(Pictured above is a normal brain, compared to one in the final stages of Alzheimer's disease.)

January 15th 2018

Louis had a very particular routine, and Harry made sure they followed it. The doctor said, having a routine would help Louis immensely if he somewhat knew what to expect. So, of course, Harry kept his routine as stable as he possibly could. Only that afternoon, his routine was going to be thrown off a bit, as they were meeting up with Niall, and Harry was hoping Louis handled it well.

At exactly nine a.m., Harry stroked Louis' cheek, and lightly shook his shoulder, as he did every morning. "Loubear, time to wake up." He said gently, allowing Louis time to properly wake up. His sweet husband's eyes finally peeled open, and Harry smiled at him. "Hi babe." He greeted.

Louis offered a small wave in response, before yawning and trying to go back to sleep.

"No, no boo. It's time to get up." Harry told him, helping him to sit up. "We're going out today."

Louis just sat there, not comprehending much of what Harry had said, as he looked around trying to understand his surroundings, something he did often now. Harry kissed his cheek sweetly, "Let's get out of bed." He said slowly. He'd been told it was important to tell Louis what they were going to be doing, even if it didn't seem like he understood. It would confuse him more if he wasn't told what was happening.

Once on their feet, Harry grabbed his hand, intertwining their fingers. Louis loved to hold hands.

Harry guided Louis as he slowly shuffled along, leading him to the bathroom. Harry couldn't bear to admit it, but he knew Louis was gradually forgetting how to walk. "Time to use the toilet Lou." He explained to his once boisterous, now quiet lover.

Louis looked up at him, then at the toilet, seeming to understand. His slow hands fumbled with his elastic waisted pajama pants, trying to get them off. Harry gently took Louis' hands and helped him to get the pants down, he wanted to give him as much independence as he could, but that was getting harder to do each day. He then helped Louis make sure he was aimed and positioned correctly, and then turned around giving him a bit of privacy, as the Louis who he once knew, who was now trapped behind an awful disease, would've wanted dignity.

When Louis finished up, Harry helped him to fully undress, before filling the tub to bathe him. Recently, he'd switched from showers to baths, the noise and force of the shower scared Louis, and he constantly tried to escape. Bathing had become something Harry had to do for him, Louis not really being able to do it well enough for himself anymore, even with help.

After Louis' bath Harry helped him to brush his teeth, shave, and comb his hair. Surprisingly, Louis loved the hair dryer. Having his hair blow dried relaxed him, which, Harry found strange, as most loud things he hated.

"We're going out today." Harry repeated as he helped Louis into a pair of soft sweatpants and a simple tee-shirt. Sweatpants were all Louis ever wanted to wear anymore. Jeans were uncomfortable, as well as a challenge to get on and off, and Louis would have a fit any time Harry tried to get him to wear them. Sassiness was definitely still part of his personality. Harry didn't think that would ever change.

"So handsome." Harry said once Louis was dressed, kissing his forehead. "Time to feed bobo."

"......bo....bo." Louis said quietly, with a small smile. He knew what that meant.

"Yeah, that's right." Harry praised him, taking his hand and leading him to the kitchen where Bobo was sat next to an empty food and water dish. Bobo, was a stuffed animal toy, a soft brown puppy.

About a year back, Louis' doctor had told Harry to give Louis tasks, things that would make him feel useful, as often those with Alzheimer's start to feel like they aren't doing enough, or that they are a burden to their caregiver. He suggested maybe getting a small, easy maintenance pet for Louis to take care of. Such as a fish or a hermit crab. Having decided that was a great idea, that very day, Harry had gone out and gotten a goldfish for Louis. They had named her Goldie, and Louis would just sit and watch her swim for hours. He always got excited when it was time to feed her, he loved feeling like he was doing something important. He also helped when Harry would clean out the bowl. Goldie was the perfect pet, that is until Louis started trying to drink the water from her fish bowl. No matter how hard Harry tried to explain to the confused boy that he couldn't do that, he didn't understand.

After only six months with Goldie, they had to give her up. Harry was worried that Louis would be sad about losing her, as it would change his daily routine, but he wasn't. He simply forgot that Goldie ever existed.

