When we met

Chapter 22

Harry's P.O.V.

The reception was still going strong even though it was nearly midnight. Everyone was having too good of a time to leave, especially since the wedding ended with Louis and I saying 'I do'. The little kids that were present at the wedding had their heads on tables or taking up two chairs to nap on while the adults danced and engaged in posh chatter with other guests. I was talking to Niall and Liam – well – more Liam than Niall since he was too drunk to form coherent sentences. He had his arm draped over Liam's shoulders sloppily as he swayed back and forth and offered us the occasional grunt or moan. I couldn't stop smiling. My face actually hurt from smiling. My face actually hurt from smiling so much. Louis and I were married. It still sounded so crazy and so surreal to say. "I don't think I've ever seen you this happy." Liam said with amusement. "That's because I've never been this happy." "I can't belieb you're-you're married." Niall slurred with his eyes half closed. Liam snorted at him and hoisted him up more by the waist. "When will it be our turn?" Niall asked Liam. "Shush, you're drunk." Liam laughed. "No." Niall said seriously, "I think it should be us next." Liam's smile grew just as big as mine, "We'll talk about it when you can stand on your own." Niall accepted this as an answer. "Have you spoken to Dan since the ceremony?" Liam directed his attention to me again. I shook my head, "No, no one has seen him since it ended. I don't know if I'm happy or upset about it." "Why would you be happy? Harry he went to extreme lengths to make sure you and Louis weren't together." I sighed, "I know but, he's my father-in-law now. No matter how angry Louis and I are at him, I know we have to forgive him." "That's very big of you Hazz." I just nodded in agreement. "Oh, very modest." Liam said sarcastically making me laugh. "Where is Louis by the way?" I looked around, "I dunno. He disappeared to talk to some relatives after we cut the cake." As if on cue I looked over the sea of people to see Louis conversing with one of the men from his office. He met my eyes from across the yard as if he knew I was looking at him. We smiled at each other. He flicked his head to indicate for me to come to him. "I'll see you later." I said to Liam who gave me a cheeky smile when he realized I was going over to Louis. I maneuvered through the people who offered me congratulations along the way. I said thank you to their praises, never talking my eyes away from Louis. When I finally reached him we just smiled at each other like idiots.

"Hi." I said softly. "Hi." He said in the same hushed tone. He held out his hand for me to take. I did happily and let him guide me away from the party and just past the tree line of Dan and Johanna's back garden. The party was still visible and audible from where we were but no one would be able to see us since we were going downhill slightly. When he reached the bottom I saw we were by a small pond. Louis led me over to the water and we sat in front of it just a few feet away. Louis took my left hand and ran a finger over my bare ring finger. "We'll have to go out tomorrow to get you a ring." I wanted to shake my head no and say that I didn't need one but honestly, I wanted one. I wanted everyone to know I was taken by the most amazing boy in the world. Louis looked up at me when I didn't say anything. "Are you okay?" I shook my head at such a silly question, "Of course I'm okay. I haven't been this okay in a long time Lou." I flipped my hand over so we could intertwine our fingers, "I married my best friend today. And I get to spend the rest of my life with him." Louis smiled but it was more of a somber smile. He cupped the side of my face with his free hand and ran a thumb over my cheek "I thought I lost you Harry." "Shh." I tried to coo so he wouldn't get worked up but he shook his head, "No, let me finish." I held my tongue. "I went three months thinking you were dead. I went three months thinking you were dead. I went three months thinking the love of my life was gone." "Louis please-" "That feeling when Dan told me you were gone, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. And thinking I was the one that killed you, the person I was so in love with." "Louis." I tried again but he kept going, "I thought about killing myself. I couldn't stand a world without you. I almost did kill myself but Nash stopped me." I felt tears brimming in my eyes, "Louis please stop." "But," He gripped my other hand, "When I saw you round the corner after Zayn, it took me a moment to believe what I was seeing but once I did, once I saw you were alive, I'm never going to forget that feeling. That feeling of pure happiness." I managed to smile since his speech was turning happy, "I'm never going to leave you Louis. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I don't even want to imagine that feeling." "You don't, but it doesn't matter anymore. I have you here with me again, and I'm never letting go. I love you Harry." "I love you too Louis." I let go of his hand to cup the side of his face and kiss him passionately. When we pulled away he said, "I'm so sorry about Dan. He almost ruined everything-" "But he didn't. nothing ca come between you and I. we found our ways back to each other and now, we don't have to separate ever again." Louis giggled slightly before pushing his lips onto mine again. "So," He said, "Tomorrow, we're going to get you your ring, then we're going to move into my house." I raised my eyebrows at him, "Oh really? I don't think I want to be married to you if you're going to be this demanding." Louis laughed since he knew I was joking. "Okay, so you're just going to keep you flat?" He sassed, "Okay Harry, that makes perfect sense that." "Shut up!" I finally said with a laugh. He joined me in laughter and I found myself staring at him fondly, sucking his happiness. And I'm the one who made him that happy. When our laughter died down he said, "There's one more thing Harry." "What?" "I want you to quit your job at the restaurant." I looked at him incredulously. "W-What?" "Yeah, you always said you hated it and, as snobby as it sounds, I have plenty of money for the two of us. I never want you to lift a finger." "But, I wanted to be the one to take care of you Louis." I whined like a little kid. "You will be taking care of me." "You know what I mean. I don't want you to have to work so hard." He scoffed at this, "Harry, in less than three months I'll have the company all to myself. I could show up in my boxers if I wanted." We laughed with each other again. "I'm not taking no for an answer." He sassed. I sighed, "Fine, I'll quit tomorrow but I'm getting a job at the coffee shop." Before he could protest I said, "I'll go crazy if I have nothing to do all day. I didn't like the restaurant but we both love the coffee shop. It's perfect." He chuckled at me, "persistent you are. Okay, only if it's part time." "Deal." I said as I held out my hand for him to shake. He scoffed at me again and pushed his lips onto mine. "You're my husband. I'm going to kiss you whenever I can which will be all the time." I just smiled at this. He put his forehead on mine and smiled at me lovingly. "I really love you." He said quietly. "I really love you too." We both sighed in content with a little hum making us laugh at our mirrored actions. Louis finally moved away, "Come on, I want another dance with you." I happily agreed, letting him help me up and take me back up the hill tour reception.