The days went quickly leading up to the parents arrival. Liam and Louis were panicking.

It was Tuesday and their parents had already confirmed that they'd be home by the time the boys came home from school. What they didn't know was that Harry and Niall were coming with them too.

Liam had convinced himself to finally come out to his parents. He knew that they would love him; they loved Louis, just with a tough love.

On the ride home, the car was silent. Liam was fidgeting in his driver seat, Niall playing with his fingers until he had to shift to the next gear then playing with them again, trying to calm Liam down.

Louis and Harry were following Liam. Harry decided to drive his truck, just in case something went wrong. He wanted to be able to get out of there with Niall without causing a hassle with Louis or Liam's car.

The large white range rover was in the driveway, where Louis usually parked. He pulled to the side of Liam's corvette and got out slowly. He wasn't ready for this moment.

Harry grabbed his hand as they made their way to the front door.

Louis nor Liam had ever felt so uncomfortable in their own house.

"Mom? Dad?" Liam hollered, hearing nothing but silence as he opened the front door.

Suddenly, his mom came from the kitchen, an apron around her waist and oven mitts on her hands. Liam had never seen her lift a finger in the kitchen.

"Oh boys! I'm so happy to see you!" Johanna immediately went in for a hug, separating the boys from their boyfriends and bringing them close to her chest. "How was school?" she asked but the boys both knew she didn't actually care. They didn't want to pretend that this was something more than it actually was. They'd be gone in a couple days regardless; no reason to find an attachment now.

"Good," Louis started, "Mum, I'd like to re-introduce you to Harry. He's my boyfriend now."

"Hi, I'm Harry Styles, ma'am," Harry politely stuck his hand out to shake. She took off her oven mitt from her left hand and smiled.

"Oh, please, call me Jay, Harry. It's very nice to meet you. I presume you make Louis happy, yes?"

"I try my hardest." Harry, of course, used his charm, trying to impress Jay. He didn't want to make her think the wrong thing just because of his tattoos or hair or any other pre-conceived notion he knew she might try to create.

"Good good," she turned to Liam, "who's this?" She points at Niall with a long red nail.

"Mummy, this is Niall. He's-"

"Your boyfriend?"

Their father was walking down the stairs, expensive dress shoes pounding against the wooden stairs. He raised his eyebrows in question when Liam didn't respond for a second.

"Yes, dad. This is Niall. My boyfriend."

Niall gave a shaky smile, extending his hand to Johanna. She accepted with a knowing smile. Geoff kept his hand down.

"Liam James, may I speak with you in my office?" his dad questions. Liam looks down, tears welling in his eyes and nodding.

"Dad, may I join?"

Louis' question was quick and he had already begun to follow the two men up the stairs. His father could've disagreed.

Louis wouldn't care.

"Liam, why haven't you mentioned liking males before?" Geoff asked harshly.

"I didn't know how to explain..you and mum have put so much pressure on me; I didn't want to disappoint anyone. I'm sorry," Liam's eyes stay down.

His father sighs. "How happy does Niall make you, bub?"

Liam looks up, straight into Geoff's eyes. "The happiest. I've wanted this for so long. He's so sweet and kind and he likes to eat food and watch football and he's my best friend. He gives me everything I ask and there's nothing more that I could do for him, except offer the same in return."

His dad nods slowly and thinks for a minute.

"Louis."

Louis looks up, already terrified. His father has always scared him. He wasn't very supportive and he never liked what Louis did.

"Yes, sir?"

His fathers eyes are sharp and harsh. "Do you think it's fair that you do nothing for us, but we give you everything?"

Louis' eyes go wide. "I-I don't think I understand."

"Liam, here, at least likes sports and math. He's trying to live up to the family name so it's okay that he likes boys because he is trying for at least one good thing. You, however, well, son, to be frank, you bring us nothing. We pay for you, but you only care about irrelevant drama class and english. And you like boys? Son, that won't do. It's one or the other." His eyes go into slits. "That's not very fair to Liam. You know he can't pull all of your weight. So do you think it's fair that Liam has one good thing going for him, that being his grades, but you have absolutely nothing? Is it fair that you are nothing?"

Louis' eyes swell with tears. Liam is in shock, unable to say anything. He had never in his life heard something so mean come from his dad.

"I-I-I-"

"Now you don't speak?" Geoff tsks. "What a shame. Such a disappointment." He stands, "You're dismissed. Louis, please get that thing you have downstairs, out of my house. I refuse to let you have a boyfriend."

Louis' steps were slow. He was numb. He didn't know whether to feel nostalgia or hurt from his fathers actions.

