One Adoption... Sorry, Direction (1D Fanfic)

Chapter Twenty-Four

"I don't know what just happened," Dr Hallie said slowly to the four boys assembled in front of her, "But that was definitely not something I would advise you repeat. Ever again."

The boys nodded, still not entirely sure of why their friend had lost control and was now sitting in his room crying, staring at a wall. They were equally unsure of what to do with the sixteen year old girl who was in the media room, numbly staring at the black screen of the television.

"I'm going to come back in an hour," the doctor told them. "I can tell you need some time to sort out the family. I'll tell you what I think of your beautiful girls when I get back – and I'll ignore what just happened in my verdict."

She packed up her things and left, delighted when Jasmine accepted and returned her hug. Once the doctor was gone, two boys went to the media room, while the other two (along with Jasmine) went up the stairs into Louis' room.

The media room was empty. Zayn and Liam stared at the room, worried, before Liam opened his mouth and yelled, "Jennifer's missing!"

"She's in here," he heard back. "Upstairs."

The two joined the others upstairs, where they saw Jeni and Louis clutching each other, hugging tightly in Louis' room.

"I'm so sorry," Louis was whispering. "I'm such a dick."

"Kinda, yeah," Jennifer replied, clinging to him like a koala.

Silently, the others closed the door, letting them mutually agree to forgive, forget and try to build their relationship. As they were about to walk away, Harry saw Jasmine looking at him, curious. Rolling his eyes, he held out his arms and she grinned, sprinting toward him. She leapt onto him, clutching her arms around his neck and dangling from him, dying with giggles. Harry put out his arms, hovering around her body, ready to catch her if she fell, but the second he touched her side she collapsed into more laughter, letting go. Running around behind him, she tickled his sides and then sprinted down the stairs ahead of him. Jasmine dashed into the lounge, where the boys had sat on the couch, and dove behind Niall.

"I got him," she said between breaths, earning a high five from Niall. "Protect me!"

"That wasn't part of the deal!"

"It is now!"

Between giggles Jasmine explained that Niall had dared her to tickle Harry and now owed her a phone case. Sometime during the explanation Liam thought he heard something upstairs and slipped away.

In Zayn's room, Alicia was awake, barely, but tears were streaming down her face. When Liam stood in the doorway, Alicia held her arms out to him. He stepped closer and she clutched the front of his shirt, pulling herself closer to him. The second that he sat on the bed she was in his lap, clinging to him. He rubbed her back for a few minutes, before pulling back slightly. Now she was chewing on her thumbnail, sniffling slightly with one hand still clutched determinedly in his shirt.

"Come on little one, let's go downstairs," Liam suggested.

In the next hour, Louis and Jeni emerged, everyone ate lunch and a few smiles were coaxed out of the girls. Finally they had been settled in the media room with Netflix, and the boys were in the stufy with Doctor Hallie.

"Okay, any questions?"

Harry raised his hand. "What's the deal with the period thing?" he asked.

"I can send you some information on it if you want," the doctor said.

Liam stood up. "Alicia's acting strange... after she flipped out, she woke up crying, refused to walk and is super clingy."

Doctor Hallie nodded. "She's just regressing a bit – it's normal. It means that you've crushed some of her barriers and she's trusting you. It will go away in a few days, but she'll be emotional and, for want of a better term, babyish for a little while."