Baked In Style | L.S

Chapter 26

"Just one more, love." Louis says while guiding a blindfolded Harry by holding his hands. "Careful." He adds when the younger man steps onto the last step.

"Oh my God, Lou! Where are we?" Harry exclaims. He knows they’re not far from the bakery because Louis had insisted they should go for a drive and Harry had not even properly sat back in his seat when Louis had stopped. If only Louis didn't blindfold him before getting into the car...

"We're almost there." Louis replies, now from right behind his boyfriend and true to his word, Harry gets stopped when Louis wraps his arms around his middle. "You ready?"  He asks, smirking at the way his breath against the skin of Harry's neck has the younger man's skin covered with goose bumps.

"Ye- yeah." Harry says and swallows hard when he feels Louis loosening the blindfold at the back of his head, letting it fall to reveal a big empty space.

"Ta-daaaa!" Louis chimes from right beside Harry and the latter can't help the frown that makes its way onto his forehead.

"What's this?" Harry asks, his voice a little higher than usual.

Louis smiles. Of course he does. He's been planning this surprise for a couple of months now. He thinks he's even let it slip once or twice but luckily for him Harry didn't catch on.

Now here they are, a few weeks after the whole Nick-kissing-Louis-episode and Harry is more confused than ever while Louis feels like he could bounce from the walls with excitement. Before he actually does, he clears his throat and takes Harry's hands into his own leading him a little further into the empty space.

"I was thinking the reception could be right here." Louis says and ignores the confused look Harry gives him. "Maybe some restrooms over there." He adds, pointing to the right. "And a little refreshment corner this side." He gestures to the empty space on his left.

"I- wh-" Harry starts saying but Louis cuts him short.

"Come see the conference room!" He exclaims excitedly and leads Harry down a bright white corridor into a room painted the exact same colour and the latter scrunches his nose a little.

"You don't like it?" Louis questions with a frown and Harry finds himself smiling. He won't say he doesn't like it per se- he's just never been a fan of an all-white room and well, that's all he's seen since Louis had removed the blindfold a few minutes ago.

"I mean-" Harry starts but pauses and shrugs a little. "I don't know what it's for." He adds sheepishly and Louis feels like he could melt at the sight. Of course Harry doesn't know. It's called surprise for a reason, but if he's being completely honest, he thinks the next room he shows him might give it away.

"Come." Louis says and leads him out the room and down the corridor once more. They pass a number of empty rooms and once again Harry can't help the frown that finds its way to his forehead when he peeks into each of them. All of them empty. All of them white. Bright white. And if he really concentrates on it just a little, he is sure they are freshly painted. It confuses him why Louis would bring him to a place like this and then ask if he likes it or not. It’s plain and white. Of course he doesn’t.

It's only when they stop in front of the last door that his eyes catch the name plaque: L Tomlinson- CEO when it all makes sense.

"No." Harry whispers before looking over and finding Louis' eyes with his own, a sweet smile adorning the older man’s face and Harry finds himself now darting his eyes between the golden plaque and Louis’ face, smiling bashfully when Louis counters with a soft “Yes.”

“Yeah?” Harry asks.

“Yeah.” Louis confirms.

Louis had once let it slip that he would love to move his office closer to home. Home being the house he now shares with Harry.

Harry remembers it like yesterday- all the flips his stomach did that day at the mere thought of Louis not having to travel back and forth between London and Cheshire and that he would constantly be around. But that was only once and Harry was sure that it would only happen in the very distant future.

Yet here they are, Harry now officially putting the cheshire cat to shame while Louis stutters over his words like he’s getting paid to do so. “W- w- wa- wanna g- g- go go go s-s- s- see it?” The older man questions and Harry finds himself able to only nod his head in confirmation, his eyes brimming with tears. Louis only pulls him closer and wraps his arms around the younger man while that latter lets himself go and starts crying. 

Louis doesn’t say anything, because he knows. He knows how much this means- to both Harry and himself. He knows the toll it takes on the green eyed man every time he leaves for London, and even though the days he finds himself staying in the city have been reduced from the normal four to just two- Louis still feels that the two days he's away every other week are two too many. It’s two days he could be spending with the man he loves and very soon, their daughter.

Louis knows the plans he has for the future and that he loves Harry and their unborn child more than anything in this world. Louis wants to be a present father. He wants Harry and his children to know that he’ll be there, that they can always count on him, because Louis knows what it’s like growing up with deadbeat dad. He’s beyond thankful that Mark came into his life and loved him like his own.

Yes. Louis knows. He knows that he will do his best, give his all and love them unconditionally. He knows he’s a stand-up guy. Just like his mom had taught him.

When Harry has somewhat calmed down and collected himself, his bashful smile returns and he mumbles a soft “Sorry.” And when he lifts his head and meets Louis eyes, he shrugs and adds “Hormones” with a soft giggle.

Hormones indeed. In less than twenty minutes Harry went from giggling to smiling to sobbing, then back to smiling before giggles flowed from his throat once more. Who knows how long before the next wave of emotion hits?

