Chapter Text
Everything had fallen into place. The Jungwirth’s released a statement soon after they had come out, which cleared up Louis’s participation in a stunt that had gone on for much too long. Richard was seeing someone else publicly after clarifying his sexuality to the public after his press conference outburst, doing so on his own terms. And what had once been a bitter and overly publicized feud between Richard Blakely and Louis and Harry Tomlinson, had softened into yesterday’s news, free from hard feelings as they all had moved on with their lives and managed to find their own, personal happiness.
And as Louis sat across from late night TV host, Sandra Beck, he tried to ease his queasy stomach as she looked back at him with a terrifyingly wide smile and a juxtaposingly gentle gleam to her eye. Harry was sitting beside him on the couch, looking beautiful in his striped, pink suit and short, wavy new haircut, just a touch more dressed up than Louis was himself in his dark button up and grey slacks. And being able to sit on a talk show with Harry, the two of them promoting their new album as a fresh, unprecedented, dynamic duo of a queer power couple, simply didn’t feel real.
It was a daydream come to life. And he did his best to focus on the interviewer’s question without letting his amazement become overly distracting.
“So, you two made quite the splash last summer at the end of One Direction’s reunion tour,” Sandra started and earned cheers and claps from the studio audience, “Didn’t they?” she goaded and another breath of applause exhaled from the live viewers, “Now that it’s been over a year since you two came out about your relationship publicly, how have your lives changed? Do you think it’s added any stress, or I don’t know, relieved some? What did that fall out look like for you two?”
“Well,” Harry and Louis spoke at the same time, and Louis let out a chuckle, but nodded his head to Harry to let him speak first.
“It took us a while to get to the point where we knew hiding it wasn’t an option, and we decided that, you know, we didn’t really want to anymore, either,” Harry said, relaying one of their several rehearsed responses.
While they finally had their own voice now, part of their agreement with Simon and Jeff included not publicly mentioning the sad details of the abuse they’d suffered, even if members of the general public were aware of some of it. And Louis, not wanting to relive any of the trauma that had come of their years in the closet anyways, was fine with it. He was just happy to be able to have the freedom to be in love without secrets. And he knew Harry was too.
“Yeah,” Louis added, “I think that, y’know, we had a lot of support behind us before, and we saw that. And it’s made us more comfortable with ourselves and each other, and since we’ve been out in the open, the support has only continued to be phenomenal. So, it’s definitely a weight off of our shoulders to be able to walk out in public together and not have to worry about who’s looking at us.”
“I bet,” Sandra agreed, “And you two are getting married soon too, isn’t that right?” Another round of claps and “Whoops!” sounded from the audience and Louis couldn’t help the cheesy smile he gave to Harry, who returned it with his own, filled with the same amount of excitement.
“Yeah, we are,” Louis affirmed, and fiddled with the silver engagement band on his finger while Harry waved his complementary pearl adorned one to the crowd, gaining further praise and attention.
Most of the public may have not known about their first marriage, and the painful divorce they’d been through, but they knew all about their upcoming one, and that was enough for them.
“Do you have a ceremony planned or anything?” Sandra inquired.
“Yes. Yes, we do,” Harry announced. More cheers. “We’re going on tour in a few months, so we’re gonna have our wedding, before we have to, y’know, start travelling.”
“So you’ll be on the road as newly weds!” Sandra deducted with further applause and support. “Can you tell us a little about the album? What does the title, 'At Last,' mean to you both?”
Louis began this time, “Well it’s, um, it’s clearly very personal. It’s our first album as a duo, and I think it’s just about you know, that feeling of being apart for a while and finally being together again, and us getting to be together publicly, too.”
“Yeah, we’ve, uh,” Harry picked up, “we’ve been through a lot together. And I think it’s about being free from those pressures and being able to embrace ourselves and our relationship.”
Harry gave Louis another adorable smile, and Sandra continued to ask questions about their album and their upcoming tour politely and professionally. And after their segment ended, they both shook her hand and exited the stage for their break, another guest taking their place on Sandra’s couch before their performance window. And as soon as Louis and Harry were backstage in their dressing room, Harry was kissing Louis up against the wall in an absolutely impatient desire and unabashed lust.
“I want you in my mouth, Daddy,” Harry whispered against Louis’s lips, barely tugging from their kiss to say so.
“Harry, we only have a half hour before we’re back on stage,” Louis argued, without even a hint of resistance.
“That’s more than long enough,” Harry breathed with a cocky smile, and then he was leading Louis to the armchair at the corner of the room, pushing Louis down into it, and getting on his knees as he began to undo Louis’s belt buckle.
And Louis couldn’t really find it in himself to protest much after that.
***
They were in California this weekend, taking time to themselves after they’d finished shooting a brief documentary about their relationship for a streaming service. And Harry was hugging Louis from behind as Louis revved the engine and accelerated even faster on his brand new, sleek, chrome motorcycle, unwisely helmetless, and absolutely carefree, music blasting from the speakers. Coming out had granted them even further commercial success than either of them could’ve ever imagined, and Harry couldn’t blame Louis for his recent indulgence, deciding to take up motorbiking as one of his several new expensive hobbies.
