summary :

"You must be comfortable in there, little baby." He said when Bill Denbrough swore forthe first time in the Barrens. "Real cosy, I reckon."Louis had forgotten the film halfway to Stan's bloody suicide when Harry's slightmurmurs to his tummy became more enthralling. He combed through Harry's mane ofcurls and smiled at every word. 

"Hang in there for a good nine months, darling." Harry whispered, eyes closed andposture tranquil. "I want to prepare for you to have the best things when you get here.Only the best for my little baby." 

*********

Eight Months Ago

Saying no to Harry – the act of denying the man anything – is not only abominable but laughablein their eyes now. Louis tried once when the man asked him to attend the garish first day of acarnival because his boy deserved the novelty enjoyment of a night under the stars but after fourattempts, he found himself being hauled into the parking lot ten seconds after his final class. Harrydid not take no for an answer and with Louis he wasted no time in even allowing the boy anoption.

"I know I used to say no to get on your nerves but this time I'm serious, Harry." Louis pleadsfutilely, his arm caught in his companion's grip. Pouring his words out to Harry's broad shoulderswas hardly effective.Harry was all but dragging him in the direction of his car now that Louis' school day is over. Hehad splendid plans for him and his boy on this fine Friday. "What is there to worry about,princess?" 

"Crowds? Loud people? People, in general." Louis had an infinite many other complaints to makebut Harry was already holding the door open for him. He stepped back with his hands on his hips."I don't want to go to a club."

"I'd like you to accompany me, princess." Harry did his painstakingly attractive motion ofpinching his bottom lip and smirking through it. "What's it going to take to get you there?"Louis rolled his eyes. "Nothing you can afford, Styles." 

Harry's laughter is as phenomenal as his many less timid quirks, and he makes a grab for Louisthat leaves the boy trying not to shriek in his poor escape. Louis' waist is captured abruptly andharshly from behind, his weight swung off the ground so Harry can redirect him to the car.Fighting is useless and getting Louis nowhere as he squirms against Harry's hold; it's beenhappening much too often. 

"You deny me this, princess." Harry buries his face in Louis' neck and nuzzles the soft skin so ittickles his victim. "Or you try most ardently, at least. We are going out tonight and I'm going tokeep you safe from the nasty loud people if they ever come near you." 

"Don't make fun of me, Styles. It isn't classy." Louis flicks Harry's ear and gets himself loweredto the ground once more. "I'll come if you never ask me again." 

"Unlikely, princess. Let's get moving."

They drive to Louis' house first so he can pick a sufficient outfit that Harry approves of from hiscloset. Instead of the plain white T-shirt, Harry gives him a faded band T-shirt that covers most ofhim except for the abundance of tears in its fabric. Louis picked at it continuously until Harrypulled a denim jacket on for him and took the boy's hand, towing him out the door. The door islocked behind them and Louis waits, clutching Harry's sleeve to get in the back-seat while groupsof teenagers happen by them already drunk. 

He remained that way, his fingers fisted into the material of Harry's coat, for the entire nightwithout expecting to. The club is nauseating with its dim lighting and deafening sound system.Louis doesn't drink anything even when Harry assures him it's safe; he goes to sit next to the manwhen a booth opens up but Harry plants him rather on his lap. It would have driven him to shockbut Louis has been on his lap than a chair since he met Harry.

The people Harry socialises with are nice enough but none do more than make Louis slightlyuncomfortable. He spends most of the night observing them in their natural habitat whilst subtlyblocking out the noise with his clammy palms. Harry drinks half his weight in alcohol but nothingabout him comes to show him – not a slur in his voice or sway in his step. He balances Louis onhis thigh and never gives up the arm wound firmly around the boy's waist. At odd points in thenight he stopped to give Louis his sole focus, stealing kisses when his boy is looking elsewhere orwhispering something nonsensical into his ear. 

"Is it okay to ask to leave now?" Louis yawns and arches his back in a stretch. He pouts at Harry

when the man looks to not be relenting. "Please, Harry? I'm tired."

"After just three hours, princess?" Harry pulled Louis against him and set his bottle down to cradle his best friend. His mocking does not go unnoticed when Louis twists his nipple through his shirt and wiggles his way free. "Dance with me and we can go home."

