Niall Horan Imagines

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Niall tipped his head back with a beer bottle to his lips, closing his eyes as the liquid inside glided down his throat. His quick sip soon turned into a long chug, as he downed nearly the entire bottle at once. He set the bottle down with a sigh, brushing his hands together as if dusting them off. He hadn't called you yet today, and Niall thought that maybe he wanted to hold off as long as possible before dialing your number. Not because he didn't want to talk to you, but because he didn't want to remember everything he was missing. Because he didn't want to think about all the guilt he felt for even having to leave at all. Because he knew your voice would most likely spark some tears out of his hardened soul, and the influence of his alcohol wouldn't make it any easier for him. 

It was his job that forced him to be there, in New York, only days before your baby's due date. He resisted all he could, until finally you convinced him that he should just go. After all, he was supposed to fly home on the due date, and you were both crossing your fingers in hopes that the baby wouldn't come early. As Niall glanced at the alarm clock on his hotel nightstand, he read that it was almost 10:00 where he was at, meaning it would be almost 9:00 at home where you were. And though he knew it was always his job to call you first, he was surprised that you hadn't taken it upon yourself to call him, by this time. But he knew he had nothing to worry about. Surely, you'd give him a call if something was wrong, right? 

Niall pushed his beer bottle aside to grab for his phone. His thumbs seemed to move on their own as he dialed your number, which had long been committed to his memory. He lifted his phone and held it to his ear, counting each ring that passed. He bounced his knee as a way to cope with the nervous energy that had suddenly built up inside of him. You almost always answered by the fourth ring. When it hit your voicemail, Niall felt a wave of panic washing over his tired body. He knew, that even if he had caught you while you were sleeping, you would've woken at the sound of your ringing phone, and definitely would have answered when seeing that it was Niall calling. "(Y/N)," Niall spoke, running his fingers through his hair. His voice clearly reflected how little sleep he had been able to obtain while in New York. "It's just me, callin' to check in on ya. Why aren't ya answerin' your phone?! You know you're makin' me nervous!" He paused to let out a breathy chuckle before finishing, "Call me back as soon as ya can, princess. I'll stay up a little and wait for your call, or else I'll be expecting it in the mornin'. If I don't talk to ya by then, I hope ya sleep well. You and the little angel inside your tummy." After sighing, he breathed, "Alright, bye, princess." He hung up with an ounce of hesitation, before dropping his phone on the nightstand and rubbing his fingers over his sleepy eyes. He inhaled a slow breath, and then let that breath out just as slowly, while blinking his eyes. 

He let his worries slip from him long enough to finish the last swig in his beer bottle. He reclined back on the hotel bed and allowed his eyes to settle on foolish television shows for almost two hours, because even through his drained mind, sleep could not take a hold of him. He felt as though he could have collapsed from exhaustion any second, yet his body would not allow it. He jolted to attention when his phone loudly rang from the nightstand, and your name lit up the screen. He swung his legs around the edge of the bed and sat with his elbows rested on his knees while answering your call, "Hey! Thanks for callin' me back! How're ya doin'?"

You tried to control your breaths, because you still weren't sure how to feel about everything that had just happened to you, all without your husband knowing. "Niall," You sharply said his name, and as if it was the act of a miracle, the newborn baby girl in your arms let out a shrill cry. You tried your best to hush her, rocking her in your arms. Niall's eyes widened, and the realization of it all seemed to hit him like a brick in the face. He was struck with this strong feeling of shame, complete disgust with himself. He'd missed the birth of his first child, because of a damn business trip, and he couldn't help but wish he could just rewind the past few days so that he wouldn't have to miss something so significant as this. "She's here, Niall," You said, through tears that pricked at your eyes for a reason you could not identify. "And she's beautiful," You sniffled, smiling down at the miracle before you. "She has your eyes," You added, "Just like we hoped she would."