Who We Were Born To Be (Niam) [ON HOLD]

Chapter 3: Changes

Chapter 3

Liam's point of view

Liam gave his Mum and Dad a hug each.

Dr Blakefield had recommended the boys spend some time with their families, so Beth and James had taken the boys back to Britain for a half a day. Paul had rung their families himself, warning them that the boys had had “a traumatic experience” and asking them to just give loving support without asking any questions until the boys were ready to share. Liam had overheard some of the phone conversations. Okay, he admitted to himself. I deliberately listened in. I wanted to know what Paul was telling my family. Liam knew that Louis had already told his own mum everything over the phone. But Liam didn't feel able to do that yet. What could I tell them? “Sorry mum, sorry dad, but I let everyone down. I'm supposed to be the responsible one in the group. But I was stupid, and I let all the boys nearly get killed.” Liam just couldn't make those words come out of his mouth. He wanted his parents to think well of him, to respect him. He just couldn't tell them.

So Liam settled for hugging his parents and just trying to enjoy their company. He ignored the questions in their eyes. They didn't ask him aloud what had happened, but he could see it in their body language that they wanted to know, wanted to ask. He didn't answer their unasked questions. He couldn't.

The conversation quickly grew awkward. They couldn't ask him their normal questions, like “how are you?” and “how have you been?” because the answers were obvious. Agreeing to this was a mistake, Liam thought. This isn't helping, it's making things worse. Or is that just because I'm not telling them anything? he wondered. Am I supposed to tell them, and then cry in their arms and 'let it all out'? Liam tried asking them how they had all been. But he didn't really hear their answers. He couldn't focus.

As tears began to slide down his cheeks, his mum stepped forward and pulled him into a hug. She held him while he cried until James came to pick him up.

Zayn's point of view

Zayn blinked in surprise at the soft knock on his hotel door. He instinctively checked to see what powers he sensed around him to determine who was outside. Projection. It's Niall. He must have just got back from Britain. When Beth had brought Zayn back from visiting his family a short time earlier, none of the other boys had been around. Zayn had found the trip helpful. It allowed him to put things into perspective. Though he was still reluctant to use his power again. It was our powers that got us into that mess in the first place, he thought.

“Come in Niall,” Zayn said, as he opened the door.

The boy gave him a shy smile and then entered the room. A smile? That's good!

Niall sat on Zayn's bed and clasped his hands in his lap, and sat looking down at them. Zayn stood, waiting for Niall to speak.

“I'm sorry Zayn,” Niall whispered finally. Zayn's breath caught. “I was an idiot,” Niall continued. “You were just trying to help me. I'm sorry for snapping at you before. Friends?” Niall lifted his head and looked at Zayn pleadingly as he asked that question.

Zayn bounded forward in excitement and grabbed the little blond up in a tight hug. “Friends, Niall! Always!” Zayn kissed Niall on the cheek. “Always,” Zayn repeated.

Love flowed into Zayn. Niall's using his power, Zayn realised. “Thanks Niall,” Zayn whispered, and just held the boy while Niall continued to send love to Zayn.

Louis' point of view

“Well boys,” Paul said, coming over to where they were all sitting with Dr Blakefield. “Are you up to doing the concert tonight? If not, we need to issue the cancellation notice now.”