Chapter Text
"I went potty," the curly haired boy sitting in front of Sam said.
The fast food workers eyes bug out and he desperately has to resist the urge to bang his head on the table. How stupid could he have been? He should've known when he saw Harry being carried out of McDonald's. Or even the fact that his "boyfriend" bought him a happy meal. But a lot of adults get happy meals...or at least young women trying to watch their figures do. Harry slurs his speech and holds hands when he walks. There is basically a sign hanging above the boy that says in bold lettering "I'M A LITTLE". Sam knew he acted funny, but he thought it was part of his charm or the result of an over controlling relationship. He still feels shocked, because the boy sitting in front of him looks nothing like any little he's ever seen before. He's not wearing a ridiculous outfit or sucking his thumb and picking his nose. He isn't crying or screaming.
Sam rubs his temples. "Harry you're a...are you a little," he asks as if it isn't obvious enough.
Harry shakes his head. "No little! Big boy! Bigger than Loulou!"
'Fuck,' Sam's mind screams out.
"Who exactly is Loulou?"
'Please don't be his caretaker! Please don't be his caretaker!'
"My bruder!"
"And the man who brought you to McDonald's... was that your," he pauses and chokes out the next word. "Daddy?"
"Nuh-uh," Harry says, playing with the fries in front of him. Sam is about to sigh in relief, thinking he'll never have to see that terrifying guy again. "That's Papa! Daddy is lots bigger!"
Sam feels his heart stop and his whole body pales. If the dark man from last week was scary, just how much worse would the bigger caretaker be?
"Harry, where is your Daddy right now?"
The boy shrugs and frowns.
"Did he bring you here," Sam asks.
"Uh-huh," Harry says. "Me 'nd Loulou."
"Did they leave you," he asks in a gentle tone.
Harry whips his head back and forth. "I went-ed to gets a drink 'nd you finded me."
Sam nods. "Where were you before that?"
"On the scary bwidge."
"The scary bridge," the boy repeats, not sure if he heard correctly.
"Wiff the scary girls. They were meanies," Harry says in a very serious tone as if he's answering thd meaning to life.
"Can you show me," Sam asks.
Harry bites his lip and holds his chin on sweater covered fists. "Don't 'member."
Shit. "Okay...um...Let's just go back to where I found you aaand...go from there?"
In Sam's mind, the cashier figures if he just takes the little back to where he found him and ditches him it will be like nothing happened at all. The only reason he's being so gentle and hasn't up and left him is because he's afraid to trigger crying. Sam will do anything to avoid causing a commotion.
He stands and clears the trash from the table, taking it over to the bin and dumping it. He returns and pulls Harry's chair back, helping the boy up. He takes his hand and they begin maneuvering through the maze of tables in the food court. Nobody pays them much attention despite the urgent look festering on Sam's face.
They manage to get past all of the people and tables to stand in the clearing. Sam continues to walk, pulling Harry along behind him. He hears a groan and suddenly he's pulled back. He looks back to see Harry standing stationary with a look of discomfort.
"What's wrong," Sam asks.
"Can't walk," Harry says.
"Why not?"
"Nappy too full. Yucky," the little frowns.
"Well, I don't have anything to change you with," Sam says. Nor does he think he ever would change somebody's diaper.
The boy looks up at Sam with his big doe eyes and juts his bottom lip out. "Carry me?"
'Oh, God,' Sam thinks. Because of course Harry can use his adorable gestures on anyone on the planet to get his way. It doesn't matter how much somebody is uncomfortable with age play, Harry is as much of a child as any little kid is and nobody could ever say no to him.
Sam lets out a deep sigh through his nose. "Fine." The older boy turns so his back is facing Harry before squatting down. He's about to turn back around and ask what is taking the little so long when he feels himself almost fall.
Harry went for it and jumped right up on Sam's back and wrapped his arms tightly around his neck, grinning as hands tightly grip his thighs and his holder rises.
"Giddy yup, pony," Harry cheers.
Sam blushes. "M'not a horse," he grumbles but walks anyway.
He takes them past many stores and people going about their daily lives. A little shopping with her daddy points at Harry and the difficulty Sam is having carrying the boy and giggles. The daddy sends him a look that was mixed with understanding like he knows how challenging it can be, confusion because of how young Sam is, and disapproval because it's not proper etiquette to give a little a piggy back ride in a setting such as this.
