Fourteen
“Niall,” I kept my voice soft before I leaned over from my side of the bed to get closer to him.
I’ve been awake now for the past half hour, very anxiously. It took my about 20 minutes to gain the courage to even speak Niall’s name to try and get him to wake up.
He was still sleeping and I have no idea how or why he still was. We had both gone to bed extremely nervous and eager for our next day to arrive. This was the day that I could only dream up in my mind.
In just a few hours, Niall and I would be meeting up with Louis and Grace. For lunch before following then back over to Zayn’s office building, where we would have a witnessed pick-up. It’s all for safety and legal reasons that didn't bother us at all. Plus, it actually proved to us that this wasn’t a huge scam or something that endangered children and families.
“Niall, sweetheart.” My voice stayed soft as I drew closer to his ear, placing a small kiss there. As I expected, Niall began to stir in his sleep.
“Mm, not right now, Harry. Too tired.” He responded through a long groan, his eyes still closed.
I shook my head. “No, you can’t be too tired. She’s not even here yet to keep us up or anything.” I chuckled at him once I saw him swallow.
“Then let me sleep.”
I sat myself up and crossed my arms over my chest, lightly shaking my head at Niall again. I hoped that he wasn’t going to be a true grump once he woke up for the day.
My eyes glanced down to Niall as his head turned to the other side, now facing me. His own eyes opened a few seconds later.
“What time is it?” He asked as he brought his hands to rub at his tired eyes.
“Half past eight. I’ve been up a bit before then so you should be happy I’ve let you sleep this long.” I explained to him with a hint of teasing in my voice.
“You let me, huh? Remind me to thank you for that later.” He replied as he pulled our shared duvet over his shoulder. “We don’t have to meet them until eleven.”
“I know that but we have to get ready, make sure everything is set, and then drive there. We’ll be lucky to make it around eleven.: I was ready to get out of bed already.
“You can get ready first and then I’ll get up.” That was Niall’s typical way of responding when he had the chance to be in bed without having to be up for work. When it came to his job, he could get up without me even knowing sometimes.
I let him have his way because it was better if one of us were ready versus neither of us. As soon as I removed the covers from my body, I felt as Niall shifted in our bed to accommodate the warm space I’ve now left for him,
The first thing I did then was grab my clothes: a white vest, a jumper, and a pair of black jeans. I didn’t put as much thought into it this time around. Then I went into our bathroom to wash the sleep from my face, brush my teeth, change into my clothes, and tamed my hair that fluffed out from sleeping on it. By the time I came back out I was surprised to see Niall, at least, sitting up in bed.
“It’s all yours. Thanks for joining the land of the living.” I told him as I walked past the foot of our bed to get back to my side to sit and to pull my socks on over my feet.
“I aim to please.” Niall responded, turning his phone off and setting it onto his end table. He let out another groan as he stretched his arms up over his head and then extended them out. “You look good.” He told me through his yawn.
“Thanks.” I told him simply before I tossed my other sock at him. “Now, go get your pleasing arse ready for lunch.” The sock landed next to him on the bed, I waited until he was out of it before I reached over to retrieve it.
Niall took bit longer than me to get ready. I guessed he was making sure his was acceptable for himself. I turned out being wrong because his hair didn’t have any product in it when he came from the bathroom.
“You all set?” I asked him, not wanting to get up until I knew that we’d actually be going somewhere.
“Just gotta make sure I’ve got my phone and my wallet. You have everything you wanted to bring?”
I nodded. Feeling at my front pocket where my phone was. Unlike the last time we met Grace, I wasn’t going to be bringing anything for her. We decided that we’d leave the toys in her new room until she arrived. It was going to be a surprise for her, at least we’d hoped it was going to be.
