A.N. I love my small group of faithful readers. You guys are awesome & totally make my day <3

Your comments/votes are my motivation :)

Just to clear any doubts that may arise, this whole chapter takes place three years ago, starting from the day the last chapter ends. Enjoy :)

Three Years Ago

L.T. POV

I was fuming. I hated them all, every single person who forced me to be away from my love, causing him enough pain to hurt himself. I didn't want to send him home tonight, and he agreed after quite a while of trying to convince me that he was fine and could go home alone.

It was nearly midnight, but I didn't care. I pulled out my phone and dialed Satan's hot line.

"Hey, Louis, can't sleep?"

"No, Simon, I can't sleep, because Harry Styles is sleeping on my bed with a hundred and fifty cuts on his arms, most of which are new".

Silence. I continued.

"I'm done. I'm done dating Eleanor. I just want my life back, Simon, and Harry does too. He's suffering because he's forced to see me with someone I clearly don't want to be with, and he is drowning in loneliness".

I heard a lot of throat clearing as he tried to come up with a response.

"Um..Harry is lonely, you say?"

"Uh, yeah, because I'm with Eleanor and can't spend time with him"

"And you don't want to be with your, um, girlfriend anymore?"

I clenched my fists at the stupidity of this conversation.

"No. I do not want to be with my, um, girlfriend".

"Okay. Inform her, then. I'll take care of the rest. Go back to sleep. Be careful when you send Harry home. Don't want any rumors".

He hung up.

Well, that was quick. I fully expected for him to put up a fight. I couldn't help but feel something was off. But most of my problems were gone now, so I didn't think about it much.

I dialed another number, and was greeted by voice mail.

"Hey this is Eleanor, if you're hearing this, I'm not available or I'm ignoring you. If it's the latter, please hang up. If not, leave a message after the beep.."

"Hey Eleanor, it's me. I spoke to Simon, and I'm breaking up with you. Bye. Have a nice life".

......

I walked back to my room, where Harry lay curled up, his bandaged left arm sticking out. I couldn't imagine the amount of pain he was in because of me. He looked so small right now, like a child, innocence radiating with every rise and fall of his body.

I padded towards my closet, quickly changed into my pyjamas and slowly slipped beneath the covers. Harry was facing outward, so I carefully wrapped my arm around him, and pulled him against me, his back against my chest. I closed my eyes and revelled in the fact that we were finally together, without other people to interfere.

Harry stirred beside me.

He yawned, and turned to face me.

"Is it morning already? Why are you up?"

"It's just past midnight. And I...well, I have some news for you."

He smiled sleepily. "Really, what?", he mumbled, eyes fluttering close.

I leaned in and whispered in his ear, "I broke up with Eleanor"

His eyes shot open. "You did?"

I nodded, stroking his confused face. A small smile formed on his lips, "Oh, Louis, did you just go against management for me?"

I pulled him closer and planted a kiss to his forehead.

"I would do anything for you, love".

His smile turned cheeky as he climbed on top of me. I suddenly wished the layers of cloth between us would disappear.

He leaned in and kissed me softly, which quickly escalated as the fire burning within us took over. Somewhere in between, I flipped over, so he was trapped beneath me.

He chuckled lightly, the noise reverberating through his body to mine. "I forgot" he paused, leaning up to kiss me, "Louis tops"

I smiled against his lips, as the night continued, until I couldn't tell where my body ended and his began.

H.S. POV

The next morning

My thoughts were a blur as I faintly heard Louis calling my name.

"Harry?"

I was so sleepy. Just another minute..

"Harry?"

Is the house on fire?

"Hazza?"

I sat up, and heard his voice floating from the kitchen. "Hey, come on, get up and help me, 'cause I have no idea how to cook breakfast!".

I laughed. "Sure. I'll be there in a minute".

Stretching and yawning, I was just starting to wonder why I was feeling so sore, when I recollected the night before.

He was on top of me, and the make-out turned to something more, as our clothes were undone by one another and new territory was explored for the first time. I was scared, being a virgin of all kinds. He knew this, and fully understood, because so was he.

"Are you sure about this, Haz? I can feel you trembling"

I swallowed and nodded. This was Louis. This was the person I would go through hell for. He wouldn't hurt me.

"Yeah, I'm sure"

My spine tingled with excitement just thinking about it. I have no idea how he managed to be careful of my arm all night, because I could barely form a coherent thought now, let alone while we were having sex.

I got off the bed, dressed and padded towards the kitchen to find Louis running around in a hurry, trying to make breakfast, and by the smell, failing spectacularly.

He was at the stove, trying too late to save some strips of bacon. He gave up, and turned off the stove, sighing, his fingers moving to his temples.

I walked up to him and wrapped my arms around him from behind. He was so small, I could almost wrap my arms all the way around his middle.

"Good morning, sunshine"

He leaned back into me, resting his head on my shoulder, face turned towards mine.

"Morning"

I held him tighter against me, as he whispered in my ear, "I had fun last night"

I could feel heat creeping up my neck.

"Yeah, me too. Now, what can we do about that breakfast?"

