Night Changes

11.

"Len came over last night?" Liam asked me as I scribbled down answers on my homework I had procrastinated on. I had put my school life on hold ever since Asher came into my life. I couldn't find the time to get started on it but now with Liam home from class I thought I could get some of it done.

Asher had been acting very cranky ever since he had gotten his shots done. He had been very restless when he was awake and didn't have much of an appetite. He was whinny and cranky whenever I wasn't holding him or cradling him. It was nice to have Liam home to help me out and give me a much needed break.

"Louis called her last night after Asher had his fit. She came over to help us." I told him still doing what I could to concentrate on my homework that needed to be finished.

"I haven't seen her in ages, how is she?" Liam asked me while patting Asher's back and bouncing him to maybe get him to fall asleep. "Oh and by the way, the baby stinks. I think he needs a bath, we haven't bathed him once since he's been here."

"I think she's alright, she's coming to practice tonight. Liam I need help, I don't know how to bathe him!" I confessed putting down my pencil and seeing Asher laying on Liam's shoulder calmly. I wouldn't be surprised if he were tired from him being a bit of a devil today. He had been restless and crying, I had done everything I could and even check if he had has but nothing seemed to soothe him.

"No way! I'm guessing she is watching this little fella? And mate, how hard can it be? You put some soap on him and like rinse it off and bam done!" Liam rubbed Asher's back as his breathing became more steady and he shut his eyes, fluttering his eyelashes to try and fight the sleep.

"Well he's basically asleep now. Why don't we do it tonight?" I asked Liam stressed out by all this homework and the fact that I was going to have to bathe Asher for the first time. I had never bathed a baby before and I didn't know what was in store for me now.

"Harry he needs to be bathed before practice and that's in three hours. He can sleep durning practice with Len!" Liam suggested stopping his bouncing just as Asher nuzzled himself into Liam's neck.

"He has been awake and crying all day. I would like some peace and quiet for an hour before we wake him up again." I told him running a hand through my hair thinking about the day we had together. I understood that maybe the baby didn't feel well from his shots but this was all wearing on my body. Maybe this is what my mum meant when she said my life would change and that I needed to make sacrifices.

"Well he needs to be bathed, you never know; maybe a bath is what he wants." Liam shrugged pulling Asher away from his body and causing Asher to stir and begin to cry once he was disturbed from his sleep.

"Liam..." I said defeated and utterly tired from hearing the same crying coming from Asher all day long.

"Harry..." Liam imitated me as I rubbed my face stressed out from everything that was going on now. "Come on once he is in the water he will feel so much better."

"Hey buddy, hey your fine. You're golden!" Liam stood up walking into the bathroom where I followed behind him. "Here go undress him and I'll get the water going." Liam said handing me the baby who wasn't thrilled to be woken up.

"Did uncle Liam wake you up?" I asked the upset baby as I stripped off his clothing until he was completely naked. "I know, he isn't very nice. No he isn't." I rubbed Asher's back as we came into the bathroom with the baby chair full of warm water.

"Do I just set him in there?" I looked at Liam who nodded and began to wet a washcloth with soap.

"I've seen my mum do this with my sisters a lot over the years when they were babies." Liam assured me as I bent down and submerged him slowly into the chair filled with water.

At first he began to flail around not liking the water at all until Liam rubbed his head with soap. Calming down and enjoying his time, his eyes closed and he indulged in Liam rubbing his head with soap.

"Here keep rubbing his head and I'm going to wash the rest of his body." Liam suggested as I took Liam's place in washing the baby. Making sure he was enjoying his time in the tub and eliminating the crying I saw Asher open up his eyes as we poured water with the washcloth over his head. Making sure to block his eyes of the soapy water Asher kicked away in the water exploring the soapy liquid he was surrounded in.

"See look! He likes it!" He said smiling at the baby that seemed more curious as he looked around at the bubbles and wiggled around for a bit, clearly entertained.

"That's good, he's been fussy all day. I don't know what I got myself into. This is all harder than I ever thought." I told Liam letting Asher splash around in the bath while he made himself happy.

"It will get easier. You're just on a learning curve." Liam explained getting up off his knees and standing up to his full height. "Why has he been fussy?"

"I don't know.... I'm thinking its maybe because of those shots and he just doesn't feel good but I don't know. All I do know is that I'm exhausted, I don't even want to go to practice tonight, all I want to do is sleep." I complained feeling my body wear out from being as tired as I was.

"Mate we have to go to practice, it's the first practice of the season!" Liam pressed seeing that I was completely run down by today.

"I know I'm just tired and worn out. I just need some sleep." I stood up to my full height grabbing a towel from the back of the door to wrap Asher in.

"Why don't you let me finish things up here and you go take a quick nap?" Liam suggested taking the towel from my hands.

"Are you sure?" I asked Liam hoping that this was all true.

"Yes! Just leave me some lotion, diapers, and some warmer clothes because it's going to be chilly out during practice." Liam explained as the feeling of relief washed over me.

