It had been a week now, Harry and Louis decided to take a couple days to think about telling either management first or the world. It caused a slight divide with the boys. Harry didn't want to deceive the management team or Simon, and Louis knew that telling everyone but management would make the Modest! team unable to make them hide their relationship. They were confused and not sure what to do. Louis was afraid that Harry was falling back into silence and prayed to God that he could save him. This entire situation turned out to be much more difficult and complicated then they'd originally thought.

~

"I just don't think that management will let us tell anyone if we go to them." Louis knew Harry didn't want to talk about this again, but they needed to make a decision.

"Lou, we can't just completely change the image our fans have of us without consulting with management first. This is a huge deal, you know that." Harry seemed angry, and that was rare, his voice a bit colder than usual and his face seemed detached from his emotions.

"You don't think I know this? Harry, we have to be on the same page here. This isn't a one sided argument, we both know the consequences of each decision, and I need you to listen to me and stop being so cold." Louis tried to keep his voice calm, but he couldn't help the bits of agitation and anger falling from his lips.

Harry looked at Louis closely, stepping forward once and stopping.

"I'm being cold? Well, sorry for not wanting to talk about this fucking subject right now. It's all we ever talk about and I'm getting sick of it. I'm tired of all this shit." And with that Harry made his way swiftly out of the flat, grabbing his jacket on the way out, with a slam of the door.

Louis took a deep breath after Harry had gone, running his hand over his face and sighing.

He was confused, he didn't know which decision was the right one and it had started to consume the relationship he had with Harry.

He needed to talk to someone about it, get another opinion, so he picked up his mobile and called Zayn.

"Hello?" Zayn's gravelly voice sounded from the other end.

"Hey, it's Louis, are you busy?" Louis clutched the phone to his ear, desperate for Zayn to say no.

"Nah, want me to come over?"

"Yes… please." Louis let himself smile.

"I'll be over in five."

"Thanks." Louis ended the call and sat on the couch in the sitting room, his head in his hands, thoughts running wild.

In less than five minutes Zayn was there, walking in the door fully dressed and like a model. He just had that quality, no matter what. Even with stubble and bed head he looked like he'd just come from a photo-shoot.

"Hey, everything alright?" Zayn asked as he sat down near Louis.

"Not really. Harry stormed out of here and he's mad at me."

"Still haven't made a decision?" Zayn was good at knowing exactly what the problem was.

"No… we aren't agreeing on anything. He doesn't want to defy management or Simon, but I don't want to be told to hide. We're barely talking now." Louis felt his heart rate pick up, he was angry at the situation and how much stress it had created.

"Lou, you have to think about Harry. He's younger than you, he's probably unsure of everything right now. You're asking him to tell everyone he's in a relationship with you, and no matter what answer you two give to press and media, the majority of people out there will label you both as gay without a second thought. For Harry, that's going to change everything for him, he has girls fainting at his feet just because he glances at them, he gets the most attention from girls, we all know that… Think about his life and how it will change for him. I'd be scared shitless if I were him." Zayn never spoke as much as did then, but Louis knew that what he said was true, and he needed to listen to him.

"You're right, I guess I haven't thought about him enough. God, he probably hates me." Louis ran his fingers through his feathery hair out of frustration.

"He doesn't hate you, i'm sure he's just stressed out. Give him some time." Zayn stood up from the couch and pulled Louis up with him.

"Let's call the other guys and have a hang out day here alright? Get your mind of things." Zayn gave Louis a quick hug and called the Liam and Niall over.

~

Meanwhile, Harry was out in London, trying to avoid the paps and screaming fans to the best of his abilities.

He needed to clear his head, he was drained from all of the stress that coming out came with. He didn't know if he was gay or bi or if it was just Louis who he was attracted to. How does someone explain that? Who would understand?

Harry continued to walk, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket and his head down avoiding people on the street.

No matter where he found himself walking he couldn't escape the angry thoughts he kept having. He felt fed up and completely over the whole situation. He loved Louis, of course he did, he was everything to him, but this stress, it was breaking him. He barely slept, couldn't eat, had no focus and felt like he was on auto-pilot again.

