Louis wakes up in a place that he recognizes, but not as his own. His head hurts a bit and even though there is a blanket covering his body, he feels a bit cold. The smell is nice and it makes Louis' stomach growl.

"Hey, you're awake." Louis looks up to see Harry in an apron.

"Yeah, I am but... What the fuck am I doing here?" He doesn't sound as rude as he usual is to Harry, Louis is genuinely confused about why he is here.

"Don't you remember? You almost got hit by a truck because you just walked towards the bus stop without looking around. I pulled you back and then you just went in shock for a bit and you fainted. I took you back to my place. There's a bottle of water on the table next to you." Louis looks at the table and sees indeed a small unopened bottle. "I'm making pancakes as well now, thought you could use something to eat."

"Yeah, I am a bit hungry." Louis nods. "Thanks, Harry."

"You're welcome." Harry gives Louis a warm smile. "Chocolate chips ones with whipped cream, still your favorite?"

Laugh laughs and nods.

"There is nothing better."

"I'll bring you a plate. I also texted Taylor that you are here. She will be here very soon. I know you're not really comfortable around me and I figured you'd want someone around that makes you feel safe.

Louis' chest tightens. He hates to see Harry hurt and upset like this because he is the cause, he is the reason that Harry feels like this right now. It wasn't like this in the past. They used to be the reasons for each other's smile, best friends sharing everything. But now the only thing he thinks about when it's about Harry is revenge, hurting him for hurting Taylor while the younger boy is saving his life and baking him pancakes right after. It doesn't feel right, not anymore when Harry is standing in front of him giving him the kindest smile and handing him a plate of homemade pancakes, Louis' favourite. It only has been a half year, but Louis is still charmed that he still remembers.

"It's alright, Harry. I'm sorry, I have been cruel towards you. It's just difficult." Louis sighs.

"I get that..." Harry nods, handing over the pancakes to Louis. He takes place in the other couch so he can face the smaller boy. "I really get that. It just sucks because sometimes I really miss you. You are the hardest lost I have been through..." Harry admits and it shocks Louis. He didn't know their friendship was this important to Harry too. Louis looks around in the living room and his eyes fall on a picture of Harry with his family, one that Louis made when they were visiting London during Christmas.

"I made that picture." Louis smiles, pointing at it. "It was a good day."

"It was perfect." Harry nods, thinking dreamily about a time that Louis and him were close.

"So you're saying that Taylor has interviews all day throughout London?" Louis asks Harry.

"Exactly." Harry nods.

"And you don't?"

"I do, tomorrow. I begged for a day off to see my family."

"But you're not seeing your family, you're here stuck with me." Louis raises an eyebrow.

"They are on their way here! We're going to the Christmas market."

Louis feels heavy in his chest, disappointed that he will be on his own in London today. He could have visited his family back in Doncaster as well. Maybe he should have done that instead of counting on spending the afternoon with Harry.

"What's that face, Lou?" Harry gives him a worried look.

"It's nothing, I -uh, I will leave you then." Louis says, voice weak.

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know yet but your family will be here soon and they-"

"Would love to meet you." Harry interrupts him.

"No, Harry. I can't- You barely see them. I really don't want to intrude."

"You are not an intruder, you are one of my best friends. You should meet them, I told them that you would be joining us and they were excited as well."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

Their conversation gets interrupted by the honking of a car. It stops abruptly, a woman, a younger girl around Louis' age and a man are stepping out of the car.

"Harry!" the girl yells, she runs and jumps into Harry's arms. "Finally you're back in the country."

Harry hugs the three people and then turns to Louis.

"Louis, this is my mom, Anne."

"Hi darling." The woman smiles. "I'm Harry's mom, I heard a lot about you."

"All good I hope?" Louis bites his lip, trying to hide his blush. Parents have always made him feel a bit uneasy, like he has to prove himself to them.

"Harry talked shit about you."

"Gemma!" Harry hisses.

"Hi, I'm Gemma." The girl smiles. "The better Styles. If you're able to be stuck with him, you'll love spending the day with me."

Gemma makes Louis genuinely laugh.

"Question is if you are ready to be stuck with me." Louis plays along.

"From what I have heard from Harry, we should be honored to be in your presence. I'm Robin Harry's stepdad."

"Well, I think it's the other way around. Harry is a good guy, aren't you Curly?" Louis stands on his tippie toes so he can put his hand in Harry's curls to mess them around a bit.

"Louuu..." Harry whines. "Stop it."

"Are you the one that takes over my job as the annoying person in Harry's life when he is not here?" Gemma smirks.

"I have taken that job on me with all of my heart and soul." Louis laughs. "Isn't that right, baby cakes?" Louis nips Harry's cheek making the younger boy pout.

"Are you going to gang up on me all day, the two of you?" Harry doesn't sound annoyed, more fond about the fact that his sister and Louis get along so well. It means a lot, Gemma is pretty judgmental.

"Are you up for it?" Gemma turns to Louis.

"I'm so up for it." The two of them high five and then Louis turns to Anne and Robin again.

"Are you sure that you are alright with me joining? I'm not sure Harry tells me because it's actually true or because he feels bad for me."

"You're not a bother." Anne shakes her head. "Someone that's important to Harry is important to us."

"Alright, let me just at least let you have one family moment then. Why don't you stand together and I'll take a nice picture of you guys, BigBen in the background?

"That's lovely dear. I would like that!" Anne says immediately, Gemma growling because she really doesn't want to be on the picture and Harry already putting on his toothpaste smile.

"Say one, two three, STYLES!"

"STYLES!"

"We had waffles that day." Louis smiles fondly at the memory. "Gemma and I had a competition about who could eat the most."

"And then both of you were sick and still claiming that you'd won."

"I did win, Harrold." Louis rolls his eyes, smile plastered on his face.

"My family really liked you." Harry looks down, repeating the day again and again in his head. Seeing Louis getting along with them is magical, it was back then and it still is.

"Yeah, I like them too. I remember Taylor being pissed because I met your family before her." Louis smiles at the memory.

"They are coming to LA next week." Harry breathes out. "And actually- I didn't tell them that we don't talk anymore and- They asked about you, if you wanted to join for dinner."

"Harry..."

"I know. I should have told them the truth. It's just not easy when your sister never agrees to the people you hang out with. You're the only one she likes."

"She's right." Louis puts on the confident act. "I just- I don't know. You cheated on Taylor and it would feel really wrong to me if I go out with you and your family, knowing that Taylor was dying to meet them and never did. She would be really hurt by it."

"I get that." Harry nods. "I'll tell Gemma the truth, that we're no longer talking-"

The thought freaks Louis out, Harry telling his family officially that there bond is no longer there, completely broken. He doesn't want that, doesn't want Harry's family to start hating him. Louis likes them, feels comfortable around them. They are cosy, homey, lovely. Louis adores them.

"I- don't do that, H." Louis breathes out and Harry looks up from the nickname that slips Louis' lips. "Just, I'm not ready to go out for dinner with them but, don't tell them we don't talk anymore. Maybe we- it might happen again?"

Harry's green eyes start to shine, his smile starts to grow.

"I hope it does, Louis."