All I've Ever Known

26 - Louis

"Okay guys, I appreciate you coming down here so last minute, but I really need to clear everything up and get our timelines right", John, Harry's lawyer spoke from across the boardroom table. Well their lawyer now it seems.

Louis smiled politely and gripped Harry's hand tighter from where it was resting on his lap under the table. Louis stifled a yawn and cursed early board meetings with management teams, however this one was at least for the benefit of him and Harry. The first step in their court proceedings, he was feeling relieved that it was all seeming to be going ahead and in the 48 hours that they had been out publicly, Louis had been so elated. Granted, they had only left the house a few times as the paparazzi's seemed to be worse than they ever had, they hadn't been successful though thanks to their sneaky 3am walks and privacy blinds at Harry's house.

"No problems, John", Harry spoke politely, Louis beamed up at him, unable to hold the fondness off of his face now that he didn't have to hide it anymore. Harry gave him a winning smile back, thumb tracing over his knuckles and dimples popping sweetly.

John cleared his throat making the pair snap their eyes away from each other and concentrate on the topic at hand; relationship timelines. Louis was especially not looking forward to this meeting since they got the call late last night. Jeff had called Harry around midnight and interrupting their weekend bingeing of FRIENDS, asking them to meet at his office at 7am to start hashing out the rumours and PR stunts they were both forced to do over the years, needless to say, Louis didn't sleep much.

"Okay so- " John began, opening his laptop and began typing "-What I mostly need from both of you is to go back to the beginning of everything. I need times, dates and names. I know this is going to be uncomfortable, I know you don't want to do this, but also this is how I'm going to build the strongest case against Syco for you guys." John smiled half-heartedly and paused before continuing typing, "Who wants to go first?" He asked monotonously.

"I will", Harry spoke nervously, Louis' stomach did a nervous flip. Sure, Louis knew a little of who Harry had dated since they broke up all those years ago, but he didn't feel ready to go over it in detail knowing that the last time they talked about it, Harry and he weren't together. He was nervous that Harry hadn't totally been telling the truth, or leaving things out to not further hurt Louis, as that's what Louis had done. Breathe Louis, he told himself.

"Okay, Harry I've asked your management team and done a Google search of everyone you've been romantically linked to since the start of your career. I've done it for you too, Louis, and I just need to know if it was real, PR or rumours. I also need dates, even if they're a rough estimate for if they were PR or real relationships." Jeff said professionally, Louis could feel his hands start getting clammy in Harry's firm grip.

Louis glanced at his boyfriend, who gave him a soft smile that didn't quite meet his eyes, and squeezed his hand a few times, Louis could only give him a small smile and an encouraging nod of his head in return.

"Okay then-" John clapped his hands together, "- I'm just going to start saying names and we can go from there", he stated.

"Caroline Flack" John stated

"Rumours, I was 17 for christ sake" Harry shook his head with a small chuckle, Louis scoffed fondly at him

"Taylor Swift?" John asked

"PR" Harry stated, "I think that was in like, December 2012" Harry spoke slowly

"When did it end?" John questioned

"Like a month later probably" Harry shrugged, John typing on his laptop quickened and he nodded.

"Kendall Jenner?" John asked. Louis tensed unintentionally, that name bringing him back to a time of fighting and miscommunication between the pair of them.