After Harry's day of dark thoughts and silence things went back to normal. He and Louis were going great and the band had began recording their new album. They spent a lot of time in the studio and doing interviews around England.
It was becoming harder to hide their relationship though. Management had began to separate the pair during interviews, putting each at different ends of the line up. They were rarely next to each other anymore. It drove Harry mad, he hated that he wasn't allowed to be his full self and Louis knew how upset it made him. He was upset too, always downplaying the looks Harry gave him, or ignoring the brush of the young boys' hand against his in public.
The two hadn't come out to management yet, but due to the suspicions online and in tabloids they'd taken the measures they thought were necessary to cease to rumors… or truth, from existing.
Die-hard fans weren't easily fooled. They had caught on the Louis and Harry's separation, and the fact that they hadn't done an interview together since the one in France where they'd basically flirted the entire time, which was ages ago, but Harry still remembered the event clearly, it was one of his favorite interviews.

~

"Hey Lou." Liam tapped on Louis' shoulder, getting his attention.
"Hi Li, what's up?" Louis sat on the edge of the couch, they were in the studio and Harry was in the booth, singing his heart out, his eyes shut tight and his voice as perfect as ever. Louis was mesmerized by his talent.
"I was just wondering if management had talked to you and Harry lately?" Liam was more timid than usual, not entirely confident in his words.
"Not since before we started recording. They basically told us we aren't allowed to do interviews with each other and can't sit together if we can help it." Louis felt himself tense thinking about how management was controlling them.
"But they have no reason to keep you two apart, how can they control you like that?" Liam sounded a bit angry now, his defensive side surfacing for his friends being mistreated.
"They don't want to tarnish the One Direction name, if Harry and I are gay, then that means the young girls will get angry, then won't listen to our music, therefore they won't buy our album. It's a money thing and management, nor Syco wants to loose money. They control us because we signed a contract, we're forced to do as they say if we want to keep ourselves in the band." Louis didn't hold back the truth, the boys didn't lie to one another and something this big wasn't meant to be a secret to the rest of the group.
Liam's face was torn, he looked pitiful as he heard Louis' words.
"Lou, I just want you to know that, I'd never be mad at you or Harry if you decided to come out, even if it meant the band had to break up. You guys shouldn't have to be hiding like this… it's not fair. I can go out with Danielle when ever I want, and you can't even sit with your boyfriend in public." Liam felt awful for the two boys who were being controlled by people who didn't even bother to care for their feelings or wellbeing.
Louis gave Liam a half-smile, "Thanks, but I don't think we'd risk ruining three other people's careers over us being controlled. We'll be okay, we're okay." Louis spoke more to convince himself of Harry and his okay-ness.

Meanwhile Harry was in the recording booth, his voice booming through the small space and he was letting loose. He'd been uptight with all of the management stuff and he needed to sing his heart out to release some tension, and he did just that. He pushed his vocals harder than he ever had, hitting notes he didn't know he could and controlling his voice over the parts where he knew he'd struggled before. He felt amazing, like he was finally getting a grip on what he was supposed to be doing. He felt confident in his talent and hoped the producers would be satisfied with his hard work

Once he stepped out of the booth he smiled at Louis, who sat on a couch in the lounge area next to Liam. The rest of the boys scattered about.
"You did great in there." Louis smiled at his beautiful boyfriend, his eyes lighting up at the compliment.
"Thanks, I felt pretty good in there." Harry grinned and hoped the happiness in him would last.
Louis got up from the couch and hugged Harry, they both were keeping the other at an arms length lately, on edge because of all the things management had told them. However in the studio and in the lounge they didn't have to hide quite as much, there was no press or strangers lurking in the building, which everyone was thankful for.
Harry breathed in Louis' intoxicating scent, it just added to the great feeling he'd had from recording.
"I love you." Harry whispered the words very quietly into Louis' ear. Louis smiled at the 8 letters and whispered them back before pulling away from the curly haired boy.
They both stepped away with small smiles and a glint of gratitude in their eyes.
After recording their day was basically over. They all waited for one another to finish up their solo parts and left in broken groups.
Harry took Niall in his Range Rover, Louis took Zayn in his and Liam travelled alone since he'd driven his car that morning.

They were all headed to the same place but had to remain segregated for press reasons and mainly to avoid more rumors of 'Larry' being more than a rumor or bromance.
Niall couldn't help but watch Harry as he drove, he wasn't one to be serious all of the time but he wasn't stupid, he knew when something was terribly wrong.
"Harry?" Niall questioned hesitantly.
"Mmm?" Harry made the questioning sound as he glanced at the blond.
"How bad is it? We're all acting like we're dealing with management and like it's okay… but-" Niall couldn't continue, not after he looked back at Harry, his eyes glistening as he stared forward intently. His lower lip clenched between his teeth and his knuckles white as he gripped onto the steering wheel too hard.
"It's bad. It's really bad… but we're going to be okay. Louis and I…" Harry didn't continue, he didn't know what to say because he didn't want to lie anymore. He didn't know if he and Louis would make it after all of the shit management had flung at them. He wasn't sure how long it'd take for he or Louis to be ready to forget their singing careers and take the massive risk of letting the entire world know they were in a relationship. He wasn't sure of anything, he just hoped, he hoped all of the time, for every situation to turn out okay at the very least. He wasn't asking for excellent, or great or perfect, just okay. Just enough for everything to be bareable.