Their hair blew wildly as they sped down the highway to the beach, sunglasses keeping the wind from their eyes. And Harry felt like he’d absolutely blossomed in the last year with his new fiancé. They’d been out of couple’s therapy for several months now, and it was a beauteous miracle that they’d finally, successfully managed to put the weight of their past behind them. They were focused on the future now, and Harry still had the sense of living in an impossible fantasy in all their recent euphoria.
As they merged off of the freeway and onto the winding road that led to the shore, he was smiling like an idiot. Especially when an aquamarine convertible Mini Cooper, full of young, LA women approached them, and the blonde driver honked with delight.
“Oh my god! Larryyyy!” A tan skinned, curly haired brunette shouted from the passenger seat, and another girl in the back grabbed a quick photo as she passed them. And Harry, without the fear of the consequences of fan photos, just continued to smile, and planted a quick kiss to Louis’s neck. And Louis kept driving, looking back at Harry for a second with his own idiotic grin.
Once they’d finally made it to the beach, Harry shrugged off his graphic t-shirt and kicked off his socks and sneakers, before he removed his sunglasses, and settled his things on a lounge chair, and watched with admiration as Louis did the same, though he left his glasses on, as he laid down over the towel he’d set out on his lounger, while Harry headed for the water in his short, fuchsia swim shorts.
“You’re not coming?” Harry asked on his way out to sea.
“Maybe in a bit, dear, I wanna get some sun. And, you know how I feel about ocean water,” Louis bemoaned. And Harry watched as Louis crossed his legs over each other in his blue trunks and got comfortable, a beautiful beach dream in all his sultry masculinity.
Harry shrugged at him, mildly disappointed as he jogged into the ocean and let the cool, salty waves soothe his warm body.
He swam for a bit. Doing laps and floating in the relaxing water as the sun beamed down over Louis’s bronzing, tattooed skin. He’d been there for a while. And Harry missed him. But, he also didn’t want to get out of the ocean. And so, as he spotted a young mother making sandcastles with her toddler-aged daughter just a ways away, he got an idea, and headed towards them.
“Hey, sorry, if this is weird,” Harry began to ask as he left the water and approached them, “but can I use that bucket for a second?”
The suntanned local looked up from her child as he spoke, and when her eyes landed on Harry’s face, she let out a dramatic gasp.
“Oh god! You’re Harry! From One Direction!” she exclaimed with a startled chuckle, “My sister and I used to love you guys when we were kids! Um, Suzy, do you mind if he uses our bucket for a second?”
But shy, little Suzy looked doubtful at the question, so Harry persuaded in his gentlest, “I promise I’ll bring it right back.”
And the little girl tapped on a seashell she had found as she whispered a slow, timid, “Okay.”
And her mother let out a breathless laugh, “Go ahead, sure.”
“Thank you,” Harry expressed and she handed him the empty bucket, “And I’m so sorry, what’s your name?”
“I’m Molly. Congratulations on your engagement by the way!” the woman said cheerfully.
“Thanks, Molly,” Harry expressed, thoughtfully, and sweetly added, “And Suzy,” And he watched the little girl and her doting mother smile at him as he took the bucket into the ocean, with a fleeting thought that maybe he and Louis would have a child of their own some day.
He filled the plastic pail with water, and walked back onto the sand slowly and quietly. Unassumingly. And Louis, with his eyes closed as he took in the sun, was absolutely oblivious to Harry’s presence.
Until he poured the bucket of cold, sea water all over him, of course.
“Harry!” Louis shouted, soaking wet, as he ripped off his sunglasses and shot up from his chair, but Harry was already running away, dropping the bucket off to Suzy and Molly, who laughed at the scene, before he bolted back for the water.
“You little shit!” Louis called after him, a chuckle in his voice as he chased him through the sand.
“You’ll have to come into the water if you want to catch me!” Harry yelled back, still running towards the tide.
“Well thanks to you, I’m soaking wet, so I don’t have any reason not to!” Louis returned, and as Harry’s pace slowed the further he got into the ocean, Louis caught up to him, yanking him by the waist and tugging him against his chest as the waves rolled against their skin.
“You’re getting a spanking when we leave,” Louis whispered in his ear.
“That’s too bad,” Harry said without any real disappointment, and turned around to face Louis as he wrapped his arms around his neck, and his legs around his waist, the water carrying them weightlessly.
“Lou?” Harry asked with a teasing grin while Louis’s hands cradled Harry’s back.
“What is it, you attention-seeking brat?” Louis bit out playfully.
And Harry just stared at him for a while and let out a sigh, before he declared, “I love you.”
And Louis smiled with a kind passion and a waning annoyance, and kissed him, “I love you too, Harry.”
