A/N: THEY HUGGED. (If you thought I'd be over The Hug by now, you thought wrong. I will never recover.) And apparently Louis got a new tattoo this week. God help us all.

I've been dying to get to this part of the story. I hope you like it! There's a lot more Louis to come!

HARRY / PRESENT

The moon was full, its light guiding us deeper and deeper into the park until we reached our destination, a flat stretch of grass next to the bridge.

We kept the guest list small but somehow there were several people there we had never seen before, talking and drinking as the music started. Between Darby and I we knew enough musicians to keep the music going until dawn without interruption.

There were four kegs and guests crowded around them in sandals and cutoffs. Darby was barefoot in a billowy sundress dancing with Sarah and Chloe. She was a truly awful dancer but so unselfconscious it was a joy to watch her.

Liam brought the firewood we had almost, sort of, chopped ourselves and I brought the rocks to place around it to contain the flames. The pit was enormous.

We used flashlights until Niall got the fire started using a barbeque lighter, and dry leaves as tinder. The flames towered over us and I was a little concerned we'd burn the park down. I was still surprised Liam was able to get a permit for this.

"Shouldn't it be smaller?" I asked Niall.

"Then it would just be a campfire. This," he gestured dramatically with his arms, "is a bonfire!"

Liam helped Sophia unpack food from their car—delicious homemade caramel apples, funnel cakes and kettle corn. I stretched out in front of the fire. Niall had picked up his guitar and started playing. It wasn't one of our songs but it was a song we used to cover all the time. Use Somebody. I looked down at my hands and twisted my rings around my fingers, trying to stay in the moment and not get nostalgic. Today was supposed to be about the future.

One of Darby's colleagues in rolled up pants and a trilby handed me a cup of whisky. Soon, people began to crowd around Niall and me like we might start singing. We looked at each other and shook our heads. It was strange how something we used to do in front of thousands of people every night for years was now so foreign to us in front of this small crowd. I was nervous, almost afraid. Niall started, his voice steady and sure, and then I joined in, softly at first and then louder and louder with more confidence. More people crowded around. I felt Liam's hand on my shoulder and he began to sing as well. He had a lovely, deep voice, smooth and melodic.

I caught a glint of Darby's eye in the darkness, her blonde locks swirling wildly in the wind. She circled the fire and came around to me, melting into my lap. Her tanned shoulders were warm and slick with sweat. I shut my eyes and sang into the nape of her neck.

Our old stylist, Debbie, a bombshell wearing about a dozen scarves and earrings the size of dinner plates, arrived with some of the crew from our last tour. They brought sparklers and roman candles. Again, this would have seemed highly dangerous to me but a few cups of whisky later and it was all quite reasonable. If Liam wasn't worried then neither was I. He was my barometer when it came appropriate conduct. Keep Calm if Liam Carries On was always my motto.

Debbie handed Darby and me a sparkler each. "Here you go, loves, consider it an early wedding present," she said kissing our cheeks, lingering on mine with motherly affection.

The sparks showered our clothes and exposed skin, but it wasn't a totally unpleasant feeling. We drew hearts and spelled each other's names in the night sky, like vows written in fire and light.

Niall had gotten hold of a roman candle and was pointing it at Liam. "Don't you dare," he said before running like hell. Niall chased after Liam and Debbie chased after Niall, pinching his bum so hard he leapt into the air.

Sophia was talking to Darby about her hair. She offered to help style it the day of the wedding and she strongly agreed that she should wear it down.

"Now that Hazza's grown his hair out, you have competition. You have to wear it down or else all eyes with be on these luscious locks." She grabbed the end of one of my curls and watched with amusement as it uncoiled and bounced back into place.

"It's okay, I'll probably wear it up anyway," I said, dragging my hair away from my face and tying it with the elastic on my wrist.

"No!" they squealed.

"You absolutely have to wear it down," Sophia insisted.

"I'm calling off the wedding if you don't," Darby snapped, freeing my curls from the elastic.

"I would offer to do your hair, Harry," said Sophia. "But I don't think it needs my help."

Sophia and Darby stared at my head and sighed.

Liam chucked a bunch of new logs into the pit. The fire hissed and popped. He grabbed a long stick and stoked the embers, waggling his eyebrows at Sophia. "This is only the second manliest thing I did this week."

"Yeah," I said. "He also chopped down a tree."

"One!" Sophia exclaimed. "I thought you did the whole woodpile."

"Well, the one tree was very large."

Sophia threw a handful of kettle corn at her husband.

