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Wales doesn’t get a lot of snow.
Actually no, rephrase. The south of Wales experiences snowfall, but it never sticks because before it snows it always rains. And after it snows, it rains again. Go up north during winter and you’ll probably find snow, but if you’re even remotely close to the coast, you’re not getting anything past one inch of snow, and even that means you’re lucky.
Truly, Louis and Harry didn’t consider the chances of snow when buying a house in Wales. Who does? So, when their two lovely children came along, and all they asked for when the Christmas decorations came out was snow, it was a bit saddening to tell them it probably wouldn’t happen. The last time Louis saw proper snow in south Wales was in 2012. Ten years later, small chance.
Yet.
Louis rolls over at what he’s assuming is the arse crack of dawn when he feels Harry prodding at his shoulder. “Someone better have died if you’re waking me up on a Saturday love,” He rubs at his eyes with one fist, and lets his other hand slide over Harry's naked thigh under the bed. “You know me well enough to know weekends means no alarms.” Louis whispers, squeezing Harry's thigh and leaning up for a kiss, which gets refused.
“It’s snowed!” Harry says with a broad smile in lieu of a good morning, or a kiss thank you very much. Louis blinks slowly at him a few times, far too tired to comprehend what has to be a lie.
While Harry excitedly gets up to peer out the window, Louis slumps down in their bed again and stares at the ceiling. He can hear his gorgeous and wonderful husband giggling from the window and can’t help but smile. Louis glances around the room to the brightness reflecting everywhere, before reaching over to his phone to check the time.
7:30am. Hmm.
It definitely should not be this bright in their room at this time. It’s early december, the sun hasn’t even thought about rising yet.
Louis looks around their room again. There is white brightness on the ceiling and the walls, and when Louis lifts his head to look at their vanity mirror, he can see Harry's perky bum covered in boxer short, his head stuck between the sheer curtains.
Surely not. Surely it hasn’t snowed enough for Harry to be this excited. Louis throws the duvet off the ends of his legs and shivers. He slides his legs off the bed and slips his feet into a pair of slippers (don’t point out how old dad that is of him, please), before rushing over to Harry.
Funnily enough, when he flings one of the curtains away from Harry, his entire world is covered in white. The ground is absolutely covered. You can’t see anything past slivers of colour where snow can’t reach by itself. Their car is at least a foot taller than normal, and he can only half see into the opposite neighbour’s lounge, their window piled high with fluffy white.
“What the fu- “
“Daddy!” Morgan shouts, rushing over to her two dad’s legs and shoving herself between them, placing her tiny hands on the windowsill and jumping up to try see what they’re looking at. Harry instinctively hooks his hands under her shoulders and lifts her up, happily settling her on his hip as their beloved son comes running in.
“Papa it’s- oh my gosh! Daddy, it snowed!” Dylan shouts, racing across their room to crash into Louis’ legs. Dylan is taller than Morgan, despite the fact that they’re twins, but still can’t see much more than the sky over the windowsill, so Louis picks him up and settles him on his hip.
The four of them gaze out the window, Morgan’s eyes wide with the still steadily falling snow shining in her eyes, and Dylan poking at Louis’ neck to make him see the snow falling. It can’t be more than two minutes before they’re both begging to go outside.
Harry steps in first, ever the sensible one, and carries Morgan over to their bed, where he tickles her sides and makes her laughter fill the room. “Nope!” Harry shouts over Morgan’s giggling, leaning in to give her a raspberry on her neck. “It’s far too early and none of us are dressed,” Morgan somehow frowns through her tickle attack. “The snow will still be there later.” Harry says finally, slowing his tickling fingers down and letting Morgan breathe properly.
Dylan pouts on Louis’ hip and leans in to grab at the ends of Louis’ hair lightly. “Daddy please!” He begs Harry, his tiny mouth pulled down in a frown.
“Yeah, daddy please?” Louis adds on, also frowning and widening his eyes, before Harry gives him a stern look over his shoulder which makes Louis snort.
Louis brings Dylan over to his side of the bed and playfully drops him on the thick mattress. It makes Morgan bounce and they both giggle. Harry and Louis climb in bed right after, everyone settling into their spots for their weekly Saturday morning cuddle and lie in.
Harry cards his fingers through Morgan’s long curly hair, while Louis twirls a few of Dylan’s curls around his thumb. “It’s not even eight yet,” Harry says to add to his argument, and gets three pouts in return.
(He should have never adopted twins with curly brown hair and blue eyes. Paired with Louis they’re a force to be reckoned with. It makes him think they really are tiny humans made up of himself and his husband. Awful choice.
He’s sure he can find a receipt, maybe he can return them. It’s only been… three years. Harry sighs.)
Harry squeezes his eyes shut and carefully tugs a knot from Morgan’s hair. “We can wait until eight then have breakfast, get dressed then go outside,” He tries, and shakes his head when the three of them all deepen their pouts. “It won’t melt in an hour!” In a last attempt to keep everyone happy, he opens his arms for a bear hug.
Louis, always the funnier of the two parents, pretend-shoves his two children out of his way to get there first. Morgan and Dylan cackle loudly at him, shouting “Papa!” At the same time in the same voice and same tone. Louis just shrugs his shoulders and settles himself in Harry’s lap. “What can I say, I love your dad!” Louis says with a grin, leaning in and kissing Harry square on the mouth.
