I'm in Love With A Criminal

~26~

A/N- hello :) before I start the chapter, I wanted to clarify that this is a Christmas chapter. If you don't celebrate or if it triggers you in any way, feel free to skip it. That's totally alright. We all have our own beliefs and religions. I didn't put anything to do with religion in here, of course, only the holiday. I am aware some people don't celebrate it for the holiday but for the traditions, and some religions don't celebrate Christmas or any holiday, or even have their own traditions based on their family and where they're from. This is only based on my personal beliefs. I am not trying to offend anyone or push this holiday on anyone. Celebrate whatever or however you like :)

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"Why are we doing this again?" Harry asked he watched Louis pull up the Spotify app on the living room TV.

"I'm determined to make this the best Christmas you'll ever have," He responded as he searched for a Christmas station. He found one and clicked play and seconds later, the sweet sounds of the opening keys of Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas is You' began to play.

As soon as the tempo sped up, Louis was grabbing Harry's hands and began dragging them towards the kitchen. He pulled up the checklist he made of all the decorations he needed as the music blared through the house.

"Stockings, tree, wreath, lights, Nutcracker... ugh! How could he be so stupid?!" Louis yelled.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

As Louis ran his finger over the list over and over again in search of something, Harry found himself subconsciously tapping his foot to the beat of the song. How could he not? It was catchy in its own special way.

"How could Niall forget ornaments?!" Louis groaned.

"Orna-what?" Harry asked. Did he hear that correctly?

"Y'know what?" Louis shrugged. "We can make our own. It's fine. Everything's fine."

Louis sent Niall out to buy a list of Christmas decorations from a nearby store. When he came back, he dropped everything on the floor and immediately left the two of them alone to do everything else. He clearly wasn't in the holiday spirit. Neither was Harry.

He was going to change that, if it's the last thing he does.

He called down the rest of the boys, which didn't make any of them happy—Niall was getting back into his pj's, while Zayn and Liam were doing 'something' together, which Louis knew what that 'thing' was. He didn't feel upset in the slightest, for interrupting them.

"Can you guys help set everything up?" He asked once they were all here.

"Absolutely-," Liam started.

"-not," Niall interrupted him. "I'm tired."

Louis frowned. "If you help, I'll let you eat some of the cookie dough."

"Fucking bet," Niall smiled.

"Great," Louis smiled back before turning to Zayn. "Can you get started on some cookies?"

Zayn grinned widely. The house knew how much he loved baking. "I'd love to."

"Please wash you hands first," Louis ordered, just as he went to grab some basic ingredients.

He glared at Louis once it hit him and he knew what he meant, causing Niall and Harry started chuckling to themselves. Liam began rubbing the back of his neck and stood there with the eyes of everyone on him and Zayn.

"I uh... I'm guessing you want me to do some drilling and stuff?" Liam asked.

Louis nodded and began digging through the bags, pulling out stuff every few seconds. "I think you can start getting the tree built with help with Niall," he stopped for a moment to look at said man, who had already began eating straight sugar. "Get your finger out of there, wash your hands, and please help him with the tree."