He laughed and wriggled out of my arms. "First tell me, how's your arm now?"

I hadn't even thought about it.

"It's fine. I think I can take the bandages off. I'll do it right after we finish".

He smiled suggestively, his voice coming out as a low purr, "Finish what?"

I shook my head, laughing at his act.

"Breakfast. Finish making breakfast".

A few months later

L.T. POV

  I was at home, getting ready to head over to the studio for a recording. I hadn't been able to be with Harry in a while, since we were both busy with the new album. I was scared, at first, that our relationship would get boring after a while, not being able to spend much time together, or go out together.

But I found out, it was the best kind.

The butterflies in my stomach if he moved closer to me when we were on stage.

The emotions that awakened within me at his lyric changes, "I'm in love with Lou, and all his little things"

The rush of fear at the risk I take as I answer with "I have loved him since we were 18"

All these things brought us closer together.

With every glance, with every song written down thinking of him, I felt my attachment to him grow, even though it was physically impossible to be together most of the time.

On my way to the studio, Paul, our tour manager called me.

"Hey, Louis, are you on your way?"

"Yeah, I'll be there in a few". I was about to hang up when he said, "Can you pull over for a minute, I have something to say before you get here".

I felt really uneasy, because whatever this was, it couldn't be good.

I told the driver to pull over, and turned my attention back to the call.

"Okay. What is it?"

"Well, I'm just a messenger, really, and I have nothing to do with this..."

"Would you just tell me what it is?"

"No, wait, I just...I know how you feel, and I want you to know that I'm on your side, but there are a lot of others on the board who outnumber me, so I really am not in a position to do anything".

I felt my heart soften. I knew Paul was a good guy, but I never realized he cared so much about my feelings. But still, I had no idea what he was talking about.

"Okay..so what is it?"

He sighed, and let me know the worst possible thing I could've heard that day.

"Harry was set up with Taylor Swift"

I almost dropped my phone. "What?"

"Yeah, I know, I'm sorry. I think Simon got the idea he was lonely or something...and after you 'broke up' with El, he called and asked Taylor if she was up for the job. She agreed yesterday, saying she needed some money to buy accessories for her dog, or something".

I just sat there, unable to utter a single word. Simon's words from a few months ago echoed through my mind.

I'll take care of the rest..

It felt like some kind of cruel joke. But the voice on the other end of the line informed me it's not. This was insane. I had agreed to their crap about not being seen together AND to dating Eleanor.

Now this? What were they trying to prove? That they will always be in charge of our lives?

"Louis? Are you still there?"

I felt my fists clench, and I pounded the seat in front of me.

"Yeah, I'm still here".

"Um..well, I was also told to tell you that...Taylor will be there at the recording today..photo op, you know? So, you're supposed to appear as far away as possible from Harry, okay?"

After 30 seconds of no response from me, he sighed and hung up.

A few more months later

H.S. POV

I had just come home after having lunch with Taylor. I was getting sick of the routine: Set a date, tip off the paparazzi, go on said date and pretend to have fun.

I missed Louis like hell. We couldn't spend much time together, but I was at his place when ever possible. I wondered if Louis felt so miserable when he was with Eleanor. I wondered if Eleanor had chased him out of her apartment right after lunch, saying she had to go get ready, though she wouldn't say for what.

I tried calling Louis, but kept getting his voice mail. I gave up after a while and decided to take a nap, planning to go over to Lou's at night.

L.T. POV

The music was blaring through the enormous speakers, bodies gyrating to the fairly tasteful dance music. I sat at the bar of a random exclusive club, wondering what happened during the 'Haylor' lunch date.

Did they talk and laugh their way through the meal? Did she accidentally brush her knees against his under the table? Did they make out..?

My thoughts drowned out the world in a way alcohol never could. And I almost missed it, if not for the familiar witchy laugh that carried across the bar. I turned my head towards it, fearing that Harry would be with her.

But, my fears subsided as anger took over. I looked on as she leaned towards a stranger who seemed at least twice her age, teasing him with her lips. All rational thoughts left me as I stormed over to the happy couple.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

She broke away from the salivating man. "Well hello, Louis. It's nice to....ARRRRGGGHHHH!!!"

Her scream caused a few heads to turn, but the music was too loud for most to hear.

I looked at her bewildered expression as she tried to wipe off her drink, which was now staining her dress, courtesy of yours truly.

"That's what you get for cheating on my boyfriend!"

I resisted the urge to squash her to little pieces and walked away.

I got back to my apartment to find Harry inside, sleeping on the couch. I checked my watch and saw that I had been gone for more than 7 hours. How long has he been here?

I walked over to him, and gently stroked his curls, careful not to wake him up.

As my fingers moved to stroke his cheek, a strange feeling pulled at my mind.

Were we ever gonna have a proper relationship, or will our lives forever be controlled by this small group of powerful people? Was he worth fighting for?

One look at the emerald eyes that were now fluttering open gave me the answer.

Oh I will carry you over fire and water for your love

And I will hold you closer

Hope your heart is strong enough

When the night is coming down on you

We will find a way through the dark