C H A P T E R    T W E N T Y F O U R

Fights and Family

(25 days til' Christmas)

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                  AT THE SUDDEN sound of a ringtone that didn't belong to himself, Louis startled from the duffle bag he was currently shoving his favorite jeans into. Although it wasn't his, he recognized it all the same and leaned across his bed for Harry's phone.

                  A familiar name glared at him from the top of the screen, but it wasn't any of the lads. Still, Harry has told him a bit about the guy. Louis smiled, deciding right then that he'd become Ed's new best mate right under Harry's nose. He hit the green button.

                  But as soon as he pressed the phone against his ear, a voice was speaking too quickly to interrupt.

                  "Harry! Mate. Okay, so I can't talk long as I'm about to be late for work, but I wanted to tell you I think I've found that girl's dad. Olivia? Olivia. Olivia's dad," Ed rushed out in one breath. After clearing his throat, he went on. "Yeah, so, you're going to have to tell me what to do next. Am I meant to talk to him? Do you want a picture? Are you going to come talk to him yourself?"

                  Louis' brow wrinkled at the idea of Harry possibly having plans to travel back home and not telling Louis about any of them. That isn't necessarily what Ed is saying, but... What is he saying? This conversation is too bizarre for Louis to make sense of.

                  "Oh, speaking of that," Ed continued, taking a deep breath as if it's the first one he's been allowed to take since Louis picked up the phone. Was the lad running or something? "You really have to come speak with your mum, mate. Harry. She isn't angry, but she's been upset and persistently tries to deal with those old hags since you won't do it, and I just... I just think you should visit more often for her sake, man."

                  Head heavy with all kinds of new thoughts, Louis lowered himself onto the end of the bed beside his duffle bag, pressing his fingertips against his lips to keep from making any noises that would alert Ed to who was actually on this end of the line. He didn't seem to realize Harry hasn't spoken a single word yet, and it feels like the conversation went too far for Louis to chime in now.

                  Luckily, it seemed Ed was just about finished. "Ah, bloody - " he sighed. "Look, H, you'll have to call me back asap or text or something, but I've got to run. Just about there. Bye, mate."

                  Ed's timing was superbly impressive as the water from Harry's shower cut off at the same time Louis lowered the phone into his lap. He waited for a few minutes before Harry came waltzing into the bedroom in just his black skinny jeans. The skin of his chest, shoulders, and arms shone from an after-shower glow, and Louis felt all of his concerns melt away for the moment.

                  Harry was towel drying his hair, the shirt he intended to wear draped over one shoulder. Louis tried not to admire all of the edges and curves of the poet's naked torso for too long and tossed him his phone. "You packed up?"

                  After just barely catching his phone, Harry slid it into his pocket and began getting all up close and personal in Louis' space, and, well. This is something he still hasn't gotten used to, but honestly, he's sort of glad about it. He loved the rush flooding through every inch of his body whenever Harry did things like this, loved the heat beneath the skin of his cheeks and the absolute puddle he imagines himself becoming after just a few moments of this proximity.

                  Feeling inadequately short, Louis had to stand in order to avoid being face to chest with him, but he still didn't properly reach eye-level. The little shit.

                  "Does it look like I'm packed up?" Harry asked, his voice something akin to a purr as he proceeded to towel-dry his hair. He smelled for all the world like Louis' shampoo and body wash, and damn it Louis never thought that'd be something that turned him on but it did.

                  "You should probably get on that, then. Lot and Tommy are expecting us."

                  "In the lobby of this building," Harry countered, a brow raised.

                  "Because we're meant to meet my mum at a specific time. Dinner reservations and all, you know."

                  "Alright," Harry acknowledged, a warm smile slipping onto his face before he ducked down to peck Louis on the lips. "I'll get packing."

                  Louis' entire world felt like it tilted on its very unstable axis, and it wasn't until they both had all their things and were shoving them into the back of Lottie's vehicle that it returned to normal. And good that, too, because Louis was going to need a clear head if he was going to drive all the way back to Donny.

