Maybe he had a drug addiction he didn't know about and these were the side effects. Or he was in a coma after a terrible accident and he simply had a vivid imagination, that was keeping him alive. Or maybe he had entered another parallel universe and this time for real because this couldn't actually be happening to him right now. It was strictly impossible. He couldn't be sitting here for real with his mother, Zoey and Harry. The four of them couldn't be hosting his two oldest younger sisters with their partners while his daughters were playing upstairs and all of this in his childhood home. No, this had to be a very real-looking dream.

And this dream robbed him of any words he could say to them, so he watched from his place on the couch how Harry conversed with Sophia and Emily like they had known each other for years. The three of them got along so great and Zara and Tyler looked absolutely and completely charmed by Harry just like his mother and Zoey from the moment they had met him a month ago.

It has been a whole month now and so much has changed even though nothing has really changed. Harry was his boyfriend now and he was getting along with his family perfectly, the girls adored him and had advised Louis to let Harry into their lives for good and Louis was trying. He really was but he was still struggling with grasping this entire situation and believing it was real. Stuff like this didn't happen to him normally. He has never had love, never felt it in a romantic way before although he had tried. It's been six days by now and Louis wasn't used to being in a relationship with that man yet. That wonderful and perfect man, who wanted to be with him for some unknown reason. It still felt like a forbidden dream.

A dream he wanted to be reality. He wanted it to be them at the end of all things but he wasn't sure that was in the cards. For six days, they had mostly lived in a bubble. Only work had pulled him back to reality but as soon as he had been home, fantasy land had taken over and had made him forget about all of his doubts and worries and still-existing fears. He was mainly fighting a battle against himself and he was losing somehow but he wanted to win.

"Lou, are you with us?" Harry touched his hand softly, stopping his finger from twitching with nerves and pure anxiety.

"Mh?" Louis' head snapped up, glancing at everyone looking at him questioningly. "Yeah, sorry. My thoughts were drifting away".

"I noticed that. What's on your mind?" Harry hooked softly.

"Nothing important, Haz" Louis patted Harry's hand tensely. "What were you guys talking about? I didn't catch anything".

"Funny that you're asking. We were talking about you" Jasmine crooked her head, looking smugly at him. "And the girls".

"What about us?" Louis hooked suspiciously.

"I told them that Zayn mentioned something to me" Zoey spoke up now. "Is it true that he gave his room to Eve for now and is rooming with Liam? I mean, back at your apartment".

"Yes, that's true but only temporarily" Louis felt himself being dragged out of his dreamy bubble and back into the harsh reality. "Eve and Mae can't share a room any longer and Zayn and Liam came up with that solution for the time being but I'm looking for something better. I can't let them do that but the girls are getting too old to share a room. They're fighting so much lately".

"So, you're trying to give them separate rooms to reduce the fights and give them space" Jasmine understood where he was coming from. "That's probably the most efficient way, Darling".

"I know. Especially now that they're used to it from living here. They can't go back to sharing a room for much longer, which sadly means we definitely have to move at some point next year. I hate moving" Louis tried to come off as unbothered but inside, he was already freaking out about this entire situation. He was screwed.

"We will all help you. We're only a call away. You can count on us" Harry assured him, squeezing his hand in an effort to ease his mind. Louis appreciated that gesture but it wasn't working.

"Thanks, Haz" Louis smiled sincerely at him though.

"Buttercup, there is something me and your sisters wanted to talk to you about for a while now" Jasmine cleared her throat, gaining his attention immediately. She looked oddly hesitant right now.

"Okay, what is it? Please, just tell me" Louis felt his throat going dry, his heart beating faster with this painful uncertainty.

"I've been telling them that Zoey and I have been thinking about moving to a smaller place because the house is too big for only two people. That brought up the big question of what happens to the house" Jasmine told him shockingly. "We want you to have it".

Blinking rapidly, Louis didn't trust his ears. "What?".

"We all talked about it and ...".

"Why would you wanna move out? You love this house" Louis cut his mother off, too shocked to comprehend what was happening.

"I do, yeah. And I always will but it's too big for just Zoey and me, so we decided to look for a flat for us. We're not getting younger, Buttercup" Jasmine reworded her reasoning slowly.

"But why me?" Louis had a hard time processing this.

