Have I forgotten how to love; remind me once again

Chapter Eight

It's half past three in the afternoon, and Louis is currently driving their car to the hospital, Harry placed on the passenger's seat with his eyes fixated on the city blowing past them. They haven't talked much, but Louis didn't expect them to, considering Harry has barely said a word since talking to Anne this morning.

After smoking too much and making fun of Zayn, they had returned to the home to find Harry done with the phone call, and he had handed Louis back his phone with a mumbled, "She said you should call her". After that, Harry had been stuck in the living room, staring mindlessly at the TV where Friends had been playing, uninterested despite it usually being his favorite show because he always said that Chandler and Monica reminded him of Louis and himself.

Louis had called Anne, and they ended up talking for almost two hours, Anne first of all making him promise to take care of her boy, as he always has been doing, secondly, reassuring him that everything is going to be just fine. They had also planned for her to visit in about a week when she could get some time off work.

Now, they're headed towards the hospital for the first of many checkups, this one including some exercises for Harry's memory loss, and Louis can't wait. It had been decided that only Louis should go, because five people is probably a bit too many for a simple checkup and might be a bit overwhelming - not for Harry, but for the poor doctor who would have to deal with four over-protective mother hens, Louis can do that perfectly fine on his own.

He has yet to try out some pet names with Harry to assess his reaction as well, but right now he doesn't seem in the mood for it, and Louis simply lets him be, instead finding his peace with humming along to the radio.

Soon familiar voices are flowing from the radio as one of the band's own songs are playing. 'Home' to be more specific, and Louis has to bite his lip to keep his eyes dry and focus on the road ahead. He can't help but throw a glance at Harry though, and his heart skips several beats as he notices his boy mouthing along to the words of the song.

Mindlessly staring out the window still, but unmistakably mouthing along to the words of the song, the first sign he has shown of remembering anything of the band's. It probably doesn't mean anything that it's one of the many Louis wrote for him. Probably not.

"You um..." Louis has to clear his throat once before resuming his sentence as casually as he possibly can, eyes trained on the road and fingers clenching the steering wheel tightly. "You know this song?"

"Huh?", Harry hums, finally lifting his head from the cold window. "Oh, Yeah I think, I do. Don't remember the name, but I think so."

Louis can't help but smile a bit at the response. "That's um... That's great. It's our song. The band's, I mean. I actually wrote it." He can feel Harry's eyes searching his face, and he determinedly locks his eyes forward, searching for a suitable parking space, as they're approaching the hospital.

"What is it called? The song?".

"Home", Louis huffs out, stuck somewhere between crying and smiling bigger than ever.

"I like it".

"Thanks, love." Definitely closer to smiling widely right now, or well, maybe crying, who really knows, but at least Harry doesn't seem opposed to the occasional pet name, which speaks positively for the probability of their conversation last night being real. "Actually, I wrote this one for you".

"Really? Never had anyone right me a song before".

Maybe Louis should feel his heart sting at the notion, but it is completely overshadowed by the sheer innocent excitement and genuine adoration in Harry's voice, and Louis knows that he would write a million more this instant, if he could make his love feel like this.