Half a heart

Chapter 64

Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, Mental Health, Emotional Distress

Liam's POV

The concert had just ended, the final notes of our last song echoing through the stadium as we took our final bow. The energy in the room was electric, the crowd still buzzing with excitement, but my mind was elsewhere. As we made our way off stage, I couldn't stop thinking about Charlie. I knew he had been resting in the dressing room, but I wanted to see him, to make sure he was okay.

We pushed through the backstage crowd, offering quick smiles and nods to the crew as we made our way to the dressing room. When we finally reached the door, I felt a knot of worry in my stomach. Even though Jacob had assured us Charlie was fine, I wouldn't feel at ease until I saw him with my own eyes.

Niall was the first to open the door, and we all stepped inside, the energy from the stage still clinging to us like static. But as soon as we saw Charlie, all of that faded away. He was curled up on the couch, his small frame barely making a dent in the cushions. His ear defenders were still on, and a blanket was draped over him, tucked in carefully by Jacob, who stood nearby, watching over him.

"He's out like a light," Niall whispered, his voice filled with a mix of relief and tenderness.

Louis crouched down beside the couch, his hand gently brushing a stray lock of hair from Charlie's forehead. "He looks so peaceful," he murmured, a soft smile tugging at his lips.

I could see how tired Charlie must have been. The day had been long, and the excitement of the sound check, combined with the stress of everything else, had clearly worn him out. I felt a deep sense of protectiveness wash over me as I watched him sleep, his face free from the usual tension and worry.

"We should get him back to the hotel," Harry said quietly, his eyes never leaving Charlie's face. "He'll be more comfortable there."

"Yeah," I agreed, stepping forward. "I'll carry him."

Carefully, I bent down and slipped my arms under Charlie, lifting him up as gently as I could. He stirred slightly, a soft murmur escaping his lips, but he didn't wake up. His body relaxed into mine, his head resting against my chest as I adjusted the blanket around him, making sure it covered him completely.

I noticed that his ear defenders had shifted slightly as I picked him up, so I reached up and adjusted them, making sure they were snug but comfortable, so he could keep sleeping peacefully. The last thing I wanted was for the noise of the crowd outside to wake him.

"Thanks, Liam," Louis said softly, giving me a small nod of appreciation.

"No problem," I replied, cradling Charlie closer as I turned toward the door. "Let's get him out of here."

As we stepped out into the hallway, the buzz of post-concert activity surrounded us, but my focus was entirely on Charlie. Paul and Jacob led the way, making sure we had a clear path through the crowd. I kept my head down, shielding Charlie's face from prying eyes as we navigated the maze of people.

We reached the exit without any issues, and Paul quickly ushered us toward the car waiting outside. The noise from the crowd outside the stadium was deafening, even with Charlie's ear defenders on, but he stayed asleep, his body completely relaxed in my arms.

When we reached the car, I carefully slid inside, keeping Charlie cradled against me as I settled into the seat. Harry and Louis got in beside me, and Niall took the front seat, glancing back every few seconds to check on Charlie.

Once we were all in, Paul closed the door, and the car started moving, pulling away from the chaos of the stadium. The noise faded into the distance, replaced by the quiet hum of the engine as we headed back to the hotel.

As the city lights flickered past the windows, I looked down at Charlie, still asleep in my arms. The blanket was pulled up to his chin, and his breathing was steady, calm. I could feel the weight of the day lifting slightly, knowing that he was safe, that he was with us.

"He's going to be okay, Liam," Harry said softly, placing a hand on my shoulder. "We'll make sure of it."

I nodded, my eyes still on Charlie. "I know," I whispered. "He's got us. He's always going to have us."

The drive back to the hotel was quiet, the tension from the day slowly ebbing away as we got closer to our destination. By the time we arrived, I felt a sense of calm settling over me, knowing that soon we'd be able to tuck Charlie into bed and let him rest.

As the car came to a stop, Paul and Jacob were already at the hotel entrance, making sure everything was clear for us to get inside without any interruptions. I carefully slid out of the car, still holding Charlie close as we made our way through the lobby and up to our suite.

Once we were inside, I walked over to the bed and gently laid Charlie down, making sure he was comfortable. Harry and Louis helped tuck him in, and I adjusted his ear defenders once more, just to be sure.

As I stepped back, watching him sleep, I felt a deep sense of gratitude-for my friends, for our little makeshift family, and for the fact that we had each other, no matter what.

"We did good today," Niall said quietly, as we all gathered around the bed, watching over Charlie.

"Yeah," I agreed, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. "We did."

And as I watched Charlie sleep, surrounded by the people who loved him most, I knew that no matter what challenges we faced, we would face them together. Because that's what family did-they took care of each other, through thick and thin.