"Lou!"

Louis turned from his car to see a much taller, broader Harry running at him. It'd been a whole year since he'd seen him in person, and wow what a year could do. Louis had always been attracted to Harry, but this Harry, this lean, long, older Harry was making Louis' breath catch and his head spin.

He caught Harry in a hug and spun him around, finding it much harder to lift him than he remembered. "Hazza," he welcomed sweetly. "How are you?" Harry kissed him. First on the lips, then when he couldn't stop himself, down his jaw and neck. Louis groaned and gripped Harry's hips firmly. "Harold, we're outside."

Harry just sighed and pulled back. "Fine, but I missed you."

Louis smiled in agreement. "I missed you, too. How was your graduation? I'm so sorry I couldn't come, but you looked great over FaceTime walking across that stage."

"It was crazy. I can't believe high school's done. Over. How's college?"

"Boring without you. But I've got good professors at least."

"And I'll be joining you soon," Harry grinned widely.

"I don't get why you'd give up a nation-wide tour for college."

Harry huffed and kissed Louis' forehead, "Because that nation-wide tour doesn't have you. The nation will be there when we're done with school. I'm fine with touring during the summer. I still have forever to do that. I want the college experience with you."

"That's crazy, Harry, but I can't say I'm not flattered."

Harry grabbed ahold of Louis' hand and grabbed a bag. "Come on, Jay's been waiting for you to arrive all day."

They came through the front door and were immediately attacked by females. Louis hugged every last one of them, saving his mom for last.

"I've missed you, love."

"I missed you, too, Mom."

They worked on getting Louis' stuff in the house before collapsing on the sofa and just catching up. They got through Harry's horror story about prom and having to take two different girls because he didn't want to turn one down. Louis let his jealousy slide to the background because Harry seemed so turned off by the entire night.

Then Louis told them about this year's rush week, and all the new freshmen he made wear women's underwear for a day. Harry had leaned in and told Louis that he should think of better things to make them do because that didn't sound like a punishment to him. Louis gasped a little and had to go make some tea so his mom didn't catch sight of Harry's effect on him.

Louis was just filling the teapot when there was knock on the back door before it was sliding open "Hello? Is he here yet?"

Louis laughed and met Jackson halfway into the room. "Lynch! Been a while. How are you?"

"Thankful. Glad you're here. Harry refused to record until you got here."

Louis rolled his eyes fondly and brought Jackson into the family room. He was greeted with various hello's and then Harry was up and following Louis and him into the studio. They got comfortable in the chairs, Harry in Louis' lap, while Jackson looked over the newest song Harry was working on.

"It's good. Harry's only let me hear a tiny bit, but when he showed me the lyrics I knew it'd be a hit."

"Louis wrote it," Harry bragged.

Jackson glanced up, surprise evident on his face. "Really?"

Louis just shrugged, so Harry continued for him. "He writes tons of stuff for me. The one about the carnival. That's his. And the one about the girl with bows in her hair."

"I had no idea, Lou. You're good. You should be paid for it."

Louis laughed it off, "Thanks, but they're just for Harry. I don't want to write for anyone else."

"Fair enough. What do you say we try this one out. Harry you want to hop in the booth and let me see what we're working with?"

Harry jumped from Louis' lap and into the recording booth. He put the headphones on one ear and leaned in. "I haven't quite got the bridge down yet, melody-wise, so Lou will have to help me."

Louis nodded and Harry settled into the pocket of recording space. Then he heard the rough sound of his own guitar playing in his ear and started singing.

"Your hand fits in mine like it's made just for me.

But bear this in mind, it was meant to be.

And I'm joining up the dots with the freckles on your cheeks.

And it all makes sense to me."

Louis' face broke into a smile instantly. He loved what Harry did with his words.

"I know you've never loved the crinkles by your eyes when you smile.

You've never loved your stomach or your thighs, the dimples in your back at the bottom of your spine.

But I'll love them endlessly."

Harry backed away from the mic for a second. "Let me know if the chorus doesn't seem right." Then he was leaning back in.

"I won't let these little things
Slip out of my mouth.

But if I do,

It's you,

Oh it's you,

They add up to."

I'm in love with you,

And all these little things."