"Well, you're my firstborn. Good reason" Jasmine chuckled softly to help him relax, making everyone else chuckle along with her. "And as I said before, I talked to your sisters about this and we all agreed on it. It makes the most sense to give the house to you".

"Because I need it the most" Louis muttered under his breath.

"Not exactly, brother" Sophia took over now. "I don't need it, which is pretty obvious. I already live with my husband in our house".

"And me and Zara don't plan on ever having a family of our own and we love our apartment. We don't need more space" Emily continued to explain their reasoning, Zara nodding along.

"And Luna and Stella both said they're not sure if they'll even end up back in England when they settle down, so don't worry about them, Sweetheart" Jasmine wrapped up their explanation. "You are the best choice for this, Louis. I would love to see you and your family live in this house. Like you're doing right now, just for good".

Still in shock, Louis let the words sink in and thought it over. This was the best thing that could happen to him. The house was paid for, so he didn't have to pay any rent.  Only the normal bills for water and electricity and stuff, which would obviously be a bit more on his own and with this much space but still an improvement. The girls would have lots of space and a garden and the school would be closer. Their future secondary school as well. It felt too good to be true. Maybe this was another dream he was having.

"Are you really serious, Mum?" Louis had to double-check.

"Of course, Buttercup. Deadly serious. I'd love for you and the girls to be at home here permanently" Jasmine nodded smilingly.

"And you're really good with this, too?" Louis felt like he could cry out of relief and happiness but he had to make sure that he really could. He had to make sure they weren't just doing this out of pity. "You can say if you don't really wanna ...".

"Louis, we're all on the same page here" Zoey interrupted him, knowing him way too good. "Now it's up to you to accept this".

"Fuck" Louis breathed out blown away, rubbing a hand over his face in disbelief. "How can I say no to that? Of course, I'm gonna take it. Wouldn't want you to sell it to a stranger instead".

"Me neither, Buttercup" Jasmine smiled warmly at him.

"Shit" Louis could feel some tears brimming behind his eyes, so he stood up and walked over to the armchair his mother was sitting in. "Thank you, Mum. You have no idea what you just did".

"I think I do" Jasmine whispered into his neck, hugging him tightly. "And you're welcome, Darling. Everything for my boy".

"Don't make me cry when I'm practically sitting on your lap like a baby already" Louis chuckled emotionally, feeling so much at once.

"You'll always gonna be my baby, Buttercup" Jasmine stroked over his bag, making him fully sit on her lap now. "Always".

"Fine".

"I wanna tease the shit out of you but this scene is making me way too happy to do that" Sophia commented choked up.

"Same here" Emily didn't sound any better.

"Oh, sorry" Harry apologised when his phone started ringing. "That's Sean. I better take that. Excuse me for a second".

Perched up on his mother's lap, Louis watched Harry disappear into the guest room with his phone tucked between his shoulder and his ear. Curiosity was almost killing him. Sean knew what they were doing right now, so for him to call was strange. It had to be something important and Louis was a nosy motherfucker.

"Look at your lovesick face. It's disgusting" Emily sniggered evilly.

"He's gonna come back. Don't worry. You'll survive a few minutes without him, dearest brother" Sophia joined the teasing.

"Funny" Louis dead-panned. "You're always so hilarious".

"Behave yourselves. This is a nice moment" Jasmine warned her children lightly. "I hope it was alright to bring this up with him in the room. I wasn't sure ...".

"No, it's fine, Mum" Louis assured her honestly. "He knows I've been freaking out about this whole separate room situation. So, it's alright. I'm trying to be as honest as possible without scaring him off. So far, it's been working. So, there's that".

"You're still doubting this. You and him working out in the long run" his mother understood what he was implying with his words.

"Sometimes. Mostly when I can see through the foggy ends of our bubble here but inside that bubble, I'm sure. I wish I could be that sure outside of it but I can't. Not yet. There's too much to worry about. Too much at stake here to get lost in that bubble" Louis let them see what was going on in his mind the past six days.

"I don't think anyone can be completely sure, like ever" Tyler spoke up surprisingly. "I'm not sure and we're married. I'm sure that I love her and that I want us to be together for the rest of time, but I can't be sure that's gonna happen. I'm sure that I'm willing to fight for us and do whatever it takes to make her happy but I can't be sure it will be enough. I can't be sure we won't end up heartbroken".

