Claire Bear (M.A.D)

Chapter Seventeen

We walked into the airport, hand in hand, Michael pulling our suitcase behind him and each of us with a carry-on backpack on our backs. Michael was beyond excited and you could see the spring in his step. There were crinkles by his eyes as he smiled broadly.

We said our final goodbyes to the boys and wished them all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We all hugged and Dan pecked me on the cheek.

"Don't kill him over the holidays. We kinda need him I suppose." Dan chuckled, looking at me and then ruffling Michael's hair (he'd only taken his hat off for a moment; what timing). Michael, slightly annoyed, flattened his hair and put his beanie back on, smoothing the sides. I laughed.

"I'll get you for that Danny Boy!" he threatened but he was laughing. "As for you little rascal, you'll pay for being a part of that!" He bent down and grabbed me around the waist. I laughed and he told Dan to take my shoes.

"Go! Run!" he told Dan.

We were lucky we were early because I spent a good 10 minutes chasing after Dan, attempting to get my shoes back from him and slipping and sliding everywhere in my socks. They were tossed from Dan to Aiden to Ben to Michael to Aiden to Dan and I couldn't keep up.

The game ended when George returned from checking in our luggage and my shoes were handed to me reluctantly by Aiden.

"Thank you." I said sarcastically as I took the shoes and straightened my backpack on my shoulders. I acted really annoyed and they all looked genuinely sorry and started apologizing until I laughed.

"Gotcha!" I cried before grabbing Michael's hand and pulling him at a run in my slippery socks towards the boarding gates. "Bye!" I called over my shoulder. As I did so, Michael turned and waved over his shoulder. The boys all stood smiling and waving until they were no longer visible through the thickening crowd.

We went through security and everything and were finally sitting at our gate, ready to board. I still hadn't bothered to put my shoes on and I put them down on the floor with my bag as I took the seat next to Michael. I tucked my feet up and rested against Michael.

"Hey, I think that coffee's wearing off." I yawned.

"Maybe you should have had chocolate in yours too." he smiled, looking down his shoulder at me. I turned so my chin was resting on his shoulder and we were looking right into each other's faces. We stayed like that for a moment before Michael scrunched his nose then kissed me on mine with a smile. He turned his attention back to the room that was filling up fast and I did the same.

"I'll wake you when it's time to board." He whispered and put his arm around me.

No sooner had I drifted off, I felt someone nudging me.

"Claire Bear, time to board." the familiar voice told me. I felt a shift in position and just before I opened my eyes I felt familiar lips on mine. I opened my eyes as Michael pulled away. "Come on." he said as he took my hand and pulled me up. I yawned. He already had my shoes and bag in his hand as well as his own bag. I stretched and then took his hand in mine once more.

We boarded and found our seats. We placed our bags under the seat and Michael popped my shoes into the overhead space. Michael was by the window and as soon as he'd shimmied back past me and into his seat I buckled my seat belt and he took my hand in his as it rested on the armrest between us. He turned and grinned at me.

"Let's do this." I grinned.

"Home sweet home." He replied.

Once we'd taken off and Michael and I had stopped whispering jokes about the safety regulations routines and the flight attendants doing them and laughing either because they were terrible puns or because they were true, the seatbelt sign was turned off. I undid mine and Michael did the same before lifting the armrest between us.

"Ungodly hours. They were not made for people." I mumbled as I climbed over and placed my head on Michaels lap and yawned. I leaned down and picked up Michael's ipod and headphones from his bag. I passed them up to him and he put them on the seat beside him. He then started playing with my hair and it was so relaxing, I was asleep in moments, not realising how tired I really was.

When I stirred, I was not sure how long I'd slept but as I turned onto my back and began to rub my eyes I felt Michael shift beneath me. I opened my eyes and he leaned down and kissed my forehead.

"Hey there sleepy head." he whispered before sitting back up. "How are you feeling?" he asked, looking down at me as I yawned. He smiled.

"Better." I replied as I put my hand up to his face. "Come back here." I whispered as I cupped his jawline in my hand and pulled him down towards me, lifting myself too.

His lips tasted sweet and warm with a hint of mint all at once.

"That's better." I whispered into the kiss as our mouths danced more intensely.

"Not here. Not now baby." Michael whispered, reluctantly trying to part our lips but failing due to his own desires.

"I love you." I told him as I pulled away.

"I love you." He whispered back as he watched my lips then climbed his gaze to my eyes.

"What were you listening to?" I asked as I sat up.

"Oh, um...well..." he stammered as he fumbled for his ipod.

"Oooh! Let me see!" I teased as if he'd done something embarrassing and took his ipod before he could change the song that was paused. I pressed the button and the screen lit up.

"Ed Sheeran - Fall"

"Oh, I love this song!" I exclaimed as I took one of the earphones and put it in my ear. I pressed play before noticing it was on loop.

"It's on loop? Aww have you been learning it baby?"

"Um, yeah, kinda." He mumbled sheepishly.

"You'll have to play it to me soon!"

"Yeah. I will." he agreed before putting in the other earphone.

"You and I, we're two of a mind. This love, is one of a kind..." Michael took my hand in his and looked at me. He smiled and I smiled back. It was like some secret sign language.

We sat in comfortable silence with an earphone each playing Fall on loop.

"I will fall for you...If I fall for you..." "Ladies and gentlemen can I have your attention please. Please make your way back to your seats. We will be landing in 5 minutes." "...I will fall for you...I will fall for you..."

Michael stopped the music and took out my earphone before taking out his own and putting them back in his bag as I found my seatbelt and untangled it. We buckled our belts just before the seatbelt sign came back on. I put my hand on the armrest. Michael turned it palm-up and places his laced his fingers between mine.

"Almost there."

"Almost."

The plane dipped and began its descent.

"Ireland. Wonderful beautiful Ireland!" Michael cheered as the plane rolled to a stop.

Finally the seatbelt sign was turned off and everyone, including us, began unbuckling and collecting our things. I stood on the seat and grabbed my shoes, sitting down and putting them on while Michael checked we had everything and we waited for the tightly-packed crowd of people to move from our isle so we could get to the exit. Eventually, we were out in the crisp, cold air of midday Irish winter.

We went through baggage claim and collected our suitcase and Michael wheeled it behind him as weaved through various individuals in search of our welcome committee, never letting our hands become separated so as not to loose each other.

Just then Michael started speeding up. I wondered if he had spotted our families; he was taller than I. And I saw them. And we both took off at a sprint towards them.

We were enveloped in a pile of warm bodies of various shapes and sizes as we collided with our friends and family that had come to welcome us into a hug.