Spaces Between Us

One Way Or Another

"Well what would you like me to include in the email."

"It has to be your words, and you have to make each email unique. I can't tell you what to write cause they'll know they're my words." She nodded in understanding, reaching over to grab his hand in comfort.

"Niall, don't worry about. One way or another, we'll fix this, we'll fix you." He gave her surpressed smile before standing up.

"Oh wow, it's almost midnight. I should go."

"Nonsense, Niall. You can sleep in the guestroom, I can't have you out this late. Especially now that the road is so unsafe." There was an awkward silence, they both knew what she was referring to but none wanted to utter the words. "Go, on." She said after a while, caressing Niall's cheek lovingly. It was like a mother's touch and it warmed his heart. "You know where it is." Niall smiled before bidding Lauren goodnight and heading up the stairs he knew so well. With each step he took, he was reminded of the many memories he had in this house and his heart longed more than anything to relive those moments. He stopped at Eric's room and opened the door a little, checking on the young boy. His heart soared with love and he couldn't wait till he had his own children. It had only been five or more years since the hiatus but they boys had all changed and matured so much. Liam and Louis were already parents and though none of them had let him meet their kids, he already knew they were the most perfect little angels. As he made his way to the guest room, he though about it more. How come he hadn't met any of their kids. Granted, he rarely saw Liam but they had many instagram lives together, those had to count for something, right?

Niall tossed and turned that night as that question haunted him; why hadn't he met their children? Was he the problem. He realized that he didn't really know any of them anymore, in fact, part of him felt like he knew Zayn more than he did the other three. He knew Zayn in the sense that, he knew why he left and why he didn't reach out to them. He understood Zayn and his intentions but he didn't really understand the others. Harry almost never spoke to him over the five years, Liam only through instagram lives and concerts and Louis only when he needed comfort or something. They'd all abandoned each other, so it wasn't fair all the blame was put on Zayn. Niall had reached out them often but he almost always lacked replies. All this wasn't Zayn's fault; the fall of One Direction was bound to happen, Zayn's departure just sped it up. Niall turned on the lights, realizing he wasn't going to get any sleep that night. His mind kept turning. A large portrait ,on the wall opposite him, grabbed his attention. It was photograph of Simon with the boys. They were all at Simon's house for their annual sleepover.

"Simon! Liam won't let me help with the barbecue." Louis whined, trailing behind the Simon who just rolled his eyes. "Simon, Simon!" Simon huffed in annoyance;

"Liam! For the love of God, please let him help!" Liam groaned before beckoning Louis to come over. Louis squealed in excitement before running towards Liam.

"That's not fair! Zayn, you cheated. Simon, Zayn's not playing fair." Niall moaned following Zayn to the backyard. Simon found himself laughing at the scene set infront of him. This was his family.

"It's hard to believe those boys are in their twenties isn't it." Lauren chuckled, embracing her husband, however her growing baby bump was making it very difficult to do so. Simon turned around placing his hands on her stomach.

"I can't wait to meet you." He spoke softly, rubbing his wife stomach gently. All of a sudden, a loud shriek disrupted the tranquil moment. Simon threw his head back in annoyance and marched outside, his pregnant wife slowly following him. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the scene infront of him and Lauren let out a shocked gasp. Louis had attempted to turn the steaks and tripped falling into the pool bringing the whole barbecue in with him. Liam tried saving the food but slipped falling flat on his back. Niall and Harry ran over to help but both slipped on the steaks on the floor and into the pool. Zayn just stood there, laughing, unable to contain himself.

"Two minutes, I left you lot alone for two minutes and this is is what I get as a result." Simon seethed, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Simon, I promise, it was an acci-"

"I don't even want to hear it! Just clean this mess up and Lauren can you please order some takeout." Simon retreated into the house and Lauren gave the boys a small smile before doing the same. Liam glared angrily at Louis before getting out the pool.

"You know,if you'd just let me handle the barbecue none of this would have happened." Liam mumbled annoyed, Louis rolled his and began picking up the food from the floor.

"Guys, let's just work together and clean this mess up." Harry muttered, and so they began. Cleaning up the mess they created, all but one. Zayn stood there, smirking as he watched the others.

"Aren't you going to help?"

"I can't touch that, it's haram." They all stopped working and stared at the raven haired boy. Louis walked over to him and smacked him upside the head.

"Oh please, Zayn, don't pretend to be a good muslim now. You've already had three glasses of wine, isn't that haram as well. This isn't even pork, it's steak which is beef you moron. Besides, you admitted in an interview that you're not a practicing muslim. Get to work, Malik." Zayn laughed and helped the others.

"Food is here." Lauren called after about an hour causing them to drop whatever they were doing and run towards the house. They sat around the dining table, the boys stuffing their faces while Lauren and Simon watched in amusement. Afterwards they watched several movies before calling it a night. The boys insisted on all sleeping in the same room despite there being many other rooms in the house, Simon Cowell was a millionare after all.

"Goodnight, boys." 

"No, wait! Simon tell us a story." Niall demanded, Simon raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Are you serious?" Simon laughed, expecting them to join in but they all looked at him, dead set on that story. Like Lauren said before, it was hard to believe these boys were in their twenties. He moved to sit on a bean bag opposite them and began his story. He told the story of five boys and the many adventures they had together.By the time he got to the end of his story, he could hear the sound of several sets of snores. He laughed silently as he looked at the boys. The five of them had managed to squish themselves into a single king sized bed and Simon had no doubt they would be uncomfortable but at least they would be uncomfortabe together. He mumbled a quick goodnight before closing the door and leaving the room.

Niall's eyes glazed over as he remembered all the memories that came with that picture, with this house. He was sleeping in the same room they'd all sleep in during the many sleepovers they had with Simon, except this time he was alone. Niall closed his eyes as sleep finally caught up with him;

"One way or another, I'm going to find you and I'm going to fix this." He mumbled sleepily before drifting off into oblivion.

A/N: Yayaya! Niall the bad boy, give it a rest, Niall the hero more like. You guys excited to see Niall in action?? GUYS! We're at 2K reads! I'm in shock honestly, thank you alll sooo much for reading, voting, commenting, following,sharing the whole shebang. I'd like to reach 300 votes before we reach 3K so for the hundreds of people who have read each chapter without voting please please please go back and vote! We can do this!Why? Because THIS IS SPARTA! I'm sorry I just watched 300 so.....:) In all seriousness, please,por favour, s'il vous plait, alstublieft, bitte, prosze ah thats all I know; please go back and vote and comment and continue to do so. I'm sorry for being such a pain in the ass. I know some of you have started school again, how's it going? Is it fun? I start going once a week in like two weeks so yeah, tell me if it's worth it. Expect another chapted today, feeling generous, for now, SPARTANS ATTACK. Ok bye,stay safe and lots of love;

Noena11