Waking two ten-year-old girls and getting them ready for school on a Monday morning was never easy but by now, Louis had gotten the hang out of it. Both girls were awake, dressed and seated at the dining table right now. That was a success. Carrying their cereal over to the table, Louis sat down as well and they started to eat in their usual tired silence. No one liked Monday mornings.

Except for Louis. He loved these moments more than anything. Seeing his girls in the morning, all tired and sleepy and barely awake, was something he savoured. They've grown up so fast and Louis wanted to hold on to every tiny moment for as long as he could. Every second was precious, just like his girls.

Watching them eat, Louis got lost staring at them all over again. This happened a lot but they reminded him so much of someone he once loved. While Evelina had her mother's red hair and his blue eyes, Maeva looked exactly like him except for her mother's unruly curls. Evelina had long, straight her while Maeva had shorter hair with bangs. They couldn't look or be more different but at the same time, they were so much alike. And so much like their parents.

When they were done eating, Louis carried the dishes back into the kitchen while the girls went into their room to gather their school stuff. This was the moment, like every morning, that Liam joined them to kiss them goodbye for the time being. Zayn was very much still asleep, like always after his late-night shifts. Or any other day really. He would see the girls after school.

"All ready?" Louis asked his two daughters to make sure.

"Always, Dad" Evelina assured him yawningly.

"Mae?" Louis double-checked softly.

"Yes. We can leave" Maeva smiled up at him, a lot more awake than her sister.

"Then let's go, girls" Louis ushered them out of the door and into the elevator, which was surprisingly empty. Luck was on their side.

Downstairs, they rushed outside and into Louis' car. Fastening their seatbelts, Louis started to drive them to school. It was only a short drive but it was one of the best things he would do all day. He needed to make sure they got to school safely.

"Here we are".

Undoing her seatbelt, Maeva leaned over to him to press a short kiss to his cheek before exiting the car. Her sister copied her actions before bidding him goodbye and walking towards the school building. Louis watched them leave for a moment before backing out of the school's parking lot. The drive back home was even shorter, at least to Louis it seemed like it.

Parking his car, Louis got out and went back inside his building. Taking the elevator up to the third floor, Louis got out and headed to the right, ringing the bell of the second door. Only a few seconds later, the familiar face of his good friend Àmbar showed up in his field of view, together with her black dog Lucky.

"Ready to go?" Louis hugged her as a greeting.

"Born ready" Àmbar grinned boisterously at him.

Together, they took the stairs down and Lucky dragged them outside impatiently. Quickly, they headed towards the closest park and unleashed the dog. They watched him run around wildly and carefreely. Lucky was only a year old, after all. She had gotten him from her girlfriend as a gift after her first dog Alexa had died over four years ago. At first, she didn't want a new one but everyone could see she was missing a dog in her life. Now, they had Lucky and sometimes Louis and Àmbar would go for a walk together. Mostly in the mornings because it was the most free time they shared.

While Louis worked middle shifts at the restaurant, Àmbar worked mostly later shifts at the hospital. She was active in the service department, which meant she made sure the patients had water and got their food. It was an overlooked job but someone had to do it and she liked it, most of the time. Even though this hadn't been her plan for her life. Louis could still remember how they had met when he was twenty-seven and still with his last boyfriend. They had been next-door neighbours at a shitty one-room flat complex. She had helped him with a job when corona had hit and his workplace had been closed for over a year. He owed her a lot and cherished her as a friend. Louis would even go as far as calling her his best female friend. He loved everything about her and felt proud she could be her authentic and loud self around him, even though she was struggling with social anxiety and autism and was naturally introverted. It has never been an issue with them. Louis loved her.

Back at their building, they parted ways and Louis went back home. Zayn was apparently finally awake but obviously still tired. Heading straight for the kitchen, Louis washed their breakfast dishes and cleaned the flat a bit afterwards. Not ready to leave for work yet, he plopped down on the couch next to Zayn and cuddled up to him wordlessly. Contently, they cuddled for a while.

