silver diadem

day one (seeing the venue)

The dogs immediately came barreling towards him.

"Boys! Off my boy, please." Johanna hollered, pushing the animals to the side of her, desperately wrapping herself around him. "Missed you, boo," Jay promised.

Louis breathed in her familiarity and smiled. He was a hopeless momma's boy. "I missed you more, Mum."

The kitchen smelled sweet. Trays and platters laid full on the kitchen table. Jay was preparing for her babies to come home and Harry had asked if he could invite some people along with Louis' friends. She, of course, agreed.

"Are Niall and Liam still coming to dinner tonight?"

"Yes, Lou. They brought the dogs over about a week ago when they came for dinner. They'll be here, along with Harry and Alex. I invited Anne but she declined."

It hurt to here her name. Alex. Louis had tried to steer clear of her name flourishing the tabloids. Harry wasn't Harry without Alex.

Louis wasn't Louis without Harry.

Louis hid his grimace and nodded, taking a few grapes from a fruit tray. "When are they coming?"

"In about an 45 minutes, I'd say. Why don't you go unpack your things." Jay ordered.

Louis didn't argue, knowing he needed a split second of alone time before 4 new people stayed in his house for a week.

Louis wondered why Harry didn't just stay with Anne. He assumed it was because the wedding venue was closest to his house and didn't think anything of it.

He unpacked his things into his empty childhood room and took deep breaths, attempting to ignore the sounds of knocks on the front door and greetings.

Louis finally got the courage to go downstairs at the sound of Niall's loud laugh.

Niall and Liam lasted well together, married and happy in London, not nearly as far as Paris.

Louis feared Niall knew his family better than he did.

"Bubba!" Louis let his littleness slip at the sight of Liam. He hopped into the older twins arms, laughing into his neck.

"Well, hi, Lou. I missed you, bub."

Niall hugged Louis, grinning at how happy he was. After graduation the boys hadn't spoken much because Louis was so busy. They remained close, however, talking daily wasn't essential anymore.

The boys sat the table, waiting for the rest of the party to arrive, speaking of Paris and London. Niall told funny stories about their dog, Watson, Louis laughing until he cried.

The door opened.

Louis froze.

Heels clicked on the tile in the entrance way. He heard voices exchanging in conversation.

Harry walked in with a smile on his face and a girl in his right hand. She was beautiful, Louis realized. They looked great together.

Her hand was small in his, she was tall and skinny, a replica of Harry himself except for her blonde hair. She stood confidently and Louis envied her.

"Oh, Harry, mate!" Liam stood to hug and shake Harry's hand. Harry immediately responded, dropping the female hand in his and going to his old friend. Jay wrapped her arms around him, hesitantly. Louis knew she still wasn't happy about this marriage.

Niall greeted Harry as well and Louis, quiet and slightly sad, simply smiled before turning back in his chair to face the fruit. He glared at the grapes and apples, sitting on a tray unbothered. He wished he could be that way too.

Alex greeted Liam; they'd met, Louis assumed because Liam hugged her. Niall didn't seem pleased but let his husband continue before politely smiling and turning away from her outstretched hand.

Not everyone accepted this, not the people who know HarryandLouis.

"Hi, I've never met you before. I'm Alex," she introduced. Louis looked at the well manicured soft hand and gave a hesitant shake. Harry smiled on, watching his fiancée be welcomed. He felt awkward but continued on, willing his nerves to dissipate.

"Alright, let's eat boys! The September air drifted through the windows. Fall was being to set in; Louis enjoyed it.

Throughout the dinner, everyone told stories of their times away. Johanna explained her divorce, Louis and Liam smiling, happy for her. The topic of children arose after Louis revealed he was opening a new studio which led to a small quarrel between Liam and his mum. She wanted a grandbaby. Louis could tell it was a touchy subject for Liam and Niall and made a mental note to ask about it soon.

Harry talked about his albums and award shows and meeting Alex.

Everyone stayed silent during that part.

"Alright boys, Harry and Louis clean up! I will be heading to bed. Niall and Liam, take out your dogs and put away the extra food and dishes," Johanna went into mommy mode.

"Would you like me to help with anything?" Alex was desperate and Jay hated it.

"Nope. The boys got it. I'll show you to your room."

Johanna forced Alex from being with the boys, leaving Harry and Louis to wash dishes as Niall and Liam put them in the sink.

"Goodnight, bub," Liam hugged Louis a little too tight, Louis getting the signal about Harry. "Goodnight, Harry. Great to see you again, mate," Niall and Liam walked from the kitchen hand in hand.

"Louis."

Harry's voice was soft with him, but still deep and gravely. Louis had to close his eyes to relish in it. "Yes, Harry?"

"I missed you, you know."

Louis sucked in a breath, almost dropping a fork from his grasp. His sudsy hands shook. "You have a fiancée Mr. Styles," Louis reminded painfully.

"You told me to move on, Louis. That's what I've done. You act like I'm not hurting either!" Harry's tone angered Louis.

"Don't you dare speak to me like this. I'm not your wife sitting upstairs. I'm hurt, Harry! I told you to move on selflessly. I invite you to everything, I speak to you on the phone and I try. But instead of being honest with me, you're suddenly dating some model from Hollywood and I'm kicked to the curb. I don't want you to feel like you must stay with me, however, you can't pretend that everything we have suddenly disappears because you're stuck living the dream in LA," Louis defends. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to argue with Harry. It's been 2 and a half years. Harry's getting married and that's that. They were too old to fight like his constantly.

"You don't get it. You don't understand what I deal with in Hollywood. In California, hell in fucking America-"

"You're right, Harry! Because you don't communicate with me. For fucks sake, we're 24 years old! I'm tired of arguing with you about meaningless things. This won't change next week and it won't change the way the last 2 years have been," Louis got so frustrated his hand tightened around the glass he was rinsing. Mixing with the heat from the tap water, it shattered, cutting into his hand deeply.

He took a deep breath to calm himself from crying or fainting in panic. Harry immediately scurried to the cabinet for bandages.

"Ow," Louis seethed. Harry popped Louis onto the top of the counter, shushing him quietly.

"It's okay," Harry whispered, pouring peroxide over Louis' hand into the sink. It bubbled and mixed with the blood.

"You don't have to help me," Louis tried to pull his hand away but Harry held it tighter, not enough to hurt him but still stern.

Harry flashed Louis a look he recognized. Daddy flashed through his eyes and Louis immediately stilled.

"Good boy," Harry mumbled.

Louis pretended he hadn't heard it.