"But we still chose each other and our love and it was the right thing to do" Sophia smiled lovingly at her husband. "They did it as well and can't know if they won't end up fighting so much that it will break them but they're taking the risk".

"Because love is always worth the risk" Zara backed her up. "If you're sure that you love him and that you're ready and willing to fight for what you have and work on your relationship every day, then it can work, no matter what reasons you come up with it that it can't and won't. You can make it but it won't be easy all the time".

"I think they said everything I wanted to say, brother. But a word of advice. Don't ruin this by overthinking. The way you two look at each other is something I haven't seen before. It makes me wanna squeal and coo at you. The love is written all over your face and reflected in your eyes. Both of your eyes, Louis" Emily shared her view on this situation with him softly.

"Really?" Louis croaked out, not sure what he was asking.

"Yes, really. And now go and find out what is going on. I know you are dying to ask him what this call was all about" Jasmine motioned for him to leave. "Go, Buttercup".

"Okay, okay. I love you" Louis kissed her cheek and then looked at the other people in the room. "All of you".

Getting off his mother's lap, Louis walked down the main hallway and headed for the guest room, knocking on the door. "Haz?".

"Come in, Lou" Harry's voice sounded through the door, so he peaked inside and saw his boyfriend rummaging through his stuff.

"What are you doing, Haz?" Louis stepped into the room.

"I'm looking for one of my suits. I swore I packed one" Harry looked almost frantic, throwing clothes around the room.

"Why are you looking for a suit?" Louis asked bewildered.

With a sigh, Harry stopped what he was doing and looked at Louis, patting a spot on the bed for him to sit down next to him. Closing the door behind him, Louis walked over to the bed and sat down next to Harry, who seemed a little restless.

"I need a suit for the annual charity event from the hospital. Sean called to remind me in case I forgot and I did. It totally slipped my mind and now I have no time left because it's tomorrow and I'm kinda freaking out" Harry let him in on what was going on.

"I'm gonna help you find your suit, Baby. Promise" Louis took a hold of his hand. "What's the event for?".

"To be quite honest, I'm not entirely sure. Probably some fighting against cancer thing but it's really only there to make people donate money for a good cause. That's why it's always in the first week of December. Around Christmas time, rich people are easier coaxed into being charitable. I can't remember a single year where they really stated what they were collecting money for. It was always something with cancer but that's all I know" Harry rambled oddly.

"That does sound like a good cause to me, even without all the details" Louis caressed Harry's hand soothingly. "And you have to attend the event because you worked there, right?".

"It's part of the reason. Everyone who thinks they're someone is gonna be there and it's expected to show up and catch up ...".

"Then we should really find your suit" Louis pulled him into a standing position, ready to help him as best as he could.

"Do you have a suit?" Harry asked instead of searching.

"Yes? Why?".

"Would you like to come with me? As my date?" Harry bit his bottom lip anxiously. "You really don't have to but I'd love you to".

Overwhelmed, Louis stared up at his boyfriend for an awfully long time before getting any words out. "I do ... You'd really want me ... Are you sure about this? Taking me as your date?".

"Who else would I take? You're my boyfriend, Louis. I don't want anyone else there with me" Harry touched his shoulders gently.

There were a million reasons running through Louis' mind why he shouldn't agree to this and even more fears of what could go wrong but a small part of him wanted to have faith. This would be their ordeal. Their first actual outing in Harry's social circle. It was something Louis needed to face and he knew it. If he wanted them to work he had to put effort into this relationship, even if that meant going to this event with him. An event he knew he'd hate.

"Would that count as our first date?" Louis swallowed his worries and chose to make Harry happy instead. To do this for him.

First, Harry's face showed pure confusion but then he started beaming like the bloody sun. "Definitely, yes. We didn't have one yet and that is a shame. What better place to have a fancy first date than a charity event in an extravagant hall?".

Louis could name a dozen better places but he bit his tongue. "And all dressed up in suits and ties. Marvellous".

"I haven't seen you in a suit and I can't wait for it" Harry let his hands wander down to Louis' defined waist.

"Here, that's me at my sister's wedding" Louis showed him a picture of himself in a black tight-fitting suit at Sophia's wedding.

