Cupcakes, Curls & Cuddles

Chapter 21

Two weeks have passed by its now mid December and Harry, Louis and Cassie are sitting in the living room cuddled up watching a movie. It's a cold day and the trio have decided that hot chocolate and movies is the best way to spend their day.

As they are sitting there Harry's phone vibrates in his pocket, tensing when he pulls it out and reads the notification on the screen. Louis looks over at his boyfriend eyebrows press together in a frown.

Harry makes eye contact with him turning to show him the notification. "My marks are in" Harry hesitates anxiety evident in his voice.

"What do they say" Louis asks reaching out to rest his hand on Harry's thigh. "I don't know I'm too scared to look." Harry mutters.

Cassie whips around from her focus on the movie turning to look at Harry. "No be scared Papa! Dadee protect you!" Cassie says seriously at Harry. Louis chuckles leaning down and kisses his daughter loving how big her heart is.

"She's right baby, no matter what it says babes I'm here. Always" Louis says reassuringly squeezing his hand.

"Okay" Harry nods "but first I need a good luck hug from my favorite munchkin" he says looking over to Cassie, whose eyes light up at the mention of a hug.

"Dats me! Dats me!" She squeals clambering over Louis kneeing him in the stomach earning a groan from both men as she climbs onto Harry's lap with a thump. She wraps her arms tightly around his neck snuggling in close giving her best munchkin hug. "Good luck Papa!" She says.

"Thank you princess." Harry whispers allowing himself to hug the girl a while longer. He sighs and shuffles Cassie so she is sitting sideways on his lap. "Okay here goes nothing." He unlocks his phone and opens up his email clicking the link to the portal for his final mark.

Louis watches cautiously as his boyfriend's eyes takes the contents on his screens. He searches for any sort of reaction bad or good, desperately wanting to know how to support his boyfriend. Harry's face remains neutral as he looks up at Louis locking eyes. "I-I passed.... I passed all of my exams even the one I didn't finish. I did it... this means I got my degree." Harry says shocked.

"I am so proud of you baby! I knew you could do it!" Louis places his hands on the back of Harry's neck pulling him in for a celebratory kiss. "Yay Papa!" Cassie cheers in between the two pushing them apart to hug Harry. The boys chuckle and pull her up for a group hug the movie behind them long forgotten as their soul focus now is Harry and his achievements.

"Thank you my loves, I am so Happy." Harry grins at his two favorite people in the world. "I am so proud of you baby. What are your plans now?" Louis asks.

Harry sits there for a moment before opening his mouth and closing it again. He thinks for a few moments longer before saying "Well Uncle Bill said the store will be mine when i am done my degree. But i think i will spend a few weeks shadowing him on how the business runs. But that will have to wait until after the holidays."

Louis moves to open his mouth to say something, but before he can Cassie is jumping in. "Papa will you be wif us for chwismas?" She asks curiously hope in her eyes wanting nothing more than to spend Christmas with her family.

Louis and Harry haven't had a conversation around the holidays yet, both have been too busy to even think about it. It stills them in that moment, they have to tread lightly here, neither wanting to hurt the little girl, but also neither wanting to commit to something the other wasn't ready for.

It's Harry who speaks up first. "I'm not sure love, Papa usually goes to see his family on Christmas." He says and as soon as he does he knows it's the wrong thing. The pout forms instantly on the four year old's face and her eyes gloss over as tears threaten to escape.