Half a heart

Chapter 111

Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, Mental Health, Emotional Distress

Niall's pov

As I walked into the bedroom to change, I froze, a smile tugging at my lips at the sight before me. Liam was sound asleep, his arm draped over Max, who was curled up against his side, both of them breathing in perfect rhythm. Max's chest rose and fell steadily, his head resting near Liam's shoulder, like he was keeping watch even in sleep. They looked peaceful, and seeing them like that filled me with a warmth I hadn't felt in a long time.

I quietly changed into some comfy clothes, careful not to make too much noise. Once I was ready, I went back downstairs to find Zayn. He was in the kitchen, stirring a mug of tea, but he looked up when he heard me.

"You should've seen them, Z," I said softly, a smile spreading across my face. "Liam and Max, both just... completely out. They looked so peaceful together."

Zayn's eyes softened, and he nodded, reaching out to touch my shoulder. "I'm glad Max is helping him, Ni. It's been rough... for all of us, especially him."

I leaned against the counter, my arms crossed as I told him about the seizure earlier, how Max had alerted us and stayed with Liam the whole time. "He's... he's really something, isn't he?" I added, my voice a little choked. "I don't know how we got through all that without a dog like him before."

Zayn squeezed my hand gently. "We have him now, love. And Liam's got us too, yeah? We're here for him. Always."

I nodded, feeling a bit of the weight lift off my shoulders. "Come on, let's head back upstairs," I said. "They're waiting for us."

We walked back up to the room together, tiptoeing in to keep things as quiet as possible. Liam and Max were still sound asleep, and the sight made me feel like everything might just be okay, like we had our little bit of peace again.

Zayn slid into the bed on one side of Liam, and I took the other, careful not to wake him. I wrapped an arm around his waist, resting my head against his shoulder, feeling his warmth seep into me. Zayn reached over, his hand finding mine as we lay there, the three of us close and safe.

Max stirred slightly, his eyes opening just a crack to look at us, and he gave a little sigh before curling back up against Liam's chest. Liam shifted a bit, snuggling closer to us, his hand brushing against mine as he murmured something under his breath. It was one of those moments I wanted to last forever, just the quiet, the closeness, and the feeling that, for now, we were all exactly where we needed to be.

"Love you both," I whispered, hoping it seeped into his dreams.