Night Changes

7.

"Well that was quick." Louis greeted sipping on his mug as I came into the door with the car seat hanging in my hand.

"I couldn't do it man!" I shut the door and threw the keys on the air table. "Mate he held my finger with his hand! His whole little hand!" I set down the car seat and walked towards the kitchen to grab some tea that was brewing.

"So then what are you going to do now?" Louis asked turning in his stool to look at me pouring the steaming hot tea. Locating the milk in the fridge to subtract from the steaming temperature.

"Well first and foremost I need to talk to Gemma. She'll know what to do." The first person I could think of to help me with this bind was Gemma. She always knew how to give great advice and in this case I could use all the advice I could get. I was stepping into foreign territory with raising a baby and could use all the help I could get.

"What about your parents? I'm surprised Gemma made it this long without telling them!" Looking over past Louis' shoulder I saw Asher kicking around in his seat cooing to himself.

"No they can't know yet. Do you understand that my parents would murder me if they ever found out about my extracurricular activities?" I took a sip of my tea while I leaned up against the kitchen counter going through the situation in my head.

"Harry your mother is the sweetest person on planet earth and your telling me she would release hell on earth if you told her? I'm seriously doubting your judgment." Louis almost laughed at me from what I had told him about the whole parent situation.

"You haven't seen Anne Twist mad! It doesn't happen very often but when it does, it's like she transforms into a completely different person. Trust me mate you don't want to see that." Hearing giggles start from the Asher kicking I saw him lift his fists to his mouth while he giggled at me.

"What are you laughing about over there?" I pointed to Asher causing him to giggle even more as I came over to him with a smile on my face. "Who are you laughing at huh?" Bent on my knees I began to tickle Asher's tummy to hear him erupt into a laughing fit, his little baby laugh causing a smile to appear on my lips.

Unbuckling him from his carrier I took his bare body into my arms as he kept that little toothless grin on his face from being held. Finishing up my tea I noted that Asher needed a fresh pair of clothes as well as some other equipment if he were going to stay with me and the boys.

"Well at any rate your going to have to tell Anne sooner or later, whether she finds out or you tell her." Louis reminded standing up to put his mug in the sink and lightly touching Asher's tiny nose.

"I would rather later." I told Louis listening to Asher coo to himself and find intrigue in my cross necklace. Feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket I answered without even checking the ID.

"Hello?" I answered bouncing Asher put to reposition him in my arms since he had slid down a little.

"Hey, I just wanted to call and check on you. How did this morning go?" It was Gemma.

"It went fine..." I was yet to tell Gemma what really happened since it didn't go as I had planned. It was a moment of weakness and I had come to realize that I couldn't leave my baby in a place he didn't know with strangers.

"Harry? I know that tone a voice, what's up?" Gemma was onto me like white on rice. She had missed her calling in life, she should have been a detective from the way she could detect anything.

"So, it turns out I'm keeping Asher." I smiled a nervous smile into the phone waiting for her to say something.

"You are what? Harry this is a baby we are talking about. An actual breathing human being that you have to take care of!" Gemma groaned hearing my change of plans. "You have never been responsible with anything and now you decide you want to keep a baby. He's not like a bag of flour they give you in high school to take care of Harry!"

"I know, I know that but Gem, I have to give this a shot. I can't just abandon him like his mum." Feeling Asher's head fall onto my shoulder I saw he released my necklace and nuzzled up onto my shoulder.

"And I'm guessing you haven't told mum and dad am I correct?" Putting the phone on my shoulder I moved my head to the side and with my free hand rubbed Asher's bare back.

"I was hoping you could help me with that..." I trailed hoping that Gemma would help ease my parents into the situation. Gemma was always good and brought things down from escalated heights.

"Okay, I will talk to them about coming over to your place tonight. All I can say is to suit up, you are about to enter dangerous territories." Gemma warned while I walked around getting Asher to fall asleep. If I were going to have my parents over in a few hours I needed to straighten up the place and get Louis and Liam out of the apartment during the ordeal.

"Text me with the details." I concluded after we both hung up. There was so much I had to do now and in so little time. Tossing my phone onto the couch I opened my bedroom door to see Liam laying in a lump still at the early part of the afternoon now.

"Liam it's like 11 o'clock!" I spoke in the quiet room, I went to lay Asher down in the little barricade I made on my bed but to no avail. Every time I tried to lay him onto the bed and peel him off my chest he became upset.

"Hey, weren't you dropping the baby off this morning?" Liam's voice was groggy and he rubbed his eyes before opening them. Stretching out of his covers he yawned out loudly.

"Yeah well...change of plans I guess you could say." I responded laying the baby fully down into the bed only to see Asher whin out. Tiredly fussing once my arms were free and he laid in the barricade on my bed.

