Louis didn't sleep well that night. Instead, his mind was racing thinking about the conversation he would be having with his dad likely the next day. As much as he wanted to find out exactly what had gone down between Lottie and their mum, he didn't want to have to deal with his parents. His anger towards them had been growing every day he spent with Owen, knowing that he had gone six months of this baby's life not knowing he existed. He also felt so guilty for not being there for Lottie and even though he knew that it wasn't really his fault, he couldn't help but feel that inch of guilt creep into his throat every time he let his mind drift off.

So when Louis heard Owen begin to stir just after 5 the next morning, he was quick to get out of bed and soothe the baby, wanting to give Harry the chance to sleep. Louis picked up the whimpering baby and changed his diaper before carrying him to the kitchen and preparing a bottle, which was much harder to do with a baby in hand than he had thought.

But eventually he figures it out and sits down on the couch with Owen, letting the baby hold his own bottle. When Owen was done Louis burped him and rested him on the carpet with his toys so he could clean up the kitchen. It was after they had been playing on the floor for an hour that Harry got up, looking confused with his hair sticking in every direction.

"What time's it?" Harry asked, scratching his lower stomach as he yawned.

Louis smiled, "Think it's almost six. I changed him and fed him and we've been up for 'bout an hour now."

"Oh you should've woken me," Harry said, walking over to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee.

"Na, it's okay, we were fine," Louis explained. "What's the plan for today, though?"

"I usually take Owen to his swim class on Saturdays."

"He's in a swim class?" Louis asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah," Harry chuckled, "I thought it was kind of weird at first but Lottie read about it and really wanted to do it so we've been going for a couple months now. You're welcome to join us."

Louis thought for a moment but he wasn't even sure he had packed a swimsuit. "Maybe next weekend? I've got to make some calls about stuff back home."

Harry nodded and walked over with his coffee, sitting down on the couch. "Gonna call your dad?"

Louis pursed his lips and handed a toy to Owen that had been just slightly too far out of his reach, "Probably, gotta make some work calls too."

They sat in relative silence for a while again, both boys talking to Owen but not much between the two. When Harry had finished his coffee he announced that he better put Owen down for a nap before swim class.

"I'm gonna head out on a run too if you're okay to listen for him?" Harry asked after he had put Owen down.

Louis nodded, "Course I can."

Harry headed out on his run while Louis began to make calls and send emails. It was becoming clear to him that this was going to take longer than he thought and that even if Lottie showed up the next day, he'd want to stay in New York for a while. He had missed out on Owen for so many months and he did truly miss his sister too and wanted to spend time with her again. So Louis emailed the professor that had been supervising his PhD work to see if she had any connections out here who Louis could work with, at least temporarily. He also started doing some research on how long he could stay in the states, which was three months, which meant he had just under three months to either go home or find a way to stay in the country longer term.

He was starting to think that perhaps he should give up his apartment back home. He loved Owen and was really enjoying life here in New York. But he didn't have a job or a place to live and he couldn't find his sister. His sister would be his first priority.

After putting it off for as long as possible, Louis decided he better call his dad. He walked over and pushed Owen's door open just the slightest, checking to see that the baby was still sound asleep, his stuffed bear propped out of reach but where he would be able to see it. Louis smiled softly before sighing and closing the door behind him.

He sat down on the couch and pulled up the contact info for his dad, finger hovering over the call button, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. Louis sighed and let his head fall into his hands.

"You okay?" Harry stood at the open door, a look of concern on his face.

Louis brought his head up and nodded, "Just about to call my dad."

"Oh, I can leave for a bit more if you want some privacy."

"No," Louis said just a second too fast, "Uhm."

Harry took another step into the apartment and closed the door behind him before looking at Louis expectantly, waiting to see what the older boy wanted him to do.

"Uhm can you just stay here?"

"Course," Harry said, walking over to sit on the opposite end of the couch. He didn't look over at Louis but just sat quietly and provided that ounce of support that Louis needed to make the call.

"Hello?" His deep voice came through the phone and all Louis could think was how typical of his father not to check the caller ID before answering.

"Dad, hi," Louis spoke, not quite sure what to say.

"Louis, son, thanks for calling, I uhm, I had no idea, your mother never told me."

Louis couldn't help but scoff, "You tell each other everything."

"I know, son, I was as shocked as you were." Louis pursed his lips in thought but didn't say anything, glancing over at Harry to see the boy watching him calmly. The voice continued through the phone, "I swear I would have done something if I had known. I don't know how to prove this to you but, son, please, I would never do that to your sister."

"I still can't believe that mum would," Louis replied, bringing a hand up to pull at his lip.

They sat in silence for a moment before Louis' father spoke again, "What's his name then?"

"Huh?"

"The baby, you had called him your nephew in the text you sent."

"Oh, uhm, Owen, he's about six months old now."

"Owen," His dad said slowly.

"Yeah, he's, he's the best, Dad. Honestly I think I'm gonna stay for a while, even after we find her," Louis spoke, glancing at Harry to see the younger boy smiling back.

"After you find her? Who, Lottie?"

And then Louis realized that he had neglected to mention that Lottie was missing. He really did not want to be the one to tell his father. Eyes wide he put his hand over the phone speaker and turned to Harry, "He doesn't know."

"Do you want me to tell him?" Harry offered.

Louis thought about it for a moment but Harry had already had to tell him about Lottie and the older boy was really not going to make him do that again.

"Uhm, that's how I found out and why I came out here. Lottie's missing," Louis spoke concisely, keeping all emotion absent from his voice. He really did not want to have an emotional conversation with his father, in fact, that was his least favourite thing in the world.

His father sputtered for a moment, "But- how- why did no one call us?"

"Why would anyone call you guys? You're the ones that kicked her out!" Louis yelled through the phone, standing up from the couch. He felt a hand on his thigh though, and looked down to see Harry making a face at him before mouthing 'the baby'. Right. Louis had forgotten that Owen was sleeping. 'Sorry' he mouthed back to Harry before sitting back down.

Fed up with his father, Louis quickly hung up the phone and tossed it onto the ground before letting himself fall back onto the couch, face hidden behind his hands as he tried his best not to let out any tears. It only took a moment before Louis felt a hand on his shoulder that slowly trailed down and began to rub his back gently. Louis nodded in an attempt to communicate with Harry that he was fine, as he didn't trust his voice at the moment.

After a few minutes Harry spoke, voice quiet and calm, just a tone above a whisper, "You okay?"

Louis nodded but made no objection when Harry let his hand travel to the nape of Louis' neck where he pulled the older boy in for a hug, one that although Louis was cautious, he barely knew the guy, he couldn't help but lean in to.

And Louis knew that he really shouldn't be thinking about Harry in any way but platonic sister's roommate/best friend but Harry had this air around him that made Louis feel... At home. A feeling he used to have exclusively around his sister and in his London flat. But now, Harry made him feel at home and Owen made him feel at home and New York City was slowly starting to feel like home.