Hello, how is everyone??

School starts for me tomorrow again.. Not yay. So my updates are going to be a little slower. Thanks anyway though for commenting and reading so much, it means a lot ! I hope you like the chapter, we're getting to know a bit more about Niall's past!

"What?" Harry whispered out, utterly shocked while he stood in the doorframe, gym bag in his hand. His mind worked slow, processing the things around him after a hard workout where he just punched and didn't think.

He blinked and squinted his eyes against the darkness, catching a small bundle sitting in the corner. Louis. "Fuck," Harry whispered out, dropping the bag down and hurrying over to Louis with a pained face.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think about it I-" Harry frowned as Louis whimpered and withdrew from his closeness, "b-but you promised.." Louis whispered ever so quietly, blinking against the tears as he brought his blotchy red face up to the curly lad.

"I know, shit, I know.." Harry closed his eyes and inhaled deeply before he sat down and bit down on his lip. He thought Louis was in his little space. Yet, he wasn't. Maybe on the verge.. But he didn't slip. Harry looked up to Louis carefully and moved a little.

"I'm having a kind of crisis.." Harry admitted quietly, watching Louis blink innocently and sniffle. "C-crisis?" He asked slowly and scooted a little closer to the adult.

"Yeah.. Even though you're not my son, I guess it's just hard to, you know, let you go. I enjoyed the time we spent here.. Alone", Harry said slowly and looked down. He felt pathetic.

Harry's face contorted in pain at the following silence but he didn't expect Louis to tilt his chin up slowly, "I liked it, too." He whispered quietly and scooted even closer to Harry, sniffling lightly.

"I like you l-lots Harry and I'm glad that you brought me into your life, I wouldn't want t-to miss it." Louis said quietly, nuzzling into the older man's neck as Harry froze.

"I'm sorry for breaking my promise. I swear it won't happen again.. I was so stupid, Lou. I should've at least left you a note", Harry bit down on his lip before he wrapped an arm around the trembling boy, pulling him further against him.

"Somethings just not right with me, I suppose," Louis shrugged sadly, "I have panic attacks very often.. S-sometimes everything is just coming b-back." Louis closed his eyes painfully causing Harry's belly to drop with guilt.

"You're not wrong, Louis. Only right.. It's understandable.." Harry murmured in Louis' hair, his eyes fluttering as he inhaled the sweetness of him, "it won't happen again. And if it does then.. Call me. You're allowed to kick my butt when I come home then, deal?" He chuckled and ruffled Louis' hair gently who laughed. Louis was just glad that Harry was back.

"Deal.." He nodded softly and swallowed.

"Would you think it would be weird if I.." Louis blushed before he shook his head slowly, "oh never mind." Harry raised an eyebrow, "would be weird if..?"

"I just don't want to sleep alone.. I have terrible nightmares sometimes," Louis' hand fist in Harry's shirt, "would you think it's weird if I wanna sleep in your bed?"

Harry exhaled slowly and closed his eyes for a second, "you have already, Lou." He muttered and ran his fingers through Louis' hair. "It's not weird, no. A lot of people need comfort and you shouldn't be ashamed of that.. Ever. Do you understand?" Now it was Harry's turn to tip Louis' chin up causing him to look up at Harry.

"Yes.. Thanks Harry. For being here.. Well now," Louis quirked a smile, "it means a lot that someone is willingly keeping me." He leaned his head against Harry's chest and closed his eyes slowly. Exhaustion fell down on him heavily.

"I'm glad that I picked the weird one.." Harry teased gently and stroked over Louis' hair once more, staying like this for a little while longer until he picked a sleeping Louis up. He had to talk with the boy more often.

He carried Louis to his bed, laying him down on the soft covers and tucked him in. He made sure that a lot of layers were between their bodies so they wouldn't touch in any appropriate way. Louis wasn't his. Never has been. He was going to let things flow naturally. If Louis wanted to be with Vic, then that how it was going to be.

He would let him. Even if it made him insane.

~

As Louis woke up, Harry was gone. But he left a note. Louis smiled and crawled over the bed to the nightstand, yawning before he read the beautifully written letters. He liked Harry's handwriting.

"Good morning, Lou.

See I'm already keeping promises ;) Anyways. I had to head off to work, it's going to be late today. Niall will be spending you company, though..

He's excited to get to know you for real.. Niall is a nice guy.

Don't do drugs! (I assumed that this is what a responsible adult would say to his kid)

Have a great day x

Harry"

Louis raised a soft eyebrow and chuckled lightly. He was glad that Harry wasn't upset with him anymore. He didn't like anyone being upset with him but especially Harry.

Louis looked up as a knocking sound turned up and murmured a sleepy "yes," before Niall peeked in, smiling.

"Morning, fella. You wanna have breakfast? It's still enough time before you have to head off to school." The Irish man smiled as Louis got up and stretched out, "sure, I'll be down in a bit.. Just need to change." Louis blushed softly and trotted off to the bathroom, taking a long nice shower.

As he eventually came down, the desk in the kitchen was nicely set up with Niall already sitting down. "Morning again.." Louis said shyly and sat down, wrapping his hand around the hot liquid in front of him that soon had his eyes sparkling, "you made hot cocoa?"

Niall just grinned stupidly and nodded, "yep. I assumed everybody likes hot cocoa so.. Cheers!", he raised his own tea mug and clinked it to Louis' softly.

