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• ～ EPILOGUE 02 (Part 2) ～ •

September 02^nd, Monday

Sealing the last box with thick tape, the only thing left in the apartment now was their nest; which they would undo and pack until the last morning that Louis and Harry would wake up in their now old space.

Louis would return to Greater Manchester until the following week. He would begin training with his team for their next match against Liverpool, traveling to the city of the same name where the game would be played, at the Anfield stadium.

Now though, Louis was truly excited to return, because now, Harry would be going with him to Greater Manchester, this time for good.

Right now, however, they had a whole week to themselves, Louis free from training or other meetings; and Harry had asked for a week at work before the Brit nominations, so he could enjoy a few days alone with his precious boy.

  “At the label party last week, Alexander mentioned that a month ago he had recommended Liam the restaurant he was investing in,” Harry commented as he drove. “And something about getting him an amazing discount, as a gift. I didn't understand anything and he didn't explain more because he got distracted to talk to Lewis. Now I understand everything, though.”

  “You have no idea how hard it was to keep the secret,” Louis breathed out, shaking his head.

  “Oh, I could feel it, I knew something was up.” Harry smirked at Louis. “But I thought it was because of your matches or some new sponsorship deal, not because my best friend was about to receive the most important proposal of his life.”

  “You and I, now Li and Zaynie. Only Niall and Annie are left.”

Harry snorted, “Niall has practically planned his wedding to Annie in detail already. He’s just waiting for his promotion and a better salary, so he can pay with his own money for everything his mind has developed in the last three years. He loves throwing parties, and he loves Annie more than anything in the world, that should give you an idea.”

Louis laughed. “I can imagine that. Wow, when did we all become so grown up?”

  “I have no idea,” Harry sighed. Removing one hand from the steering wheel, he took Louis hand at his side, stroking his knuckles with the pad of his thumb. “But I know when my life made sense and everything fell into place.”

  “Yeah?” Louis smiled, “And when was that?”

  “When I asked the stars where you were, and a few days later I found you.”

  “Oh, love, how can we forget those months that we dedicated to screwing our hearts because we are a couple of idiots.”

Harry laughed. “The worst kind of idiots. Idiots in love.”

Laughing, Louis shook his head as he remembered those days, so distant now, but just as fresh in his memory as if they had only been yesterday.

  “How much longer do you think it would have taken us to confess our love if Vazyl hadn't advised you to try his experiment on me?”

  “Mmm, I'll bet on… two more months. We probably would have realized after Niall's patience had finally run out and he had pushed our heads together into a kiss.”

Louis laughed. “Sounds like something Ni would definitely have done.”

Harry had continued texting V and P, all the time after he and Louis had finally fallen in love with each other, more than a couple of years ago. After Harry began to make peace with himself and his suffering, taking his first steps on the path of self-acceptance and self-love…

Shortly after his second year of university had ended, Harry proposed the idea to his friends that they finally meet in person.

Now that it seemed like the three of them were in a very good place in their lives, Harry figured they didn't have to hide anymore. He wanted to continue sharing his progress and joys with his friends, having real faces and names in his mind to relate to those he spoke to.

And, surprisingly easily, they both accepted, meeting for the first time in a quiet cafeteria a few days later.

V turned out to be a nice, funny, and good-looking twenty-four-year-old male Alpha named Vazyl. The young man was a chiropractor, specializing in the area of ​​rehabilitation at the hospital where he worked. Right there is where he had met his male Omega friend, also a nurse, named Abbel; whom Vazyl had asked for help with his experiment, that it was possible to get to know someone's scent through the sense of taste. Omega whom Vazyl had begun to fall in love with during their experimentation meetings. Summing up the culmination of events: Vazyl and Abbel were now dating.

P was a beautiful twenty-year-old female Alpha named Penny. Just accepted into college, she also worked in her father's paint factory, where she very subtly perceived the aromas of some solvents and varnishes. Penny had already been on the Beta treatment to combat hyposmia for just over eight months. The results were faint, mild, but it was working for her.

Months ago, Harry would have accepted the treatment, having considered it after she first mentioned it during their text talks. However, after everything he had been through with Louis up to that point, Harry found himself realizing that he didn't care anymore.

He knew that his lack of smell would cause him longing, melancholy at different times throughout the rest of his life; but it wasn't something that caused him the deep sadness and self-hatred that he had felt for a long time, not anymore. Harry, with the help of his friends and his beautiful Omega, had learned to accept himself as he is. He had learned that his condition did not make him different, but unique. An Alpha who simply had to learn to do things a little differently than everyone else.

Harry no longer felt his lack of smell as an impediment, and he no longer wanted to perceive the smells of the world. All he cared about was that one smell, that one scent that, when it seeped into his healthy cells, was wonderful every time. The flowers, the sweetness and luxury permeating Louis' beautiful body, combined with his own scent bathing the Omega, was all Harry needed.

On another occasion when they met, this time they brought their mates. Abbel, Louis, and Daniel (Penny's new Beta boyfriend). And everyone was amazing to meet each other; Louis finding new friends, ones who completely understood his beautiful Alpha, and with whom the curly-haired boy could talk what he couldn't with anyone else because they truly understood what it was like to live as he did. And Louis also loved meeting another male Omega, forming a definitely lasting friendship with all of them.

…Louis brought Harry's hand to his lips, placing a kiss on the back of his fingers, his gaze on the handsome profile of the boy who was driving.

Niall had called that morning to shout his excitement about the wedding of two of his best friends. Also letting them know that he and Annie were going to Liam and Zayn's apartment; to greet the parents of the black-haired boy, and the now newly engaged ones.

Since they had no plans for today, and because of the new happy news, Louis and Harry decided to arrive at the couple's apartment by surprise, to congratulate them and greet Tricia and Yaser as well, whom they hadn’t seen for a few months now.

Although right now, Harry took a street that wasn't exactly the one that would take them to his best friends' apartment.

Turning down the opposite street from the one they should have taken, Louis frowned, glancing with a curved eyebrow at Harry, who seemed quite confident as he drove. But, as he was about to ask or point out that he was going the wrong way, Louis' brow cleared, realizing where his Alpha was heading.

Turning left a few streets later, Harry slowed to a stop, parking right in front of The Red Leaf.

  “We have six more days to have been able to come here, why now?” Louis asked, soft and curious.

  “I just… I really felt like we could have a nice cup of tea before meeting up with the family. Just you and I.”

  “It can be just you and I whenever you want, love. Come on, then.” Smiling sweetly, Louis didn't even make an attempt to open his door. Because as soon as he said the last word, Harry was already getting out of the car, rushing to Louis' door, opening it for him.

Two and a half years later, and his beautiful Alpha had never stopped treating Louis like they were on their first date. Just as Harry's cheeks continued to turn a pretty ruby ​​shade, every time his handsome Omega gave him a compliment and looked at him as if he were the only person in the world.

Holding hands, they stepped into the teahouse, breathing in the delicious aroma of familiarity and comfort that the place always offered them.

Entering here was as if not a single day had passed; Harry expecting to find Louis behind his cash register, and Louis finding it strange that someone else was standing where he smiled for so long at so many different people… where he smiled into those green eyes that became his entire universe.

Bonnie no longer worked there, and they had actually lost contact with her for over a year when the Alpha moved to Wales. Annie didn't work there anymore, having graduated six months ago, she was now focusing on her new job in advertising. The interior looked calmly the same, with very few changes, like the jukebox against one of the walls, sending soft music throughout the interior.

Being still relatively early, the place was quiet and almost empty, just as Louis remembered and enjoyed the most.

That, however, didn't stop some of the customers from turning in their direction and gasping as they watched them came in. They were both quite publicly known now after all. And if someone didn't get to know them because they weren't fans of football and music, they would still recognize them from the various photographs of them framed behind the cash register; along with many others with which Mrs. Anders had decorated the entire wall.

After they both had their photos taken with a couple of fans who kindly approached them, and signed some autographs, they sat at one of the tables near the counter, both drinking hot Yorkshire tea.

  “I really love this place,” Louis sighed, hands warming with the cup he held in his palms.

  “I know,” Harry looked at him with a soft smile, “which is why I thought we could have a cup before meeting everyone else. Just be you and I for a few more hours. Here. The place where ‘you and I’ happened.”

  “…Do you think it was a coincidence, Harry?” Louis asked, tilting his head thoughtfully.

  “You and I?”

  “M-hm.”

  “What do you think?”

  “I don‘t think so. I think that, as soulmates, something happened in us, unconsciously calling us, bringing us closer and closer to each other. I don't think anything was just a coincidence. I think… I think it was destiny that your sense of smell was different, because, if you had it, you wouldn’t have left that class, you wouldn’t have walked ‘aimlessly’.”

  “I definitely didn't walk aimlessly,” Harry sighed. “I think that was the first time I truly felt you. Unconsciously, but my feet brought me here, my anger and hurt heart brought me here, to you. I… felt you, Lou. When I stopped on the other side of the sidewalk, I felt something,” pressing a hand against his heart. “I looked straight at this place, I came directly here when I felt something inside, in my heart, and that was when I looked at you for the first time.”

  “Haz, you've never told me this,” Louis blinked, his eyes surprised and amazed as he looked at him.

  “I think… I think I'm realizing it until now. I… I felt something, standing on that sidewalk, but... I'm only now realizing that it was you, Lou, it was you that I felt. I think, in a way, I was at my worst, lost and about to give up, so you led me to you.”

  “Haz,” Sniffing, Louis lowered his mug to take Harry's hands in both of his.

