COMMENT

spoiler: chapter twenty-eight (the next chapter) may be private ;) it's 100% filthy. i'm planning on this hopefully being an informal chapter rather than majorly plot moving. a lot is going to be discovered and revealed.

chapter twenty-seven

N.J.H.

Harry and I's hands disconnect as we stare at Tiffany hanging off his father and my boss' arm. This situation has turned out to be the worst for the both of us.

"Harry, we need to talk. Now."

He nods, sneaking away with me up to the second floor. His hand makes contact with my right hip as we look for a room far enough from the main foyer to talk. We enter Louis' bedroom and shut the door tightly behind us.

"Oooh my god..." Harry whispers, "this is not happening."

"Harry!" I scold him, "Why didn't you tell me your father was the CEO?!"

"I'm sorry," he whispers back to me, "I wasn't expecting any of this to happen! I didn't want to tell you--"

"Why not?!"

"The same reason why you didn't tell me about your dad."

My breath hitches as he grips my crossed arms,

"Baby, I didn't want you holding the burden that's my childhood on your shoulders."

"I... I understand that. But this, this was bound to happen! You didn't notice when she was suggestively pointing out she was sleeping with our boss, that it was your dad?!"

"Niall I-- no I wasn't expecting my 36 year old father to be screwing with your 21 year old ex-girlfriend!"

"She's 22..." I mutter, embarrassed.

"She's older than you?" Harry says in astoundment. I nod, not wanting to talk about the fact that the bitch was older than me by a year and a quarter.

"I--whatever, Niall I'm sorry. I guess I should have mentioned it..."

"It's too late for that...we've walked into a huge issue..."

"It's only an issue if we make it one. Tonight is about you meeting my family for the first time, my family meeting my boyfriend for the first time, and vice versa."

I kiss him, sealing our silence in the room. He pulls away, out of breath from such a short period of time. We exchange small reassuring kisses, our eyes shut and our hearts beating erratically before we separate. Holding me close, a small peck is placed on my forehead before we open the door. We walk downstairs, hand in hand as we return to our families.

"If my dad wants to drop this on me," Harry mutters, "then I'm dropping my sexuality on him too."

We step onto Louis' tiled floor and Harry leads us to his entire family. I see his mum, Oscar, Gemma, his father and Tiffany.

"Dad, Mum," Harry announces, "this is my boyfriend, Niall."

"Oh," Harry's father chuckles, reacting calmly, "Well, this is my girlfriend, Tiffany. We've been dating for three years."

My jaw drops but I abruptly act casual. Tiffany had been cheating on me since the day I asked her out. The boy she was having sex with in our house, she was cheating on him too. All she is is a cheating, conniving bitch.

"It's nice to meet you Niall," Harry's mum gives me a bright smile as she shakes my hand. My expression suddenly increases in merriment as our hands touch. She lets go, warth still glowing off of her pale skin. I shake his father's hand next, out of courtesy. Though he's in quite the situation, he is my boss, and my boyfriend's father. We exchange greetings and chat until I hear my mother's soothing voice,

"Niall?"

I turn to her, longing to see her since I heard she was coming. The last time I saw my mum was when I was nineteen, leaving home to apply for a Marvel internship while going to the top film school. She thinks it's funny, that I never went into film in the first place.

"Hey mum," I release Harry's hand and hug her tightly, holding her like I've never held her before. I love my mum immensely; she was there for me when I was at rock bottom.

"This is Harry, he's my boyfriend," I introduce him to my mother quickly, watching as they shake hands.

"It's nice to meet you Harry," she greets him cheerily.

"You too Mrs. Horan," he replies with diligence. They disperse into different discussions until my mother grabs ahold of my again,

"How have you been?" she asks, resting her hands on my shoulders.

"Good, things have been well. Pretty much moved in with Louis and... wait, where's Nan?"

Her face falls once I mention Nan, her hand falling short of mine,

"Nia--"

"Niall!"

I'm attacked instantly by five of Louis' siblings, the other two being held by their mother. Louis has his arms linked with her and a wide grin on his face,

"Hey Niall," Louis mum embraces me and I wrap my arm around her shoulders carefully, as she's holding two babies.

"Hey Ma," I smile as the overused nickname for my best friend's mother slips out out my lips, "how are you?"

"I'm great," she says with a chuckle, "but it seems as if you're better. Who's the guy following you around like a lost puppy?"

"Oh," I turn to Harry, catching his attention, "this is Harry, my boyfriend."

"Harry," Louis' mum shakes his hand, "nice to meet the boy that's making my second son happy. I'm Louis' mother."

"I'm sorry?" he asks, confused.

"I basically grew up with Ma," I inform him, "she's like a second mother to me."

