once harry goes off to america with the band, he and louis don't talk. it's not like they planned it, if anything they wanted to talk every day, but thanks to the band having constant interviews it's left them no room to communicate successfully with the time difference. what pisses louis off is the fact that some of the interviews won't even get released for months. so they can't talk because he's doing small name interviews that aren't even for now.

the only time louis gets any notion that harry's not letting go of him is when he gets a notification from his twitter.

@harry_styles: acting skills are a bit rusty, might need to take your class lou.

it makes louis smile to see his tweet, and comments on it.

@louistomlinson: not sure you could handle it sweets ;)

he grins when hitting send, and then gets hit with an overwhelming amount of responses. he has a moment of panic when realizing that surely some of his students follow harry and will see what their teacher's twitter is, but it's not necessary a bad feeling knowing that everyone will know that he's got this big pop star.

a text comes in, and louis can't help but discard his normally precious prep time before classes come in.

harry: how are you baby?

harry: i couldn't ever get in touch with you this week bc of work but i take blame for it, i love you so much

louis: it's okay, when do u get back?

harry: soon enough

louis: cmon dont fuck w me

harry: wdym?? i fuck u i don't fuck WITH u

louis: STOP

louis: WHAT IF SOMEONE WERE TO LOOK THRU MY PHONE

he giggles and covers his mouth with his hand.

harry: it's precious info everyone needs it in their life

louis: oh of course they do

harry: what're u doing tn? call u later?

louis: sure, i'm home by 1300

harry: sounds good

it seems as if that's the end of their conversation, especially since the five minute bell rings. so louis turns off his phone and unlocks his classroom door for his students to flow in.

-

"tastes like shit," it's too late for spaghetti anyway, but he still louis dumps it frustratedly into the trash. he's close to collapsing onto the couch but instead there's a sharp knocking on the door.

"who the fuck," he isn't expecting anyone at ten thirty unless it's his one elderly neighbor being paranoid again that her cat hasn't come in for the night when that's when it normally goes out.

to say seeing harry standing there is a surprise is an understatement, "harry!" he gasps and lunges at him.

"hi baby," harry mumbles into his hair and kisses him hard.

louis lets his feet drop back to the ground, "missed you," he hums. harry only kisses him again.

it's far too late when they've finally gotten harry settled in, and he jumps into bed with his boyfriend, "good to be home," he giggles and kisses up louis' neck playfully.

he grabs at his face to stop him, "went home already?" he pecks his lips. "busy day then."

"no," harry murmurs into louis' mouth. but then he pulls back. "kinda just- uh, i meant like here."

louis can feel his face heating up, "with me?"

harry nods, "kind of a forever thing, aren't we?"

louis' heart skips, "yeah," he whispers. "forever thing."

so of course after that happening at past one in the morning, neither of them can sleep afterwards. louis' gotten about four on and off hours, and harry three and a half, using the other half hour to cuddle into louis' side and trace patterns over his arm. except now it's five forty-six in the morning, and it's officially way past sleeping with the tiniest glow of morning coming.

harry's looking at louis, pressing soft small kisses to his shoulder. he sighs, digging his head into the crook of his neck, "lou," he murmurs.

louis hums in acknowledgement, turning his head towards harry. he turns onto his side, scooting down so they're eye to eye. "can't sleep," he whispers. "don't know why... what's got you up?" he rests his hand on harry's head, fingers massaging his scalp and twisting his curls.

harry doesn't say anything for a minute, but then sits up the tiniest bit, "do you wanna go get married?" he asks.

louis sits up with a curious smile on his face, "what?"

harry grins, "let's go get married," he laughs. "we said it ourselves, we're a forever thing and we know it. i don't care what people think. i've been in love with you since the fucking start- i'm always going to love you. quite frankly i'd never been able to deal with the thought of never being with you again so why not," he says. "we've been dating for a couple months, yeah, but i fell in love with you five years ago, lou. i haven't been able to move on in five years. that feeling isn't ever going away."

louis' mouth fishes open and closed, "i... oh god, okay!" he laughs. "bloody hell, so gonna marry you," he sits on harry's hips, grasping the collar of his tshirt to kiss him. "would've done it eventually anyway," he rolls off. "well, c'mon then!" he laughs loudly and changes before stumbling out of the room. "you're taking my last name, styles!" he shouts.

harry lets out an excited shout and jumps up from the bed as well. he pulls on his own sweats and louis' jumper, even though the arms are shorter on him and it's a bit smaller. he loves louis' clothes.

louis' wearing his cute moccasins, waiting outside in the living room by the door. harry grins, a giddy feeling all in his veins. he runs up to louis, lifting him up and kissing him. louis laughs into it, but kisses him back. "c'mon lover-boy," he beams at him. his fingers grip harry's collar. "gonna get me a nice ring?" he teases, kissing up the younger boys neck as he walks backwards.

"the best one they've got," harry catches louis' lip, sucking it in between his lips. he kisses his boyfriend damn good, but breaks it off with a smile and throws him over his shoulder.

they walk out of louis' apartment, into the cold air. harry loves his place, since you don't have to go through a whole elevator and lobby to get to his car. louis' place is the kind of complex where it's not one big building, but instead a small gated community. it was so homey and nice and everyone was kind and real. not caring that harry was a celebrity. also not knowing if they were doing something in the apartment since it was newer and fortunately the walls were made thick between apartments.

harry sets louis down to open the door for him. he runs around the other side to slide into the drivers seat and within a minute they're off, louis chatting off and harry grinning and commenting along with him.

harry pulls up and parks at a jewelers. the only one he knows that's open at nearly six in the morning before the sun is even up. before he can get out, though, louis pulls him in for a kiss. "i love you," louis sighs as they pull away.

harry's thumb rubs over his cheek, "i love you too," he kisses him one last time. louis giggles and blows a raspberry onto harry's neck. he laughs, chasing after louis who has already jumped out of the car. he catches up to him inside the store, to poke at his sides.

louis squeals, hitting at his hands. harry hooks his arm around louis' waist, grinning when a woman comes out.