  “You're right, it wasn't a coincidence at all. We didn't meet just because. We call each other, Lou, we guide each other, because we were born for each other.”

  “I'm sure of that.” Nodding, Louis lifted Harry's hands, kissing the rose adorning his ring, identical to Louis’ own, decorating the ring finger of his left hand. “My Harry,” he sighed, looking at the boy’s beautiful emeralds. “My Alpha. My boy. My husband.”

  “How could I choose between all my days with you, Lou? From the moment I met you I’ve had the best day of my life so many times. When I looked at you for the first time. When you kissed me. When you agreed to be my boyfriend. When you marked me and allowed me to mark you. When you accepted and married me.”

Louis laughed softly. “I think I had lost all hope. Love wasn't my thing. I was giving up. But one day those same bells over the doors rang, and I felt you too, love. I felt it in my chest, my heart, and I looked for you. Although all I found was an old book cover hiding my soulmate behind it.”

Harry laughed, shaking his head. “I was a walking ball of nerves, to be honest. Since I came in, I couldn't stop looking at you, but I was terrified that you would look at me too, because I knew that someone like me– Well, that doesn't matter anymore, does it? Because thanks to you, I learned to love myself again.”

  “My beautiful, intelligent, incredibly talented Alpha,” Louis smiled, his gaze glistening with thin tears.

  “Omega,” Harry sighed, a tear sliding down his pearly cheek. “I'm so glad your sisters organized that beautiful wedding ceremony for us in the garden,” Louis laughed, “because it gave me the perfect moment to propose.”

  “Tell you a secret?” Louis whispered, leaning a little closer to him, wiping the thin tear from Harry's cheek with the pad of his thumb. Harry nodded. Biting his smiling lower lip, Louis laughed softly. “I visited a jewelry store the week before we were going with our families. I was thinking of looking for a ring to propose to you when we got back, but you beat me to it. I guess great minds think alike.”

Harry gasped, his eyes big and bright. “Oh, Lou. I'm so sorry,” the boy looked really sorry.

But Louis laughed again, his heart filling with love, even more, for him. “No, love, you have nothing to apologize for. I wanted to do it, but I definitely didn't have the slightest idea as to how. I looked at a million rings and had no idea which one to choose. Your taste is definitely better than mine,” looking at the identical rings adorning their ring fingers, and back to his favorite pair of eyes. “And my sisters definitely created the best moment. It doesn't matter if you proposed or I, either way, I knew that, at some point, I would marry you. And that moment was definitely perfect,” Louis sighed…

Liam and Zayn proposed the idea to Niall, Louis and Harry, since they were all now practically related, that the five families meet at the same time; spend the Christmas and New Year holidays together. And since it was a more than perfect idea, the three boys accepted without thinking twice.

That December, two thousand fifteen, Louis and Harry were already quite well settled in the apartment, enjoying their vacations together day by day, until Louis had to move permanently to Greater Manchester.

All the families had contributed a portion to rent two houses outside the city, and it was agreed that everyone would arrive at relatively the same time. However, Liam and Louis' families texted Louis (and Liam too, surely), to tell them that they were already there; two hours before the agreed time. Louis didn't blame them though, both families were extremely close, and they were used to it being just them. So, they needed the time to be together and prepare to open their hearts to many new people who, hopefully, would become part of the family.

Louis and Harry had left on time, but along the way, Louis could feel all the nervousness that was washing over his boy, his hands decorated in rings and soft violet nail polish, shaking on the steering wheel.

By then, seven months had passed since they finally bonded, and both were quite familiar with each other's emotions within their own hearts. Louis knew exactly what was happening.

  “My family is going to love you, Haz, I can promise you that,” he told the boy, softly and understandingly. “I've sent them a million photos of both of us in all these months, they know you, and they already adore you. You have nothing to fear, love.”

  “Maybe I'm not the Alpha they expect,” Harry said under his breath, nervous and worried.

Seven months had also been the time that Harry had gone without using suppressants and wearing his favorite clothes, accessories, and whatever touches of makeup he wanted, every day everywhere. Louis complimented him every day without fail, every hour he was breathless looking at him and not believing his luck.

And Harry felt much more confident of himself now, having worked hard for his self-respect, having the support of his friends and the undying love and admiration of Louis. Also having a wonderful psychologist, who was guiding him on the path of getting rid of his father's criticisms and words in his head.

But, despite all the time of progress, this was the first time Harry would meet Louis'―and Liam's―enormous family. And, although what the rest of the world thought of him was not so important to him now, the opinion of those families meant everything to him.

Harry was really having a hard time not being self-aware right now, knowing that, all the time before him, Louis' family wanted Liam for their boy. Liam, a strong, masculine Alpha, so smart and nice, the perfect son-in-law for any–

  “Park the car,” Louis spoke, not asking. “There, Harry, park,” he pointed to a row of available space next to the street they were traveling on.

Having been abruptly snapped out of his thoughts, Harry sniffed and parked, obeying without a second thought.

Just as determined as his words, Louis unbuckled his seat belt and moved across the console, sitting on Harry's lap, cradling his face in his hands.

  “Liam is the perfect son-in-law for Tricia and Yaser,” he told Harry, looking him in the eyes. “They love him, because he’s everything they wanted their son to find in someone. Liam is one of the luckiest people in the world to have someone as wonderful as Zayn. Just as Zayn is incredibly lucky to have found an Alpha like Liam; Just the man of his dreams, with all the qualities he loves in someone, right?” Harry nodded softly. “Zayn is perfect, and Liam loves him just the way he is. Liam is perfect, and Zayn loves him just the way he is. They are perfect for each other, just what they were looking for.

“And you are perfect, Harry. And I love you just the way you are. You are everything I was looking for in a person, you have all the qualities that make my heart beat like crazy with love for you. You are just the Alpha I wanted. Your personality, however you decide to look now and with whatever changes you decide to make in the future, if you want them, you are the Alpha that I want. And my family will love you too, because they will see you. They will see your authenticity, your nice and kind heart, your happiness in being yourself anywhere. They will see how smart you are, how strong you are, how brave, funny and extremely nice you are. They will see how much you love me, Harry, and they will see how much I love you. They will see what a wonderful Alpha you are.”

Harry didn't have to ask, he knew that every word Louis said had been spoken with complete honesty, truth and love. Because he felt it, the beating of Louis’ heart in his, one heart. He felt the pheromones that his Omega was releasing for him, he felt the emotions and amount that he released; and Harry responded, with gratitude and love, grateful, as always, for his Omega.

  “Thank you, Lou.” He sniffed, closing his eyes as Louis licked his cheeks and gently over his eyes, lovingly wiping away his tears.

  “Do you want to get out of the car and get some fresh air?”

After Harry nodded, they both got out of the car and took some time, just the two of them; like Harry always needed before venturing into something new, or where he knew he would have to spend a lot of time among other people.

A moment alone with Louis was always enough to calm his heart and give him reasons to continue.

  “It can be just you and I whenever you want, love,” Louis whispered in his ear, hugging him, responding to his feelings. “Whenever you need it, I am with you.”

So, delayed for an hour, Louis and Harry finally arrived, parking among the other cars there. They knew that all the families were already inside, because several messages from Niall asking where they were and that they were the only ones missing, had arrived on both of their cell phones during the last twenty minutes.

Standing on the porch, Louis pressed a kiss to his boy's cheek, so as not to ruin his freshly applied coral lipstick, and, with a nod from both of them, Louis took a breath, finally opening the front door.

Louis smiled as he caught the first homely waft of his family's scent, their voices, plus many others, reaching his ears as well. And then…

  “Louis!” A pair of identical voices belonging to a pair of identical girls, shouted at the same time, followed by stomping feet as they came running at full speed towards them.

Louis had already knelt down, his arms outstretched at his sides, falling into a sitting position when the two girls literally crashed into him. They were hugging him so tightly that when Louis stood up, he had a girl in each arm, clinging to his sides, holding them both. Louis' face was lighting up in total happiness, leaving kisses on the two little girls' cheeks, telling them how much he loved them and had missed them.

Harry's heart positively melted with love at the scene, right then and there.

And just a few seconds later, more girls and young women ran towards Louis too, hugging him all around, laughing and talking loudly.

  “Harry!” A voice not belonging to the girls shouted, an excited Niall now running down the hallway as well, throwing himself into the arms of his best friend. “You two took a long time. I was about to organize a rescue mission to go find you,” he said, squeezing Harry into a tight hug.

  “You called them half an hour ago. They texted you fifteen minutes ago,” Zayn said, slapping the back of the blonde's head, stopping next to him.

  “A lot can happen in fifteen minutes, Zayn. Maybe it wasn't them replying, but the super intelligent alien that intercepted them on the road, you never know.”

Laughing, Harry shook his head, opening his mouth to greet his best friends. Though his words were interrupted, when a gentle tug on the bottom edge of his coat stole his attention.

Daisy, with her big blue eyes wide open and lips parted, was looking at him attentively. Just a couple of seconds later, she raised her arm and pointed at him, saying, “Pretty.”

  “Daisy, love, you don't point at people,” Louis said softly, stopping next to Harry, with a soft smile at him. “But yeah, he is, isn’t he?”

Daisy, and her twin now at her side, also looking at Harry, nodded vigorously, smiling big at Harry, who, kneeling down, smiled back at them.

  “Hello, m’ Harry,” he told them, comfortable in front of them.

Phoebe couldn't resist, and stroked the boy's long curly hair. “Can I braid your hair?” She asked, biting her smiling lower lip.