A chorus of “Ewwww!” Starts from the other side of the bed, and Louis feels Harry smile against his lips, as he does the exact same. Morgan soon climbs into Louis’ lap, followed by Dylan so they form a human pile on. On Harry.
“Okay, losing my life here.” Harry says with a fake strained voice. Dylan laughs and steps over everyone to climb behind Harry and onto his pillow. He drapes his arms around Harry’s shoulders while Louis and Morgan climb off him.
Harry does win and they spend the next half an hour in bed, the curtains open and their voices filling the room. Morgan and Dylan talk about their week at school as if they didn’t the night before, and Louis scratches Harry's scalp above them.
It’s all very peaceful, and Louis, for probably the billionth time, thinks about how thankful and happy he is to have this family.
Adopting two-year-old twins with your husband of three years after trying and failing for kids for five years was the best day of his life, levelled with his wedding day. Morgan and Dylan had been in foster care since they were born, and Louis found them while looking through adoptees all night. He hadn’t cried that much since his wedding day, and when Harry woke up to the sound of tears, he too cried.
Now, six years into marriage, three spent with their wonderful children, Louis can’t imagine being anywhere else.
Except maybe, outside. In the snow. With his family.
“C’mon Haz it’s eight now, we all wanna go out.” Louis says with a soft rub of his nails behind Harry's ears. Harry just about purrs like a cat, his eyes closing and his head angling towards him.
He sighs and opens his eyes, trapping Louis’ wrist between his two hands and pressing a kiss to his knuckles. “Okay, lets go.” Harry whispers, and in a second the twins are up and out the room like a shot, Louis chasing just a few steps behind.
Harry shakes his head and smiles to himself, watching Louis grab a hoodie off the vanity chair and pull it over his torso as he goes, the hem of it meeting his joggers. He’s on breakfast duty it seems, if Louis going down the hall to Morgan and Dylan’s room is anything to go by.
While Harry cooks up a storm in the kitchen, Louis grabs both his children around their waists and carries them over to the big chest of drawers by their door. “Alright rascals, we’ve gotta think. What are we wearing today?” Louis asks them both, their clothes morphing together because Morgan is only a tiny bit shorter.
She reaches for sparkly green leggings while Dylan goes for the sparkly purple ones. Louis picks up two pairs of tiny joggers to cover them, just for their adventures in the cold snow, and sets them on the ground. Morgan wraps her arms around Louis’ neck while Dylan rummages through the clothes. “Get me the puppy jumper Dyl!” She requests, and Louis squeezes her body.
“Magic word.” He whispers and she gasps.
“Please!” She adds, and smiles when Dylan passes her the neon orange jumper with a truly horrifying picture of a dog on the front. Louis has no idea where it came from, but it’ll be covered by her coat, so he reasons that it doesn’t matter.
Louis reaches out with his free hand and picks through the rest of the jumpers. “What’re we wearing babes?” He asks his son and gets him tapping his chin as a response. Just like his father really. Louis holds up the pink one with a transformer and Dylan nods, grabbing the material and hugging it to his chest. “Brilliant, all picked out and ready. Socks and underwear please.” Louis says, watching them both run to get the rest of their outfits. Louis picks out two simple shirts to fit under their jumpers, then places them down on each of their beds.
Louis turns around and sees them both excitedly starting to get dressed, struggling to pull off their sleeping onesies. “Okay kiddos, both dressed then call me for teeth time.” Louis says as he leaves, smiling at the way they both nod their heads like they’re listening.
What Louis sees in the kitchen is a sight he should be used to after nine years. But he’ll never tire of seeing a shirtless Harry Styles cooking him, and their children, breakfast. “Hi love,” Louis whispers as he comes up behind Harry, wrapping his arms around his waist and pecking the skin between his shoulder blades. “What a lovely sight.” Louis adds, rubbing his hoodie covered hands along Harry’s stomach.
He feels Harry’s muscles jump under the feeling of his blunt nails, and Harry breathes a few giggles as he moves the scrambled eggs around. “I make breakfast every other morning babe,” Harry chuckles, his skin prickling with goosebumps as Louis slides his lips along his shoulders. “Nothing new.” Louis smiles against his skin, his fingers trailing through the hair above Harry’s sports leggings.
Harry manages to get the eggs scrambled and not burnt while Louis kisses the back of his neck and refuses to let go even when Harry walks to the fridge. They move as one as Harry puts the bacon in the pan and starts frying it, Louis giggling and making Harry giggle in return. Their small kitchen fills with the sounds of domesticity and love as smoke pillows into the extractor fan. Louis gets pulled away by their two squealing children (something about their parents being madly in love being gross or whatever), into the bathroom.
The three of them look into the mirror, Morgan and Dylan sharing a stepping stool to be able to reach the mirror, as a clock surrounded by The Octonauts, and other fish count down from two minutes. “Rinse!” They all say at the same time as Captain Barnacles, and they each swish some water around in their mouths before spitting it out. “Floss!” Kwazii shouts, and Louis’ children squabble over grabbing the floss, while Louis grins.
Louis brushes through Morgan’s hair enough to tie it into two low curly ponytails, and then combs Dylan’s enough to keep the curls intact. He fiddles with his own fringe, but quickly gives up because he’s going to shower anyway.
