Present Day

L.T. POV

I'd been back for about 2 weeks now. Though I did miss having everyone around me at all times, I did NOT miss the disgusting hospital food. I was feeling much better, though I had to visit the doctor every weekend to make sure everything stayed fine. I had just come home from my second visit and getting ready for dinner, when my phone rang. An unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Louis"

My heart swelled as I recognized the low pitched voice on the other side. I had not heard it since he left me at the hospital.

"Um..hey..did you change your number?"

"No, no..I just...I'm calling from the lobby.."

"The lobby? As in, the lobby of my apartment building?"

"Yeah...can I just, come in for a second?"

"Sure. Come on up".

I could feel the butterflies fluttering around in my stomach. He said he needed space to think. What was his decision?

It didn't take long for the doorbell to ring. I swallowed and walked towards the door, praying for strength to face whatever comes next.

H.S.POV

My palms were sweaty as I waited for him to open the door. I hadn't been here since our ill-fated anniversary 3 months ago.

I heard his footsteps as he came towards the door. The lock was turned, and a moment later, he was standing in front of me, and all I wanted to do was take him in my arms and never let go.

L.T. POV

He looked so nervous.

"Hey, Harry"

"Hi"

"Come on in"

I led him in & closed the door behind me. We walked towards the kitchen.

"I was just getting ready for dinner. Would you like to have some?"

"Yeah, sure"

I got out the plates, and he helped to set the table. We worked quietly, moving around each other with extreme care, like if one of us made a sudden move, everything would fall apart.

H.S. POV

The silence was uncomfortable, to say the least, but it gave me time to think about what I wanted to say. I'd had a couple of weeks to think, and I was pretty sure of what I wanted to do.

He hadn't changed anything since I left. Everywhere I looked it was an outburst of memories.

We finished setting the table, and sat down to eat. He had cooked the entire meal, and I was impressed.

"This is really good, you know. Nice work".

He grinned. "Well, I learned from the best"

That made me smile. The rest of the meal continued with small talk, and Louis had just gotten up to bring us desert when I noticed a new vase sitting on a table. The bitter images of the shattered one it replaced hit my mind. I needed to make my move before it's too late.

He came back & set the desert cups on the table.

"Louis?"

"Hm?"

He started scooping ice cream into the cups.

"I think we should finish this now"

"Oh, I think we should too, because this ice cream melts easily. If it mixes with the jelly.."

I felt the corners of my mouth pull up despite the seriousness of what I was going to say.

"No..not desert. What I came here for".

He looked up, immediately stopping what he was doing.

"Oh. Ok."

We walked towards the living room and sat on opposite sofas.

"So, I've been doing a lot of thinking, and..."

He looked at me nervously, and I could see the hopefulness on his face.

"...and I decided I don't want to be without you".

He looked stunned. His words came out in a whisper, "What?"

I smiled. "My whole life, I have been searching for things that showed some meaning of life. I found quite a few things on my journey. My family, my friends, singing....they gave me a reason to be alive, for a while. But as I grew older, it got harder. I knew I was different from my buddies, but I didn't know why or how; I blocked out the world and immersed myself in music. It was not enough; I yearned for interaction that would make me truly happy; until I met you."

He still looked shocked as he listened, wide eyed.

"It was like you were my other half. You made me know myself better; you made my world better. You taught me what love is, and I won't ever forget that. You were the only reason I stayed with the band for so long; otherwise I would've left to make my own music. But I couldn't bear the thought of leaving you; the thought of never seeing your face again. And I still feel the same way. That is why I want you back, Lou. I don't care about what you did, and in the end, it was all just a misunderstanding...."

He was quick. "Misunderstanding?! I clearly saw you......"

I had come prepared for this.

"Yeah, yeah I know. I was with Kendall. But it wasn't like that, I already told you. And until I can prove it to you, and explain, I am willing to put everything behind me and start all over. What do you say?"

L.T. POV

His words were echoing in my mind.

What do you say?

He was giving me the choice. The choice to feel happy again, or the choice to continue protecting my heart from further damage.

H.S.POV

His eyes fluttered close, and he bent his head as he tried to concentrate. His hands came up to his hair, running his fingers through it.

He looked up with an unreadable expression on his face.

"I...I know what I want, Harry, but I just don't know if it's worth it anymore..."

He looked away, and I could feel the tears pooling in my eyes. Was I not worth it?

He looked at me then. I could feel a tear dripping down my cheek. I turned my face away.

He got up quickly and walked towards me and slowly guided my chin towards him, but I couldn't bear to look at him right now, so I let my eyes close.

That didn't faze him as he whispered against my lips, "Hey, you didn't let me finish.." I could feel his thumb moving over my cheek, wiping away my tears. He leaned his forehead against mine, and I could feel his warm breath caress my face as he spoke again, "I don't think keeping my heart from being broken again is worth being away from you..."

L.T. POV

I didn't get to say another word as he closed the little distance between us. The saltiness of his tears seeped into our kiss at first, but it soon stopped as we reveled in the feeling of the kiss; of being together after so long; the feeling of finding your way back home.

H.S.POV

It was so easy to get lost in each other; the mutual longing was undeniable. His tongue ran over my bottom lip; seeking permission; permission to get close, to be what we were. And I didn't hesitate.

Nobody knows you baby,

The way I do;

And nobody loves you baby,

The way I do;

It's been so long,

it's been so long,

Maybe we're fireproof..