Bittersweet

34

•One Year Later•

From all forty-seven plane rides in this year, the last one was the hardest to fall asleep on. It was probably an eight hour flight and there was only twenty minutes left of it till we landed at the airport. Niall was sound asleep with his head resting on my shoulder as he snored ever so lightly. I smile at him and kiss his forehead before looking out the window again. I was guessing it was about five in the morning and the sun was just starting to rise with pretty oranges, purples and pinks.

It was all bittersweet, returning back to New York, starting a new chapter and ending another. And I had a feeling the next chapter would be just as great as the last one. I fiddle with the huge sparkly diamond rock that wrapped around my ring finger perfectly. Niall had gotten it in Russia, a well known country for their diamonds, and had proposed with it in Australia, my favorite country in the world. It was pretty magical, scary, but mostly magical. No one knew about it besides my mother who apparently Niall called for her blessing, which I loved. I was actually secretly glad he hadn't called my father, who I still care for, but hadn't held as much of a great relationship as I had with my mom.

"We will be landing in JFK airport in approximately five minutes, please stay seated till then, and thank you for choosing Delta airlines!" the air host says which causes Niall to wake up.

He groans and massages his face before looking over at me. I guess he notices me playing with my ring because he follows up with, "Don't tell me your second guessing this, I'm actually fully certain about this engagement."

"And so am I," I laugh before kissing him. "I'm anxious to see everyone's reaction."

"Well if they're shocked, then they're completely stupid to think I wouldn't want to marry you. I love you beyond words and nothing can never change that." He says, pushing his now longish hair back.

"I love you so much more." I almost whisper but he heard it and smiled hard before putting his arm around me and pulling me into his chest.

The flight lands and the rush through immigration and baggage was a total bust. Eventually we're in a taxi back home, totally exhausted from the flight. Well, I was, and I was sure to take advantage of the long car ride and slept through it. It felt like only a few minutes until the driver had stopped in front of Zayn and Fin's new house. Our house was still unfurnished and even if it was, the Malik's wouldn't allow us to stay there.

"Finny bear!" I squeal as I rush in to my best friend's arms.

"Esme, if you dare leave me again, I will kill you first!" Fin threatens, hugging me tighter.

"Scoot over and take Charlie with you!" Zayn demands holding out their son to Fin who groans and obliges.

"Essie," Zayn says as he hugs me tighter than ever and I can hear Niall saying his hello's to Fin and baby Charlie. "I missed you."

"Not as much as I missed you all, especially my godson," I say as he pulls away and I open my hands to Charlie. "Gimme, gimme, gimme."

"He's missed you-", Fin began to say as she begins to pass Charlie to me but Zayn stops the baby passing with his hand as he stares at my hand.

"Are you-? Oh my god. You fucking proposed man?! You didn't fucking ask me, mate! You need my blessing to, ya know!" Zayn yells, and you know when Zayn yells it's serious.

"Well do I have your blessing, Mr. Malik, sir?" Niall pretends to be scared.

"Hell yeah you do! Holy shit, you guys are getting married!" Zayn continues yelling.

"Not like there's a nine month old baby here!" Fin scolds her husband as she rolls her eyes but Zayn doesn't seem to care. "But congratulations you two, have a baby for the day!"