Harry wondered around London aimlessly, making circles around numerous blocks, nearly getting lost. His emotions were weighing him down, and he knew he needed to figure out a way to deal with them before he slipped into a dark state again. He couldn't do that again, it had scared everyone so much, but it wasn't something Harry always had control of. He needed time to detach himself from everything he was feeling. Hand over every emotion and worry and be left vacant for a day. It always left him in almost a ghostly state, not speaking, not eating and constantly fighting sleep. He couldn't put the boys, especially Louis in the position to take care of him that way again.

He shoved his hands further into his coat pockets and nuzzled his nose into the scarf wrapped around his neck, the bitter cold air of London nipping at his bare skin.

It was time to go home, he knew he was too cold, and had to find his way back to Louis.

It took him longer than expected to find the right street and his way back to his complex, and by the time he got to the door he was shaking violently, his cheeks red and nose runny.

He clutched onto the door handle, swinging the heavy slab open, his legs weak and his knees a bit wobbly.

"Harry?" Niall's voice rang in Harry's nearly frost-bitten ear.

"Ni." Was all Harry could spit out with his teeth chattering and body shaking.

Niall's expression quickly changed from happy to see his friend to pure concern.

"Har, how long have you been out there?"

"T-t-too l-long." Harry stuttered as his teeth clattered.

Niall helped him out of his jacket and over to the couch.

"Louis!" Niall yelled into the kitchen, sending a frantic Louis into the sitting room.

"What!?" He stared at Harry, his slightly purple lips and pink cheeks and nose.

Harry looked up at his boyfriend innocently, his green eyes peaking out from his dark eyelashes, he sniffled from his runny nose and let out a pathetic whine.

"Baby!" Louis cried, and went into protective mode, grabbing a mass of blankets and wrapping Harry in them, flying into the kitchen to flip the kettle on for tea, and back to Harry.

"I'm f-fine Lou." Harry said, trying to calm Louis down.

"You're freezing Haz, look at you." He took in the appearance of the boy, running a warm hand across his cheek and finally taking Harry's large hands in his own. Harry smiled weakly, followed by another sniffle.

"Here," Louis reached for a tissue and held it to Harry's nose, Harry couldn't help but smile at his motherly action, but proceeded to blow his snot anyway.

"Thanks Boo." Louis thew the tissue away and kissed Harry's forehead lightly.

"Let me get you some tea, I'll be right back."

Harry's body was warming up, slowly but surely, the rest of the boys were still at the flat, staring at him intently, as if he'd crumble or melt in an instant.

"Guys… I'm fine." Harry told them with a stern voice.

"We just… We were afraid you'd shut down again." Liam had a worried voice, but wore a small smile, as if to assure Harry of everything being okay.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you guys, I had just meant to go on a short walk, but wandered too far and got a bit lost… it took me longer to get home than I'd expected." Harry felt he needed to explain himself, so they wouldn't think that he'd purposely tried to freeze to death.

They all looked relieved once he had told them, their stares less intense and more conversation filled the room.

Thankfully Louis had returned with his tea, placing it in his cold hands, instantly warming them.

"Thanks Lou." Harry gave a smile and sipped the tea carefully.

Once Harry was declared to be just fine, the boys filtered out and let Louis take care of him.

Louis slipped under the blankets with Harry, sharing his body heat kindly.

"I'm sorry I upset you Hazza, I just… I don't know what to do. I don't know what decision is the right one."

"It's okay Boo. It's gonna be hard either way. We'll be alright." Harry curled himself into Louis, nuzzling his face into the older boys' neck, arms wrapping around his torso, keeping him as close as possible.

"I love you Harry." Louis kissed Harry's hair and tightened his hold.

"I love you too Boo." Harry snuggled into Louis as close as he could, inhaling his gorgeous scent before letting his eyes close.

Soon enough they were both asleep, arms wrapped around one another, chests rising and falling with even breaths and small smiles on both of their lips.

Everything was going to be just fine… hopefully.