Harry went on like that, amazing Louis with every word. Every note. His words would never mean anything if anyone but Harry was singing them. They did work on the bridge and more, all through the day, until Jay came and told them it was time for dinner. Jackson politely declined the invitation and headed home, while the boys went inside.

"How was the studio?"

"Harry's perfect." It seemed the best way to sum up the day in Louis' mind, but maybe a bit off track to his mom.

"Of course, dear, but I meant the music."

"It was great. We started working on this new track that I think is going to be it. Really it." Harry pulled Louis in by the waist and bragged again, "Louis wrote it."

Jay cooed at him, "You're so talented, baby."

Louis rolled his eyes and whined an embarrassed, "Moooommm," as Harry ushered him to the table.

Turns out the song was a hit. Took Harry to the top of the charts for eight straight weeks. And Louis got his name in the credits.

***

"It's perfect, Harry. I can't believe we're back here. Only a few blocks down from our old beach houses."

Harry nodded. "I thought you'd like it. Want to see the inside?"

"Of course." Louis beamed. He bent down and tapped his little boy on the nose. "Want to see the inside of our new house, Archer?"

"Yes, please!" he said excitedly and reached his arms out to be picked up. Louis put him on his hip while Harry held Lily's hand and led her into the house.

"That's a big TV, Papa," Lily awed.

Harry laughed. "Daddy refuses to watch his games on anything less, sweetie."

Louis scoffed at him and carried Archer up the stairs. The door with the little boy's name one on it had Louis heading that way. He opened it to find a jungle themed bedroom. Archer's mouth fell open and he squirmed to get out of Louis' arms and run around. Louis let him down and Archer took off towards the small wooden bed with a bamboo headboard.  He got on his feet and started jumping.

"Shoes off first, bud."

Archer kicked his shoes off quickly and got back to it. Louis watched him fondly without noticing that he was being watched just as fondly. "Reminds me of you."

Louis turned and saw Harry leaning on the door frame, looking kindly at Louis. "What does?"

"His excitement. A little bundle of energy, just like his daddy." Harry pulled Louis in by his belt loops and kissed him.

"Ewww!" Archer squealed.

"One day you'll learn," Harry giggled to his son.

"Where's Lil?" Louis asked.

"Exploring her room. Unicorn themed, just like she asked."

"That girl is so spoiled."

"And who's fault is that?"

Louis shrugged. "Mine. Yeah, mine. But she's so cute, Harry."

"I know. It's unfair."

"Where's Lili's room?!" Archer yelled and jumped off the bed, his tiny feet landing gently on the carpet.

"Wanna see it?" Harry asked and bent down to pick him up. Archer nodded so they went down the hall to find Lily with chalk, drawing on her walls. "I knew that chalk board idea would be worth it."

Louis gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Good thinking, Papa." The radio was blaring some pop song while Lily bobbed her head and drew what looked to be a squiggly rainbow with clouds. Louis went and crouched beside her. "That's beautiful, sweetie. Looks just like the real thing."

"Thanks, Daddy!" The song changed into the next one and then Lily was dropping her chalk in the bucket and running to turn it up. "Papa, its your song!"

In fact it was. Harry's newest single was pumping from the speakers. Archer squirmed to get down again and joined Lily by the radio, dancing with his chubby legs to the music.

Louis came and pecked a kiss to Harry's cheek. "They like it."

"They like anything as long as I make spaghetti for dinner."

Louis laughed and wrapped his arms around Harry's side, laying his head on his shoulder. "Thank you."

"For what?" Harry asked and rubbed along Louis' forearm.

"Everything. For choosing me. For saving my house way back when. For waiting for me. For allowing me to follow my dreams while you followed yours. For having two beautiful children with me. Everything."

"Well it wasn't exactly a taxing life, Lou. I wanted all of those things. As long as you stood by me, life was easy."

"And now here we are. With our own beach house to raise kids in. Did you ever think?"

"Of course I did," Harry chuckled. "Like I told you when we were kids, Lou, you're it for me. You were always my future."

"Daddy! Papa! Come dance with me!"

Louis rubbed his thumbs into Harry's hip for a second before pulling him to their kids in an impromptu dance party as the sun set over the ocean outside Lily's window and Harry's song played on the radio.