CONFESSION

UNCLE

[Louie's POV]

"Dada!"

"What happened, buddy?"

"Auntie Lottie is here!"

"Oh, you opened the door for them? What did tell you about opening the door, Andy?"

"But it was just Auntie Lottie!" - He screamed and intended to run away from me.

I shook my head and stepped forward, taking him up in my arms - even though he's getting heavier every day - and walking out of the kitchen.

He screamed and squirmed in my arms until got to the living room, where my sister was already chatting with the other guests.

"Hi sis."

"Hey you." - She smiled, kissing my cheek and tickling Andy in his tummy. - "How's birthday boy?"

"He's getting more and more rebellious each year, that's for sure,"

"He's your son, what did you expect?" - She laughed and I

huffed.

"What does rebellious mean, dad?" He asked as put him down.

"It means that you do things you shouldn't. Just like opening the door."

"But it's my birthday!"

"I know. But still."- said and he stuck his tongue out at me.

"How many people did you invite, Lou?" - Lottie asked.

"Like twenty kids from his school and some of their parents, Anne and Robin will probably come by later, and you guys."-1 said, pointing at my other siblings in the corner next to my dad and stepdad.

"And uncle Charlie!" - Andy added.

"No, buddy. I already told you Charlie won't be here today."

"That's a lie! He's always here on my birthday!"

"Baby, it's not a lie."

"Yes it is!" - He said, stealing my phone from the back pocket of my jeans and running away to the backyard.

"Kids, right?" - Lottie laughed.

"Don't even get me started."

I followed Andy's steps out to the backyard of my house and save him weaving my phone in the air in front of his group of friends.

"My uncle is the coolest! You'll see!" He said, tapping on the screen of my phone.

"Andy, what are you doing?"

"I'm calling uncle Charlie!

"What? No, don't call him. He's working."

"But it's my birthday!"

"I know, baby. You can send him a text and I'm sure he'll call you when he can."

"No! I want Uncle Charlie now! He didn't say happy birthday to me." - He pouted.

"He'll call you later, I'm sure. Now give me my phone back and go

play with your friends."

"No!" He screamed, taking the phone away from my reach and running back inside and up the stairs to his room.

I followed him, moving around the guests until reached his room and saw him already with Harry on the screen, doing facetime.

"Where are you?" - He asked Charlie with a frown in his face.

"I'm working, baby. I'm so sorry I can't be there with you."

"But you have to be here!"

"I know, I'm really sorry" - Charlie said softly. -"I promise you that as soon as I'm back home I'll go visit you, okay? And I'll bring you the greatest gift in the world."

"Andy, baby. I'm sure Charlie you is busy." - said, sitting next to Andy on his bed and taking the phone from his hands.

"Hey, Lou." - Charlie smiled. - "It's okay, took a break when saw one of my favorite people in the world was calling,"

"See dada?" - Andy said, sticking his tongue out again.

"Okay, but still it's rude for you to call him without asking if he was free, buddy,"

"It's my birthday!"

"It's his birthday, Lou."- Charlie laughed. "Really, it's okay. And I'm really sorry I didn't have the time to call you earlier today, baby. I'm really sorry."

"Are you coming to visit us soon?" - Andy asked and Charlie bit his lip.

"I don't know. I'll go the sooner I can, yeah? But we can talk over the phone anytime. promise."

"But Uncle Charlie!" - He whined. - "I miss you!"

"I miss you more, baby. promise do."

"Buddy, your uncle is on tour right now, he can't just come back home. He's in another country." - tried to explain, for the hundredth time this week, to my pouty son that was about to throw another fit.

"But it's my birthday."- He pouted again, crossing his arms over his chest.

"And that's exactly why you should be having fun downstairs with your friends instead of being all grumpy here."

"I want Uncle Charlie."

"Lou... let me talk to him, yeah?"- Charlie said from the other side of the screen and nodded, giving Andy my phone back. - "Baby, hey. Look, I'll send you a big gift this week, I'll call you each day so you don't miss me as much, I'll play Fortnite with you every night after my shows, and I'll send you a video singing that song you like so you can listen to it before bed, how does that sound?"