Breakfast is a quick ordeal. Morgan complains about minty orange juice while Dylan steals Harry’s vegan bacon. ‘To try it’ He says when Louis catches him. “He’s got your wit love,” Harry smiles, reaching his foot out to toy with Louis’ under the table. “A mini version of you.” He adds, patting the back of Dylan’s head when he gags over the bacon.
“He makes the exact same face as you when he makes decisions,” Louis counteracts, poking his foot into Harry’s calf. “He’s a mini you I think you’ll find.” He takes a bite of his toast as he says it, and grins when he sees Harry’s dimple.
Once breakfast is over, and Timmy Time is playing on the tv, Louis and Harry pack the dishwasher and dawdle in the kitchen. Their speaker on the windowsill is playing quiet indie music, so Louis sets his cup of tea down and takes Harry’s coffee out of his hands. Harry watches with a small smile, as he always does with Louis, and gasps when Louis grabs him by the hips into a dance. “Oh, we’re doing this are we?” Harry giggles, pressing his forehead to Louis.’
Louis leads them through a slow song, his hands at the small of Harry’s back, Harry’s around his shoulders, with the sounds of animals starting their day at school. They sway side to side and spin in slow circles, their children just a wall away and snow tumbling down outside. When Harry kisses him and Louis squeezes their bodies closer together, he thinks about how lucky he is. How he’ll never let anyone take it away.
****
“Alright, alright, alright. We can go outside now.” Harry says from the sink in the bathroom.
“Yes!” Louis says triumphantly from inside the shower, poking his head out the door at Harry. “Come on, get washed, I’m excited and I know Morg and Dyl are.” Louis explains as he shuffles out the shower, leaving the water on for Harry to climb in after him. Louis towels off and makes his way to their bedroom, with the reassuring noise of the twins giggling at Shaun The Sheep from the lounge trailing behind him.
He pulls on a pair of Harry’s sports leggings (still baggy) followed by some of his own joggers. Then he slips his torso into some under armour, a baggy t-shirt which could honestly be his or Harry's, then a jumper. Two pairs of socks and his big boots from deep inside the cupboard later, Louis is ready.
Just as Louis leaves the bedroom, Harry rushes in and drops his towel. Louis does his best to go to the lounge, but the temptation of dressing Harry calls him, and he goes in after him. “Shaun has a few more debacles to fix before the shows over,” He says in explanation as he sidles up to Harry and kisses his collarbone. “They can wait an extra five minutes.” Louis adds, going up onto his tippy toes to kiss Harry on his perfect lips.
Harry hums into the kiss, reaching out to slip a hand past three layers to touch his shower warm waist. “And I can dress myself,” Harry whispers, pecking Louis’ lips a few more times, then his nose and closed eyes. “Go get their shoes on, I’ll be there in a second.” Louis goes back down to his flat feet and pushes his bottom lip out.
“No fun.” Louis mutters, spinning on the balls of his feet to face the door. Harry chuckles and pinches Louis’ bum before he goes, not even earning a reaction because Louis is oh so used to that.
While Harry gets dressed, Louis picks out both Morgan and Dylan’s big walking boots and thick socks and finds them on the couch. Their bodies pushed all the way to the back of the couch, and their feet barely hanging off the edge of it. They’re transfixed with the flock of sheep on the tv mounted on the wall, so Louis stands in front of them. He can’t help but let out a bark of laughter when they both move to the side to look past him at the same time, just like he does with Harry.
He mumbles ‘rascals’ under his breath before grabbing an ankle from each of them and tugging them closer to him. “Shoes time!” He says happily, and neither of them respond past a gasp at being moved. “You don’t want to put your shoes on?” Louis asks with a devious smile. “I guess we’re not going outside then,” He knows exactly how to get them. They both gasp and look to him, the morning CBeebies shows forgotten. “No no, you’re both busy, we’ll let the snow melt then.” He adds with a smile.
“No papa no!” Morgan pleads, reaching out to Louis’ hand.
“Please papa we wanna go outside.” Dylan adds to his sister, grabbing Louis’ other hand.
Louis caves immediately and crouches down to slip their shoes on their little feet. “Show me how you tie your laces.” Louis whispers, watching the way Morgan pokes her tongue out the corner of her mouth just like he does, and Dylan wrinkles his forehead just like Harry does. Their little clones.
Once they’ve both successfully tied their shoelaces, with a tiny bit of help getting the bunny home, Louis lifts Morgan up onto his shoulders, and Dylan climbs onto his back. “The snow awaits! We ride instantly out into the world!” Louis shouts, adding an extra bounce to his step as he makes his way to the back door.
“Young sire! You have two leeches on you,” Harry says when he leaves their room. “I do hope you can rid yourself of them!” He adds as he leans down to pull his own shoes on. Morgan and Dylan giggle, Morgan fiddling with Louis’ hair and Dylan just about choking him. “Here! I shall take one.” Harry offers, taking Dylan off Louis’ back and settling him on his own shoulders.
“No fair, Dylan gets to be taller!” Morgan says with a pout, and Louis registers the exact moment Harry sees his chance barely before Harry thinks of it.
“Don- “
“Your fath- “
“It’s not my fault papa’s short.” Dylan says and everyone stops. There’s silence for a second before all parties except Louis break out in fits of laughter.
“Betrayed by my own son.” Louis shakes his head, bobbing Morgan’s feet up and down over his shoulders.
