Forced Family 3

T W O

Forced Family.

Erasing the email he'd written to his publisher, he glances at the books that sat taunting him on the bookshelf next to his desk. His eyes flicker around the room darkening as memories dampen the mood. He remembers Harry helping him unpack his office, the fight the father and son had afterward.

After tending to Louis that sat in the next room over with Niall helping him unpack, Harry enters Liam's soon-to-be office smiling at the photo albums resting in the boxes waiting to be put on display. He couldn't wait to have the frames filled with pictures of his grandchildren. A thought Harry didn't have five years ago.

Tears pool in Harry's eyes as he chuckles wiping his forest orbs that glisten with sweet memories of his boys over the years. Past the drama, they were a happy family most of the time. He remembers the late nights, and cuddle sessions that ended when More hot chocolate was requested.

Peeling the flaps of the box back his smile fades when his eyes glaze on Liam's book, Forced Family, his eyebrows knit together bringing the book from the box flipping through the first few pages.

He knew after reading the second page this was the original version, the one that wasn't published. He couldn't help hate that Liam even had it in his possession. 

"Hey," Liam calls poking his head in the room, "What'd I miss?" He muses, Harry chewing his bottom lip as he turns fully facing his eldest son, "Well," He starts raising the book to Liam's view, "You tell me." Visibly hurt by the book, Harry's bottom lip quivers as he stifles a sob, "I-I thought you-"

"I don't know why I kept it." Liam admits hurriedly, "I-I can't let it go." Harry scoffs shaking his head, "Do-do you still believe it?"

Hanging his head, Liam sighs letting his eyes slip close. He knew confessing this would only start a fight.

"I-I don't know that I ever stopped."  

Present Day

Shivers thump down his spine, his breath hitches in the back of his throat when his phone alerts him of someone calling. 
Sighing, Liam sniffles pressing the green button without a glance at who it was on the other end, "Hello?"

"What's wrong?"

Niall. Squeezing his eyes shut, Liam forces himself to calm down regaining control of his breathing, he shakes his head biting his bottom lip, "Nothing," repeating the lie, Liam blinks steadying the room around him, "Just thinking," Niall hums into the phone, "what're you thinking about?"

"Everything." Liam admits, "I uh, I'm going to see them later." Referring to his parents, Liam can hear Niall inhaling deeply, "Do you want me to go with you?"

"No," Pausing he takes the phone away from his ear casting one last look to his book, "No I'll be fine. I'll see you when I get home." 

Chocolate eyes travel from Louis' bright earthy ones to the tan hands that rested on the boy's stomach. He's on Zayn's lap, his smile mindless as his eyes concentrate on the iPad before him on the table.

"What's your plan?" Zayn suddenly asks once Harry walks through the room, the Papa and oldest son couldn't seem to be able to stay in the same room for long before breaking into a fight.

Swallowing past the rising lump in his throat, Liam feels immense guilt anchoring in his stomach, he regrets not having Niall to join him for this Family meeting.