Louis agrees and is taken into a mosh pit of sweat, gyrating bodies and hallucinative minds guiding them. He lets Harry secure him firmly and in the circle of familiar arms. Dancing is no chore, not like it used to be before Harry taught him in the middle of a barren playground with nothing but a dying cellphone to provide music. Louis thought of that now and grinned – it had to be one of his fondest memories – up at the man that is nothing but quizzical. "Something wonderful happening up here, princess?" Harry spoke into Louis' ear.

"Just thinking about the time you showed me how to dance." Louis replies. He turns his face into Harry's neck and breathes in the lingering aroma of Old Spice and dead coal. The recollection is enough to cause a chuckle. "You were stubborn then just as you are now."

"Would you have cared about a boy who fell at your feet like everyone else?"

"Hmm." Harry pretends to contemplate the question but bursts into laughter when Louis punches his chest in obvious impatience. He recaptures that fist and lays a kiss to every knuckle, not breaking the smouldering eye contact that all but shatters Louis' restraint. "You're my special boy, Louis. It was not just your remarkable unwillingness to get on your knees when I so humblyouch, princess."

Louis retracted his hand after having pinched Harry's lovehandles – the feature of his own that theman despised. "I never got on my knees for you and it ain't going to happen now." 

"Was it an option before then, princess?" Harry draped his arm snugly around Louis' shoulders inhis efforts to block out the rowdy club but keep his words burned into his boy's skin. Theincidental sultry timbre made Louis shudder at the sensation of warm breath grazing hisgoosebumps. "Could I have once had the privilege of my boy surrendering to me?" 

"Does it matter now?" Louis stretched up on his tiptoes to cup both sides of Harry's face, grinningunabashedly when the latter nips at his nose.Harry feigns a guttural, pained sound in his throat and connects their lips for one shameless kiss.He doesn't care for Louis keeping his jaws tight, and lands a terribly loud smack to the boy'sbehind so his tongue can slip into Louis' mouth. Lifting Louis off the ground is simple enoughwhen he's distracted and Harry delves into the heavenly moan he hears from his boy. This is whyhe will only ever kiss Louis, because each time was bloody amazing and he doubts any othercreature could transfix him so."You're not getting into my pants tonight, Harry." Louis murmured against Harry's swollen lips,knowing full well that this taste will only ever be his. He watches Harry obscenely lick his lipsand shift his hands to grope his bottom. 

"Yeah, baby. I know." Harry pecked his boy's lips one more time, a heartbeat before those thinpink cushions parted in an extensive yawn. "Let's get you home before you fall asleep on me."Louis simpered, a resilient complaint, and let Harry take him out of the club. "You decided tocarry me." 

"That's right, princess." Harry ignored the parting words of his earlier guests and friends, shovingthrough an innumerable amount of intoxicated people to reach the door. Louis is barely a weightin his arms as he exits and gets to his car. "How's about ridin' up front with me?"

No thanks." Louis stretched his limbs and manoeuvred his way into the back-seat, smilinginnocently as he balled himself up. He squeaks when Harry pinches his derriere and closes thedoor. "How about you don't touch what doesn't belong to you, Styles?

"Doesn't belong to me?" Harry slams his door shut for emphasis and inhales sharply when Louis'arms wrap around his shoulders from behind, dipping his head to kiss Louis' wrists. "Princess, notonly does your perfect behind belong to me but everything attached to it and so on, is mine aswell."Louis leaned forward in his seat and let his fingertips lightly scratch Harry's scruff. "Are you sureyou're okay to drive?" 

"I'm fine, baby." Harry was one astonishing human that Louis discovered is immune to the aftereffects of alcohol. A cop could pull him over and find Harry's BAC to be through the roof, but theman can still pass a driving test. "Sit tight and let me bring you home."

"Think you can stay over tonight?" Louis doesn't bother to buckle up and rolls down his windowto prop his arms over the edge, relishing in the breathlessness that followed from Harry's speed."It feels like the house is gonna be extra quiet tonight."

"You willing to offer something up that'll make it worth my while?"Louis caught sight of Harry's reflection in the driver's side mirror and laughed at the wink hereceived. "If you don't take no for an answer then neither do I, Styles."Harry responded to the sass with a catcall for his boy. "I hope you never accept no, princess. Anybastard tells you no and you don't deserve it, I'll fuckin' kill him." 

"You don't let me ask anyone except you for anything so I don't think that's something to worryabout." Louis answered sweetly. "On the other hand, I hope more and more people begin to denyyou."

