis stands there, biting his lower lip curiously, wondering who had gotten such a rise out of him.

“Beverley’s here,” Harry announces like he knew what Louis was thinking. He takes two steps to the archway leading to the stairs and calls up, “Margo! Your mother is here to get you, let’s go!”

“Should I go check on her?” Louis asks when they don’t hear her immediately coming down the stairs. He walks over and rests a comforting hand on Harry’s arm, squeezing lightly. The man shakes his head and walks back over to his phone when it dings again.

“Why can’t she just come to the fucking door?” Harry mumbles frustrated to himself and types again on his phone, pressing against the screen harshly. Louis wonders what she had said to him for his mood to change so suddenly, knowing that their conversations aren’t always the best but they’re co-parenting — if you can even call it that — and he knows it can be hard for them to even be civil at times. Louis jumps out of his thoughts when the doorbell rings and two knocks bang loudly on the door. 

“Margret, let's go! ” Harry calls again, a little more serious in his tone. Louis stands back, watching as he disappears into the hallway. The sound of the front door opening causes Louis to take his own phone out as a distraction. 

Finally, Margo’s footsteps can be heard coming down the steps, slowly, not her usual running and thumping. Louis sees her sadly walk into the kitchen, a slouch in her shoulders and arms hanging limply.

“Bug, what's wrong?” Louis drops his phone quickly onto the counter, bending down to her height and pulling her into a hug. Margo instantly starts crying, shoulders shaking and wet tears hitting Louis’ shirt. “Mar, talk to me honey.” 

“I don’t want to go to Mommy’s,” she says tearfully, clutching her dolly in one hand as they hug. Louis' heart breaks at the sound of her sad voice. He doesn't fully understand why she doesn’t want to go today but he knows Beverley isn’t going to want a crying Margo to deal with.

“Hey, listen.” He pulls back only slightly to look at her. Her head is hung low and wet cheeks shining under the kitchen lights. “Why don’t you want to go?”

“I want to stay with you and daddy,” she says quietly, looking up at Louis, eyes wide and pleading. “You always have sleepovers without me.” Louis’ eyebrows furrow sadly as he runs his fingers through her tousled curls. The faint sound of Harry and Beverley’s voices can be heard as they talk. 

“I think—” and before he can finish his sentence he hears Harry’s voice bellow from the entryway.

“Margret Lynn, let’s go. Now!”  

Sadly, Louis looks at her and kisses her forehead then says goodbye. Getting a mumbled goodbye in response, she exits the kitchen and meets her mother and father at the door. It’s not hard to hear them as soon as Margo starts protesting, “I want to stay! It’s not fair, Louis and Daddy get to have a sleepover! Why do I have to go? No, no, no!” 

Louis lingers by the front door while Margo’s parents escort the very upset girl out to tuck her into the car. Louis stays out of sight but close enough to hear Harry and Beverley’s conversation. The talking quickly turns into shouting.

“So he sleeps over, huh? Fucking the nanny isn’t very professional of you, Harry.” Louis’ mind stalls at her words, her voice rings in Louis’ ears. He then hears Harry now, who responds angrily.

“It’s none of your business.” 

“It is my business when it involves my daughter. He’s going to leave you. He’s young, Harry. How can you be so stupid? You don’t think he’s going to want to party, he’s in university for fuck sake.” Beverley says with a blatant tone.

“Just stop, Beverley. You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh really? I was young too,” Her laugh makes Louis feel uneasy. “He’s going to hurt you and break her heart, and you know it. How could you do that to her? Look at her!” It’s silent for a few seconds. Louis isn’t sure what is happening, considering he can’t see them. 

“I’m not doing this. Drive safe.”

Louis then hears Harry’s footsteps approaching on the stairs as he walks to the door, so Louis hurries back to the kitchen and leans against the counter, nervously biting his fingernails out of habit. He hears the front door slam shut indicating Harry is back inside. Louis has never seen Harry angry before, so it’s jarring to see him walk into the room looking so provoked. 

“Is everything okay?” Louis asks timidly, seeing as Harry is visibly upset.

Harry hums disinterestedly. “Yeah. She’s just… you know how she is.” He dismisses, seemingly like his mind is everywhere and nowhere at once. He keeps his gaze off Louis, who is desperately trying to catch his eye. 

Reaching forward, Louis rests a hesitant hand on Harry’s forearm. Part of Louis knew this was going to happen eventually, but he’s still surprised to see Harry acting this way. For being an adult and all, he’s acting like a child. 

