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

Chapter Twenty Two: Three Words

Louis's POV

"Do it." I urge as I watch Harry bite his lip and stare at the door.

"Oh god Lou, I'm so excited," Harry says still staring at the door, his hand shaking slightly.

I bounce up and down with excitement, "Do it, Harry!"

Harry takes a deep breath then places his key in the keyhole and turns it.

Click.

A smile widens on his face as the door unlocks and we walk inside, him looking around like he hadn't lived here for the past three weeks before we left for the holidays.

"I love it," Harry whispers.

"You've seen it before silly," I say wrapping him up in a backward hug as he continues to circle the room.

"I know but...now I'm looking at it as...half mine."

"Well, one fourth yours but same thing." I joke.

"One fifth if Niall crashes here." Harry points out and I nod in agreement.

Zayn and Liam were out when Harry and I had finally gotten back from my mom's and we had crashed at Harry's that night as to not wake them. But it was the next morning now and I had wanted Harry to use his key for the first time.

"It's yours." I said and pulled him towards my room, "We have a few minutes before everyone comes over so what do you want to do?"

We were having our late new Year party tonight so while the others were out getting ready, Harry and I had the flat to ourselves.

"Movie?" Harry asks shyly, "Movie and cuddle meee!"

I chuckle and tackle him on my bed making him squeal in delight. "I think that is a great idea."

I let Harry choose the movie, he picks the Notebook. I have never been one for sappy-romcoms but I oblige for my boyfriend's sake.

We snuggle under my duvet and prop my laptop up on my desk, Harry in my arms and our legs intertwined under the covers.

I don't end up watching the movie. Instead, I watch Harry's changing expressions as the movie progresses and by the end, I watch the steady trickle of tears falling from his beautiful green eyes.

"What did you think Lou?" Harry sniffles as the credit roll on the screen.

"I- uh, I didn't really watch it," I admit and Harry stares at me,

"Why not?"

"I was too busy watching you."

"You know that's a bit creepy," Harry says but snuggles deeper into my chest.

"You are much more entertaining than any old romantic drama," I say confidently and brush my lips to the tender part of his neck, making him shiver.

We stay cuddled up in my bed for a long while, both of us thinking in silence I guess. Just when I think he has fallen asleep on me a timid little voice asks, "Lou?"

"Yeah, babe?"

He twists around so he can see me and I'm surprised by the passion in his eyes. What was going on?

"I-I wanted to say this in a special way. Like the way, I first kissed you or the way you presented me with a key to your flat..."

I wait for him to continue.

"B-but the more I-I thought about i-it, I-I can't wait any longer. I-I tried to tell you on new years when we were...you know b-but then Fizzy interrupted me and I l-lost my courage," Harry's cheeks were flushed and his eyes were bright.

No. Was he actually going to beat me to saying it?

"S-so now, before anyone can interrupt me. I-I'm just going to say it and you don't h-have to say it back I-I just need to s-say it for me, I-"

Time seemed to stop as he took a breath to collect himself. My world was spinning, my heart was beating, the butterflies in my middle were going mad.

"I love you."

An explosion of feelings made its way through my veins as Harry said those small three words and those three small words that made my entire body feel like fire. Harry had said it. Harry had told me he loved me!

I couldn't believe this was the same little boy who cried in my arms many months ago telling me he didn't believe in love. I had shown him that love wasn't something to be afraid of and here he was now, confessing and exposing himself for me to see. I felt so proud.

"L-louis... p-please say s-something." Harry whimpered looking at me with scared eyes.

But I didn't say anything, I just answered him by pulling him urgently onto my lap and pressing my lips to his, kissing him with all the love I felt for him. All I knew at that moment was Harry. My beautiful, adorable, brave little Hazza.

Harry responded immediately and wrapped his legs tighter around my waist. I put everything I had into that kiss because I knew words would fail to describe how I felt. Harry tries to deepen the kiss but I push him away breathing hard, "Hazz, wait."

"What? What?" He looks worried, scared, and not knowing he had just made me the happiest man alive.

"Hazza," I pant, cupping his warm face in my hands and looking straight into his eyes. "My Hazza. You have no idea what you just did to me. I, for weeks now, have been trying to come up with a way to tell you how I felt and you beat me to it!"

Harry bit his lip smiling, "Say it back." He murmured, "Say it back and I'm all yours."

"My Hazza," My voice not wavering one bit, "I love you. To the moon and back, I love you."

Harry's hands were shaking as he gripped my shoulders, pulling me closer so our faces almost touched and I could feel his sweet, warm breath on my face. He was breathing hard as he slowly trailed his hands down my shoulders and to my chest.

"Louis loves me, lil-Louis loves me." Harry sang quietly to himself as he brushed his lips to mine.

Everything inside me was ready to flip him over and start kissing him senseless, but I sucked in a breath and didn't move. I would let him take his time, I would let him make the first move. And that he certainly did. His hands leisurely inched farther down my torso and to the rim of my jeans where he started to trace the line of skin between my pants and t-shirt.

His actions were antagonizing and I had to grip the bedsheets with my fists as I let him continue his little exploration.

"H-hazza...b-baby," I whine under his gentle touching and Harry's eyes open wide as he realizes the amount of control he has over me at this moment.

He changes course and starts to suck and kiss at my neck, "I-Is this ok, can I do this?" He asks, waiting for my confirmation.

"Y-yes just k-keep going." I breathe and he does, biting down gently on my skin whenever he feels like it.

"You taste good." His quiet baby voice says before sucking again at my neck.

"Y-you're driving me m-mad, you know that?" I stutter out and Harry bites my neck again.

"Lou?"

"Y-yeah?"

"I...I want you."

He had said it. He wanted me and I would let him have all of me.

"Are you sure?" I ask, searching his eyes in confirmation.

He nods with no hesitation, "I want to be close to you...I love you."

"Ok," I whisper, and with trembling hands, I carefully flip him over onto his back.

"I love you."