  “And makeup,” Daisy added excitedly, “I have a new makeup set that mum bought.”

  “Babies, Harry is your new brother-in-law, not your new doll,” Johannah chuckled behind them, stopping next to her daughters.

Harry stood up, clearing his throat, and offering his hand to her. “Hello. I'm, I'm Harry,” he introduced himself, even though she had just said his name.

Johannah shook his hand, easily sensing the boy's nervousness in his somewhat elevated scent. She knew everything about Harry's condition and his path to learning to control his scent, now that he would no longer use suppressants; Louis having explained everything very well for some time now.

Although, just a couple of seconds later, Harry's scent came down, watching him take a deep breath, Louis at his side smiling proudly at him.

  “Nice to meet you, Harry,” she smiled motherly at him. “I am Johannah, Louis' mother, and if I may say so, I agree with my daughters, you are very pretty.”

  “Oh,” Harry's cheeks turned hopelessly red. “T-thank you. You, you’re very beautiful, there’s no doubt where Louis inherited all his beauty.”

  “Thank you so much, love. Please come, I can't wait for everyone to see my son's handsome Alpha.” Now as excited as her daughters, Johannah held onto Harry's arm after he offered it to her, and they walked towards the living room, where all the rest of the families were.

Louis couldn't stop smiling, looking at his beautiful Harry next to his mother, receiving all kinds of compliments from his sisters, Liam's sisters and his parents. Harry kissed cute baby Theo's head, and then his entire body visibly came more alive as he looked at the two perfect babies Dan was holding, immediately letting him hold one.

Looking at Harry holding his little sister Doris so lovingly, Louis felt his insides roar with subtle desire, definitely being able to see Harry holding their own baby.

In that second, Harry looked up at him, cheeks reddening again, eyes timid towards his Omega. Oops, maybe Louis wasn't so subtle in his feelings and thoughts after all.

  “You’re the most handsome Omega I’ve ever seen, my son was definitely not lying in the endless descriptions he has given me of you over the months,” was the first thing Anne said, when Louis stopped in front of her to introduce himself personally. “I couldn't ask for anything more for my Harry, you’re everything I ever wanted for him, everything he deserves.”

  “Oh, wow, I– Thank you so much,” Louis cleared his throat. “I wanted to meet you so bad.”

  “Me too, darling, really. Thank you for making my baby so happy.”

  “He’s definitely the one who brings all the happiness to my life. Harry’s the best that has happened to me, and I love him with all my heart.”

Anne hugged Louis as he spoke the last word, gratefulness for him in her sweet scent and the way she held him. Louis hugged her back, feeling like she really needed that.

  “Woah, my brother-in-law is the best football player in the world, a celebrity, and also absolutely beautiful? Yeah, I can definitely see why Harry sounds like he needs a drool bucket every time he talks about you on the phone.”

  “Gemma,” Harry muttered from beside her, because his sister's words were not said in a low tone. But it's not like it's a surprise, after all, each of them has a bite on their neck, so, that was proof enough that she's right.

Laughing, Louis welcomed the female Alpha into a hug, already loving her.

And since the topic was brought up, when Niall enthusiastically introduced Louis to his and Zayn's family, questions and comments about his profession and upcoming games were asked.

Louis didn't mind, he loved talking about football and was definitely proud of what he was achieving in his life. So, smiling, he answered questions and followed the talks, easily fitting in with the new families. Just as Harry fit in perfectly with the two newcomers in his life, his nervousness fading from his system the more time he spent with the people who lovingly welcomed him, with honesty and care.

The next morning that Louis and Harry left their room, all the families, now mixed up, were talking, laughing and joking; as if they had known each other for years, and not just hours since the day before when they had just introduced themselves to each other.

It was just perfect to witness.

Liam and Zayn spent time with everyone there, but, most of the time, Zayn was fused to Liam's side. The black-haired boy still had some anxiety among so many people, and constantly feeling his bondmate at his side helped him smile and stay mostly calm.

Harry also felt some anxiety at times being with so many people around at once. However, Louis and Harry were not as lucky as Liam and Zayn.

Because Harry was shamelessly stolen from Louis most of the time, at the hands of all the sisters, the mothers, even the three babies―whom Harry kept holding because he simply adored babies.

The curly-haired boy seemed to really enjoy helping out in the kitchen, sharing tips and recipes alongside his mother, Johannah, Maura, Denise, Tricia and Doniya. He held whatever baby he was holding at the moment, expertly with one arm, as if he already had five children at home. Harry would sit patiently on the couch, Lottie and Phoebe braiding his hair, or Waliyha and Safaa busy applying subtle cosmetics to his face, or Fizzy and Daisy changing the colors of his nails.

Louis also enjoyed chatting with Liam's sisters, Zayn's eldest ones, and Gemma, and spending almost all his time with the men, chatting endlessly about sports.

They all played football a couple of times outside in the garden covered in a light dusting of snow, and made a few attempts at golf at Niall's suggestion; Louis quickly realizing that he sucked at said sport.

Liam on his keyboard, Harry, Niall and Zayn on guitars, played music for the whole family when asked, letting their instruments and beautiful voices flow. Louis joined them in singing after a while of insistence from, well, practically everyone in there.

And just three days later, Louis' birthday caught up with them.

  “I still feel bad for not knowing about your birthday last year and not having done anything for ya. So, tomorrow… Family party!” Niall said to Louis, with a big sunny smile.

  “I don't think anyone would object to that,” Louis shrugged.

  “We always throw him a little party at home anyway,” Liam commented, “and there's a lot more of us here now, so it'll seem like a proper party.”

  “It will be a proper party, dear Li,” Niall corrected, “because I'm in charge of the fun.”

  “I know that brain. Nothing extravagant, Niall,” Harry told him.

  “Only our families, Ni. We don't know anyone around here, I don't want strangers coming into the house and my mother and Karen having us clean the houses for the rest of the holidays,” Louis warned.

  “Ugh, why do all of you always melt my wings, not letting me fly as high as my impeccable ideas?” Niall complained.

  “Relax, Icarus, we can't do anything extravagant because tomorrow’s Christmas Eve, and there are children in the house,” Zayn reminded him.

  “Okay, whatever you want,” Niall huffed. “Party tomorrow at home with the family to celebrate the twenty-four winters of our beloved Tommo,” smiling, Niall took out his cell phone, starting to type, walking back to the house.

  “What are you doing on that cell phone of yours, Niall?” Louis asked with an eyebrow raised, towards the suspicious blonde.

  “Nothing,” Niall said, but he smiled, and continued typing, entering the house, out of sight of the other four boys outside.

• ～ ✦ ～ •

That Christmas Eve morning was one of the best days Louis could have ask for.

He started the day receiving the most loving and arousing kiss from his boy, counting it as his first birthday gift, definitely. Nothing else could happen though, because just a little later, their door was knocked repeatedly, the voices of Louis’ sisters overpowering each other, telling them to go to the other house.

After showering and dressing, Louis and Harry entered the other house, finding the ceiling, from the hallway to the living room and dining room, overflowing with bright balloons of all colors, streamers hanging from them. With a huge sign taped to the wall with his name hand-painted on it, all the wonderful people in there shouted a big “Happy Birthday, Louis!” towards him, loud enough for all of England to hear them.

Louis was practically knocked down by all his and Liam's sisters, more people slowly joining the hug and laughter as well; all filling him with such great love and affection that Louis felt like the luckiest person in the entire world.

First was a delicious breakfast that they ate in the living room, sitting on the couches and on the floor. Then Louis received and opened all the gifts that his family and even new relatives gave him. Later they went out to the backyard to play all the games that their sisters, along with Niall, organized for the whole family; a kind of mini-Olympics, with all the most childish activities that an adult would never have imagined they would be doing again.

And in the afternoon, inside again, Niall and his mother surprised everyone, when a truck parked outside, a catering service being delivered; in addition to a DJ who set up next to the TV, playing and mixing all the songs that the girls and parents asked for.

Louis climbed up on one of the couches to bring down some balloons for his sisters, dancing with them and laughing with his other new sisters around. Breaking away for a moment to drink some water, Louis looked at Harry and Anne talking at the end of the hallway, where no one else was.

He couldn't hear anything, of course, but he could watch Harry’s facial expressions and, paying attention to his emotions, he could feel what Harry was feeling.

Anne looked a little sad, she was the one speaking, however, she also looked relieved, as she wiped away the path of thin tears that had run down her cheek. Harry hugged her very tightly, stroking her back reassuringly. He also seemed to have let out some tears, and Louis could feel that he too had a little sadness, but relief was what flowed most in his heart.

Breaking the hug, Harry looked down, beginning to fiddle with his rings, now him talking. Louis watched Anne encouraging him to tell her what the boy was hesitant to express; Louis could feel his nerves now.

Harry bit his lower lip and looked at his mother, and spoke. Anne's eyes widened in surprise, her hands going against her own chest as her mouth opened into a wide smile. Louis felt the boy's nervousness mix with joy, watching as Anne now wrapped her son in a tight hug, cradling his face afterwards, leaving a kiss on his cheek. Harry smiled big too, looking happy and, somehow, excited.

Turning on his heel, Louis hurried back to everyone else playing and dancing in the living room, when Harry and Anne had started walking back too, so they wouldn't notice he had been watching.

It was almost ten at night, Johanna and Denise went to the baby's room to check that their pups were okay and still asleep. In the living room, Fizzy and Lottie picked up their sleeping twin sisters to take them to their bedrooms. Everyone else was still there, with the music playing loudly, some watching and cheering on Greg, Liam and Geoff, who were playing on the video game console Chris had brought.

