~4 years later~

"Hi babe." Louis smiles at his screen.

"Hi Lou."

"How're you doing?"

"I-"

"Hey faggot. Is it your boyfriend?"

"Harry who was that?" Louis growls.

"Nobody. Ignore them."

"Harry-" Louis is interrupted by loud howling and whooping.

"Chris, can you guys please tone it down a little?" Harry asks timidly.

"Oi fuckers, think we can tone it down a little, the fag wants to Skype his rat boyfriend." The guys whoop and catcall and proceed to be obnoxiously loud.

"Harry you still haven't requested for a new roommate?"

"Louis do you- oh I'm sorry mate, hi Harry, sorry for the disturbance." Louis' roommate, Kohl comes in before he can answer. Harry and Kohl exchange pleasantries before Kohl grabs his bike keys. "Hey man, me and Kendra are going out, I'll be back late."

"Sure, see ya. Tell Kay I say hi. Oh you were saying something, when you came in?"

"Nah nothing, wanted to ask you to join us, few of her friends will be there. So I didn't wanna be the only guy there. You know how she can get around those girls."

"Yeah sorry man."

"Eh it's okay, don't let me distract you." He pats his shoulder and leaves.

"Sorry about that baby. Anyhow, about changing roommates?"

"Lou, please not again."

"Harry no. This isn't okay. You have to do something about this."

"Louis it's fine."

"Everything okay faggot. Are you gonna fight?"

"We're fine Chris. Louis, it's fine. It's only words."

"Harry-"

"Louis if this is what you want to talk about after one month of nearly no communication, then maybe we shouldn't be talking."

"Oh are you blaming that on me now? Huh? Oh Louis I'm so sorry I'm busy. Oh Louis I'm so sorry a friend needs help. It's always oh Louis this and oh Louis that. And suddenly what? It's my fault we haven't spoken at all?"

"I'm not blaming anything on you. All I'm saying is-"

"You know what Harry? Maybe you're right, we shouldn't talk." With that Louis hangs up and slams the laptop close. That night Kohl comes back to see Louis reading a book.

"Wow man. I didn't expect you guys to be done, especially since it had been like a month since you guys spoke to each other."

"We had a fight."

"Oh. I'm sorry. What about?"

"Lack of communication and his asshole roomie."

"When was the last time you met him bro?"

"Close to 3 months. Haven't seen him since the start of this sem. Been too busy with footie practice and the musical. It's about a 2 and a half hour drive from here to Durham."

"Make that drive bro, talk to him. I know end of sem is close and you're both really stressed but you need to talk to him. It's Wednesday, go Friday after classes and stay with him for a day. Come back Sunday evening. And yeah, don't force him to change his roommate."

"Kohl have you seen the way the guy talks to him?"

"Louis you're probably only making him feel like he can't stand up for himself. Let him think for himself and make decisions."

"Yeah okay fine."

"What about your other friends though?"

"Liam is at Kingston which is another 3 hour drive in the opposite direction and Zayn's at Oxford which is another 1 hour 15 minutes from Kingston. Niall is at Trinity in Dublin which is nearly five hours."

"Damn when did you five last meet?"

"End of last academic year. Zayn and Liam make the drive on weekends so they see each other frequently. Niall usually comes at the end of semester. But at the end of fall he was kinda busy so I guess we'll be seeing him end of this month." Louis yawns, checking his calendar. 20 more days. "Or early May because he might want to spend time with family." Kohl hums in understanding.

"Well when are you thinking of making the drive?"

"Friday like you said, day after tomorrow, after my morning lecture." Kohl nods and goes to the bathroom. Louis slides under the covers and takes off his reading glasses, lying down. He feels uneasy. He and Harry never go to bed on a bad note. When Kohl comes back, they say their goodnights and he switches off the lights getting into his bed.

Louis resigns himself to a night of restless sleep when his phone pings. He immediately reaches for it.

Louis quickly double taps the notification

He sighs.

Louis laughs softly.

Nothing have a strategic marketing lecture at 1 till 3 then I guess I'll just be studying for finals, why?

Louis plugs his phone back into the charger and falls into peaceful slumber

~Friday~

"Louis!!!" He's suddenly being tackled by a warm body and a mass of brown curls. He catches himself in time preventing himself from falling flat on his arse and holds Harry up. Harry's legs are tightly wrapped around his waist.