“What happened? Can you — can you look at me?” Louis tilts his head confused as Harry stays silent, unsure of why he’s refusing to look at him. Frustrated, Louis leans forward, pressing his lips onto Harry’s, needing something.  

The lack of emotion from the man makes it worse.

“What? What is it?” Louis steps back, huffing and crossing his arms over his chest. A hurt look flashes over his face. “You’re acting like a fucking child, why won’t you talk to me?!” 

“Fuck, Louis.” Harry presses his fingers between his eyes. “Give me some fucking space.”

Louis steps back one foot, putting a hand on his hip and raises his eyebrows. “Is this enough space for you?”

“You’re here all the time, and I just need a fucking second. Is that okay?” Harry spits, looking at him.

“I’m your daughter's nanny, of course I’m here all the time? What is wrong with you?” Louis asks in disbelief. He can’t believe Harry is angry at him.

“That's the problem!” Louis jumps when Harry slams his hand down on the counter, the sound echoing through the kitchen. “You’re my daughter's nanny, Louis. Do you not understand? Don’t you see the problem?”

“Problem? ” Louis screeches defensively before taking a calming breath. “I get it,” Louis lowers his voice, dropping his arms from across his chest. “But I’m also with you. I wanted to do this — we wanted to do this. Those are two completely different things, Harry,” Louis tries to reason with him, wanting him to understand that there isn’t a problem with this, not if they don’t want there to be one.

“You’re young, Louis. You’re still in college for fuck sakes,” Harry sighs, running a hand down his face and stopping to cover his mouth as he looks down at his feet. “Think about the future, Lou. You’re still experiencing things, life. ” He raises a hand up and drops it onto his leg, the sound ringing in Louis’ ears. “Do you really want to be tied down by a man with a kid? I don’t want you to regret anything or—” Harry’s voice lowers, sounding restrained and cracking when he continues, “—or give up things because of us.” 

Louis stares at him, unable to process what he’s saying. “How are you going to tell me how I feel? Do you understand how unfair that is to me?” Louis asks in disbelief. Frustrated by the fact Harry still hasn't looked at him once, Louis reaches out and pushes his shoulder. “ Answer me! ” 

Finally, Harry meets his eye, but they’re blank, emotionless, yet full of hurt. “You’re just going to leave m—” He stops himself when his voice wavers, as he continues, “You’re going to break her heart. I can’t let that happen again.”

“Fuck you, Harry.” Louis can’t help but bite his lower lip, trying to stop himself from letting his own voice crack. “If you really think that low of me, I’ll leave right now.”

“Then leave, Louis!” Harry barks back, standing up straight and motioning towards the door.

Louis’ breath hitches, shocked at the words that he just said. He reaches out to touch him, to hold him, but Harry jerks his hand away from him causing Louis’ own to fall limp. 

“Just go.”

Louis quickly plucks his phone off the counter, taking two steps towards the archway. He pauses, almost turning back. Knowing the man won’t be looking back at him, he continues to the front door and slamming it shut behind him.

After Louis had cried the whole drive home he sat in the parking lot until the redness left his eyes. He finally gets enough courage to get out and go up to his apartment, hoping Zayn is in his room or gone for the night but just his luck, he’s not.

“What? Did you forget your panties or something?” Zayn jokes from the couch as Louis stands motionless at the doorway. His best friend doesn’t look at him until he hears the shrill sound of his crying, unable to hold it in. 

“What the— Lou? Babes, what’s wrong?” Zayn jumps up, running over to Louis and wrapping his arms around him. Louis holds him tightly as he cries, letting all his emotions out knowing his best friend is now here for him.

“He— We—” Louis hiccups, trying to catch his breath. Zayn quickly moves them to the couch, sitting Louis down in his lap and holding him tightly. 

“Breath, Lou. It’s okay,” Zayn says just above a whisper, rubbing his back soothingly. 

“Harry, he said—'' Louis pauses, unable to finish, not wanting to say the hurtful words out loud because he knows deep down the man didn’t mean it, he couldn’t have. After Louis finally calms down enough to explain to Zayn what had happened between them, and some minor offers from his best friend to be his personal hitman, Zayn suggests that Louis go to bed and rest. He does, considering his eyes are swollen from how much he’s cried, the only thing left to do is to shut them for the night.

He didn’t mean it, Louis tells himself as he sleeps. 

For the majority of the weekend he was supposed to spend with Harry, he dreads going to their home on Monday.