"What store was it again," Sam asks.
Harry gasps as he sees the store he was in front of before. He points even though Sam can't see. "Blinky lights! Blinky lights!"
"That it?"
"Blinky lights! Grumpy people!"
Sam takes them down to the store's entrance and sets the boy down on the ground. They look inside at the shoppers and workers and he chuckles. "Guess you're right. Grumpy people."
Harry clings to Sam's side and the boy stills in his hold. He tries peeling Harry's hands off but the boy doesn't ease his fingers.
"Look, Harry. I brought you back, now I gotta go," he says awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
"You can't! Gotta find Daddy," Harry says, fear overwhelming his senses. He absolutely could not be left here on his own.
"I'm sorry for not realizing you were a little, but you're not my responsibility."
Harry emits a wail and the tears race down his cheeks. Sam groans. He pushes Harry away from him and goes to turn. Somebody steps in front of him and at first all he sees is big black boots and pants. Slowly, he brings his head up to see a man with crossed arms grimacing at him. "You need to come with me."
--
Twenty minutes earlier
--
"Louis, can you do this," Leigh asks as she lowers herself onto the floor and does a somersault all the way down the bridge landing and in an awkward position. Her hair ribbons are tangled from the rolling.
"I bet I can," Louis says. He waits for her and her friends to move to before he gets on his hands and knees. He puts his head by his hands and urges his weight forward. His body rolls down the bridge and it hurts but his new friends ooh-ing and ah-ing make it so worth it. Louis has always been one to show off.
"Hmmm well...betcha can't do the splits," Jesy says.
"I'm a boy, of course I can't do the splits," Louis bites back at the girl.
"What? So only girls can do the splits," Jade asks.
Louis nods.
"So then I bet Harry could do them. He's acts like a little girl," Perrie says.
"Hey! Leave him alone," Louis screams. "Harry don't listen to her... Harry?"
Louis' heartbeat picks up and he looks all around and doesn't see the curly haired boy anyway. The girls notice the boy is gone too.
"Harry," Louis calls out. "Harry where are you?"
The jungle gym is a maze of tunnels and bars. There are littles bouncing around everywhere, but deep down Louis knows Harry would never go through them alone. The boy is afraid of his own shadow for goodness sake.
"Where'd he go," Jade asks.
"I don't know," he says in a panicked tone.
"Forget about him. He's a cry baby anyway," Perrie tells him.
"Shut the hell up," Louis screams at her. He couldn't be little right now. His mind immediately clears as he thinks about Harry being in danger.
Louis turns to leave but feels somebody clutching his arm. He turns to see the shy girl who kissed him holding him back with a pleading look in her eyes. "Get off of me," he growls and pushes her away towards the group of girls . They all look at him shock as he trudges away from them and down the stairs.
He looks around all of the adults and screaming littles trying to pinpoint Liam. It's hard and takes a minute but he spots him about forty feet away standing next to a few female caretakers. Louis breaks out into a sprint towards the man. He reaches him and crashes into his body. Liam lets out an oof but manages to balance the both of them with his arms tightly holding Louis' hips. The mommies look shocked.
"Louis what's going on," Liam asks.
"It's Harry," he says, gasping for air.
Liam's eyes open wider than possible. "What about him? Where is he? Oh god! Did you leave him by himself?"
Louis shakes his head. "I can't find him! Thought he came over here."
The man's jaw dropped and looked up at the mommies. "Are you sure? Oh no!"
"Li, I'm sure he's around here somewhere," one woman, a lady with cocoa colored skin and luscious hair tries saying to calm the man down.
Liam ignores her and picks Louis up and holds him on his hip. Louis holds on the best he can as Liam speed walks around calling Harry's name.They both have tight feelings in their throat and tears threatening to spill over. They check around the playground and Liam shows people a picture of Harry asking if they've seen his baby.
Liam presses the home screen of his phone and click on the phone option. He dials Zayn's number not caring if Louis could see it or not because there are more pressing things to worry about.
Zayn picks up after three rings. "Hello?"
"Z," Liam says in a scared voice.