"Shit, maybe it was better that I missed it. You look breathtaking, Lou" Harry's eyes almost popped out of his head. "How am I supposed to get anything done with you looking like that?".

"I think we're gonna share that problem" Louis felt his cheeks heating up only trying to picture Harry in a nice suit.

"No, definitely not. This right here should be illegal" Harry pointed at the picture on Louis' phone. "You shouldn't be allowed to look this hot in a suit. Maybe you should stay home".

"Because otherwise, I'll keep you from what? Donating money for a cause you don't even know and catching up with people you don't necessarily like? Sounds terrible" Louis mocked him lovingly.

"I really don't know why I like you. You're so mean to me" Harry pouted exaggeratedly, obviously wanting to be kissed right now.

"I don't know that either" Louis pulled him down into a quick kiss, making Harry whine when he backed away. "Later, Baby. Now we should really find our suits. Can't embarrass you tomorrow".

"You'd never, Lou".

From the moment they stepped inside, Louis regretted agreeing to this in the first place. The good cause and Harry's begging doe eyes had persuaded him but looking around the room full of people made him already feel like he didn't belong here. For the sake of his boyfriend and their relationship, he tried to ignore that feeling and put on a smile, faking that he was unaffected and fine.

For something over an hour, Harry introduced him to too many people, whose names he already couldn't remember. Some of them were actually decent enough to not make him feel completely out of place but the majority of these charitable pricks were hot air and nothing more. Every new introduction made him feel worse about himself. Every time another surgeon or consultant or doctor or assistant medical director gave him a dirty look for being here and being Harry's boyfriend, Louis' barely existing confidence dwindled until nothing was left. He felt disgusting and unworthy.

"Lads, save me" Sean pushed through some people towards them with new drinks in hand, offering them to both of them. "Here".

"Thanks" Louis accepted one of the drinks needily. He was so glad to have Sean here with them. At least one good person.

"Please, tell me you hate it here as well. I'm about ready to kill someone and we're here to save people" Sean downed almost his whole drink greedily. "Don't leave me alone again".

"You can stay with us, Sean" Louis felt a bit better at hearing how little Sean was enjoying this charity event.

"You're a lifesaver, Louis. If I have to endure one more empty conversation about ...".

"Doctor O'Kelly, Doctor Styles. A pleasure to see you here" A man walked over to them and Louis wanted to leave. He remembered that man from the barbecue party. "Sorry. Harry and Sean".

"Hi, Jack" Harry shook that man's hand politely. "Oh, as I see, Mason is also here. It's good to see you".

"Where else would I be? My wife loves the appetizers. I couldn't keep that from her" Mason joined their little group of now five.

"Gets her going later, he?" Jack nudged his side nastily.

"You can bet on it" Mason looked so smug. Louis wanted to puke.

"Are you accompanied by anyone? I haven't seen Bailey around" Jack asked nosily. "And Josh came with Kyle, I think".

"Bailey had other plans but is sad that she's missing it ...".

"Josh and I broke up a while ago, remember?" Harry's voice sounded unusually sharp. "Was the hot topic, I guess".

"I don't really care about gossip" Jack shrugged as if that would convince anyone. "But I think I heard about that. Such a shame. There aren't many male charge nurses, which limits your already few options as a g ...".

"I appreciate your sympathy for my life but I guess that's only up to me, don't you think?" Harry cut him off harshly, earning more than one surprised face. "I'm here with Louis today actually".

At that, Jack and Mason both glanced at him as if they hadn't seen him before and the disgust was crystal clear reflected in their eyes, which hurt more than it should. Exchanging a disapproving and judgemental look, they focused back on Harry and Sean.

"It's very generous of you to take a friend with you to such an amazing event, that he normally would never be able to attend on his own. Very kind and charitable" Mason sipped from his drink.

"He's my ...".

"Harry, long time no see" Josh headed their way with Kyle, his eyes directly falling onto Louis. "Oh. Hi, little waiter. I should have known you'd be here. I always knew you wanted his dick and you were jealous that I had it instead of you but guess the tables turned by now, mh?!".

"Not everyone's like you, Josh" Louis spoke up for the first time in almost two hours. "I don't have ulterior motives as you did".

