Running Into Destiny (Niall Horan)

Epilogue

Niall                                              One Year Later

I can't help but smile adoringly over at Natalie as she fixes popcorn for our movie marathon. When she's finished we each take a large bowl and cuddle up on the couch. Natalie's gaze slowly meets mine and a smile breaks out on her lips.

"What are you staring at?" she asked me giggling lightly.

"Nothing... I just can't believe it," I say as I stroke the soft skin of her cheeks with my fingers.

"What can't you believe?" she asked turning her body so she could face me fully.

"How I managed to get such an amazing, beautiful girlfriend like you."

Natalie's cheeks immediately flushed a bright pink. She dipped her head to hide from me, but I stopped her by placing a finger beneath her chin. Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at me. I couldn't help but smile widely as I leaned in and kissed her on her soft pink lips.

"I love you," she whispered into our kiss.

"And I love you," I whispered back.

After that Natalie cuddled even closer to me. She pressed play and the movie began. I wrapped my arm around Natalie's waist as she nestled her head into the crook of my neck.

As we sat around watching movies all afternoon, I couldn't help but feel my mind wander to last summer. Memories of our time together flashed through my mind. It truly amazed me how much Natalie has changed since then, and for the better. She's no longer secretive about anything. I can proudly say that I know every single thing about my girlfriend. Go ahead, ask me anything. I dare you.

Okay, maybe I don't know everything. In fact now that I'm thinking of last summer, there is one thing that has been left unanswered. I wonder if it's still true. Looking down at Nat, I see that she is completely absorbed into the movie. She says the lines that she's memorized under her breath, her gaze never leaving the telly. I absolutely love seeing her like this, it is one of the cutest things she does.

"No!" she cried out, lunging towards the telly as something bad happened I presume. I'm not sure what it was, I was too busy watching Natalie.

Her gaze flickered up to mine, gauging my reaction. Well, the lack there of one. Natalie's eyes squinted as she studied me.

"What's on your mind, Ni?" she asked as she ran her fingers through my hair.

"You," I answered without a second thought. Natalie's eyebrows raised, encouraging me to continue.

"You once said that you don't know anything anymore when it comes to what you want in life. I was just wondering if that was still true," I told her.

"Wow, that was from a while back, but I guess for the most part it is. Sometimes the only part of my life that I'm sure about is the part I share with you," Natalie whispered as she played with her hair.

"What do you mean?" I asked, tilting her head up so I could look into her eyes.

"That you seem to be the only part of my life that I can see remaining as a constant. Nothing in my life ever remains the same. People are always barging in and then leaving shortly after once they've gotten what they want. But you... you seem different Niall. When I think of you and everything I've put you through, I'm honestly shocked that you haven't packed your bags and left. You never had it easy. Out of everyone that ever tried to crack my shell, I gave you the hardest time."

"It was because I remind you of Jake."

"Towards the end it was, once I had spent more time with you and had gotten to know you better."

"What about in the beginning then?" I asked confused.

"I was falling for you so quickly and so deeply, I didn't want to get my heart broken. You were Niall Horan, boy band member extraordinaire. Gorgeous girls are constantly falling at your feet and you chose me. I remember all I could think was, 'What the hell does he see in me?' I was afraid that what Andrew had told me was the truth. That you could do better, that you didn't really love me."

"But that's a load of bull-"

"I know that, Niall," she smiled as she cut me off. "I know that you love me. You've proven that to me by staying by my side, especially because I know it couldn't have been easy. As for doing better, I'm always going to believe that to some degree. That's just part of being a girl."

"Well you aren't the only one to believe that. I've always believed that you deserve someone better than me. Someone who isn't always gone because of his job, or you receive hate just from being in a relationship with him. But you're perfect for me. There's not a single person in this world who could possibly be better for me than you," I told Natalie as I pulled her onto my lap.

"And no one for me," she said sweetly as she cupped my face in her tiny, little hands before kissing me lightly on the lips.

It's crazy to think what one idiotic decision could do for your life. No matter what the outcome is, it will affect your life in one way or another. Lucky for me it turned out to be the best decision I'd ever made. It brought Natalie into my life. Now, I don't know what I'd do without her. She means everything to me.

I know that the road to getting where we are hasn't always been easy, but that's life. Nobody said it was going to be. And in the end it's all been worth it because I have Natalie and that is all that matters.

She's a part of my destiny and my idiotic decision brought her into my life. Maybe someday you'll make one and it will lead you to yours. Or maybe you'll be like Natalie and simply run into it.