Harry nods in understanding, watching as I hug all of Louis' younger siblings. Charlotte is the only one of them all that has grown in definite height since the last time I saw them all at once. Instead of giving her a hug, she offers a fist bump instead.

"What, too old for hugs now?" I chuckle.

"Oh hush, you know I love your hugs Ni." She whispers.

Nevertheless, a small side hug is all I get. Lottie is just trying to fit in with the adults, and as humorous as it is, I let her proceed anyway.

"Hey," Harry's dad speaks up, "I think we should all start eating now, shouldn't we?"

I look over to Zayn's family, who I've hardly introduced myself to yet. I figured I'd do it later, knowing this dinner party would be going on into the late hours. Louis has set up a huge dining table, servants and chefs running around left and right as they set the table for us. I see my (our, because Harry begged to take some credit) dish setup next to what looks like Gemma's. I laugh, reaching for Harry's hand again and pointing in that direction discreetly. She had in fact made mac and cheese from a box. He laughs into his hand and kisses my forehead again.

The families sit down leisurely, taking their time talking and conversing with each other as they make new acquaintances. Harry and I take our seats at the head of the table, next to Louis and across from Zayn. My mum sits on my left, my boyfriend on my right. His hand still holds mine under the table as Mr. Styles clinks his glass.

"Hi everyone, I'd like to propose a toast."

The room quiets down and chairs begin to screech. Once everyone's seated, he continues,

"Well, I'd say let's bless the food, but we can't; there's four gay guys here."

He laughs, expected someone to follow up with a chuckle, but no one budges. The four of us; Harry, Louis Zayn and I all sit with our eyebrows raised in shock.

"Not funny? Oh well, okay. A toast to family, yes?"

Glasses know against each other lightly, but the four of us, the 'four gay guys' stare at Harry's father in awe. His son looks to be the most appalled.

"Dad," Harry says sternly, squeezing my hand once again, "that was completely uncalled for."

"Oh suck it up," he mutters, sitting back down and wrapping his arm around Tiffany.

"He's drunk," Harry whispers as soon as he's distracting.

"That asshole is our boss?" I say unexpectedly. I had been thinking it, but had no idea I'd say it.

"Sorry, I know he's your--"

"S'fine," Harry sets my mind to rest, "I hate him sometimes...times like these."

"Hey," Louis whispers as he dishes out a plate, "Harry I'm not liking your dad. He's dating a hooker and he doesn't sound very fond of my species."

"Species? Louis we're people too." I protest.

"Niall, you've been gay for not even three months. Relax."

It's true, to my utter dismay. I haven't been through the full thing like Louis has.

Dinner resumes normally, lucky for us. There's eating and talking about way too many cheesy jokes being passed around by the Styles' family. Harry's family begins to show how much he's like them. As I get to know his mother and sister more, his smile begins to grow wider. Anne and Gemma together seem to be a tag team, though Harry is absolutely a mama's boy. He's so attached to his mother it's cute. Oscar and I have small conversations here and there, but overall we don't talk much.

I eventually introduce myself to Zayn's family, which consists of his mother, father and two sisters. When I tell them that he and I both started from the same place; internships, they get majorly excited for their son's future. Zayn gives me a small thumbs up and I smile as Louis kisses the top of his hand in a loving manner.

The night is peaceful and uneventful after Mr. Styles' outburst, until he decides to get up again.

"Everyone," he says loudly, "I'd like to talk again."

"Primadonna," Louis mutters quietly.

I chuckle quietly, giving him a high five under the table. Again, the families all quiet down as he stands up on a chair.

"I'd just like to say something."

He looks down at Tiffany and my eyes go wide, fear pricking at every part of my body.

"Niall?" Harry shakes my shoulder, "You just went deathly pale babe, are you okay?"

"He...he...oh my god."

"Tiffany," his dad continues, "I've been in love with you for so long and... I can't bear to not do this anymore."

To my horror, he drops on one knee and takes a ring out of his coat pocket,

"Tiffany O'Phair, marry me. Please, dear god, marry me and love me for eternity."

I see Louis' jaw drop, and Zayn gripping his waist tightly, trying to keep him from leaping across the table and strangling the life out of Tiffany. Harry's face reaches the same level of paleness as mine as we look at the scene playing in front of us in awe. Everyone else at the table is cooing and cheering as Tiffany replies with a happy 'yes'.

The rest of dinner is short for Harry and I; we leave once dessert is served.

this, is the last chapter before i leave for vacation. sadly, i'm leaving you with a teeny cliffhanger unless i can get the smut chapter out in less than a day lol.

spoiler in case i don't: the chapter name is familiar; bent over the desk