"But you won't be here"

"I know, but that's the best I can do for now, will you forgive me?"

"Maybe." He shrugged, still pouting

"What can I do to make it better?" - Charlie asked him again and I smiled fondly at them.

Their relationship was just unique. They were super close and Charlie was incredible with him since day one.

I mean, Charlie is incredible with everyone. He's kind, thoughtful, optimistic, caring and nobody will tell you otherwise. That's just how he is.

And even if I thought that a few years back, my relationship with him was close and different from anyone else's for the way he treated me. It doesn't compare in the slightest to the connection he has with my son.

Charlie made Andy happy. And Andy made Charlie feel whole.

Charlie loves kids, he always did, so he loves having Andy as his spoiled nephew.

They deserve each other.

And I lovingly watch them be, not wanting to get in the middle of their beautiful connection.

"Can you write me a song?" -Andy said, smirking mischievously

at the screen and Charlie laughed.

"Of course, I'll work on it" - Charlie smiled. - "Now go enjoy your

birthday party that your dad set up for you. I love you, Andy."

"I love you too Charlie." -Andy sighed, and gave me my phone back, running out of the room.

"Hey, Cs." I smiled softly and he returned the smile.

"God, I'm sorry I can't be there,"

"I know. It's alright. You're working, Chaz. You can't be at two places at the same time, he'll understand eventually."

"I feel awful. He'll think I'm the worst uncle in the world."

"He won't ever think that. He loves you and admires you too much. He was dying to introduce you to his friends as the coolest uncle in the world."

Charlie sighed with a tiny pout,

"Did he really?"

"Of course! You're the famous Charlie Puth," - laughed and he rolled his eyes. - "But seriously, he admires you to no end. told him lots of times that you would not be here today, but still he had the illusion of you showing up. Guess he just misses you."

"I feel so bad."-He sighed.

"He'll get over it."

"Tell me once the party is over so can call him again, yeah?"

"Don't you have a show tonight?"

"Yes. But can still call him after."

"Okay, that will make him happy, yeah. He misses you,"

"You already said that." He smiled. - "I'm starting to believe you're the one that misses me"

"Of course I miss you," - I huffed. "You're my best friend."

"I miss you too, then." - He laughed. - "Do you have a bit of time to chat?"

"I guess Lottie can handle things downstairs for a while. Guests are still arriving, so we're fine."

"Good. How are you, Lou? How's everything there?"

"We're doing just fine. Andy is finishing the school year with good grades, I finished my semester with my students just yesterday so I'm officially on vacation and my car is back from the mechanic as good as new. Nothing as thrilling as your life, though. New album, on tour again, interviews, you're everywhere really. How are you handling it? Where are you right now?" - I asked and he laughed.

"I play in Germany tonight. Sweden in a couple of days. And I'm fine too. It's been an eventful couple of weeks though. But being on tour is always the same." - He shrugged.

"God, do miss the fun we had while you were touring, life now is just predictable, you know?"

"Well, it's not as fun as it was when you were around, Bubble. You always made it better."

"Don't call me Bubble." -I laughed. "I'm thirty years old, I'm a grown man."

"You'll always be my baby bubble."

"Shut up, Charles,"

"Never!" - He laughed. - "You know, you could bring Andy here if you wanted. I mean of course you're always invited. But since you're on vacation, maybe you guys can come for like a few weeks or so?"

"What? No Charlie, won't expose him to that."

"Oh c'mon! You've done it with me since started, you know the team and everyone knows you. You know Andy won't be in danger or anything"

"Maybe not, but he'll be around cameras and flying from one place to another, don't want him to have sleepless nights or be overly excited for weeks. Who's going to calm him down? No, C. It's a terrible idea."

"When did you become so boring?" - He smiled.

"I'm not boring!"

"You sound like it."- He smirked

"I'm not going to take my son on tour with you."

"But you said he missed me." - He pouted. - "And surely miss him too. miss both of you. I can even tell my team to hide all alcohol and weed those weeks so it can be safer for Andy." - He said and I snorted.

