AND A THIRD MAKES IT EVEN (An Alex Turner Fanfiction)

Chapter 16- I'm Quite Alright Hiding Today

A/N This one has been rather delayed, I know! But I've been swamped with work, and have college applications and exams coming up, and my general ill-health hasn't helped matters. So I'm hoping the tardiness shall be forgiven and that ya'll enjoy this chapter. I'm also going to be extremely busy in the coming months, but I shall persevere and continue updating with as much regularity as I can, so please bear with me. :) Do keep reading! And don't forget to vote and comment! 

Cheers! XOXO

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Miles hadn't had days this bad in some time. He'd flown down to London but had headed straight to his apartment and crashed, before meeting his mother and his aunt in the morning who were staying at a bed and breakfast run by an old friend of his aunt. But there had been no joyous reunion as per the usual. Instead it was strained, and silent. He was still upset that she'd decided to not divulge something as important as a heart surgery to him, but also extremely worried about things not going well.

Though he'd been tired and fallen asleep within seconds of falling into his bed, he'd had a disturbed sleep and had woken up before sunlight, and been unable to go back to bed. He'd lit up a cigarette and gone off for a walk, smoking more in the early hours than he did during a day. He'd walked back in around eight and taken a quick shower before heading off to see his mother. They'd had a sedate breakfast with little conversation. The visit to the hospital just kept looming upon his head. He'd driven them all to the hospital and after the hospital had run some tests he'd had a chat with his mother's consultant about what the fuck was going on. Though he'd gotten all the information on the procedure and recovery and the risks involved, he still felt troubled.

Zia had texted and he'd spoken to Alex on the phone. It was strange to be away from him after they'd been touring together for such a long time. The conversation had left him feeling a little emotional. He'd known Alex would be an important part of his life from the day they'd met, but it was at times like these when he truly felt the intensity and depth of their relationship. And Zia, who was such a new addition to their life, but had become equally as important somehow. The knowledge that she'd be with him soon was like a soothing balm to his frayed nerves. He felt the faint fluttering of something in his being and knew that this was going to be a turning point. He'd known he'd been headed this way. All this while, from the time they'd met in London that night which now seemed almost like it happened in another life, he'd known he was headed towards this and now felt strangely calm about it, embracing the inevitability of his feelings for her.

And so it was in a maudlin mood that he'd driven his mother and aunt back to the bed and breakfast. He'd not stayed, letting them rest. They were checking his mother in at the hospital that evening, something about it being easier to prepare her for surgery if she stayed overnight. He was going to drive her back to the hospital later and felt it better if he just left for the time being. It wasn't as if anyone was in much of a mood to have any sort of conversation or enjoy the company. His aunt was going to stay with his mother. He'd told her she'd already gone to so much trouble but the look he'd received from her had shut him up. They were extremely close, his aunt and his mum and he could respect that.

Back at his own apartment he poured himself a drink and sat in front of the television watching some old WWE fights. There really wasn't anything to do. His mind felt a little numb. He entertained the idea of calling either Alex or Zia but then decided not to. He dozed on the sofa with the television still running for some time before finally driving back to take his mother to the hospital.

Checking in at the hospital took little time. His mother had a private room, with a window overlooking a small garden and a television. It was comfortable and he was glad for it. His aunt was going to come in later and he sat with his mum, finally relaxing a little.