4 Years Later

Louis scanned over the paper in his hands, releasing a deep breath as it was only the first day back to school and already his desk was covered in students' work. But thankfully enough this wasn't so much a graded assignment, but a sheet to get to know the kids he's lucky enough to be teaching this semester.

And just as he was adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose, picking up a new sheet to look over he heard the bell ring overhead. A couple students nervously shuffled into his room, looking around and trying to find a seat to start his 8th period and finally last class of the day.

"Hey guys, take a seat anywhere and when everyone shows up we'll get started," he said, looking over the top of his glasses and offering the few kids a warm smile.

And as he expected there was silence, not uncommon on the first day, but to be apart of Louis' drama class you had to be loud and willing to put yourself out there. The first day was always the hardest though to get the kids out of their shells, especially with them being high schoolers and trying not to look ridiculous, but Louis did have a few tricks up his sleeve.

Once he saw that the room was pretty much filled, all kids looking at him like a deer caught in headlights or just bored Louis stood up from his chair, only to stand in front of his desk and take a seat on it, letting his feet dangle an inch off the ground.

"You guys know you can talk right, we're not in church," he said, earning a few laughs and a fair amount of smiles.

One point for Tomlinson, so far so good.

"Alright," Louis breathed out, taking his glasses off and placing them behind him on the desk. "Well, welcome to Drama, I'm Mr.Tomlinson and I'll be your teacher for the semester. Just so you guys know a little about me I've been working here for two years, and before that I interned for a year with Mr.Anderson, some of you may know him, but clearly I took over for him after he retired. And we can pretend for my own self esteem that any of you actually care."

And again, there was nervous laughter filling the room, this time more so than not.

"So this semester in drama we'll be analyzing some of Shakespeare's plays, I know, I know I'm sorry but it has to be done," Louis said before anyone started groaning, instead earning another laugh. "But we'll also be doing fun stuff like performing improv, how to deliver lines like for example comedic timing, and some writing. Now it's going to be fun, I promise you, but you guys do need to put in some work and loosen up a bit. I feel like I'm talking to my cat, you guys are just staring at me like you have no clue what's going on or you're just hungry."

That officially broke the ice, this time loud laughs heard throughout the room and Louis couldn't help the small smile that came across him as he began to pass out the course syllabus and talked about how marking will be done and important dates they should remember.

"So now that all that boring stuff is done we can start the real fun, or as I would like to call it first day torture improv," he said, earning a few wide eyes from the class. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding geez... It's not total torture," Louis said jokingly.

"I'm sure it's more fun for you than it is for us."

Louis looked up and let out a quiet chuckle saw he saw that the boy was clearing joking. "You sir are 100% correct," he said, trying to remember his name, thinking maybe it was Evan. "But if you guys relax, don't care so much about what people are thinking about you it can be loads of fun, trust me."

So Louis began to explain the game scene replay, getting out his trusty bowl full of random scenarios that the lucky one or two chosen people will have to play out. And when he was done explaining the game he wasn't so surprised to see the entire class a bit mortified at the idea of having to go up there and perform in front of everyone.

"Do I have any volunteers?" Louis asked, his eyes scanning the room. "No? None at all? I don't want to have to call on random, that-"

"Daddy!!"

Louis snapped his head up, a smile immediately making it's way to his face as he saw his son sprinting at him. "How was he Zayn? Alright?" he asked, scooping Holden into his arms and giving him a sloppy kiss on his cheek.

"Good as always," Zayn through a quiet laugh.

"Good," Louis said quietly, offering the 3 year old a soft smile. "Oh right, uhm sorry, I completely forgot with going back to school and everything," he started, turning back to his class who were looking at him confused. "This is my son Holden, can you say-"

"Hi!!" Holden said excitedly, nearly bouncing in his father's arms.

Louis rolled his eyes fondly as a few laughs were heard throughout the room. "And because you're my last class of the day and his daycare ends before our school does he'll be joining us," he explained. "I'm sure a number of you know Mr.Malik, teaches English." Louis said, noticing some of the girls not so subtly gawk at his mate.