"What a sacrifice." -I laughed.

"Oh c'mon. It would be fun. Just like old times."

"It's been seven years, C."

"I know. Since Andy was born." - He said and sighed.

"Do you really want an old man with his kid on tour with you?"

"First, you're not old. Second, you're the most important person in my life besides my mother and sister and you f*****g know it, Louie. Third, that kid is my godson and love him with all am. Of course! want you both here."

"I'm not as fun as before Andy was born."

"And I'm not the same Charlie from seven years ago either." - He shrugged. - "We both have grown, Bubble."-He said and rolled my eyes.

"Don't call me that."

"What, bubble?"

"Yeah."

"Why not, bubble?"

"That's it, I'm hanging up on you."

"No"-He laughed.- "Lou, miss you, okay? could use a dose of Louie, and you always loved touring with me."

"I do love tour food."

"Yes, you do."

"And hotel rooms."

"Yep."

"And hotel pools."

"Don't forget the hotel spas." - He smirked and chuckled.

"Are you paying?"

"Are you kidding me? I'll send you two first class tickets right now if you say yes."

"Let me talk to Andy and I'll see how it goes, yeah? But don't get too excited." - I smiled and Charlie squeaked in excitement.

"As soon as you confirm, which know you will, I'll tell you in which country we're playing that night and I'll buy you two the plane tickets."

I sighed but nodded, a little smile forming in my lips

"Okay, Chaz. We'll talk better after tonight, yeah?"

"Sure, Lou."

"Good luck in Germany today. Have a good show, don't fall on stage."

Charlie rolled his eyes and showed me his middle finger.

"f**k off, Robertson."

Andy's birthday was a success.

Everyone showed up and he had a great time with his friends

and relatives. Though, when Anne came later that day to bring him a present, he almost cried because his favorite uncle wasn't there.

Yes, he's a really sensitive seven year old boy.

Over dramatic as well.

Can you blame him? He grew up with Charlie Puth as his uncle.

Anne had to hug him for a good fifteen minutes until he calmed down and finally opened the present she was giving him.

You'll see, Anne has known me since was thirteen years old and first met Charlie at a summer camp. Charlie and I have always stuck together since then,

When his career took off, was there. When finished school, he was there.

When he won his first music award, was there. His first tour, I was there. When I got drunk and crashed my car into a tree, he was there at the hospital for days until they let me go. When Andy was born, he was there.

When Andy was sick, he was there.

For our birthdays and Andy's school plays, he was there.

Even if he was super busy with his music, he always had time for me. For us. Always.

So yeah, we practically grew up together, supporting each other. being there for each other.

That's why also Anne knows me that well.

She's like a second mother for me nowadays, and she absolutely

adores Andy like his grandson too.

I secretly told her that Charlie had invited us to join him on tour and she thought it was a great idea for Andy to travel the world and have a nice spring break.

So, talking to her was what made me take the final decision.

We were going

Now, this very morning, two days after Andy's birthday party, a big gift box came in the mail. Just by the look of it, knew what it was

Charlie's present.

Andy didn't waste a second to rip it open and find the largest car track with tiny race cars by remote control that have ever seen.

Of course, Andy was incredibly excited.

So, after he put all the pieces together, forced me to go and buy batteries for the remotes and played with his new toy for like four hours without even coming to the kitchen for food, decided it was enough.

"Andy, buddy, I need to talk to you."

"I'm playing, Dada."

"I know, but it's important, yeah?"

"Later."

"Nope." - I said, taking him up in my arms and sitting him at the table.- "You're going to like this even more than that game, promise."

"What is it?" He frowned, crossing his arms.

"You know that Uncle Charlie is working and singing all over the world, right?" - I asked and he nodded. "Well, now that you finished school with such good grades, Charlie asked me if we wanted to go with him during our vacation."

"To his work?" - He asked and laughed.

"Yes. We will travel with him for a while. It's fun. We can watch him sing and get to know different countries. You know where we can go?"

"Where?"

"The Eiffel tower."

"Really?!"

"Yes."