"Frankly, I even believe you" Josh admitted surprisingly. "I just don't believe that Harry actually wants you for more than your perfectly round asset. It's nice but is it really enough to endure the rest? I don't think so. He'll get bored. You just wait".

"Mine and Louis' relationship is really none of your business, Josh. You cheated on me more than once. You should be quiet" Harry intervened now to stop this from escalating.

"Because you never really wanted me. You wanted him the entire time. Don't think I didn't know that. I saw the obvious sexual tension between you two but that's all it is. You have to know that ...".

"Stop making excuses for your unfaithfulness" Harry interrupted him annoyed. "This here is no place for that kind of drama".

"Then why did you bring your booty call?" Josh discredited their entire relationship in one single breath, smirking maliciously.

"He's my boyfriend, so you better stop it" Harry looked highly uncomfortable by now, which made Louis feel pretty guilty.

"You're actually with that waiter? I thought you were kidding" Jack gaped in pure and utter disgust. "A simple nurse is the absolute bare minimum and you know that. Someone with your title ...".

"Can decide who I date on my own" Harry cut him off tensely.

"I guess for some fun he looks decent enough but you're thirty. You should find something serious ...".

"Do you even hear yourself talking?" Sean had enough of their bullshit, unknowingly stopping Louis from snapping. "That's exactly why Bailey is busy. You have no right to judge their r ...".

"Come off it now, Sean" Josh rolled his eyes at him provokingly.

"You better don't test me. I'm still mad at you" Sean warned him.

"Gentleman, relax" Mason went in between them laughingly. "We were only asking out of curiosity. If Harry wants to bang a waiter for now, that's none of our business. No matter how pathetic it is".

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Louis exploded now, fed up with their intrusive and disrespectful comments about him.

"Me? Who do you think you are? Do you know who I am?" Mason glared at him with dark eyes.

"I don't bloody care" Louis huffed enraged.

"Look at the little waiter getting big-headed only because he's getting dicked down by Doctor Styles. Laughable" Mason taunted him, Jack, Josh and Kyle joining his laughter. "You won't talk to me like that ever again, you understand, scam?".

"I talk to you however I want" Louis didn't back down but he was definitely breaking inside. "I don't care who you are".

"You should really know your place, minimum wager" Mason shot him a derogatory look that shook his very core.

"Don't waste your breath on that little waiter, Mas" Jack eyed him condescendingly. "He isn't worth our time".

"Yeah? I'd like to see you at a restaurant without us little waiters then. Have fun serving your own food" Louis wanted to get out of here but he wouldn't give in first. He just couldn't.

"Uh, feisty" Josh mocked him entertained. "Doctor Styles is gonna fuck that out of you in no time. It isn't cute or sexy".

"I can knock that smirk out of your face sooner if you like".

"I'd like to see you try".

"And that's your boyfriend? A bit embarrassing, don't you think?" Jack clicked with his tongue. "Should have kept Josh".

"As if he didn't cheat on him" Louis snorted offended.

"At least, Josh has manners and knows his place. I can't say the same about you, which makes Josh better in my eyes and ...".

Louis was about to defend himself yet again when he heard Harry say something to Sean that made him freeze. "Maybe I really shouldn't have brought him along with me".

Just like that, everything stopped for him. Jack, Mason and Josh smirked smugly at him, having heard his painful words as well. Sean looked like he was pitying him and Harry was just pale but Louis didn't care. With a lump in his throat and tears brimming in his eyes, Louis turned around and headed for the nearest exit. He could hear Harry running after him but he didn't stop.

"Louis, wait!".

"Why should I? I heard you loud and clear and they did too" Louis stopped in the middle of an empty hallway, rubbing his nose.

"I didn't ...".

"As much as it hurts to say it, you're right, Haz" Louis didn't let him speak. "I shouldn't be here and they know it. No one in there gets why I'm here with you and I don't either. None of them understands why you're with me and I get that, okay? They're wondering why you'd bother to waste your time with me and I'd like to know that too. Why? It's pointless. I don't belong here, Haz. But you do".

"Don't say that, Lou. It's not pointless" Harry stepped closer to him but Louis backed away on instinct. "Neither you nor Sean or I really belong here. Those people are not my people".