"Hey guys," Zayn said through a small smile. "I'd love to stay and chat Lou but I have hall duty in 5 minutes. Have fun with first day torture improv!" he said, letting out a quiet laugh as he left the room.

Louis watched as Zayn left before looking back to his son in his arms. "Have a good day buddy?"

"The best day! I draw you a picture!" Holden said happily, wiggling in his daddy's arms to reach for his backpack and show him.

"Show me later big guy, I have to get back to class," Louis said, nodding towards the students watching them.

"Oh, okay," Holden said softly, knowing this was quiet time.

As soon as his daddy put him down he rushed over to his father's desk, standing on his tippy toes to get in his chair and pull out his coloring books.

Louis couldn't help the small laugh that escaped him, this being routine as they did it all last year and by now Holden knew very well what to do while his daddy taught.

"So, enough wasting time, who's going up first?" he asked with raised eyebrows as he clapped his hands together, still getting no response. "Alright, you guys are making me pull out the big gun... C'mere H, help daddy pick out his first victims."

Holden smiled widely to himself, always loving when he got to play in his father's class. "Daddy I pick one person, they and I play," he said, already hopping out of his chair and standing in front of the class.

"Oh this'll be fun," Louis muttered, watching his son walk back and forth through the aisles of desks, seemingly playing duck duck goose as he tapped each person on their shoulder, until he found someone to be goose.

"Goose! You play!" Holden said.

Louis had to slap a hand over his mouth as he saw who his son picked. This kid must've been the biggest boy Louis has ever seen in his life. His muscles the size of Louis' head and towering over Holden even just sitting down.

"Alright c'mon Peter, you're goose let's play," Louis said as he laughed to himself and waved the blushing boy up towards the front of the class. "My son has made it very clear he wants to play, so have some fun with it, he's 3, you can act like it too."

Everyone had smiles on their faces as Holden led Peter up to the class, 10 of his steps equalling about one of the older boys.

"Okay, good," Louis said happily, now having both of them up there. "So, our surprise improv scenario is..." he drawled out, reaching into his bowl of folded up papers. "You're both super heroes and you each think you're better than the other."

"Yes!!" Holden cheered excitedly. "Daddy can I go first I ready!"

"Sure buddy," Louis said through a small laugh, noticing that his entire class was watching with amusement. "Peter you know what you're doing?"

"Uhm, yeah I think I got it," he said quietly, scratching the back of his neck and looking down at the 3 year old in front of him.

"Alright boys, let's begin!" Louis said, taking a seat on his desk again and keeping his eyes on the two.

"I am the super spiderman!" Holden bursted out, making loud laughs escape the room. "My web is more better than you!!" he said, pretending he was shooting the older boy with his web.

Peter stood there, just looking at the toddler, unsure what to do.

"C'mon mate, imagine where you are, what the scene is. Maybe you're on the city street or on a rooftop and you have to prove you're a super cool hero, show us something!" Louis said making more laughs erupt in the room.

"Okay uhm..." Peter thought for a second, trying to get into character. "Your spidey powers are no good against Batman!" he tried, himself earning a few chuckles from the class, lightening him up a bit.

Holden scoffed as he rolled his eyes. "Spiderman always wins! Here I show you," and just like that he was running around the front of the room, punching and kicking the air before doing a roll on the floor.

Peter let out an amused laugh as he watched the 3 year old, along with everyone else in the class trying to contain themselves. He looked over to his teacher, the older man nodding at him, wanting tim to come up with something.

"Is that all you can do?" Peter asked with raised eyebrows, making the toddler's jaw go slack. "Unlike you Spiderman I can fly!" he said, feeling himself loosen up as the class laughed.

"Oh yeah?" Holden asked as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Prove it. Make me fly," he said challengingly.

Peter opened and closed his mouth as he looked down at Holden, having no clue what to do. So again he looked over to his teacher, seeing he was just as amused as everyone else before mouthing "pick him up".

