SILENCE AND SOUND | LARRY AU

26 | HOT CHOCOLATE HEALS WOUNDS

SILENCE AND SOUND | CHAPTER 26

As the two families' dinner came to an end, Harry could actually feel his mother's hopeful gaze on him. Harry knew that she probably wasn't going to say anything in case he felt as if she was trying too hard – the boy knew his mother well – but he decided that since his mother had taken the first difficult step, it only made sense that he met her halfway.

So, he did.

Louis had insisted on paying for the dinner out of his own saved money and as Harry walked out with him, Louis was the first to initiate the conversation.

"Hey, so are you coming back to mine tonight?"

"Think I'm gonna go back to mum, actually." Harry said with his hands dug deep into his pocket as they came to a halt outside his car and Louis smiled before rubbing his palm up and down his boyfriend's arm to silently support him.

"I think that's a good idea, babe."

"Yeah. I'm scared though." The younger boy said as he sucked in air through his teeth and looked at anything but Louis until he was beckoned to do so by the boy.

"You have nothing to be afraid of. You saw her tonight, Haz. I think she's really trying and she's going to be better this time around."

"Well, I certainly hope so. You know, I don't think I even remember a time when she was smiling as much as she was today and you know, just being amiable and cordial to everyone around her and not just Robin."

"And that's a great thing, yeah?"

"Yeah. Hopefully it is not just some temporary thing."

"Haz, give her a chance, baby. How are you gonna know if you don't even give her room to make amends?"

"Well, I do want to, and I am going to. It's just scary, I guess. Having literally no parent figure for a majority of your life and then having one of them pop up?" Harry said as Louis raised an eyebrow, making him chuckle. "I guess you know how that feels."

"I do." Louis whispers softly and pulls his man closer in a hug. Harry sighed in relief and welcomed the hug as he leaned down and rest his head against Louis' shoulder, who was prompt to rub his hand up and down Harry's back and wait for him to feel better while he whispered words of encouragement to her.

"Let her in, babe. I don't think you'll regret it."

"Yeah, I guess it's only fair. You gave me a second chance, didn't you?"

"Exactly. And even if things do seem to go awry, well, you always have me."

"That's true." Harry said softly as they pulled away and looked at each other with smiles on their faces. "I always have my home."

**

"Mum?" Harry called to the empty living room and heard the sound of a door opening and then his mother's heels on the marble floor.

"Harry? I thought you'd be staying with Louis."

"No, I wanted to come back for the night. Spend time with you. We should probably talk, you know."

"I'm glad you're home, darling." Anne said with a sheepish yet happy smile on her face before they agreed to meet back downstairs after changing into more comfortable clothes.

Harry finished cleaning up and walked back downstairs to find his mum in the kitchen fixing up some hot chocolate for the pair, making Harry smile. It had been their tradition for years and years, since as long back as he could remember. Before Gemma passed away, the three of them would always sit down with hot chocolate in hand whenever they wanted to catch up or have a serious, long conversation.