When everyone’s not cackling at Louis’ height, or lack there of, Harry grabs their four coats from the store cupboard hooks. They set Dylan and Morgan on the ground and wrangle them into big coats, hats, gloves, and scarfs. In a few minutes they’re all ready for the snow waiting outside the door.
Morgan is first out, always quicker than her brother, and falls face first into the soft snow immediately. Louis and Harry both rush into protective mode and run over, they lift her up and find her face scrunched up in happy giggles, before she squirms out of their grasp and runs down the garden, Dylan running after her.
They spend almost all morning out in the snow, throwing snowballs, making snowmen, and snow angels. They all pile on top of Harry and just about bury him before he can crawl away. Morgan gathers as much snow as she can and hides behind it as Dylan throws snowballs at her. And Louis gets to watch Harry's nose turn red and his curls poking out his beanie framing his face.
They make a snow angel family and Harry takes a picture before making everyone lay down on their angel to take another one. Louis grabs the twins around their waists and hoists them up into the air before dropping down and letting Harry throw snow at them. They work as a team to defeat the little ones and smother their faces in white joy until their noses and cheekbones are shining red.
“You look like Rudolph.” Louis whispers to Harry when Morgan has Dylan cornered, snowball count thirteen to four. Louis kisses Harry's nose then his mouth, while Dylan squeals and Morgan laughs at her victory.
Before they go in, they have a snowman competition, Louis, and Morgan up against Harry and Dylan. They have twenty minutes to craft the best snowman they possibly can, and both Louis and Harry are forced to forfeit their hat and scarf in an attempt to win.
They get the votes from the big Tomlinson-Styles family group chat, the votes going to Harry and Dylan with their impressive height, just as tall as Dylan, with three tiers and matching sized rocks for buttons. “I think ours is better papa!” Morgan shouts, and that’s all Louis needs.
They leave the snowmen to look after the garden, their hats and scarfs draped over them.
****
When they go back in, they shake off their boots and rub their cold red cheeks, stripping down layers and waving goodbye to the snow for now. “I say hot chocolate with lunch,” Harry smiles as he takes off his gloves and rubs at his ears. Everyone eagerly agrees, and Harry sets off to get lunch started.
Louis helps the twins out of their coats and undoes their shoes before they scamper off to their rooms to get rid of the extra layers now that they’ve run around and gotten hot.
Louis finds Harry in the kitchen, the kettle boiling, and four mugs laid out next to it. “I’ll make either the sandwiches or the hot chocolate, which one love?” He offers, coming up next to Harry and wrapping an arm around his waist.
Harry grins and presses a kiss to his forehead. “You make better hot chocolates than me, with all the cream and marshmallows and flare,” Harry says and Louis snorts. Flare. “So, you do that, I’ll make jam sandwiches?” Louis nods his head and kisses where Harry's nipple probably is, then goes over to the kettle.
As Harry pulls the jam out the fridge, he gets the whipped cream and hands it to Louis. They work perfectly around each other, resting hands on waists and hips, and slipping past each other without any words spoken. Harry makes the sandwiches and sets them each on a plastic plate with a packet of crisps each. Louis makes two hot chocolates in thick plastic mugs, and two more in the Christmas mugs for himself as Harry.
Morgan and Dylan come rushing into the kitchen, and without needing to be told, sit at the table, and wait for Louis and Harry. “You can eat loves,” Harry says, patting Morgan on her head and smiling at their manners.
Louis finishes up the hot chocolates, with towering, whipped cream, mini marshmallows pouring everywhere, a candy cane sticking out the side next to a spoon, and even a flake each. They both gasp when Louis sets them down, and Louis tells them both to eat their food before they start on the drinks, lest they get full off all the sugar. But it’s the beginning of the Christmas season, they deserve a treat.
Both Harry and Louis lean back against the kitchen counter and watch their children. They’re giggling over something they’re sure only they would understand and staring jam sticky high fives. Louis has his, also whip cream towered, hot chocolate and Harry has his boring, one big vegan marshmallow hot chocolate and they sip quietly.
After a lunch of jam sandwiches for the littles, and leftover chicken ceasar salad for Louis and Harry, they all settle down with their hot chocolates on the couch. They watch silly kid’s movies, then some Christmas movies, and let Morgan and Dylan take their naps in between them on the couch, just this once.
Louis makes dinner while they start waking up, and Harry sits on the floor in the lounge colouring in disney princess with them. They eat their Saturday night mac’n’cheeseTM at the table and get the twins ready for bed.
Their room is a bright pastel yellow, with teddy bear curtains, and a bed in each corner. Dylan has his favourite-coloured dinosaurs on his duvet (pink), and Morgan has white daises on a green field on hers. They each have about ten teddies and a tiny set of stairs for them to use to get into bed.
They take turns with who’s bed they’ll be read to in every night, and tonight it’s Dylan’s. So, Morgan climbs in beside her brother, and Louis picks a book off their shelf while Harry tucks them in to make two caterpillars.
Louis and Harry do all the voices and show all the pictures of the book, and just over halfway through, the twins are both asleep. Louis carries Morgan over to her bed and kisses her forehead while Harry kisses Dylan’s, then they swap and do the same. They meet in the middle of the room and Louis winds his arms around Harry’s waist to cuddle into his chest. “We’re so lucky.” Louis whispers, watching his two favourite people while wrapped up in another one of his favourites.