"Okay, fine," Peter breathed out before looking back down to the 3 year old and cautiously picking him up, happy that the toddler didn't protest.

He situated Holden in his arms, basically laying him horizontal before running around the room with him, making the toddler squeal as he was "flying". And that's what had the room bursting into laughter, the loudest of the day as they watched the two zoom around the room.

Louis watched on, unable to wipe the smile off his face as he saw the two continue their scene. His son was barely able to hold it together as he kept giggling to himself, still a bit dizzy after Peter spun him around. But when Holden was laughing so hard, almost needing to sit down from watching Peter Louis called scene, class coming to an end anyway.

"See? That wasn't so bad, was it?" Louis asked once the class had calmed down and he picked up his dizzy son, placing him down in his desk chair. "Who thinks they'll want to go tomorrow?"

There were a few hesitant hands raised, the kids all looking to each other and biting their lips.

"Alright what if I throw Holden in there? Then will you do it?" He asked with raised eyebrows and it was almost immediate everyone's hand shot up. "Okay, okay, I'll see you tomorrow," he said through a chuckle as he shook his head.

"Wait! I say bye!!" Holden said, shooting out of his seat and running towards the door, giving every single person that walked out a high five and toothed grin.

"Bye little man, see you tomorrow," Peter said through a quiet laugh once Holden high fived him and he ruffled the toddler's hair.

Holden waved back excitedly, happy to make a friend in his daddy's new class.

"Buddy give me 5 minutes to pack my things and then we can go, okay?" Louis asked through a small smile, seeing that all the kids had left.

"Okay daddy," Holden said, skipping over to his backpack and making sure he had his own things all packed up. "Wait daddy my drawing!!" He said excitedly, pulling out the paper and waving it.

Louis perked his head up as he slung his messenger bag over his shoulder and scanned over his desk, making sure he had everything. "Can I see?" he asked as he led them out of the room, reaching for the paper.

Holden rushed after his daddy, immediately handing him his picture and wrapping his little hand around his father's two fingers as they walked down the hall. "See? It me, you uncle Liam and uncle Zayn!" he said happily.

"I love this buddy," Louis said, smiling down at his son. "As soon as we get home I'll be sure to hang it on the fridge."

At that Holden jumped excitedly, squeezing his daddy's fingers and grinning widely to himself.

Louis rolled his eyes fondly at his son before looking up, only to stop in his tracks as he saw a blonde haired man walking down the hall with the principal. The same blonde haired man he hasn't seen in nearly 4 years.

"H... H c'mon," he said, quickly picking up his son and turning down a different hallway, nearly jogging.

"Daddy?" Holden asked, almost worriedly as he wrapped his arms around his father's neck. "Where we going?"

Louis could barely think as he rushed down the hall, still trying to wrap his around who he just saw. But he knew his son was getting more and more nervous and he didn't want him to think anything was wrong.

"We're going home buddy," Louis said quietly, adjusting the toddler on his hip and looking for the closest exit.

*~*

"Louis you home?" Liam called into the house as he stepped inside, only to be attacked by a little body a second later.

"Uncle Liam!!" Holden yelled excitedly, trying to wrap his arms around the older man's legs.

"Hey big guy," Liam said through a soft smile as he scooped up the toddler and kissed him quickly. "Where's your daddy? I gotta talk to him."

"Kitchen," Holden said happily, jumping in his uncle's arms.

Liam nodded and adjusted the 3 year old on his hip before walking through the house, making his way to the kitchen and finding his best mate in the middle of cooking dinner. "Hey, I'm sorry my shift just ended and I checked phone as I was leaving."

Louis looked up from noodles boiling on the stove and to Liam, noticing he was still in his scrubs. "H can you go play so uncle Liam and I can talk?"

Holden nodded quickly, making sure to give his uncle one more hug before wiggling out of his arms and running into the living room.

Liam made sure the 3 year old wasn't in earshot before turning back towards the older lad. "So you saw Niall?" he asked quietly. "And you're sure it was him, like not even-"

"It was him," Louis shook his head. "Might not have seen him for a couple years but I'd recognize him anywhere..."

