I Love You ~ Louis Tomlinson

New Life

The boys last show surprisingly isn't as emotional as Natalie thinks it's going to be. They perform like they always do, with high energy and lots of laughs and the crowd's energy is like the normal wonderful crowds times 10. 

It's when it comes to a close that the emotions spill over. After the last song the boys hug each other tightly. They laugh it off, but she spots little tears in their eyes even from the side lines. It's silly because they will definitely see each other again very soon, more or less they'll all be in the same place, but it'll be different. 

Natalie really can't help the tears that roll down her face as the boys rush off stage and wrap her up in a group hug. They decide to spend the whole night together which soothes the pain a little bit. They're all on the small bus couch, huddled up and taking turns cuddling each other.

"I can't believe it's over," Niall sighs. 

"I can't believe you never got tired of us," Zayn says, looking at Natalie. 

"No, I'd never," Natalie says, leaning up and patting Zayn's cheek lovingly.

She's sitting right now with Zayn on one side and Liam and Louis on the other. Harry and Niall took the floor and are periodically grabbing someone's foot to try to scare them. At least they find themselves funny. 

"I can't believe you're cuddling with my girlfriend," Louis huffs, sending a glare to Zayn. "I miss her."

"You're basically attached at the hip, how could you miss her?" Zayn jokes, holding Natalie closer. 

"I don't see her on my hip right now!" He exclaims. "I've got a Liam on me right now."

"And you're lucky for it," Liam huffs. 

"Miss you too baby," Natalie says, leaning forward a bit to look over at her sappy boyfriend. "And Liam's right, he's a lovely cuddler. Don't be so picky." She leans over to rest her head on Liam's shoulder who kisses the top of it. 

"Alright!" Louis yells and pops up, making Natalie giggle. "I don't want to share anymore, will you come back to me love?"

She stands up and falls into Louis' arms, "Always. Love you," she whispers against his lips. 

"Love you," he says and dips her back dramatically, kissing her again. 

The boys whoop and tell them to get a room before the two lovebirds fall back on the couch.

They change spots every once in a while and some time in the night they end up falling asleep. Natalie is in Louis' lap on the couch with Harry and Zayn to their left. Niall ends up making a pile of blankets and laundry to sleep on and Liam's so tired he falls asleep sitting up, his head resting on the edge of the couch. 

The thing is, they don't know how to say goodbye. She assumes it has always been hard for the boys in the past, but she doesn't know how to do this. She's never lived with anyone besides her family and she felt ready to leave them. She needed to find herself and decide what she wanted her life to look like. She doesn't feel ready to leave the boys. 

Despite that fact, they do have to say goodbye. It all happens in a blur, there's lot of tears and promise of plans and breaking out their calendars to pencil each other in. 

"We have some time until our flights, does anyone want to get lunch?" Liam asks. 

"That's the best idea I've heard all day," Natalie smiles. 

They arrange for two cars to take them to a nearby restaurant that's far too fancy for the likes of them. Louis stops her outside and tells the boys to go ahead and get them a table. 

He takes each of her hands in his and sways their arms back and forth a little bit. He leans in to kiss her forehead and then top of her cheek, making her smile under the touch of his lips. "Are you okay love? I know its been a hard day."

"Yeah. I have you right?" She asks because she realized that even though it's going to be hard, she still has Louis. And they're starting something the two of them, they're building a life. So yes, she's sad and it'll be an adjustment, but she's also so happy. 

"Of course you do," he softens and pulls her into him. 

She pulls back to talk to him, "I'm sad and I'll miss them like crazy, but then I started thinking about us starting our new life and it made me feel better," she trails off and looks down, suddenly shy at what she just admitted. 

"Yeah love, I'm really happy too. Can't wait to settle you in. Ordered a few things for you that should arrive before we do." He tells her smugly. 

"Louis," she whines, "You shouldn't have."

"Yes you're right, I should have and I did," he says before pulling her into the restaurant effectively ending the conversation. 

It's her turn to stop him though, "I love you. Thank you for," she trails off as her eyes fill with tears she begs not to be shed, "Being you."

"I love you more," he says, capturing her lips with his. 

"Don't start with that," she whines. He smirks and shrugs at her. "I love you most," she says and pulls him to their seats. 

Despite the way she felt only hours earlier, she cries more than she has in a long time when it finally comes time to really say goodbye. Harry hugs her for three minutes straight and Niall wedges his way in for a little bit. Zayn and Liam are a little bit more reserved but they both tell her they love her and she cries a bit over that too. 

Louis and her flight has the latest departure time, so soon enough they're left alone on the uncomfortable airport seats. Natalie rests her legs over Louis' thighs and folds into his side with a sigh. 

"What can I do to help you love?" He asks into her hair. 

She sniffs, "I don't know."

"That's okay," he soothes, running a hand through her hair. "What If I braid your hair? Get it out of the way for the flight and get you nice and comfortable?"

She nods, but more tears spring to her eyes. 

"What happened? You can say no sweetheart," he whispers, cradling her cheeks and looking into her eyes. 

"I'm sorry. They're your friends and I'm here making it about me," she cries. 

"Baby, they're our friends and don't ever apologize for needing me," he soothes. "I'll see those lot again, think they've already texted me," he rolls his eyes.

"You're really not upset?" She asks. 

"With you? No, not at all. I'll miss them, definitely," he pushes her hair back that's fallen in her eyes, "But it helps me to be here with you and take care of you."

"Who takes care of you?" She asks. 

"You," he says without a second thought. "Right now by letting me take care of you," he boops her on the nose. "If I need anything, I'll tell you I promise, but right now I just want to hold you and love you and be with you."

"Okay," she whispers and pecks his lips. "Love you."

"Love you, love you, love you." He gushes and presses little kisses all over her cheeks. 

Regardless of the fact that Louis said he wants to take care of her she sneaks off to one of the little shops while he runs to the bathroom and gets him his favorite snacks and a little neck pillow. She also finds a silly little bird magnet for their fridge she gets for no good reason. 

She can't believe they're going to be sharing a fridge, sharing a home. 

"What's in the bag babe?" Louis asks with a smirk. 

"I know you said you didn't need anything, but," she says plopping into his lap, "I got you a few things."

"Thank you love," he says kissing her forehead. 

They spend the rest of their time waiting wrapped up in each other, stealing kisses and trying to keep touching each other reassuringly. There's a lot of new things in her life now, but her Louis will always stay the same.