                  Lottie and Tommy climbed into the backseat, and Harry slid into the passenger seat already programming their destination into the Maps app on his phone. Louis had insisted he knew how to get there, but Harry looked too excited about getting to use his app that Louis had to suddenly remember that there had been some road construction since the last time he went home and might need Harry's assistance after all. That was a blatant lie, but... Who's going to fact check him when Harry's face lit up like a godawful Christmas tree?

                  For a while, nobody had much to say. Louis played around with the radio until Lottie hooked up her phone to control the music herself, and it's cringe-worthy at best as far as Louis is concerned. But whatever. He adjusted the balance so that the music only sounded in the back speakers, and then he and Harry spent a long while discussing the recorded version of Cheekbones and the current piece they'd all been working on.

                  But after about an hour and a half, they fell silent again apart from Harry giving the occasional direction. Louis found himself thinking about his phone call with Ed and decided now was as good a time as ever to bring it up.

                  "We should go visit your family one weekend," he said, peeking over.

                  Harry almost imperceptibly stiffened before lifting his eyes from his phone and returning Louis' gaze. "I don't know. We'd need more than a weekend, first of all. Due to the travel time, and taking into account the unreliability of the train. And... I don't know, I guess I feel like now's not a good time. You know? With your semester wrapping up and my Christmas party at the hotel. Ella won't be able to finish getting everything sorted alone, I don't think."

                  Louis pretended to think this over, but really he was trying to figure out why Harry didn't seem to want Louis to go home with him. Hell, Harry got to meet Louis' mum the very day they (Louis) decided they were actually boyfriends. Why wouldn't Harry want Louis to meet his family? He tried not to feel offended, but honestly, what the fuck?

                  It got worse when Harry started changing the subject.

                  "Have you seen that festival going on downtown next week? I've forgotten what it was for, but I think we should - "

                  "Who's Olivia?" Louis interrupted. They were going to stay on topic whether Harry liked it or not.

                  A little surprised, Harry's lips froze partly open, and although he was a little annoyed, Louis admired the droopiness of that bottom lip. Like it was about to drip off Harry's face.

                  Louis continued. "Ed called while you were in shower. Said something about finding her dad?"

                  "Yeah?" Harry asked, suddenly excited. His entire face lit up, and Louis had to remind himself that he didn't set out to turn Harry into the human equivalent of a Christmas tree again and that he had a purpose here and that smiling like he's just won the lottery won't get him anywhere.

                  "Yeah. So who is she?"

                  "I work with her. In order to convince her to come to the staff party, I had to promise that this would be the best Christmas she's had since childhood, when..." he trailed off. His mouth became a straight line on his face.

                  Louis wanted to stare at it to figure out why his mood almost immediately darkened, changed as quickly as it had just moments ago. But he had to try to watch the road. "When?" he prompted.

                  Harry cleared his throat. "Her father left. Said he had some family up north that needed his help and that he'd be back, and...I mean, obviously he's not back."

                  Ah.

                  "Anyway, something she told me that day struck me as familiar, and I asked Ed to look around back home. Apparently I was right."

                  Louis was frowning to himself despite knowing Harry was really happy about this. And by all means, it's something normal people would be happy about if they don't understand what it's like. How nice, how very Christmas-y of Harry to find this girl's dad for her just in time for the holidays. What then? He'll reunite them? Force them into each other's company when that might not be what they want - what this Olivia wants?

                  God, Louis hoped that Harry wouldn't get the same idea about his own father. That would be... It would truly be the icing on the cake. Probably the very last straw. Christmas - his birthday - would never be able to redeem itself. Not that Louis believed it could now, but if Harry did this, then... There'd be absolutely no chance in hell.

                  "What are you thinking?" Harry asked, breaking Louis' thoughts apart like a snowball shattering against a brick wall.

                  "Be careful where you stick your nose, H," Louis sighed. "Olivia might not want to see her dad again. It'd be...unwise to force her into that without knowing for sure."