"Oi, I'm getting it from all sides tonight!"

Liam dove on top of us, the length of his body on Darby and me, his head falling in Sophia's lap. Not to be outdone, Niall piled on top of Liam. We fell back on our elbows, groaning and laughing beneath their weight.

Then I felt someone squeeze my shoulders behind me. I expected it to be Debbie or one of the crew telling me they were leaving early, but when I turned my head, I was shocked to see that it was Zayn. In a split second I forgot every reason I was ever furious with him and pulled him down over my shoulder on top of Niall and Liam.

"Zayn!" Everyone cheered. Evidently his presence had the exact same effect on them. Even Darby was chuffed.

Liam pushed Niall away and grabbed Zayn's face, kissing him roughly on the forehead. "Oh, thank God."

"I told ya I'd be back. Damn, with you lot I hardly need a mum and dad."

"You said you were going to Manhattan and the next thing we know, you're in London. Can you blame us?" Darby said, picking grass out of her hair.

"And miss seeing you in that sheer wedding gown. Not a chance."

I propped him up and hugged his narrow shoulders. "I'm just happy to have my best man back."

Zayn's face turned serious for a moment, wistful. "I'm not really your best man though, am I?"

Liam and Niall looked at each other. "Oh, no," said Niall. "I'm not being promoted am I? I haven't got a speech prepared."

Zayn pointed to the fire.

On the other side of the pit, staring at me through the flames like the devil incarnate was Louis Fucking Tomlinson, in the flesh.

Niall jumped up. "Finally!"

Liam got up too and they ran over to Louis who embraced Liam with a firm pat on the back and put Niall in a chokehold.

Three years. It hadn't felt like a long time when we were apart but now it felt like forever. I didn't know how to act around him, how to occupy the same space, how to breathe the same air.

Darby stood up. "We should say hi."

Zayn was behind me, rubbing by shoulders like a boxing coach. "Come on, let's go talk it out."

"I can't believe you actually convinced him to come."

"Convinced him? It was his idea. He insisted on coming. It was the strangest thing. He called me to go London for a meeting and I thought he'd try to make me stay, but after he talked to you on the phone he bought our tickets and started packing."

Okay, now I was really nervous.

Louis had his hands in his pockets, his suit hugging him like a second skin. He took off his jacket and Niall poured him a drink from the keg, which sputtered and sprayed all over. Half the staff from Darby's magazine soon surrounded Louis. The folk singer that was playing handed Louis his guitar, out of respect or terror, I'm not sure.

Zayn pulled me to my feet. I didn't want Darby to get to Louis first. I had no idea what they would even talk about but it couldn't be good.

Standing in front of Louis I tried to stop staring. His upper lip curled into a knowing smirk. From his cheekbones to the line of his jaw to his long lashes, it was impossible to find a place to comfortably rest my eyes. I settled on assessing his clothes. "You're not really dressed for the occasion," I said stiffly. It wasn't the best opening but it was honest.

"I came straight from the office, and I thought this was a bachelor party, not Woodstock." His eyes ran down the length of my body indiscreetly.

I had the sudden urge to button up my silk shirt. I crossed my arms over my chest instead.

"It's a stag and doe," Darby explained. "Couples usually throw them to raise money for their wedding but we're doing it for charity."

"Well, pin a rose on your nose," Louis quipped.

He took a swig from his cup of beer. I could sense Liam circling around us trying to see if we were okay. Zayn was already cross-legged in the grass serenading Darby's sorority sisters.

"It's nice to see you, Louis. Will you be staying for the wedding?" The edge in her voice was unmistakable.

"I wouldn't miss it," said Louis, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Where's the wedding happening? Sorry, I lost the invite."

"Here, in Brooklyn Bridge Park," she said.

He glanced around. "Oh."

"It was my idea," she said defensively. "You don't approve?"

"It's just not how I pictured Harry's wedding. At all."

She tilted her head, "How did you picture it?"

Liam was quick to stop Louis from answering that question. "I think it will be great out here! You'll get cool pictures and it's in the city, which is good fun for out of town guests."

But Darby wasn't quite finished with Louis. "Harry loved the idea," she gushed. "He'd thought of it before I even suggested it."

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"It's where we had our first date," I said, taking her hand in solidarity.

"And our first kiss!" Darby added. "And our first... other things." She blushed.

Louis dropped his cup on the ground. Niall started to pour him a cup of whisky when Louis hissed, "Just give me the whole damn bottle!" and snatched it out of his hands.