Louis hasn’t heard from Harry all weekend. He had typed out and deleted over twenty messages before sending them to the man. He understands what Harry was feeling, the way he had dealt with losing someone when  Beverley left and knowing how hurt Margo was for years, not understanding why her mother wasn’t around. But what frustrates Louis the most is that he's not her . He had hoped he would’ve made that clear to Harry over the period of their relationship, and it scares him to think, has he not?   

Unsure of going to work, he does anyway, considering it is his job, as Harry made that very clear. As he gets ready, it feels off, knowing he would see Harry and the fact the last thing he had said to him was telling him to leave.  

When he walks into the house, Harry isn’t there to greet him; no kiss, no dimpled smile, no hug that’s so tight it lifts him off the ground. But what is there is a little girl looking so thrilled to see him.

“Hi, Lou!” she greets brightly, bouncing on her toes and seeming too energized for a Monday morning.

“Hey, Mar!” Louis smiles, masking the obvious hurt he feels on the inside for her. Because he would do anything for her. When Margo lifts her arms, jumping to indicate her request to be picked up, Louis playfully groans but does anyway. “Aren’t you too big to be picked up now?” he asks.

“No, never.” She shakes her head as Louis carries her to the kitchen and plops her down on the counter. There is still no sign of Harry, which is weird. He’s usually either in the kitchen making his own coffee or waiting for Louis to make his coffee for him.

Out of habit, Louis flicks the kettle on, waiting for the water to heat up, listening as Margo rambles on about her weekend. Louis tries to listen but can’t help but zone out thinking about the last time he was in this kitchen and what had happened.

“—Lou, are you listening?” Margo asks, slightly annoyed.

“Yes, sorry,” he apologizes, reaching for a mug from the cupboard and quickly making Harry’s coffee — two dashes of milk, no sugar. “Continue.”

“Anyway, so then when the movie was over, me and mommy made sundaes and I put a whole bottle of sprinkles on mine!” She raises her arms to emphasize how much. Just when Louis is about to respond, he turns and sees Harry standing in the doorway. His hands pause as he tries to tie his tie, staring at Louis for a second before his gaze lands on Margo.

“Margo, off the counter,” he scolds her, stepping into the room and helping her down.

“Sorry, daddy.” She pouts, rounding over to the stool and sitting there, her eyes landing on the two men, confusion flickering over her face. 

“I’m going to be staying late at work tonight. I can ask Gemma or my mom to come so you don’t have to stay late,” Harry starts, keeping his focus on his tie and not the boy in front of him. Louis could scream at how frustrating it is to have him so close but feel so far.

“It’s fine, I can stay. It’s never a problem,” Louis assures him with a quiet voice, feeling small at the thought of Harry asking someone else to watch Margo so he wasn’t in his space for longer than necessary.

“Okay, I’ll—” He pauses, dropping his botched attempt at his tie. Louis wants to reach over and do it for him so badly, but knows he can't. “I’ll be heading out now.” 

“Bye, daddy! Have a good day.” Margo waves at him with a smile. Louis can’t help but feel fond at how sweet she is no matter what. He’s glad she doesn't notice the tension that’s thick between them.

Once Harry is gone, Louis realizes he didn’t even take his coffee. The empty feeling deepens at that because he always takes his coffee. Huffing, Louis dumps it into the sink and plops the cup into the dishwasher. 

“Lou,” Margo asks, suddenly she's beside him tugging on his long sleeve. “Do you want to colour with me?” He looks down and smiles at her with tired eyes. 

“Sure, let’s go get the markers and crayons,” Louis suggests as they link hands and walk towards her bedroom.

Louis had felt relieved Margo hadn’t noticed the shift in routine that morning. Or so he thought.

He and Margo are outside, swinging on her swing set, Louis of course pushing her a few times so she could get momentum until he takes his own swing. He slowly moves his feet back and forth as Margo’s giggles fill the backyard. Louis tries to not show his sadness but Margo is smart, and he knows that. 

“Why didn’t daddy kiss you hello, or even goodbye?” she asks curiously. The creaking of the wood from the motion of her swinging fills Louis' head for a second as he thinks of a quick excuse, but she doesn’t even allow him to try. “If daddy is upset with you it’s okay,” she assures him and he kind of believes her.  “When he’s upset with me I just give him a hug and say ‘I love you’, it works every time.” 

“You’re too smart for your own good,” Louis laughs, holding the two ropes in his hands and leaning his head on one of his hands. Margo skids to a stop and hops off her swing, walking over to Louis and tapping his hand to hold it. 

“I know my daddy loves you, Lou! And he can’t be mad at you for long, me maybe… but not you.” She grins, a dimple pops in her cheek which makes it remind him of a certain someone.

“I hope you’re right, Mar.” 

