The best thing about ending a tour is being around other people again. It's Louis' favorite thing. The last week he's spent more time with his kids than ever before. Now, they sit in front of the television as E! News plays. 

Taylor and Eleanor sit a little too close on the couch next to him as Louis scrolls through Telegraph. He's only half-listening to the television. He couldn't be bothered paying attention to other celebrity's drama especially since half of it is fake anyway. 

"Welcome back to E! News. We're your hosts: Kelly, Amy, Debs, and Jackie! This episode is a little special because today we're going to be talking about Larry Stylinson, a conspiracy that took the world by storm!" Louis' head snaps up from his phone, his stomach knotting into two. 

Eleanor shoots him a look as Taylor jumps up. She loudly suggests that the kids go outside to play and that TV time is over. Confused, they follow their Aunt Taylor outside anyway. She sends Louis a sad expression as she does. 

"We can change the channel," Eleanor suggests softly. Louis clenches his jaw, unable to keep his emotions contained. 

"No, I... I wanna hear what they say," Louis replies bitterly. The lady on the television continues. The woman, who Louis thinks is Kelly, brings a stack of papers together as she turns to her co-hosts.

"This was a huge drama piece 15 years ago with the band One Direction, I'm not sure if you guys know about it or not," Kelly starts. A woman on the far right, a tag with Amy under her, with bleached blond hair and a fake tan frowns. 

"I never heard of it and I was like... their biggest fan," Amy says. The other three women laugh a little too loud as Kelly transitions to her next line. 

"Well, the conspiracy went that Louis Tomlinson, a member of One Direction, was secretly gay and dating a fan named Harry Styles," Kelly explains. 

Louis hates it. He hates hearing his life and hardships reduced to this. As much as he wants to turn it off, he can't bring himself to do it. 

"Wait, I think I remember this," Debs chimes in. "Didn't Harry's mom meet Louis' mom and then they became friends? As you're saying it, it's starting to come back." 

Kelly, Debs, and Amy all look a little too into their discussion while Jackie looks a little more closed off. "That's it, yeah," Kelly continues. "So it was mostly rumors in the beginning. Fans noticed that they were always hanging out together and Harry, eventually, moved in with Louis. It was when a video leaked of Liam Payne, Louis' bandmate, drunkenly congratulating the two for their relationship that fans started to take it a bit more seriously." 

The screen is then filled with the video that ruined Louis' life. The grainy video shows Liam on a table and Niall trying to get him off. The words echo in Louis' head as Liam's voice slurs them out. He must've watched the video a thousand times as he waited to hear back from Simon. 

"Okay, the throwback is nice, but why exactly are we throwing it back to drama from fifteen years ago," Jackie asks bitterly. Louis can't help but feel that he has a supporter in Jackie. 

"Well, I was getting there," Kelly snaps back passively. The two engage in a second standoff that Kelly gives into first. "Basically, these rumors started just as Harry launched his music career. He got an album out there and was dating Taylor Swift, things were looking good. As soon as this video surfaced he left. Nobody has heard anything from him in 25 years. Then, there's a photo yesterday that hit the news." 

A photo flashes on the screen of three figures next to a black SUV. Louis recognizes Niall easily. He wears a pair of sweats and a black jumper. Obviously trying to blend in better. The other two figures Louis can't see well, but he could recognize the figure on the left in his sleep. 

Harry has gone to great lengths to try and blend in as much as he can. A pair of baggy black sweatpants cover his lanky legs and a gray jumper covers his chest and arms. A pair of black sunglasses cover up a majority of his face as well. 

Louis can guess who the other person is. Sam. Harry's fiancé. He stands taller than Harry, something Louis remembers about him when they met at the meet and greet. He doesn't try to hide his features nearly as much as Harry does. Instead, he wears a pair of dark jeans and a gray cotton shirt. A pair of boots cover his feet and his black hair is gelled back. 

"Sources have claimed that this photo shows Niall Horan picking Harry up at an airport only yesterday. Nobody has yet to identify the mysterious hottie traveling with him," Kelly explains. Debs and Amy fawn over the photo of Sam while Jackie sits quietly. 

"A southern man for sure," Debs laughs. Kelly smiles. The three women all make jokes about how attractive Sam is again. They pull themselves together a couple of moments later.

"We will, of course, be following this story closely for any new updates. Make sure to tweet us with your speculations and use the hashtag Welcome Back Harry for a chance to be included in our next episode," Kelly closes. 

The four women give a smile towards the camera one last time before it switches to a commercial. There's a pause in the room, neither knowing what to say. 

"Do you want to talk about it," Eleanor asks quietly. Louis can't look up from the screen. The reality of the situation washes over him again. 

Harry's back in town. 

~_~_~

Hey guys! I had to update because For the Road is the number 1 story in the larry hashtag. I couldn't be more thrilled and overwhelmed. I can't believe so many people are reading it and enjoying the series. Thank you guys for your continued support. I hope you like where I've taken the story! Until next time! ~B