"Now that all of you boys are in town, I was hoping I could interview you for an article I'm working on about 1D's untimely split."

"These guys have actually agreed to this?"

"I've interviewed Niall and I have a ton of research from past pieces I've done, including found footage, audio recordings, photographs--"

"Calm down."

"Will you do it?"

I couldn't imagine two people more different than Darby and Louis. I wondered how I was capable of falling in love with both of them.

"I don't suppose you remember what happened the last time you interviewed me?"

"Oh, you mean you acting like an entitled prick and nearly getting me fired? Yeah, I remember."

I dragged a hand through my hair and prayed to the fire gods for this conversation to be over.

"That's not what happened. You were totally out of fucking line. You were asking me questions I explicitly said I would not answer."

"I know you have no respect for journalism, or the truth, but you could have at least shown a bit of respect for me as a person."

A million insults formed on Louis' curled lips but he noticed Liam's death stare and took it down a notch.

"You're the bride. If that's how you want to spend your wedding weekend, fine. It's awfully opportunistic but what do I know, I'm just an entitled prick!"

Padding over to us from the grassy knoll, Zayn put his arms around Darby and Louis. "Isn't this nice? All of us together."

Liam had a strained smile and Niall, who had been spending way too much time next to the keg, yelled, "This is amazing! I love you all!"

I turned my head for a split second and when I turned back Louis was gone. Not that I cared. I had nothing more to say to him. I didn't even want him to come in the first place! If he left early that was fine by me. It sure was rude, though... I kept looking over my shoulder to see if he was there, mistaking the shadows for Louis' dark suit.

As the night wore on we paid less and less attention to the fire. The air was dewy, the ground littered with cups and half eaten caramel apples. I saw dawn approaching. Darby looked ethereal in the grey morning light. She was draped across my lap pretending to listen to one of Debbie's stories, but I could tell she was struggling to stay awake. She had gotten up at the crack of dawn the previous day to prepare for the party, so there was no way I was going to let her clean up. Sophia was packing the remaining food and I called her over.

"Can you take Darby? I'll stay behind and help her friends clean up."

"No, we'll all help."

"That's okay. I'd rather she get some rest."

Darby rubbed her eyes, barely registering what I said.

Niall stayed behind too, half drunk and half hungover, wearing Debbie's pink sunnies.

Because Darby was so organized the garbage and recycling bags were already laid out for us.

I held open a bag and Niall dropped an armful of cups inside. "Where's Liam?"

"I think he went to check on the girls. Louis probably went back to his hotel." Not that he'd asked about Louis.

Niall paused, "It's really great to have him here. I know it's hard on you, but it feels... right, like how it used to be. Well, almost how it used to be."

I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. I was partly to blame for the band's split. As painful as it was, maybe having Louis there was the only way to fix things.

Because about twice as many people showed up than we expected, the trail of rubbish led all the way to the shore. I made the trek down to the water while Sarah and Chloe made sure the fire had be been put out and there were no smoldering embers. Niall definitely overestimated his endurance level and passed out in a folding chair.

At the water's edge I bent down to pick up the rubbish that had been carried away by the wind when I felt a hand on my back. I jumped.

It was Louis. The top button of his shirt was undone, his tie loosened and his hair a bed of unkempt sandy waves.

"Christ, you scared me! I thought you'd gone back to your hotel."

"I'm staying with Liam."

I frowned. "Niall is staying with Liam. They've only got one guestroom," I said, stacking several cups and jamming them into the bag. "Why stay there and not in a hotel?"

"It's closer to you."

Silence hung in the air between us. Life was so much easier when we were on different continents.

He eyed my garbage bag and glanced around. "What are you doing?"

"Cleaning up."

He took the bag from me, his fingers trailing down my wrist. "You shouldn't be out here picking up garbage in Brooklyn days before your wedding! You should be in a secluded villa in Italy, laying on a king size bed, being waited on hand and foot. You deserve to be treated like a prince, Harry. You deserve everything."

"I don't want everything. I just want to be with someone who's good to me. Darby is good."

"I could be good," Louis said quietly. "If you gave me a chance."

"You had your chance."

His shoulders slumped in defeat. "Will you ever forgive me?"

"No," I said reflexively, but there was something so vulnerable and brave about the way he asked that I weakened. "Maybe. I do want us to be friends someday."

"I'd like that."

I snatched the garbage bag back and avoided his gaze. I knew if I looked him in the eye I'd smile. I refused to give him the satisfaction.

"Can someday be today?" he pressed.

"Don't push it."