Goldie was soon replaced with Bobo. Louis couldn't take care of a real dog, but at this stage, the doctor told Harry that honestly, Louis wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Louis had a huge smile as Harry helped him to pour some dog food into Bobo's food dish, and water into the adjoined bowl. He then sweetly stroked Bobo's soft 'fur' and kissed the toy's head, before leaving it to 'eat', Harry guiding him to the kitchen counter, and preparing his usual breakfast of cheerios, a banana, and orange juice to drink. While Louis was busy eating his banana, Harry dumped Bobo's food back into the bag, and the water into the sink, so Louis wouldn't try to eat or drink them. He then settled himself next to Louis, drinking a protein shake for his own breakfast.

When Louis finished his banana, Harry helped him to wipe his sticky face, and kept his hands steady as he drank some juice. One of the hard parts of Alzheimer's was it robbed him of his depth perception, making it hard to aim his hands or to recognize the proximity of an item.

"Time for your cheerios." Harry said sweetly. Louis loved cheerios, the honey nut kind being his favorite. Harry placed his larger hand atop Louis' small one, helping him to hold the spoon, his fine motor skills were long gone, but Harry didn't want him to feel as though he couldn't feed himself. Carefully, he guided the spoon into the bowl, scooping up some cereal and bringing it to Louis' mouth. Louis opened up eagerly, and took the bite, chewing, swallowing, and opening up for the next one. And so it went, until the very last bit of cereal was gone. Harry used a warm, wet washcloth to clean the milk from Louis' chin, knowing if Louis truly understood what was going on, he'd feel humiliated. He shook his head, trying not to think about the 'ifs'. The word 'if' only led to wishful thinking.

The rest of the morning went as usual, with Louis caring for bobo, singing together, and Harry telling him stories of when they were younger, unsure if he understood.

***

"Time to go in the car." Harry told Louis later that afternoon, as he helped Louis into some shoes.

Louis looked up, understanding the word car.

".....leave..?" He asked, trying to grasp the idea.

"Yeah, we're leaving. We're going to lunch with Niall today." Harry explained, keeping Louis' hand in his.

Louis didn't respond, just looking around as Harry guided him to their car.

The whole drive to the restaurant, Louis was mumbling incoherent gibberish, and every now and then, Harry would reply with a "yeah" or a nod, making Louis feel as though what he was saying was important. And to Harry, it was. He just couldn't understand it.

They went to Ihop for lunch, as it was a place Louis always loved. Louis had told the waitress what he wanted on his own, pancakes, and it made Harry so proud. Louis wasn't able to do that often.

When the food arrived, Harry poured some syrup in a cup for Louis to dip his pancakes in so he could eat it with his hands, instead of a fork, which would require help.

Niall and Harry ate as they talked about their families, Niall's new boyfriend Shawn, and just about everything else, excluding Louis' condition. That wasn't something they talked about with Louis around, as it tended to upset him.

By the time they finished eating, Louis' face was covered in syrup and pancake crumbs, he belched loudly as the waitress approached them with a disgusted look. She left the payment information on the table before turning to leave, as Louis burped again. She was appalled at his manners, having no idea what he was truly going through. She spun around on her heel to face him again, "Sir, that is not appropriate in a public restaurant!" She scolded, before walking away, shaking her head.

Niall shot her a glare as Harry rubbed Louis' back. "A bit full, huh boo?" He cooed, wiping his face with a napkin, before softly kissing his lips. Louis merely stared at him, his eyes empty, something Harry could never get used to. "I miss you." he whispered, and Louis smiled in response, loving Harry's voice.

"Some waitress huh?" Niall scoffed, making a face to lighten the mood, making Harry chuckle a bit.

"Yeah, some waitress." Harry rolled his eyes, as he put his payment in the little black folder that had been left on the table, as they stood up.

"Thanks for meeting up with me. It was nice." Niall said hugging each of his friends.

"Of course." Harry smiled, as he helped Louis out of the booth "It was fun."

***

Louis was fast asleep by the time they arrived home, and Harry smiled at him sadly. The outing had worn him out mentally and physically, which was a sign he was getting worse. Not that Harry didn't already know that. He did. He knew Louis was drifting away from him. He knew one day he'd be gone. He knew that.

He just didn't accept it.

Hope you've enjoyed chapter three. I personally feel like this chapter wasn't written as smoothly as I would've hoped but oh well. I always love feedback and comments, and if you like the story please vote! Again, I've done my research and everything I've written is possible with and/or part of Alzheimer's. All the love (:

-Sunnie