Liam bit his lip as he nodded and leaned against the counter. "So do you think he got a job at the school? He was studying to be a music teacher."

"I don't know, he was just walking down the hall with the principal but what other reason does he have being there?" Louis breathed out as he ran a hand over his face.

"So what're you gonna do?" Liam asked quietly. "I mean I don't think you can go undetected for too long and sooner or later he'll learn about Holden."

Louis let out a deep breath as he shook his head and turned back to the sauce simmering on the stove. "Harry already knows about him, I'm sure Niall does too," he barely whispered.

"You don't know that Louis," Liam said softly. "Harry might not know and-"

"Bullshit," Louis said angered. "That's just complete bullshit because I called him, texted him, left him a message telling him!!" he said raising his voice. "I send him fucking emails with pictures of Holden all the time and-"

"Lou," Liam warned gently, wanting him to calm down so Holden wouldn't come in and ask what's wrong.

Louis shook his head as he clutched the counter and tried to even his breathing. "How can he not care? How can he just..."

Liam let out a quiet breath as he walked towards his best mate and wrapped his arms around him. It's been too many times Louis has asked these questions and never found an answer for them. And Liam wasn't sure he ever would get an answer, but all he could do was be there for his best mate.

"Daddy mail come!" Holden said, scurrying into the kitchen and nearly throwing all the mail onto the table before running back out.

Liam rubbed Louis' back one more time before going over to the table and straightening the mail out, but as he was doing so a magazine cover caught his eye. "Lou..." he said quietly, wanting the older lad's attention. "Want me to throw it out?"

Louis could barely nod as he saw the front page cover with Harry plastered all over it. But to make it worse it was one of the many magazines that had pictures of him being drunk, a girl or boy always wrapped around him as they stumbled out of a club or bar. Since the day he left it's been like that, and Louis doesn't think he'll ever get used to it.

"So uhm... What're you gonna do about Niall?" Liam asked quietly once the magazine was in the trash.

"Nothing," Louis breathed out, turning back to the stove. "Let's just hope I never have to see him."

*~*

Niall quickly looked around the hall, knowing he's passed the same door at least three times.

He let out an annoyed groan, turning around and back again, trying to figure out which way his classroom was. But just as he started stomping down the hall he heard his phone ringing from his pocket.

"Ello?" Niall asked into it, looking back and forth between the doors, knowing one of these had to be his or at least he was getting close.

"Nialler! What're you doin mate? Come over before I go back to the studio."

"Haz I told you I started my job last week," Niall breathed into the phone.

"Oh, yeah," Harry said, completely forgetting that. "Am I still coming in to talk to your class or whatever tomorrow?"

"Yeah, if you could, I know you're busy," Niall said, still wandering the halls. "If only I could find my classroom that would be great," he muttered into the phone.

At that Harry let out a barking laugh. "You've been there a week and you still don't know where your classroom is?!"

"Shut up," Niall grumbled, and just as he was about to tell his best mate off he heard something.

Niall furrowed his eyebrows as he walked to the closest shut classroom door, swearing he heard a familiar voice.

"Ni? You still there?"

Niall felt himself freeze as he would recognize that high pitched voice anywhere, even muffled and coming through a closed door. "U-uhm yeah, yeah I'm here," he said, shaking his head, trying to clear his thoughts.

It'd be impossible for Louis to be here without Niall seeing him at least once this past week. He was going crazy, there was no way.

"Alright..." Harry said slowly. "Well what time you want me there? Ed and I are pitching our duet idea to management in the morning."

"Afternoon is fine," Niall said quietly as he shuffled away from the door, still unable to figure out if it was Louis he heard or not. "Say around 2 pm? That'll be the last class of the day."

Harry checked his calendar one more time to make sure he was free. "Sounds good mate. I gotta get back to the studio so I'll call you later tonight. Good luck finding your room!!"