However, Louis turned his attention away from the TV screen when his cell phone buzzed in his jeans pocket. Taking it out, he opened it and read the message that had arrived.

  Niall: Backyard in two minutes!

Harry, beside him, was also looking at his own cell phone, and when he glanced at the screen, Louis read the same text from the same blonde. And looking around, Louis saw that Zayn, leaning next to the couch where his boyfriend was, was also looking at his cell phone. And Liam did the same, moving his attention from his cell phone to the TV screen, still playing.

In that second, the four of them looked around, realizing that they had received the same text message.

Louis and Harry got up first, simply walking to the back door and stepping out. All the lights were off, the street lighting was the only thing to make the surroundings visible. Seconds later, Zayn came out as well, and just a little later, Liam also joined them.

  “What's happening?” Liam asked. “Where’s Niall?”

  “I’ve no idea.” Harry squinted his eyes, trying to look around.

  “Psst!”

The four there turned at the same time towards where the sound had been made. Niall, standing by the fence gate, was waving his hands for them to come closer.

With a mischievous smile and the keys to his mother and Chris' truck dangling from his fingers, Niall winked at Louis and turned around, leading the way.

Even though the boys asked, their blonde friend didn't reveal anything, everyone getting into the vehicle anyway.

It turned out that Niall drove for almost forty minutes to reach a nightclub, which he had found after detailed research on his cell phone. The place was exclusive for Omegas, and couples who were already bonded or married, so the atmosphere inside ensured the safety and fun of everyone.

Louis and Harry, Liam and Zayn. However, Niall was alone… until, as they waited in line to enter, the boy shone like a beautiful star in the night, when Annie surprised them all there, having left her suitcases in her car.

The girl would spend the rest of the holidays with them, happy to be able to spend time with her Alpha and meet his family; the beautiful Omega now with the mark of the Alpha on her neck, which was made last November, bonding them for life.

  “Happy Birthday, Tommo!” Niall told him, when they finally stepped into the club.

Louis wasn't at all surprised by how incredible the place was inside. With laser lights spinning around, the best music vibrating the walls, an incredible cocktail bar and people dancing everywhere. Niall always found only the best, especially when it came to a celebration for one of his best friends.

Kissing the cheek of his handsome and fantastic now best friend, Louis thanked Niall, everyone then rushing to the bar to order all kinds of attractive cocktails.

Sparkling drinks in hand, the six of them danced among all the people there, drinking and laughing for a long time.

Niall took it upon himself to tell everyone he passed by that it was Louis' birthday, so the blue-eyed Omega got congratulations all night, and free drinks one after the other.

A little later, “Last Christmas” by “Wham” vibrating the walls, and most of the people singing, Louis and Harry found their moment to be just the two of them.

Harry with his arms wrapped around Louis' waist, the shorter boy with his arms wrapped around his tall boyfriend's neck, they danced softly.

  “My mom told me something earlier,” Harry told him, the distance between them close enough to hear each other perfectly.

  “All good?” Louis asked, remembering when he watched them talking in the hallway.

  “M-hm,” Harry nodded. “Well, partly. She told me that she decided to divorce my dad. They've been separated for three months now.”

  “Oh, Haz. Is she alright?”

  “She told me that it took her a long time to finally open her eyes to realize that he definitely wouldn't change, and there was nothing she could do about it. She gave him a lot of chances, Lou, but she was never really happy with him. The house belonged to her parents, so my father moved out, and the procedures will begin in January. I think… I think she'll be much better off without him, and I think now she can really start looking for her happiness. My mother is a wonderful woman, Lou, she deserves someone who realizes every day what a wonderful human being they have by their side and adores her more than anything in the world. I want that for her.”

  “Me too, honey. Anne’s wonderful, and such a loving mother.” Louis cocked his head. “I’m so sorry that she couldn’t find her infinite happiness with your father, but I also believe that she has made the best decision. What, uhm, what will happen to their bond?” He asked softly and carefully.

  “Her mark has caused her nothing but pain for a long time now, I know, there is no love in that bond, I am sure. She will work with her therapist and will have help to break the bond and separate permanently. I know it will be difficult, but Gemma, Elina and I will support her all the time and will not abandon her. My mum will be happy again, we will make sure of it.”

  “Of course, Haz, I'm sure. I feel so proud of her, she’s a very strong and brave Omega.”

  “She is,” Harry smiled softly.

Letting a moment of silence pass between them, Louis nibbled on the inside of his lip, curious about what Harry told Anne that caused her to hug him as if she were congratulating him.

  “And, uh… Any other news?” He asked, trying casualness and calmness in his voice.

  “Nope, just that,” Harry replied.

But Louis could feel the double heartbeat inside his own chest, something passing through Harry and disappearing just as quickly, as if the boy had managed to get it under control in time. Louis didn't ask any more.

The night moved pretty quickly, everyone inside wishing each other a Merry Christmas because Louis' birthday had ended a while ago.

And with only one more hour that he knew was left before his sisters would wake up to run to open their Christmas presents, Louis, as giddy and happy as he was, found Niall and the rest of their friends, to go back.

Annie and Harry, being the only ones who hadn't been drinking, drove the others back to the two houses.

At just twenty minutes to seven in the morning, the six of them quietly walked into the second house… finding all their parents in the living room, cups of tea and coffee in their hands, watching them enter through the back door, not so stealthy as they thought they had been.

  “Whoops,” Niall bit his lips between his teeth, followed by a loud hiccup erupting from his chest.

Adults as they were, that didn't stop them from being scolded by their parents for leaving the night before without telling anyone, and from not answering their cell phones at any time―none of them had ever heard them inside the noisy club, to be honest, the alcohol in their systems having made them forget everything after a while. Niall did most of the talking, because Maura was completely sure that her son had been the mastermind behind their disappearance on Christmas Eve and the beginning of Christmas.

The blonde boy didn't even make an attempt to deny it. And at the end of the scolding, with a small apologetic smile, Niall finally introduced Annie to the whole family. The girl, although embarrassed, greeted gracefully. She was cleared of all guilt, immediately welcomed by everyone there.

So, with dizzy heads and without any sleep, the boys endured the loud voices in there. Babies crying, Christmas carols, plates clinking, chairs dragging, and other common sounds, which at that moment sounded really loud; while they accompanied their families to open Christmas gifts in the other house.

They all fell asleep in the afternoon, in different parts of both houses.

Four girls taking advantage of the situation, filled their brother's hair with pretty barrettes with flowers and bows, the same ones they used to decorate Harry's hair as well.

When Louis woke up, his head pounding and hair shiny in decorations, he participated in making gingerbread houses and watching everyone drink eggnog and hot chocolate―because he definitely couldn't keep it inside his unruly stomach. Niall, Liam and Zayn were in the same situation.

Finishing baking cookies, many faces and clothes stained with flour and icing, laughed and joked; happiness emanating in waves of beautiful scent and vibrant contentment in all.

Harry was watching Louis decorating a cookie with Nicola, the boy's eyes filling with those little wrinkles at the corners from laughing so much and so genuinely, looking absolutely gorgeous. Harry's heart beat a little faster and his hand went to his jacket pocket. But when Louis looked at him, feeling him, Harry bit his lip between his teeth and hesitated, moving his attention to baby Ernest in Anne's arms.

For five days, Louis felt on different occasions how Harry's heart would speed up when they were alone and the moment was romantic. The boy would begin to act hesitant or speechless when Louis asked him if he was okay. But Harry always ended up changing the subject, or kissing him again. Or Louis felt Harry's eyes on him and, when he turned, the Alpha adverted his gaze, quite similar to all those first days when they met at the teahouse.

• ～ ✦ ～ •

On the morning of December thirty-first, one of the few neighbors around knocked on the door, inviting them to the New Year's celebration that would occur that night among all the people who lived around.

In the afternoon, Harry plucked some of the little white flowers that stood out from the bouquet of flowers someone had bought to decorate the dining room table.

Concentrated on his task, he twisted the stems to join them together, until he made a beautiful flower crown, smiling when he finished it.

  “It's very pretty.”

The soft voice behind him brought Harry out of his thoughts, making him turn in his chair, finding Daisy there, staring at the flower crown in Harry’s hands.

  “Did you make it for yourself, Hazy?” She asked him.

  “Obviously, Days,” another little voice said. Harry looked, finding Phoebe at his other side now. “It's big, it doesn't fit you.”

  “It would fit me,” Daisy pursed her lips, still looking at the flower crown.

  “Let's see,” Harry placed it on the girl's straight hair. Yes, it was a bit big on her, but she looked just as pretty. “Perfect,” Harry smiled, receiving one back from Daisy.

  “Can I try it on too?” Phoebe asked, running to her sister's side.

Daisy personally removed the flower crown from her head, carefully placing it on her sister's. “She's pretty,” Daisy smiled, Phoebe smiling big too.

  “You're both very pretty,” Harry told them, looking from one to the other.

  “Uh, uh, you, now you.” Phoebe removed the flower crown from her own head, holding it carefully in her small hands towards Harry. He leaned down so she could place it on his head, the girl arranging it over his curls. “Pretty!” Phoebe smiled big.

  “Yeah!” Daisy nodded. “You look like a bride. No. A pretty bride,” she corrected herself. “When you marry Lou, will you wear one too?” She asked innocently.

Harry's cheeks, however, decided to blush at the comment, his heart racing.

  “Hazy, your cheeks,” Phoebe giggled behind her hands.

