Just One Little Favour

Twenty Five

Louis stands at the end of the garden where his mother's rose bush proudly sits. He gazes over toward the secret garden where the little house has its new painted skin. He smiles to himself at the hand prints they put in the corner below the window.

Joe insisted on having their hand prints each on the wall. Harry protested that he shouldn't, because he's not really family. But Louis gave the argument that he was doing as much work as any of them in getting this shed painted nicely, so it only made sense that he was a part of signing it off with his hand.

Harry gave in, allowed Louis to gently brush his hand with the soft paint brush, coating his tanning skin with a crisp white. His hand is the largest on the house, fingers reaching toward Louis' hand print. Joseph's in the middle of the two, just slightly below the palm, fingertips reaching toward theirs.

It's adorable, and Louis wonders if he will ever have a child to continue the handprints. Little hands spread along the bottom of the wall.

Maybe if and when he gets a dog, he could plaster its paw on there, too.

God, he needs a pet because when Joseph finally goes back to his mamma, and Harry goes back to his tiny cottage, he will be alone all over again. And he thinks maybe the pain of losing such precious things, with only memories to hold on to, will be harder than anything he's faced since his mum and sister passed.

He sighs, trying to stop his thoughts from averting too far down the depressive route. He delicately brushes his finger against the red petals of the roses before turning around to meet Harry's eye from where he sits on the sun bed.

Joseph is upstairs taking a nap, complaining of a headache and feeling sleepy.

Who can blame him with the mental challenges his family is going through right now? Louis wishes he could drop dead on the floor and sleep for ages, but he's the 'responsible' one.

Louis quirks a brow toward Harry as he continues to stare with soft eyes toward him, a small smile breaking over his face, caving in his dimples.

"What?" Louis snaps half-heartedly, trying hard not to grin and failing.

"Nothing!" Harry argues, giggling slightly.

"What are you thinking? You're not gonna push me into the pool, are you?" Louis asks, collapsing into the sun bed beside Harry. He moves so he's laying on his side, head propped with his hand, staring deeply into the green of Harry's eyes.

"No, I would never!" Harry gasps jokingly. "You're just... very pretty."

Louis' cheeks flush pink. "Oh shush, you. You're the pretty one. Gorgeous, extravagant, incredible, irresistible!" He spreads himself out like a starfish on his back.

Harry gets up, plodding the two steps to get to Louis, hanging over him. "I want cuddles." He pouts and Louis coos.

"Poor baby, come here then." Louis motions with his arms and Harry is quick to just buckle his knees and plop straight on top of Louis.

He's a little heavy, but any person would be, especially at six foot fucking two and with abs that hard. But Louis is a strong boy, so he sucks it up, and curls his arms around Harry's back, pulling him in close. He plays with Harry's hair and Harry sighs softly into his shoulder.

"So, so pretty," Louis mumbles, kissing Harry's temple.

Harry lifts his head up, gaze looking for something in Louis' face. He bites his lip.

Louis presses his thumb into Harry's bottom lip to pry his teeth away from the delicate flesh.

"You look very kissable," Harry whispers.