"Going to keep me all to yourself, is it?"

"You bet."

* * * * * 

Present Day. 

Louis has kept his left hand hidden in the pocket of a stolen hoodie all morning. It was last Fridaythat Harry and he returned from the only motel than can win a competition for being sodilapidated; also that day happened to be when Harry put a ring on his finger. It's nothing flashyand hardly exceeded in karat worth but Louis stared at it late at night anyway, fixated by thesimplicity of a gesture that is altogether crippling in devotion.

A fight almost brewed when Louis accused Harry of feeling stupidly obligated and refused tomarry a man that proposed out of necessity. He was silenced by the date on Harry's receipt for thejeweller from whom he purchased the humble ring; it was dated six months ago.They lived together now in Harry's studio flat further from Louis' school and sold the boy'sfamily home. There is no member of the family left to serve as guardian. A day was spent movingall his belongings to Harry's place and a tiny budget was busted buying the boy's favourite treatsto stock their cabinets. Harry was theatrical about ripping the shower curtain off while Louisstared dumbly, failing to fathom the motivation behind such a wasteful act. 

Harry never brought anyone to his home so other than stripping the sheets for a wash, there wasnothing more thorough required. Louis convinced him to buy a cheap dresser that neededassembling and all he got to do was watch while Harry drove nails into a three-drawer chipboardstructure. They ate Poptarts and drank soda for their first night together in a shared home.On Sunday Louis painted the dresser bright pink to annoy Harry and situated alongside the doorto their shoebox closet. Nothing could have been less extravagant and still hold all of Louis'fondness. 

Being the end of the school year meant that there was nothing stressful to mind. Louis spent mostof his time in the school art classes even if he was no longer enrolled or went to garage saleswhere he scored a functional Polaroid camera and sketching pencils for under eight bucks. Peoplenoticed his ring after a day or two when familiar faces morphed into something of piqued interest.He never indulged them because these strangers were hungry for gossip to fill their pointlesshours.A letter from the only college in town – prestigious nonetheless – reached him the same day that itfell on the doorsteps of hundreds more. He was so thrilled to see the university stamp that he couldnot wait for Harry to fetch him so they could share the news. Being able to stay in this town meantless expenses and a scholarship would remove a student's most painful burden. 

Harry welcomed the all-encompassing hug he received after making it up the stairs to Louis'school entrance, laughing gruffly into the boy's ear when he pointlessly spins him around once.He listens to Louis' jubilance before watching the seal break on the envelope and congratulatingLouis on his acceptance. He's proud of his boy and that's never going to change.Louis hooked his thighs over Harry's hips and fisted the gym sweater Harry always wore to work– one of four in exactly the same dull grey shade. He was on top of the world and it had nothingto do with fortune.Harry squeezed Louis' thighs for his attention. "If last night's stir fry and our last can of soda popcount as a celebratory dinner then, baby, let's feast."

As promised their dinner consisted of cold leftovers – a choice rather than obligation – and awfulsoda that tasted more like battery acid if Harry's scrunched expressions were any indication. Louiswas in the mood for a movie but after blowing most of their money on groceries last weekend theyhad to settle for old DVD's that Harry kept lying around as pathetic coasters. Only one wassalvageable – Stephen King's IT (1990) – and they settled down on their fallen mattress while itovercame the scratches to play. Harry was not the most discreet in finding his spot where Louis'bare belly might be against his cheek and all through the movie; Harry frequented Pennywise'sdialogue with his own words to their unborn child.

"You must be comfortable in there, little baby." He said when Bill Denbrough swore for the firsttime in the Barrens. "Real cosy, I reckon."Louis had forgotten the film halfway to Stan's bloody suicide when Harry's slight murmurs to histummy became more enthralling. He combed through Harry's mane of curls and smiled at everyword. 

"Hang in there for a good nine months, darling." Harry whispered, eyes closed and posturetranquil. "I want to prepare for you to have the best things when you get here. Only the best formy little baby."

In the coming days it was determined that the food they ate would not be healthy for Louis or thechild he carried. Harry got a nutritionist at the gym where he worked to draw up a reliable dietplan even if the requirements were already costly. He used half of his paycheck to fill their kitchenwith better choices in meals, from vegetables to yogurt and everything in between. Louis kissedgoodbye to his poor teenage diet and paid strict attention to the printed outlines stuck to theirfridge with a superhero magnet. 

