Epilogue

There's something intoxicating about playing the O2. Harry's never quite been able to determine whether it's because London feels so much like a place he truly belongs in, or it's because to him it feels like the main chapters of his life began.

Either way, the crowd before them is unlike any other he's ever performed in front of before. It's far from the biggest crowd, nor the largest arena but it's One Direction's last concert for 2020, for all the fans know it's their last concert ever, and after everything he's faced, not only over the past year but every year before now, standing in front of an audience packed to the rafters, audience thrumming with everything alive, he feels at home.

Halfway through the set as If I Could Fly had been queued in he'd finally, for the first time all tour, let his eyes cloud over, missing the entirety of his opening lines. The audience had collectively joined him in his anguish, seemingly joining him in his moment of realization of just what his life had become. It was far from the first time he'd had this feeling, far from the hundredth time too, but the thought didn't make it any less emotional to deal with. Instead he'd sat, Niall pressed to his side in the carved out section of the slanted stage, with tears brimming in his eyes as he'd looked out over a sea of lights and knowingly smiling faces.

Liam had closed with Remember. He'd sat in their final meeting as a touring band last week proclaiming it to be the only song in his discography that was fitting of the final act. Zayn had left the entire audience stunned when he performed a new, unreleased song he'd finished writing just last week with his production team. Their own band had worked tirelessly with him throughout the week to work their own magic on the song. But the tiresome effort from all of them had been so very worth it to watch as the crowd had been left silent as Zayn sung River Road. Louis' choice had surprised them all. Harry had sat with him late the previous Monday night, curled together on their sofa as Louis and he had chosen their songs, but as Louis and Mitch had stepped forth for only the second time ever to play through Only The Brave, every person in the vicinity knew instantly, that there was no better song he could have picked. For his own choice, he'd gone with Fine Line. He'd thrown several ideas into the mix, including, like Zayn, songs he'd never played or released before, but the song felt like closing a part of his life he never thought he'd have the chance to leave. So he'd taken it.

We'll be alright.

The simple lyric he'd sung over and over again to the crowd as they'd screamed it back at him, only to collectively fall silent as the music swelled to its climax and then bloomed into new life.

Magical. The whole show, had been magical.

All of them are endlessly grateful they managed to squeeze in playing this show. From everything that's to come afterwards and after everything they've gone through together. This final send of feels like closure. The entire set a goodbye to songs which helped shaped them into the people they've become. A story of maturing, of heartbreak and loss, of love and fortune and learning just what it takes to make it in this world. A narrative of being human.

It's more than that also for him. More than the crowd, the crew and even the other boys. It's the end of a journey he's spent ten years of his life having been forced to oppress within himself. For the moment the final chord of History rings out, he's free. They're both free. And the rest of his life can finally begin.

Harry grips Louis to him like a vice. Stood on the far right he's the last in line as the five boys who went from the bottom of the stairs to the top of the world, take their final bow.

He goes to turn, tears falling in free fall down his checks, eyes stained red when Louis' hand trails down his arm, then grips unforgiving. Faltering he turns half back around, the crowd deafening around them, lights blinding, but still he narrows in on the smile in Louis' eyes.

"Not yet love." He reads the words fall from Louis' mouth before the older lad is turning back towards the audience, mic lifting to his mouth once more.

Behind him the other boys, including their band, have also stopped. Although unlike Harry, there's no confusion in their eyes, only beaming smiles and smirks decorating each of their faces. Brows furrowed he pauses with Zayn to his left, unsure of the going on as Louis walks confidently out to the stage edge.

"London!" Louis calls, "I know we've spoken enough tonight, thanking each and every one of you, including those who can't be here tonight, for everything you've all ever done for the five of us lads. You've changed our lives and turned our worlds upside down, but before you all leave tonight, I want to take five more minutes of your time to be a little selfish."

Harry's truly confused now. This hasn't been part of their plans at all, History was meant to have ended and that was it, show over. But now he watches as Louis speaks, the band make their way back up behind their instruments. Zayn, Niall and Liam coming to stand around him like a fortress, the same shit-eating grins lining their faces.

