"What's wrong," Sam asks as he runs a hand down Harry's arm. Harry looks at himself in the mirror a bit, making sure he doesn't look horrid. The black shirt he wears is fitted nicely and the jeans fit well. He doesn't know why he's overthinking everything so much.

"I don't know, I just don't really want to do this," Harry sighs as he spares Sam a glance through the window. Sam rests his head on Harry's shoulder. 

"It'll be a good thing for you two, you'll see. It'll give you a chance to clear the air," Sam explains. Harry rolls his eyes. 

"There's no air to clear," Harry replies, knowing he's lying to both of them. Honestly, he doesn't want all of his emotions brought back up again. He doesn't want to talk about the way Louis made him feel or why Louis pushed him away or why anything. A part of him knows he'll never be satisfied until he knows why things went down the way they did, but another part of him doesn't want to talk about it. 

"Then there's not a problem with coffee. Look, Harry, I know you wanted to come to see Niall but I also know you came because you were interested in Louis. I'm not about mad at you, first love can be overwhelming. I'm not going to get jealous because I trust you. If old feelings start to come up again we'll work it out. I love you and I trust you, alright," Sam explains. 

He moves Harry away from the mirror and brings him into a hug. Harry enjoys feeling small in Sam's embrace for a moment before he pulls away. 

"Knock 'em dead, Tiger," Sam whispers as he presses a final kiss to Harry's lips. 

~_~_~

The spot Louis picked out is secluded, he'll give him that. The coffee shop is hidden behind a wall of bushes and he had to give someone a passcode to enter. As Harry waits for Louis to show up, he fiddles with his engagement ring. 

He wonders how his life might've been different if the ring was from Louis and not Sam. Of course, marrying Louis would've never been an option even if they stayed together. Louis would've gone through with his marriage to Eleanor and Harry would've had to sneak around as he watched Eleanor life out his dream. It wouldn't have been a good life, Harry decides. 

"I didn't think you would come," A voice says. Harry glances up and his stomach drops as he sees Louis. 

God he's never going to get used to seeing Louis like this. So old and worn down. Harry's sure he looks the same. Neither of them are the children they used to be. They're men now. 

"I almost didn't," Harry says back as he glances back down at his ring. Louis awkwardly takes the seat in front of Harry in the back of the coffee shop. 

Even sitting in front of Louis makes Harry want to run. He wants to run for the hills and never do this again, but he stays. "So, how've you been," Louis questions. 

Harry looks up at him, unable to look Louis in the eyes. "It's been good," Harry sighs. "I'm a teacher now, in Texas. The kids like that I talk funny." 

He can see a smile spreading across Louis' thin lips, "I can imagine they would like that. I doubt they hear different accents often." 

They sit in silence for a beat, neither really knowing what to say. "I'm sorry about your mom. Niall told me," Harry whispers. He glances up at Louis and they watch each other's gaze. Quickly, Harry looks back down again. 

"Thank you, it was... hard. I had the twins and then lost my mum. The following year we lost Fiz too. Life really decides to throw everything at once, huh," Louis laughs painfully. Harry can tell he's trying not to show how much their two deaths have affected him, but Harry knows. He knows how close he is to his family and how much that must've hurt. 

"I'm really sorry you had to lose them, Louis. I can't imagine," Harry responds. Louis sniffs a bit and leans back in his chair. 

"Let's talk about something else, huh? What do you teach," Louis deflects. 

"Music, I'm an elementary music teacher," Harry answers. Louis looks at him hard and smiles. 

"Yeah, that seems like something you would do. I'm sure they love you," Louis says softly. 

Silence falls over them again. There's a million things that Harry wants to say and a million questions he wants to ask, but he can't seem to say any of them. The words get caught in his throat and the silence continues. 

Finally, "Remember that promise I made," Louis asks. Harry looks up, partly startled by Louis' voice. Of course he remembers the promise that Louis made. The words were some of the last things Louis ever said to him. 

"You said it yourself. I see what you're picking. Go! Leave! When you do, know that whenever you see my name anywhere that everything I've done has been for you. That even though you're leaving me right now, I'll always love you." 

Louis continues, "I kept it and I meant it. Fate brought us back together, Harry. I don't intend on losing you again. It's getting late." 

Harry watches as Louis stands from his seat and gives him one last look. It's a long one, the look, it digs into Harry's soul. He feels cold as Louis tears his gaze away and walks out of the cafe doors. 

~_~_~

As usual, one Saturday update. Thoughts? Opinions? Sound off in the comments. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed! ~B