When the Clock Strikes 12:00 // L.S.

Chapter Twenty One: New Years Eve

Louis's POV

It was so nice to be back. The last time I had slept in this bed was when I had come down to visit my family during the spring. Back then I was just starting to get my life together with Zayn and Liam in our flat, barely holding down a job and struggling with myself that I had chosen to take a year off from school.

I remember lying, here in this exact bed, staring up at the ceiling and wondering 'what the heck am I doing with my life?' Sure I enjoyed what I was doing. Hanging out with my friends, playing concerts every now and then on the weekends, photography, but it all seemed to just blend together.

Now, lying here with Harry in my arms curled up against my chest, I felt like everything had become clearer. Like I'd been stumbling around in the dark, and then everything was suddenly in sharp focus.

Having him here at my childhood home and hanging out with my sister felt so normal and so special I couldn't describe how happy I was last night. He was great with little ones and I wish he didn't doubt himself as much as he did, even though it was adorable.

I started tracing lazy circles on his back as I thought and relished the feeling of his warms skin against my cold fingertips.

"Lou," He mumbled, starting to wake up, "You're cold."

"Moring to you grumpy," I said leaning over a brushing a kiss to his cheek. His eyes were still closed and he looked angelic. His dark brown curls fell around his head like a halo and I pressed a kiss to his head as well.

"Come on sleepyhead" I whisper into his ear and he slowly shifts to turn around and face me,

"I'm awake," His voice husky and his eyes half-open.

"You're demeanor would suggest otherwise." I laugh as he buries his head into my shoulder.

"I don't want to get up, it's cold."

"I know but if we don't get up soon the twins will come in and start jumping on the bed."

"Is that a normal morning occurrence?" Harry asks looking up at me.

"Yeah, but I'm used to it now. Their tickling doesn't have anything on me anymore." I say proudly. Daisy and Pheobe like to jump onto my bed and start tickling me when I felt like sleeping in. The first couple of times it happened when I was younger I would get mad, but now I could almost sleep through the ritual.

"Oh no," Harry says and starts to slide under the covers.

"What?"

"Not tickling, I'm so ticklish-" He stops as he looks at me and the small smile that has started to form on my lips. "I shouldn't have said that!" He squeals as I bend down and start tickling the gap between his neck and shoulders.

"Lou, Lou. S-stoppp!" He shrieks with laughter, squirming as I continue to tickle him. He is absolutely adorable and I can't get enough of how damn cute he is right now.

"Aw, what's that you say?" I ask as he continues to giggle uncontrollably.

"L-Lou I s-said stoppp..." He can't even finish because it is interrupted with another fit of happy laughter.

"You are so freaking cute, are you even legal?" I say stopping and kissing him on the mouth.

Harry is gasping for breath and his eyes are bright, "I'm cute!" He beams.

"The cutest," I say kissing him again and he kisses me back.

"Louisss!" A high voice calls from the hallway, "We are coming to get you!"

"Just in time," I mutter and roll off of Harry who quickly straightens up, trying to fix his curls. He is unsuccessful though, they are a right mess.