"Liam? What's wrong? Are you crying?"
"Harry," Liam chokes out.
"What about him? Is he hurt? Come on, Li! Answer me!"
"We can't find him. He was playing with Louis and then Louis said he was gone. Oh god! What if he's been kidnapped?!"
"Liam! Calm down! Have you told security yet," Zayn asks, always more level headed than his husband.
"N-no," he says.
"Do it! Now! Look, I'm five minutes away. I'm coming," Zayn tells him.
Zayn hangs up and Liam searches for a guard. He spots a man in a black uniform standing near the exit. He quickly walks over to the man.
"Something I can do for you," the security guard asks.
"My little is missing," Liam tells him.
The guard perks up and ushers for Liam to follow him through the door and outside into the hall of the mall, away from the loud playground. "Sorry, Sir. Did you say your little is missing," he double checks.
"Yes!"
"When was the last time you saw him. Him, correct?"
"Yes, my little boy, Harry. I saw him and Louis here," he nods his head to the boy in his arms, "about ten minutes ago."
"When is the last time you saw him," the guard asks Louis.
"I don't know. We were playing on the bridge...and...and he seemed upset but I was...was just having fun with the girls... I didn't mean to upset him! I swear! It's all my fault," Louis cries into Liam's sweater.
"Hey," Liam says, putting on a brave face for Louis even though he wants to cry just as much. "It's not your fault. We'll find him, Baby."
"So you didn't hear him say where he was going? Didn't give you any clues as to where he might have gone," the man asks the boy.
Louis shakes his head and sobs.
"Do you have any photos of him," he asks Liam.
"Yes, on my phone."
"Okay, I need you to send me a clear photo of him. I will send it out to everyone security guard on shift right now."
Liam nods. He wipes his eyes and takes his phone out with shaky hands. He opens a new message draft and attaches a photo of Harry, smiling innocently while holding a flower. He hands the mobile over to the guard who sends it to himself. When his phone dings he brings up the text and forwards it to a list of twenty numbers labeled "9 am-2:30 pm Shift." The phone reads message sent.
The guard reaches up to the walkie-talkie on his shoulder and presses a button. "We have a situation 7-3-0. A missing little, last seen in the play area over 10 minutes ago. Check your phones for a photo of him. Please be on the look out and if you find him take him to the office. Over."
A few people message back saying 'Roger that".
"Should we...should we go look for him?"
"No, Sir. It's best if you wait in the security office."
"But he's all alone in this big scary place! He could be lying on the floor hurt," Liam cries.
"Sir, we are professionals. Let us do our job," the guard says. "Now if you'll just follow me, I'll take you to the security office and we can get to the bottom of this."
Liam feels helpless in this situation. His newest baby is crying in his arms, scared and blaming himself for Harry running off. The first time he's ever taken the boys out on his own before and he just had to get caught up in conversation with other parents. How could he have been so careless as to not be watching them? This was all a mistake!
Liam follows the man down the long hallway, keeping his eyes peeled for his little one. He feels his phone beginning to vibrate in his hand. He swipes the green circle and raises it to his ear.
"I'm entering from the south side. Where are you right now," he hears Zayn ask.
"We're being taken to the security office. It's near Topshop."
"Okay, see you in a few," Zayn tells him and hangs up once again without a goodbye.
"Was that Papa," Louis whispers into his ear.
"Yes, Baby," Liam says, kissing the boy's cheek. "He's on his way."
They walk into the security office, which is no more than a large desk with three fat men sitting around eating donuts and sipping coffee while watching a couple of computer screens. There are rickety chairs pushed against the walls and a couple of doors in the back with placards on the wall labeling him.
"Just take a seat and relax. I'm sure your little boy will be found soon, Sir," the guard tells him before going to stand behind the other three.
Liam carries Louis over to a chair and sets the boy down. He takes a seat next to him. Louis wants nothing of the sort and crawls over to sit in the man's lap. The daddy gives him a soft smile and buries his face in the soft hair.
"Daddy," Louis says.
"Yes, Sweetheart?"
"I really didn't mean to ignore Harry. I just got so caught up in the attention the girls were giving me. I'm such a jerk," he cries into his hands.