"Thanks Liam." I said heading into my bedroom to fetch the supplies Liam asked for. Retrieving the first things I saw, I came out of the room to see Asher wrapped up in a towel with a little hood attached to it, little ears sewed on, making me admire the little baby in Liam's arms.

"Hey buddy!" I gushed coming over to Liam and picking him up and into my arms. "Hello!" I raised him into the air before bringing him back down to see a toothless grin appear. Raising him up again I brought him down and kissed his forehead just to hear his little baby laugh.

Realizing that that was the first time I had kissed him. I felt and overwhelming love for him in that moment as I raised him up again and brought him down making laughs erupt from him. Cooing as I gave him back to Liam I thanked him once again before jumping onto my bed. A nap was in order since my body was completely worn out.

+

Making sure Asher was bundled up before we left Liam had dressed him in a soft brown bear outfit that I had to admit looked absolutely adorable on him. A little white hat also going over his head along with the hood of the cozy bear jumpsuit.

Asher had fallen asleep on the car ride there, sleeping peacefully at last. Taking my blue Nike bag that held all my gear and lacrosse stick, I took the car seat into my other hand. Swaying it back and forth as the boys and I walked down to the field.

"Look there's Len!" Liam pointed running over to Eleanor who sat in the bleachers with her eyes cast down to her phone.

Within the next minute he had his arms wrapped around Eleanor, erupting laughs from her as a smile pasted on my face seeing her grin from ear to ear. She wore black skinny jeans that hugged her waist perfectly and a long sleeved white t-shirt with a black jacket over top. Her hair ran down her back with every strand perfectly straightened, she looked amazing.

"You guys better get out there! Go! fight! win!" She cheered as I set the car seat down across from her where I stood.

"Damn Ellie, you should try out for the cheer squad!" Louis teased pointing at her with his lacrosse stick.

"Don't call me that!" Eleanor rolled her eyes and took the baby carrier, looking inside to see Asher fast asleep.

"Thanks again Len!" I said to her patting her shoulder before the coach blew his whistle to signal us over.

Getting straight into drills my mind drifted to Eleanor as she sat and watched all the boys on the field do their given drills. It reminded me of high school when she would sit like she was now on the bleachers and wait for Louis, Liam, and I to finish up our practices. With her chin in the palm of her hand and her leg crossed I waved to her as I made eye contact with her through my helmet.

"So Styles, is the rumor true?" Tyler one of my teammates came up from behind me and asked as we changed drills.

"What rumor?" I questioned back walking towards the other players to hear over what our next drill was.

"You got a chick pregnant! Man it's been all over campus! Someone said they saw you at Target a few nights ago buying baby shit." Tyler explained turning his head to face me.

"Yeah, it's true." Was all I said not really wanting to talk about it. I already had waning focus and I didn't want to give up all the other focus I had left in me.

"s**t man!" Tyler spoke shaking his head as we began our next drill.

Rolling my eyes I began to get back to what I needed to be focusing on. I knew this was probably one of the worst practices I could have ever done. My passes were weak and I found my legs growing tired quicker. Tossing the ball across the field to Liam I saw him block my shot I had tried to make it into his goal.

"Damn it!" I cursed under my breath upset over my performance.

"What's up Styles?" One of my teammates questioned when I missed the shot. Running backwards to get back into position.

There was too much running through my mind with the baby, school work, and lacrosse. There was too much to think about and it was taking me away from where I should be focusing. When I was on the field I always gave it my all but this was different, I had so much thrown at me. Shaking my head and washing away any other thoughts I got into position as we did our face off.

Doing a little bit better with my technique I scored on Liam the goalie. Giving myself an internal high and praising myself once that marked the end of our practice. Walking with Liam and Louis with our gear we found our way back to Eleanor.

"How was he?" I asked Eleanor who held the car seat in her hands facing away from me.

"He slept the entire time. You guys did great out there! Are you excited for the season to start up?" Eleanor asked us while we walked to our cars.

"Yeah I think it will be a good season, I can feel it." Liam responded wiping some sweat from his forehead.

"Yeah if Harry can get his s**t together! He was missing passes and shots left and right." Louis teased causing me to get a little irritated. I didn't like the fact my team was calling me out since I was the captain of the team. I already knew I wasn't great out there and didn't need Louis and everyone else's commentary.

"Shut up mate!" I told him shaking my head as we all came to our car, Eleanor placing the baby carrier on the ground next to me.

"Well I think you did great." She told me causing me to smile slightly at her comment.

"You should come over more often, I miss you hanging around." I told her as she picked her car keys out of her bag that was slung over her shoulder.

"I miss hanging around, I'll text you." Eleanor told me waving to us as we watched her walk down the parking lot to her own car.

Picking up the car seat I buckled it into the backseat and threw my bag and stick into the back along with Liam and Louis. Louis calling shot gun as I started the car to get back home.

note// Double update today? If I get enough comments then I will do it;)