"hi, can i help you?" she asks.

louis looks to harry giddily, "we're looking for a ring- band," he tells her. "like an engagement or wedding band," he looks back to harry. "engagement?"

harry bites on his lip, "uh, if i were to propose to him only to run off right away and get married within the hour, would you say to get an engagement or wedding band?"

the woman, obviously young and loving the spontaneity of the two- or knowing who harry styles is- smiles to herself, "are you going to have a wedding at some point?"

louis gasps, "yes."

harry opens his mouth, but shrugs instead, "yes," he squeezes louis' hand.

"okay, then i'd personally say get an engagement band for right now even if you're going to get it officiated today anyway. and then get a real nice wedding band for the wedding," she beams at them. "if i could measure you for the ring size?"

louis juts forward, "oh- right."

"my name's carrie in case you need anything else," she opens two cases of louis' size for them to peer into.

harry leans against louis who leans against the glass, eyeing all of the bands. "they're beautiful," he says. he's definitely got his eye on one, and despite the large selection of bands they're looking at, he can't help but notice louis staring at the women's rings. he smirks, gesturing carrie over. "could you open this one, please?" he asks.

she nods, a smile on her face as she opens the other case. sure, it's the case of women's rings with all the jewels, but if that's what louis wants then that's surely what he's going to get.

"you like this one?" harry whispers in his ear, reaching down and running his thumb along the ring.

"it's a women's ring, though. i don't need-"

"no, no. do you like this one?" he asks again.

louis sighs, pursing his lips, "i love it. it's absolutely beautiful," he sighs, leaning his head on harry's.

and he doesn't know if it's allowed or not, but harry picks the ring up from the display. louis' eyes practically glimmer just looking at it, the softest most meaningful smile on his face. "it's gorgeous," he breathes. and yeah, it's not the most expensive ring in the store, or the most valuable or glamorous. not the one with the biggest diamond, but louis can't even look at any of the others with his heart set on that one ring.

"save this one for a wedding and get an engagement one?" harry asks.

but louis shakes his head, "no, i don't want you getting me two rings. just want one, that's it. all i need," he says, beaming.

harry examines the ring. "go wait in the car," he grins at louis, and once the boy scurries off he looks at the woman. "i'll pay whatever i need to if i can buy it right here and now," he tells her.

her eyes widen, "oh- of course, sure," she takes the model from him to get the real one in louis' size, and the two spend twenty more minutes paying for the ring before harry thanks her abundantly and runs out of the store, two little boxes in his pocket.

"c'mere you," louis murmurs when he gets in, leaning over the console and kissing harry. "god, i love you so much," he says.

"i love you too," harry shakes his head at louis, a fond look on his face. the older man giggles, and pushes harry to drive off, which he does. and within only a couple minutes they arrive at a local cafe, small and quaint yet so so popular. they should know from the amount of times they've been there the past few months.

the two teenage like boys run out of the car and into the cafe. the sun is finally rising, and there's surprisingly various people there for it being six in the morning. harry just grins at louis, holding both of his hands.

"louis, i hope you know that this isn't some stupid adventure. this is so real for me- everything i feel for you. i... i couldn't want this any other way right now," he laughs, and gets down onto one knee.

louis is beaming at him, tears forming in his eyes even though he knows exactly what's coming, "just say it," he whispers.

harry grins, pulling louis' box out and opening it as he talks, "will you marry me? louis tomlinson?" he asks. "like, right now?" he laughs.

louis laughs as well, "hell yes, yes yes yes," he says, pulling harry to his feet and kissing him hard. his hands on the back of his neck, fingers curling into his hair.

harry kisses him with such love, smiling gently into it and pressing various kisses to his lips. he pulls the ring out and grabs louis' finger, sliding it on with shaking hands. perfect fit, he thinks, hoisting louis up and spinning him around. the few people around them have started clapping by now, someone whistling.

"we're getting married!" harry shouts, louis laughing hysterically. the tall boy lets the shorter drape over his shoulder, both of them laughing as harry walks out of the cafe. harry puts louis down halfway to their car, and both run to it, getting in and driving off as fast as possible.

they get to the officiating office fairly quickly, and it only takes a half hour to finalize things and have someone up and ordaining it all.

and god, does harry kiss his husband good when they say i do.

"thank you," louis says to the man when they're done, taking the papers from him and nodding before him and harry are off running again. before they get to harry's car louis stops him. both are breathing hard.

"wait," he pants, smiling up at harry. "can we still do the whole ceremony later? i wanna, you know... i wanna have a wedding," he admits it sheepishly.

harry takes his hands and kisses them over and over. louis can't help but fall in love with the way both of their rings look together. harry got a ring for himself due to wanting to be able to show off him and louis to literally everyone, "god, of course we will. we'll do whatever you want," he kisses louis' cheeks and then all over his face.

louis snorts, "stop," he smiles and hugs him tight. he can hear the beat of the mans heart with his head against his chest, and nudges harry's chin with the top of his head when harry leans his chin on it. "love you, babycakes," he says.