Louis smiles. Harry is without a doubt the sweetest person with the purest hear he’s ever met. “You’ve got nothing to apologize for, love.” He says while lazily running his hand up and down the younger man’s back.

“I do. I’m a mess, Lou.” Harry insists. “And you’re so kind for doing this.” He gestures around them. “I don’t know how you’ve kept it a secret though.” He giggles once more.

“Well.” Louis drags the word. “I can tell you that it certainly was not easy.” He lets out a hearty laugh- one Harry joins in on. “But I’m glad I got to tell you now.” He shrugs a little. “So when I leave for London tomorrow morning, you’ll have the assurance that it will be for the last time.” He explains and just like that, Harry’s busy bawling his eyes out once more and Louis knows the best thing is to just let him be. He’s learned by now that trying to get the younger man to calm down only causes him to react the exact opposite. But Louis doesn’t mind. Not in the least. They’ve read about the mood swings and hormonal changes Harry might have in the research Ed had provided.

He remembers the first time it happened. Louis was beyond confused if he’s being completely honest. Shocked, really.

Louis was lounging around at home,  watching the footie match on TV while Harry kept busy with sorting through things in their room. It was a few minutes into the second half when Harry had stormed into the living room, glaring at Louis who’s eyes comically grew at the sight.

“You alright, love?” Louis had asked and the only answer he got was the wailing sound of the man who had given him the death glare mere seconds ago.

Turns out Louis had eaten the last Kit Kat finger hidden in his bedside table. In his defence, it was his chocolate, so he really did not see the problem. And that in itself proved to be a problem as well.

If you’d ask him about it today, Louis would tell you that he had never- in his life- rushed to the store faster than he did that day. He had bought one of each chocolate on the shelf and was greatly rewarded that night by a Harry that felt oh so ashamed of his actions and outburst a little earlier that day. Louis was definitely not going to complain though.

“I’m sorry.” Harry apologizes again a few minutes later and Louis tilts his head, sending him a smile as if to say Harry really doesn’t have to apologize. “I know.” He rolls his eyes. It doesn’t matter how many times Louis tells him there’s no need to apologize, Harry still feels bad for bursting into tears overs the smallest of things. For God sake, Louis had picked a flower from their garden and given it to him two days ago. He cried for over an hour. It makes him feel stupid, but he’s honestly so grateful for Louis being so understanding, so he leans forward and softly connects their lips. “I love you.” He says when pulling away and meeting Louis’ eyes once more.

“Love you too.” Louis is quick to reply.

“Now show me your office.”

Louis gives him a smile that reaches his eyes, conveying just how excited he is to be showing Harry what’s behind the door and without wasting any more time, Louis takes the younger man by the hand and guides him into the only furnished room in the building.

“Lou.” Harry breathes and Louis sees his eyes brimming with tears already, so he shuffles closer and wraps his arms around his boyfriend as they take in the room.

It’s pretty much the same setup as his office back in London, except for there not being roof to floor glass walls- they're solid now- and a whole corned dedicated to their daughter. A rocking chair and crib neatly placed under a few wooden cut out letters spelling “Jo-Jo’s Corner.” Harry is absolutely in love with it and conveys as much when another sob escapes his throat.

“Do you like it?” Louis asks, comforting Harry by running his hand up and down his back once more.

“Love it, Lou.” Harry manages. “Love you.” He adds and leaves a soft peck to the older man’s lips before he makes his way over to the chair, taking a seat.

“Perfect.” Is all Louis says before pulling out his phone and snapping a photo.

“Don’t post that anywhere.” Harry is quick to say. “I’m a mess.”

“You’re perfect.” Louis closes the distance between them and leans down until their faces are mere centimetres apart. “You’re beautiful, love.” He adds before leaning forward and capturing the younger man’s lips with his own. “Love you so very much.” He says when pulling away. “Both of you.” He leans down and leaves a kiss to Harry’s stomach.

And that’s it. Another chocked out sob and Harry is a crying mess once more.

“Thought you’d like to have something comfortable here for when you want to come over for lunch or whatever.” Louis chimes up and wiggles his eyebrows while using air quotes around ‘whatever’ and Harry can’t help but bark out a laugh and roll his eyes before wiping them.

“We’re not having sex while our baby’s in the room, Lou.” Harry giggles, tears forgotten.

“She won’t even know.” Louis retorts and holds out his hands for Harry to take, pulling him up and out of the chair only to sit down in it himself. He lets go of the younger man’s hands and pushes at the sides of the chair, smiling smugly when they move to the back. “It even does that.” He wiggles his eyebrows and takes a giggling Harry’s hands back into his own, gently pulling him closer and guiding him to straddle his lap. “I think it deserves a proper inauguration, don’t you?”

Harry playfully rolls his eyes and gently slaps Louis’ chest while clicking his tongue but leans forward nonetheless. “You’re insatiable.” He whispers before locking their lips.

“You love it.”

“I do. I love you.”

“Love you more.”