Harry rubs his hand up and down Louis’ spine and breathes in the scent of his hair. “Yeah, we are.”
****
The next morning, Louis and Harry are woken up by Morgan and Dylan jumping onto their bed and crawling in between them. Not like they were cuddling or anything, no. Morning cuddle time with just two bodies disappeared the day Morgan and Dylan came home. Louis couldn’t be happier.
Sunday is spent being lazy; brunch early in the afternoon, courtesy of Louis’ wonderfully handsome and perfect husband being an incredible chef and cooking up a storm of a roast dinner for them. Louis spends the evening helping the kids colour in their ABC’s homework and Harry has them count to five in Welsh just to check.
(Morgan can already count to eight, but Dylan cannot for the life of him get the pronunciation of ‘chwech’ down, so Harry works with him, but ultimately the poor boy can still only get to pump, or five.)
It’s bath night, so Louis and Harry shed their shirts and get their dirty children into the bath. Harry, having spent his whole life dealing with curls, handles Morgan’s because they always prove to be far more difficult than Dylan’s. There’s a lot of painful tears, an almost empty bottle of baby shampoo and curl product that Louis swear Harry must be drinking for how quickly they go through it, and bing bang boom, they’re done. After an hour.
Louis lets out a massive sigh when he lifts Dylan out the bath in his adorable towel-hoodie. Harry picks Morgan up and holds her to his chest for a minute, kissing her cheeks and calming her down after the truly traumatic experience that is washing your hair as a five-year-old.
They lead them both back to their room, both in towel-hoodies (Louis will not shut up about how cute they look with them) and help them into their sleep onesies. Morgan picks one covered in princesses for the week, and Dylan picks the matching one. They slide on their slippers and give Louis and Harry big baby eyes when they ask to watch In the Night Garden before a bedtime story.
Neither of them can help but cave, so the four of them sit and watch Iggle Piggle go to the garden to meet Upsy Daisy and Makka Pakka. The show ends with the blue bear floating away in a boat, and the two dads carrying their sleepy kids back to their beds.
All crowded in Morgan’s bed, Harry reads the story while Louis acts out what he’s saying, before he’s closing it and carrying Dylan to his bed. Louis packs their school bags quietly, then helps Harry pre-make their lunch for the next day in the kitchen, before slow dancing in the fridge light.
They retire to bed happy and cuddly, falling asleep connected as one and wake up to the sounds of their joyous children and exciting future.
****
The next Friday starts with both Louis and Harry taking the twins to school, then Louis dropping Harry at work with a sweet kiss goodbye through the window. Louis watches Harry go into the restaurant with his bobble hat and red nose before he sets off home. Harry is a sous chef in the fancy restaurant in the next town over, and Louis is a big architect at a big company working from his tiny home in his little village.
Harry spends his day second in command in the best restaurant in the county, and Louis draws up buildings and flat layouts from the office at home. At the end of the school day, Louis packs up his things and makes his way out to the primary school, where he picks up Morgan and Dylan and gets himself covered in rainbow glitter. Christmas crafts have started evidently.
“Daddy’s working later tonight, so how about we go surprise him?” Louis asks with a beamed smile once he’s got them both buckled into their car seats.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Dylan shouts, thrashing about and getting glitter in the car. Great. Morgan happily agrees and so Louis sets off home to get them both out of their uniform and their lunch boxes empty.
He has them both change, Morgan into her favourite ‘fancy fit’ as she calls it after hearing Lottie call it that once. It’s made up of sparkly navy leggings, a long-frilled bottom shirt with a glittery bunny on it, and her sparkly black velcro shoes. Louis compliments her and helps her slide on her coat. Dylan comes out wearing his favourite fancy outfit too, a dark purple frilly tutu with matching leggings, and a black and pink striped long-sleeved shirt, a pair of black vans on his feet. Louis compliments him just the same and zips up his coat when he asks for help.
Louis himself is dressed up in black skinny jeans, an old band tee and a blazer. He’s twisted his hair into what Harry calls a cinnamon swirl, and sprayed Harry's cologne around his neck and on his wrists. He slips on another coat and ties his vans on his feet, then leads Morgan and Dylan out to the car.
The restaurant isn’t far, and when they get there, Mike greets him loudly from behind the bar. “Louis! What a pleasure! Harry didn’t say you were coming?” He pats Louis on his shoulder, Dylan on his hip and Morgan trailing next to him holding his blazer pocket.
Louis sets Dylan on a bar stool and lifts Morgan up to sit next to him. “He doesn’t know,” Louis smirks, and tickles under Morgan’s chin. “We’re surprisin’ daddy, aren’t we?” Louis says poking Dylan’s nose from where he’s shied away. Morgan wraps her hand around Louis’ ring and pinkie finger and squeezes them.
Mike smiles at the three of them, then sets about pouring them each something to drink. “And how are the two little’uns doing?” He asks, sliding two fruit shoots to them, and grinning when they both eagerly take one with a thank you.
Morgan speaks first, saying she’s good, which prompts Dylan to also answer Mike. They’ve always been a bit shy around the staff in the restaurant. Louis reckons it’s because they’re all so loud and tall in their black uniforms, and they’re used to bright colours with Louis’ siblings and Gemma.
One of the servers gets them a small booth in the corner, near the bathroom and door to the kitchen, and pulls out the colouring books Harry stashes under the bar for the kids who come in. Louis orders their usuals and helps them colour in their sea creatures until their food comes.