Niall pulled the phone away from his ear as he heard Harry hang up. But he was still caught up on that voice. The same voice he was sure he hasn't heard in nearly 5 years. But then again as Niall thought about it it could've been a mistake. He was sure there was no way Louis Tomlinson worked in the same high school as him and he didn't know it.

*~*

"Alright room 205... Can't be that hard..." Harry muttered as he slowly walked by each classroom, narrowing his eyes at the small number printed on each door.

Maybe he shouldn't have made fun of Niall for being lost yesterday because this place was a serious maze. He tried his best though, walking past the main office two times and the second time he did he saw a very frazzled raven haired looking man, screaming about finding some kid he lost. But Harry continued on his way anyway, turning left down one hallway and right down another until he found this room.

He was sure Niall was probably freaking out, wondering where he was and Harry felt bad, he wanted to get to his best mate's class as soon as possible to talk to them about the music industry but this school was making it impossible.

But just as Harry was about to get really nervous about never finding the classroom his thoughts were taken away by a small cry he heard coming down the hall.

He furrowed his eyebrows, knowing this was a high school and the person crying sounded no older than a toddler. So he quickened his pace, now instead looking for the room, trying to find where this crying was coming from and why they were crying in the first place.

Harry looked all around the hall and it wasn't until he saw a boy who was maybe 2 or 3 years old aimlessly wandering around and crying to himself did he relax, knowing where the sobs were coming from.

"Hey, hey, what's going on? Are you okay?" Harry asked softly as he knelt down to the boys hieght, unable to miss his tear filled bright green eyes.

"N-no find u-uncle Zayn. L-lost," he hiccuped out.

Harry nodded, trying to think of what do. He thought maybe the guy in the office was this Zayn person the boy was talking about. "Alright, well do you have somewhere you need to go? Was your uncle taking you somewhere?"

"Daddy teach, I-I go to his room," he said, wiping his eyes and trying to calm down.

"Okay, well do you know where your daddy's room is? I can walk you there, it's okay buddy," Harry said quietly as he carefully wiped the toddler's wet cheeks.

He saw the boy nod, and that was definitely a relief to Harry, knowing he it wouldn't be too hard to get this kid where he need to go.

"Alright, I'll walk you there, lead the way," he said, only for the boy to wrap his whole hand around Harry's fingers and tug on him. "You got a name big guy?" Harry asked through a small laugh as he walked beside him.

"Holden," he sniffled.

"Well it's nice to meet you Holden, I'm Harry," he said through a small smile. "How did you lose your uncle Zayn?" Harry asked as they walked down the hall.

"He talking to the office people but I want to go and see daddy so I leave but then he no come and I lose him," Holden explained quietly. "I love uncle Zayn, I no want to lose him."

Harry couldn't help the small laugh that escaped him, this kid really couldn't be an cuter. "Well when we get to your daddy's class we can tell him to call uncle Zayn and not to worry so you don't have to worry."

Holden looked up at him, offering him a wide smile before he squeezed Harry's fingers gently. "Thank you Harry!"

"Of course buddy," Harry said softly as they continued their walk down the hall. "Is your daddy's room close?"

"Here!" Holden said excitedly, suddenly pulling Harry across the hall.

"Easy big guy," Harry chuckled to himself as he watched Holden rush over to the door and push it open.

"Daddy!!" Holden shrieked as he ran into the room.

Harry followed after him, keeping his eyes on the toddler until he saw who he was running too. And it was within a millisecond Harry froze. His heart stopped, air coming up short and his throat tightening as green met blue for the first time in years.

"Harry..." Louis barely whispered, his eyes wide and his own body unable to move.

The younger lad's eyes locked on him as the class looked between the two and started whispering amongst themselves, shocked that Harry Styles was there.

"Daddy you know Harry?" Holden asked with furrowed eyebrows.

Louis looked between his son and Harry, his jaw slack as he didn't know why Harry had Holden, or why he was here, and just as he was about to say something the younger lad spoke up.

"He's yours?" Harry asked, undeniable anger seeping from him.

Louis gently pulled Holden behind him, feeling every single pair of eyes looking at him. "Harry you need to go."

