We had spent the last 10 minutes trying to find a shop that sold gardening tools, but nobody seemed to be carrying them. I had suggested going back and just doing it with what they had, but Louis didn't seem to want to leave yet. I couldn't blame him, the castle could probably get a little boring after being inside for so long and I'm sure he's not the type that got out a lot. 

"What do you think of this top?" Louis asks. We were checking out a few clothing stores. I thought that the castle had a seamstress to make the clothes for the royal family. After asking Louis he said that they did, but he wanted to 'have the experience of buying clothes'. I tried to talk him out of it, but he insisted. 

"I think it looks ugly," I tell him. I had never been one that enjoyed shopping. Gemma always liked to look and try things on, but she never bought anything. I would spend hours with her in stores just trying stuff on. I thought Louis wouldn't've wanted to try on so much, but boy was I wrong. 

"You're ugly," Louis snaps back. I feel myself become taken aback. I wanted to think it was a joke, but something deep inside me told me otherwise. Was I ugly? No, that couldn't be right, Louis would've told me if I were ugly when we first met, right? Maybe not. Maybe he wanted to lead me on. On top of those feelings I'm reminded of my Stepmother's constant lectures about me never finding a partner because I was hideous. I look down at my hand and feel the tears start to come to my eyes. 

"Lad, I'm joking. Are you crying? Don't cry! Harry you're beautiful and don't let anyone tell you differently."  Louis places the shirt with the others and takes a seat next to me. He places a hand on my leg and another on my shoulder. I turn to look at him, becoming embarrassed as I try to wipe away the stray tears that fell. I felt as if the room was suffocating me as it became eerily quiet. 

"What are you staring at? Mind you're own pathetic lives and keep your damn noises out of mine!" Louis' voice was strong and commanding. I couldn't believe he had to stand up for me. It wasn't his job to do this. If I didn't let Louis' words get to me then I wouldn't be crying to begin with. 

"We're leaving," Louis huffs and grabs my hand. I take it and he helps me up, giving me a slight shoulder rub. Before we can turn to leave a young boy comes over to us.

"Are you two dating?" He asks. We both look at each other. Louis' eyes widen as he looks at the boy again. 

"No, I'm marrying his sister," Louis announces. I didn't want to be hopeful, but I could almost hear the drop in his voice. He sounded...disappointed almost. I try not to think about it too much. 

"I'm sorry to assume, but you guys would be cute together though," The boy was polite enough. Louis was about to open his mouth to speak, but a woman grabs the boy's shoulder and pulls him back. 

"I'm sor--you're the prince! Oh god...Erik apologize this instance! I'm terribly sorry for my son's behavior," The mother scolds. The mother leans down to her son's ear, "What have I told you about assuming gay people live here? Stop it!" I wanted to chime up and say something, but before I could the lady was pulling her son away from us. 

I look at Louis, wondering if I should bring it up. I see a smile slip on his face as he shakes his head. He must have thought it was funny. I thought for sure he was be disgusted by it, but he wasn't. He grabs my hand and pulls me outside. 

"We should probably head back," Louis mutters as he leads us to the carriage that was waiting for us a few stores down. 

The ride back didn't take very long. Neither Louis or I spoke the whole time, which made things a little awkward. I wasn't sure if I was overthinking everything, which I had a habit of doing, but it felt...different. I couldn't put it into words. 

When we get back to the castle it was nearly sundown. Louis and I made our way to the garden. "We should still try to get at least something done," I say. I look up at the sky and notice the clouds starting to form, "I think it's about to rain so we should probably hurry up." The only real thing I knew how to do was weed. I take a seat in front of some of the flowers and start pulling out the weeds just as I feel something hit my side

"What the--" I turn and see the prince, sitting a few feet away with a handful of dirt. He smiles deviously at me.

"Sorry," He hums innocently. 

"This shirt doesn't need dirt stains on it," I tell him. I was mostly joking, and I'm pretty sure Louis could tell. I turn back to the weeds and start digging again when I feel a handful of dirt collide with my thigh. My head snaps up again and I see Louis smirking at me, a handful of dirt in his hands. 