“I am, trust me.” 

And she was right. 

When Harry arrives home that night, Margo had already been tucked into bed long ago and Louis had almost dozed off after finishing her book, crawling into bed beside her. The lights are all off except for one lamp in the corner of the room, the sound of the ceiling fan whirring above them like a lullaby. Louis’ two breaths away from deep sleep, cramped up on the small princess bed, when he hears the thud of soft footsteps coming into the room, slowly coming towards him and bringing him out of his sleep. 

A hand rests on his cheek, running down the soft skin there and tucking a stray strand of hair behind his ear. The feeling is familiar and when he opens his tired eyes he sees Harry crouched beside him. 

“H…” he hums sleepily, stretching the sleep away and falling back into his position.

“Hey,” Harry whispers cupping his cheek, a loving gaze in his eyes. Louis doesn't even flinch when he feels Harry help him out of the bed, Louis' tired body fails to hold himself up, so when two arms cup under his bum and he’s being lifted up, he can’t seem to care. He’s too tired to question it.

Quickly noticing the familiar, calming smell of Harry, Louis realizes he’s being tucked into the mans bed. Out of habit he buries deeper into the sheets. Relaxing when he feels Harry climb in behind him a few minutes later, tucking himself under the blanket and Louis overlaps his arms that wrap around his waist with his own.

Louis swears he hears a soft whisper of ‘I love you.’ before he drifts off to sleep again.

Louis wakes up by the sun rising in the sky, the orange hues fill the room casting a small shadow over the bed from the blinds. He shifts slightly but freezes when the arms around him tighten. He vaguely remembers Harry coming home last night and getting him into bed. Turning slowly, Louis faces the sleeping figure behind him. Harry is sound asleep, quiet snores escaping his parted lips like always. His hair is every which way and Louis raises a hand to run through the tangled curls at the top of his head.

Minutes pass before he starts to stir awake, his breathing evens out as he turns onto his back, taking Louis with him with his bare arms still around him. 

“Oof,” Louis huffs out as he falls onto Harry’s chest. The man cracks open one eye slightly and closes it quickly when he notices Louis staring at him. “I know you’re awake.” 

“I’m not. I’m sleep talking.” 

“Stop it, open your eyes,” Louis says, annoyed at Harry’s ability to still be funny when he’s trying to be mad at him. In his half-asleep state last night, he had forgotten about what had happened between them. But now, in the light of day, the memories of their fight come flooding back to him.

Harry does eventually open his eyes, the green color looking darker under the small amount of light in the room. Louis narrows his eyes at him, “I’m still mad at you.”

“Lou.” Harry seems to wake up at that, sitting up and leaning against the headboard. Louis sits up as well, wrapping the white duvet around his shoulders like a protective cocoon. He wants to avoid looking vulnerable but definitely fails. “I’m— I’m so sorry.” 

Louis meets his gaze and smiles sadly, his voice rough with sleep and exhaustion. “You hurt me, you know. I couldn’t believe you had said that to me.”

“I take it back, all of it.” Harry reaches out and interlocks their fingers. Louis lets him; he’s missed this feeling. “I knew it wasn't true, I just—” He pauses, shaking his head and chuckles to himself in disbelief. “I let her get in my head, the things she said to me, and she was right. It had happened before, but it was her.” He squeezes Louis’ hand in his, “Not you. I’m so sorry, Lou. Please forgive me.”

Louis looks down at their hands, watching as Harry’s thumb rubs soothing circles into his hand. Taking a breath Louis looks up, he blinks slowly before speaking. “I know you are, I knew how she had hurt you before but Harry, I would never do that. I could never hurt you or Margo like that, or at least never intentionally. I’m here, for good, if that's what you want. Or I can go back to just being Margo’s nanny if that's what you prefer.” He hopes it's not the second option, but he would rather have the two in some way than none. “You both mean so much to me... and yes, I'm young,” Louis chuckles at that because their age difference isn't even that much. “But so what?” He continues with a reassuring voice, “That doesn’t change that I want to be with you and have Margo in my life, not now, not ever. I can promise you I won’t miss out on anything by being here—” Louis locks eyes with him while motioning around them, “with you.” 

Harry doesn't respond, he just surges forward, pulling Louis into a deep kiss. Louis allows him to kiss him, melting into the feeling quickly and letting Harry take control. “I love you,” Harry whispers against his lips. “Thank you for understanding, for giving me a chance at this love thing,” Harry rubs Louis' reddened cheek with the pad of his thumb. “You’re everything I want and more.” The man smiles when Louis wraps his arms around his neck and pulls Harry on top of him, nuzzling Louis cheek and smiling into the skin there.