"Hey it's alright buddy. I'm right here... Right here." I repeated putting my hand on his tummy and rubbing it to calm him down. He soon settles back down and raises his arms above his head to sleep further. Carefully and slowly I take my hand off his little tummy and walk backwards along with Liam. Shutting the door once we were safely out of the bedroom.

"Anyways my parents are coming over with Gemma tonight to tell them everything. So if you and Louis could be out of here by say 5 o'clock that would be great." I explained hoping that by saying this I could have the apartment to myself while I spilt the news to my parents.

"Yeah sure, I would love to be a fly on the wall during that family get together." Liam let out a breathy laugh before continuing on, "Hey mum, dad, I knocked up some girl and didn't know about it until she left the baby on my doorstep. Oh and also I don't know who the mother is!" Liam mocked trying to imitate his best voice of me which was highly inaccurate.

"I don't sound like that." I mocked back with the same voice he tried to pawn off as mine.

+

"Okay so we need to work on your delivery." Gemma coached as we set up the dinner we had put together for tonight. Tonights menu consisted of a pepperoni take and bake pizza with a side Caesar salad. If we even made it as far as dessert Gemma had baked some brownies, basically the only thing she was capable of baking.

The apartment was weirdly clean and anything that related to the topic of the baby was put away and out of sight. I needed to warm my parents up before showing or telling them about Asher and the entire situation. I had made sure to feed and change him before putting him down earlier so that I would have the time to talk to my parents.

"Okay, so what about this approach," I paused to straighten my posture while Gemma turned towards me, putting the salad tossing on hold to give me her full attention. "Mum, Dad, I got a girl pregnant and there may or not be a baby in my bedroom."

"Woe there cowboy, slow down there." Gemma put up her hand to me as if I had made a terrible mistake. "That's way too forward, you have to ease into this."

"Gem I can't do this!" I pulled at my hair stressed from just the thought of having to tell them about how there son made a big unintended mistake.

"Yes you can, will mum beat your ass... probably but hey it will all work out! Hopefully..." Gemma trailed recoiling coming to find she wasn't making me feel any better. Just as I was about to respond and thank her sarcastically for the worst pep talk ever a knock was heard on the door. My eyes dilating to Gemma who shooed me towards the door to answer, taking in a deep breath I opened the door to greet my parents.

"Mum! Dad!" I greeted gesturing for them to come in just as a rush of anxiety pumped through my veins. Giving them a hug Gemma came up and indulged in hugs and greetings just as I had finished.

"It sure smells good!" My dad commented coming over to the pizza that had steam still on it fresh out of the oven. All the dinner places were set by Gemma so we could set the mood for all of this. The plan was to impress them with the nicely cleaned apartment and well cooked dinner, despite the fact that none of it was homemade.

After a bunch of friendly conversation and filling of plates with pizza and salad, Gemma had made sure to fill my parents wine glasses every time she saw it running low. She had the idea that they were going to need a drinks to help the news go down. Sipping on the wine I really wished I could gulp it from feeling on edge all night long with all this conversation. The baby topic hadn't found its way to the table yet and I was hesitant and under pressure the entire time dinner played out.

"So Harry you have been quiet, thats not like you." My mum brought up taking another sip of her wine while Gemma gathered the empty plates and eating utensils. I could sense the time to bring this all up nearing.

"I just have a lot on my mind I guess." I said gulping down some wine to help with what I was about to open up. I was going to need this liquid courage if we were to make it to dessert.

"Lacrosse season? The coach says this season looks really promising for you boys." My dad chimed in defeating the purpose of my comment. This was going to be even harder then I had imagined with my heart beating against my rib cage.

"No." I rejected not even thinking about this season. The fall season hadn't even crossed my mind the last couple of days and even with it being brought up I didn't give it much thought.

"Whats wrong Honey?" My mum looked at me with concerned eyes as I looked over at Gemma who returned with the brownie pan to the table. I took in a big breath and did what I could to release it but, my lungs felt like they were being deprived of oxygen.

"Before I get into this, I just wanted you to know that if its any consolation at all I have raging heart burn right now and my palms feel like swimming pools." I rubbed my hands together to cause friction against my wet palms. Standing up to release the pressure that was building weight by weight I saw the worried expressions form on my parents faces. Looking over at Gemma for moral support I pleaded for her help with my eyes alone.

"What is going on Harry?" My mum asked once I nervously tugged at my hair and swayed side to side, unable to stand still with my nerves pricking against my skin.

"Haz, I think it's best to just tell them what it is straight." Gemma told me readjusting her skirt while sitting on the chair next to my mum.

"Harry? You're scaring me, whats happening? What do you need to tell me straight?" My mum's expression colored over with concern and nervousness at my sudden change in mood. I feel like someone had turned up the temperature in the space we all sat in but most likely this was only the feeling of anxiety.

