Half-Truths [hs, mc, zm, nh, lt +]

Chapter Forty-Nine

*Trish's POV*

I watch as Niall follows Emma upstairs, my arms crossed over my chest. I hope to God she doesn't forgive him that easily.

I look at Michael, before dropping my arms and sighing. I walk over to him, putting my head on his shoulder. He chuckles and wraps his arms around my waist. He starts to draw little patterns on my back with his fingers, making goosebumps erupt all over me.

"I love Niall to death, but he's such a fucking clown it's painful." I mumble. Michael nods.

"I know." He says.

"When my brother was still alive, him, Emma and I would all go to Niall's house while my parents were out for the day."  I start. I lift my head up to look him in the eyes. I forgot how pretty his eyes were.

"Mm?" He hums, urging me to continue.

"Niall would take us to the ice cream shops at the corner of the road, letting us choose whichever one we wanted. I don't think he ever once thought about how my parents would react. Though it was a nice gesture, my parents got very upset." I explained. Michael brushes a stray piece of hair out of my face and tucks it behind my ear.

"Although Niall's dense, he cares for you both a lot." He says. I nod.

"Yeah he does." I mumble.

"Whatever happened to your brother, anyway?" He asks. I pause, wondering if I should tell him or not. I've never told anyone how he died. Not even Emma.

"Umm..." I murmur, not exactly sure what to say.

"You don't have to tell me." Michael says. I shake my head.

"No, it's okay. You were bound to ask anyways." I say.

Michael leads us to the sitting room where the babies are, sitting us down. I place my hands in my lap, taking a deep breath.

"His name was Quinn." I look at Michael for a few seconds then stare back at my hands.

"I was around 15 at the time, he was 17." I begin to tell him the story, telling myself internally that I wouldn't cry.

"We had took a hike through the cliff side forest back at Holmes Chapel, not too far from home. It was a nice day outside, and we were visiting family since my dad's tour was finished." Michael shifts a little, making himself more comfortable.

"It was just a regular Saturday in England. So anyway, we had took a hike through the cliff side. Quinn and I loved to explore new things. We weren't that far out of town, either. We could still hear the children playing outside." I explain.

"We made it to a breakthrough of trees, and it was a little cliff edge that overlooked the down parts of the town. The leaves were blowing in the wind, and many of the kids were outside, just like it was in the upper parts of town." I don't look at Michael, I keep my eyes on my hands.

"Quinn and I were just enjoying the view when we heard somebody behind us. I had just assumed it was Gemma coming to get us, but when we turned around there was a tall man wearing all black with a gun in his hand. I couldn't see his face, it was covered with a mask." I explain the details of the man to Michael, whose eyes go wide.

"He pointed the gun at me, saying that it was the only revenge he had. I didn't understand what was going on, I had never been in this situation before. Quinn tried talking the man out of shooting me, but all his attempts had failed." I mumble.

"He shot the first bullet, but aimed wrong. He got my leg. I had never felt such pain before in my life." I explain. I pull down my shorts a little, exposing a dent in my leg. I pull them back up, and continue.

"As the man tried shooting again, Quinn pushed me out of the way. He got shot. Since we were so close to the edge, the momentum had made him stumble back. He didn't just get shot, he fell off the cliff. If the bullet didn't kill him the fall did." I shake my head, remembering that day.

"Quinn was my best friend. Sure I had Emma, but Quinn and I had a very close relationship with each other. I miss him every day. Every day I wish I would've done something to stop it. Maybe if I had told him that we were going to stay inside that day, he wouldn't have died." I mutter. Sorrow and anger are the only emotions I'm feeling.

"Maybe if I had just waited until the next day, he would still be alive and beside me." I say. Michael gives me a sympathetic look.

"I'm so sorry." He murmurs. I shake my head.

"Sometimes I still feel like he's here. It sounds crazy, but I just know that he's here at times." I mumble, looking at Michael.

"Quinn would've liked you, Michael." I tell him. Quinn and Michael would've been friends. They would've gotten along so well.

Just as Michael opens his mouth to speak, we hear squeaking from upstairs. We go quiet, both of us knowing what's happening.

"Are they-?"

"Yep.."

"And they're in-?"

"Yep..."

"Holy fuck."

"I'm gonna kill them."

As I stand up to go upstairs, Michael grabs my hand and pulls me back. I stumble backwards, then glare at him.

"Let's just take the babies, leave a note, and get out of here." Michael says. I sigh and nod. I pick up Ronin, Michael picks up Delta, we leave a note, and we go out the door.

We drive to my dads house, and I open the door. I know Harry's not here, but Louis is.

"Hi Pa! Sorry I didn't call beforehand, something came up." I call into the house. I hear shuffling from inside the house and Louis comes into view.

"Hello my darling! Oh don't worry at all, I'm just glad you're here." He says, embracing me in a hug. I smile as I hug him back. He looks at Ronin in my hands, confused.

"Michael and I are babysitting Emma's twins for a bit." I say. Louis nods. Michael comes into the house with Delta.

"Hi Sir." Michael greets. Louis smiles.

"Hello!" Louis exclaims. I hand him Ronin, which he takes happily. We go to hang out in the living room with the babies.

As I watch Louis and Michael play with the babies, I can't help but think. Even though Quinn and I were close, I know I still had my older brother. I still do. Louis and Harry had three kids. Me, the youngest. Quinn, the oldest. And Chandler, the middle child. Chandler was there when we got Niall back. Nobody knows Chandler and I are siblings. Nobody except for my family.

I get pulled out of my thoughts when I hear laughter erupt. I look at the four of them on the floor, and I feel my heart become warm. I hope Delta doesn't lose her brother. I hope she never has to go through what I had to. I hope none of them do. It hurts just as much to lose a sister.