"I want to know the Eiffel tower!"

"I know, buddy."-I laughed. "So, do you want to go with Charlie on his tour?"

"Yes Dada! When are we leaving?" He asked and laughed.

"Let's call your uncle to tell him first, okay?"

Andy nodded and grabbed my phone from the table, quickly. tapping on the screen and dialling Charlie.

I still don't know how at only seven years old he is so damn smart.

But then again, he has my genes so it's only logical.

Charlie answered the call almost right away, giving us his warm and perfect smile even though he was still laying in bed and looking tired.

"My favorite two people in the world."

"Uncle Charlie!"

"Hey buddy, how are you?"

"I got your present today!"

"Say thank you, Andy." -I reminded him.

"Thank you Uncle Charlie!" - Andy exclaimed and Charlie laughed,

"You're welcome, baby. Did you like it?"

"Yes! And also Dada told me we are going to visit you and see the Eiffel tower!"

"What? Oh! You told him already?"

"Surprise." - I grinned.

"So, you're both coming on tour with me?"

"If you'll have us."-I shrugged.

"Of course! Yes! Baby, are you excited?"

"Yes! Dada said it was fun."

"It is, yes. And we're going to spend so much time together too."

"And go to the Eiffel tower!"

"Yes, buddy. We'll go to the Eiffel tower. laughed.

"I'll take you anywhere you want to go, Andy" - Charlie grinned. "God, this is great you don't know how much miss you both."

"We miss you too!" - Andy screamed, getting closer to the screen and kissing the camera, making Charlie laugh.

"When do you want the plane tickets? can arrange them right now if you want." - Charlie asked and took my phone from Andy's hands to speak to Charlie more directly.

"In like four days? was watching your tour dates and we can meet in Denmark if that's okay with you?"

"Sure, yeah. I'll talk to my team so we can land there at the same

time and go together to the hotel."

"Yeah, that's fine." - I smiled, looking straight at him and knowing he was smiling back at me, his eyes fixed on mine on the screen.

"How long will you be staying?"

"We haven't even gotten there and you already are lucking us out?" - joked and he laughed.

"As if. If it were for me I'd kidnap you both for the rest of the tour."

I laughed and Andy hit my arm, stealing the phone back.

"You're not letting me speak to Uncle Charlie!"

"wow, okay Mr. Jealous. He was my friend before being your uncle" - I said, laughing at how much my son wanted Charlie's attention.

"Uncle Charlie?"

"Yes baby?" - Charlie said in between laughs, having heard the previous comment.

"Can I bring the car track to your work?"

"You can bring anything you want."

"Thank you!"

"Look, Andy, I really need to go now, can you please let me speak to your Dada for a second?"

Andy shrugged and gave me the phone, running back to continue playing with his new toy.

"He's bratty today. Probably your fault." -I said, smirking at

Charlie.

"Sure, blame it on the poor guy away from home"

"You're anything but poor, Charlie Puth."

"Depends on how you see it."- He shrugged. "Anyways, how long will you be staying, Bubble? Are you going to answer me?" He pouted.

"I don't know yet, Chaz. Maybe ten days?"

"Oh, c'mon, you can stay longer."

"Okay, two weeks." - I sighed.

"Fine. I'll convince you to stay three weeks while you're here anyways."-He grinned. "I really need to go to the venue for a sound check now, talk to you later?"

"Yes, sure."

"I'll tell Jeff to send you the plane tickets right away."

"Okay, no rush. Good luck, C."

"Thanks, bubble."-He sent a kiss and the call ended.

I sighed, letting my eyes wander over Charlie's contact picture remaining on the screen.

He's just this gorgeous person that never actually changed.

Even after fame, he was still the same quirky lad met as a teenager, he was still the same Harry that had me enchanted at the first hello with his loving smile, his peaceful eyes, his voice, his talent, his eccentric personality and everything else.

It never changed.

And it was my lifetime torture.

Charlie wasn't lying when he said that we would get our first class tickets that very same day.

I swear he's even more excited than Andy about this.