Niall left a smile on Louis' lips and hummed quietly before he bit in his croissant, taking a huge bite. Louis laughed at that and went on to grab his own one.

"So, buddy. What's up today?"

Louis chewed on his lip slowly, "uh, probably getting that history test back.. The teacher is very mean. He made us write a test in the very first class. Cruel isn't it?" Louis shook his head, looking a little upset before he took a sip of his cocoa again and relaxed visibly.

"Well, good thing I didn't go to a high school then huh?" Niall winked causing Louis to gasp, "why not?"

Niall cleared his throat and glanced in his mug for a second before he brought his eyes up to Louis, "well.. You're not the only one with a terrible past I guess," Niall smiled weakly and bit in his croissant again.

"What happened?" Louis asked quietly, looking at the blonde lad with curious but also worried eyes, "y-you don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Niall quickly shook his head and smiled, "I haven't had a nice childhood. I had to start working at a very young age. You know, my parents gave me away when I was around seven and the people whom I grew up with weren't.. Especially nice."

Niall pulled his sleeves down over his arms, hiding the many reminders they had left on his skin. But he learned how to handle it. He just didn't want Louis to see.

"I didn't go to school, I worked." Niall looked up at Louis carefully and swallowed, "I had evening classes when I was older .. After Harry took me in. I was on the streets for some time. If he wouldn't have been, I don't know if I'd be here anymore." He said quietly and blinked heavily against his tears.

Louis frowned and stood up, walking silently over to the Irish lad to wrap his arms around him, "d-don't cry, Ni." Louis whispered out of shock, burying his face lightly in the blonde strands.

"It's going to be okay, you have Harry and me now, too!" Niall laughed gently and wiped at his cheeks, "oh you're a little sunshine, aren't ya?" Niall grinned and hugged Louis for a minute, just liking the comfort Louis spent him.

"I haven't had anyone, too before Harry.." Louis admitted quietly, cheek resting against Niall's shoulder as they hugged.

"Well, now we have each other, too, don't we?" Niall rubbed Louis' back before they withdrew. Louis nodded eagerly and sat down again, continuing to eat his breakfast.

"Mean men won't bother you again.. Or I'm kicking them in their butts", Louis raised a serious eyebrow causing Niall to laugh. "Oh I'm going to help you," he said softly and smiled.

~

Louis was quite happy with the result he got on his history test. An A. The teacher made him stay after class, praising him for his good work before he could see his friends again.

"My, my, You're full of surprises, Louis. Congratulations," Jess winked at the blushing boy as they sat down in the cafeteria, having their lunch. Louis still had two classes left before he could go home. And Harry hasn't written a message, yet. He normally did around lunchtime. But maybe he was just busy today..

Louis was lost in thoughts for a while, a little worried about Harry before Liam and Zayn sat down, greeting them all.

"Hey, mate, did you think of that football offer? We still have a free place.." Liam smiled gently. They both looked.. A little out of breath. What have they been up to?

"Oh! Sure, I'm free after school.. I don't have anything to do, I guess so. I can come over?" Louis shrugged causing Liam to smile widely, "of course! I'll meet you at the stairs okay?"

Louis nodded slowly and blushed. He was a good runner.. So maybe he was good at football, too.

"I'll be there," Louis nodded and smiled at Zayn softly who looked jealous for just a tiny second until he relaxed.

"I'll be cheering on you two from the bench then," Zayn said softly and bit down on his lip, leaning over to whisper something in Liam's ear that Louis couldn't quite make out. But Liam's cheek blushed madly.

"Hi, guys!" Vic chirped and sat down next to Jess, placing her tray of food on the table. She smiled softly at Louis who smiled back. He wanted time to think. She would give that to him.

"Have you heard of the big party, Vivian is going to throw next week?"

A mutual groan went through the small group.

"Yes, but we're not invited," Liam raised an eyebrow and Zayn tutted causing them to look indeed very.. Gay. Not that Louis minded.

"Well, guess who is." Vic smirked and wiggled her eyebrows, "and I'm taking you all with me as my friends!" Jess squealed softly and Louis just didn't understand. A party? Why was everyone so excited about it?

"Is that okay with you, Louis?" Jess smiled softly at him and hummed, obviously sensing the confused state Louis was in as they locked eyes, "hey don't worry. I won't be drinking so you have a buddy to talk there yeah? I won't leave you there all on your own", Jess winked softly and Louis exhaled thankfully.

"Thanks.. It's going to be fun, I guess?" Louis chewed on his lip.

"Vivian's parties are the best so, yes indeed."

"Yeah because they've got tons of weed and alcohol.." Jess muttered causing Louis to stiffen slightly. Nothing's wrong with experimenting right? He was just going to ask Harry for permission..

He wondered what he was up to.

~

Harry who was apparently on the other side of the city, sat in his office, very busy. Every minute new files came in that had to be checked, new mails came in that had to be answered and so did the calls. His assistant was already overwhelmed.

So as the phone rang again, Harry grunted before he pulled himself together and picked up.

"Styles Enterprises, you're talking to the CEO."

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds and Harry almost hung up again, thinking that this was some funny ass prank. But as he heard the soft voice talking gently on the other side, his eyes widened softly.

"H-Harry?" She said quietly causing Harry to swallow.

"Who's there?" He said confidently, just needing to hear it. He needed reassurance that the person on the other end was really the one who he thought to be.

"It's Amelia.."

Don't hate me because of the ending, please! Next update will be on Friday. Love you guys. X

DRAMA BABY DRAMA!