                  "I mean, I do know for - you know what? You're right." And just like that, Harry had taken himself right out of this conversation to go back to that stupid-ass distraction he tried bringing up earlier. "So, back to what I was saying about that festival. I heard that - "

                  "Harry, I'm being serious. Don't just go around meddling in that girl's personal life when you're not welcome. If he left when she was young, that's a huge, gaping wound to just try and stitch up in one night. That's not how things work in the real world."

                  It was Harry's turn to sigh. "Louis, look. I've talked to her about it, and she's in a really good place about him leaving. She... She feels that he loves her even now, loved her then, and left for a good reason. I think she believes she'll see him again someday anyway, so I think it'd be fine to make that day come a little sooner than she expected."

                  It might be unreasonable, but Louis couldn't help this rage igniting itself beneath the skin of his cheeks, his neck. Harry wasn't getting it. He didn't want to yell or be shitty about it but Harry just wasn't getting it. He's not had a parent leave him, as far as Louis is aware. "What she says and what she feels could be two very different things, especially if she doesn't know you well. Of course she said those things - "

                  "Louis. Listen to me." Harry's voice was soft, gentle. He knew he was treading on dangerous water, and despite all he was doing to keep Louis calm, it wasn't going to work. "She doesn't... You guys don't think about this the same way, okay? She feels differently."

                  "How would you know, Harry? Huh?" Louis blurted, too close to a shout than he had intended and he regretted it instantly. Fuming, he sunk in his seat and glued his eyes to the empty road in front of him, knowing he wouldn't look away from it again until they were pulling into his family's driveway. Knowing he didn't want to see the look on Harry's face.

                  But he also knew that his point still stood. He wasn't totally in the wrong. Harry didn't understand what he was planning, what he could potentially do to that girl.

                  Lottie's hand suddenly rested on Louis' shoulder, and it was all he could do to keep from shrugging her off. She meant well, he reminded himself.

                  He meant well.

❄●❄

                  FOR THE REST of the ride, Harry and Louis didn't speak. Lottie and Tommy did their best to include the former in their conversations, and Louis was sort of grateful for that no matter how angry he still was. Perhaps they hated seeing Harry upset as much as he did. Not that he would look over and see the damage for himself.

                  But that didn't stop him from feeling it. As they neared Doncaster and then as they drove through it, Louis felt himself bristling, on edge. He knew it was from not allowing himself to peek over at the silent boy beside him, like his body was rejecting the notion, making him miserable enough that he'll eventually give in.

                  He wouldn't. He'd try his damnedest not to, but it was going to test him.

                  And maybe he was just being stubborn, but he didn't care. It bothered him that Harry wouldn't listen to him when he was clearly more knowledgeable on this sort of thing. Isn't that what boyfriends were supposed to do? Sure, it's been at least a year since he's been in a relationship like this, but he isn't that far off his game.

                  Harry would come around. Louis just had to prove he wasn't taking this lightly for long enough, and then Harry would come around.

                  Through his rearview mirror, Louis could see Lottie practically bouncing in her seat when they pulled into their old driveway and parked beside Dan's vehicle. Faster than Louis could turn the keys, his sister had released herself from her seatbelt and was out the door, leaving a blinking Tommy in her wake.

                  "It's like she hasn't been home in months," he mumbled, removing his own seatbelt.

                  "She hasn't," Louis said, his first words in a while.

                  Tommy was already on his way out, ready to follow her. "I suppose."

                  When he was gone and it was just Louis and Harry, Louis purposely moved slowly. He pulled the keys out of the ignition and stuffed them into his pocket, and then he retrieved his wallet from the counsel and shoved that into his other pocket. He reached over himself to remove his own seatbelt, and all the while he was waiting for Harry to say something, giving him that chance. But he didn't, and Louis quickly grew impatient. He exited Lottie's vehicle, but not before allowing himself one look.

                  What he saw left him thoroughly confused. Harry didn't appear upset or angry or sad. His eyebrows were drawn, his lips pursed. He was staring out the windshield, blindly reaching for his buckle slowly, like he was doing it subconsciously because the conscious part of his brain was too focused on something else. And that was it; he was so focused on something, concentrating so hard that Louis almost wondered whether Harry knew they'd arrived. What was he thinking about? What was he trying to decide?

