truly, madly, deeply- niall horan

merry christmas

(043)

the first few weeks of parenthood were a struggle.

restless nights are something ally and niall were yet to get used to, but they were pushing through, and their daughter was thriving.

however, on this particular night she just wasn't settling.

they had tried everything they could possibly think of but nothing was working.

grace's cries could be heard throughout the house, waking penny up so many times the poor dog went to sleep in the kitchen.

both parents were running on less than a few hours of sleep, neither of them looking their best but that didn't matter.

they were in this together.

as ally sat on the rocking chair nursing grace, niall simply admired the view of his two girls; sure ally would say she looked horrible but niall thought she was prettiest this way.

her hair was a mess, eyes half way shut while grace lay in her arms- also she was pretty sure she was wearing the same clothes for the past 4 days.

niall stood there shirtless, taking in the view.

suddenly a thought came to mind, he told ally to wait there while he got her an early christmas gift.

well, considering it was christmas eve it wasn't too early.

"ally," he said while walking back in the room.

she hummed in response, siting up slightly as she was almost asleep.

"i wanted to do this tomorrow but it feels like the right time now; you look utterly perfect there and i would hate to waste this moment," niall said slowly as his nerves were growing with each second.

slowly, he got down on one knee, pulling out a ring box as ally gasped in shock.

"jo, i've loved you since the second you texted me that shitty joke quinn loves so much," he began as ally put grace in her moses basket next to her now she had settled slightly.

"you are the one for me, i've never loved anyone as truly, as madly and as deeply as i've loved you. you gave me the best gift in the world by having grace, and i can only hope this one gives you half the amount of joy she gives me. so, will you, alora josephine hayes, marry me?" he asked as ally began to sob.

quickly, ally dropped onto her knees, covering her hands with her face as tears streamed. she quietly whispered a small "yes" before sobbing again as niall moved closer to hug her.

slowly, they pulled away from the hug and began to kiss. ally's salty tears became mixed with niall's fresh ones- neither of them could tell who was crying the most.

"i love you, niall james horan," ally said as they separated. just then, she realised what he had asked and almost began to cry again.

gently, niall slipped the ring that was long forgotten on her finger; it fit perfectly.

"i love you more, josie," he said as the clock ticked to midnight. "merry christmas, my darling."