"Whose jacket is that?" Louis spotted an unfamiliar blue jacket on a chair by the dining table.

"Harry's. He left it here yesterday by accident, I guess. I found it on the floor" Zayn replied leisurely.

"Should we give it back to him?" Louis wondered nonplussed.

"Maybe" Zayn shrugged nonchalantly. "Or he'll stop by to get it back. He'll notice that it's gone. Don't stress".

"I'm not stressing" Louis claimed affronted.

"But you're already thinking about scenarios involving that jacket, aren't you?" Zayn brought a bit of space between them.

"No" Louis didn't meet his eyes.

"If you really want to, you can just bring him the jacket tonight when the girls are in bed. Right now, he's at work and you should leave as well or you'll be late" Zayn stroked down his back.

"Right" Louis cleared his throat, standing up quickly.

"You're so gone for him. It's embarrassing" Zayn laughed at him.

"I am not!" Louis huffed feigned-angry.

"You so are" Zayn didn't stop laughing. "And now go".

Louis flipped him the finger and left their flat. For the third time today, he left the building and made his way towards the restaurant, being lost in thoughts. Zayn might be right but it didn't matter. He and Harry were no match, no matter how attracted to him he was. Everyone could see that Harry was gorgeous. And that's why he would find someone else in no time. This attraction would fade and then they could be friends someday. If he wanted that.

Walking into the restaurant around noon, he was greeted by Maria and Paul themselves. Louis was always the first of the employees to be here because he had to leave at six. He had kids to care for and he was lucky enough that Maria and Paul understood that and had offered him this solution years ago. He worked part-time, six hours a day, and like this, had time for his daughters. It was perfect.

Mondays always went by pretty slowly. So, Louis always ended up rearranging things or annoying the kitchen staff. Today, Paul and Maria mostly kept him company until Sam showed up around four. That was always the time more people started coming in and it wouldn't be possible for Louis to attend all of them alone. He and Sam were a pretty good team and everything went smoothly. At six, Louis left the restaurant as Alec and another co-worker came in.

Back at home, Louis was greeted by his lovely girls and Liam, who managed to distract them for a few minutes to give Louis time to get settled in and breathe. Just when he was about to join the three of them in the living room, the doorbell rang. Making short eye contact with Liam, Louis opened the door and froze.

"Harry? What are you doing here?".

"I forgot my jacket yesterday and thought I could pick it up now. I just came from work and thought I could stop by to grab it real quick" Harry scratched his neck awkwardly, a sign he wasn't completely telling the truth. Louis knew all about that.

"Um ... yeah, sure. Come in. It's right th ...".

"Dad, can we please watch a movie before bed? Uncle Liam said we should ask you" Evelina bumped into him, stumbling over her own feet because she had been running over to him.

Because he was still facing Harry, Louis was able to see the exact moment he realised what he was witnessing. The shock was written all over his face but Louis tried to ignore it, facing his cute daughter instead. "Only if your sister is okay with it".

"It was her idea in the first place" Evelina asserted quickly.

"Is that true?" Louis questioned his other daughter, who was slowly approaching them, eyeing Harrywarily.

"Yes," Maeva confirmed curtly.

"Then it's decided but after dinner ...".

"Why can't we eat dinner while watching the movie?" Evelina cut him off whinny. "Uncle Liam already started preparing it".

"I'm not sure ...".

"Please, Dad" Maeva begged with big eyes.

Glancing over at Liam with Harry watching his every move, Louis let out a sigh of defeat. "Okay, fine. You two have really convincing points but you have to help Uncle Liam".

"Of course. Thank you, Dad" both girls hugged him excitedly.

While Evelina ran right over to Liam and walked into the kitchen with him, Maeva stayed back and grabbed his hand gently, eyeing Harry once again. "Who's that? Is he staying for dinner?".