“I love you—” 

“Thank gosh!” The two men whip their heads up to see Margo standing in the doorway. Her orange hair is flying in every direction, one of her pant legs is half way up her leg and she’s missing a sock. She also has a stuffed penguin in one hand and her blanket Louis got her for her birthday in the other. Harry jumps off of him and Louis sits up quickly as Margo runs and climbs onto the bed with them.

“Well, where's my hug?” She asks with a pout.

Harry and Louis both tackle her into hugs, kissing her face and tickling her sides as she giggles so loudly, Louis is sure the neighbours can definitely hear it.

He couldn’t care one bit.

✩°̥࿐

“Are we there yet?” 

“No, Margo.” 

“How much longer, then?” 

Harry sighs trying to mask his annoyance from answering the same question every twenty minutes, which makes Louis laugh into his hand beside him. He leans his head back in his seat and looks over at Harry, whose eyes are fixed on the road.

“How much longer? ” Margo whines, kicking her feet which almost hit the back of Harry’s chair. Louis watches as Harry eyes her from the rearview and she closes her mouth quickly.

“Not too much longer, bug.” Louis turns to look at her impatiently huffing in her carseat. “Should we stop for a pee break?” Louis asks, noticing Margo starting to do the pee dance as she wiggles slightly. 

“Again? ” Harry asks, glancing over at Louis and then back on the road. 

“Yes, unless you want to clean up pee ‘cause I’m surely not going to do it,” he assures Harry, reaching over and setting a hand on his knee and squeezing. The man groans, knowing this will add another fifteen minutes onto their trip, but veers off into the exit anyway. 

When they pull into the gas station, Harry mumbles that he needed to get gas anyway. Louis fondly rolls his eyes at the stubbornness and unbuckles himself when they park at the pump. They knew the three hour journey to his childhood home in Indiana would be a trek, especially with a hyper six year old in tow, but they decided to use the long weekend in September to their advantage.

They wanted to do something together before Louis starts school again for his final year and Margo starts pre-school — the little girl was over the moon when the two told her that Louis would be continuing as her nanny into the school year. Margo was also ecstatic when they announced the trip. She always FaceTimes Louis’ mom with him all the time and the older woman begged Louis to come visit her with his two favorite people. His mom fell completely in love with the little girl and Harry’s charm, of course. So, when they told her they would be coming to visit, she got right to clearing out the guest room as well as Louis’ old room, making space for the small family.

Thankfully, after the two had declared their love to each other, their devotion only continued to grow. Louis still looked after Margo faithfully, and as summer was coming to an end, Harry asked Louis to continue through the school year. Even though it meant Louis had to switch his schedule a tiny bit to fit around Harry’s work and Margo’s school, it ended up working out perfectly. 

Now, Louis and Margo are walking hand and hand into the store, Margo trying to tug him faster because she’s definitely about to pee her pants. Fortunately, she makes it in time, Louis leading her into the family restroom so they both could go in together. After Louis makes sure she washes her hands thoroughly, Margo runs out of the bathroom and right towards the candy shelf. She holds out a chocolate bar in both her hands and gives puppy dog eyes, knowing Louis can’t say no. 

“Please, please, pretty please!” She closes her eyes like she's wishing upon a shooting star and not like she's begging for a chocolate bar. 

“Margo…” Louis says sternly, though his resolve is crumbling and she knows it.

“Lou, please!” She juts out her bottom lip and Louis is a sucker for the pout, especially when the face she’s making mirrors his boyfriend’s.

“Fine, but you can’t eat it until later, got it?”

“Yay!” she cheers, skipping towards the counter and Louis follows, defeated. He checks the window for the pump number Harry is at and tells the cashier he’s paying for the gas and the candy. 

When they get settled back into the car, Harry knows the look on Louis' face and looks right at Margo. “What did you do?”

“Nothing, I got a chocolate bar,” she says obviously, holding out her bar to show her dad proudly.

“You’re so spoiled, you know that,” Harry sighs, pulling the car out of the parking lot and merges back onto the highway. 

“But she deserves it, right Mar?” Louis asks her with a smile.

“Right, Lou!”

“Whatever you say…” Harry teases and sets a firm hand on Louis' thigh.

The trip to Louis’ moms goes absolutely… amazing, just like Louis knew it would. 

