SIX - One Direction

21

After the whirlwind that was the Take Me Home tour, the lads decided it was time to head back to their families for Christmas. Though they'd been sharing a flat in London, there was something about going home that you just couldn't beat—especially after being on the road for so long.

As the train rumbled through the countryside, Alex sat by the window, watching the snowflakes swirl past. The holiday season had always been a big deal for her family, and she felt a mix of excitement and nostalgia as she thought of cosy evenings at home, surrounded by familiar faces.

When she finally arrived at her family's place, she barely had time to set down her bags before she was wrapped up in her mum's arms. "There she is!" her mum exclaimed, her voice full of warmth. "Our Alex, back from the big wide world! We've missed you something rotten!"

"I missed you too, Mum!" Alex replied, feeling the familiar warmth of home washing over her.

Her dad, Jake, was already in the kitchen, apron on and cooking up a storm. "Got your favourite on the stove, love!" he called out proudly, as the smell of home-cooked food filled the air.

After settling in, they all gathered around the table, and Alex couldn't help but smile at the spread in front of her—proper hearty dishes she hadn't had in ages. As they traded stories and laughed about old times, Alex felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. "I don't say it enough, but I'm so lucky to have you lot," she said, her voice softening.

Her mum reached over, squeezing her hand. "And we're so proud of you, love. You've worked so hard for all of this."

Later that evening, they all ended up by the fireplace, mugs of hot chocolate in hand, when her brother, Jordan, appeared with an old photo album under his arm. "Look what I dug out!" he said, flipping through the pages with a grin. "Remember this one?" He pointed at a photo of them, bundled up in coats, halfway through building a wonky-looking snowman.

They laughed, reminiscing about snowy afternoons and scraped knees, and for a moment, Alex felt like she was ten years old again. It was strange how fame and everything else seemed to melt away in moments like these. She realised that, no matter how far she went or how chaotic things got, this place would always be home.
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After a few blissful days with her family, Alex was ready to head back to London. The boys had pooled together and bought a big house, all ready for them to move in together. The place was buzzing with excitement as they settled in, unpacking boxes and figuring out where everything would go.

"Let's make this place proper," Niall declared, already busy tacking posters of their favourite bands onto the walls. "Can't have it looking too tidy, can we?"

"Oi, biggest room's mine!" Louis yelled, dashing up the stairs before anyone else had a chance to argue.

Alex laughed, trailing behind, taking in the chaos around her. This wasn't just a house—it was a new chapter, something solid they could call their own. "You know what we need?" she said, glancing at the bare walls. "A wall covered in photos from the tour. All our best memories, right here."

"Oh, now that's a shout!" Liam nodded, looking genuinely chuffed. "We can have a proper memory wall in the lounge."

They set to work, decorating the space with framed photos and mementos from their time on tour, each item bringing back a flood of memories. As they hung up the last picture, Alex took a step back, feeling an overwhelming sense of belonging. They were more than just a band now—they were a family, and this house was their home.

Later that night, they all piled into the living room, takeaway boxes and drinks scattered about as they sprawled out on the sofas.

"Right, here's to new beginnings!" Zayn said, raising his can of soda high. They all joined in, the cans clinking together in a messy but heartfelt toast.

"I can't wait to start writing the new album here," Harry said, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Yeah, Midnight Memories is going to be something special, I can feel it," Alex added, her heart racing with the thought of what they could create together.

As they sat there, sharing laughs and swapping stories, they started talking about everything they wanted to do—new songs, places to visit, all the big dreams they hadn't even said out loud before. For the first time, they had a space to be themselves, no one else around to interrupt or judge.

With their hopes for the future lighting up the room, Alex felt a wave of excitement. She glanced around at the boys—her friends, her bandmates, her family—and knew that whatever came next, they'd be facing it together.

"Here's to making some unforgettable memories," she said, raising her can one more time.

The others joined in, a chorus of cheers echoing through the house. In that moment, it was clear to all of them: they weren't just a band. They were home.