***
Louis’s heart was pounding as he stood at the white-rose covered wedding arch. His laced up, black loafers, shiny, on the stone floored courtyard of the ancient Spanish castle. He’d been to many weddings, but this would be the first of his own.
The last time he’d legally married Harry it had been at the register office just a little while after same sex marriage had been legalized in the UK, and the commitment they’d made on September 28th, 2013 had been just a tiny ceremony at home in London.
But this time, Harry, the princess, had wanted a spectacle. And a destination summer wedding on the outskirts of Barcelona at a structure of architectural Renaissance history was about as much of a spectacle as spectacle could be.
They had decided on coed wedding parties, in their non-traditional, queer ceremony. And next to Louis stood his best man, Oli, in front of Zayn, and all of his sisters. Aligned in formation behind him in the same layout as Harry’s party, oppositely facing the arch, which consisted of Harry’s sister, Gemma, who was also Harry’s maid of honor, as well as Niall, and his step-siblings.
And as Harry’s entrance music began to play, a rain of strings and gentle piano from the gifted, live performers, Louis took in a deep breath, straightened his boutonniere pinned to the lapel of his sleek, obsidian tux, and pushed back a hair that had escaped his fanciful quiff. And when Harry entered the courtyard from the other end of the aisle, his mother, Anne, on his arm with a toothy grin, Louis could feel the anxiety he’d initially felt wash away with absolute awe.
He’d expected Harry to look beautiful on their wedding day. He knew that he would. But his expectations had still managed to have been blown completely out of the water.
A flowy, whimsical, chiffon jumpsuit swayed around his legs and arms in windy billows of creamy fabric as he made his way down. His little, white heeled Oxfords barely peeking from the long, swishing material. He was holding a rose bouquet that matched Louis’s boutonniere, made even prettier against his matching white fingernail polish, and a birdcage veil that gave his angelic figure a hint of mystery and sophistication. He looked almost illegally stunning. And Louis couldn’t be more proud that he got to have him all to himself.
Once he’d finally reached Louis at the arch, he handed Anne his bouquet, and she took it with another teary smile as she stood with Harry’s wedding party. And as the music settled down, and their officiant began to recite his passage regarding everlasting love and commitment, Louis still couldn’t manage to keep his eyes off of Harry and the brilliant grin on his face, lighting up Louis’s entire world.
They said gentle vows. Ones they had written for each other, slow and meaningful with voices thick with emotion. By the end of reciting them, they were both wiping tears from their eyes, steadying each others’ hands as they exchanged simple, silver rings. And after what felt like an infinity of words and only getting to look at his gorgeous lover, Louis was finally peeling back the netting of his veil and holding him close as they kissed to the claps and cheers of those in attendance.
They held hands while they made their way back down the aisle, grains of rice landing in their hair. And Louis could feel in his heart, while they made their way down to the beach for their pre-reception photoshoot, through the sensation of Harry’s hand in his, and their brilliant smiles towards each other, that no matter what happened, with Harry, in a re-established promise of life long commitment, he could face anything.
***
The audience was noisy in the London arena, and Harry looked happily at his wedding ring, stacked on top of his engagement one, as he shook out his nerves backstage and prepared for his and Louis’s first very own concert as a duo.
It had been a short honeymoon, just under a week, which they’d spent in the next city over from where they’d held their wedding. For, they still had songs from a recently released album to perform. And their new, shared manager was fair but strict when it came to their schedule.
They had requested Clara as their opener, who had agreed ecstatically over the phone with her trademark squeal. Paying her back for her termination that they had played an unintentional part in.
When she came back from closing her set, the crowd’s cheers died upon her exit, and she ran to them both and embraced them in tight hugs.
“Good luck you guys! I had so much fun at your wedding by the way! You both looked amazing!” she complimented, flattering them ridiculously, before they headed for the stage entrance and she walked in the direction of her dressing room.
“You ready?” Louis asked Harry.
“I am,” Harry said.
Louis grabbed his hand in response, and brought it to his lips in a gesture that was so romantic it made Harry titter and blush like a virgin.
“Then let’s go,” Louis said once he’d pulled his lips from Harry’s wrist.
He kept their hands together, though, fingers interlocked, knuckles white with the intensity of their grip. And as they stepped out onto the stage, though they were already holding hands, Harry couldn’t help himself. He kissed Louis on the mouth. In front of everyone. Because he could now. Whenever he wanted. And though the cheers of thousands were ringing in his ears, the only sound he could make out was that of his mind’s constant reminder of how much he was in love with Louis, with his husband.
The music to their opening track poured from the instruments on stage, and though their microphones were already settled near each other, he moved his mic stand even closer to his gorgeous partner, as they began to sing a song they’d written with each other over a year ago, when they were still trapped in glass closets and their past was a painful obstacle.
But now Harry knew, for certain, as he looked to Louis, and looked to the crowd, that this is what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.
To sing. And entertain. And combine their passions into a fruitful and fulfilling life together, until their hair turned white and their skin began to sag.
Unashamed, unburdened by secrets, just together.
Now, and forever.