Overboard

Epilogue

*Niall’s P.O.V*

It had been a rocky four years, what with the way the media twisted anything and everything you did or said, how busy I was, the fact I was away from home for a lot of the time, but it had been the most wonderful four years of my life. Kendall had tagged along for a large portion of our 2015 tour, staking out in hotel rooms and standing backstage to cheer for us while we were preforming, and having her there had made it all the better for me, and the other lads too. It was nice having a female around constantly, she was like a sister to my band mates, and to me, she was the whole entire world.

I looked down at the small velvet box I held in my hands and popped it open to see the simple silver band encrusted with diamonds. Zayn, Louis and I took a trip to Spain for a couple of days where I got the ring. If I’d tried to get it in the UK I would have been spotted for sure and the entire thing would have been ruined, so we slipped undetected in and out of Spain, returning with the perfect ring.

Harry had helped me transform the dining room of the home Kendall and I shared into something that was pure magic. It looked beautiful, twinkling fair lights draped around the room and the elegant dining table lined with red and white roses.

My eyes flicked to the clock in the kitchen and my fingertips drummed against the marble counter. Louis, Liam and Zayn had cooked up Kendall’s favourite meal which was sitting on the best plates I could find in the cupboard on the dining table.

I had roaring butterflies in my stomach as I waited for my beautiful girlfriend to get home from work. In all honestly, I’d never been so nervous in my life, not auditioning for the X Factor all those years ago, not preforming to thousands of people most nights, not any interviews, music videos, nothing. The thought of her saying no was a prominent thought in my mind and had me weak at the knees.

The sound of her keys turning in the lock snapped me out of my fear and I pressed the velvet box closed, slipping it into my jacket pocket. I was wearing one of my favourite suits which Louis had instructed me to do, and the colours of it matched what Kendall had left wearing that morning.

“Niall?” I heard her call out.

I took a deep breath and pushed off the counter, walking through the dining room and to the entrance way where my beautiful girlfriend was shaking off her coat. She had on an ink black pencil skirt with a mint green sleeveless blouse tucked into it. Her long, dark hair was draped over her shoulder, secured with a dark scrunchie and she looked absolutely stunning, like she always did.

“Hey baby,” I smiled, stepping in to her and placing a kiss on her cheek.

“Wow, I feel really underdressed, what’s going on?” she asked, kicking off her heels and shrinking a few inches.

I took her hand and led her through to the dining room. Her breath hitched in her throat and she stopped, tugging at my hand in the process.

“Niall,” she breathed, looking at me with wide eyes.

“The boys helped,” I admitted a little sheepishly, pulling out a seat for her.

“It looks beautiful! You cooked too? What’s the special occasion?” she teased lightly.

“Well, I was kind of hoping we could get through the meal before we talk about that,” I said, looking down at my food nervously.

I didn’t think I’d be able to take a bite, my stomach was full of butterflies and anything I ate would make an unwelcome reappearance.

“You know I hate surprises Nialler,” she complained, pouting.

My restraint lasted only a few seconds before I buckled.

“Okay, okay, Kendall, we’ve been together a little over four years now, and I’ve been in love with you for every month, day, minute and second of that time. You saved my life, in more than one way, and I’m eternally grateful, honestly. Everything about you is so beautiful to me, your smile, your eyes, the way you stick out your bottom lip when you’re upset, every last thing about you is captivating and there isn’t a single moment in time when I haven’t not struggled to stop looking at you. You’re my whole entire world Kendall, I love you so much, and you make me want to be a better person, you make me try so much harder, everything I do now, I do it for you. Without you, I’d be lost, and I never want to be lost. I found you, and I’m never going to let you go. Kendall Jackson-” I stopped myself, getting out of my seat to kneel down beside her.

She had tears rolling down her flushed cheeks and she couldn’t take her eyes off of me as I pulled the small velvet box out of my jacket pocket. I popped it open and she let out a sob, covering her mouth with her hands.

“Will you marry me?” I whispered.

She clambered out of her seat and dropped to her knees in front of me, putting her cool hands either side of my face and showering me with kisses like she did whenever I did something that she loved and had no words for.

“Yes, yes,” she sobbed, grinning and nodding.

I brushed the tears off her cheeks and slowly slid the ring onto the fourth finger of her left hand. We both stared at it for a long time, it felt so surreal that I’d actually proposed and that she’d actually said yes. After a few long moments silence, Kendall hugged me tightly, nuzzling her head against my chest.

“I love you so, so much,” she whispered, tightening her grip around me.

“You have no idea how happy that makes me,” I told her, kissing the top of her head.

We stayed wrapped up in each other for a long time, not moving or speaking but not needing too. It was a beautiful, blissful time that neither of us wanted to break with harsh movements or a string of dialogue. The sun had crawled out of view before Kendall finally untangled herself from me and rose to her feet shakily.

“I have to pee,” she admitted which made me laugh.

“What should I do with the food?” I asked as she headed for the bathroom.

“Put it in the oven, we can come back to it,” she called out.

Unsure of the hidden meaning to her words, I grabbed the plates and carefully placed them in the oven so we could come back to them. I felt dainty arms wrap around my waist and Kendall rested her head on my back, her hands trailing up and down my stomach, giving me butterflies.

“Did you have a nice pee?” I asked.

“I did actually,” she laughed, her fingers catching my belt and undoing it slowly.

A smile danced onto my lips as he words clicked with her actions. I spun around and swept her bridal style into my arms which made her squeal and laugh harder. She placed kisses down my neck and across my collarbone and shoulder as I carried her up to our bedroom.

“I like the idea of a June wedding,” she smiled as I sat on the edge of our bed, her sitting on my lap facing me, her forehead pressed against mine.

“Whatever you want baby,” I breathed, pulling down the zip on the back of her restricting skirt.

Kendall grinned and pushed my shoulder, sending me back against the soft comforter. She leaned over me, letting her hair out so it tickled against my skin as she fisted my hair in her hands and kissed me.

She was the love of my life, I would do anything for her and she knew that. It had taken a while for me to build up my courage, but I’d finally lowered myself to one knee and asked her to be my wife. I never expected the response she gave me, but I was close to tears when she said yes.

Yeah, it was just a band on each of our fingers and some writing on a piece of paper, but it was what it signified, being bound to one another for the rest of our lives. Till death do us part.