Sugar ♡ Niam AU [COMPLETE]

TEN

Niall really, really didn't want to deliver these desserts to Liam's party.

"You don't have to do this," Zayn had assured him, "I'll do it for you. I'll make sure he still pays."

Niall laughed, because Zayn probably would have a way to make sure Liam would pay. "No, Zee, I can do this. I..." He took a deep breath. It had been almost two weeks since he'd seen Liam. He was doing okay. "Yeah. I can do this."

"I'm still coming along," Zayn said, and Niall nodded gratefully at that. No matter how good he was feeling, he knew seeing Liam again would be like getting hit by a train, and the fact that Zayn was going to help a lot.

So now, here Niall was, standing outside of the doors of the address Liam had left. Liam had asked on the form he'd filled out that they dressed formally, so under his white chef's jacket Niall had on a button down and a tie. His hands were full with a giant cake and a tray of cupcakes on top of it. Zayn was carrying a box of donuts and a tray of cookies.

"No rush, Ni, but could you, uh, open the door? My arms are falling off!"

Niall rolled his eyes at Zayn's antics, and nudged the door open with his foot. The room was quiet, them having arrived an hour before the party was scheduled to start. Liam was setting up balloons in one corner, soft indie music playing from a speaker.

"Hi," Niall called. Liam turned, and Niall's heart clenched when his face lit up at seeing him.

"Hey! You came." Liam's smile became fond as he neared Niall.

"Well, I am the caterer," Niall laughed awkwardly.

"I really appreciate this. Let me help you with that," Liam said, eyes crinkling at the corners from his stupid attractive smile. He took the cake from Niall's hands and set it on the table. "Red velvet!" he cheered. On the form he'd asked that Niall surprised him with what flavors of desserts he made, so naturally, Niall made his favorites.

"Is that okay?" Niall asked worriedly.

"Of course," Liam smiled, "I asked you to surprise me, so whatever you made is one hundred percent fine." Niall managed a half-smile at him, and Liam's heart clenched in his chest. "Niall --"

"Please don't," Niall said quietly. "I...I can't. I'm just now doing better, I..."

"You need any help setting up over here, Ni?" Zayn asked, but his eyes were trained on Liam. Zayn would forgive if Niall did, but he would never forget. 

"No, I'm good," Niall said softly. He was good, too -- he could handle this. "Really, Zee," he added, and then Zayn went back to setting up the cupcakes, glancing over his shoulder at them every few seconds. 

"Niall, I'm sorry," Liam said after a pause. Niall just nodded, not wanting to hear it, because he knew he'd forgive Liam if he kept pleading like that. Liam sighed when he realized that he wasn't going to give in, and went to finish blowing up balloons for the party.

~ ~ ~

"If you're all set, we're going to go," Niall said to Liam. The room was finished, the cake and cupcakes and cookies all set out on a perfect display tray.

"Wait, don't go yet," Liam pleaded. 

"I --" Niall began, set to argue with Liam about this.

"Please. Just stay for ten minutes. Please," Liam begged. "If after ten minutes, you still want to go, you can go, okay?"

"What kind of party is this?" Niall called, but Liam had already walked away to start greeting his guests. "Has it been ten minutes?" he whined to Zayn.

Zayn just chuckled. "It's only ten minutes, Ni. We can stay for ten minutes."

Niall narrowed his eyes at Zayn. "...Why would you want to stay? You're so mad at him right now."

Zayn shrugged. "I mean, yeah, but...free food."

Niall tried not to laugh, but his best friend slunk from his side and over to the buffet, starting to fill his plate, and he lost it. He'd just stopped laughing when he heard Liam's voice in a microphone.

"Hi, everyone, thanks for coming." Liam flashed a smile out into the crowd. "So...I know some of you are confused as to why I threw this party. There isn't really any short answer." He took a deep breath. Niall could see his hands were shaking. "I have a really bad fear of public speaking, sorry. Okay. I gathered you all here because I am not a nice person. I have done a lot of cruel things in the name of Payne Construction...in the name of my father.

"But I've realized...my past doesn't have to reflect who I am now. What's past is past...and I know I have a lot of making up to do, but I'm willing to try, if you'll let me." Liam's eyes flickered to Niall's. "I've hurt someone I really care about a lot in the name of the business really recently...and he wouldn't let me apologize. There was only one way I could think to do it, and that was to get him to bring his business to me." The crowd laughs. Niall even manages a half-smile. "I'm sorry, Niall. I understand if you don't forgive me, but I wanted to at least try to make it up to you. What I did was unforgivable, and if I were in your shoes, I wouldn't want to see me again either." His eyes were filling with tears. Niall had to look away. "But I had to at least get the chance to say that I was sorry. That if you want nothing to do with me after this, I..." His hands shook as he wiped his face, embarrassed. "I accept that." The crowd was quiet then. To see Liam show so much emotion was unheard of. "Anyway. Go try his amazing desserts, everyone. Seriously, they're incredible. From The Gingerbread House over on Orchard Street." 

The crowd swarmed over towards the dessert table, and Niall swarmed over to Liam. "Did you mean it?"

"That I was sorry? I mean, I overcame my fear of public speaking to make that clear, I would hope so," Liam grinned. His hands were still shaking. 

"Thank you," he said softly. Maybe Liam had really liked him after all. 

"You're welcome," Liam whispered back. His hands tingled to touch Niall, but he fought it. He didn't want to cross the line when Niall had just forgiven him. His eyes flicked from Niall's eyes to his lips, and before Niall could stop himself, he kissed him.