With a fast-beating heart, Louis was staring down at his copy of their contract for their record deal. All he was really getting from it was that Jackson Robinson would be their boss and in charge of their music career, obviously. He could find their band name and his full name but everything else was like roman villages to him. He didn't have a clue what was written on the other dozens of pages of the contract and this made him feel sick to the stomach for some reason but looking at his bandmates made him realise they weren't feeling the same. Liam, Niall and Harry were looking starstruck and absolutely amazed by everything.

Thankfully, Zayn threw him a questioning look, signalling him that he was thinking the same thing. They would need time to read over all of this and make sure the contract was alright. They shouldn't rush into this.

"You're not doing anything. Any questions, boys?" Jackson inspected them closely.

"Only a million. I barely understand a word" Louis sighed out, leafing through the contract to make a point.

"You don't have to. It's just business bullshit. Every possible scenario is written down that needs to be insured. Details about your next albums and tours that we're gonna talk about anyway. Only unimportant law things. It's all been proofread" Jackson explained to them shortly, gesturing towards the other man in a suit sitting in the room with them. He was a lawyer provided by the label.

"And it's all good?" Zayn checked unconvinced.

"What's with all the questions? What has gotten into the both of you? We want this and they're all very respectable and serious about our deal. Why are you doubting them?" Liam wondered outraged, causing Jackson to eye them up and down.

"No one's doubting anyone but reading a contract before signing anything blindly is common sense, Liam. I thought you out of everyone would know that" Louis replied strongly.

"Guys, please. No reason to fight" Jackson intervened now. "Read the contract all you want. It's your time wasting away. Not mine".

"What do you mean?" Harry frowned worriedly.

"Nothing but getting a second lawyer, a good one, takes a lot of time because your friends just said that they don't understand a word written here. This time could have been used for working on your first single and the album and your representation in the media but if you wanna waste even more time, do it. I'm just not sure how long people will still remember you" Jackson leaned back in his chair nonchalantly. "Oh, and the ones who are not eighteen yet, you should let your parents read it all over again before signing it, just in case they find something two lawyers overlooked".

"That'd just be me" Harry coughed embarrassedly.

"Well then. Maybe by the end of the year we're gonna have a single ready to record then and can finally ...".

"The end of the year?" Niall's eyes grew big. "That's over three months away".

"Your friends don't trust my man, which means they don't trust me. They're the ones wasting your time and throwing your chances away, not me" Jackson shrugged unbothered.

"We never said ...".

"Then why are you so hesitant?" Liam cut Zayn off harshly. "Let's just sign this. It was read by a lawyer. What more do you want? He would tell us if there was anything to consider or change. Do you want another boyband to show up and take our place while we try to find a way to pay a new lawyer?".

"You mean Knights of Love?" Jackson threw in randomly.

"Who?" Niall blinked at him.

"Aurelio's newest found. I met Thomas Brown, who is a manager working with him and he told me about these guys they just signed. Apparently, four very talented blokes. The next big thing and very close with Dolphin's Curve" Jackson let them know calmly.

"He already signed someone else?!" Niall clenched his fists, his jaw tight.

"That's how the business works. It's a fast-living world and if you take too long your chance might be given to someone else already. Shoot your shot when you have the chance or watch another guy or girl with the same dream take your spot" Jackson explained the music business to them.

"I don't want them to take our spot. Do you know when their first single will drop?" Harry hooked nosily.

"Around December, at the latest. Recording and shooting a video and promoting a band no one knows takes some time" Jackson answered informatively. "But it really doesn't matter. Take your time and get back to me when you're ready. I'm just gonna focus more on working with Elias on his new ...".

"No, I won't let you push us aside and forget about us like Aurelio did" Niall cut him off, surprisingly loud. "I'll sign right now".

"Guys, don't do s ...".

"Me too," Liam and Harry said at the same time, scribbling their signature down on the contract.

"Then I need your parents to sign as well because you're not eighteen yet, Harry" Jackson reminded him.

"That won't be a problem" Harry assured him.

