Jace

{26}

Before we were formally introduced however, The backstage manager was pushing Louis, Niall, Zayn, Harry, me, Katherine, Madison, and a reluctant Jacelyn into the wings. Her family along with Jaden were directed to their special VIP viewing box in the upper levels.

"Who's Jaden?" I asked hurriedly right before I was dragged onstage.

"My best friend-" she continued to talk but I didn't catch any of it. All I heard was the roar of the fans.

*

Two hours, a lot of dancing and singing later, and somehow everyone ended up back inside the dressing room.

"I don't wanna go!!" Jackson wailed. He clung to Jacelyn's leg screaming and crying as Hunter tried to pull him off. "No! I wanna stay with auntie!!"

"We're just going to the hotel down the street!" Parker coaxed.

"I wanna stay with auntie!"

Suddenly, Jasper scrambled from his mother's arms and ran to hug Jace as well. "Me too!" he screeched.

"Oh for the love of God..." Jace groaned, barely able to move with her exhaustion from the show and with the weight of the kids.

"Jace," Aaron waved her over, forming a small group with the adults. "Boys let go of your aunt. We need to have some adult talk." Aaron's voice was much sterner than I would've used on such little kids, but they obeyed and let go.

"Guys why don't you hang out with uncle Liam," she shooed them all over to me while joining everyone else in the next room over in a small circle.

"Uh Jace I uh..."

The five kids stared at me expectantly with their yearning faces. "You aren't very fun." Francesca stated, crossing her arms.

"Can we play? Are you good like monkey bars?" Annalise began to try and climb me like a playground as I sat on the floor. Her small body scrambled up using my shoulder and arms as steps until she clutched my head with laughter, attempting not to fall. I wasn't sure how to handle kids, so I followed the little one's lead and stood up, bringing Byron and Francesca with me under my arms. They shrieked with fits of giggles and the two boys latched on to my legs.

"We've gotta take down the monster!" Byron screamed, playfully hitting my chest with as much force as she could muster. I found myself smiling, making zombie noises as I trudged around the dressing room playing with them.

A camera shutter clicked and we all froze. Slowly I turned around in a tangle of little kids. Jaden smiled mischievously as she showed the picture of us freshly posted on twitter.

"It was to cute," she said within a chuckle. "I had too."

I set down Byron and Annalise while Francesca refused, staying firmly latched to my side as even Jasper and Jackson lost interest and went to play hide and go seek in the room.

"They sent me in to help you," Jaden continued. The pink streaks in her hair were fading beautifully soft and her deep eyes stared at me with wonder. "Jacelyn said you might need me."

I needed her alright. But not with the kids. With me. Under my arm, wrapped around me, hugging my side instead of little Francesca who I had resorted to holding instead of just leaving her to hang there. I was so attached so quickly. I couldn't help it. I had it bad. The Love Bug.

"I uh.."

"Uncle Liam," Francesca whispered not so discretely. "You can't talk to other girls while you're dating Auntie! That's cheating!"

Her innocence and general concern brought a smile to my face as Jaden chuckled. "He's not dating your aunt sweetheart." Then she turned to me. "You're not right?"