Brought back to the reality of the situation, Louis averted his gaze from his daughter up to Harry and suddenly had no idea what to say. Surprisingly, Harry spoke up instead. "I'm Harry. I'm a friend of your dad and I only wanted to pick up my jacket".

"So, you're not staying for dinner?" Maeva checked sceptically.

"I don't wanna intrude" Harry retorted softly.

"We have enough space" Maeva frowned adorably.

Louis could barely hold in his fond laughter at her adorableness. "No, Darling. That's not what he meant".

"Then why isn't he staying when he's your friend? Àmbar and Luke do it all the time. Does he not like us?" Maeva sounded more and more confused by the second.

"I ..." Louis was at a loss for words.

"Oh, of course, I like you" Harry crouched down a little bit. "I only wanted to give you alone time with your dad but if you want me to stay, I can. Only if your dad is fine with it".

"Dad?" Maeva tugged on his sleeve.

"Sure" Louis had trouble processing what was happening. "Go and tell Uncle Liam, okay?".

"Okay" Maeva skipped into the kitchen.

"She looks a lot like you" Harry pointed out observingly.

"Yeah ...".

"Look" Harry cleared his throat, making Louis' head snap up at him. "I hope it's okay I invited myself like this. I didn't wanna make her feel like ...".

"No, it's fine" Louis cut him off assuringly. "She practically gave you no other choice than to stay, which is odd. She normally doesn't do ... she never talks to strangers".

"I work with children. Maybe she sensed that I'm no danger. I don't know" Harry shrugged cluelessly.

"Maybe" Louis pondered it over, not convinced because Maeva had only recently started talking to her doctor more freely. "Look, I know this must be weird to you and I'll explain it later, okay?".

"Whenever you're ready".

Together with Harry, he joined his family in the kitchen, earning a smug look from Liam, which he only returned with an evil glare. Liam and the girls were preparing dinner and were almost done. Because he was useless in the kitchen, Louis started setting the living room table as good as possible and checked which film the girls had chosen. Of course, it was a Disney princess one. And of course, Liam was way too happy about that choice. He was way worse than the girls. He lived and breathed Disney. Louis loved Disney but Liam was on a different level of obsession.

With Harry's help, they carried the food over to the couch and sat down together. Liam was sitting on one end with Evelina by his side. Maeva was sitting in between her sister and Louis, who had Harry by his side but with a bit of space between them. Overall, it was a nice evening but Louis felt tense the entire time. He knew he had to explain some things to Harry. Why he suddenly had two daughters, that he hadn't mentioned at all, for example.

After the movie, Harry offered to do the dishes while Louis and Liam brought the girls to bed. Saying good night to both of them, Louis left their room and braced himself. Liam disappeared into his room to give them some alone time and Louis appreciated it but at the same time, he wanted to strangle his friend. Now he had to face Harry alone and he wasn't ready for that.

Awkwardly, Louis stood in the middle of the room when Harry emerged from the kitchen. They stared at each other for a few moments before Louis straightened up and walked over to the couch to sit down. Harry followed suit. The silence between them was so awkward and embarrassing. Suffocating even.

"So, you have two daughters and didn't say anything to any of us" Harry broke the uncomfortable silence.

"I'm sorry" Louis apologised ashamed.

"You don't need to be sorry. I just ... I don't understand. This entire time I thought there was something between ... Why didn't you say anything?" Harry sounded betrayed and a bit hurt.

"I'm not sure. I'm not used to having new people in my life, who don't know about them. I talk about them all the time to people I know but the rest of the time, I keep my mouth shut, especially around ... I really don't know" Louis was wrestling for words.

"Where were they yesterday when we came over?" Harry was visibly trying to make sense of this.

"With my Mum. They're with her a lot" Louis answered shortly.

"That's why you left. With Zayn" Harry connected the dots and Louis only nodded. "You didn't sayanything".