"What about you two? I need the whole band or no one. You're a team and only work as a group. You're only interesting and marketable as five" Jackson focused his attention on Zayn and Louis, who both swallowed heavily. "Think about what you can do when you're famous and successful. The houses, the cars, the clothes, the paintings, the places you'll see. The music you're gonna make with millions of people screaming your name".

Zayn and Louis shared a short glance and looked over at their waiting friends and bandmates. He still wasn't sure if this was the right thing to do and knew Zayn was with him on that but his heart had already given up the fight. Seeing the hope in his boys' eyes made him surrender. Seeing Harry looking at him and waiting for him to decide his future with one single signature was too much. And maybe he was being hesitant for no reason. Maybe everything would be alright and he would make a lot of money, meaning he'd never have to worry about paying rent again in his life.

With a tiny nod, Zayn and Louis both signed the contract wordlessly, pushing it over to Jackson. "Amazing. This was the right decision, guys. You won't regret it. Your life is about to change forever. Get ready".

With a pounding heart and feeling sweaty, Louis startled out of his dream and tore his eyes open, breathing heavily. He blinked into the darkness of the room and tried to regulate his breathing but it was in vain. These memories were still haunting him and he knew it wouldn't stop any time soon.

"Tommy, what's wrong? Was it another nightmare?" Zayn's voice startled him, making Louis flinch away for a second from his touch.

"Gosh, you scared me. I forgot you were sleeping here" Louis put a hand over his racing heart.

"Sorry, I just felt you tossing in your sleep and then saw how you quite literally jumped out of your dream. Was it another memory?" Zayn stroked Louis' back soothingly.

"Mh, yeah. They keep coming and I don't know why. I mean, the boys being back here might trigger them but why? It's not like I completely ignored their existence over the last couple of years. Why now?" Louis was getting frustrated with his dreams.

"I don't know. Maybe you're supposed to finally close that chapter of your life? I dream a lot about Liam and me lately. Everything that happened between us and went wrong. So ..." Zayn trailed off unsurely.

"You didn't tell me that" Louis looked up at him with a frown.

"You have enough on your hands with your dreams and Harry being back. There is no need to make you worry about me as well" Zayn reasoned his behaviour.

"This is not how it works, Joey. You can worry about me but I can't worry about you? That's bullshit" Louis contradicted him cutely.

"Okay, fine. Whatever you want, Tommy" Zayn smiled at him.

"I want you to tell me whatever is going through your head. Always. It doesn't matter if I'm struggling with something too. Even if it's him" Louis tapped Zayn's nose. "But tonight it wasn't him. Not really. I dreamt about the signing. Such a fucked up day".

"Very true. Maybe being here shakes awake our memories more than ever before" Zayn mused thoughtfully.

"We signed our contract in London and not here" Louis corrected him amused.

"But here is where we met the other boys. Where the competition happened. Where everything started" Zayn nudged his side.

"Good point. Maybe we should have cancelled the gig or I should have ... I don't know if it's a good idea for all of you to be here. We're not home anymore. People will recognise you and make assumptions about ...".

"This is really nothing you should worry about, Tommy" Zayn cut his rambling off. "The press is all over that last interview anyway. Maybe being seen together ...".

"Will only bring more attention on all of you" Louis interrupted him this time. "The media is talking about a falling out between you and Harry all day long".

"Then being seen with him and the other boys will show them that we're no enemies" Zayn pointed out logically.

"Jackson won't like it. He told you to stay away and never get involved again. You signed it" Louis noted matter-of-factly.

"So, did you. And still, here we are. Although I still think you should tell them everything that is left. No matter if it changes anything or not. They should know every detail before they make their decision" Zayn changed the topic smoothly.

"This is nothing I wanna talk about in the middle of the night with all of them around. I need sleep to get through the gig and a whole weekend with Harry" Louis refused to talk about it.

He glanced around the room to make sure the other boys were really sleeping. They were all sharing a room with Sean and Liron in a hostel in Patriley, where the band's next gig was taking place. They had made a weekend trip out of it with almost everyone tagging along. Only Dylan, Luke and Chloe were missing.

