The screen lags, but Harry can't stop the smile that erupts onto his face when he sees Sam. He looks good, but he always does. He can see a beautiful sunset behind Sam through their window back home. Shades of oranges and pinks give the room a warm glow. The sun hasn't set here yet, but Harry hopes it's at least half as beautiful as the one back home. 

"Is the connection workin'," Sam asks loudly. Harry gives him a thumbs up and a nod. 

"A little lag, but it's working," Harry replies fondly. Sam runs a hand through his ruffled black hair. It sticks up in odd directions, probably from his mid-afternoon nap. As long as Harry's known Sam he always takes a nap in the afternoon despite sleeping a full night the day before. 

"That's great. I'm already missin' you, Darlin'," Sam says. Harry smiles again, missing the sound of Sam's voice. Sure they talk every day on the phone, but the connection for Skype is always spotty out there. 

"I think I probably missed you more," Harry teases. Sam rolls his eyes, but a grin plays across his lips. "So, tell me about your son."

Sam's eyes light up at the new topic. "Damn Harry, I don't even know where to start. His name's Hector and he's 16. When I first got here I was going to make him do a DNA test, just to be sure. As soon as I saw him I realized I wouldn't need it. He's my spittin' image," Sam explains. 

Harry can only imagine what the boy must look like. He's seen a few photos of Sam from his teenage years. He was darker than he was now, but Sam explained it was because of the football season. Sam probably told him a thousand times what positioned he played, but Harry could never remember. Whatever the position was, it meant he was huge. Every photo from then shows Sam with huge biceps and thighs like a tree trunk. He's not as built as he was then, but Harry almost prefers him as he is now. 

"He's as smart as a whip too. I know he didn't get that from me," Sam laughs. Harry can't stop smiling as Sam gushes about his son. "I tried askin' him about football but he was about as clueless as you were. You'd be proud though, he loves soccer. He ain't real good at it though, but he does try." 

Harry's heart swells as he imagines Sam playing soccer in the field with his son. He can see the scene in his head as if it's actually happened before. He can see Sam passing the ball to his son, who looks just like him. He can see the smile on Sam's face as his son scores a goal. If he thinks hard enough he can even see himself there too. 

"You alright? Looked like you got lost there for a bit," Sam asks. Harry shakes his head, unable to keep the warm feelings away. More than anything, he misses home and Texas. He wants to be with Sam and wants to meet Sam's son. However, he knows he can't. He can't go back to Texas until he sorts everything out here. 

"I'm alright," Harry assures him. 

"No, I can tell something's bothering you. You don't have to tell me what it is, but at least tell me it's bothering you," Sam says. Harry lets out a sigh and glances back down at his ring. 

"I don't know, everything's just so much. I saw Louis again, we got lunch. I told him that you being gone doesn't change anything, but I think he thinks it does. I love you more than anything, Samuel, I promise. I just feel so guilty about everything. I feel guilty for coming here, I feel guilty about talking to Louis, I feel guilty that you didn't get to watch your son grow up," Harry says. The guilt eats him apart and, suddenly, he's crying. 

"Dammit, Harry," Sam says. Harry watches as Sam reaches up and wipes a tear from his own eye. "Don't you feel guilty about me and my son. That isn't on you. He knows that if I had known about him I would've been here. He knows that. Don't you feel guilty about that." 

Harry looks up at the ceiling to try and stop his tears from coming. "It just feels like my entire life is falling apart again," Harry sighs as he wipes his nose. 

"That's alright, Harry. Life isn't always going to be ups. Sometimes the coaster falls and it feels like you'll never be able to get your footing back again. You will, though. You jumped back last time, you can do it again." 

Harry shakes his head, "You pulled me from it last time. I don't know how I'm going to pull myself out of this."

"Darlin', you ain't losing me. You're not pulling yourself up, you're not alone. Take the time you need to figure your stuff out and know that I'll be right there beside you when you're ready to come home." 

Harry wipes his eyes one last time, "Louis says he loves me. He says he's not going to lose me again."

"Well, you know what Harry, I may not have been the first man you loved but I do intend on being the last." 

~_~_~

What's better than a surprise update? Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed! ~B