The three days before the flight were spent preparing our luggage, arguing with Andy about all the unnecessary things he wanted to bring with us, like, for example, all six pillows of his bed and all the teddy bears Charlie had gifted him when he was born, and making sure left all my bills paid and that my sisters would take turns and come by eventually to check on my house just in case.

Anne offered herself to drive us to the airport, giving both of us a big hug after we got our luggage out of the car truck and passed it on the treadmill.

"Lou, I know you've been stressed about dealing with Andy lately."-She said into my ear. - "Please take this as a moment for yourself too, yeah? You deserve it."

"Okay, yes I know."

"I want you to enjoy and have fun too. Andy is growing up and he'll be fine, you already did an excellent job raising him. It's okay for you to be happy and feel good about yourself too. You hear me?"

"Yes, mom"-I smiled, rolling my eyes a little

"Okay, hug Charlie for me, yeah?"

"Will do."

She kissed my cheek and I gave her one last hug before backing

off.

"Give me another hug, baby."-She said towards Andy, who ran Into her arms, hugging her tightly. "Have fun. Don't make your Dad angry. Behave, yeah?"

"Yes Nan!"

"Okay, go" -She smiled, pushing him a little towards me and extended my hand to take his

He waved one last time at Anne and we both went through the

gates towards the VIP section that Charlie had booked entirely for

us so we could wait for the flight comfortably.

More than a decade ago, when Charlie's career was taking off, saw myself being the only person of his close circle that was going everywhere with him.

Anne had put her trust in me to keep him grounded, to keep him from becoming an egocentric celebrity, to keep him from forget his roots and his family back home.

I did it for years.

Going with him to every country, every show, every interview,

every day until I turned 23 and God blessed me with a child. Charlie was already a celebrity by then, but he wasn't a bratty

one, he was still the most beautiful and nicest human being that

walked this earth.

And still believe, to this day, that those times gave me more than had ever gave him,

It gave me the chance to know his every day life, his routine, the way he looked when he woke up, the way he tangled his feet on the sheets in a way that his toes were always poking outside to have fresh air, the way he had his breakfast depending on the country we were at, the way he became more and more comfortable with his audience each night and how he gained confidence over the years, the way he smelled after his shower and the way he slept in every surface he could find.

"She specifically asked me to give you a hug from her."

"Isn't she the best?"

"Yep," I smiled, finding it hard not to stare at him.

It's been really long since we've been in the same space together.

Almost two months.

*So, your bags?" - He interrupted my awkward staring

"Yeah, that" I mumbled, turning around to see if could catch

my and Andy's suitcases from the treadmill

"Tell them which ones are, they'll carry them to the cars-He said, speaking of the guards.

nodded, pointing at my suitcases when they showed up. I knew better than to bring that much clothes.

First, because we weren't staying that long. Second, because Charlie and I were huge fans of shopping while on tour and I'm sure we would return with double the clothes we brought

The guards took both suitcases and escorted us to the car,

avoiding the screaming fans and rushing inside the backseat,

the driver wasting no time to get out of the airport lot

Andy settled himself in Charlie's lap inside the car, his arms

strangling Charlie's neck in a hug that he didn't want to let go.

Charlie had laughed, ticking him and making stupid jokes that had Andy bursting into laughter the whole trip to the hotel

I grinned, always happy to watch them interact, to be a witness of their incredible connection that knew none of them had with anyone else.

Charlie smiled at me, dropping a hand on my knee and tapping

the tip of his fingers at the rhythm of the song that came through the speakers. My hand found its way on top of Charlie's, softly fiddling with

his rings. Those rings that have so much history, histories that

know by heart. Each and every single one of them.

I bit my lip and looked down at our hands, remembering what Anne said about deserving happiness. About deserving time for myself and to enjoy

Take your risks. Take your chances, Louie. You know what you want.

It's right next to you.

Now, being almost six in the afternoon, we were at the venue,

the Royal Arena, listening as the fans were entering and

crowding to see Charlie perform later tonight. Of course Andy had seen his uncle do this a few times before, but

he is always excited nevertheless because he loves when Charlie

names him in front of everyone.