For a second, Louis thought he saw Harry moving his head but otherwise, he looked fast asleep. Maybe he was only moving in his sleep as many people did. Louis fucking hoped so. He really didn't need Harry listening to their whispered conversation.

"Just promise me you will tell them soon. Everything they need to know before ...".

"I promise, Joey" Louis cut him off yet again. "Everything all three of them need to know. That doesn't include a certain conversation".

"Louis" Zayn sighed out heavily but Louis ignored him and turned his back to him, trying to fall asleep again. "Well, okay. You don't need to tell him if you think it's unimportant".

"Thanks for finally getting that" Louis rolled his eyes although Zayn couldn't see him.

"I'm just gonna have to show him" Zayn muttered under his breath. Louis only heard some undefinable mumbling.

"What was that?".

"Nothing".

--

"Our next song is called 'Artist'. Hope you enjoy it".

With that, Àmber and Liron started the song. Soon Maribel and Aria joined in before Louis finally started to sing. He had written this song about Zayn. People often misjudged him and Louis wasn't having any of it. Especially today with people watching Zayn and the other three boys closely, Louis needed everyone to know who Zayn really was. How amazing he was.

"On the outside, you look all rough and you pretend to be tough. People think you're all dangerous but in reality, you're pretty generous. They don't see who you really are cause you live underneath their radar. The word they describe you with is cigar but to me, you're a Rockstar. We party till dawn and celebrate the fact that we were born. We stripped off all the clothes we've worn and laughed at all the silly doodles we've drawn" Louis sang the first and second verse of the song, directly looking at Zayn.

"Where do I even start? Out of a million, you're always the smartest. When you were little you wanted to be a guitarist. You never make me feel like the shortest cause you're not heartless. You're my favourite person to ever exist. You're my special artist and I know you by heart" Louis poured his whole heart into the chorus, earning a goofy smile from Zayn in return.

"In a crowded room, you're always pretty silent. I really don't see how people can think you're violent. You always have my back and together we produce our own soundtrack with a shared duet. We get through every panic attack and sometimes even share a cigarette" Louis continued with the third verse, partly addressing Zayn's fucked up public image. He was a sweetheart and not problematic or homophobic or whatever they said about him.

"Where did we even start? Out of a million, you're always the smartest. When you were little you wanted to be a guitarist. You never make me feel like the shortest cause you're not heartless. You're my favourite person to ever exist. You're my special artist and I know you by heart".

"When I'm down you pull me out of my dark hole. And help me get back my life control. You'd follow me to the end of the north pole. Joey, you have the sweetest and kindest soul" Louis smiled at Zayn throughout the whole bridge of the song, going right back into the last chorus. "How did we even start? Out of a million, you're always the smartest. When you were little you wanted to be a guitarist. You never make me feel like the shortest cause you're not heartless. You're my favourite person to ever exist. You're my special artist and I know you by heart".

People were recording the whole performance with special attention to Zayn and him after this song but Louis couldn't care less. No one knew about him ever being part of the band. In interviews, the boys have never mentioned him or the competition. No one had the slightest clue how Jackson had discovered them, so there was no danger of anyone finding old videos from the competition because they were obviously still online on M3's website. Just far back. Almost impossible to find.

Back in their room after many drinks and laughs and jokes, the boys fell down on their beds and just silently looked at each other. They could all feel a certain conversation coming up but no one wanted to be the first to bring it up. To start the unavoidable.

"I'm just gonna say it. It feels strange to be back here all together. It brings back memories" Niall finally broke the silence.

Right now, Louis was happy Sean and Liron had decided to stay out a little bit longer with Sam and Christopher while the girls have headed to bed already. No one could disturb them now.

"It's logical. Here is where everything started for us. Where we met" Liam sat up on his bed. "Well, apart from you two".

"It feels like forever ago. That experience was one of a kind and I'm glad we all shared that together. All of us and no one else. We had a great time" Harry smiled at all of them.

"Remember how you fell off the stage during one tech rehearsal?" Niall cackled into his fist.

"That was hilarious" Liam burst out laughing.

"No, it wasn't" Harry pouted huffily.

"It kinda was, Haz" Louis bit back his laughter.