The room was finished enough to our liking. The crib was set up against the opposite wall from the door. The change table was on the came one the door cut into. There was a small bookshelf with a few books for us to read to and then ones for Grace, along with some smaller toys taking up the empty spaces. A lamp sat on top of it and next to it was a rocking chair we got for a reasonable bargain, Toys, including stuffed animals, were set up in one of the corners. The last touch to the room was the large map of Ireland I had found when we were cleaning the room out. I let Niall hang it on the wall next to the change table. I really hoped that Grace liked all of it. I also wanted Niall to hold her and show her the map before he put her into her crib to sleep.
Any moment I could of Grace and Niall together was going to make my heart melt. I already knew that. I could always see Niall as a father.
I was standing in the doorway of her temporary room now. I couldn’t help but stop as I walked past it, knowing this would be the last time it would be empty.
I felt as Niall stopped behind me, one of his arms coming around my waist as he rested his chin on my shoulder. A content sigh left his lips and I could smell the cologne he always wore and the fresh mint of his toothpaste as he breathed.
I turned my head slightly until
my nose brushed against the soft stubble that started to grow on his cheek. Then I smiled and closed my eyes until Niall spoke.
“Is this the part where I say, ‘time to bring the little one home’? I thought I’d get to save that for my actual child.”
I hummed my response before opening my eyes. “You can still have that, Niall.”
He breathed out. “Are you ready?”
“Are you?” I asked back as I turned to look into the room we created together.
“I think I am, not that I mean I am having any doubts. I mean I am ready. It just took a while for it to feel so real." His hand left my belly and he slipped it into his pocket. He motioned with his head to tell me it was time to go. “Let’s bring Grace home."
______________
We arrived at a small and local café, about twenty or so minutes away from Zayn’s office. As soon as I saw the name of the place I immediately began looking around for Louis’ car, even though I had absolutely no idea what it even looked like. I was just beyond excited to see them again, and completely wired over the fact that Grace would be joining us on the ride towards home.
“Did Louis message you at all to say if they’ve arrived yet?” Niall asked me.
I managed to get my phone out of my pocket to check if Louis had. There were no new messages.
I shook my head as my response to Niall. “Do you think we should wait in the car or should we go inside and see if they’re here or not?”
“We can go inside.” Niall said as he removed his safety belt and opened his door to get out of the car.
I did the same.
I followed Niall through the car park and he held the door open for the few people who were coming out, and then for me. When he came in behind me his hand barely touched at my back.
I was startled when I felt his lips by my ear and his body leaned into mine as he softly told me, “They’re here.”
My eyes felt like they brightened up with so much glee as I lifted my head up and began looking around until my eyes landed on Louis and Grace.
They were sat next to each other. When Louis’ eyes found us he smiled and kissed Grace’s cheek before taking her small arm to have her wave at us. Her matching blue eyes took a short glance at us as she took a sweet potato chip and brought it to her mouth.
“After you.” Niall told me as I started to walk, trying my best not to break into a smile the entire way over to their table.
“Look who’s here to see you again, miss." Louis told Grace as his hand brushed her light hair to one side of her head. Then he looked up to us, inviting us to sit with them.
"Did we keep you waiting long?" Niall asked as he places his jacket on the back of his chair, sitting himself afterwards.
Louis shook his head. "No, not too long. I ordered grace some chips. She's a little moody from her nap." He looked to her again, reaching his hand out to tickle at her side.
Grace made a displeased whine and tried to move away from her father, shaking her head at him. She couldn't since she was safely secure in her high chair.
"Hey, don't be like that now. Your friends, Harry and Niall, came all this way just for you." Louis added, keeping his tone sweet but also a bit serious.
"It's all right, Grace. Niall was the same way when I woke him this morning." I told her in a teasing tone, which was meant for Niall. When I leaned in to talk to her being around her still felt surreal to me. Grace was a real person and I was sitting right across from her.
"The drive wasn't bad for you then?" Louis asked us, folding his hands and resting them on the table, turning his head to look at Grace before back to us, letting out a struggled chuckle. "I'm just going to apologise for looking at her so much. I'm gonna miss being able to look at her."
