The Hanging Tree (Zianourry)

Epilogue

*Third Person POV*

Lottie held back the tears as she walked up to the tree, placing how flowers underneath it. She decided to come alone today, not wanting to put her family through the emotional drain again. It took months to actually get her mother to leave the house after Louis' death reached her ears.

Lottie blinked away the tears as she looked at all the flowers that were placed there. It struck her as odd how there were flowers around the tree, almost deceiving people to believing this was a beautiful place. However it wasn't, not for five families.

"Louis, not sure if you can hear me but I miss you. Is it selfish of me to be glad that you're gone?" She asked, shaking her head immediately afterwards. "Not in a way like me wanting you to die. I mean that you're not stressing no more. I imagine you're in a gay wonderland where there's these beautiful fairies and rainbows and green grass and blue skies as far as the eyes can see. You're probably laughing at my childish imagination." She said, smiling at herself.

"You know I'm kinda mad about your secret relationship with these four boys. I saw pictures, they're really cute. Sorta jealous, why are all the cute guys gay?" She pondered to herself. "Except for you Louis, you had messy hair and a big ass and gosh you smelt." The last part sent giggles rippling through the girl so hard that she had to clutch her stomach. She looked back at the tree, smiling softly as she wiped the tears away.

"Please be happy." She pleaded. "Once I see you your arms better be wide open because I'm gonna jump in them. Then I'm gonna punch you in the face and make you introduce me to your boyfriends. Though hopefully whenever we see each other again I'm not some old hag who's missing teeth and stuff because you will NOT catch me like that." She straightened up herself, smoothing her dark blue dress out.

"I know you're listening with your nosey arse. Just know I love you Loueh. You boys better watch my older brother or you'll have Hell to pay when I meet y'all." She said, combing through her hair as her self consciousness about her image rose.

She turned on her heels and started to walk away humming to herself as the wind blew past her. A soft laughter carried on the wind and a whisper of 'love you too'. Lottie's head whipped around and she watched the branch creak as it swayed. She smiled softly as she walked away from the tree, promising herself that she'll see her brother again.

**Louis' POV**

"Of course she commented on my arse!" I complained, crossing my arms as my sister continued her speech. I crossed my arms as the boys were snickering.

"She's really beautiful." Harry commented.

"Don't let her hear that." I said. "Her head's already big enough." I said as she threatened the boys. I started to laugh because knowing Lottie she was dead serious. She started to walk away and I ran up to her, leaning close into her ear as I whispered, "Love you too."

Her head turned towards the tree and I froze, turning slowly to look at the boys. They shrugged, all of us unsure about how the whole spirit thing worked. I turned back to my sister to see a smile cross her face as she walked away.

"Well that was weird." Liam said, his arms wrapped around Niall.

"Well, Lottie and I always had the closest relationship." I told them. " Though I really wonder where the fairy thing came from?"

Zayn snickered as he said, "Well she is your sister." I stuck my tongue out as Harry took off running. I laughed as we all followed him, running off into the sunset, the woods finally our paradise, the hanging tree our gateway to freedom.

**A/N: And that is the end of the hanging tree. Not a such a sad ending. The ordinance to kill homosexuals is still in place for anyone who wonders. I hope you all liked this story. I apologize for all the feels and tears!**