Given a Chance (Larry Stylinson)

Part Twelve

Landing in London Heathrow felt like dumping a bucket of ice water over Louis' head. (And he knew what that felt like, no thanks to Niall Horan himself.) Everything was so painfully familiar and Louis couldn't help the sense of home home home that took over his brain. No matter how long he was away for, and no matter his newfound realization that he would never live here again, that feeling of finally being home after months away hit him like a ton of bricks.

The familiar accents, the familiar airport announcements, the M&S lurking around the corner.

Everything was painfully British and Louis ached with how refreshing it was.

He could see the rainy sky outside the massive windows covering the front of Heathrow as he stood waiting while Harry collected their bags, and he stopped for a moment with his eyes closed to let himself take it all in. Truth be told, it hadn't been too long since he was back here. He had definitely been gone for longer stints of time back when One Direction were off touring the world, but it had been just long enough that he kind of wanted to sit down and cry about it.

But he wouldn't.

Because... he was a grown-up.

With grown-up emotions.

Who had a handle on his grown-up... emotions.

Yes.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking Louis from his thoughts.

im outside loser. hurry up.

Louis grinned at his phone, quickly sending Lottie back a thumbs-up emoji before locking his phone again. He slipped his phone back into his pocket before looking around for Harry, his eyes instantly catching on him as he pulled Louis' suitcase off the luggage carousel. Harry was dressed up again, in his tight black trousers and blazer, and Louis really didn't understand his fashion choices in the best of times, let alone right now.

Wouldn't you want to be comfy for an eight-hour flight?

Louis looked down at his track pants and hoodie and just had to laugh.

"Lottie's here," he said, once Harry had made his way over to them with their bags in hand.

Harry smiled brightly at him, then nodded towards the doors. "Lead the way."

The two of them made their way outside into chilly, wet London. Thankfully the rain was only drizzling as they walked down the line of waiting cars, Louis looking for Lottie's Mini in the sea of vehicles before he finally spotted it. "Ah, here we go," he said, nodding towards the end of the line.

As they approached the car, the door opened and a platinum blonde-headed Lottie got out and smiled widely at the two.

And just like that, Louis felt more at home than before.

"Bring it in!" he cheered, opening his arms wide and waving her over. She rolled her eyes, acting as if the big smile on her face didn't give her feelings away, before stepping into his embrace and returning the hug just as tightly. "What a lovely sister you are, picking your old brother up from the airport. What a lad, really," Louis teased with a blinding grin when they pulled away from their hug.

"I still don't understand why you couldn't just hire a car," she said, her eyes narrowed but her grin still present.

"And deny you the quality time? I would never."

Lottie huffed, shaking her head. "Pain in the arse, more like."

Harry cleared his throat behind the pair, and it was only then that Lottie looked over his shoulder at Harry.