all we can do is keep breathing || larry s.

eighteen.

my dear, dear friends,
let me start out by saying I am SO SORRY for this ugly ass delay, I have been have a Time. but! thank you to all of you for still being patient and sending me so many sweet messages of encouragement and compliments. I love you all soooooo much.

so from the author who brought you a 47k first chapter, here is a 55k final chapter. and you're probably thinking, lex, you dumb avocado why are doing the most for no reason?? well friends, i just had to give them the happiness they were long overdue. and the happiness that you all are long overdue. I know you all have been waiting rip

oh before I forget this is a 'they kind of share that' scenario, both bl and bh so there's that for all of you who need to know in advance

anyway! this story means a lot to me, i put a lot of myself in it, more than usual, anyway. it was an emotional roller coaster to write and I can imagine it'd also be to read, but I do hope you've enjoyed it and im soooo thankful for all of you who waited and read it as WIP cuz y'all are brave af that's truly turmoil, but you did it and I love you for it.

anyway I've wrote on authors note to match the length of this update and I'm done blabbing, I hope you enjoy this final chapter friends!

love you! if you want to chat or anything, you can come find me on tumblr 

lex .x  (See the end of the chapter for more notes)

----------------------

 like only you can.

||✚||

"Sorry I took so long, Munchie." Harry apologizes as soon as he walks into her hospital room, carrying a fresh tub of strawberry gelato. "I accidently dropped your gelato and I had to go back and—"

"Did he tell you?!" Avery bursts, hazel eyes opened wide with urgency as she sits all the way up in her bed.

Harry frowns, wheeling the tray table towards the bed before sitting down on the edge near her. "Did who tell me what?"

"Louis!"

"Louis what?"

"Did Louis tell you!?" Avery practically screams at him.

"Tell me what?" Harry plays dumb again, opening the lid of the gelato container and sticking two spoons in it. "Are you gonna make me eat all this by myself? I worked so hard to get it for you, Avie."

"Daddy!" Avery throws her head back in absolute frustration and it makes Harry's heart full because she looks exactly like her mother when she scrunches up her features like that. It reminds Harry of all the many times he would purposely annoy his sister and all the times she would react just as Avery is now.

"Avery!" Harry mimics back, copying her disgruntled face, trying not to let his lips morph into a smile.

"Did Louis tell you he loves you!" Avery emphasizes with raised eyebrows and adorably bugged out eyes.

Harry holds his face frozen for several moments, just staring back into Avery's eyes as stoically as he can manage. But not only is Avery adorable, she's also quite the stare down master and before he knows it, a smile slowly creeps across his face.

His smile seems to be all the confirmation Avery needs and she breaks out into a smile of her own, clapping her hands together in delight. "He did!"

She's far more excited about this than Harry expected her to be and he has no idea how she always seems to be two steps ahead of him. "How did you know he was going to tell me that?"

"Because I know things." Avery answers obviously. She reaches for one of the spoons, scooping out a big pink chunk before gasping with what must be an idea of hers. "You should go make him dinner!"