I got back to the task at hand and Louis jumped at the chance to help. He did more than help actually, he did everything, moving quickly and darting out in front of me, grabbing every cup and napkin in sight so I didn't have to lift a finger. A bunch of paper plates had blown into the water and he chased after them like a madman.

I bit my lip. I was definitely smiling now.

Dumping all the soggy litter into the bag, Louis turned to me out of breath with his hands on his hips. "Fancy a swim?"

"I've got to head home."

"It's early!"

"It's morning. And we're not friends, remember?"

"Suit yourself."

He peered out onto the water, and began to unbutton his shirt. Slowly. He turned to see if I was watching him and to my own embarrassment I was. He grinned and undid his belt buckle, stripping down to a pair of silky black boxer-briefs. Without the suit, Louis was exactly as I remembered him: tanned and smooth, lean but curvaceous, his tattoos a map of our former life together.

The sun hadn't risen yet but it was still hot out. We were having a humid, sticky summer, one where the heat followed you day and night. Louis stepped onto the rocky shore. The cool water seemed to offer him relief from the sweltering temperature.

"You're going to cut your feet," I said. "This area's not meant for swimming."

He gave me a daring look and took several more steps until he was in up to his waist.

"I don't think this is a good idea, Louis. You've had a lot to drink tonight."

He dunked down completely and stood back up, his hair slicked back and his eyes glittering.

"You could drown," I lectured.

"What do you care?"

"I don't!"

"Good!"

He turned his back to me and splashed his way into the open water, his stroke sloppy and uneven. He wasn't a strong swimmer, and certainly not strong after drinking a bottle of whisky.

"Louis!" I called.

He swam further and further out. I kept calling his name but he didn't listen.

I watched him until he was just a dot on the horizon and I had to squint to see him. He was becoming impossible to spot in the distance as the choppy waves lapped around him. I could barely make out his head but it looked like he had stopped moving.

"Louis!" I cried. He was so far away he couldn't hear me anymore and I couldn't hear him.

I didn't bother unbuttoning my shirt. I pulled it off as fast as I could over my head, kicked off my shoes and pulled down my pants. My silver cross bounced on my chest as I ran headlong into the inky river. The rocks felt like broken glass beneath my feet. There probably was broken glass beneath me feet.

I did the breaststroke, covering the same distance Louis did in half the time. I could make him out more clearly now. His face was just above water, slipping down beneath the surface every few seconds until he disappeared completely.

"Louis!" I paddled over to where I'd last spotted him, looking around frantically.

He popped up in front of me with a breathy laugh. "I knew you'd save me, Harry."

"You're an asshole!" I yelled, splashing water at his face.

"You're beautiful," he replied, dead serious.

The water between us slapped against our chests. Our mouths were open, wet and panting. The sun was coming up over the skyline.

Fuck. How did I get here? Louis had only been in town a few hours and already we were both half naked watching the sunrise together.

"I'm going back," I said.

"Race you."

I dove under and propelled myself forward by kicking. I was sure Louis was far behind me and I was right. I rose up seconds later, my arms gliding in and out of the water with ease. I had a comfortable lead, but Louis would not give up, not until he was next to me. It was the fastest I had ever seen him swim.

"Whoa, where'd you come from?" I said, barely tired. "Thought you were a weak swimmer."

"You make me strong," he puffed.

My heart leapt. I swam faster.

When we finally got to shore, I crawled out of the water first, Louis on my heels not far behind me.

"I win!" I cheered.

"You did good, baby."

"Don't call me that," I warned, adjusting my soaking boxers that had fallen just below my hips.

Louis' tongue darted in and out between his lips. "I think I'm the real winner here."

To my horror, Sarah had been standing there the whole time.

"He was helping me clean," I blurted out.

"The East River?" she asked skeptically.

I held up the half-filled garbage bag as proof. Like I needed proof. I hadn't done anything wrong!

"The girls and I are just packing up the car, so we'll be going soon. Are you almost done?"

I headed down the trail alongside her, my clothes in my arms, "Yes, we are so done here. Can you drop Louis off at Liam's?"

"I dunno," she said. "You'll really have to squish in the back. There's four of you and it's a three-seater."

Louis jogged up to us and threw an arm around my shoulder. "It's cool. Harry can sit on my lap."

A/N: So it begins...

What do you think of "present" Louis? Does he still have a chance with Harry?

Next week I'll be posting a "past" chapter from Darby's POV where she meets Harry and the rest of the boys for the first time.

Thank you so much for reading!!!!