"I know" Louis sighed out, not knowing how to explain that without exposing himself and his pointless attraction to the man next to him, who wasn't running away yet and was trying to understand.

"How old are they?" Harry asked when Louis stayed silent.

"Ten" Louis replied curtly.

"Both of them?" Harry double-checked, and Louis only nodded again. "So, they're twins?".

"No," Louis said simply and he could see how confused Harry was by that answer. "Let me explain. But for that, I have to go to the beginning, for it to make sense to you".

"You don't have to ...".

"I think I owe you that" Louis contradicted him tensely, exhaling before going back down memory lane. "Back in high school, the three of us had two other friends in our group. Nikki and Violetta. They've been a couple for as long as I can remember. They got married pretty early and wanted to start a family. Once back in school, I offered them to help if they needed me to but they thought it was a joke. It wasn't, so that's what we did. I helped them with their wish for a child and promised to always be there for them. Both of them tried around the same time because it was unlikely to even work on the first try. Well, it worked both times and like this, Maeva and Evelina were both born in March on different days".

"Wow, that's incredible" Harry breathed out stunned. "And ... were you like their father the entire time? Like a third parent? Or how did you handle the situation?".

Louis chuckled at Harry's clumsy question. "No, I wasn't. I was present in their lives but only the girls were their parents. That has always been the plan. Zayn and Liam are their godfathers and as a trio, we were always there. But I wasn't ready to actually be a father and donating my sperm didn't make me their dad. That's not why I did it. I only wanted to help my friends and this was the most uncomplicated way and the most unproblematic for the future as well. No one could ever take the girls away from them".

"Then why are they with you? Calling you dad and stuff? Did they break up and you're with one of ...".

"God, no" Louis stopped him right there. "Interesting train of thought but no. I'm completely gay and they're too".

"Oh," Harry blushed embarrassed, a tiny smile on his face.

Deciding against trying to decipher that smile, Louis braced himself for this part of the story. "They live with me because I'm the only parent alive they have left".

The smile dropped off Harry's face and he instinctually grabbed for Louis' hand. "Louis, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have asked".

"It's okay. You didn't know and our situation raises questions. I know that. I'm mostly prepared for it but it's hard to talk about it, even after all these years" Louis squeezed Harry's hand. "Both of them died, four years apart from each other. When Nikki died, I kind of stepped in as a father figure in a way to support Violetta. But then she died as well and as the biological father, I have the first right to take them. So, I did. The grandparents aren't in the picture and foster care or adoption just wasn't an option. I'm all they have left and it was difficult at first to get used to the changes and ... Without Zayn and Liam, I would be so lost. My Mum helps a lot and some of my other close friends as well when I need them. I work as much as I can but I also need time with them. It's ... We are doing our best" Louis opened up to him as much as he could handle today without starting to cry.

"From what I saw, you're doing a great job. The girls are amazing and they love you, Louis" Harry tightened his grip on Louis' hand, grounding him.

"And I love them" Louis smiled emotionally.

"Thank you for telling me this and letting me in" Harry locked eyes with him and Louis really wanted to kiss him but refrained from doing something that stupid. "I promise to be there for you as well, if you let me. I will help you, if you need me to".

With a warm heart, Louis pulled him into a quick hug, deciding to bury his attraction once and for all. "Thank you, Harry".

Today marked one week since they all had been out for drinks and five days since Harry knew about his daughters. For probably around four days, Sean and Niall knew as well and nothing had really changed. They were still present in his life and weren't treating him differently, as he was used to. Which didn't help with getting rid of his weird attraction towards Harry, who right now was walking into the restaurant with his friends.

"What are you doing here, lads?" Louis questioned when they had reached the counter he was standing at.

"The same as everybody else. We're here to eat" Harry told him with an odd look on his face.

"Yeah, someone really wanted to give this restaurant a try" Sean snickered under his breath, Niall joining in and earning a death stare from Harry, whose cheeks were bright red by now.