Louis knows when Harry has his break because his phone pings with a text from him. The second his phone lights up, Louis gestures Emma over and has her bring the sous chef out to ‘compliment him for the lovely meal.’
Emma grins at him and pushes the door to the kitchen open, then drags Harry out in his adorable white chef uniform. His face brightens when he sees his family sat at the table, and immediately picks Dylan up and leans down to kiss all over Morgan’s face. “Lou,” He breathes sitting in Dylan’s seat and settling him on his lap. “Thank you.” He adds in a whisper and leans over to press a kiss to Louis’ soft lips.
Louis hums, letting out a breath and cupping Harry’s cheeks, the ends of his sweaty hair tickling his fingertips. “I want that treatment.” Louis hears a woman say from a few tables down, and giggles against Harry's lips.
He pulls away and gently strokes his thumbs along Harry's cheekbones, before looking over to the woman and smiling. “Don’t blame ya.” Louis chuckles, dropping one of his hands to Harry’s chest and patting over his heart.
Harry sits with them for his fifteen-minute break, tasting Louis’ food and helping Dylan colour in his octopus. “I have another surprise.” Louis says a few minutes before Harry is due to get back to work. He’s sitting next to Louis now, half on top of him really, while Dylan and Morgan sip on their fruit shoots and continue colouring.
Harry winds his arms around Louis’ neck. “Oh?” He says with a sly smirk and raised eyebrows.
Louis rolls his eyes. “Not that kind of surprise, you minx,” Harry pouts and Louis can’t help but kiss it away. “You’ll find out later,” Louis adds, leaning in enough that not even a whispered breath could between them. “When we’re in bed,” Harry’s eyes flutter. “I’ll tell you.” Louis leans away and Harry chases him.
“I hate you.” He deadpans and shuffles out of the booth.
Louis grins at him, sits on his hands, and leans forward over the table. “No, you don’t.” He smiles, and Harry loves how right he is.
“No, I don’t,” He whispers, biting his lip and oh so shy and in love all these years later. “Alright loves, back to work for me,” Harry leans down and brushes Morgan’s hair over her shoulders and presses a kiss to her head, then kisses one to Dylan’s head too. “You both look absolutely dashing. I’ll see you at home,” He starts shuffling away, before quickly leaning over the table to press a kiss to Louis’ forehead when he taps his finger there. “I love you!” He calls and drags out the vowels at the end while he does.
Mike treats the three of them to dessert that’s on the house, and the four of them go home when Harry's shift is over. The littles doze in the car, and barely notice they’re being dressed into their pyjamas and proper fall asleep without a story.
Later, when Louis and Harry are in bed getting ready to sleep, Louis pins Harry down and sits on his thighs. “I thought it wasn’t this type of surprise?” Harry questions with a smirk, running his hands up and down Louis’ thighs.
Louis bats them away with a smile, before pulling them back. “It’s not, just needed your attention.” Louis whispers, leaning down to kiss along Harry's jaw.
“You’ve always got my attention.” Harry murmurs, dropping his head back and squeezing Louis’ thighs.
Louis pulls his head back and settles heavily on Harry’s legs. “Good!” He says, then pulls out his phone, Harry staring stunned at him. “I got,” Louis scrolls on his phone. “the four of us,” Harry pinches the flesh of Louis’ thighs gently while he waits. “Tickets,” He carries on, Harry's hands moving up and under his hoodie Louis is wearing. “To,” Harry wraps his hands around Louis’ waist and smiles at the fact that his fingertips are brushing along Louis’ back, almost touching.
“Louis,” Harry interrupts.
“Mhm?” He answers, playing coy and innocent.
Harry slides his hand down to the back of his boxer shorts. “Spit it out,” He whispers.
“I got us tickets to Winter Wonderland in Cardiff tomorrow!” Louis says with a squeal, turning his phone around to show the email confirmation on his phone.
Harry shoots up and takes Louis’ phone before wrapping him up in his arms and reading the email behind Louis from over his shoulder. He mutters vague words as he reads then kisses the front of Louis’ shoulder. “Oh my god!” He says happily, locking Louis’ phone and dropping it. “They’re going to love that!” He adds, pulling back to gaze at Louis.
Louis smiles down at Harry, before using one hand to cup his cheek and kiss him tenderly. “I love you.” Louis says like it’s a secret only for them. Rubs his wedding ring over Harry’s cheek and smiles when he feels the cold of Harry’s ring on his lower back.
The smile that covers Harry’s face envies the one he sported when Louis first said the words, like every time he says it, they fall deeper into love. And maybe they do.
They fall back on the bed, and Harry hikes Louis’ legs higher up around his body before pinning him down on the bed too. “I love you too.” Harry answers, kissing from Louis’ eyebrows down his nose, over his lips where he toys with his tongue, to his jawline, then collarbones, and down his chest.
They lose themselves in each other, the chill of December knocking at their windows and fogging up the corners. Their soft teal duvet pools around their bodies and Christmas wakes up all over Wales. Slipping into sleep never felt as easy as doing it together, Louis wrapped around Harry, and Harry holding on.
****
Louis manages to hound the twins into the car without uttering a word about where they’re going. Harrys got a bag full of snacks and a packed lunch, activities and even their shared iPad if they get bored enough. They set google maps up in between the two front seats and get going to Cardiff, forever thankful they both get weekends off.