"Oh yeah? Remember when Delfi and Skylar have stolen all of your clothes after a shower and you had to run after them through the whole house butt naked? That was hilarious" Harry reminded them of another incident in the contestant's house.

"Only because you had an excuse to stare at me naked" Louis winked at him exaggeratedly.

"Who doesn't want to see the whole glory of that amazing ass you have?! Can you blame young Harold?!" Niall motioned towards Louis' butt dramatically.

"You're so into me, Nialler" Louis snorted exhilarated.

"You only realise that now? I'm offended" Niall gasped weirdly.

"Okay, Nouis. Calm your dicks. You can fuck later" Zayn guffawed, holding his belly.

"We're not ...".

"Just like you didn't steal Alex's cake?" Zayn raised an eyebrow at him to shut him up.

"Oh my god! That was something. I can still see the look on her face and how Skylar went after you for upsetting her and covered your whole bed in whipped cream" Liam remembered with a loud laugh, falling with his back down on his bed.

"They were so whipped for each other" Harry chuckled.

"Still are, to be honest. They just can't seem to do anything about it" Louis let them know.

"Really? That's dumb" Niall huffed disappointed.

"Right? Sometimes people can be pretty dumb" Zayn threw Louis a certain look but Louis only glared at him.

"You two and your silent conversations. For as long as I can remember you've been doing this. It's impressive and annoying at the same time" Niall groaned dramatically.

"Well, we're simply soulmates" Louis shrugged smugly.

"I believe that in an instant," Niall said simply.

"Or they just know each other long enough to know w ...".

"I've known you for eight years and can't possibly imagine what you're thinking all day" Niall cut Liam off.

"Eight years is nothing compared to their whole lives. Which reminds me, you never told us how you knew each other for so long. I mean, obviously through your parents but you never mention them. Not even back when we were rehearsing in your ex-boss's garage" Liam just realised, mostly talking to himself.

"Yeah, you were living together and not at home and you met all of our families but we never met yours" Harry agreed with Liam.

All three of them were now looking at a very pale-looking Zayn and Louis. For some reason they couldn't really explain, they have never talked to anyone about their family situation, not even the boys when they all have still been friends. It was a touchy subject and they hated getting into it. Even after all this time.

"Because there is nobody to meet" Louis mumbled quietly, feeling Zayn's hand immediately on his back.

"Um ... before you say anything, let's just start right at the beginning. Our Mums Jasmine and Zoey have been friends for a long time. They met during their University time and became neighbours at one point. They've been the best of friends ever since and spend as much time together as possible. Kinda like Louis and I. They even met our fathers around the same time and even became pregnant only a month apart, which is crazy but it shows where we got our bond from" Zayn started to tell them their story with Louis watching him silently.

"That's beautiful" Liam breathed out.

"You're right. And like this, Louis was born not even a month before me and we grew up together. Our Mums were literally the best and the four of us had a special connection. We were one big family. Our fathers on the other hand ... well, mine pissed off pretty soon. I was two years old, I guess and Louis' ...".

"My father died when I was three. My Mum and he weren't even a thing anymore but they've managed to be good parents together anyway. Well, until he died. Cancer" Louis finished that part of the story for Zayn. "I was too young to really grasp that and I still had my Mum. So, it really didn't matter until much later".

"That's true. Our Mums made sure we had everything and life was perfect until we were ten years old. It was a late September weekend. Both our Mums had a weekend trip planned. A best friend's trip to Spain. They've done this every couple of years. Louis and I stayed with his grandmother for the time being, like always. She was such a kind and gentle lady. Absolutely beautiful inside out and treated me like her own grandchild. Anyway, um ... the flight back had complications and the plane ... it crashed. They were instantly dead. Both of them" Zayn tried his hardest not to cry at the mere memory but Louis could see how hard it was. He himself wasn't doing any better. He really missed their mothers.

"I'm so sorry" Liam rushed out emotionally.

"Thanks, but it's okay. I mean, it will never be okay but you know what I mean. We can handle it" Louis offered him a brave smile, deciding to continue for Zayn. "After receiving the soul-crushing news the most important question came up. What would happen now? Where would we stay? It was simple but also not. I stayed with my granny and Zayn stayed with us for some time until they found his father. Then he had to stay with him and we got separated".

