it seemed perfect after that. but as a famous saying goes, 'not everything is always what it seems'.

the day was good, running up on december seventeenth. the day was consisting of more sappy christmas movies with the styles siblings cuddled up on the living room couch. they were both laughing and cracking jokes at one another, tossing popcorn and seeing who was best at catching the food in their mouths.

harry's phone began to rang, harry himself reaching over to grab it off the table and check who it was, smiling when seeing a cheeky picture of louis popping up on his caller i.d.

ever since the mistletoe occurrence, which was only a couple days ago, the two were definitely closer than ever. they flicked all the lights off after decorating, keeping on the tree lights and laid back on the couch with the fireplace running. the music on the telly was still playing quietly, but neither paid much mind to it. louis was sitting in between harry's legs, leaning back into his chest while harry's arms were wrapped around his waist, his chin resting on louis' shoulder. thy talked about nothing in particular, just enjoying each other's companies.

he slid over the answer button, lifting the phone to his ears. "hi, lou." his voice was cheery, clearly happy that louis had called.

what made his smile instantly fade was the sniffles heard on the other end. "hi.." his voice was just above a whisper, and harry knew he was crying.

"louis? are you okay?" his voice was laced with obvious concern, sitting up in his spot on the couch abruptly.

a moment of silence was kept, and it felt like ages for harry until he finally heard a broken voice on the other end of the line. louis glanced up at the ceiling of his bedroom, asking himself, why did this have to happen?

"she's gone, harry." louis croaked out, letting the tears take over and spill down his cheeks more freely, though he was trying to hold them back the best he could while on the phone with his- well, the label was yet undecided.

harry's jaw instantly dropped some, his eyes widening and feeling his heart break for the boy he had come to like very dearly over the span of the past month. he never had the chance of meeting the woman, but he heard great things about her from louis. "oh my god.." his voice faltered, and he saw gemma giving him a confused look, yet she stayed quiet.

"s-she just.. she was fine yesterday.." louis sobbed. "but this morning her body just.. gave o-out. the doctor's tried explaining it to me but.. but i couldn't bare to listen."

"baby, i'm so sorry.." harry's voice was gentle and caring, feeling a literal ache in his heart for louis. the pet name had slipped, but he knew louis wouldn't have minded.

and he didn't. louis would've smiled if he could have, but he couldn't bring himself to do so knowing his mother was no longer apart of his life. he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel his heart flutter, though.

"please come over." louis had a pleading tone to his broken and hushed voice, lifting his blankets up over his head but keeping the phone pressed to his ear. "please.. i need you."

"i'm on my way." harry declared, already standing and slipping on his boots. gemma was still in her sitting position on the couch, beyond confused but watched her brother take their mum's car keys and leave the house, staying on the phone with louis.

the entire ride to the tomlinson's house was of harry speaking gentle words to louis in attempts to cheer him up, but he knew he was failing miserably. louis had officially lost both parental figures in his life; and his mother was the one that meant to most to him since his father was never around.

harry eventually hung up the phone once he arrived after notifying louis, stepping out of the car and rushing up to the front door. before he had the chance to even knock, lottie opened the door. her hair was tied up into a ponytail to keep the strands out of her face, where tear stains made their ways down her cheeks.

harry frowned, and lottie stepped aside with a small smile to allow harry into their home. harry noticed it wasn't as well suited as compared to most of the other houses around town, but harry never judged.

he never officially met lottie, but assumed she knew who harry was, from the times of louis nonstop talking about him. the description of luscious curly hair, emerald green eyes, and pretty plump lips was enough for lottie to know who was coming up to knock on their door.

"he's upstairs," her voice was soft, harry toeing off his snow covered boots with a nod. he leaned down and kissed lottie's red and puffy cheeks, giving her a comforting smile before heading upstairs. on the way, he took notice to the other siblings sitting on the living room couch all cramped up. he didn't know who was who, but he knew all of their names were lottie, fizzy, phoebe, and daisy. he assumed the babies that fizzy and phoebe were gently cradling were doris and ernest.

it truly was a big family.

louis' bedroom door was cracked open, harry walking up to the door cautiously. he frowned at the small sobs heard from the other side, knowing they belonged to a boy that deserved every ounce of happiness in the world. harry knocked lightly on the door and hesitating when the door creaked further open.

"'arry?" louis asked, revealing himself from under the covers to look over at the door. sure enough, harry was standing right out in the hallway, a sympathetic look on his face. one look at the broken teenager was enough to send harry to watery eyes himself.

"oh, lou." he whispered, stepping inside of the room and shutting the door behind him. the door didn't have a good lock hold, only creaking back open probably from how old the door itself was. so harry let it be, walking over to the bed where louis laid trembling. louis scooted over, letting harry lay down next beside him.

"c'mere." he kept a quiet voice, opening his arms and allowing louis to curl up into him. his hand rested against harry's chest, gripping at the side of his jacket.

"she never did anything wrong," louis cried. harry carded his fingers gently through his hair, wanting to help soothe him. "she was such a good woman.."

"i know she was." harry didn't even have to know johannah to know that she was a good lady. she tried her hardest to raise six kids on her own, as a single parent, and raised louis to be an amazing person.

"i-i feel so lost, hazza.. what's going to happen to the others?" he sounded completely lost as of what to do, burying his head further into harry's chest.

harry soothingly rubbed his back, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. "lou, i think you're capable of helping raise these girls and even your brother. you can do it, and i'll always be here to support you through it and help you out."

louis sniffled, lifting his head up to glance at the other. "promise?"

harry smiled, lifting his pinky finger and linking it with louis'. "pinky promise."

-

welp.
-a