Liam kisses the spot in the middle of his head. "Shhhhh. It's not your fault. I should've been paying more attention. Harry's always been a wanderer."
"I did something else bad," Louis whispers.
"Go on," Liam says, rubbing the tops of Louis' thighs comfortingly.
"Well... when I saw Harry was gone and I decided to go find him the girls were saying mean things about Harry so I...um...I told one of them to go to...you know. And then I pushed another girl 'cause she was trying to stop me."
Liam sighs. "You're not in trouble because I understand how scared you were. But I do want you to know that your rules say no naughty words and pushing someone is very naughty Lou. Don't do it again."
Louis nods. "I won't. But they kept calling him a baby and other mean things and I just got so mad."
"Well I'm proud of you for coming to me and telling me as soon as you realized what was going on."
"Li," they hear an exasperated Zayn say.
They look up to see Zayn walking towards them with a concerned look on his face.
"Papa," Louis says, rising from Liam's lap and running to Zayn and hugging his waist tight.
"Dove," he says, picking him up and cuddling him to his chest.
"So now what? Are we supposed to just stay here? Is anyone even looking for him," Zayn asks his husband.
"I can assure you, Sir, we have a number of highly trained individuals on our staff looking for your ward as we speak," the guard says.
"I can only hope they're doing more than you lot," Zayn says in disgust, eyeing the group up and down. The group glares at him and one of them mumbles everything he just said.
Zayn sits down next to Liam and though Louis sits on his lap he still bends his body so his head rests on Liam's shoulder.
"So what happened anyway," Zayn asks.
"He and Louis were playing and he wandered off," Liam says.
"That's it? He just up and left without anyone even noticing," the dark haired man says in an accusing tone. "Were you even watching them?"
Liam bites his lip as that tight feeling clenches his throat again. "I was...it's just that I got caught up in a conversation with Lia and Karen."
"Are you serious? Li, you know no conversation is more important than watching them! We made a promise to protect them? How are we supposed to uphold that promise if you can't even keep your eyes on them for ten minutes?"
"Don't you think I know that," Liam asks. "Do you think I did this on purpose?"
"No, but you were still reckless," Zayn says.
Louis is stiff in Zayn's arms, tear drops rolling down his face as his daddies fight right in front of him.
"Like this has never happened to you before," Liam bites. "Just two weeks ago you lost him at the store!'
"I turned my back on him for twenty seconds to make sure the eggs weren't cracked! Besides, I didn't do it in a place with a hundred different strangers crowding the place," Zayn says. "I'm just thankful Louis didn't get lost too."
"Stop fighting," Louis cries.
"See what you've done? You made Louis even more upset," Zayn growls at his husband.
"You're the one who started this," Liam says.
"We wouldn't be in this situation if you hadn't been so careless!"
A guard from behind the desk clears his throat. "There's a room back there on the left where you gentleman can discuss the situation. We aren't going to sit here any longer allowing you to upset your little. Leave him here and we'll watch him."
"Mind your own business," Zayn glares at him.
"We will once you work out your differences," the man chides.
Zayn sighs before standing up. Liam looks at him disbelief. "You're really doing this," he asks.
"Yes. Come on," he says.
Zayn sits Louis down on the chair and wipes his face free of tears. "Dove, I'm sorry we did that in front of you. Daddy and I will be right back. Can you be good for these men and stay here," he asks gently.
It's probably not the best idea to leave the upset little on his own, but the men need to work out their issues now. Louis nods and Zayn's bends down and kisses his cheek before rising and pulling Liam back to one of the rooms.
Louis sits in the chair, kicking his feet back and forth. Every twenty seconds or so he feels the men staring at him as if he's a ticking time bomb. The clock on the wall ticks loudly. He notices a pattern. There's a light tick for every second and a heavier tick for the every fifth second.
He can still hear Zayn and Liam arguing with each other and the sound of Liam crying. He wishes they'd stop, but they kind of need this argument, really. Their marriage has seemed too perfect to Louis since he's arrived. Not once have they argued in the month that's he's been here.