Margo screams happily as she runs into the house, yelling “ Sandra! I’m here!” obviously so excited to meet Louis’ mom. It makes Louis' heart swell as his favorite people interact. Harry introduces himself like a true gentleman, trying to give her a handshake before she rolls her eyes and pulls him into a hug saying, “You’re a lot bigger in person than over FaceTime, aren’t you?” She squeezes his biceps, indicating her meaning. Louis almost has to pry his mom off his boyfriend, and the hug she gave Harry and Margo was longer than the hug she gave Louis. He’s not jealous, he’s not. Maybe just a little. 

The whole weekend is spent baking, watching movies (Happy Feet) and touring Louis’ hometown, during which his mom shares stories about Louis when he was a kid and shows Margo a picture of Louis around her age which she loved to look at, asking if she could keep it. Louis’ mom offers to make her a copy of her own. They talk about their summer together and his mom got a kick out of how Harry thought Louis and Zayn were boyfriends because it happens all the time. It makes the older man blush wildly in embarrassment and Louis kisses his warm cheek to help ease it. 

Later that night, after his mom cooked a delicious pot roast dinner — even Margo ate everything on her plate, down to the last pea — Louis and Harry tuck Margo in in the guest bedroom. The double bed makes her look so small as she curls up in the middle and she holds her stuffed penguin. They make sure to shut the door as quietly as they could when they leave so they don’t wake her, even though they know she's absolutely exhausted from the long day. 

Though the day was tiring for the couple as well, it doesn’t stop Harry from fucking Louis so hard into the mattress of his childhood bed that Louis worries that the wooden posts might be close to cracking under them. 

Harry’s got a strong grip on his waist and finger shaped bruises will be there in the morning, he knows it. Harry’s other hand is covering Louis' mouth which struggles to drown out his whines of pleasure and Louis knows he’s not being quiet enough, but how could he be, considering Harry is whispering filthy things in his ear.

“So dirty baby,” he says, thrusting especially hard at the word, jerking Louis' body in response. “Letting me fuck you like this, gonna have to shut you up some how, huh?” Harry licks up Louis' neck, wetting the skin significantly, his hand on his hip tightening as he holds the pliant boy beneath him. 

Noticing the noises leaving Louis' throat are getting louder, Harry shifts slightly, pressing his cock deeper into him and shoving three fingers into the boy's mouth. A muffled moan fills the room, Louis' eyes rolling into the back of his head from the hard pressure on his prostate and the fingers pressing into his tongue. 

“Love fucking your cunt, baby. You were made for me, weren’t you?” Harry pants above him as Louis nods against the pillow. 

Louis then reaches up to grip Harry’s hair as his thrusts quicken, moving the hair that falls into the man's face. He clutches the damp strands in his fingers as he feels the tightening in his lower belly, his cock leaking onto his skin while Harry continues to fuck down into him harder. The way Louis is arching into Harry’s body, the man knows he’s about to come, so he pulls his fingers out and reaches the wet digits around Louis cock to pull him off in rhythm with his hips. 

Louis opens his mouth without being asked, wanting, no needing, it. Knowing exactly what his boy needs, Harry smirks above him and stills his hips before gripping his chin tightly and pulling his face upwards eliciting a moan from the younger. Louis watches as a long string of saliva falls from Harry’s mouth into his awaiting one and smiles as Harry start fucking him again and, with the spit falling down his throat, he comes instantly.

“You love it, baby, don't you?” Harry leans down to whisper in his ear, nipping the skin there. He bucks into Louis two more times before coming inside him with a low grunt, “You’re so good for me.”

“I love you, H,” Louis whispers, eyes closed with a pleased grin on his face. He locks his arms securely around his boyfriend's neck pulling Harry on top of him. Harry strongly holds his waist, humming into the other's neck and pressing two kisses on his heated skin.

“I love you, Lou.” 

✩°̥࿐

Eight years later…

“Harry, stop,” Louis mumbles against heated lips, a light laugh turns into a whine high in his throat. Louis tries to wiggle out of his grasp as he feels hands roaming the bare skin underneath his shirt, his sleep shorts already pulled halfway down his bum as lips attack his own. Louis pecks him once, twice before forcing himself to pull away from the man hovering above him. Louis was enjoying a nap on the couch, trying to catch up on sleep after working four days straight and, when he woke up to something or someone jumping on him, he was obviously a little cranky. “Margo will be home soon.” 

“She’s at Jessica’s, it’s fine,” Harry breathes, leaning down and pressing his tongue into Louis' mouth. Louis keens, arching into the feeling of Harry pressing his hips down against his. Before they get any further, and before they get to the point of no turning back, Louis pushes his chest up and sits back against the couch, lifting a bare foot and pressing it onto Harry’s stomach to stop him. 

