Cupcakes, Curls & Cuddles

Chapter 25

As Louis collapsed on the bed, his heart heavy, the past seven months replayed in his mind like a blur of confusion and frustration. It all started the day after Harry's birthday, when Emmy dropped a bombshell over coffee—she wanted full custody of Cassie. Louis' entire world seemed to stop in that moment. He couldn't believe it. For three years, he had been the one to raise Cassie, to be there through every scraped knee, every bedtime story, every little milestone. And now, after all this time, Emmy wanted to step in and claim what he had fought so hard to protect.

Louis had left that coffee shop in a daze, unsure of what to do next. The only place he knew to go was to Harry's. When he got there, all of the emotions he had been holding in came flooding out. He broke down, crying on Harry's shoulder, feeling utterly lost and overwhelmed. He didn't have the strength to fight anymore. For hours, Harry simply held him, quietly comforting him without offering solutions, just letting Louis express every ounce of pain and fear he was feeling.

Louis had always been the strong one, always trying to keep it together for Cassie and for himself. But in that moment, he couldn't hold anything back. He sobbed and vented, feeling the weight of everything bearing down on him—the fear of losing Cassie, the strain of being a single parent, the unresolved feelings he had about Emmy's absence and sudden reappearance. Harry, always the rock Louis could lean on, didn't say a word. He just stayed by Louis' side, allowing him to feel everything he needed to feel.

Eventually, Louis fell asleep, emotionally exhausted from it all. Harry carefully got up from the bed, watching his friend sleep for a moment before leaving the room. He knew Louis needed help beyond what he could give, and he didn't want to let him down. Harry quietly called his mum, asking her to watch Cassie for another night so Louis could have more time to process everything. Then, without hesitation, Harry picked up the phone and called Jay, Zayn, and Liam, asking them to come over for dinner. He knew Louis needed his family now more than ever.

When Jay, Zayn, and Liam arrived later that evening, the atmosphere shifted. They didn't bombard Louis with questions or advice. They simply sat with him, offering quiet comfort, knowing that what he needed most was to not feel alone in this. As they shared a meal together, it felt like a reminder that Louis didn't have to face any of this by himself. His family—his real family—was there for him, ready to support him through whatever came next.

When Louis finally felt ready to talk about the situation, it was a relief to have his family there to help him think through his next steps. Over dinner, they discussed what he should do moving forward, and it became clear that Louis needed legal advice to protect his rights as Cassie's primary caregiver. Fortunately, Jay's husband, Dan, had connections in the legal field. He put Louis in touch with a friend who specialized in corporate law but had close ties to a family law lawyer who could assist Louis in his fight for custody.

A few days later, Louis sat down with the lawyer to discuss his case. The lawyer assured him that there were several strong factors in his favor. Cassie had no real relationship with her mother, and for the past four years, Emmy had made little to no effort to be involved in her daughter's life. She hadn't even paid child support, which further solidified Louis' case. The lawyer explained that these points would be significant in court, and they could present a solid argument for Louis to retain full custody of Cassie.

What followed was a grueling six-month legal battle. Court hearings, paperwork, and the constant stress of wondering whether Emmy would change her mind and fight back weighed heavily on Louis. Despite the emotional toll, he remained focused on protecting his daughter. He had come too far to lose her now. Through it all, Louis leaned on his family—Harry, Jay, Zayn, 

Liam, and even Dan—who offered unwavering support. They reminded him that he wasn't fighting this battle alone.

As the months dragged on, something unexpected happened—Emmy began to pull away. She missed several court dates and, in the end, didn't even have a lawyer representing her interests. Louis' lawyer took this as a sign that Emmy had lost interest or realized she wasn't going to win. It hurt Louis in a way he didn't expect, not for himself but for Cassie, who deserved a mother that cared. Yet, in a strange way, it also made things clearer—Cassie belonged with him, and he would always put her first.