Enjoy x

~~

The next few days were quiet and tense . Louis would go to school in the morning , come back home in the afternoon and spend the time in his room , except for dinner time . Geoff hated this time of the year . Liam tried spending his spare time with them , sometimes sleeping over , but Louis just kept his head down .

Harry peeked out of his windows every chance he could ; he hadn't seen Louis ever since that evening in his place , and he was worried . He wanted to go there , try figuring out what was wrong , but he kept telling himself Louis wouldn't want him to .

~~

Then the day came , December seventh . 

Liam slept over the night before , and as soon as he woke up he went to Louis . Without knocking he opened the door , closing it quietly behind him . He lifted the covers and joined Louis , bringing him into a hug .

Louis let his tears soak Liam's shirt , shoulders shaking as he cried quietly .

Geoff peeked into the room , sighing softly ; it was a sad day . That day three years ago Jay , Louis' mother , passed away from Leukemia . The day Louis broke into millions of pieces .

Liam rubbed Louis' back , his other hand resting on the back of his head . "We'll get through this , just like we always do . We'll be okay ."

Once Louis' crying calmed down and his tears stopped , Liam sat up a little , "Let's go have breakfast , alright ? Dad made us something nice . After that we can go through the albums ."

Louis nodded and sat up , going to brush his teeth and wash his face .

Once the three sat down to have breakfast , Liam and Geoff kept glancing at each other , while Louis kept his head down at his plate and ate quietly . He finished half his plate beore placing his fork down , grabbing his tea mug and sipping on it . He waited for both Liam and Geoff to finish their food before picking up his plate and empty mug to the sink , before tapping Liam's shoulder .

Liam looked up and offered a light smile . "Albums now ?"

Louis nodded , following Liam to his room with a stool . Liam got on the stool to reach the top of the closet and pulled a few albums out , handing them to Louis before reaching for more albums and getting off the stool , "Let's go sit in the living room ."

Louis followed Liam to the living room , they placed the albums down on the table and sat on the couch . Geoff joined them , Louis grabbed an album and crossed his legs on the couch , opening it . He looked at the pictures , lingering on the ones where Jay was smiling .

Liam was looking at the pictures over Louis' shoulder , bringing his hand up to his cheek when he noticed a tear rolling down . Louis sighed and wiped his cheeks , sniffling as he kept flipping the pages .

Geoff joined them on the couch when Louis picked up the album of their wedding day . It was a small event , close family and friends , but they loved it nontheless . Liam pointed out him and Louis as little kids , Liam with the rings and Louis throwing flower petals down the aisle , a small smile stretched on his lips as his bottom lip wobbled .

Halfway through the albums there was a knock on the door , Liam got up from the couch , "I'll get it ." He went to the door and opened it , giving Harry a smile ,"Hi , come in ."

Harry smiled back , his hand clutching a paper bag from the bakery . He followed Liam to the living room , Louis looked up from the album and the blood drained from his face when he saw it was Harry .

"Hi , stopped by to bring some sweets ." Harry said , placing the paper bag on the living room table along with the albums . Liam nudged him to go sit next to Louis , Harry sat down though still kept a slight distance between them .

He looked down at the album in Louis' lap , smiling softly . "It's your mother , isn't it ?"

Louis nodded , Harry examined the pictures , "She was very beautiful ."

Liam and Geoff exchanged glances before Liam approached Louis , putting his hand on his shoulder . "Lou ."

Louis looked up , Liam gave his shoulder a light squeeze , "I'm telling Harry about Jay ." He said , making Louis shiver . His eyes darted around the room for a little , before he nodded and clutched the album tighter in his hands .

Harry looked at Liam , then at Louis , then back at Liam when he started talking .

"When I was nine and Louis was four , my dad and Jay got married . Four years ago we found out that Jay was sick . Three years ago today she passed away , from Leukemia ."

Harry's heart was beating loudly in his chest , he looked over to Louis , who was avoiding any eye contact as he looked down at the pictures , flipping a page .

"Her passing away hit all of us really hard . Louis was the worst though ." Liam continued . "But we're staying strong , we're holding on . Because that's what Jay would want ."

Harry nodded and and turned his attention to Louis , putting his hand on his arm . Louis was torn between letting Harry bring him into a hug , and pulling away to walk out of the room . When he felt Harry tugging on his arm he gently pulled away and got up from the couch , grabbing the last two albums he hadn't looked at and walked up the stairs .

Liam frowned a little , tearing his gaze from Louis and looking at Harry . "Something happened ."

"Yeah . Kind of ." Harry sighed , "I mean , I'm not sure what's going on right now to be honest ."

"He's pushing you away , isn't he ? He's avoiding you , tried to tell you to leave him alone ."

Harry furrowed his eyebrows . "Yeah , yeah that . About a week ago he gave me a note inside an envelope , telling me he's sorry and that I deserve better . The thing is , there wasn't a word indicating a break up or a break from the relationship , but I haven't seen him all week ."

Liam pursed his lips . "Yeah , it's definitely December Crisis ."

"It's what ?"

"It's - it's December Crisis ." Liam crossed his arms over his chest . "From December first to New Years , is probably the hardest month of our year . There are two things during December , one of them is the anniversary of Jay passing away . The other one , I uh ... I can't tell you without letting Louis know I'm telling you ."

Harry nodded . "Will I ever know ?"

"You will . Just give me a few more days , I'll calm Louis down from today then I'll talk to him ." Liam nodded . "You're a great guy , Harry , and Louis is very lucky to have you in his life . He cares about you a lot , and I'm sure you care about him too ."

"I really do ."

"I know . That's why I won't let Louis push you away , and you need to not let him do it . He doesn't want to push you away , but forces himself to because he convinces himself it's what's best for you . Which isn't true ."

Harry shook his head .

"Just give me a few days . Maybe it'll take more than a week . But I'll help you , and you'll help Louis . I trust you ."

~~

"We'll wait for you here ." Geoff rubbed Louis' back through his thick coat , Liam fixed the beanie on Louis' head before bringing the hood of the coat over his head aswell to keep him warm . He couldn't help but kiss his forehead before taking a step back , watching Louis walking into the cemetery to Jay's grave holding a bouquet of her favorite flowers .

Once Louis reached the grave he couldn't control the tears running down his cheeks , placing a glove-covered hand on his mouth to quieten his cries . He let his fingers trace her name before placing the flowers down on the grave , fixing them to sit nicely and properly .

He stayed on his knees , just staring at her name carved on the stone . When his legs felt numb he stood up wobbling , giving the carved name one last smile before walking back to Liam and Geoff .

Liam waited for him with open arms , Louis fell into his chest and cried , feeling Geoff joining their hug .

"You're strong , and you're going to get through this . You have us , you have Harry . We will always be here for you ." Liam rubbed his shoulder , "Remember what mumma Jay always said ? Just hold on ."

Louis nodded into Liam's neck and pulled away , wiping his cheeks .

"Let's go home now , it's really cold outside ." Geoff pulled the two along back to the car .

~~

Hope you liked it x

~Author