Swaying and pushing my hair back and way from my face I felt the sweat forming on my hairline the longer I sat in this anxiety. How was I even going to say this? As my two parents waited in my silent pacing I crossed my arms over my chest and took in a few deep breaths for good measure.

"Just hear me out on this okay?" I began gulping down my fear and parting my lips to speak again. "I got a girl pregnant." The words spilled abruptly as if someone had turned on the facet to a sink.

Jaws dropping my mother's face soon went from concerned to angry within less then a second. My mum didn't easily get angry, but when she did it was best to stay away and if possible run as fast as you can. You didn't want to be anywhere near Anne Twist when she got angry.

"What the hell are you doing Harry?" My mum started out in a calm voice, this was all an act however. She started out in a fake calm mood until the next moment she erupts and screams.

"Mum-" I knew the storm was coming as soon as I was cut off from explaining.

"Don't you dare mum me! Harry Edward Styles, do you realize what you have done?" She stood up making me nervous as she stared at me with daggers for eyes.

"I know this is bad but I'm figuring it out." I said switching to look at my father who more or less only carried a disappointed expression. He wasn't expecting his son to get a girl pregnant out of wedlock and neither did my mother.

"Dear lord Harry! Do you understand the ramifications of all this? Do you understand what you are now going to have to do for both this girl and the baby?" The shouting had started and while I thought she would be more upset I took what I got. I only hoped her volume wouldn't exceed much higher since Asher was asleep in the other room.

"Who is the girl?" My dad asked clasping his fingers together and perching his elbows up onto the table with a more serious tone.

"Ummm..." I answered unable to give a real answer since I honestly had no clue.

"You don't even know do you!" My mum answered to my nervousness about the question. "So this begs the question then, how do you know this mystery girl is pregnant? Did she call you? Text you?"

Heaving in a deep sigh I hesitated on telling them the second part to all of this, that I was caring for the baby currently. No one but Gemma and I knew that the baby was sleeping in he other room.

"She umm..." I was finding it hard to speak with this lump in my throat clogging the words from coming out. "She dropped the baby off."

"She what?!" My mum's jaw dropped to the floor once again as soon as I spit out what I had to say. My heart rate racing in my chest as I saw something rage out of my mother. Turning my gaze to my dad I watched as he sighed and shook his head with his eyes down casted.

"Mum Harry's been taking care of the baby for a few days now." Gemma spoke touching her shoulder just to feel heat radiating from her.

"Wow thanks Gem!" I widened my eyes at her when my mum sighed once again and shook her head.

"So is the baby here with you?" My dad asked defeated by the whole situation. My dad had been quiet with little questions, sitting back to let my mom fire round question me.

"Yes." Was all I said before my mother stood up with a gasp and another shake of the head.

"Dear god Harry! Is it even your baby? How do you even know it's yours to begin with?" My mother exploded once again while we both stood with only the table to separate us.

"The mum left me a note."

"So you haven't taken a test? Your taking the word of some girl?" My mum scoffed, emotional about this whole situation.

"Mum... The baby looks like Harry." Gemma interjected looking at my mother with big eyes that depressed my mother from her shouting phase. Slipping back down into her chair she sighed heavily and put her head in her hands.

"What is your plan of action then?" My dad spoke while my mum did her best to calm down from her high emotions. "You have to be responsible now, something you have shown in the past that is not a strong suit of yours."

"At first I had planned to turn him into the police station but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I want to try and be a dad." I spoke gaining a more firm tone of voice this time. I needed to show that I wasn't weak and that I could have this situation under control.

"You know that for you to do that, you need to give this baby everything you have Harry. You have to be willing to sacrifice things for the baby. Your life isn't going to be the same anymore." My mum reminded me once she was calmed down from before.

"I understand, I want to change for the baby. I want to be the best dad I can." I told them both as I took in a deep breath and let it go. Untangling my fingers through my hair I looked over at Gemma who gave me a small smile in the silence between my family and I.

"So where is this baby?" My mom asked standing up and walking around the table towards me. She was now officially a grandma.

"Sleeping, come on." I coaxed moving towards my shared bedroom with Liam. Feeling three bodies crowd behind me, I opened the bedroom door slowly to try and avoid making the door hinges squeak.

Slow and soft steps I walked over to my bed where Asher was out cold. His bare arms raised above his head as he sleep soundly in the blankets he cuddled himself into. His lips parted as he blew out air and sucked it back in. Looking back up at my family I saw my mum put her hand over her mouth while her eyes brimmed with tears.

"What's his name?" My mum whispered trying to keep the volume low for Asher who was sleeping.

"Asher." I smiled looking back down at him and admiring his tiny hands balled up into fists. Just seeing him so peaceful laying on my bed caused my admiration to climb higher then before.

note// I'm thinking about updating everyday, what do you all think?:) also do you think Harry can change his ways for the baby?