  “Will you marry my brother, Hazy?” Daisy asked him.

  “Yeah!” Phoebe answered for him, now looking quite excited.

Harry had his lips parted, but the girls weren't giving him a chance to speak.

  “Can I marry you two?” Daisy asked, raising her hand.

  “Oh! Can I be your maid of honor?” Phoebe asked.

  “You will be the most beautiful bride in the world!” Daisy clapped.

  “And Lou, the most handsome groom!” Phoebe nodded.

  “How about… here? I have time now,” Daisy gasped.

  “In the garden!”

  “I'll go get chairs!”

  “And cookies!”

Phoebe and Daisy ran out of the dining room, both passing by Louis, who was already walking towards it after having felt his Alpha's heart got agitated just a moment ago.

Being ignored by both girls, who were now running to another part of the house, Louis, confused, walked into the dining room.

  “Everything’s alright in here?” He asked Harry, alone there.

  “Uhm…” Harry blinked, not knowing how to begin to explain what had happened.

Although, Ruth interrupted them, coming up behind Louis. “Why are Phoeebs and Days yelling all over the house for us to go to the garden for your wedding?” She asked, looking confused, one eyebrow raised.

Blinking wide eyes, Louis looked at Harry.

Harry, laughing lightly and shaking his head, shrugged, “I just made a flower crown.”

After Harry explained to them both what had happened, Ruth took it upon herself to tell the others why the girls were excited about the wedding they were organizing in the garden now. Louis tried to tell his sisters that he wouldn’t… Well, at least not on this very day, marry Harry. But the girls however, decided to ignore him.

The other sisters, of all of them, began to follow the flow and support the two little girls. Liam, Zayn, Niall and Annie joining the conspiracy, helping them accommodate what they were told in the cold garden.

Louis and Harry simply watched it all happen in front of their eyes, nothing they said stopping all the people now being complicit with Phoebe and Daisy's wishes.

And that's how all the available chairs in both houses ended up in the backyard and all the people there became living dolls of the two girls, doing everything they wanted.

Everyone dressed in the clothes they had planned to wear for the evening's celebration, sporting new clothes and stylish coats. Louis and Harry were separated, each taken to a different house.

Louis laughed at the tender hearts of his little sisters who were excited to do this for them. And he also rolled his eyes at the girls and parents taking serious care of the appearance of his clothes and hair. Johannah came up and kissed him on the cheek, hugging him lovingly and telling him how much she loved him and how proud she was of him. As if this were really his wedding day.

Although… It was starting to feel that way.

Louis hugged her back anyway, and, sensing the right moment, whispered something in her ear.

.   .   .

Harry smiled as his hair was sprayed with water and hairspray, Anne's hands forming his curls a little more, Daisy carefully arranging the flower crown on his head. Harry changed into the clothes he also planned to wear until the evening. Dark jeans and a white lace blouse; ankle boots, and a long coat on top. Harry put on the pearl necklace that Louis gave him for Christmas. And, biting his lower lip, he patted the right pocket of his coat, swallowing and somewhat nervous now.

.   .   .

Louis pressed his hand against his chest, going to the corner of the room he was in, to take a deep breath alone. Don't worry, love, let's play along with them, okay? He thought, releasing soft calming pheromones, there's no reason to be nervous, Haz, it's just you and I, always you and I.

.   .   .

Harry began to feel his heart calm, his Alpha restless inside letting the anxiety melt at his feet, feeling the softness and care of his Omega embracing him from his heart. Sighing and leaning relaxed against the wall, Harry smiled softly, thanks, Lou, he thought.

.   .   .

  “Everything’s ready, Lou, let's go!” Phoebe said, rushing from the door to him.

Johannah had tears in her eyes, but her smile was big, leaving a loving kiss on her son's cheek before her little daughter grabbed his hand and pulled him back to the door, leaving the room.

All the families were in the backyard, some sitting, some standing, all equally smiling at the enthusiasm of the two girls who had organized all of this.

Louis was pulled by his sister out the back door, actually surprised by what they had done there.

All the different chairs they had found available were neatly arranged on the left and right side of the garden. In the middle was a short aisle, made with what looked like two sheets to form a white floor; the vases of the houses, on the sides, flowers of different colors decorating. The created aisle ended right in front of the wooden arch with the green vine, which adorned the garden, the swing seat below holding two plates of cookies. Dolls and stuffed animals were also among the guests, some sitting on chairs, others on the snowy grass.

Phoebe led Louis by the hand to stand under the wooden arch, him smiling at all his family and new family looking at him, some of the girls filming and taking photos already.

Johanna sat in one of the front chairs and immediately whispered in Karen's ear, who, with big eyes, looked at Louis and back at her, hugging her.

  “We’re coming, we’re coming!” Daisy's voice shouted from inside the house, making everyone outside laugh.

Only a few seconds later, the remaining people came out and sat or stood with the others, Anne taking a place up front next to Gemma.

Soft music played from someone's cell phone, and Daisy left the house, also holding Harry's hand.

At that moment, Louis stopped joking as his gaze fell on the boy.

Louis had gone with Harry when he bought that blouse, he had given him that pearl necklace and he had seen him wear it before. Louis had seen him wearing makeup many times, and his hair adorned with flowers and other accessories. And yet, seeing him there, walking slowly hand in hand with his sister, Louis was left breathless.

Absolutely beautiful, Louis thought, sighing as he saw his gorgeous boy being guided down the aisle created with white sheets. The sounds had faded from his ears, all Louis could hear was his and Harry's heartbeat being one inside his chest. The cold weather stopped embracing him, because all he felt was warmth spreading through him as he fell even more in love with that wonderful boy approaching him.

  “Hi,” Harry whispered as he stopped in front of him.

  “Hi,” Louis responded, unable to stop the urge to caress the boy’s cheek with the back of his fingers.

Harry smiled shyly, holding Louis’ gaze for a moment. Until Daisy brought them back to the garden, when she clapped her hands enthusiastically, running under the wooden arch.

Phoebe ran to the chairs and grabbed Liam and Daniel by the hands, pulling them up next to Louis. Then, she rushed over and grabbed Niall and Zayn as well, pulling them and leaving them next to Harry, her taking the spot right next to the boy.

  “Nervous?” Louis whispered.

  “Everyone's looking at us, so…” Harry swallowed, nodding.

  “They have involved me in their games many times. Just do everything they say and we'll be fine,” Louis smiled, leaning into him.

  “No! Not yet,” Daisy scolded them.

Chuckling, Louis leaned back. “Sorry.”

  “Come on, let's start with this wedding, my friends Phoeebs and Days here did an excellent job organizing all of this,” Niall said, smiling, while placing a flower in the breast pocket of his jacket.

  “Thank you, Ni,” both girls said at the same time.

Louis raised his eyebrows, and Harry chuckled (his heart beating a little faster now).

  “Thank you for coming,” Daisy spoke loudly so everyone could hear. “Family and friends, and new family, we gather now to celebrate the joy of being together, and for Lou and Hazy to become the most beautiful couple. This day, uh… no. Now here, they will become married, because… uhm– Mommy, what do I have to say?”

To soft, loving laughter from all the families, Johannah rose from her chair and went with her, crouching next to her daughter, whispering in her ear.

Daisy repeated what she heard.

  “Love, is one of the simplest words to pronounce. However, one of the most complex emotions that anyone could experience. It’s a force that unites two hearts through connections of understanding, honesty, passion and respect. Love is not acting blindly for someone, it’s acting knowing what you’re doing and what will happen, to make the best decisions as a couple. Love is born with liking, develops by uniting common parts and accepting differences, and is established and grows when the soul accepts it. Two souls created with the purest energy of nature, born in the kind hearts of two beings made for each other. Souls united. Souls bonded. Soul mates.”

Harry looked at Johannah, who looked at him with knowledge in her eyes, and a soft smile. He then looked at Louis, who sighed, wearing a smile very similar to his mother's. Harry then turned to his own mother. As if they had been able to communicate with their gaze, Anne smiled at him, nodding slightly, answering his question.

  “Lou, you can say your pretty words to Hazy.”

  “His vows, darling,” Johannah told her.

  “Ah. You can say your vows to Hazy,” Daisy corrected.

Chuckling, Louis nodded and looked at Harry, though as they both looked at each other, they laughed some more, accepting their faith in the girls' hands, with nothing they could do about it.

Calming his soft laughter, Louis took a breath, actually giving himself a few seconds to think, to feel his emotions swirling in his heart, his heartbeat, both of theirs.

This was perhaps his sisters' game, however, all their families were here, it was a special day and they were both standing in front of each other now. Harry was in front of him, so beautiful and shy, nervous even. He looked at Louis, really waiting for his words.

In that second, Louis felt the moment truly real.

Something real was happening here. Harry's emotions weren't playing, they were real, his nervousness was real, his beauty accentuated for him, standing waiting to hear what Louis had to say.

So, Louis would speak, as real as Harry was feeling it.

  “Haz, did I ever tell you what Liam and I used to dream about when we were younger?” Louis thoughtfully looked over his shoulder at Liam and back at Harry, who shook his head. “We had many different dreams. As kids, we wanted to start a band and be better than the Beatles. Growing up, I began to dream of being the best football player in the universe, and Li wanted to be the greatest musician in history,” he and Liam chuckled.

“But also, a little older, we spent a lot of time with the beautiful Ruth and Nicola, and they talked to us about love. Their boyfriends at school, the people they liked.” The two girls were smiling from their chairs, their eyes already somewhat teary. “And we thought, ‘Hey, wouldn't it be great to fall in love with someone with whom we could share absolutely everything? To find a person who was so perfect, that your heart literally misses beats because it forgets how to do it because it’s distracted by love for that someone?’” Louis sighed.

