Guess Who? (Larry AU)

Chapter 22

A/N: Update number 2 for the day. Yay I actually did it. Enjoy chapter 22 my lovely cupcakes.... (make sure to vote and such)

Xx- W.

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Harry P.O.V. -

I vaguely remembered what had happened before I'd passed out. I had been walking around the mall when Lottie had stumbled upon me. At first, I wasn't convinced it had been her because of my drunk-like state of mind. There was no denying the resemblance to Louis in her eyes though. That had hurt like a fucker, seeing him in her. At least that was over, and I could go home soon.

The creak of the door slowly pushing open caught my attention right away. Mum wasn't supposed to get off work for another hour or so.

"Hi."

"No," I croaked out hoarsely. "Oh my god, th-this isn't real. This isn't happening. Y-you're not real. It's just my imagination. I'm finally going crazy, aren't I?"

"Harry," his voice faltered. Before I knew it he was running to my bedside, dropping to his knees, and sobbing into my sheets. "I'm sorry. Oh god, I was such an idiot for so long. I tried to convince myself that it was for the best. I said you were better off without me and vice versa. I tried to believe her, but she was wrong, I was wrong. I'm such a fuck up who can't ever do anything right except break fragile things. I'm so fucking sorry. I didn't mean it. I didn't mean a word of it." His words were muffled by his sobs and the fabric of the hospital sheets, but they rang loudly to me.

"What... what do you mean? Louis, why are you here? You left me. You didn't care about me. You gave up on us, on me! There was never an explanation, a phone call, or anything. Eventually, I just gave up because I knew you no longer cared for me. Do you know what my nightmares are made of? I dream that you found a pretty girl or a lovely boy and that you two got serious. That you were about to propose, and I was watching in the shadows. Right when they would accept the ring, I would wake up. That's when I would realize that my nightmares were already haunting me when I was awake because you had already left me."

"No, Harry, no, just because I walked out doesn't mean I never stopped caring. There is no girl or boy. There's only you and there's only ever been you. I tried to stop thinking about you, about what I did but I couldn't. You meant everything to me, you still do."

"Then why did you walk away!" I screamed in his face.

"Because I had to!" he shouted back.

"There's always a choice. You chose to not fight for us. Weak, that's what you were. Damn you, Louis, damn you to hell! Damn you for making me fall in love with you just to leave me! You promised you weren't like all of those other people who walked out of the room, but you were! You left because you couldn't handle me. Louis, you broke every single promise you ever made me."

"Harry, please I never wanted this. I never wanted to leave you; that was the last thing on my mind. Damn it, I fell in love with you too. It tore my heart from my chest to say those words to you. Not a day has gone by that I don't regret that night." Our voices were quieter now as our anger subsided.

"It was three days before our six month anniversary, ya know? I was planning a surprise for you. It was similar to what you did for me on my 19th birthday, remember that? I felt horrible for what my dad did, and I wanted to make it up to you. I also to thank you for defending me like that. When you walked in the door, I was so elated. I was going to have you taste the new recipe I'd been working on," I trailed off, not having the words to finish.

"I know, Harry, I know. You must hate me, and you don't want anything to do with me anymore. I'd be surprised if you hadn't moved on with someone new by now, but could...could I have the chance to explain what happened? I don't deserve it; believe me I know. If it's okay with you I would just like you to know." By this time Louis and I both had swollen, red eyes from crying. All of the emotions I had stuffed inside me to procrastinate dealing with had risen up again. Part of me was so pissed and heartbroken at Louis for leaving, but another part of me knew there had to be a reason. Louis, my Louis, wouldn't just leave like that, not after all of the promises he made. If there was one thing I knew about Louis, it was that he had never broken a promise until that night.

"Yes, please tell me why." We sat there as Louis spilled his tale of how his mother threatened him all those nights ago. He told me how impossible it had been to choose. The last thing he had wanted to do was leave me like that, but with Fiz's death he couldn't bear to leave his family either.

"Louis, why didn't you fucking tell me that three years ago? I would've understood! We wasted three years of our lives because we were both such idiots! I thought you left because you really couldn't stand me anymore."

"Nope, that was never it." Louis shook his head back and forth repeatedly to make sure I knew what he was saying. "C-can I tell you something crazy before you kick me out?"

Bracing myself for anything, I gave him my permission. "I still love you. Three years apart and I am still as fucking in love with you as I was. I love you, Harry."

"I'm still so pissed at you because of what you did. I know that you were about as heartbroken as I am, so I guess that makes up for it. I don't hate you, but I guess I don't completely trust you right now. So don't get me wrong when I say this because oh Lou, I love you too."

A smile erupted from Louis's lips, and he quickly planted a hand over them to keep me from seeing. His actions only caused me to crack a small smile too. "I get what you're saying. I understand it too. I never expected you to just forgive me or anything because I screwed up royally. Now, I know I've got no right to ask, but would you give me another chance?"

"Yes, yes, yes, and a thousand more yes's," I responded softly. "So how about you stop crying and give me a hug?"

Louis wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt before crawling into my arms. It may seem strange that after three years this still felt the same to me. Sure, I had this anger inside of me because of what he did, but now that I know why he did what he had to do I found the rage ceasing. Knowing he was in as much pain as I had been showed me that he was the Louis I had always thought him to be. He hadn't changed much at all. His face had matured a little more, his facial hair wasn't being shaved on a regular basis anymore, and he was a few inches taller. Personality wise, despite the new found sadness from our heartbreak, he was the same witty, free-spirited lad I had met in the hospital. The hospital, it seemed to be our place for important events just like the football field was our place. I was happy for reasons unexplained. Happy that Louis and I were finally going to get the chance we deserved. We were going to be able to find happiness again.

Sure it might take a while to piece together the broken trust, but all good things come in time right? We've made it through hell and back with Damien. Surely, we can recover from this.

My personal thoughts were interrupted by a woman's shrieking voice. "Where is he?! Where is my son? Which way is that? Room number 516, you said?"

Room 516... that's mine... oh shit. Just as I predicted, a rage filled Johanna Tomlinson barged through the door like a charging rhino.

"LOUIS WILLIAM TOMLINSON, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE!?"

No, we were just reunited. She couldn't take him away again. A look of pure hatred and anger boiled and brewed in Louis's eyes. Something told me he wasn't going to back down this time. He was no longer afraid of his mother.

"Get out, Mum. You're not welcome in here."

"Excuse me? That is no way to speak to your mother, young man!"

"I'm an adult now. You can't control me! Threaten me all you want. There's nothing you have that I want anymore! Lottie is eighteen, so she can bring the girls to visit me when you're not around. You can't use that against me anymore. I love Harry, and he's willing to take me back after all this shit you made me pull. What kind of mother forces her child to do something like this? You made me ruin not only my happiness but Harry's as well! I hope you're happy with yourself. Three years later and I still hate you. You've lost me too. First, there was Dad, then Fizzy, and now me. How many must you lose before you realize you're handling this all wrong? Get out, Johanna, get out and don't come back until you can admit to what you've done. I don't want to hear your voice or see your face unless it's to apologize to Harry and me for what you've done."

Louis was breathing hard when he finished his torrent of words pointed at his mother. Jay's mouth hung open slightly, but she closed it solemnly. Hanging her head in defeat, she turned to leave the room. With one last glance at her only son, she left.

"Lou... you okay?" He turned to face me. I expected tears, but there was no micro expression of regret to be found.

"I've never been better," he replied simply.