Letters to Lou *Larry Stylinson*

Age 14

"Dad, that's the third sandwich you've given me." Darcy says suspiciously, eyeing the turkey sandwich Harry just plopped in front of her.

"You said you wanted a snack, didn't you?" Harry asks, bewildered. Darcy raises an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I did, but that was a hour ago, and you've already given me one." Darcy states, looking pointedly at the empty plate beside her on the dining table with only bread crumbs remaining. "You sure you're alright, Papa?" she asks concerningly.

Harry nods. "Of course, I just forgot. Work has been getting to me lately." Harry says, and that is true, if the mountains of paperwork on his desk has anything to say about it. Darcy nods slowly, not sure whether to take his word for it. "Well, Papa, if you're tired, make sure to take a rest." she says, before going back to furiously typing on her laptop. Harry plops himself on the chair opposite to her, taking a bite out of the sandwich.

"Whatcha doing there?" Harry asks, chewing slowly. "School's out. Shouldn't you be relaxing?"

"I guess."

"Then what are you up to?" Harry inquires, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing, Papa." Darcy says not looking up.

"Well, it is winter break. The teachers didn't give you homework, did they?" Harry asks, thinking back to the continuous piling work Darcy had been getting now that she was in year ten of secondary school.

"I said nothing, Papa." Darcy states, her fingers hitting the keys harder on her laptop. Harry furrows his eyebrows. He had been waiting all year for some free time when Darcy would be out of school. There was only so much he could take of filling out paperwork and dawdling around the living room alone.

"Come on, Dar Dar," Harry presses, pouting. "There's no school. Don't you think we're a little overdue on family time-"

"How about you come back when you get us a family?" Darcy snaps.

 "I can't believe we're going to be a family." Louis murmurs, gazing blissfully at the sleeping Darcy he rocked in his arms. Harry swears if he smiles anymore, his face will tear apart. Suddenly, Louis' breaks his trance from Darcy, staring at Harry with wonder.

"Let's have more."

"More?" Harry chuckles at the excitement written across Louis' face. "I thought you wanted to take it slow?" Harry teases, remembering how eager he himself was to adopt Darcy. Louis had been a little hesitant at first, but immediately caved in when the adoption center set Darcy into his arms.

"Slow shmo! I don't want my child thinking I'm a grandpa!" Louis exclaims rather loudly, with Harry shushing him up. They stand in silence in the newly baby blue painted nursery. Harry stared fondly at Darcy's rosy cheeks, caught in a trance of Darcy rocking back and forth.

"Anne." Harry says, breaking the silence.

"What?"

"Anne." Harry states, louder. "We'll name the next girl Anne."

A smile breaks out across Louis' face, mapping out several crinkles by his eyes.

"I can't wait, Harry. I can't wait."

"Papa, I-I'm sorry."

"W-wha?" Harry stutters, shaking his head out of his trance.

"I'm sorry." Darcy says again, her voice trembling. Her laptop was now completely shut and pushed away, blue eyes staring intently at Harry. "I'm sorry I said that. I don't know what I was-"

"No, no. It's alright." Harry says, shaking his head. "You're right. We can't have family time without family-"

"No, Papa! This is our family! It's just you, me, and Charlotte, and it'll always be just us. It was wrong for me to ask for more." Darcy says, her voice breaking. "I don't care how small our family is, but it'll always be enough for me."

Darcy blows out a shuddering breath, her eyes red and teary. It's been a long time since Harry has seen Darcy cry, for Darcy had never quite much for tears. It reminds Harry a lot of when Louis cried. Harry could hardly remember a time when Louis would have tear stains running down his cheeks, but when they did, it felt as if a solid brick wall Harry had leaned on for years just collapsed. It was a reminder that even the thickest and tallest walls could collapse.

"How about I fix us some warm milk, Darling." Harry says warmly, as Darcy nods feverishly. He eases out of his seat to the kitchen, grabbing two cups from the cupboard and taking the milk out of the fridge. When he finishes heating the milk, he carries the two steamy mugs back over, sitting down across from Darcy. In silence, they both take tentative sips of the hot drink.

"Thanks, Papa." Darcy says after a moment of silence. Harry nods.

Later, once Harry carried the two empty mugs over to the sink, Darcy found her way back in front of the laptop. It was nearly midnight when Harry checked back up on her to find Darcy asleep in front of the keyboard. Harry lifted Darcy up into his arms, wincing at the slight creak in his bones. Open on the laptop was a simple word document.

Dear Dad, it read, and it was all Harry needed to know.