"Now I wrote this song, with Liam, a while back now. And we've never played it live, and tonight I'd like to remedy that." Louis says, can hear the emotion beginning to tumble into his words.

"And finally, before we start, I want to say thank you. Thank you for believing in me. For never giving up and sticking with me through thick and thin. Thank you for making me laugh, to feeling like the happiest man alive and for giving me a life I giving me more than I could ever have imagined. Despite it all you're still the one. Thank you for being my everything, my friend, my family, my home. Thank you for being you, and allowing me to be me."

It's been years since he's allowed himself to listen to this track. But his heart still knows every last beat which combined, creates their everything. He doesn't know how he manages to stay standing, how his lungs continue to breathe as the notes lead to the opening lyrics. But there's one thing that carry's through crystal clear despite everything exploding around him.

Louis. Stood directly in front of him, facing out to the audience like he was made to stand exactly there under the spotlights, cast his light out to every last person standing in the crowd at his feet. Louis, and his voice.

Make a little conversation

So long I've been waiting

So let go of myself and feel alive

He waits for Niall's voice to start, but it never comes. Louis just keeps singing.

So many nights I thought it over

Told myself I kind of liked her

But there was something missing in her eyes

I was stumbling, looking in the dark

With an empty heart

But you say you feel the same

Could we ever be enough?

Baby we could be enough

This time however, the three men surrounding him do join in as the drums crash behind him, music swelling all around him, and still Louis glows before him. He realises before long that he's the only one of them that didn't know Louis had this planned. Oh what a surprise it is too.

And it's alright, calling out for somebody to hold tonight

When you're lost, I'll find the way

I'll be your light

You'll never feeling like your alone

I'll make this feel like home

Again, Louis sings all on his own. Harry doesn't believe anything in that moment could cause him to look away either.

Still high with a little feeling

I see the smile as it starts to creep in

It was there I saw it in your eyes

I was stumbling, looking in the dark

With an empty heart

But you say you feel the same

Could we ever be enough?

Baby we could be enough

And it's alright, calling out for somebody to hold tonight

When you're lost, I'll find the way

I'll be your light

You'll never feeling like your alone

I'll make this feel like home

He still hasn't sung a word. Transfixed as the arena explodes around him. The people screaming the lyrics up to them like never before. A deafening wave of sound washing over him, cleansing him and leaving him reborn. And stood before them all, leading the charge, is Louis. His Louis.

I'll make this feel like home

I'll make this feel like home

Harry watches, body stock still as Louis turns and looks to him dead in the eye.

Baby we could be enough

Somehow, he steps forward. One foot placed in front of the other. Carrying him away from the darkness and with each step, he's making his way clearer in towards the light. Louis smiles as he sings. The sight one he'll not ever forget. The crinkle by his eyes, the upturn of the corner of his lips, the beaming brightness that shines from his eyes and his voice which breaks over the words he'd written years prior.

It's alright, calling out for somebody to hold tonight

When you're lost, I'll find the way

I'll be your light

You'll never feeling like your alone

He stops, halting before Louis. Microphone all but forgotten in the palm of his hand as he smiles towards the love of his life.

I'll make this feel like home.

And under the lights of a thousand eyes, the whole world bare to witness, Louis pulls him in, and kisses him.

And the world around them erupts.

~~~

A/N - Ahh finally reached the end, though for me it feels surreal that I get to post the completed version online for the second time (I finished uploading this to AO3 a while ago now) I truly loved writing this story and am excited to publish my works currently 'in work' at the moment so keep an eye out !!

Thank you to every one of you who has read this, I really hope you enjoyed the story !!

For future reference I will not be writing a sequel as this is exactly where I intended to finish this narrative from the get go however if anyone ever wants to ask a question or know something more about the story you can find me at avxanadu on Tumblr or FLWALLZ on Twitter, I'm always up for a chat !!