Louis feels bad though, because he believes this entire situation is his fault. If he hadn't been ignoring the boy he's grown to love and call his brother they wouldn't be here now. They'd probably already be at home eating lunch. And to make things worse, Harry had begged Louis not to take him to the bridge full of girls in the first place. He should've turned them around the second the damn Pez girl called Harry a cry baby. He let his ego in the way because for the first time in what feels like forever he's received that kind of attention from somebody. The type that he had spent most of his adult life receiving at clubs. Because no matter how much of a crush he has on Harry, Louis knows Harry will never reciprocate them. And he loves Harry even more as a little brother even though he can picture one day walking down the aisle seeing Harry's beautiful face.
Wanting to stop the self loathing and actually do something, Louis stands up. He turns to walk to the doorway but one of the men stands in front of him. "Where do you think you're going, little guy?"
Louis doesn't look up. Doesn't want to see the man's face. Instead he stares ahead at his large belly. "Gonna go find Harry."
"No can do, Bud. Gotta stay here."
"How can I just sit here not knowing if he's okay," Louis says, voice cracking at the end.
"I know it's hard, but we'll find him," another man says.
The one in front of Louis places his hands on Louis' shoulders, forcibly turns him around makes him sit back down.
Louis let's out a frustrated breath and crosses his arms, glaring at his feet.
Time moves slowly. The men continue stuffing their faces while watching the computer screen. Liam and Zayn can still be heard arguing in the backroom. The clock taunts him with the ticks. Louis has nearly picked the skin off the side of his nails because of his anxiety. What he wouldn't give to just be sucking on a binky in his daddies' bed right now.
The main door into the office slowly opens and Louis lifts his head to see four bodies entering. A boy is being lead in with a guard behind him and there is another guard holding the hand of whono other than his little brother.
"Harry," Louis nearly screams and runs towards the boy.
"Louis," Harry says, allowing his body to be pulled into a tight hug.
Harry cries into Louis' chest as the older boy kisses his head and squeezes him. He's so relieved to have him back. "Hazza, I'm so sorry. So so so so sorry. I'm such a jerk. I don't deserve a little brother as good as you."
The green eyed boy sobs into Louis' shirt, dampening the Ironman logo. "Loulou."
"Shhhhh, I'm here, Love. I'm here," he says, rubbing up and down the younger's spine.
"So you don't love that girl more than me," Harry asks, looking up into Louis' eyes hesitantly.
"Of course not. Could never love someone more than you," he says, kissing Harry between his eyebrows. He means every word he says.
"Boys come with me," the guard who originally brought Louis and Liam here says.
Harry clings to Louis and the older boys puts a protective arm around his torso and they follow the man into the backroom. Sam is taken to the room beside this one. The man knocks on the door. "What," Zayn says in a less than friendly voice.
Harry and Louis flinch. "We have Harry safe and sound," he announces.
The door flings open and Zayn immediately rushes over to the boys and circles his arms around both of their bodies.
"Papa," Harry cries.
The three go into the room where the security guard and Liam are waiting. Liam is crying tears of happiness as he goes over to his littles and husband and for a minute the four just stand there hugging and crying and kissing.
"Harry, where did you go," Liam asks gently but still very serious tone.
The boy doesn't answer, just continues snuggling close to Louis.
"Harry," Zayn lightly warns. They need answers and resolution before any of them leave.
"Wan-ded a drink but I could find Daddy. So I sawed a fountain and I gots a drink from there," the boy explains, fiddling with his brother's fingers.
"Then what happened, Honey," Liam asks.
"Sawed a blinky light 'nd I went to it. Then Sam-Sam gots me lunch 'nd soda but I didn-."
"Wait, Harry, who's Sam," Zayn asks, eyebrows knitted together.
"My fwend."
"Is that the man who you were with when we found you," the security guard who had brought Harry to the office asks.
Harry nods.
"Harry, did he make you go with," Zayn asks.The boy shakes his head. "Then why did you go with him?"
"Nobody wants Hawwy," the boy cries.
"Oh, Baby! You know that's not true."
"Harry, we love you very much," Liam says.
Louis doesn't say anything, just pulls the further from the men and closer to his chest.
"We have the man who was with him in custody if you would like to speak with him," security says.
The husbands nod and each pick up a boy and carried them out of the room. They're escorted next door and when the door opens Zayn gasps.
"You," Zayn growls and rushes forward.
"You know him," Liam asks.
