In The Nick Of Time

EPILOGUE

EPILOGUE

Summary:

One year later...

The busy streets of New York City shouldn't have been a surprise to him. Why would it be? He lived there for crying out loud! Liam stood dead center in Times Square, a camera around his neck as he took pictures of the people passing and the t.v's. Even being there for what was a year he still didn't believe it, how many televisions were shoved in one small corner of the world. Who knew?

His past was far behind him now.

He'd had chats with Louis and Harry some times, heard that they moved in together in his old home in Leeds and have a pretty sturdy house on top of their heads. His nephew was two, and never had seen his own uncle. Never even knew he was alive. Grace had been fine, found herself a boyfriend who loved her and worked hard for the house they would buy just to keep them safe from the outside world. When he cut his phone and got a new one, some one called him and when he picked up - it was nothing but that sunshine, blazing Irish man named Niall. In the back, Liam could hear Lin speaking and every time there was a pause - a yelp filled the line because Niall would always say some thing to offend his sister.

He'd gotten a small job waiting tables at first, then manning the register, and now was assistant manager of the small café just around the corner of Times Square. They loved him. He had a small apartment a couple blocks down, the water pressure some times sucked, and yet he didn't mind the mice. As long as they didn't bother him or eat at his chips, he was fine. The two winters were blistering cold, and he had stocked up on blankets. He suffered a while before getting a small portable heater - thank the heavens for those things. He'd made friends there, they got along well with him and he found some one to lean on if the grocery list was over by a dollar, or he didn't have enough money for a Quarter Pounder meal.

They were alright.

The night's were a bit lonely until he got Stanley - Stanley was his gold fish. He was the only other one who'd listen to him rant on and on some times, other than the lovely older men who'd come by the café for cups of coffee and donuts telling funny and amazing stories about the second world war, yesterday's news article, or just make some jokes that no one would understand but still laugh anyways. He'd find himself counting the dots on the ceiling, or how the pattern of the walls went from white to black then back again. He had breakfast enough a day to catch himself staring at the two seat-er table he'd bought for the apartment, or he'd catch himself rolling over the opposite side of the bed only to be met with emptiness and open mattress there - or just the floor, there were many times for those.

He wouldn't admit it, but - life was lonely with out some one else there.

That's why he was always drawn to Times Squares. There were people and places, smiles and laughs that weren't covered by doors or muffled by walls in his apartment. There was light, and brightness instead of the dim lighting of his kitchen. There were things to see, and even if it was stuffy - it was warm and graceful. So there he stood, in the middle of Times Square taking pictures of anything and every thing - even if he already had pictures of it. Every time, things would be different. He raised his camera to his eye, squinting to the other one as he turned slowly trying to capture the crowd of people now walking across the cross walk away from him. Just as that crowd left - another formed waiting to cross.

His finger danced along the shutter button.

He paused as the crowd flickered and the sound of people waved as well, he lowered his camera and stared to the crowd. The flame of a lighter danced in the new spring air, the night too dark to cast out the small lighter. Smoke puffed from the intriguing strangers lips as he exhaled and put his hand in his pocket, his shoulders sunk as he exhaled up into the sky and watched it fade off into the mist of the town. Liam looked back down at his camera and caught the picture before it was too late, and he lowered it again. He stepped forward but willed himself back, he shook his head.

He wouldn't talk to a stranger. He turned from his spot the moment the lights turned to the glowing hand blinking, and he stared a moment more.

He stopped himself from turning away again, and he squinted to the standing stranger in the crowd as he exhaled the smoke again. Why wouldn't Liam make new friends? Why wouldn't he try and - maybe find some one again to be happy and not so alone. He stepped forward and weaved his way through the crowd before standing in arms length to the stranger, Liam would say hello. He would say Hello, my name's Liam. This is weird but, I was wondering if you'd like to - maybe, have a chat with me? Get to know each other. It wasn't strange. It was confidence.

Reaching out to pat his shoulder, he froze suddenly. His hand was shaking and his heart was pounding, his breath lost as he stared to this stranger's long drawn breathes in and long huffs out. His jawline was sharp, and his skin smooth. He turned his head slightly and Liam could see his features dancing in the light of the t.v's all around. Liam choked on his confidence, and stepped back just when the light turned to a gleaming man walking.

He spoke quick. "If you love me - find me."

The stranger turned, whipping around to the sudden sound of another person being so close to him. His expression doubled when they met Liam's eyes, and they pulled the cigarette from their lips blowing aside the smoke and giving Liam a good look. The leather on his shoulders making a rubbing noise and his boot cladded feet clunked as he turned to Liam fully, he threw aside his cigarette, or more like dropped it. He stared...

... Zayn stared.

 "Liam ?"

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