"Morning Bud, how did you sleep?" Drew asks as Louis walks into the kitchen the next morning. The boys all sitting around the dining table, in their matching pyjamas.

"Okay, thanks" Louis smiles.

"Come and eat, we made your favourite, waffles and pancakes" Edward says as he walks over and grabs the syrup for the pancakes.

Louis smiles and goes to sit with his brothers, he's missed them so much.

He puts one waffle on his plate and Andy eyes him but doesn't say anything. He's noticed Louis is a lot smaller than he was the last time they saw each other.

"So when do the girls come home?" Louis asks  as he takes a small bite of his waffle.

"The night of your birthday, they are having an early Christmas with their families" Drew smiles.

"You know you can go spend Christmas with your partners, you don't have to stay behind because of me" Louis tells them.

"We know Lou, we just like having you here and celebrating with us, it means a lot to all of us, being together at this time of the year" Edward says.

Louis just nods knowing his brothers deserve to be happy too, and this is the only tradition they ask of him. It meant a lot to their parents.

"What are your plans for today?" Louis asks.

"We thought we would go into town, do some shopping. We still have a few presents to buy" Andy says.

"Typical of you three, leaving things to the last minute" Louis teases.

The boys laugh.

"Did you want to come too?" Andy asks.

"Sure, can we stop by the bakery to see Anne" Louis asks

"Of course we can" Edward tells him.

Louis smiles, he loves Anne to pieces, she and her husband Robyn own the bakery in town, the best cupcakes you'll ever taste and Louis favourite, pecan pie, he always stops in to see Anne when he is back in town.

"So how's work been Lou?" Andy asks.

The boys instantly see Louis withdrawal a little and put on a fake smile.

"It's fine" Louis tells them.

"Just fine? Are you drawing yet?" Edward asks

Louis goes quiet.

"Lou, they don't treat you right at that company, you really should try somewhere else" Drew tells him.

"No one will even look at my work Drew, and they probably aren't letting me draw because I'm shit at it" Louis says defeated.

"Louis, you graduated top of your class, you're an amazing architect, you just need to be at a company that appreciates you" Andy says.

"I'm not ready to move back, if that's what you're getting at" Louis says as he pushes his plate away.

"We know kid, but when you are, we're here for you okay" Edward says.

"I know" Louis smiles slightly.

"Are you sure you're okay, you're not sick are you? Your asthma isn't playing up is it" Andy asks as he turns concerned and reaches out to feel Louis forehead.

"What? No I'm fine" Louis says as he pushes Andy's hand away.

"Are you stressed?" You have lost some weight Lou" Drew says.

Louis will never admit he's been stressed out at work, never admit he's not doing okay. He's noticed the weight loss too but he knows it's due to work.

"I'm fine, I promise" Louis says.

The boys don't push Louis and decide to keep a closer eye on him instead.

...

"Louis my darling boy" Anne says excitedly over the crowd in the bakery, as soon as he walks in.

Louis ignores the stares from the other patrons and smiles wide, he hurries to Anne's side and she wraps him up in a tight hug.

Anne and Louis developed a friendship after his parents died, he would come to the bakery and sit for hours, looking out the window, he'd read and Anne would bring him Pecan Pie. The one and only time Louis has cried was in Anne's arms and he's never spoken of it again. Anne always checks in on Louis and loves when he visits.

"I've missed you darling" Anne tells him.

"I've missed you too" Louis tells her as they break apart.

"How are you" Anne asks smiling as she assesses Louis.

"I'm good" Louis smile

Anne notices Louis is looking smaller and she knows instantly something is up but she decides to hopefully let Louis open up himself.

"Where are those brothers of yours?" Anne then asks.

"Still in the jewellery store, I managed to get away, I'm sure they will find me soon" Louis jokes.

Anne laughs.

"Mum, Scott is making a huge mess, I think he needs some help"

Louis looks up and sees Harry walking out of the back of the store, from behind the counter. He's wearing jeans and a sweater, he has an apron on that's covered in flour.

"Lou?" Harry asks, his eyes widening in excitement.

"Hi" Louis says smiling.