"How old is he Louis?" Harry nearly spat through his teeth, taking a step closer into the room.

"Harry," Louis warned, unable to grasp that he was in front of him, that he and Holden were in the same room, that the same man who has caused him so much pain was back. "Why are you here?"

Harry shook his head as he rubbed a hand over his face, just at seeing the older lad and with a child no less feeling his heart break over and over again like it had all those years ago. "I don't owe you anything Louis," he said so quietly he wasn't sure if he was heard. "How long was it then? How long was it after you broke my heart that you went off and had a kid?!"

Louis felt his face harden, completely ignoring the wide eyed stares his students were giving him. "Harry get out, now," he said lowly. "I'm not doing this here."

Harry scoffed, putting his hands up in defeat as he backed away. "Say hi to fucking Liam for me," he muttered, before pulling the door open and slamming it shut behind him.

Louis swallowed and couldn't move as he felt Holden's arms wrap tightly around his leg, hiding behind him and every single pair of his student's eyes on him. For the first time in years he's seen Harry, since he left him, leaving a tornado behind him, and he came right back into Louis' life the same way.

*~*

"Niall!!" Harry screamed at the top of his lungs as he barged into the Irish lad's flat.

"Geez, what H?" Niall asked, trying to restart his heart at the sudden burst. "And hey, thanks for totally ditching my class today. Like seriously mate you could've-"

"Why the fuck didn't you tell me Louis works at your school?!" Harry asked, his whole body feeling like it was shaking with anger.

Niall furrowed his eyebrows at the younger lad. "What?" he asked confused.

"I saw Louis fucking Tomlinson at the school today!!" Harry said, making Niall's eyes go wide. "And he has a kid!! A kid who is like fucking 3 or 4 years old!! Do you know what that means?!"

"Haz... Mate I'm so sorry," Niall said quietly.

Harry let out a few deep breaths, trying to calm down so he wouldn't keep screaming. "Do you think that's it? Do you think Liam knocked him up and that's why all this shit happened?"

"Harry I don't know," Niall breathed out as he watched his best mate pace in front of him. "I mean you never really gave him a chance to explain what happened, you don't know-"

"He didn't deserve a chance Niall!!" Harry yelled, making the Irish lad jump in his seat. "I can't do this, I need to go," he said shaking his head and walking towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Niall asked as he stood up from the couch and fast walked after Harry.

"I'm going out to get a drink, I'll talk to you later," Harry muttered, but as he opened the door Niall quickly closed it.

"H please, you don't need to drink just here alright?" Niall asked softly. "We can just hang out and eat junk and play videogames, like the old days."

Harry shook his head, wanting nothing more than to get so drunk he forgot any of this happened.

"Harry please," Niall nearly begged.

"See you later," Harry said quietly, opening the door and this stepping out before Niall could stop him.

Meanwhile with Louis

"Daddy?" Holden asked quietly as his father tucked him in bed.

"What big guy?"

Holden let out a quiet breath, tugging on his daddy's shirt, wanting him to lay down with him. And it was only when his father obliged and he laid himself onto his chest did he speak up.

"Why you so sad today?" he asked, brushing his fingers through his daddy's hair, knowing that when he does it to him he feels better.

Louis bit his lip as he looked down at his son. The same green eyes, the same chocolate brown hair that reminded him so much of Harry. "What makes you think I'm sad?"

"I hear you talk to uncle Liam when we get home today," Holden said as he rested his chin on his daddy's chest and looked up at him. "I hear you sniffle and I sniffle when I cry but I no want you to cry daddy."

Louis felt his heart break as he saw tears gathering in the 3 year old's eyes. He quickly wrapped his arms around him and kissed his feathery hair, never wanting him to feel bad for him being upset. "How in the world can I be sad when I have you?" he asked in between kisses.

At that and because off all the kisses Holden smiled to himself and wrapped his arms around his daddy's neck. "Daddy how do you know Harry?" he asked with furrowed eyebrows, hearing his uncle and father talk about him earlier.