The radio plays Christmas songs, and for the first half an hour the whole car sings along. Then the motion of driving makes the twins fall asleep, and Harry focuses on his book instead. Louis glances over to Harry, his glasses perched on the end of his nose just about ready to slide off. He pushes them up gently, and Harry grabs his hand to kiss it quickly, before getting back to what Louis is sure is a smutty romance novel.
About halfway there they hit some traffic. Louis supposes it’s a Saturday and lots of people are heading up to Cardiff. For Winter Wonderland or for Christmas shopping, either way he doesn’t mind.
He reaches over and pats Harry's thigh, pulling him away from his romance, for a moment where they share a small smile, and both look back to Morgan and Dylan sleeping in the exact same way. Heads leaning back, mouths open, quiet snores. “Just like you.” Louis chuckles, watching for Harry’s reaction.
As expected, he guffaws and sputters at Louis. “Like me?” He whispers, glaring at Louis. “Like you more like.” He counters, huffing quietly and turning back around to his book. Louis chuckles and leans over to kiss his cheek before the traffic starts moving again.
They get there a little over two hours after they left, and Louis considers that a win. Harry suggests they eat their packed lunch in the car, so they unbuckle the twins and snack on the food Harry prepared.
“Where are we?” Morgan finally asks with half a carrot stick in her mouth. Harry gives her the ‘finish the food in your mouth first’ glare, and she scrunches up her lips.
Once she’s finished her mouthful, Harry answers. “Papa got us all a surprise.” He says gently, wiping a bit of hummus from the side of Morgan’s mouth.
They both perk up and Dylan swallows his bit of apple before excitedly rushing into lots of questions. “What is it?” “Where are we?” “When do we get it?” “Can we eat it?” Louis slows him down with a chuckle and a hand on the back of his head.
“Slow down bud, you’ll get it once we’ve finished lunch.” Louis takes the last bite of his sandwich and wipes his hands with a wet wipe.
Dylan and Morgan suspiciously start eating quicker until Harry tells them to slow it down or they’ll choke. Once their lunch has all been eaten, Louis and Harry help them both out the car, and the four of them walk hand in hand into Cardiff.
It starts getting a little busier, so they both pick up a twin each, and connect their hands in the middle. Just when they’re getting closer to winter wonderland, Louis decides to tell them, so he stops Harry from walking further and turns to his two babies.
“Right loves, neither of you have ever been ice skating, have you?” Louis asks, knowing the answer. It’s comical the way both their faces light up and excitement visibly starts coursing through them. Dylan wraps his arms around Harry's neck, and Morgan does the same to Louis, then Harry steps forward and wraps Louis up in a hug too.
They probably look silly, a family of four randomly hugging in the middle of the street, but none of them care.
They walk the rest of the way to winter wonderland, and the closer they get, the giddier both the twins get. When they walk in, Morgan lets out an audible gasp, and Dylan’s mouth pops open. They both yell ‘Thank you thank you thank you!’ over and over again until they go to get their skates.
Morgan eagerly tells the young girl behind the counter what size feet she and her brother have, then Louis gets both him and Harry a pair. Louis helps Morgan get her skates on and Harry helps Dylan, then they help each other, smiling and giggling like it’s their first date.
When they’re coming up to the rink, Morgan bouncing excitedly and Dylan wobbling along, Harry smiles at Louis. “Haven’t been ice skating in ages.” He whispers, helping Dylan to sit down so he can get them a penguin helper each.
Louis guides one over to Morgan and leans into Harry’s side. “Neither. I believe it was four years ago, yes?” He smiles, leaning back to look at Harry who has his face angled down at him.
They both grin at the memory, only a year into marriage. Grinning at each other so in love on the ice, tumbling around each other with red ruddy cheeks. Louis can’t wait to see the way Harry gets all flustered and hot in the face when Louis steers him around on the ice.
Morgan, eager as ever, starts making her way over to the entrance, so Louis follows, and Harry helps Dylan with the penguin. Morgan goes speeding off, despite the fact that she’s never been ice skating before, she seems to know exactly what she’s doing. Then Dylan comes right after, racing behind her then past her.
Louis calls them both back and asks them to stay close, a bit nervous with how massive the rink is and all the different people he doesn’t know.
Harry, bless him, is still just as bad on the ice as he was four years ago. And the years before then. “I swear you never get better.” Louis chuckles. Grabbing both of Harry's hands and tugging him along.
“Shut up.” Harry mumbles, his forehead creased, and his nose scrunched as he looks down at his feet like they’re wronging him.
Louis lets go of one of his hands and lets him stumble a little bit. “Now that’s no way to treat the man helping you.” Louis chuckles, jokingly letting go of Harry’s hand for a split second before grabbing it back.
Harry gasps and almost loses his footing, but Louis keeps him up. “Oh my god Louis don’t do that again, you’re such a little sh- “
“Daddy look!” Morgan calls, using her penguin to push off quickly and race past them, Dylan not far behind.
Louis laughs, shouting for Morgan to ‘keep going!’ before turning back to Harry. “They’re both better than you.” Louis chuckles, then out right laughs at the angry face Harry gives him.
Dylan comes back and circles around them. “Papa does daddy need a penguin?” And well, how can Louis not laugh at that. He cackles at the innocence poorly hiding the sarcasm and snark underneath. Louis is raising them perfectly.