"No, they're not because you're better than them but I still don't get why you wanted me here. This entire thing is superficial and fake and they're all acting collected and interested and generous but all they wanna do is brag and put others down. Why would you think I'd fit in there? Why am I here?" Louis was getting desperate. All those snarky and nasty comments had gotten to his head.

"I thought you might like to accompany me to this because it's for charity and ...".

"Brilliantly perfect just like you?" Louis needed to get away but he didn't know how. "Great idea. No chance of feeling left out".

"I'm not perfect, Lou" Harry stated seriously.

"Yes, you are" Louis insisted stubbornly.

"How can I be perfect if you don't understand why I wanted you here with me? If what you're saying is true, how can I be perfect when I'm apparently only stringing you along for fun? Why would I do that, Louis?" Harry sounded so pained.

"Because a part of you still believes this attraction between us is enough but it's not and they can all see it ...".

"It's not just attraction. We're in love" Harry frowned deeply.

"We might be and inside our little fantasy dreamland bubble that might be enough but here outside in the real world, it's not. Haz, you deserve so much more than me and you finally need to accept that. Everyone else in there can see it and knows we won't work ...".

"But we work, Louis" Harry stepped closer and this time, Louis didn't back away. He wasn't strong enough. "Today doesn't count".

"Why? Because it showed you the ugly truth you don't wanna see or accept?" Louis fought hard against his tears. "You should go back inside and get all the praise and attention you deserve. Just let me leave and find someone else, who's at least a nurse and has no family burden or armies of insecurities. Someone who's ...".

"Someone like who, Louis?" Harry asked when Louis fell silent.

"I don't know, okay?" Louis let his tears fall now. "Someone better. Someone who isn't me. Let me go, Haz".

"No, Louis. Please, listen to me. We can fix this and ...".

"And what?" Louis walked backwards to get to the exit. "We don't belong together, Haz. You're the only one left who needs to accept that. Don't make this any harder and let me go, please".

Glancing at Harry one last time, Louis reached the exit and ran outside. With tears streaming down his face in the cold December air, he fished out his phone and called a cab to get home. They had come here in Harry's car because of course they did. Only a few minutes later, the cab arrived and Louis climbed inside. On the entire way home, he tried to get his tears under control but it was pointless. As soon as he thought about Harry, the tears came back and worse than before. The cab driver must think he was crazy but Louis didn't care. Crazy was better than pathetic.

"We're here" the cab driver announced when they reached his house. Louis paid him and got out, waving at him. "Thanks".

Praying that his mother would be asleep already, he entered the house and sneaked through the hallway but to no avail. Jasmine saw him immediately from her seat on the couch and frowned when she noticed his tear-stained face but he signalled her to stay back, trying to get his composure back but in vain.

"What's wrong, Sweetheart? What happened?" Jasmine asked alarmed, her voice endlessly gentle.

"Nothing. I'm fine. I'm going to bed" Louis rushed upstairs into his attic to get away from everyone. He wanted to cry his heart out.

Feeling the weight of the day crashing down on him, Louis sank to the floor in front of his bed and searched through his phone until he found the pictures from the concert in London. They had all been so blissfully and ignorantly happy. Just them in their bubble where no one could have hurt them. That bubble had burst now.

Through his sobs, he almost didn't hear his door being opened but only almost. Wiping his tears away and locking his phone, his head snapped up and he saw Harry hovering by the door unsurely. Not entirely sure why he was here, Louis only stared at him dumbly.

"I ..." Harry croaked out hoarsely, shaking his head. "It makes me really sad how bad you think about yourself and how twisted your view of us is, Louis. There is no one better for me than you and you're the one who needs to accept that. Not the other way around. I don't care about what they think but what you think".

"Haz, I ...".

"No, Louis. You're done talking. You'll listen to me now" Harry talked over him, approaching him determinedly. "I will never fully understand why you think you're not worthy or not good enough to be with me because that's utter bullshit. I only know that there is something so deeply rooted in your brain that makes you think the worst of everyone who studied medicine. It keeps you from seeing me as a normal person, which is odd because you see Sean as a normal person but not me. And that's so strange because you're the one person that knows me better than anyone else but also doesn't know me at all. I'm not like them, Louis".

With a lump in his throat, Louis averted his eyes to the floor that he was still sitting on. "I know you're not like them and will never be like them or ... I don't even know myself why I can't just ignore them. It's a me problem, Haz. There's nothing you can do to ...".

