Chapter Text
There’s a constant buzzing around him. He can’t seem to keep his eyes open. There’s something wrong. What’s wrong? What’s that noise? Cries…
Focus. Just focus.
He finally manages to open his eyes. Lights. Bright lights. Why are the lights so bright? They shouldn’t be this bright.
Focus. Just focus.
The cries are louder now. There’s something else now too. He blinks, trying to clear his blurred vision. He tries to wipe his eyes but finds that he can’t move his arms. Why can’t he move his arms? What’s happening?
“Faye,” he mumbles. “Hazel… Noah…” The cries are even louder. Why can’t he find them? What’s going on? As he closes his eyes once again, he can hear muffled voices. “Help… my kids…”
“We need to get him out! Now!”
Harry glances over to where his family is sitting. He frowns a little when he realizes that there are still empty seats. It’s not like his husband to be late. They’d all been so excited about this concert. It was the release of his second album and they had thought debuting it with a one night only concert would be a perfect way to start off this next journey. Harry knows that he wouldn’t miss this.
Harry walks back to where he had put his phone, checking to see if Louis had messaged him. His frown deepens when there’s nothing from his husband. He looks back over to his family, making sure Gemma is looking back at him. He gives her a questioning look, knowing that she’ll know what he’s asking. Gemma simply shrugs before lifting her phone to indicate she’ll reach out to the missing man. He notices that Lottie is doing the same thing.
As he steps up to the microphone, a cold feeling shoots through him. He grips the stand as he throws a look over at his sister again. His hand starts shaking when she simply shakes her head. He glances back at his band, nodding that he’s ready. It’s a lie. He’s not ready. But he doesn’t have a choice. He can feel tears stinging his eyes. He turns away quickly so the fans won’t see. He can’t let them see this. After composing himself as well as he can, he turns back to the fans, his smile appearing once again at their screams.
Where is his husband? Where are their kids? Louis wouldn’t miss this. This is something that they had been looking forward to from the moment it had been brought up.
Harry somehow manages to continue singing without making it obvious that something’s wrong. Is something wrong? Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe one of the kids simply got sick. No, that’s not it. Louis would have messaged him if that was the case. Or he would have at least gotten a hold of someone here. Right? Of course right. There is no way that Louis would not have let Harry know in some way that one of the kids was sick. But what if… no, he can’t think this.
As he lifts his guitar strap over his head, he throws another look over to his family. Gemma smiles sadly at him. He refuses to look at Anne. He’d likely completely break if he did. He can’t do that. Not here. Not now. He’s just thankful he gets to take a quick break after this song. He’s sure that it’s the fans that have kept him going through this. No, he’s more than sure. It’s definitely because of them that he’s been able to make it this far.
As he makes his way off stage after finishing the song, the final song on the album, he sees that Gemma is no longer in her seat. He finds her the moment he steps behind the curtain. He rushes over to his sister.
“Anything?” he asks. Before Gemma even answers, Harry knows that she hasn’t heard anything.
Gemma shakes her head. “No,” she answers. “I’ve called him. I’ve texted him. We all have. Pretty sure Lottie’s threatened him.”
Harry frowns when she looks away quickly. It’s not so much that she looked away that catches his eye, it’s the look on her face. “What? What aren’t you telling me?”
“Harry…”
“Gemma, what’s going on?” He grabs her arm to force her to look at him again. “Gem… tell me.”
“It’s nothing.”
He shakes his head. “It’s not nothing. Don’t tell me that.”
“We’ll talk after the show.”
“No… tell me.” He pleads with her. He has to know what she’s heard. “Gemma…”
“Harry, they’re waiting for you.”
“Why’d you come down here if you weren’t going to say anything?” He’s about to continue when she interrupts him.
“Because you need this.”
Before Harry can question her, Gemma is hugging him. He practically melts against his sister as he returns her hug. Of course his sister would know exactly what he would need this. His sister could read him better than most people.
“Why isn’t he here?” he asks softly.
“I don’t know. I’m sure there’s a reason. You know Louis.”
“But he would never miss this.” He squeezes his eyes shut as he feels Gemma tighten her hold around him.
“I know.” She kisses his cheek. “Go out there and dazzle your fans.”
Harry looks at Gemma again. “Will you try him again? Right now?” He can tell she wants to tell him no.
Gemma lets out a soft sigh, nodding as she pulls her phone from her pocket. After calling Louis’ phone, she makes sure to put it on speaker so Harry can hear. She can see him tense with each ring of the phone. He closes his eyes when it ultimately goes to voicemail.
“I’m sorry, Harry,” Gemma says softly.
Harry shakes his head. “I asked you to call. So, thank you. You’ll be here when I get done?”
“Of course.” She reaches out and takes Harry’s hand. “Harry…”
“Gemma, please… promise me you’ll be here?”
“The moment you step through those curtains.”
Harry hugs her again. “Thank you.”
“Go dazzle your fans.”
Harry is beaming when he runs off stage a short while later. Even without knowing what’s going on with his husband and their kids, the night had been amazing. He couldn’t have asked for a better turn out for a concert like this.
The moment he sees his sister, however, his smile fades. “Still nothing?” he asks.
“First, you did amazing. That was such an amazing concert.”
“Gem…”
“Check your phone.”
“My…” He sighs. “I left it…”
“Your phone,” Sarah says with a smile as the band passes.
Harry takes the phone, looking down at the screen. He frowns at the sight of several missed calls. None of which are Louis. He notices several voice messages have come through as well.
“Hello, this is Peggy from Cedars Hospital. We are looking for a relative of Louis Tomlinson.”
Harry nearly drops his phone after hearing this. He doesn’t really hear much else.
“Harry,” Gemma says, taking Harry’s phone from him. “I don’t know much. But I got alerted to a bad accident on the 405. It would have…”
“No,” Harry interrupts. “Don’t say that.”
“Harry, there are reports already circulating that it’s Louis.”
“No!” He pulls his phone back from Gemma, calling his husband immediately. He squeezes his eyes shut when it goes to voicemail. “Lou…” He drops his phone then. “I um… hospital. They… I need…”
“We’ll get you there.”
He looks over when he hears Anne call for him. That’s when he finally lets himself break. He runs into her arms, allowing himself to finally cry. “Mum…”
“Shh… it’s going to be okay.”