"Choose whatever table you'd like. I'll be there in a minute" Louis gestured towards the half-empty place. "You already know what you wanna drink?".

"Two beers and a coke for H" Niall ordered as he sat down at the table closest to the counter.

"What kind of beer?" Louis grinned amusedly.

"Surprise me".

Laughing to himself, Louis started to prepare their drinks with Dylan observing him a bit more closely. "Friends of yours?".

"You could say that. Neighbours turned friends actually. It's a work in progress" Louis answered honestly, knowing they could hear him as close as they were sitting to the counter.

"Work in progress? I'm deeply offended" Niall huffed theatrically.

"Except for that weirdo. He's the best friend in the world" Louis corrected himself sarcastically.

"Excuse you?! I am the best friend in the world" Niall made all of them laugh, causing him to sulk like a baby.

"Are you sure beer is a good idea? He's already all over the place" Louis placed their drinks down on their table with a smirk.

"Weirdly enough, beer calms him down" Sean let him know.

"Seriously?" Louis stared at him in disbelief.

"Yes. While others get a buzz, Niall relaxes and quietens down" Harry answered instead of Sean, locking eyes with him.

"That's odd" Louis retorted perplexed.

"It's Niall" Harry shrugged unchanged.

"Good point" Louis had to give him that. Best argument ever.

"Ey!".

Handing them the menu, Louis disappeared from the table but not without passing ways with Sam, who fleetingly traced with his free hand over Louis' lower back. They usually did that a lot in passing. He couldn't remember when it had started but it was in their bones now. Of course, his friends didn't know that and he could feel all of their eyes on him and Sam, especially Harry's intense stare.

"Get a room, wankers" Dylan whisper-yelled over at them, too used to their antics after over two years of having to endure them.

"Find another restaurant to annoy the staff, idiot" Louis countered unfazed, walking back over to him.

"But it's comfy here" Dylan wiggled around on his bar stool.

"Really? That's your best argument?" Louis cocked an eyebrow up at him, preparing another drink order but for Alec.

"It's a totally valid argument" Dylan insisted huffily.

"You're such a child" Louis snorted teasingly, sliding the drinks over to Alec. "You got this. Steady arms, remember?".

"I got this" Alec breathed out shudderingly.

In anticipation, Louis watched how Alec went back over to the table he was serving. He could still see Alec's hands shaking but he was getting more confident in his skills. Dylan seemed to be just as invested as Louis. "He's getting better".

"He really is" Louis nodded in confirmation. "He only needs a bit more encouragement from us and a tad bit more self-confidence".

"You're encouraging him at any given chance. You're doing fine. There's nothing more you can do. You're a great supervisor, Louis" Dylan reassured him seriously. "You are amazing".

"He's right" Sam agreed when he came out of the kitchen. "You are doing a fantastic job with Alec. He looks up to you a lot".

"God, stop. Or you're gonna make me blush" Louis couldn't handle all the unfiltered praise directed at him.

"You're cute when you blush" Sam pinched his cheek before slapping his bum playfully and skipping away cheekily. "See? You're proving my point right now. Adorably cute".

With bright red cheeks, Louis flipped Sam off, who only started laughing at him. A nasty smirk made its way onto Dylan's face. "He is right, you know? But now I'm curious. Was it the pinch to the cheek or the slap on the bum?".

"Oh, fuck off" Louis leaned over the counter to smack him against the side of his head. "None of it, for your information. Creep".

"Whatever you say, Princess" Dylan raised his glass smugly.

"I'm gonna spit in your next drink if you call me that again" Louis threatened him, feeling his friends watching the entire thing.

"Better listen. He's serious" Sam came back over to them, stopping right next to Louis. "He's definitely not a princess".

"I'm listening" Dylan rested his chin on his hands.