"But why do you still think you're not enough for me?" Harry took one big step towards him, falling to his knees right in front of him. "Yes, I studied medicine, which requires a lot but it doesn't make me better than you. I don't have rich parents or overly rich friends or ex-boyfriends that you have to impress or outdo".

"Except for Sean" Louis pointed out matter-of-factly.

"You love Sean" Harry smiled briefly. "You see him as your normal friend. Why can't you ...".

"With you, it's different and I don't know why" Louis looked up at him for a moment before looking down again. "The voices in the back of my mind always ruin everything. I pictured a future with you here and there and I technically can see it but I can't help and still feel like you deserve more than I can give you".

"But I don't, Lou. I don't want whatever you think I'd deserve. I only want happiness and love. Like my parents. You know we were just an average-income family when I started medical school. My Mum works at a hotel and my Dad was an electrician. Nothing fancy and they struggled with paying for my studies, so I worked just like everyone else. Just like you. I'm not that different from you, Louis" Harry scooted closer to him, still on his knees, his eyes soft.

"But you said to Sean that it might have been better to not bring me along today" Louis reminded him when all his other points and arguments were meaningless. He was grasping for straws here.

"I meant that I regretted putting you through this. It hurt to see you crumbling right in front of me with each new person you met and each new judgemental prick and their brainless comments. It hurt and made me angry how Josh talked to you and it was my fault. I asked you to come with me and I shouldn't have done that. I didn't think clearly. I should've stayed home with you, Louis. Where I truly belong" Harry touched his knee lightly with a bashful smile.

And all reason left Louis right there. Even after facing all of these highly-regarded and important doctors today, who all judged him for who he was, Harry was still here with him, fighting for them. How could he possibly still doubt them after this? He was done for.

"Fuck, I love you, Haz" Louis sniffled emotionally, a smile breaking through on his face. His princess boy was literally the best.

"Do you really?" Harry sounded so shocked and disbelieving but hopeful. "Please, tell me you mean it, Lou".

"Of course, I do. I'd never joke about that, especially not right now. I love you, Haz" Louis couldn't stop crying like a total nutcase.

A choked-up sob slipped past Harry's lips before he threw his whole body into Louis' arms, climbing into his lap and pressing a wet kiss onto his lips. "I love you just as much, Lou".

Crying and kissing wasn't a good combination but they didn't care. Their teeth clashed, their noses bumped against each other and their tearful smiles kept them from actually kissing longer than a second but it was absolutely perfect. Right here, with Harry in his lap, Louis felt at home. He felt safe and happy and seen.

"You're all I want, Lou. Please, believe me. I don't need or want huge mansions or fancy cars or stupid...".

"I believe you, Baby" Louis wiped some of his tears away. "I did before but my doubts were stronger than me at times and made me question everything and overthink every little detail, which could have ruined us but you never gave up on me. You're here with me".

"Where else should I be? You're the first person, who really sees me for who I am and that although your mind was trying to tell you different things about me. I'm not ashamed to let you see all of me and I've never felt that way, Lou. So vulnerable but safe" Harry nuzzled into the touch of his hand.

"I feel the same way, Haz. Absolutely defenceless".

Over the moon, Louis pulled him into another kiss, a bit more passionate and coordinated than before. Their kiss deepened and Louis licked over Harry's bottom lip, asking for entrance, which he was granted. When their tongues touched for the first time, he felt like this was it. He would never want to be anywhere else, kiss anyone else ever again. This right here was heaven, paradise.

"So, you believe me?!" Harry mumbled against his lips when they broke apart for some air. "Completely and fully?".

"I do, yeah. Completely and fully" Louis looked deeply into his eyes and got lost immediately. "I love you, Baby".

"And I love you, Blue" Harry leaned in for another kiss.

"Blue?" Louis raised an eyebrow in question.

"Just like your eyes and my favourite colour and it rhymes with Lou. I love it" Harry explained the meaning of the petname.

"And I love you" Louis sighed fondly before kissing him again because he could and would never stop again. For no one.  

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Happy now? We faced reality and it wasn't pretty but they came out of it stronger.

And don't worry. Josh won't bother us any more. Or those pricks. I think ...