I shook my head, and gently waved his apology off. Of course, he was going to miss any trace of his daughter being around. We both felt for Louis and knew that this wasn't going to be a simple thing for him to do but our entire group knew that this was the best for Grace.
"No worries. Plus we agreed to web-cam chat so you'll both still get to see each other." I said as I found myself watching Grace chewing and drooling on the chip in her mouth.
"More," she said, pointing her tiny finger to me.
"Now, Grace, we don't talk with our mouths full of chips, or say 'more' when you already have food in your mouth. A gorgeous lady like yourself has better manners than that, yeah?" Louis asked her.
She grinned, only two teeth in her mouth, and shook her head, "No."
Louis jokingly widened his eyes and raised his brow at her in surprise. "I see you aren't going to be showing off for Niall and Harry." He clicked his tongue at her a few times before picking up a cloth to wipe her mouth.
I still couldn't help but to just smile at her, even when she wasn't looking at me. I didn't care if she thought the chip on her mouth was more entertaining and more important than we were. The truth was, she was the most important piece of all.
The rest of our lunch was small because we paid more attention to talking and to Grace than we did our food. Louis could really talk on and on about his daughter if Grace had let him. The end of lunch was concluding when Grace began to get fussy again because she was bored and didn't want to be here anymore. As Louis removed her from her seat to place her on his side, he told us that she could get this way very easily and he tries to talk her into staying but Grace ended up getting her way if he couldn't console her after five minutes.
"She'll steal your heart," was what he said and he was absolutely correct.
In the car park, Louis told us to follow him from there and we would see them soon. I could tell that his heavy emotions about giving his daughter over to us was starting to hit him. It was hitting us as well. During the drive over to Zayn's, Niall and I looked over to each other and just knew, without having to say one word to one another, that this was about to get extremely emotional very quickly. Niall added that Grace would probably feel her father's distress more than anything else, letting me know that I shouldn't feel too worried about that.
We got out of the car when we saw Zayn walking out of the front doors of the building, more papers of some kind under his arm as he walked over to meet with us. Louis was getting Grace out of the car again, which she wasn't too thrilled about. They didn't join us until Louis managed to settle her down, keeping his shaking voice completely out of his tone.
The five of us stood there, keeping silent for as long as we possibly could. My heart was pounding hard against my chest
"These are the official sign-off papers for Grace Elisabeth Tomlinson." Zayn told us, showing us the clipboard. "In this document, it states that primary caretaker, Louis Tomlinson. has agreed to temporarily put his daughter into temporary care with Harry Styles and Niall Horan for the amount of time that she will need extensive medical care." Zayn kept his voice strictly professional and as he spoke all I could really pay attention to was the way the breeze caught the back of Grace's short curls.
Louis nodded before Zayn handed him the pen, signing his name where Zayn directed him. He handed the pen back to him and rubbed a soothing hand up and down Grace's back, looking to her face before smiling and kissing her on her cheek.
My heart broke a little at the sight of Louis trying to keep himself together and I didn't want him to get back into his car once this was all over and cry. He was being the best father he could ever be. He was helping his daughter have a chance at a life, one he didn't think he could give to her on his own. One day, Grace would learn what Louis had done for her and be extremely proud of all that had been done for her.
When Zayn spoke again, I felt Niall's fingertips trace over my palm. His touch was quite sensitive against my skin and I could still feel where his fingers had been minutes later.
"The next paragraph states that Harry Styles and Niall Horan understand and agree to the terms of this agreement in this document. When you sign this the both of you will legally have temporary custody over Grace Elisabeth Tomlinson under the protect laws of 'A Heart to Hold' as well as all country laws pertaining to child protection and rights." He handed the pen over to Niall first and I watched Niall's face remain serious as he signed his name.
I was next.
This was it.
I signed my name next to Niall's and made everything official.