Louis stilled for a moment, knowing that Holden would probably bring him up at some point after today. "Well once upon a time he and I were very good friends," he said quietly, wrapping his arms just a bit tighter around the toddler.

Holden looked at his daddy confused, them not seeming like friends earlier. "How come you no friends anymore?"

"Well... One day we got in a fight," Louis said quietly, swallowing thickly at the memory. "And he uhm... Well some mean things were said and he decided he didn't want to be daddy's friend anymore."

Holden's face fell as he listened to his daddy, unable to imagine anyone being mean to him, he was the nicest and funniest person in the whole world. "I sorry daddy," he whispered, resting his little hand on his father's stubbled cheek.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Louis said as he shook his head and rubbed his son's back. "Just know that with you there's no way I can ever be sad," he said, giving Holden a sloppy kiss on the cheek and making him giggle.

"I love you daddy," Holden said through a soft smile, kissing his daddy quickly before laying back down on his chest and closing his eyes.

"And I love you buddy," Louis said quietly, placing one more kiss on top of his son's head before closing his own eyes.

If there was one good thing Louis got from his and Harry's relationship it would be his son. And Louis wouldn't trade him for the world.

*~*

Louis brushed his fingers through his hair, his eyes scanning over the paper in his hands as his son hummed to himself from his place in one of the student desks.

Because Louis seemed upset the night before Holden made it very clear he was going to work with his daddy and going to keep him happy all day, so here he was coloring while his father went over his students' first written assignment during his free period. But just as Louis circled the grade at the top of the paper he heard a knock at the door.

"I got it!!" Holden said, immediately jumping out of his desk and running towards the door.

"U-uhm hello is uh, is Louis Tomlinson here?"

Louis perked his head up, recognizing that Irish voice anywhere before rushing towards the door and gently pulling Holden behind him. "Niall..." he breathed out, this being the first time he's come face to face with the blonde lad in years.

"Hey Lou, uhm Louis," Niall corrected himself as he shook his head. "Could we possibly talk?" he asked as he scratched the back of his head.

Louis looked down at Holden, seeing him hide behind his legs before looking back up at Niall. "W-well uhm my son is here, is it gonna be like appropriate?" he asked, not wanting to have a scene like he did yesterday with Harry.

"Yeah, yeah of course," Niall nodded as he glanced down at the toddler and offered him a small smile.

Louis bit his lip and looked at the younger lad for a second before scooping Holden up and leading Niall inside his classroom. "Buddy can you just sit and color while I talk to Niall?"

"Will he make you sad daddy?" Holden whispered, noticing his father's mood change before eyeing the other man.

"No, it's okay big guy," Louis said through a small laugh before settling Holden in his desk and kissing his head then turning back to Niall. "So uh, what's up?"

Niall shifted his weight on his feet and shrugged. "Just uh... How are you?" he asked quietly. "I mean I haven't seen you since..."

"Yeah, yeah I know," Louis shook his head and cleared his throat.

Niall looked at the older lad for a minute, not quite sure what to say. "You know I uh, I never thought you cheated on him," he said, just loud enough for Louis to hear him.

Louis nodded as he bit his lip, and that's when he saw Niall look over to Holden. But when Niall looked back at him it was almost impossible for Louis to miss the younger lad's eyes welling with tears.

"Has green eyes huh?" Niall asked through a shaky breath. "He just... He looks like..."

Louis knew what he was hinting at, what he was piecing together but Louis couldn't find it in himself to just say it. But based off of how Niall was looking at Holden the Irish lad knew. Louis was sure Harry and Niall already knew about Holden though, he didn't understand why the younger lad seemed like he had no idea Holden was even alive.

"Niall..." Louis said quietly, not even sure what he wanted to say.

Niall shook his head as he sniffled and tried to gather himself. "Louis I'm not gonna lie I've missed you... And Harry he... He hasn't been the same since you guys broke up."

"I don't want to hear any excuses Niall," Louis said firmly. "Harry left, he chose to leave me before I even had a chance to explain."