“She texted me saying she was on her way home,” Louis laughs when Harry sits back on his calves with a huff, his dress shirt nearly unbuttoned all the way now and tie loosely hanging around his neck. Louis has good will power that's for sure. 

The older man groans, running a hand down his face in slight annoyance, then brings the hand back up through his slight salt and pepper hair. Louis wiggles his toes into the man's belly which makes Harry grab his ankle, pausing the movement. 

“She was supposed to stay for the weekend,” he pouts, the expression making him look extremely young for a thirty nine year old — almost forty, but Louis isn’t allowed to talk about it. “I was looking forward to fucking you on the couch,” Harry mumbles, leaning back over the man below him, pressing a kiss to his cheek, “and over the counter,” another kiss just under his ear, making Louis squirm from his ticklish facial hair, “and in the shower.” 

He kisses once more unto his collarbone before slowly sitting up on his knees again, bringing Louis' foot with him, hovering it over his mouth. Before he can even get his tongue out, Louis pulls his leg back and pushes Harry's shoulder so he’s falling onto his ass. “ Hey… ” 

“You know once you start,” Louis pokes his chest harshly, “you can’t stop. So, get it together, Styles.” Louis leans forward, pressing an open mouth kiss on the man's mouth. “She will be here any second—” 

Just then, they hear the front door open, the creak filling the hallway and living room, making Louis fix his shorts quickly and sit up a little straighter. Even though it wouldn't be the first time the thirteen year old walked in on them — that was a very traumatic experience for all of them — he doesn’t intend for it to ever happen again. 

When Margo emerges into the living room, Louis and Harry’s smiles drop instantly at the sight of her. First, she’s wearing different pants than when she had left this morning for school, and her eyes are bloodshot from crying, which worries both men.

Harry’s the first to stand, a concerned look covering his face as he walks over to her to comfort the visibly upset girl. “Mar, baby, what happened?”

“I— ” She starts, crossing her arms around herself to almost hide herself, her freckled cheeks redden and a sniffle shakes through her body. Louis is standing because now he’s really worried.  She looks up slowly, eyeing Harry sadly who reaches out to hold her when she mumbles, “I want to talk to Mom.”

Louis pauses. The name still makes his heart skip a beat, even after eight years and being married to the girl's father, it’s still so rewarding to receive. He doesn’t hear it as often now that Margo is getting older. He fondly remembers not long after Louis moved in all those years ago was when she started calling him Mom. That was a tearful day for sure. (More tearful than when he moved out of his and Zayn's apartment and Louis saw his best friend cry because that hurt) 

Louis glances at Harry whose eyes are wider than saucers. “Oh , uhm, okay.” He steps back and drops his hand. “I’ll go make some…” He eyes Louis, eyes pleading for help. Louis quickly mouths ‘hot chocolate’ trying not to laugh at the distraught man. “Some hot chocolate, yeah , and I’ll add whipped cream and sprinkles.”

Margo sighs sadly, her lip starting to wobble when Harry walks into the next room which causes Louis to rush over to her. He wraps her into a tight hug and, as soon as they embrace, she breaks down crying. The timid girl's shoulders shake in sobs and Louis rubs a soothing hand down her back.

“Honey, what's wrong? What happened?” Louis asks, voice laced with concern. He pulls back, resting a hand on her cheek, trying to get her to look at him and tucking a loose orange curl behind her ear that has fallen out of her ponytail. 

“Istartedmyperiod…” A quick, low mumble leaves her mouth causing Louis to scrunch his eyebrows together.

“You’re mumbling, Mar.” Louis sighs, trying to get the teen out of the hard habit.

“I started my period, ” she says a little more harshly and Louis freezes. Things start to click, the different pants, why she came home from Jessica’s so early and especially the sudden mood changes the last few days. “I’m so embarrassed, mom. I got b—blood on her bed ,” she sobs, covering her face in her hands and cries into them. Louis whispers, "It's okay, It's okay," As he shakes his head even though she can’t see him. 

“Did Jessica's mom give you anything? A pad at least?” Louis asks before he even starts the conversation because he wants her to be comfortable at all times. Nodding sadly, Margo hiccups into his shoulder. Louis' heart breaks, seeing his girl so upset over something so natural. Though  Louis doesn’t quite understand what she's going through, he can at least comfort her the best he can. 

“Want to hop in the shower? You’ll feel better and then we can talk, okay?” he asks her, swaying them slightly in his hold. He kisses the top of her head, rubbing his cheek in her red hair that's gotten so much darker throughout the years. 