“The first time I saw you, I thought about all that, everything they told us about what love had to be like. And I felt all that for you, Haz. Liam had to put up with my silly state of being in love all those days I was looking at you from afar; and then endured my elation when I finally learned your name. Just your name,” Louis chuckled lightly. “I realized that what they said was true.

“I can share absolutely everything with you, Haz. My heart does lose beats just remembering the sound of your voice when you’re not with me. You’re my perfect match, the most beautiful boy I have ever met in my entire life, inside and out. I have tried and worked hard to fulfill those dreams that little Louis had. But you, you are the star that I could reach from the sky, the most beautiful and bright of all, the only one. Perfect.

“I promise you, Haz, every day of my life my love for you will grow more and I’ll make you feel loved until my last breath. Our present is so incredible already, that I can't wait to have a future with you. Share our triumphs and support each other in our defeats, until we get up and encourage each other to keep trying. Because I will never leave you alone. I’ll always be there for you, love, supporting you and holding your hand when you need a push. I love you, Harry, you are the man of my dreams, the love of my life. There is no more perfect moment that I would like to share with you than now, the forever.”

  “Oh, Lou,” Harry wiped under his eyes, sniffing softly. A perfect moment, Harry thought, this is a perfect moment.

  “It is,” Louis whispered, having felt it in his heart, perhaps hearing it in his mind as well.

And Harry took a deep breath, his Alpha confident inside his chest now, nervous, but determined.

  “Louis,” he sighed, looking into his beautiful blue eyes, “how do you achieve so many things in me? I’ve no idea, but every day you show me that I can do everything that I didn't think I was capable of for many years.” Harry's voice was soft, not that loud, but since everyone around was silent, the sound came out clean and understandable. Although at this moment, Harry didn't notice anyone else. “I dreamed about you so many times before I met you. I dreamed of your kind heart, I dreamed of your strength and determination, I dreamed of your beauty and intelligence. But I wasn't sure if those dreams could be possible. Maybe they were just an invention of my heart longing for someone that I myself was creating in my mind, because it wasn’t possible for such perfection to be real. Until I looked into your eyes through the window of The Red Leaf.

“Even from outside I could hear your laughter.” Louis smiled, biting his lower lip. “It was the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard. The sun illuminated you in such a way that I really thought I was looking at an angel. Louis, you saved me, and every day you continue to give me back a piece of my courage and hope that I had left behind a long time ago. You have helped me be myself again.

“Whatever life sends us on the path to continue fulfilling our dreams, I will be by your side and we will achieve it together. Thank you for loving me, Lou, thank you for letting me love you, because I will never stop doing it. You are the oxygen in my lungs, you are the life that pumps from my heart. You are my soulmate, Louis. I love you.”

  “Hazy,” Daisy smiled, “do you accept Lou as the forever love of your life and all those pretty things you said to each other?” She asked the tall boy. “Do you take Lou as your husband?”

  “Of course, I do,” Harry replied, moving his hand in and out of his coat pocket. “And I really hope he does too.” Dropping to his knee, Harry held a small black velvet box in the palm of his hand, raised toward Louis. Opening it, he revealed a beautiful gold ring, the exposed part showing a rose created from the precious metal, holding a brilliant diamond in its center, reflecting the vibrant colors of the sunset above them.

Louis' lips parted, releasing the soft gasp that surprised him, the expression being imitated by the entire family there looking at them, expectant for his response.

  “Haz…” Louis couldn't stop looking at Harry's eyes, that sparkle in his irises, all his hope held in the palm of his hand towards Louis.

Louis, who proudly wore his mark on his neck, having left his on the boy as well. And yet, Harry still hesitated over the boy's response. The simplest answer of his life.

  “Lou.” Daisy was smiling with great enthusiasm, her big blue eyes fixed on the offered ring. Pumped, she moved her gaze to her brother. “Do you accept Hazy and his pretty ring?” She asked him.

Sighing, Louis lowered himself to his knees as well and cradled his beautiful boy's face in his hands, leaning down until they pressed their foreheads together. “You and I, forever,” he whispered, just for him. Leaning back and smiling as big as his sister, Louis nodded. “Of course, I accept Hazy and his pretty ring.”

  “Yaaay!” Daisy cheered, her bouncing twin doing the same. “I! I, uhm, I pronounce you, Lou and Hazy forever. Kiss him, Lou.”

  “With pleasure,” Louis leaned in again, pressing his lips to Harry's, kissing him at the created altar.

Niall's cheers could be heard, Liam saying something in celebration, the voices of all the mothers happy and crying, fathers congratulating and sisters shouting in joy. But everything was outside the bubble, the crystalline protection of their eternal love surrounding them, as they held each other. As Harry slipped the ring onto Louis' ring finger, placing it next to the other adorning the middle. As Louis caressed his beautiful Alpha's cheek, promising him a life full of this. Of joy, of love, of perfect moments, and them, a life of them.

The entire rest of the day was a family celebration. All the people there acted as if a real wedding had taken place and the party was now happening.

They celebrated so much and everything felt so real, that Louis and Harry began to believe it too, until they were really convinced of it.

  “Am I your fiancé, or your husband?” Louis asked him, late at night.

There were only ten minutes left until the end of the year, all the families outside again, among the streets with all the neighbors around. Hats, confetti, signs, different things had been handed out, everyone there listening to the television that someone had placed on a lawn chair, waiting for the countdown.

Harry, standing next to Louis, was fiddling with the plastic bugle he had been given, when he heard his sudden question.

  “Uhm… I would say… fiancé? But… the ceremony that Phoebe and Daisy did was very nice, and the party afterwards… everyone celebrating. Uhm… it, it felt real.”

  “Right? That's what I mean,” Louis nodded.

  “Well… I don't think Daisy actually had the licenses to actually marry us. We didn't sign anything,” Harry chuckled.

  “So, would you like that? Another wedding, I mean? Planning, invitations, the ceremony, outfits… All that?”

  “Hmm…” Harry looked at all his families there, talking to each other and laughing. Happy. He sighed, “Honestly? I don't think so. I think today was perfect, with the spontaneity of everything, their joy for doing that for us,” he looked at the girls playing around Johannah. “I really liked the result. And I…” turning around, Harry looked at Louis next to him, who was already watching him with stars in his eyes, “I've known for a long time that my life is at your side. I wanted to marry you, Lou, and today I felt like I did,” he said, leaving the bugle on the folding table next to him, then grabbing Louis’ hands. “How about you? Would you like all that? A big wedding? Whatever you want, we will do that.”

  “I… I also think today was perfect. My mum hugged me before leaving the house. I told her that we’re soulmates,” he smiled, “and although she was surprised, I think that in some way she already suspected it. The ceremony was so sweet, and everything you told me…” Louis sighed. “What I said also came from my heart, Haz. Everything happened without planning anything. It was real, it was sincere and I think, I think it was what I always wanted. All our families were there, the most important people in our lives. And everyone congratulated us in a way that, I think they also felt the truth in everything that happened. In the end, I… I really felt like your husband, and I really feel like you are mine. I don't want a big wedding, no. I want my memories to be these, today, with all their spontaneity and love, that's what I want.”

  “I agree,” Harry smiled.

  “What do you say if…” raising his arms, Louis wrapped them around his tall boy's neck, moving closer until their bodies were pressed together, “when we get back home, we go to city hall and sign the necessary papers to make this legal, and keep this day as our real wedding? Would you like that, love?”

  “Yeah, that's fine with me,” Harry replied, wrapping his arms around Louis' waist.

  “Fifteen seconds!” Someone shouted somewhere to their right.

Louis looked deep into Harry's eyes, their smiles twinning as the thought and truth of what had happened began to wash over them with the weight of their perfect reality.

  “Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three…”

Harry leaned in, Louis rose to his tiptoes, and halfway there, their lips pressed together; while all the bugles sounded over each other, celebratory shouts and couples kissing, after shouting welcome to the new beginning.

With fireworks being launched high into the sky, hundreds of colored lights illuminated the darkness of the night again and again, streamers and sparks falling on Louis and Harry, breaking their kiss to look at each other once more.

  “Happy new year, new husband,” Louis told him.

  “Happy new year, new spouse,” Harry said with an airy laugh, pressing his forehead to Louis', smiling, as the celebration continued around them.

…Harry slid the pad of his thumb over Louis' ring, the golden rose protecting the brilliant diamond between its petals. And he looked at his own ring, exactly the same, only in rose gold; the one that Louis had bought him with the first large sum of money he earned after his first season with his team and new sponsors getting him all kinds of contracts.

  “There's nothing I would change about that day,” Louis said, releasing one of Harry's hands to grab his cup and take a sip.

  “Me neither. It was the best start to the year and to our new lives together.”

The soft music flowing out of the jukebox created a calm atmosphere within The Red Leaf. It was easy to bring back memories while they were in here, because it was easy to think and be at peace with each other. Louis loved this place. He loved coming here every time he visited Harry and his friends in London.

Mrs. Anders also had a strong bond with her beloved teahouse. She wasn't planning on leaving the establishment or anything like that anytime soon. However, Louis had talked to her a few months ago. The woman, having no children of her own, accepted his proposal to leave The Red Leaf in his hands when she could no longer take charge.

Louis had no rights in the establishment yet, but it already felt as much his as his own home. After all, this was where their love story began.