Midway through October Louis had to be interviewed for his college admission, then study for anadmissions test that would solidify his way into a better future. He had his scholarship that wouldhandle all university-related expenses so long as he remained in the higher percentile which Louishad no doubt he would. It's not just his life or Harry's anymore. 

He hit the three month mark in his pregnancy and the morning sickness faded with painful ease.Harry fell asleep with him against the tub's edge, holding Louis on his lap so at least his boywould be comfortable. Louis drank two bottles of water when he awoke and ate the tastelesschicken salad Harry left for him before he left for the test. Somehow, with the incessant need touse the loo, Louis did his best for the written exam and charmed the admissions committee. Hischoice of correspondence over attending campus was mainly in benefit for his condition, and theyassured him it would make no difference to the work sent for him.

"Hear that?" Louis stopped eating that night when the sound of something unpleasant andunavoidable came through the wall connecting them to their neighbour.Harry paused his chewing and looked to the origin of the sound. He didn't flinch the way Louisdid at the echo of heavy possessions crashing to the ground, but he turned stiff at the desperateshouts that followed."Harry, no." Louis grabbed the man's arm when he tried standing. He was not settled by Harrybending to kiss his forehead and made a plea with his eyes that went ignored.

Something about Harry is insane enough to feel no fear and Louis watched in horror now as theman stepped past their front door. His stomach twisted, appetite deceased now, and scrambledonto his knees to listen for any sign of further struggle. Nothing happened for several minutes untilLouis was startled by the door swinging back loudly, slamming into the wall behind it.Harry wore no shirt when he left and now his skin was streaked with crimson, his hair pushed outof his blackened eyes and his body vibrating with the type of rage that complemented his bruisedknuckles. "Call the police." 

Louis didn't need to be told twice and he hurriedly told the operator their address before hangingup. He was slow in getting to his feet and approaching Harry where the latter sat slumped againstthe door, looking defeated as his skin dripped blood that did not belong to him. Louis' socksappeared in his vision and Harry grabbed onto his boy, dragging ugly red marks on Louis' clothesas he breathed shakily

"What happened?" Louis was afraid to ask. He twisted his fingers into Harry's curls and held him close, listening to his own heartbeat.

Harry swore under his breath then again in a deafening volume that Louis learned to take in hisstride. He clutched Louis' hips with his bloody palms and pressed his face into the boy's front. "Ineed to get both my babies out of here. I won't let you or my child call this fuckin' dump home."

"Woah, Harry. What did you see over there?" Louis tugs on the locks in his grasp to bring Harry'sstained visage into view, searching those bold green orbs for signs of sanity. "You're my spousenow, Styles. Neither of us gets to keep things bottled up anymore." 

When Harry registered the confession and the wry twitch of his lips dies, he displays anastounding hint of humanity. His emotions are raw in the bloodshot appearance of his eyes and therelentless tremble in his muscles. He parts his lips to speak and they shiver along with the rest ofhim, striking bewilderment and worry deep in Louis' core.

"Did you know a single mother lived next to us, princess?" Harry's words are muffled by hishidden face burrowing into Louis' tummy. He could not face his boy and relate this horrorsimultaneously nor did could he wait for Louis' response before continuing. "Well, she did. Nomore than five years older than you, the age of her son. It had to be if his bloody bludgeonedcorpse is anything to go by. Motherfuckers broke into their home to steal the stereo, the TV.Instead they killed a boy who was eating his macaroni dinner and his mother while she waspulling off her shoes."Louis didn't know what he could possibly say to Harry that might stand a chance at making eitherof them feel less rattled. His abdomen twisted and knotted deep down, stirring up a sickeningdizziness as he fought the fear that threatened to resurface. 

Nobody comes back fully recuperatedimmediately after witnessing something so gruesome and Harry is evidently no exception. Harry isgoing to be a father and this experience sparked true fear in a man that otherwise embodied it."It'll be okay." Louis cradled the back of Harry's head and squeezed his eyes shut, trying not towhimper like he wanted to. A five year-old boy never had the chance to see or expect anythingfrom this world yet. "We're going to keep our little angel safe, Harry. Far away from all this....thishorror where they don't belong." 

"I swear it, princess." Harry gritted. "Nothing is ever going to touch you or this baby. Whatever itfucking takes, I'm going to keep you safe." 

**********

the end of part 2 of the five part series by the amazing SS98