Downtown Summer Nights

It’s been a long time coming, really. 

While they’re still making music, touring, selling out venues on occasion, it’s not like it was when they were nineteen and twenty. Twenty-four is quite a different time, where they were much more responsible for so many more things, trusted to make their own decisions and make or break their own careers. In some ways it’s a bit sad, growing up. The boys are close as always, of course, able to talk to each other about anything and joke for hours on end… but they’re drifting a bit. For one, Liam’s married, although they all knew that would happen. Niall’s single again after a couple month relationship, and Zayn is seeing some lady that everyone is seriously considering as the one for him. 

Then there’s him and Louis. 

Just thinking about all the things that have changed between them in the last few years puts a smile on Harry’s face, making him have to turn from the mirror he’s glancing into as he tightens his bowtie. The progression of the relationship between them had been slow and full of numerous fumbles, but it was amazing and so entirely them. It had taken forever to realize that the closeness between them wasn’t just Harry and Louis being Harry and Louis, but something more that they both wanted. It had taken even longer for them to get up the guts to do something about it, to say they didn’t care what happened to them or their careers, as long as they got to be happy together. 

It was quite the trip, almost getting dropped because they wanted to be together. Despite the fact that management was sure it’d break so many girls’ hearts that they’d stop listening, it only seemed to encourage them further. The older fans who claimed they’d known it all along picked up the bit of slack where they lost some people here and there, but their fanbase was as strong as ever, proving management wrong and showing their fans were literally the best.

Since then, the band wasn’t exactly the number one thing on everyone’s minds. Niall and Zayn proceeded to make some solo albums, doing just as well for themselves as they did when they only had the band. Louis and Liam turned to acting, though Liam tended to shy away from the bigger parts, more dedicated to building a family than fame. 

And Harry? Well, he’s pretty content on just sticking with the band whenever they recorded or pulled together a tour. His home life was already exciting enough.

“Daddy, when you leavin’?” Looking down, Harry smiles down at the little girl tugging at the end of his suit jacket. 

“Whenever your papa’s done in the bathroom and Auntie shows up.” He explains, running his fingers through her dark curls and laughing as she squeals.

She runs over to the bathroom door and starts pounding it with her little fists, giggling the whole way. “Papa, hurry up! I wants to see you on TV!” 

Not more than a couple seconds later, the door of the bathroom opens, revealing Louis in his dress shirt and suit pants, finishing clipping his suspenders on. “Okay pumpkin, I’m ready now. Once Aunt Dani gets here, we’ll leave and you can look for us on the telly.” He tells her, sweeping her up off her feet and resting her on his hip. 

“Horray! I’m so proud of you, Papa!”

Though she was only four, the smile that spreads across Louis’ face is so wide, it’s insane. “Thank you, Pumpkin. That means so much to me.” He kisses her cheek, then sets her back down and looks over at Harry. “You ready, love?”

“Of course.” Harry holds Louis’ jacket out for him, helping him slip it on and button it up. “You look quite dashing today.” 

“As do you.” Louis leans over and presses his mouth to Harry’s, unable to believe he’s made it this far. He only gets about two seconds to enjoy it before the front door’s opening and their little girl is running through the house.

“Auntie!”

“Halie! How are you, pumpkin?” Danielle’s voice echoes from the living room, and Harry snorts.

“Great timing, that woman.”

“Always.”

“Daddy you gotta gooo!” Their little girl runs in again, curls bouncing as she grabs Louis’ hand and pulls him towards the living room. “You gots to be on TV and win stuff for your movie!” 

“You heard the girl!” Danielle laughs, gesturing to the door. “Have a lovely evening, boys!”

Taking Harry’s hand into his own, Louis smiles and nods to her. “We shall.”