                  Figuring he'll snap out of it eventually, Louis slammed the door slightly harder than usual - the noise will surely do it.

                  Inside the house, he was met by Ernie first, who'd come running to him like he was treats incarnate. If there was once a time when Louis worried his baby siblings couldn't remember him, that time has passed.

                  But the affection from his only brother didn't last long, as Harry was right behind him, sneaking into the house quietly. Ernie spotted him and abandoned Louis, and for Christ's sake, when they became best mates Louis wasn't sure but he didn't necessarily object. He was, however, too annoyed to find it cute, so he didn't watch their reunion, though he could hear it.

                  "Hello, there," Harry was saying. "Have you gotten bigger already? You're going to pass Louis up soon, at this rate."

                  Ernie was giggling like a fool, but luckily Louis' mother was approaching and he didn't have to fight against the urge to turn around any longer. "Mum, lovely to see you."

                  "Don't be so formal, Lou," she told him, pulling him into a tight embrace. She smelled the same as always - smelled this way at his place too, but it was stronger here where they were surrounded by the scent of his old home. "This isn't a parent-teacher conference."

                  Louis pulled away, rolling his eyes fondly. And then he felt a presence approaching him from behind. "Alright, alright. You remember Harry?"

                  As he stepped aside, Harry's poker face might have fooled even Louis. That Cheshire Cat grin of his spread across his face, and rather than hold a hand out for Jay, he opened his arms at the same time she did. Louis stepped around them and out of the way, seeking out Dan who was likely in the kitchen, but he couldn't help admiring the fact that Jay might have found her perfect match. Nobody that Louis has ever brought home felt comfortable enough to greet his mum with an embrace - and it was only the second time they've met.

                  Nobody until now.

                  He wasn't sure where Lottie and Tommy had gone - probably off to find the older set of twins and Fizzy - but Dan was where Louis had guessed he'd be. "Dan the man."

                  Dan turned, Doris in his arms. A familiar, warm grin slipped onto his face, his eyes crinkling at the corners almost as much as Louis' own do sometimes. "Louis. Good to see you. How was the drive?"

                  They exchanged a quick handshake and got to talking about traffic, and it was almost fifteen minutes later that Harry and Jay finally joined them. They were both beaming happy eyes and sighing frequently, like they'd just gotten over a laughing fit of some sort, and fuck Louis wished it was easier to be mad.

                  Phoebe and Daisy were in the living room now, draping themselves over both Lottie and Tommy on the sofa until Louis entered the room, Harry in tow. They quickly hopped off - or fell off, at the sight of Louis' companion. He wasn't sure which.

                  "Who's your friend?" Phoebe asked by way of greeting.

                  "Nice to see you too. Wow, yeah, it's been a while. I'm great, thanks for asking. Oh, this? This is Harry. Harry, Phoebe," Louis pointed to the first one, then the second, "Daisy."

                  "Hi, Harry," they said in unison from the floor, and Lottie snickered behind the fingertips pressed against her lips at how shy they suddenly sounded.

                  "Ladies," Harry tipped his head. "Thanks for having me this weekend."

                  "You're all staying all weekend?" Daisy asked then, craning her neck towards Lottie for confirmation. "Where will you all sleep? The twins are in your room now, Louis."

                  Louis shrugged, pretending that the loss of his old bedroom didn't make him a little sad. He knew it had to happen at some point, knew that he's been living on his own for some time now, but still... When did he get this old? "We'll be camping out on the floor in here, probably."

                  "All of you?" Phoebe clarified.

                  "Absolutely not," Lottie threw in. "I refuse to spend the weekend with a sore back. Tommy and I get my room."

                  "Me and Harry, then. We'll campout on the floor."

                  "Actually," Harry said, taking a step as he spoke so that his shoulder pressed against the back of Louis'. "I've got a bit of an idea, if you'd all like to hear me out."