Parenting

Chapter Twenty Two

-Christine's POV-

I walked with Indie back up to her front door as Niall waited patiently in the car. My red headed friend unlocked the front door and smiled over at me.

"Today was pretty good," she pulled me into a hug, "without the whole Chris ordeal." I could only laugh, still getting a nervous shiver every time I thought of what happened. "But let me tell you something... that Niall." She pointed back to the car as I glanced over to it. "Hold onto him ok? Whether he knows it or not, he cares about you Christine. And I'd hate to see young love go to waste."

My eyes popped out at the word love. Love? Niall didn't love me and I didn't love him. We were friends. He was just a really sweet guy friend I had.

"Indie, come on. Can't I have friends that are male?" I sighed in a joking matter as she shrugged stepping inside.

"Something is between you two and you know it." I playfully rolled my eyes and said my final goodbye before coming back to the car.

Niall smiled as I climbed in and shut the door.

"I saw Indie point to the car. Anything you wanna share?" He grinned as I put my seatbelt on.

"Indie just says thanks for today and something about you being hot?" We both laughed as Niall turned on the radio and did a turn back to his house.

"Well obviously." He playfully felt over his chest as I slapped his arm and looked out the window. The afternoon sun had set in and it was absolutely breathtaking. "Christine," Niall said now suddenly serious, "I just want you to know that what I did today wasn't because I felt like I needed to. I stepped in because I wanted to keep that filth away from you."

I blinked back at his honest confession as he combed his fingers through his hair.

"We're friends now. And that means I gotta look after you. I'm sorry if I scared you today; I just kind of went into that state without thinking. Having a son and all, I get a little protective."

"I understand." I smiled and rested my head back on the chair. "And for what it's worth; thank you." Niall looked over and offered me a smile and small reassuring squeeze to my knee.

• • •

After a long crazy car trip, Niall and I were making our way to the entrance of the building.

I felt a foot step on the back of my shoe pulling it under my heel. My eyes shot back and I saw Niall hold in that little grin as he whistled walking past me.

"Oh, so that's the way it's gonna be huh?" I whispered pacing after the blonde boy. He picked up his pace as well as me as I stood on the back of his shoe and tugged his pants down for good measures.

Half his ass in his boxers was showing and I took that as my cue to run.

"You better run Christine!" Niall ran after me after fixing his shoe and pulling his pants up. I rattled to door knob to feel it was locked. Shit! I didn't have the key either!

A pair of hands then soun me before I was hauled over a shoulder.

"Niall!" I screamed in play as he quickly unlocked the door and let us in. My legs kicked Niall stumbled forward putting me back on my feet.

"C'mere you!" His hands grabbed the edge of my shirt as he pulled me close. I giggled like a maniac while trying to push his hands away.

There sat a big grin on his face as my backside suddenly hit the surface of the dining table. My small hands wrapped up around Niall's wrists as he towered over me, making me laugh while pleading.

"P-please!" I pushed his shoulders away though he gently took my wrists and restricted me. His face grew close as I playfully surrendered to him.

Then feeling my foot slip, my back almost hit the wooden table as one of Niall's hand threw around to my lower back. I gripped the back of his shoulder as my face hit his neck.

Niall chuckled against me as I let out a few giggles.

Eventually we calmed down and Niall quietly hummed beside my ear and pulled us back straight to our feet. His arm tightened around my back as I smiled letting my hand slide back to my side.

"Nial-"

"Shh..." He quieted me with a slight chuckle and wrapped both arms around me. My face rested on his shirt as my eyes closed. "This is nice." He mumbled as I nodded relaxing into his hold.

Then I felt him begin to take steps back and had my body pulled along. Niall walked backwards into the familiar lounge room as my hands tightened around his shirt.

"If we fall-"

"We won't fall. Trust me darlin'." His voice now calm and lagging humour. The deep breaths he emitted hit my neck with a shaky sigh. "Want to watch something?"

I only nodded in response as Niall suddenly picked me up which took me by surprise. Letting my feet dangle, he put me on the couch and took the remote.

"I'm feeling some reruns of Friends." Niall arranged the episodes on as he got comfy beside me. I pulled my knees up to my chest and watched as he settled on an episode before sitting back.

His arm took mine and he lightly tugged with a pout. I  chuckled and leant closer as he let me rest against him. His hand rubbed my shoulder and his breathing became regular again after our little play.

"Hope you're comfortable cause you ain't movin'."

"Alrighty then."