She nods, agreeing to take a shower and freshen up before they have a conversation. He takes her dirty clothes from her, promising to wash them. He watches as she sadly makes her way up the stairs towards her bathroom, and Louis only then does he starts to panic a bit. He first stops in the laundry room before he remembers he had bought emergency things a while ago, knowing that Margo is around the age now where this could happen, and he rushes into the guest bathroom downstairs to retrieve the box of pads. He knocks twice before walking into her bathroom, the shower still running. He lets her know he set out a clean change of comfy clothes and the box on the counter, informing her to come down whenever she's ready to talk.

When he makes his way into the kitchen, Harry is standing there, staring intensely at the three cups of hot chocolate and Louis snorts. Whipping his head up, Harry looks over at him and knowing him, it's killing the other man not to know what's wrong with his baby girl.

“Before you ask, she’s okay,” Louis says, walking over and setting a reassuring hand on his husband's shoulder. The man relaxes, letting out a breath he was obviously holding in. 

“Thank fuck,” he breathes out, lifting his mug and taking a huge gulp of the chocolatey drink. Louis doesn’t tell him there's a bit of whipped cream in his mustache, instead he kisses it off. 

“She started her period—” Harry's mouth drops open. “—And again,” Louis stops him with a raised hand. “Before you even say anything, she’s obviously upset and doesn’t want to tell you about it yet. So leave it.” 

“B-but—” Harry stammers, raising his hands in defeat and then dropping them by his sides.  

“It’s nothing against you, H.” Louis wraps his arms around Harry's waist, resting his chin on the man's hard chest, looking up. “You’re her dad, it’s going to be weird for her to talk to you about it. She’ll be okay, you know she will be.”

“I just—” He pauses, looking down at Louis sadly. “My little girl… ”

“She’s becoming a woman, Harry. A smart , beautiful , and kind young woman.” Louis chuckles poking his chest at each word as Harry’s face fills with horror at his words.

“No, she’s my baby. I don’t want to hear you say that word.”

“Young woman, Harry. Accept it,” Louis sings with a teasing shrug, laughing as he plucks the two mugs off the counter and floats back into the living room to wait for Margo.

Later, when Margo comes down the stairs, hair damp and looking cozy in her PJ’s, Louis unravels the blanket he had around his shoulders and opens it for her to climb in beside him. 

They talk a lot, mostly about Margo’s feelings about the situation, and Louis tries not to go all child psychology major on her, but fails a little. He explains to her the shift in her emotions, the hormones and how her body will continue to change quickly. She feels embarrassed, of course, but not as embarrassed as she would if she had to talk to Harry about this — not that Harry wouldn’t be anything but supportive, but it's different . That makes Louis' chest fill with pride, knowing he’s able to be that person in her life. Even eight years into Margo’s life, she assures him all the time he’s always been like a mother to her, especially after Beverley had completely walked out of her life, moving to Canada to work as a Maple Syrup Coordinator, whatever that is . Louis stepped up to be there for Margo the best he could, even more than he was before. It’s moments like these that he’d like to think he’s filled that gap her birth mother left in her life.

By the time Harry makes his way into the living room, the two are giggling over Louis’ phone at a funny TikTok he watched earlier. Harry stands there, now clad in plaid lounge pants and an old band t-shirt, holding a box of cookies and his own new cup of hot chocolate. Margo laughs into her hand, feeling a lot better because she can’t help but tease her father because ‘ You look like such a dad.”

“Because I am one?” Harry says in disbelief.

“Don’t worry, he’s old. He doesn’t get it,” Louis whispers loud enough so Harry can hear, leaning into Margo’s side as she bursts out laughing, knowing the subject of age is touchy for her dad.

“Do you not want cookies or something? Because I’ll go,” Harry teases, shooting his nose up in the air in a childish pout. 

“No!” Margo protests through her contagious giggles, “Come sit with us, dad. We’re going to watch Happy Feet.” Margo scoots over, making room in the middle so Harry can happily plop down between them. It was only for easy access for the cookies, she claims, totally not because she wanted to cuddle with her dad. Totally.

As Louis cuddles up on the couch, his legs comfortably draped across Harry’s, a small smile falls on his face at the sight of the two next to him. It’s surreal sometimes, being sat with and a part of the family he’s loved since the first day he met them. Margo’s head leans on her dad's shoulder and she’s munching happily on her cookie while Happy Feet plays in the background. He can’t help but feel immense love for the little girl he watched grow up and his husband who was, at first, a distant fantasy has become something Louis could only dream of having. 

Now, Louis’ got everything he’s always wanted.

✩°̥࿐