Niall didn't say anything else to Harry in the car, he just let him cry silently. Harry wasn't usually one to let people see him so emotional, but everyone knew he was pretty sensitive. Niall just put a hand on the sad boys shoulder and gave a reassuring squeeze.

In the opposing vehicle holding Louis and Zayn there was more words exchanged. Zayn was insightful and kept a close eye on his friends. He knew that Harry and Louis were becoming more detached, he also knew that management was constantly looming over their heads, which torqued him endlessly.
"So… How're you doing?" Zayn asked, hinting at exactly what Louis was currently thinking about.
"I could be a hell of a lot better, but there's not a whole lot I can do…" Louis looked anywhere but at Zayn, his eyes shifting constantly.
"You could come out, you and Harry." Zayn knew it needed to happen, for there to be any actual progress made within the band, for them to stay together and for them to have lasting careers.
"Zayn, the second media finds out Harry and I will be kicked out of the band, flat on our asses and separated. I'll be back in Doncaster and Harry in Holmes Chapel. There's no way for us to win here… I just… I don't know how to do this anymore." Louis gripped the steering wheel a bit tighter as if that would stop the aching in his chest and the fact that he could feel the pounding of his heart in his eye sockets threatening to contort him into a sobbing mess.
"Lou, you are the band, Harry is the band. Without you there is no One Direction, they can't kick you out, I'm pretty sure our fans would start a riot. Even if they decide to drop us from the label, someone else will pick us up, and if not, we'll do it alone. People know who we are and we have tons of support, we can do it. But we can't do it if you and Harry are stuck in this hole of not being yourselves. All the lads agree that if you two go to media and tell them the truth, that we'll all be behind you, supporting you and getting through whatever shit we have to. We're a family, and we won't let our family fall apart." Zayn put a supportive hand on Louis' arm and watched as he loosened his grip on the wheel.
Tears streaked down the older boys cheeks out of gratitude, Zayn was being such an amazing friend, all of the lads were… he was so lucky to have them as mates.
"Thank you." Was all Louis could muster, and Zayn understood. Louis was a mess and so was Harry, they were in the same boat and were afraid of sinking.

When the three cars pulled up to the complex the boys shared Liam stepped out of his first, making his way up. Louis wiped away his tears and hoped his cheeks weren't red and Zayn waited for him to get out before he did. Harry stayed in his Ranger Rover a bit longer, cycling through his endless thoughts one last time, clearing the tears from his eyes and even though it was a feeble attempt to conceal that he'd been sobbing like the wreck that he was, he got out of the vehicle once Niall nudged him from the passenger seat.