  “I've been thinking,” Louis said, nibbling the corner of his mouth, “it's been two years since we bonded, and right now we're stepping into the best moment of our careers. But… maybe a year from now, I don't know, maybe we could… start trying to… have a baby.”

  “Lou, you– Really?” Harry's enthusiasm shook his chest, his smile stretching huge across his face, eyes big and bright on him.

  “Yes,” Louis smiled happily too. “I think we're ready, but a little more time will help settle our professional lives, so we can give ourselves some time while, you know, the pregnancy and recovery time happens. But I… I want to be young for them.”

  “Them?” Harry was biting his smiling lower lip hard.

  “Mm… time will tell,” Louis shrugged, sharing an enthusiastic laugh with Harry.

They took a moment to talk a little more about the topic, really thinking and planning, their hearts vibrating with joy and longing, completely excited about the future.

Letting their hearts calm, they continued with their hot drinks, enjoying the calm around them and each other's perfect company, happiness flowing soft and electrifying between them.

  “Would you like to dance?” Louis suddenly asked, putting down his teacup.

When Harry nodded, Louis stood up and took his hand, guiding him next to the tables, to the side of the jukebox where the soft music was playing. No one else was dancing, although other couples had done it on other occasions, so it wasn't something new or something that wasn't allowed.

Harry wrapped his arms around Louis' waist, and he around Harry's neck, swaying slowly to the soft rhythm of the song.

The music on the jukebox was mostly ballad records and relaxing classical music, to maintain the peaceful and comfortable atmosphere, for conversation or reading. Although, with a little persuasion to Mrs. Anders, Louis had managed to get some Oasis records included in the jukebox's catalogue.

  “Have I told you how good you look today, Haz?” Louis asked, soft and low, forehead pressed to Harry's, as they moved slowly to the music. “Because I love the way this pretty pink blouse looks on you. Every day you take my breath away even more, love. You’re so beautiful.”

Harry's lips curled, his cheeks, as always, flushing at Louis' words. “Thank you, Lou. You look really handsome today, as always.”

  “What do you say if I take you on a date tomorrow? We haven't been on a date in what seems like ages.”

  “What do you have in mind?”

  “Mm… I was thinking about a romantic dinner at a restaurant you like. Afterwards, maybe we could go listen to live music in a park, there are always people playing the violin or the saxophone in the square. Dancing under the stars and walking among the trees, lying on the grass.” Leaning a little closer, Louis whispered in his ear. “Go back home really late and make love all night.”

Harry sighed deeply next to his ear, Louis curling his lips at the fluctuation of the boy's scent, happy with himself that he was still having an effect on Harry after all the time they had been together already.

  “Would you like that, Haz?”

  “Yes,” Harry murmured. “I love when you take me on dates, Lou.”

  “I love taking you on dates. I love looking at your pretty face and hearing you laugh, I love walking and spending all my time with you. I love making you happy. And I definitely love making love to you. I can't wait to spend the whole night inside you, listening to you moan,” Louis whispered in his ear.

  “Lou,” Harry breathed out, taking a breath and opening his eyes to take a quick look around. No one seemed to pay much attention to them, so Harry was still doing a good job with his scent.

  “What, love? Don't tell me you wouldn't like it. Because we can do anything else, if you want, maybe watch movies and–”

  “No,” Harry interrupted. “Everything sounds perfect. I, uhm, bought some lingerie that I would like to wear for you. I wanted to show them to you until I finally unpacked everything in Manchester, but, but maybe I can wear something special tomorrow.”

  “Uh, love, I'm intrigued now. I can’t wait for tomorrow. Maybe I'll move your panties a little to the side to fuck you slowly while you wear them, I know you like that.”

With a very soft whine, Harry hid his face in Louis' neck. “Alpha,” he whispered very quietly, his scent enveloping Louis a little stronger.

  “Breathe deeply, beautiful, we have to save that energy for tomorrow night. We don't want to create the wrong idea in everyone here, do we?”

Harry laughed very softly, “No, we don't want that.”

  “Mmh, if it weren't for the fact that we have plans for today, because if not, I–”

  “Stop, if you don't want me to lose control.”

  “Maybe I'm losing it a little.” Nuzzling his nose into Harry's neck, Louis gave a small lick over his bond mark, feeling him shiver.

  “Alpha…”

  “I love when you call me that,” Louis gave another little lick.

  “Seriously, I don't want to have a hard on inside The Red Leaf.”

Louis chuckled. “Okay… Omega.”

  “Mmnh, Lou.”

Louis chuckled again, deciding to remove his tongue from Harry's neck and take a deep breath, or he truly wouldn't stop any longer. Sometimes his insides vibrated with a need that only Harry could achieve within him, and understand.

Their souls in tune transmitted the urges or impulses of one, making the other feel what was necessary to adapt to what they needed at the moment.

The first time they had felt the switch was a long time ago. That first time they called each other by opposite terms through their thoughts, when nothing was happening between them yet; but their hearts had felt it right. A few other times on other occasions after that also happened, aware of it, but without expressing it openly.

Until the day came when the words coming from the depths of their desires found their freedom. More than two years ago…

In the first month of the year, the first thing Louis and Harry did when they returned to London after their first holidays with all their families, was to make their marriage legal.

Their families already knew what they would do, since they had both told everyone their plans, the day after the new year, and no one was really surprised.

They had congratulations and good wishes from their families. And Phoebe and Daisy were the happiest girls in the world for being the ones who married them forever―according to their knowledge of the events at the time.

So, Louis and Harry signed and did what they had to do, becoming in front of the law a real and solid marriage.

Unfortunately, they didn't have enough time to have a proper honeymoon. Louis had to return to Greater Manchester in just a couple of days, and Harry to university in three.

The time they had together was little, so they didn't waste it going to places that would only take minutes away from them, so they could be just the two of them. So, they did just that, they decided to be just the two of them.

With just two days on their hands, they turned the apartment into their marital getaway. No clothing was required at any time, craving to look and feel nothing but skin the entire time; a constant possessiveness in both, just looking at each other in their purest and most vulnerable state.

Louis was the one who had the most control during their time together, something inside yearning to be in control of situations. And Harry didn't object, because everything about him felt docile since the front door had been closed and Louis had stripped him of his clothing piece by piece, forbidding him to use anything but his body for warmth and the blankets inside their nest, which smelled strongly of both of them.

Harry cooked for them, Louis was in charge of bathing them both, and all the time they repeated their love to each other as if they were their morning and night prayers.

Only wearing his now two rings, Louis held Harry's hand in his, while he was in charge of giving him pleasure by making love to him, every time they felt the energy return to their bodies to do it again; making up for all the time they would be apart after these two days.

Soulmates, bonded, and now spouses, Harry felt his heart open completely. His secrets were now in Louis' heart, no inhibition between them.

Louis had heard his boy's moans ask him and his thoughts beg him, absolutely nothing he wasn't willing to give him to always keep him satisfied and happy. Harry wasn't demanding, what he loved most was having Louis on top of him, moving between his legs, growling every time Harry whined, licking his neck and fucking him just the way he needed it.

  “Aaahh,” Harry moaned, his legs wrapping around Louis' sexy hips, his back sweating on the living room rug; the glow of the moon and the twinkling of the stars falling like silver rain on their naked bodies.

Louis gave Harry long licks along his shoulders and chest, biting his neck as he felt the possessiveness get the best of him. Not hard enough to open the mark again, but enough for more pleasure to flow through his husband's hot body, as Louis undulated his hips against him, going in so deep to take his breath away and pulling out just enough to leave him gasping for more.

Harry's hands were brought to the sides of his head, Louis intertwining their fingers and holding onto his palms to raise himself up a little so he could get into a better rhythm.

Harry panted, his legs shaking every time Louis changed speed, varying his movements every time Harry thought he wouldn't do it again. Each one was perfect and hit just the spot that sent tremors throughout the boy's body. “Oooh, Lou,” Harry moaned, his legs falling apart as Louis growled along with a bite to his neck.

Louis sucked under Harry’s ear and rammed into the heat between his legs, the slick flowing from him ending up between them, making everything wet and easy to slide. Alpha. Harry felt his chest purr, hearing a response in his heart that melted him into submission. Louis vibrated a slow growl next to his ear, his hips not losing their rhythm. Harry lifted his chin and whined, and Louis bit him again, right on the mark, growling more possessively.

  “Aahh, Alpha,” Harry moaned.

Louis didn't even react to the term that was referred to him. He listened to it and just accepted it as his own, like it was completely natural, because that's how it felt.

Of course, when he opened his eyes and leaned back to observe the ecstasy on his beloved boy's face, which he always loved to witness, all Louis found was panic and concern in the boy’s enlarged emeralds.

Only then did Louis react to what had been said, being able to feel Harry's overwhelming emotions and the stressed change in his scent because of it.

Louis realized that it had been an accident, an oversight, a hidden thought and desire of the boy, which his throat decided to pronounce out loud as a betrayal of the moment.

And Louis couldn't allow that.

He couldn't let Harry feel embarrassed again. Not because of something he had said naturally and passionately. Something Louis had heard from his heart before, but hadn't wanted to vocalize until Harry was ready to reveal it.

Their souls, their hearts, their emotions, everything was one being turned into two people. Two people perfect for each other. And Louis wouldn't let Harry feel like he had to hide something as important as this from him.

So, he did the only thing he could think of at the moment. He fucked him harder.

  “Say it again,” Louis growled in his ear, while his hips caused the reddened boy to slide on the carpet with each thrust he gave him. Harry moaned brokenly, his hands tightening their grip on Louis', but he said nothing. “Say it,” Louis bit his neck, along with another hard thrust.