"Okay," Louis breathed out as he checked Grace's hair again. He passed over her diaper bag to Niall first so he could hold her in both of his arms. "Okay, gorgeous, you're going to be staying with Niall and Harry for a little while. You're going to be going through a lot over these next couple of months but you're going to be a good girl for everyone and be strong, right?." When Louis breathed in, none of us could miss his sniffle.
As Grace reached her hand to grasp at Louis' nose, he grinned at her. She told him 'no'.
Louis nodded. "Yes, miss lady, I have to do this for you but just know that I love you so much and I'm going to be missing you and thinking about you like crazy until you come back to me." When Grace turned her head, letting her hand fall from his nose, Louis' head followed her so he could look into her eyes and get that last true look of his daughter before he had to hand her to us.
I licked at my lips and could feel my entire face get heavy just before my tears welled into my eyes. Niall put his arm around me and pulled me to him, his hand rubbing up and down my arm.
A few tears rolled down Louis' face as he kept looking to Grace. She had no idea what was going on right now and had no idea what was going to be in store for her. I just really hoped we would be able to keep her light and happy through all of this. We had to be parents.
"Okay, if I don't do this now I-" He shook his head before stepping forward towards us, Grace now turning to look at me. "I can never thank you two enough for doing this. I know I'm putting her into two pairs of the safest hands." He nodded as he handed her over to me.
As I felt Grace's small warm body against mine, my own tears finally rolled down my cheeks. Grace was reaching her arms over to Louis and starting to cry when he wouldn't take her back from my arms. I didn't really know how to comfort her. I hoped that instinct would come to me quickly.
Louis reached his hand out and smoothed it over her hair, talking to her in a comforting tone. "You're okay, Grace. These are the good people. I promise you." He kissed the side of her head, letting his lips stay in contact with her skin for a few moments before he pulled away. "I love you, Grace."
"We're going to tell her everyday how much you love her." I told Louis, swallowing back my distraught voice. I was so happy and so sad at the same time.
Louis nodded, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "I know you two are going to to do so much for us." He sent us a smile before pulling me into a hug. Grace's body was between us and I could feel her tiny heart beating against mine. It felt like any normal heart.
Then Louis hugged Niall, a little more tentatively than he did with me. Niall thanked him for everything that he's done and will be doing. He promised that we wouldn't let him down and
Louis gave her another wave, his face trying its best to keep a smile as we put more space between him and his daughter. Grace was starting to worry and I could feel her squirming to get out of my arms. All I could do was repeatedly, and softly, tell her that everything was going to be okay. I was also telling that to myself.
Niall helped me get her into the car seat after he set the bag down on the floor of the car. She still hadn't settled down. He spoke calmly to her as I just stood there and watched, frozen by the fact that this was really happening. We were about to drive away and take Grace with us.
She wasn't going to remember any of her fear that she had right now and I was partially glad about that. I just didn't want her to feel like this during her stay with us.
We got into the car once we made sure we secured Grace properly. I waved out my window to Louis and Zayn, who were both still standing outside. I had no idea what thoughts were going through Louis' mind right now but he had to know that this brief sacrifice he was making was the one of the greatest and bravest thing he probably was ever going to do for Grace.
Once we left the car park, I looked behind me to check on how Grace was doing. When I saw the first tears stain her cheeks, my heart broke all over again. "Everything's going to be okay. I promise." I told her, repeating Louis' words. I couldn't turn back around as her blue eyes stared at me and I wondered what she thought of us and what we were doing. I wondered if it was possible for her to hate us.
"Harry," Niall's voice brought my attention back to him so I turned around.
"Yeah?" I asked him.
"It's going to take her time to get used to all of this newness and us so don't think you're failing right off from the start. You're not." He licked at his lips as he kept his eyes on the road.
I reached over and placed my hand on Niall's thigh, looking to the back at Grace and hoping that I would believe what Niall said when he wasn't around to comfort me.