"I know, I know," Niall breathed out. "I just... I've missed my two best mates these last couple years."

Louis looked down to his shoes before glancing over at Holden, the toddler completely lost in his own little world as the school bell rung overhead. "Well uhm, let's change that then," he said quietly. "If you have this time free everyday then sometime we can go for lunch, like old times and actually have time to talk."

Niall bit his lip as he smiled to himself and nodded at the older lad. "Yeah, it'd be good to catch up."

"Well, good then," Louis said, offering him a small grin back as students began shuffling into his room. "I'll uh, I'll see you later."

"Right, right, see you later," Niall said quickly as he nodded to himself again. "Uhm, bye Holden, it was nice meeting you," he said, waving to the 3 year old.

"Bye bye!" Holden waved back happily.

Niall smiled back at him before glancing to Louis one more time and making his way out of the classroom.

*~*

"What was so urgent? I was about to go out," Harry huffed as he walked into his best mate's flat.

"Calm down princess, sit down," Niall mumbled as he rolled his eyes and put his take out dinner down.

Harry let out a deep breath as he walked over to the couch and took a seat next to the older lad. "What's up? Why did I need to get here so fast?"

"I just... I need to talk to you," Niall said quietly as he scratched the back of his neck, knowing he had to do this delicately. "About uhm, about Louis."

Harry rubbed a hand over his face, really not wanting to deal or talk about this but he already came all the way over here. "What about him?" he breathed out.

"W-well maybe not Louis but uh his son..." Niall said cautiously. "Like, you said that you saw him yesterday, you know what he looks like."

"Yeah... And?" Harry asked, having no clue why Niall was talking about this.

"You know, green eyes, chocolate brown hair..." Niall said slowly, hoping Harry would get the subtle hint. "He's 3, so you and him were still together."

"And we both know he cheated on me, so why the fuck are we talking about this?" Harry asked annoyed.

Niall shook his head as he wasn't sure if he should just come out and say it. He didn't know if Louis wanted Harry to know, but Harry was his best mate, he deserved to know. "H I talked to Louis today at the school... He never cheated on you, I know that for a fact."

Harry looked at the older lad for a moment, not knowing what Niall was trying to imply. "What're you saying?" he asked quietly. "Niall he cheated on me, I caught them-"

"Caught them what, hugging? Whispering?" Niall asked with raised eyebrows. "You never let him explain, you don't actually know what happened."

"I didn't want to listen to it Niall," Harry said through gritted teeth.

"Harry," Niall said firmly, wanting the younger lad to look at him. "Louis never cheated on you."

Harry shook his head as he bit his lip and looked to his hands in his lap. "Why are you telling me this?" he barely whispered.

"Because he has a son," Niall said as he looked at Harry with raised eyebrows. "A son who is 3 years old and has green eyes and hair the same color as yours."

Harry sat there still for a moment before biting his lip and shaking his head. "No," he said quietly, pushing himself off the couch and began pacing in the small living room. "No, no, that's impossible," Harry whispered into his hands.

"Harry..." Niall said softly, knowing this would be beyond hard. "Remember you said Lou kept getting sick and all that hormonal stuff, and maybe that's what they were whispering about... Maybe he didn't know how to tell you."

Harry rubbed his hands over his face, his thoughts going one way and then another as he walked back and forth in the living room. "Where does he live?" he asked quietly. "Louis, do you know where he lives?"

"What? No, why?" Niall asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"Because I need to hear him say to my face that I'm not a father, that I haven't fucked up so bad where I missed my own kid's entire life and didn't know about it," Harry said through a shaky breath, trying to convince himself this was all one big mistake. That Niall was wrong and Louis cheated on him and Harry wasn't a dad.

Niall bit his lip as he saw his best mate about to lose it before he pulling out his phone and loading Whitepages, trying to look up where Louis lived. And it took some digging, Harry getting more and more anxious by the second but when Niall read off the adress the younger lad didn't waste a second before rushing out of the flat, getting in his car and driving through the dark city until he reached the house.