  “Aaahh, A-Alpha,” Harry gasped, sweat dripping from his forehead, things falling off the coffee table from the pulls the rug was having due to his body being pounded with the force of his husband's hips.

  “Again,” Louis fucked him with even more vigor.

  “Alpha," Harry whined.

  “Again.”

  “Alpha.”

  “Believe it.”

  “Aaahh!” Harry cried out. “Alpha!” His legs tightened around Louis' voracious hips, nails digging into his boy's hands, growling as his back arched off the rug, at the same time that he painted his and Louis' abdomen with his orgasm. “A-Alpha,” Harry whimpered brokenly.

Louis slowed his movements as he bathed Harry internally with his own release, until a sensual, slow rocking was all he did, pushing the pleasure just a little closer to the edge of painful as Harry liked it, as they both finished.

With a deep inhale from his neck, Louis exhaled heavily, coming to a complete stop.

Harry felt soft lips press against his cheek, over his closed eyelids and on his forehead, nose, chin, neck, shoulders, chest, arms and abdomen. His lips. Louis kissed him lovingly over every part of his body he could reach, still in the position they were in.

  “Day and night,” Louis whispered softly in his ear, still slightly breathless, but loving, “here or outside, wherever you want, I will always be what you feel, and I will love you no matter what. I want to be everything to you, Harry, because you are everything to me.”

…The quiet song ending, Louis leaned back to look at Harry, laughing a little as he looked at his boy's dilated pupils.

  “I'm sorry, sometimes I find it difficult not to be able to press you against any available surface and fuck you at that very second, so that everyone can see and hear all the pleasure I am capable of giving you,” Louis told him, still whispering, only for his ears.

Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath, lowering his arms to his sides, ceasing to hug him. “I'm serious, Louis, enough. Or I'll be the one to personally press myself against the wall and throw my bum back,” he added with a mischievous sly smile, opening his eyes.

Louis threw his head back, laughing, drawing the attention of a few customers in their direction. Taking a breath as well, he nodded, obeying this time. Because he also didn't want to sport anything embarrassing in his jeans in front of everyone inside The Red Leaf, definitely not.

  “Ready to go with the new fiancés?” Louis asked him.

Harry looked around and smiled softly, nodding, “Okay. But, just one more song, yeah?”

  “What song do you want?”

  “Whichever you choose.”

Nodding, Louis walked and stopped in front of the jukebox, pressing the buttons to move the covers of the different albums offered.

His eyes sliding over the song titles, Louis smiled as two strong arms slid around his waist, hugging him affectionately against a broad chest now pressed behind his back. Harry rested his chin on Louis' shoulder, sighing, also looking through the glass of the jukebox.

  “Have I told you today that I love you?” Harry asked him.

Louis chuckled softly. “A couple of times.”

  “Good, because I love you. A lot. Too much.”

  “I love you a lot, too much, too, Haz.” Louis stopped searching, because he lowered his arms, now holding Harry's hugging him. Louis rested his weight against the boy's chest and the heat of his warm body.

Harry looked down, first looking at the ink forming the rose on his own arm, and then looking at the dagger on Louis' arm, both shapes lining up. Beauty and strength, love and passion, danger and risk, Harry remembered, together in harmony to form a single perfect being. It was the perfect description of the two of them.

Harry then looked at the other tattoos now covering Louis' arms, serving as complements to the ones Harry had gotten over the past two years; or the ones Louis felt needed their other half as well. The rope enveloping his wrist, for Harry’s anchor. The compass, for his boat. The arrow, for his heart. They were some of Harry’s favorites adorning the skin of his handsome husband, his precious bondmate, his boy.

Sighing, Louis turned in Harry's arms until he was facing him, still enveloped by his warmth. The sun fell on them through the windows, illuminating the boy's blue eyes, almost turning them gray, everything so perfect and precious, magnifying his beauty even more by smiling in that way that stole Harry's breath every time. After all these years, Harry’s favorite part of Louis was still his smile.

With a deep sigh from both of them, Louis climbed onto his tiptoes, reaching for Harry to– A huff from the side distracted them, making them turn around at the same time.

Standing behind two other people lined up in front of the dessert counter, was a man, Alpha, who looked at them with a scowl on his aged face, practically looking disgusted by them.

  “Is there a problem, lad?” Louis asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Disgusting,” said the man, with another huff.

  “What's disgusting?” Louis, his brow furrowing, moved away from Harry to turn toward the man.

  “The respect that you lack for your secondary genders,” the man said, chin up and chest puffed, as if he were accomplishing something with the pretentious confidence he attempted in his hollow words. “You pretending to do something you weren't born to do.” He pointed to a photo of Louis dressed in his Manchester United uniform on the wall, and looked back at him. “And you, looking like that,” he looked at Harry. “What kind of Alpha are you? You look like a butterfly with those colors on your face and nails. You don't even deserve to be called that title.”

Louis' seething anger burned Harry's heart, so the curly-haired boy pressed a hand against the blue-eyed boy's chest, stopping him after a step he had already taken towards the man.

  “And to add to everything that should already make you ashamed,” the man continued, as if it weren’t enough, “two men together. Someone should ban people like you from entering a family place like this”

  “…You know,” Louis said after having taken a breath, already noticing the customers' attention towards them, “Perhaps a couple of years ago I would have given a whole speech against everything you just said. For example, how supposedly I wasn’t born for football, because I’m an Omega? Or maybe you were referring to me belonging to one of the best Alpha-Beta teams and receiving a lot of money for it? Or maybe me playing in the Premier League and being one of the best players in European professional football? Hmm, I'm not sure,” Louis scratched the back of his neck, pretending to deliberate.

“Maybe a couple of years ago I would have gotten quite angry for you pointing out that my beautiful, talented Alpha deserves nothing but respect, for the simple fact that he doesn't like being as boring and common as you. Which is actually fine, everyone’s as they are, and if you decide to be this ugly all the time, who am I to judge, right?” Louis shrugged. Harry lowered his face to hide a chuckle, although some of the customers didn't follow his example.

“Nah, I won't do any of that.” Louis flicked his hand in the air. “Because throughout these years, I have dealt with that and much more, and I know I will continue to do so for a long time to come. And I may never stop until my last day in this world, infested with people with closed minds and afraid to let go of what centuries ago, they were told they should think, to keep them all controlled and subject to rules that would guarantee a perfect army of followers without thoughts of their own. You can say what you want. Everyone can say what they want. That's why we’re here, married, happy and fulfilling our dreams; and you're there, with that frown and pout on your mouth, taking out your frustrations on us.

“Mm… no, I definitely won't bore everyone here with a speech that no one asked for.” A few more chuckles reached his ears. “Because no matter how much people like you continue to tell me that I wasn’t born to do what I love to do most in this life, and that my husband shouldn’t be himself because it goes against what others like, even so we will continue doing it, why?” Tapping gently with the tip of his index finger against his chin, “Oh, yeah! Because it's our life.” Shrugging, Louis turned back to Harry, raising his arms to wrap them around his neck.

Smiling, Harry hugged Louis around the waist, leaning into him. But…

  “You’re a joke for our society,” the man spoke again. “Omegas and Alphas shouldn’t even be allowed to do what wasn’t established for their–”

  “Shut up!” The woman in front of the man in line said, turning toward him in frustration.

  “Yeah! Who do you think you are to tell others how they should live their lives?” A young man at one of the tables spoke.

  “This is a family place, so why are you bothering them, didn't you hear? They’re married, they’re a family,” a teenage girl commented.

  “I think it's time to leave, lad,” a tall, strong Beta approached the man, raising the palm of his hand toward the door of the teahouse.

  “You can't tell me to leave,” the man said, indignant and angry.

  “Yes, we can,” the manager came out from behind the counter, serious with his words. “You've been offending my clients and causing a ruckus. By law, we have the right to ask you to leave the establishment.”

  “They’re the ones who have been offending me,” the man replied, “Didn't you listen to what that boy told me? I was just trying to help.”

  “Ha!” Harry scoffed, “I think I missed that part.”

  “Don't you dare talk to me,” the man growled at him. “You’re–”

  “Out of here. Now,” the manager told him, his tone authoritative now, a very slight hint of his Alpha tone in his voice.

  “This is the worst establishment I have ever been to. I’ll tell everyone I know not to come here again. It’s a mockery to decent people who–”

Harry laughed, shaking his head. “Don't leave the door open when you leave, that would be rude,” he told him, as the man grumbled toward the door. Who, after hearing him, threw another tantrum, everyone inside The Red Leaf booing him and demanding his departure.

More words were said, but Louis and Harry rolled their eyes at the same time and looked at each other again, smiling big and as in love as the first time they met in this same place, years ago.

  “Wait, we haven't played the last song yet,” Harry interrupted the kiss Louis was about to give him. Turning to the jukebox, he scanned the titles listed on the album Louis had left unattended.

Picking a song, Harry pressed the buttons and, when “Whatever” by “Oasis” started, Harry pulled Louis in, wrapping him adoringly in his arms.

Louis cradled Harry's face in his hands and rose to his tiptoes, pressing his mouth to his soulmate's red lips, joining in a passionate kiss. Their crystalline bubble began to envelop them within the warm combination of their perfect scents, leaving the world completely outside, isolating them from everything that wasn’t their hearts beating in the same rhythm. Now it was just the two of them, Louis and Harry, forever.

• ～ ✦ The End ✦ ～ •