"Oh baby." Louis mumbles into his neck, spinning with him in his arms. "I've missed you so much it's been months."

"Missed you too." Harry sniffs.

"Haz are you crying?" Louis pulls back slightly to look at his face.

"No I'm just very happy to see you." He chuckles wetly.

"I thought you'd be in your room."

"Needed some peace and quiet to study. We can go up there now."

"Yeah we'll do that once I kiss my baby." Louis fondly taps their foreheads together. Harry gets off him, feet planting on the grass with a rosy cheeks. Louis grins and wraps his arms around his waist, kissing his nose first, following up with an Eskimo kiss. Harry sighs happily wrapping his arms around his neck. Louis slowly leans in to kiss him.

"Oh look the fag's boyfriend is here." Harry immediately pulls away. "Is that why you couldn't get away from the room fast enough?" Chris snorts.

"Shut up Chris." Louis rolls his eyes, having dealt with him for two years.

"Don't talk to me faggot." He spits.

Louis breathes in deeply. "C'mon Harry." Louis grabs his hand and pulls him along.

"Don't forget to put a sock on the doorknob." Chris snorts.

Louis nearly jumps at him knowing Harry still isn't comfortable with the mention or implication of sex but Harry holds him back. "Shut up Chris." Harry snaps. "C'mon, we're going to my room Lou." Louis nods and quietly follows him.

Once they enter the room Louis falls onto Harry's bed. Harry laughs and lies next to him, their bodies touching, nearly falling off due to lack of space. Louis turns on his side, using his elbow to hold him up and his hand as a head rest. Harry copies him. Louis quietly entwines their fingers and scoots closer to him. Harry opens his mouth just a little looking like he wants to say something but Louis is quick to shut him up with a kiss. It's not comfortable, not in the least, but they don't care, it's been months since they kissed. Louis pushes himself back and rests his head on the pillow and Harry quickly straddles him quickly leaning down to kiss him. Louis grabs Harry's waist and carefully flips them, planking above him, wasting no time in kissing him again. Louis traces his tongue over Harry's lips, gently prodding, asking for entrance. Harry moans softly, opening his mouth, let Louis do what he wants. Harry bucked his hips grinding against him. Louis gasps and continues probing Harry's mouth, licking into it lovingly. He tilts his head and gently nips at his bottom lip making him gasp. He pulls away, his hands resting on his waist, sitting between his knees. He falls on to the bed next to Harry and pulls him close. He hides his face in Louis' neck making him laugh softly and kiss his hair.

"Missed you." Harry mumbles.

"Missed you more, love."

"How long are you gonna stay with me?"

"I'll be here till Sunday, probably gonna leave sometime in the evening."

"You'll stay with me, here?"

"Of course love. How are you though? Are you taking your medication? Are your classes okay?" Harry nods.

After Jules had showed up at the school, Harry had spiralled into depression and frequent panic and anxiety attacks. He began getting triggered more frequently and more easily. After taking him to a doctor, he was found to be having PTSD which was obviously in a worse state after seeing the person who caused the trauma. He was given anxiety meds. He's getting better but still has bad days. He had therapy for 2 years before coming to Durham.

"Good love. That's good." Louis murmurs pushes his hair away from his eyes and kissing his forehead. Harry preens.

"Oh check out. It's the fags." Chris sneers entering the room. Louis immediately gets off the bed and is at his collar before Harry can stop him.

"Listen you dickhead. I don't like doing this every time I visit. You should know that Harry takes your bullshit because he's too nice but I'm here for a little over a day and I won't hesitate to knock out your fucking teeth if you even come close to him. And if I find out you're giving him a hard time, I'll drive down from Manchester and kick your sorry ass so hard you'll wish you weren't born." He growls in his face. "Are we clear?" He shakes him. Chris nods. "Now get going." He leaves him. Chris quickly slinks out.

Louis turns out to be smothered with Harry. He pushes him against the wall and explores his mouth. Louis moans falling pliant to his force. Louis' eyes flutter caressing Harry's cheeks like little butterfly kisses making his heart beat faster. Harry finally pulls away, panting. "That was so hot fuck." Harry moans.

Louis laughs. "Yeah baby? You like that?" He nods.

"Love it when you get all dominant and angry it's so hot." Louis laughs again. Harry grins at him and cuddles into his arms.