Zayn nods. "This is kid from McDonald's I was telling you about."
"I didn't know he was a little, I swear," the boy says, hands raised to show he means no harm.
"How is that even possible," Zayn growls, causing Harry to whimper in his arms.
"Papa, don't yell. Sam-Sam gots me food."
"Sorry, Sweetie," he whispers in the boy's ear.
"Look, I'm new to all of this. I'm just staying with my cousin trying to make ends meet. I don't know much about littles. He doesn't look like one," Sam babbles. "I thought he was your boyfriend and you two broke up. I swear I did not know. Really."
"Li, take the boys home," Zayn says to his husband.
"No," Harry protests. "Wanna stay wiff you."
"I'll be home just a few minutes after you," Zayn tells him.
He sets his youngest on the ground next to his spouse. Harry hugs his arms around Zayn and doesn't let go. "Papa," he cries.
"Harry, I need you to be a good boy for Daddy. Then when we get home we can cuddle," Zayn says softly, disregarding Sam and security members watching the family's interactions.
Liam carefully untangles Harry's arms from Zayn. The daddy gives him another kiss on his lips as well as one on Louis' forehead and the last is on Liam's cheek. He's still angry at his husband, but he could never hate him.
He watches as Liam takes a sobbing Harry and Louis from the room. His heart hurts but the idiot behind him needs to be dealt with.
Zayn turns and sends the boy a 'don't fuck with me' kind of look.
"Why the fuck did you think it was okay to take him," Zayn asks.
"I didn't take him. He came with me on his own free will."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I told you to never even look at him again. Where in that statement did I say it was okay to even talk to him?"
"Look, mate, I didn't mean any harm. He was hungry and got him a burger. Simple as that."
"Simple as that," Zayn snorts and rolls his eyes.
He walks forward and grabs the front of Sam's shirt in one hand and pulls his arm back, preparing to swing.
A hand grips his fist and stops him. "There is to be no fighting on mall property. Now I suggest you both leave now, before we have to ban you from ever coming back," the guard says.
Zayn releases his hold on the boy and the guard releases his hand. He holds that fist in his other hand and looks the boy square in the eye. "Now you listen to me and you listen good. If you ever, EVER, go near Harry or my other little ever again, I will make sure you're never heard from again," he hisses quiet enough for only Sam to hear. "Clear?"
The boy gulps and nods quickly.
"Good," Zayn says and leaves.
--
As it turns out, Zayn arrives home only two minutes after Liam and the boys. His anger had him going nearly twice the speed limit down the streets. Liam is grabbing the diaper bag from the Range Rover as he pulls into the garage.
Zayn gets out of the car and rests his head on the top of his vehicle. Liam walks over to him and rests a hand on his back.
"Babe?"
Zayn emits a sigh. "I didn't get a chance to strangle him," he says and in the silence of the dark garage they both start chuckling. There's nothing really to be laughing about. Quite the opposite, really. But they've always laughed at serious situations.
"I really am sorry," Liam says.
"Me too. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that," Zayn says, looking at the man he's been with for over a decade.
"I guess we still have a lot to learn about this whole parenting thing," Liam shrugs.
They chuckle again and go inside the house. They find Louis and Harry cuddled together on the couch.
"Papa! You're home," Harry says loudly.
"Yes, Sweetie. Like I promised."
They take the littles upstairs and perform well needed nappy changes and rub rash cream on both of them just in case. Despite protests from both boys, Zayn and Liam dress them both in warm fleece onesie, wanting nothing more than to extra baby their littles.
When the boys are dressed, they are brought downstairs and set back down on the couch. Louis sits crisscross and Harry lays down with his head in Louis' lap. The older boy massages his head, enjoying the soft feeling of curly hair slipping between his fingers. Liam turns on Peter Pan and leaves the two with sippy cups full of juice while he goes to the kitchen to prepare lunch with his husband for their babies.
Today has been a long, hard day. A lot of things went wrong, but nothing would ever kill the love that each of them has for each other. Zayn and Liam, two husbands that love each other unconditionally, will continue loving and supporting their two little babies. Mistakes like today are likely to happen again, but they will go to bed tonight holding the boys safe in their arms knowing they will try harder from now on.