Against One's Wishes

Chapter 31

Harry is lying with Louis once again as he sleeps; he strokes his hair as he's snoring lightly against his chest.

It doesn't matter to Harry that he's no longer tired; he has slept so many hours with Louis already. Harry is perfectly content just holding Louis in this bed, in his arms... again... after so long.

The 2 of them haven't even been able to have a real conversation with one another yet. Louis is still too exhausted from the sedatives to stay awake for very long.

Harry's sighing and doing his best to scoot away from Louis, his hunger becoming almost unbearable. It's going on 6 am the next morning now and Harry is surprised that he's waited this long to eat something.

Louis moves a little as Harry's getting out of the bed as slow as possible; he doesn't wake however.

Harry just stares at him sleeping so peacefully like this; just like he used to watch Louis sleep months ago. He still can't believe that Louis is here with him again. He can't believe that he gets to take Louis to Hollywood with him; to begin a life there together.

Although, in the back of Harry's mind, he's almost certain that William Tomlinson will somehow find out where Louis is. And he will stop Louis from ever leaving the east coast... and the Tomlinson family. Somehow, Harry's still waiting for all of this to go wrong.

Harry's stomach is more than protesting now as he's looking at Louis one last time before heading out of the room to the staircase at the end of the hall.

He reaches the bottom of the stairs and just looks around the interior of the lake house for a moment. The open floor living room to his right seems so comfy and cozy to Harry with the oversized windows and the beautiful views of the lake. Harry's sure that he could read books to Louis for hours in front of the stone fireplace that sits in the middle of the room.

And the kitchen and dining nook are to his left, with its incredible views of the lake beside and behind the house. Harry can see the skies fading from black into blue once more as the sun is beginning to rise over the horizon. He stops and stands directly in front of the window above the kitchen sink... and he just takes in the peaceful, serene feeling that's overcoming him now.

He closes his eyes and sighs out a deep breath... like he's been holding it in since they rescued Louis from the institution; like he's been holding it in until Louis was here beside him again. Safe and sound.

Tears are stinging Harry's eyes once more and he's sighing quickly and wiping them away; he has to stop thinking about all the could've beens with Louis. Instead, he has to remember that Louis is here. And Louis is still Louis.

And Louis is going to be with him all of the time going forward in their lives. Harry won't have to love Louis and leave him as he did in New York City. Louis is really going home with Harry this time. And Harry's going to take care of Louis for the rest of his life.

A smile comes to Harry's face instantly as he's wiping his eyes now... because nothing sounds more heavenly to him than the honour of taking care of Louis Tomlinson; the honour of loving Louis Tomlinson for as long as they both live.

Harry is sure without a doubt in his mind that he would marry Louis; if only he could. He would ask him to become his husband, his partner, his mate for life. Because Harry wants all of those things with Louis... even if he's been told he shouldn't want those things with another man.

With Louis, all of those things just come natural to Harry... almost as if he's meant to love Louis; almost as if they've always been destined to love one another.

And maybe they have.

Harry makes an omelet rather quickly on the stove, then he's taking his plate and the small cup of coffee that he's made and he's walking out onto the back porch.