Frame of Hearts - l.s.

Chapter Three

She wakes up to little whines being heard in the bedroom next to her. She stands from her bed, putting on her dressing gown and slippers before walking out her door to the playroom. Her son's laying flat, hair drooping over his forehead and his mouth slightly open. The boy next to him is curling up to Harry like a small cat, his back to Anne and little cries slipping out of his mouth.

She reaches the fold out couch and takes a gentle hand to place on Louis' tense shoulder. "Louis--"

He shrieks, jumping from his sleeping bag as tears flood out of his eyes. Louis' eyes are wide open as he glares at Anne, his mouth quivering from fear. He brings his knees to his chin and cries into them softly. Anne is speechless, moving up to cuddle Louis immediately and apologising into his hair. Harry wakes.

"Mummy?" Harry whispers, watching his mum cradle Louis in her arms and kiss his scalp. Louis is crying into her shoulder and Harry's suddenly extremely worried. "Mummy? What's wrong with Lou?"

"Lou is just scared, sweetie," Anne mumbled, stroking Louis back with a soft touch and using her nails to lightly caress his skin. "Go back to sleep, H."

"N-No. Louis is scared. I don't want him to be scared--"

"He's okay, darling. You have nothing to worry about."

"But he's crying."

Louis whimpers, his little hands clutching Anne's dressing gown as he digs his head into her neck. Fat tears continue to pour from his eyes as Anne holds him tighter.

"I want to go home," Louis sobs. "I miss mummy. I want to go home."

Anne sighs. There isn't much she can do. It's two in the morning and she's tired herself.

"Are you sure you can't fall asleep, sweetie?" Anne asks, tucking him into her chest a little more. "It's very late and I don't want to disturb your mum."

"I want to go home!" Louis demands. "I want home!"

Harry pouts. "Lou Lou, why do you want to go home?"

"I-I don't like it here. I miss my bed, and mummy," Louis struggles to breathe through his tears and snotty nose. He peels his head away from Anne's neck, looking up to her with his teary heart-wrenching eyes. "Please, Harry's mum? Can I go home?"

She sighs again, exchanging a look between her son and Louis, who is sobbing harder every second. She nods at Louis, standing up from the couch with Louis in her arms. Louis wraps his legs around Anne and rests his head on her shoulder. Anne coos to him before whispering to Harry.

"I'll be back in a few minutes, H. All right? I'm going to take Louis home."

Harry sits up, his eyes curving in a shape of anguish and anxiousness. "Why?"

"Louis isn't ready for sleepovers just yet, Hazza. Maybe next time, okay?"

Harry frowns. "Okay," He glowers a little more with a small wave by his cheek. "I-I'll see you tomorrow Lou Lou."

Louis doesn't respond, only dipping his nose into Anne's shoulder and letting her carry Louis out to the car to take him home.

******

He's met with a pair of blue eyes which smile over the top of him.

"Mummy?"

"Hello, darling," Jay smiles, crouching down to the level of Louis' bed and tucking a strand of wispy hair from Louis' forehead. "Are you okay now, love?"

"Y-yeah," Louis hardly remembered last night, being taken home from Harry's and tucked into bed by his mum. It was merely seven hours ago. "Is Harry okay?"