He knew it would come, but Louis didn't expect his father to speak so....rude. He hadn't ever ridiculed Louis in that way before— so blatantly comparing him to Liam.

He couldn't believe Liam hadn't even tried to stand up for him. He felt betrayed.

But he also felt nothing and that was scary for Louis. He'd never been numb before, never felt true brokenness.

Not until now.

He finally made it down to the bottom of the stairs. He could hear Harry, Niall, and his mums laughter from the kitchen.

He hated to ruin the moment but he hated his dad even more.

"Harry, you must be going now."

The kitchen was silent, laughter ceased. Jay looked confused, almost yearning to reach out to Louis and ask what was wrong. Harry was hurt; Niall was too.

"Oh Lou, why?" his mother's voice was soft and he wanted to scream because he couldn't believe someone like her could marry a man like

"Dad doesn't want him here. You must go." His voice was flat, no emotion.

Harry looked down, tears welling in his eyes and Louis never would have thought he'd see Harry cry. Niall was near to tears too, assuming that meant the same for him. They both began to leave the kitchen but Liam immediately stopped Niall.

"Not you, sweetheart. You can stay."

This, of course, sent Harry into hysterics. His sobs were loud and he rushed to put on his shoes, running from the large house.

No one dared to speak a word and in the mean time, Geoff finally made his way downstairs.

"Well, let's eat!"

Pretending nothing had happened, Louis sat at the table, letting his mother pass the food out and listened to his dad act as though he hadn't just ruined his whole life.

After everyone moved onto dessert, Jay finally gained the courage to ask.

"Geoff, why did Harry have to leave?"

Geoff looks up at his wife, clearly shocked she had even asked. "Because. It was unfair that Louis got to be gay and stupid while Liam at least is smart. He can be a faggot because he'll be a doctor so he'll make up for it. Louis however," he chuckles and Louis knows his father is an actual asshole, "well, you can't fix stupid, can you? But I can fix faggot."

Louis' tears dripped onto his pie and Liam was fuming. Niall felt awkward and Johanna was shocked.

"You don't talk about him like that, dad." Liam scolded harshly, glaring at his father. Geoff, shocked his own son would disrespect him, rolled his eyes and ignored Liam.

"I'm serious. He has tried his hardest to please you while also being happy and you don't care. You never are here. Louis gets good enough grades and Harry makes him happy but of course just because you're back for three days you rip it all away. That what's not fair."

Johanna was hesitant to agree but she nodded along with Liam, making sure Geoff noticed. "You were quite harsh, love. Harry is a very nice lad, if you speak to him. And Louis is my son, I refuse to let you treat him that way. So fix your attitude about Lou, or go upstairs. I need to call Harry." Jay stood, leaving without another word.

Louis kept his head down. "I'm sorry for ruining your dinner, bubba. I'm sorry for messing this up Niall. I'll be in my room." His voice was quiet, and Liam almost didn't hear the last part.

Liam sighed, resting his hand on Niall's thigh for some kind of comfort. "Those are my parents for you. That's why Louis is little."

"Li, do you think you should go speak to Louis? I can help your mum in the kitchen."

Liam sighed again but nodded.

"Lou?" Liam knocked on his door gently and opened it.

Louis sat on his bed, legs crossed, looking out of the window behind his bed.

"Louis? Bub?"

Louis hummed as a response.

"Hey, I know you're upset and hurt but he didn't mean it, Lou. I know you're not trying to be unfair and I don't care that we like different things, Louis. Mum is calling Harry, maybe he'll come back," Liam tried to reassure.

It was silent for a minute before Louis spoke, his voice soft but emotionless. "I've never seen him cry. He will leave me, you know?"

Liam shook his head, wrapping his arms around Louis's shoulders, holding him close. "He'll come back, he always comes back to his baby boy. Bubby, please don't shut us out. Mum was so happy to see you happy."

Louis and Liam sat on the bed, Liam holding him until Harry got back. They waited and waited.

Niall finally came upstairs. "Hey, daddy?" he muttered with a soft smile. Liam had finally got him little.

"Yes, snowflake?"

"I wanna cuddle Lou, too."

"Okay, Ni. Come on."

Niall climbed in next to Louis, squishing the small curvy boy between the two. Louis still hadn't spoken a word, only whimpering on occasion.

The boys laid together until Liam and Niall had fallen asleep curled around Louis. Louis was waiting for Harry, knowing he'd come back soon and would like if Louis was awake to greet him as he always did.

Louis waited until the sun was rising the next morning.

Harry never came back.