"L-Lou? Can you hear me?" Harry whispered gently. Another twitch. Just then, Dr Carter walked back in.
"What's the matter?" he asked, frowning at Harry's expression.
"It's Lou... his hand is twitching." Harry smiled.
"Seriously? Why didn't you get anyone?!" Carter dropped his clipboard and dropped down next to Louis' head. "His breathing's fine."
"Wh - it's a good thing, isn't it?"
"Could be," he rushed. "Though it could also mean he's not responding to the pump."
"Pump? What pump? What's going on?" Harry got up.
"Pulse is fine. That's good... we can bring him round in a minute. And Louis has suffered a liver malfunction, so we've had to pump out all the alcohol in his bloodstream and everywhere else." he finally relaxed, picking up his clipboard and handing it to a newly emerged nurse. "Kindly take his hand, Harry, while I call the others in."
Half an hour after taking some red pills, Louis' head started to shift around. Zayn glared at Harry, whilst Harry and Jo stared longingly at Louis, both clasping at one of his hands.
"I... I thought he wasn't going to make it." Jo smiled, bleary-eyed.
"No. I didn't doubt him for a second."
After a pause, Jo asked a question: "Why isn't he wearing his wedding ring?"
"...dunno. It's at home... maybe it fell off." Harry shrugged. He was a very convincing liar. Zayn chuckled disbelievingly.
"What?" Jo turned round to look at Zayn. Zayn looked at Harry for a moment, saw that Harry was apologising to him, and went along with it.
"It was funny. He ended up sucking it up with the vacuum cleaner and spent the rest of the day finding it in all the crap inside." Zayn giggled. Jo and Harry both laughed, Jo's more genuine.
"Sound like our Louis." Jo smiled lovingly at her son.
And then Louis started muttering. At first, it was very much non-interpretable, but it started to come in to focus.
"Ha... Harray... Ha... Ray... Harry..."
"I'm here," Harry whispered, putting a hand on Louis' cheek. At that point, Zayn had walked out. But Harry didn't give a shit. He was with Louis, nothing - or anyone - could stop that. "Wake up, babe."
And, just like a puppy, Louis opened his eyes. Dark aqua, turquoise spheres pierced through heavy eyelids, and he looked beautiful.
"Huh-Harry... what're you doing here? What am I - ah..."
"Shh... don't move. How're you feeling?"
"Ugh... like I have the biggest hangover. I can't move my fucking head. Who else is here, honey?" Louis looked at Harry helplessly.
"Your mum is right next to you. She's holding your other hand."
"Hi mum... come round here, I can't turn my head, or I'll throw up."
So Jo did that. She walked round the perimeter of the bed and bent over.
"Hey, Lou."
"Can I have a hug? Or, can you hug me?" Louis smiled.
"Yeah." and he was then engulfed by his mother.
"And you."
"Okay," Harry chuckled, burying his curl-infested head in the crook of Louis' neck. "I missed you." Harry murmured.
"I love you," Louis sounded like he was crying. Then he gently nudged Harry, hinting to him to let go. Louis looked him in the eye, and said: "We need to talk. Mum, could you give us a minute?"
"Yes. I can give you more than that. I'm just so happy you're alive!"
The Talk
This was it. Harry knew it; this was the moment where Louis ended things.
"I remember up until the point where I threw my ring at you." Louis blurted. Harry bowed his head. "I remember you finishing with me, and then I remember listening to Adele, and... oh shit I smashed my iPod!" Louis sighed. "But that's the least of my worries."
"I know." Harry pinched the bridge of his nose.
"What do you know, Harry?" Louis stared up at the ceiling. "These pads are so annoying! C- ouch - could you help me put a shirt or tee on? I don't know if-"
"Yeah, I packed a bag and your mum took it round." Harry was now fishing in to the small rucksack and took out Louis' favourite stripy tee.
"Thanks." with a struggle, Louis sat up slightly so Harry could pull on the thin item of clothing. When Harry sat back down, Louis took his hand. "Why didn't you put my ring back on?" Louis thumbed over his naked finger.
"I- er, it-"
"You can't have lost it, it didn't exactly landed under anywhere."
"I, erm - I dunno, I mean-"
"It really is over, isn't it?" Louis laid back down on his back, hands interlocked on his stomach. "Me and you."
"...not if you don't want it to be." Harry looked up, deep, emerald eyes filled with guilt.
"I don't want to get back with you out of pity, Harry."
"It's not pity. Though I feel I am to blame, it's not guilt. You know what it is, Louis. It's that four letter word that when you say to me it makes me shiver every time. It's that word you say to me every night when we're in bed. It's that word you say to me when I do you a favour, or when I'm knackered after class and you walk in and give me and hug and a kiss. I won't be able to go without these things, Lou..."
"Haz, don't..." Louis whispered.
"We can get the wedding back on track. Like, have it next year, or something. We can-"
"Don't say it if you don't mean it, Styels."
"We can actually have a kid. Have a baby. Have a child of our own; raise a child together!"
"Stop it, just stop it!" Louis looked thoroughly saddened. "Stop it, Harry. How am I supposed to believe that you changed your mind in the space of a few days?"
"Because, Lou, this happened! You were this close" - Harry held his forefinger and thumb a milometre apart - "to dying. That's how serious it was."
"So it actually took a near death experience to make this happen?"
"Argh - NO! You've got it all wrong. I've been thinking - we'd make great parents!"
"But Harry," Louis put an hand on his arm, "you don't want this. You said it yourself."
"I changed my mind."
"Oh, lucky me then."
"But... we could always carry on as normal... and not have a baby?" Harry squinted his eyes in hope.
"No, Harry. I know what I want. And that's a family, and I figured that the younger we - I mean, I - start one, then I get to spend more time with them when I get old." Louis said. "That's just the way I am. And right now, I'm ready to be set up for life."
"But, Lou, this is completely-"
"Unfair. I know, Haz, it's unfair. I'm selfish. Hit me. Insult me where it hurts. But just try and understand me."
"How can I understand you if you're breaking my heart as we speak?" Harry's voice grew light.
"I don't know."
"Well, if it's the only way I can get you back, then I will have a baby with you, Lou."
"But now I feel I've blackmailed you in to it!"
"...you have."
"It's your choice whether you want to stay with me or not." Louis snapped.
"You know I'd do anything for us. I feel like you're using it to your advantage."
"Do you honestly think I'm like that?" Louis looked at Harry.
"I don't know. You tell me."
"Okay. I'm not. Happy now?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because having a child is a huge subject, Lou." Harry started to lose his patience.
"Don't you think I know that?"
"Maybe." Harry looked down again, as a long pause emerged. "We could always discuss it when you get better? So we can stay together, share the same bed. We can-"
"You're deluding yourself, Haz." Louis stuck out a hand for Harry to grab, in what looked like a tremendous effort.
"I know. But can't we at least wait until you get better?"
"Okay, Haz. I'll wait til I get better. For you."
"Good."
"And Harry," Louis whispered.
"Yes?"
"Kiss me."
"That, I can do."
As Harry pressed his lips to Louis', Louis realised that if Harry really as reluctant for a child, he'll have a long wait in store.