Harry huffs and tells Dylan to find his sister, then glares when he perfectly pushes off and skates away. “Do not glare at our children.” Louis says, letting go of one of Harry's hands to set it over his heart with faux hurt in his expression.
It happens almost slowly. Harry wobbles, his arms flail and Louis loses his hands. And then he’s thudded on the ground with a daunting ‘oof!’ sound before his face scrunches up.
As much as Louis likes to laugh at Harry's lack of coordination, especially regarding sports, he can see his husband hasn’t just taken a simple tumble. “Oh love,” Louis’ voice immediately drops to concern and he stops himself to squat down next to Harry. “Baby are you alright?” He whispers, cupping Harry's face and waiting for his eyes to open.
When they do, Louis lets out a breath. He shoves his hand through the layers on Harry's chest and rests it there before grabbing Harry's hand to put on his own chest. “Breathe with me darling.” He says quietly, and Harry does as he says. After a few minutes, Harry manages to get himself up and stands next to Louis.
“Next time, I’ll sit on a bench.” He says through stunted laughter, and Louis leans in to press a kiss to his cold lips.
The next hour passes like that. Louis holding both of Harry's hands and doing his best to teach him to skate in a straight line. Eventually, both Morgan and Dylan discard their penguins and just skate alongside their dads without any help. Even Louis needs help, the holding on to Harry for dear life isn’t an all-selfless act.
Morgan learns how to spin then teaches Dylan how to. Louis’ so happy he and Harry decided to get them both in their frilly dresses. Dylan is wearing a pastel pink one, almost like a ballet outfit, with sparkly thick leggings over some tights. Morgan is wearing her dark green dress, the frills at the bottom laced with gold and some black tights and leggings. They look like an adorable pair, spinning and twirling with their arms in the arm for Louis and Harry to watch.
After a while, Harry gets tired of falling over, so goes to sit on the side lines, and the twins insist on following him to do some tricks on the ice in front of him. Louis learns some more about skating, how to turn corners more efficiently, how to stop quicker and how to do a wobbly sloppy spin. Harry cheers him on the whole way while also cheering on the twins.
By the time they’re all ready to go, both Dylan and Morgan are blinking sleepily and stumbling over their toes. They haven’t had a nap and it was an early start, so after returning the skates and thanking the staff behind the counter, they head for the car.
Louis was hoping to do some Christmas shopping with Harry and the kids, but his little babies are tired, and they always come first, so he doesn’t bother. They get them both buckled up and they fall asleep before the keys are even in the ignition.
Harry offers to drive home so Louis folds himself up in the passenger seat while they sit in the multi-storey and let the heating warm up the entire car. Harry and Louis chat quietly, exchanging tender touches and small kisses holding a thousand words. They watch their children sleep, Dylan holding the buckle on his car seat and Morgan with an arm above her head, both of them all over the place.
The drive home is easy, less traffic and the radio on quietly. Louis dozes in the passenger seat, his hand stretched over to Harry's upper thigh where he plays with his jeans pocket. He fiddles with a rubbix cube for a while, eventually solving it much to Harry's surprise.
When they get home, they each take a twin inside, both of them dead to the world. It’s been a long day, so they wake them up for a little while to eat dinner and get dressed and ready for bed. Then they read them a bedtime story about ballet dancers, and they fall asleep by the fifth page.
Louis and Harry have a quick shower together, both sharing the warmth of the water and kissing under the stream, before budling up in fluffy blue robes and collapsing into bed together. Louis whispers about watching some movies together, so they dress into comfy joggers and big hoodies stolen from each other. Harry makes himself a hot chocolate and Louis a tea and they cuddle up in bed with Louis’ laptop.
Around midnight, halfway through their third movie, Louis peeks through their sheer curtains and spots snow silently falling from the sky. He nudges Harry and they both watch the soft snowflakes fall onto the dry ground, where they’ll stick and give everyone another snowy weekend.
Harry leans over and presses some insistent kisses under Louis’ ear. “We should put up decorations tomorrow, we’re late this year.” He whispers, sucking lightly on Louis’ soft golden skin.
Louis whispers back a yes and they push the laptop away to cuddle together and watch the snow. Harry rests back against Louis’ chest, his arms around his neck, encapsulated in his boy where he feels safest and happiest.
They fall asleep like that, snow tumbling down outside and letting them wake up to bright white covering their room like a blanket.
(They spend the next day throwing tinsel around and blasting Christmas music.
Louis serenades Harry with a cover of All I want for Christmas is you by Mariah Carey, and they eat until they’re stuffed on cookies and mince pies and hot chocolate to wash it down. Morgan and Dylan put their school crafts on the tree, and get lights hung up in their room.
Harry pins mistletoe above every doorway, one above their bed, just for the excuse to kiss his gorgeous husband whenever he wants to, as if he can’t already.
Morgan and Dylan hold half the star each and Louis and Harry lift them up to put it on top of the tree. They watch Christmas move after Christmas movie and have snacky food for dinner. Harry drags all the blankets in the house out to the fireplace and has Louis light the fire while he sets up a fort for them all. They use thick duvets and pillows and create a makeshift bed that they fall asleep on with the tv playing on mute, Christmas music lulling quietly through the house, and the fire keeping their toes warm.
It’s a good day and it feels like the start of Christmas.)