And he knows he'll do that again tonight.

*Louie, can you hand me my phone? Charlie said from his chair

He had Andy seated on his lap playing with the pearls of his necklace while his stylist was doing his hair before the show

"Sure" - I grabbed his phone from the coffee table and handed it

to him,

"Baby, do you want to take a selfie for my **?" He asked Andy

"yes"

"Okay, you too, Lou Come here-He said, extending his arm in front of him with the front camera ready to take the photo

"No, I'm fine" - shrugged, sitting back down on the armchair! was previously sat

"Oh, don't be an idiot." He said, looking at me through the mirror

Don't say that word in front of Andy scolded him.

"Sorry, You didn't hear a thing, did you baby?"- Charlie said,

covering Andy's ears.

"Yes, I did."-He giggled

"Shit."

"Charlie-I scolded him again.

"Sorry: C'mon bubble, just one photo to brag about you?

"I don't want to be in the photo: Just do one with Andy. "But..."-Charlie pouted at me through the mirror in front of him,

"Charlie, don't be a child, already have enough with one" - said, making the stylist laugh

"You're no fun," He huffed-"C'mon baby, let's take a photo without your Dada,

I rolled my eyes and ignored them while they continued taking their selfies.

Just moments after, saw Charlie had already posted one of the pictures on his ** Stories.

It was one with him and Andy sticking their tongues out with a text underneath that said 'ready for tonight's show.

"You guys look good in this photo, really handsome." -I said,

smirking at them and Andy jumped Charlie's lap, running to me.

"Let me see!"-He said, climbing up the armchair and taking my phone from my hand, taking a look at the photo, "It's okay." - He shrugged.

"You don't like it?"-Charlie asked.

"Yes, it's just... you're not in it." -Andy said, looking at me and poking my chest.

"Oh yes, it'd be better with your Dada."-Charlie added

"Of course it would." -i said sarcastically while tickling Andy's sides, "I look better than you two together"

Andy giggled and squirmed away from my tickles, getting off the chair and going to the other side of the room where Charlie's guitars were prepared,

"Uncle Charlie?" He asked, his attention only on touching the

strings of the guitar one by one with his little fingers.

"Yes?"

"Did you write me the song?" He asked, still immersed in the

two strings he was thumbing

"What?"

"The song

Charlie scrunched his face in thought

"What song?" He whispered at me.

"The one you promised you would write to him on his birthday -I whispered back and his eyes widened in realization

"Oh! f**k"

"You forgot?" - I snorted.

"Yes! Don't laugh. He's gonna kill me -He whispered again.

"Yep." grinned and Harry sent me a murdering look.

"Andy, buddy, didn't have time. But will do it soon, yeah? we can even do it together,"

"Really?"-Andy turned to us, clearly excited.

"Of course"

Charlie's show started off incredibly. People danced and sang along with the songs around the whole arena. And as Charlie always asks them, they were enjoying themselves, they were having the time of their lives, they were being whoever they wanted to be. All dressed up with extravagant outfits, free from all stereotypes and roles.

It was truly a party. And amazing to watch.

His shows changed so much over the years, he always had been a little quirky, but now he's just out there, confident, exploring his ways and just being Charlie in his full form.

And that was something beautiful to see.

Half of the show in, Charlie stopped to talk to his fans as usual but this time Andy knew he was going to call his name, so he practically leaned over the railing of the sound cabin to be a bit closer to the stage-even if we were still on the other end of the arena

"Okay: Let's stay quiet for a moment, Copenhagen! really need to thank someone pretty special for me that's here somewhere tonight, so help me out here by being silent." - He said, immediately making them shut up. "You know him. I know you do. But for those who don't. have a beautiful nephew, my godson, Andy. He's incredible, really. And now he's joining me on this tour, so he's here tonight and couldn't be happier. Where are you Andy?" - He shouted, looking around and Andy started to jump on the railing. me holding him from behind as he shouted at Charlie. - "There you are!"-Charlie pointed at us at a distance. - "Are you having a good time, baby?" He asked, looking at where we were in the sound cabin and everyone cooed.