"You two need to get a life" Louis pointed with his finger at both of them, walking away from them and back over to his friends in hopes he could escape. "Please, tell me you chose something".

"We were trying but got a little bit distracted by that display" Sean smirked naughtily at him.

"Oh, that? Just ignore them. That's oddly normal for a Friday evening. Dylan gets weird with alcohol and Sam is just an idiot" Louis made a dismissing hand movement, talking loud enough to make sure Dylan and Sam heard him.

"I'm not an idiot!".

"I don't get weird!".

"See?" Louis laughed at their immediate responses. "So, food. What would you like?".

"Um ...".

After taking another quick look at the menu, all three boys ordered some food and another drink. Memorizing their order, Louis smiled at them politely. "Is that all? Anything else you want?".

"No, thanks" Sean declined while Niall shook his head.

When Louis was walking away he swore he heard Harry's quiet voice behind him mumbling something that sounded dangerously close to 'you' but that couldn't be, right? He had nothing to offer and brought children with him, he had a low-paying job and was at the bottom of society while Harry was at the top, in more ways than just one. In every way possible. He couldn't want him, right? Not for more than a simple and meaningless shag. Louis knew that.

"What is it, Louis?" Sam asked him worriedly when they were secure behind the kitchen doors. "You look down".

"It's nothing, Sam. Don't worry" Louis tried to lie but he knew Sam saw right through him. He knew him way too good.

"It's them, right? The three guys close to the counter? Your 'friends' that I've never heard about" Sam just knew right away.

"We are friends. In a way. That wasn't a lie. Not completely, at least" Louis ruffled with his hand through his hair.

"But?".

"There is no but".

"It's that curly lad, right?" Sam studied his face closely and Louis knew the answer was written right there. "You like him".

"No, I don't ..." Louis wanted to deny that statement but it felt wrong to lie to Sam. Or to himself any longer. "Yeah, I do".

"For what it's worth, he can't keep his eyes off of you, Louis" Sam told him smilingly. "What's the deal with him?".

"He's a children's doctor and just opened his own doctor's office with his friend. They are our neighbours. They live in one of the penthouses and ...".

"You can't see how you two could possibly work out in the long run and you don't do casual fun because of your daughters" Sam understood directly, Louis nodded along. "I get that but maybe you need to tell him that. Let him know there is no way you will sleep with him without it going anywhere".

"And embarrass myself by admitting my attraction towards him and assuming he is attracted to me in the same way? No way. Definitely not" Louis shook his head at that absurd idea.

"You should have seen his face when I touched you in passing. He looked like he was about ready to jump up and kill me, Louis" Sam pointed out and Louis didn't see why.

"What's your point?".

"You're not assuming anything. It's plain right obvious that the attraction is mutual. Now you only have to clear both sides and clarify that it's not gonna happen if it's only sex and not ...".

"It will never happen, no matter if it's only sex or not" Louis cut him off determinedly. "He's way out of my league. Dating him would only lead to heartbreak. Neither me nor the girls need that".

"I see where you're coming from. I can still remember the last doctor we served" Sam shuddered at the thought.

"Harry isn't as disrespectful as that jerk and not as big-headed yet but that lifestyle will get to him, sooner or later. I don't wanna see that up close. I don't wanna be used to maybe being in his life like that and then getting dropped because he finally realised he wants more than someone like me. I've lost enough and the girls don't need more people leaving them, who they love and ...".

"Hey, sh" Sam pulled him into his arms when his throat closed up with heavy emotions. "I completely see your point and I got your back. I'll help you".

"Thanks, Sam" Louis mumbled into his chest.

"You're welcome, Louis".

Trying to get his cool and composure back, Louis shook himself and patted his cheeks to get a grip. Sharing a look with Sam, Louis headed back outside with the plates for his friends and a polite but emotionless smile plastered onto his face. If they noticed it, they didn't comment on it and Louis was grateful for that.

