Until they tear us apart. | l.s.

43

I managed to publish the last few chaps pretty regularly and I'm trying to keep that up- there aren't many more left anyway...but I can't promise and I don't wanna pressure myself. I know you understand. Big love, babes🩵

The temperatures outside were far below zero when the thermometer hit the -7° range and the wind was dashing against every surface it could hit making it even colder than it was.

Inside of their secured home none of the Tomlinson family members noticed any of the shitty weather, having arrived home two hours ago when it got too cold outside.

"Haz, stop it!" Louis complained loudly, but he couldn't suppress a chuckle when Harry blew the foam from the palm of his hand in his face sitting opposite of him in the hot bath tub, both of them surrounded by a ridiculous amount of the soapy bubbles after spending all afternoon outside in the snow building a snowman and creating snow angels.

Harry simply giggled and quickly gathered more foam together and loaded it on his hands clumsily with the coordination a five year old had.

"I'm warning you." Louis threatened and already held his hands in front of his face, just seconds before he got hit by more foam.

His arms shot forward and he grabbed Harry's wrists who squirmed as he tried to free himself from his hold, but he stood no chance against the eight year old. Louis leaned close to his face and glared at him playfully.

"Stop. It." He gritted out, but the giggle that slipped past Harry's lips confirmed that he knew Louis was joking.

"No." He squeaked out and squirmed again.

Soon enough it turned into a proper fight when they splashed water around and coated the other in foam, at some point Louis grabbed the shampoo bottle and poured it over Harry's head who screamed in laughter when more foam than water was in the tub, the entire bathroom smelling of apples and the floor being flooded.

"Oopsie, mommy won't like that." Harry said with scared eyes when they noticed what mess they created and nibbled on his finger like he always did when he was nervous. Louis grabbed it quickly to prevent him from doing so and patted the back of his hand.

"Don't worry, Haz. She won't be angry." He smiled appeasingly.

"You sure?" Harry asked unconvinced and glanced around. "W-what if I've to leave again?"

"Oh Hazzy, I will never let anyone take you away from us again, okay? And mommy and daddy would never do that." Louis said.

"Okay." Harry whispered with a small nod.

Shortly after the door opened and Jay stepped inside halting in the doorway.

"Oh my-" She gasped at the mess. "What did you do boys?" She exclaimed, but held a hand in front of her mouth to stifle the upcoming laughter.

"You said you'd be gone for ten minutes, but it was longer than that and we just wanted to set a statement that we don't like being lied to." Louis said smartly and crossed his arms in front of his chest, glancing at Harry who quickly got what he wanted to tell him with that and crossed his arms as well nodding with his head held high.

"Oh dear." Jay sighed amused. "You cheeky little troublemaker." She flicked Louis' nose who scrunched it up with a giggle and pushed her hand away. "Come on out now, boys. You're all wrinkled already."

"No, don't wanna!" Harry pouted and scooted to the back corner of the tub.

"You can take a bath again soon, darling. Come on." Jay smiled softly and held out her arms, waiting patiently until Harry eventually slowly crawled over and climbed out of the tub.