"What are you doing here?" Harry asks surprised.

"I'm just visiting Anne" Louis says happily.

"You two know each other?" Anne asks, she doesn't miss the spark and happiness between the two.

"We met on the plane" Harry says.

Anne smiles knowingly.

"Wait, is Anne you're mum?" Louis asks confused.

"Sure is" Harry says proudly.

"I had no idea" Louis says

They then hear a clatter from the back

"Let me go and see what Scotty is trying to do, hopefully the cookies can be saved" Anne says in jest as she walks to the back.

"He's a menace when it comes to baking" Harry says to Louis smiling.

Louis giggles cutely.

"Do you normally help Anne? I haven't seen you here before" Louis says.

"I love baking, we usually help during the rush before Christmas, although Scott is definitely an hindrance" Harry laughs.

"Louis!" Scott exclaims as he comes out into the bakery, he's absolutely covered in flower.

"Hi Scott" Louis says happily.

"Louis your table is free honey, I'll bring over your usual" Anne winks at him.

Louis smiles

"Would you like some company?" Harry asks.

"Sure" Louis says as he moves towards the booth at the window. It's the one table Louis loves, it looks over the street and has comfy cushions, it's snug and Louis loves it.

Louis sits in first and Harry and Scott sit opposite.

"Here you go honey, here you two, have a break I could use one" Anne laughs as he puts Louis pie and tea on the table and some cookies for Harry and Scott.

"Thanks mum" Harry says

Anne kisses Louis on the head, smiles knowingly and then leaves.

"You like Pecan Pie" Scott asks.

"Only from this bakery, Anne's is the best"  Louis blushes.

"She insists on keeping it on the menu, only at Christmas time" Harry says knowingly.

"She...doesn't have to do that" Louis says.

"By the looks of it, she would do anything for you" Scott says.

"She's one of my favourite people" Louis says with a slight smile. 

Louis has a bite of his pie, it tastes delicious, just like he remembers.

Harry and Scott take a bite of their cookies and they sit in silence for a while. Louis plays with his pie, he doesn't really have an appetite, something he hasn't had for a while. Even Anne's pie can't entice him to eat.

"You're not hungry?" Scott asks Louis carefully.

"Not really" Louis says shyly, as he puts his fork down.

Louis looks out the window and Harry and Scott look towards each other.

"It must be hard coming back every Christmas" Harry then says carefully, hoping Louis might open up to them.

Louis sighs

"I....yeah, I love Christmas but the memories just make it hard. I know the boys try to make it special and they do, I just..." Louis says, he ends with a sigh.

"We know it must be hard" Scott says.

"I just don't feel like celebrating much" Louis admits.

"But it's your birthday soon, 21 is a must celebrate birthday!" Harry says trying to make Louis smile.

"Maybe, I guess" Louis says shrugging.

"Look Lou, we know we only really just met, but if you ever want to talk, or not talk, just have some company while you sit. We are here" Scott tells him.

Louis is a little stunned, but really appreciates Harry and Scott. He can't deny he feels a pull towards them, likes being in their presence, feels safe.

Before Louis can reply, the boys enter the bakery loudly, laughing and joking. Everyone looks over smiling. The boys spot Louis, Harry and Scott and make their way over. Drew pushes Louis further into the booth, Edward sits next to Drew and Andy moves in next to Scott.

"Alright boys?" Drew says smiling.

Louis can't help but smile at his brothers.

"Yum, cookies" Edward says as he takes one.

"Hello my darlings, here you go" Anne says as she comes over to greet the boys, she places some cupcakes and slices on the table as well as some bottles of water.

"Thanks Anne, you're the best" Drew says.

And the rest of the boys agree. Anne smiles and goes back to the cash register.

"The snows really coming down now" Drew says as he looks out the window.

"Yeah, hopefully we don't get snowed in" Andy says.

"Wouldn't be the worst place to be for a while" Edward says as he picks up another cookie and the boys chuckle.

Louis watches on as the boys talk and smiles, he feels a warmth start that he hasn't felt in so long and he misses it so much, he hopes it keeps growing.