The five boys went to their respective flats. Louis and Harry slipping into the same one. Harry instantly headed to the couch and threw himself on it, closing his eyes in attempt to block out the world.
Louis followed the younger boy and lifted his feet and sat beneath them, letting them lie on his lap.
Harry popped an eye open and looked at Louis, who was staring at him.
"Hmm?" Harry grumbled, not wanting to make words.
"We need to talk." Louis wasn't going to beat around the bush, they needed to make a decision.
"I know." Harry sat up and looked at Louis, noting his slightly red eyes and sad expression.
"I talked to Zayn and Liam today…" Louis started but trailed off, not sure how to approach the topic.
"Niall tried talking to me in the car, but… I had a bit of a breakdown." Harry admitted with an attempted smile to lighten the mood.
"Zayn and Liam both think we need to tell management. Zayn said that no matter what happens with the label or management, that we'll stay together, all of us."
"How do we go about it though? We can't just go to Modest and say "Oh by the way, we're in a relationship and love each other?" Pretty sure that'd get a swift kick in the ass and a bad name." Louis laughed at Harry's comment.
"I think we all need to be there, we need to have the boys supporting us and we need management to see that we're not going hide anymore. It's going to be a team effort."
"So we're really doing this then? We're going to let the entire world know? Lou, I'm not even sure if I'm gay. I mean, you're the only guy I've been attracted to like this, how to I explain that?" Harry looked straight at Louis, his eyes searching the older boys' face for something, anything.
"I think we have to do this babe, and if we get questions about which sex we're attracted to, ignore it or dismiss the question. We can't let ourselves be bullied by media. We only have to say we're together, nothing more. That's all anybody needs to know, and the rest is our business." Louis took Harry's large hands in his, tracing the protruding veins on top with his thumbs.
"Okay… but promise me, promise me that we'll stay together." Harry bowed his head but looked up at Louis through his dark eyelashes shyly.
"Harold, I will never leave you. I promise you that." With that Harry smiled and kissed Louis tenderly.
His hands slipped from Louis' and went to his face, holding it carefully, slowly letting his long fingers find the older boys' hair.
Louis loved the way Harry tugged on his hair and pushed his body closer to his own. They hadn't been this intimate in what felt like ages. And tonight was different. It wasn't just about pleasure or lust, it was about love and consummating something that they'd promised one another would last forever. It was about forever.
Louis made his way off of the couch without breaking away from Harry's lips. They made their way through the house, weaving through the maze of furniture and corners, making their way to Harry's bedroom.
Harry guided Louis down onto the mattress and climbed on top of him, detaching his lips from the Doncaster boy. Harry looked down at Louis, who stared back intently, a small smile creeping onto his lips. Harry brushed the hair from Louis' face and smiled back.
"I love you. More than anything." Harry couldn't help but say the words, he wanted to say them everyday, every hour, every minute, no matter where he was or what he was doing.
"I know. I love you too babe." Louis pulled Harry down to him and kissed his lips. Harry smiled against him and kissed back, deepening the kiss, letting his tongue trace against Louis' lower lip. Of course Louis parted his lips immediately, inviting Harry's sweet tongue to dance with his own.
Louis tugged on Harry's shirt, wanting to feel every possible part of Harry against him. Harry quickly slipped his shirt off, taking the time to peel Louis' off as well. Harry felt his skin heat up as Louis let his hands roam and explore his bare torso.
Harry went to Louis' neck, tending to his weak spots, licking and sucking at the sensitive skin, making the older boy moan and tug on his curly hair.
Harry loved the way he made Louis weak, it drove him to give the boy as much pleasure as he could, to make him feel as good as he possibly could. He wanted to give the boy beneath him everything, anything he wanted, he wanted to give it to him on a silver plater.
Harry decided that tonight was going to be about Louis, tonight everything was for Louis.
Harry made his way to Louis' lips and let their mouths work together perfectly, tongues dancing and exploring. Harry's fingers worked on the button of Louis' jeans, popping them open and unzipping them easily. Louis was hard, his tight boxers keeping him constricted. At the touch of Harry's fingers against the fabric topping Louis' erection, he pushed his hips up involuntarily, making Harry smirk to himself.
Harry gave Louis what he wanted, peeling his underwear off slowly, achingly slow for Louis, who never wanted Harry to stop touching him.
Harry tended to Louis' every need, every want and wish.
Louis bucked his hips as Harry touched him lightly, teasing him, then finally giving in, taking Louis in his hand, moving slowly, then picking up his pace as Louis moaned louder.
"Harry!" Louis gripped onto Harry's bicep, digging his fingers into the muscle.
Harry moved his head down and took the tan skinned boy in his mouth, his head bobbing slowly as he wanted to hear Louis' moans and get him as worked up as possible. He flicked his tongue over Louis' tip, making him buck his hips and moan loudly.
Harry knew he couldn't let Louis reach his climax yet, he'd make him hold out.
Harry slowed every movement he made down, driving Louis mad and a sexually frustrated mess below him.
Finally Harry kissed his way up to Louis' lips, stopping before letting them touch and whispering in his ear, "I want you to make love to me." His voice was irresistibly sexy, his husky tone making Louis feel a bit weak.
"Are you sure?" Louis questioned with an unbelieving tone.
"Yes." Harry replied and slipped his trousers and underwear off.
Louis wanted this to be special, he didn't want to hurt Harry, but Harry knew it'd come with temporary pain and didn't care. He wanted to be as close to Louis as possible, in every single way.
Harry laid on the bed, facing Louis who hovered above him, a bit of a trembling mess.
"Tell me if it hurts, and I'll stop." Louis lined himself and with a little lubrication he pushed himself into Harry, who groaned and clutched onto the sheets.
"Are yo-"
"Don't stop." Harry demanded, despite his discomfort, he wanted this.
Louis pushed himself deeper into Harry, receiving numerous groans from him.
Louis paused, letting Harry adjust and continued.
Once Harry's pain subsided he was more than okay.
Louis was perfect, every moan that escaped his lips.. Harry wanted to devour every sound he made.
Louis leaned down and kissed Harry, their lips in perfect sync and Louis' thrusts making both of them moan into the others mouth.
Louis dipped his head into the crook of Harry's neck as he continued to thrust.
"Oh! Harry!" Louis flung his head back in ecstasy. "Har- I'm.. Ohh!" Harry knew what he was trying to say, and soon felt Louis release inside of him.
But Louis continued, bringing Harry to climax as well, his fingers digging into Louis' back, and countless moans falling from his lips.
Louis collapsed on top of Harry, their breathing heavy, but returning to normal.
Harry wrapped his arms around Louis, his fingers finding his brown hair, smoothing it and curling the locks around his slender fingers.
"Harry…" Louis was a bit breathless as he spoke.
"Mmm?"
"I meant it when I said forever." Louis ran his fingers up Harry's arm, tracing the visible veins.
"I'm not willing to have you for any less." Harry smiled, "You're everything to me. I was constructed for you and you were molded for me."
Louis could only smile, Harry was perfect. He was his reason for waking up every morning, he was his person. The only one he'd ever need or want. It was Harry. It would always be Harry.