Towards the end of his shift, his friends paid but stayed behind to wait for him. Trying to get rid of the tension in his bones, Louis walked into the back, got changed and grabbed his stuff. He said goodbye to Sam and Dylan, waved at Alec and then left the little restaurant with his friends. On the way home, they talked about their days and other nothings but it helped pass the time. At their building, the boys were confused when Louis didn't head for the elevator but the stairs, which made him roll his eyes at them.

"You're not gonna take the stairs up to the ...?".

"No, dumbass" Louis snorted amusedly, cutting Niall off. "I have to get the girls. They're with friends. On the third floor".

"Oh".

"Yeah. It won't take long".

He was definitely wrong with that and should have known that. His friends Àmbar and Aria invited them in for a quick chat while the girls finished their dinner. That quick chat got dragged out into thirty minutes and his girls had to drag him out to the door to end it. The other boys laughed at their antics and followed them to their flat. Coming inside with them, they were met by Zayn and Liam in the living room, sitting on the couch with the TV on.

"Oh, can we watch a movie all together, Dad? It's Friday and we are allowed to stay up a bit later than usual" Evelina asked him as soon as she saw the TV was on, excitement visible on her face.

"Of course, Darling" Louis smiled down at her before facing his new friends. "You wanna stay as well? Don't feel like you have ...".

"We'd love to, Louis" Sean assured him softly.

Sitting down on the couch and in the armchairs, the girls picked another Disney movie and started it immediately. Five people fitted effortlessly on the couch but it still felt strange to have Harry next to him during a movie night with his daughters yet again. Especially because Zayn kept throwing him smug looks from the other side of the couch. But then Liam sat down on his lap because they only had two armchairs and Louis was the one smirking smugly at his best friend, having the suspicion Zayn might be into Liam.

With constant commentary, they watched the movie and had a laugh. It was a lot of fun and Louis wasn't sure how to feel about it. He really liked Sean and Niall and obviously, he really liked Harry but he didn't want to get used to this. Their presence in his life and the lives of his daughters. He was always wary of new people in their lives and kept a certain distance until he was sure they really planned on staying and not leaving, which was rare. He wouldn't allow anyone to bring pain into his daughters' lives.

When the movie was over, Louis collected his girls and brought them into their bedroom, after saying good night to everyone. He gave each of them a kiss and then turned off the lights. Closing the door behind him, Louis saw that the flat was mostly empty. Only Harry was still there, putting on his shoes by the door.

"Where is everyone?".

"Zayn is on the balcony for a quick smoke and I think Liam disappeared into his room with Sean and Niall because ... I don't even know why" Harry reported nonchalantly.

"And you're leaving?" Louis found himself asking, hoping he was able to mask his disappointment.

"I thought it was only appropriate. It's late and you're working tomorrow" Harry explained himself, straightening up.

"Yeah ...".

"Or would you like me to stay?" Harry checked in a strange voice, almost sounding hopeful. "Like Niall and Sean?".

Right then, Louis could see the sexual attraction was mutual. He saw that Harry wanted to close the gap between them and kiss him just as desperately as Louis wanted the same. Ten years ago, Louis would have done it without thinking twice, without hesitation. He would have grabbed him by the neck and crashed their lips together. It probably would have ended two doors down in Louis' bed, naked and sweaty. But not today. Not in this life. He had too much to lose to give in to these primal needs, only to share one lustful night. He wasn't young and naïve anymore. No, he had a big responsibility with his daughters and needed to put them first. Always. And not even Harry could change that.

"No" Louis brought out raspily, clearing his throat and seeing Harry's face fall the tiniest bit but it had to be done. "No, it's fine. Go home. I'm gonna head to bed now anyway. Work and all".

With a tight-lipped smile, Harry nodded and opened the front door, stepping outside. "Good night, Louis".

And with that, the door was closed.  

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So, Louis doesn't plan on acting on this attraction between them. Can you see why?