Missing: The boy who disappeared

Chapter 20 - Visitations

A/N

🚨🚨 PLEASE READ 🚨🚨

First off, I'm sorry but this is a MONSTER of a chapter. Buckle in its 14.7k words. I'm so sorry ! I just felt it all needed to be as one.

Also, I had to include some scenes with Saxon's visits. I have taken a different approach in writing these scenes, simply depicting them as "1st visit" "2nd visit" and so on. If I were to elaborate on the events that transpired between these visits, this story would extend to 100 chapters. 🤣
Therefore, I hope the current format maintains a smooth flow and ensures your understanding.

Please refrain from criticising Saxon in this chapter. He is still young and confused. My daughter is eight years old, and I have modelled his language and manner of speaking after hers (excluding the attitude, of course 😂). Please keep in mind that he is currently feeling angry and upset. Therefore, I kindly request that you refrain from expressing any negative sentiments towards him and instead attempt to understand his emotional state.

Please see the bottom author's note after reading.

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'A family doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to be united.'

Their first visit with Saxon had been disappointingly short, barely allowing them enough time to exchange pleasantries and engage in a brief chat. The five minutes they had with him felt like a tease, hardly enough time to scratch the surface of what they hoped would be a deeper connection.

Louis couldn't help but feel a sense of longing as they left, the encounter feeling way too short and incomplete. He couldn't help but feel disappointed that the visit had ended so quickly, leaving him desperately craving more time.

As they drove home, Harry's enthusiasm filled the car, his animated descriptions of Saxon's beauty, and manners painted a vivid picture of their first encounter. He couldn't stop smiling, his joy infectious as he re-lived every moment of their visit. Harry's excitement was so clear and palpable as he raved on all the way home about Saxon's charm and intelligence.

Louis was genuinely delighted for Harry. It was the first time Harry had been granted the privilege of witnessing, at close range and in person, the child they had jointly created together after all these years-a son he initially had no idea existed. Observing Harry's immediate and profound affection for the child instilled a sense of revitalization inside him.

Louis, on the other hand, remained silent, his thoughts in a state of flux as he processed Harry's words without fully indulging in his enthusiasm. He listened attentively, appreciating Harry's excitement, yet he couldn't dispel the sense of emptiness that lingered after their all-too-brief visit.

As they pulled into the driveway, Garcia's words echoed in Louis' mind, emphasising that their visits with Saxon would progressively extend each week. She had outlined that their time together would increase by thirty minutes weekly, provided Saxon and both Harry and Louis felt comfortable, starting with their next formal visit-initially scheduled for just 15 minutes.

But even that prospect couldn't shake the unease. There was something off about the first encounter, something that left Louis feeling unsettled. Perhaps it was the fact that Saxon didn't seem to recognize him, or the way he gravitated more towards Harry, leaving Louis feeling like a bystander in his own son's life. It wasn't jealousy, exactly, but rather a deep sense of hurt and sadness, a cut of pain that held no malice behind it. Louis couldn't help but wonder if Saxon would ever come to know him as his parent, or if their bond would forever remain elusive.

Today, however, he and Harry had finally received the green light to make the YouTube video they had been planning for their loyal viewers. They had opted against making a formal statement on TV about their son's return, so Detective Reign graciously offered to fill in and provide the announcement and updates. This segment would air tomorrow night on the news.