Always you

Home is Where We Are

The newlyweds spent the following months filling out paperwork, aiming to make their union official. Louis wanted to adopt Poppy, becoming her legal father.

After their beautiful wedding and all this paperwerk, Harry and Louis settled into married life. Louis decided to take a big step forward in his career. He planned to expand his tattoo studio, a dream he had nurtured for years.

The expansion was an exciting project. Louis hired two talented new tattoo artists to join his team, and the studio quickly gained popularity. The increase of clients meant that Louis spent more time at work, managing the business and training the new artists. As the studio thrived, Louis found himself busier than ever.

At first, Harry was incredibly supportive. He was proud of Louis's success and the fulfilment of his dream. But as weeks turned into months, the long hours began to take a toll on their family life. Louis would often come home late, exhausted, and unable to spend much quality time with Harry and Poppy.

One evening, as Harry was tucking Poppy into bed, he glanced at the clock, noting that Louis was once again late for dinner. After Poppy was asleep, Harry went downstairs to find Louis finally walking through the door, looking worn out.

"Hey," Harry greeted, trying to keep his frustration in check. "Long day?"

Louis sighed, dropping his bag by the door. "Yeah, it was crazy at the studio. We had a bunch of walk-ins and a couple of long sessions."

Harry forced a smile. "I saved you some dinner. It's in the kitchen."

"Thanks," Louis replied, heading to the kitchen without much enthusiasm.

As they sat down to eat, the silence between them was heavy. Harry couldn't hold back any longer.

"Louis, this is becoming a pattern," Harry said quietly. "You're always at the studio. Poppy misses you. I miss you."

Louis looked up, his expression a mix of guilt and defensiveness. "I know, Harry. But this expansion is important. It's our future."

"I understand that," Harry replied, his voice tense. "But what about our present? What about us? We barely see you, and when you're home, you're too tired to even talk."

Louis rubbed his eyes, feeling the weight of Harry's words. "I'm doing this for us, for our family. Can't you see that?"

Harry's frustration boiled over. "No, Louis, I can't see that! All I see is you putting the studio before us. Before me and before Poppy!"

Louis's voice rose in response. "That's not fair, Harry! You knew how important this was to me. I'm working hard to give us a better future!"

"At what cost?" Harry shouted, tears streaming down his face. "You're missing out on our lives! Poppy barely sees you, and I feel like I'm losing you!"

Louis stood up, his own anger flaring. "I'm doing my best! You think I want to be away from you? From Poppy? I'm doing this for us!"

"Well, it's not working!" Harry yelled back. "We need you now, not in some hypothetical future where everything is perfect!"

The room fell silent, their harsh words hanging in the air. Both were breathing heavily, the intensity of the argument leaving them both shaken.

Louis ran a hand through his hair, looking defeated. "I don't know what you want from me, Harry. I'm trying so hard."

Harry wiped his tears away, his voice softer but still strained. "I want you to be here, Louis. With us. We need to figure out a way to balance this. Because right now, it's tearing us apart."