"For the first time in eleven years, at this point. We still went to the same school but it was different. Life had changed and we as well. I've been so scared of losing Louis too ... We literally only had each other and no one else ..." Zayn's voice broke away.

Louis took his hand and continued for them. "Not even a year later my grandma got really sick. She was old and worried a lot. I tried everything but I couldn't help her. She died when I was thirteen and like this, all I had left was Zayn. Sadly, Zayn's father wasn't anything like our Mums or my granny. He never considered taking me in for ... I ended up in an orphanage and felt completely alone. I was still attending school but I got heavily bullied. For being an orphan, for being weird, for being a loner, for being gay. Everything really. Zayn tried to be there for me but he had his own issues to deal with".

"My father wasn't a nice man. He was abusive. Mentally and physically. Luckily, never sexually but I was always waiting for it to turn sexual?! Does that make me fucked up? Maybe. I don't care. Around that time we barely saw each other but that changed when my home situation escalated and I ended up in the hospital with many bruises and broken bones. I was taken away from my father and also brought into a children's home. The same Louis was at. We had each other back and never planned on leaving each other's side again. So, we didn't" Zayn went on, steadier now.

"No one adopted you?" Niall dared to ask.

"We made sure of that. Older kids always had a harder time getting adopted in general but we never wanted to. We had each other and that was more than enough. The people working there knew that and helped us stay together. Like this, we finished school and left the children's home together. We got our job at Nikki's café and started saving money to attend Uni one day but then we signed up for the competition out of ... I don't even know why" Louis finished their story. Everyone had tears in their eyes.

"I'm happy you did" Harry sniffled emotionally.

"Me too" Louis smiled at him.

"Thank you for sharing this with us. I'm ... You two are so strong. Stronger than anyone I know" Niall stumbled over his words.

"And I'm sorry again for judging your exit, Louis. And for talking shit about him in your presence, Zayn. Now I know even better how hard this must have been for you" Liam apologised again.

"It's all in the past. Forgive and forget. We're all here now. Only that matters" Zayn waved the matter off.

"And we can be part of your family, if you let us" Niall offered to them timidly. Louis has never seen him shy before.

"You already are. Right, Louis?" Zayn tilted his head aside.

"Yes, we are family. Always have been. Even families have their falling outs but they always find their way back to each other" Louis leaned into Zayn's side.

"Love you, guys".

They all fell into a tight group hug on Louis and Zayn's bed, not letting go for quite some time. When sleep was catching up with them they got ready for bed. With Liam, Zayn and Niall already in bed, Louis was waiting in front of the bathroom for Harry to be ready. When he opened the door he almost hit it in his face again.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry" Harry's eyes grew big.

"I'm used to you hitting doors in my face. I can handle it" Louis joked to calm him down.

Harry only looked at him without saying anything. Louis smiled at him and was about to walk into the bathroom when Harry grabbed his wrist, holding him back. "Wait".

"Yes?" Louis turned back around to him.

"I just wanted to say that I think you're really strong. And really brave. I'm sorry if I ever made you feel any different" Harry stared at his feet with red cheeks.

"Haz" Louis lifted his chin up. "Thank you, but don't worry your pretty little head over the past. We're good. And just so you know, I think you're pretty strong too".

"Not anywhere near as strong as you. You make me feel things ... and question things ... " Harry abruptly stopped, looking panicked. "Just ... know that you're amazing".

With that, he was gone and Louis was left wondering what the hell just happened. Harry was acting so weird. Like he was two people at the same time. And Louis was kinda done with figuring him out. He had tried that years ago but now he had no time anymore. Time was never on his side. Harry would leave soon and with him, the memories of the past hopefully.

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Zouis backstory time. Did you expect this? 

What are Louis' memories trying to do?

By the way, I feel like I'm fucking this story up. I'm not happy with it so far. It's more of a Louis story than a Larry story and this wasn't the plan but I'm happy I can edit my book when I'm completely done. Just needed you to know I know it's not as anywhere near as good as my other stuff at points.