"I'm a rebel," He announces. He was so not getting away with this. I grab some dirt myself and hurl it at him. It lands in the middle of his chest with a satisfying thud. Louis acted as if he had been shot. I feel myself smiling at my work. 

"Oh this is war," He warns. Before I know it another pile of dirt was being hurled at me. After a while dirt was being thrown everywhere and we were chasing each other like madmen. I watch as the dirt stopped flying and everything seemed still...to still. I was about to say something when I feel a pair of arms wrap themselves around my waist.

"Gotcha," Louis whispers in my ear. It sends a tingle down my spine as I feel his hot breath in my ear. I spin around so we're facing each other. His arms were still wrapped around my waist, but now we were nearly nose to nose. I watch as Louis' gaze drops from my eyes to my lips and then back again. Louis slowly starts to lean towards me when the rain starts. It came down in sudden sheets, soaking us to the bone. Louis let's go of me and laughs, his thoughts breaking. We race towards the door and once we're inside we sneak back to my room.

"Best day of my life, hands down," Louis announces as he pulls off his soaking shirt. I try my best not to stare, but it was rather difficult. 

"Probably wouldn't be as good as your wedding tomorrow," I sigh. I go towards my dresser and pull out a long-dry shirt. I pull the wet one off as quick as possible and try to replace it just as fast, but I could still feel Louis' gaze tearing into me. I quickly slip off my undergarments and replace them once I know the shirt covers everything. 

"I don't think so," Louis says. "I've never had a proper dirt fight with such a...great friends." I turn around to find he was still shirtless. I cough awkwardly and look at my bare feet. We had abandoned our shoes when we entered, hoping not to get the palace floor wet and muddy. 

"Sorry, I don't have anything else to wear, could I burrow some of your clothes?" He asks. I nod. Louis walks over to the dresser and pulls out a change of clothes. 

"Don't look yea?" I suck in a breath before turning around. I pick at my finger nails as I wait for the prince to be done. I hear a rustling of fabric and turn around only when I hear Louis' voice again. 

"Jeez your huge Harry," Louis breathes. I turn and see that my night gown that fell a little above my ankles, fell to the floor on him. I take it as a compliment as I head to my mirror to sort out my hair. I turn around when I hear a rustling a fabric. 

 I see Louis under the covers of my bed, the cover pulled up to his nose. "Getting all cozy, huh?" I tease. 

"Can I sleep here? I'm really cold and don't wanna leave now," Louis whines. I sigh and agree. He let's out a sigh of relief as I go to take a seat next to him in the bed. He sits up a little bit, pulling the covers up with him. He stares at me for a moment, not saying anything. After a while of it I speak up. 

"What? Do I have something on my face?" I reach up to see and Louis shakes his head, letting out a little sigh and looking down. 

"So? Where are you going to sleep?" Louis asks, turning the attention to something else. 

"My bed," I answer. I hadn't slept in a real bed for a long time. The last couple nights I've slept so well and I wasn't ready to give that up. I didn't care if an 80 year old man was sleeping in my bed, he had better make room for me. 

"But I'm sleeping here," Louis protests, motioning towards the entirety of the mattress. I try to hold back a laugh, but a little one slips out. 

"Then I guess we're sharing," I climb into bed, without letting Louis protest. He doesn't say anything as I lift the blankets and lay on the opposite side of him. 

"I hope you know I like to cuddle in my sleep. I can't sleep without a good cuddle, especially if someone is sleeping in the same bed as me," Louis warns. He scoots closer to me and wraps and arm around my waist hestitantly. He had meant it as a threat, I was assuming a last resort to get me out, but I wasn't going to complain. I turn around so my back is facing him. He manages to slip his arm under my neck and I rest it there. I attempt to find a comfortable place on his neck as he grabs my hand. 

"Night," He whispers against my neck. I can feel his lips brush the back of my neck as I talk and I pray to god nobody finds us. 

 ~_~_~

Hey guys. Quick little thing. If you read the original you may be wondering why I changed Emilie to Erik and all of the pronouns for that character. My friend who inspired the character wanted me to change it and I'm nice so I did (that's who the dedication is in case you were wondering) Hope I didn't confuse anyone. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed! ~B