My fault - His fault

The visit

Liam anxiously waited for Niall to be brought in by one of the guards. His heart was pounding and he was desperately trying to control his shaking hands. He took deep breaths to try and stop his heart from beating so fast. He was looking down at his hands as his fingers dwindled. He didn't even hear Niall approach.

"Liam?" He said as he stared in disbelief.

His head popped up, "Niall! H-hey," He was shocked by Niall's appearance. He didn't even look like the same Niall anymore. He was so pale, so scrawny, so... different.

Niall slowly sat down, not taking his eyes off Liam, he was all too worried that he would wake up and realise that this was just a dream. "Hi, I... I didn't think you'd be the one here."

"I couldn't stay away any longer," Liam smiled, but it was only half hearted and gone as quickly as it came.

"I... I'm glad you're here,"

"Really?" Liam asked astonished,

Niall nodded, "I missed you,"

It took all of Liam's mental strength not to wrap Niall in a massive hug. "I've missed you too. I'm sorry I didn't come sooner, Ni. I was afraid you'd hate me and blame me for the accident, and you wouldn't want me here,"

"Hate you? I couldn't hate you! I'm the idiot that crashed the car,"

"But I'm Daddy Direction, I'm supposed to protect you. I'm supposed to keep you four idiots in line and remind you to be responsible. I didn't do my job!"

Niall couldn't believe what he was hearing, "Liam, the only thing you've ever done wrong is mix up the salt and sugar in that cake you tried to bake," They both laughed for moment, then Niall sighed "What I did... That was my decision. Mine. You shouldn't be thinking that any of it is your fault,"

"I can't believe you're giving me a pep talk from prison,"

Niall smiled and for a second, just for a second, Liam saw the Niall he knew. The Niall who gave the best hugs, who loved food, who came to him when the hate got to much. Now he was behind bars. He couldn't come to Liam when he was in pain. He couldn't hug him...

"Liam. Liam? You okay?"

Liam was bought out of his thoughts, "Oh... I'm fine, how are you?"

"I... I'm okay," that was probably the biggest lie Niall had ever told. He was anything but okay. "I have something to tell you though. I didn't want to before, but now that you've come to see me, you should know,"

"Okay,"

"I could... In six months I... I could get out,"

Liam's eyes widened, "What? Are you serious?"

"That's what James told me. He said that because of my good behaviour I could get released early,"

"That's awesome! ... Why weren't you going to tell me before?"

"Well, how you thought I'd hate you... I thought you hated me. I thought you wouldn't want me to come back home,"

"Don't think like that Ni, of course I want you home," Liam replied, "I want that more then anything else,"

Niall smiled, "Even Harry coming back from the dead?"

Liam laughed, "Okay... Make it the second thing I want more then anything else,"

"I love you Li,"

"I love you too, Ni,"

They kept talking for a few more minutes until the guard came to take Niall back to his cell.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Liam entered the house carrying a couple of groceries, "Hey," he said to Zayn and Louis.

"Hey, Liam. Where've you been?" Louis asked

"Shopping,"

"For this long?" Zayn asked incredulously

Liam smiled, "I had to make a pit stop... I went to see Niall,"

Neither Zayn nor Louis could believe it,

"You... you what?" Zayn asked

"Went to see Niall,"

"And... and you're smiling? Are you sure you saw the right kid?" Louis asked

Liam walked over to the couch and sat down. The smile had now faded, "I'm sure. I can see what you're so worried about. He doesn't look... like himself anymore. But, I'm happy. Maybe not the happiest person alive, but I'm happy."

"Why?" Louis and Zayn asked

"Niall doesn't hate me. He knows I don't hate him, and in six months his room will be occupied again."

Zayn leapt to his feet in anger, "You will not replace Niall!"

Liam laughed, "Relax, I would never replace Niall,"

"So what? Did you get Danielle pregnant?" Louis asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"No, no she's not. We broke up months ago. Niall might be able to come home soon,"

"You're kidding!" They said at once and Liam tried to hold down a laugh,

"I thought it was at first too. It's true though,"

"That's great!" Louis exclaimed in excitement, while Zayn just smiled.

"I know... Lads, I want to thank you for giving me the strength to go see Niall,"

"What do you mean?" Louis asked

"If it weren't for you both making me realise how selfish I was being, I wouldn't have gone to see him. He would still think I hated him, and when he got out he'd probably end up on the street somewhere or back in Ireland. Thank you,"

"No problem man,"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Harry watched silently as Niall lay in his bed, for the first time since he was he had arrived in prison Niall looked... relaxed. And Harry was happy about it, this was a step forward. Already his visions were beginning to change and instead of Louis finding Niall hours to late it was Zayn and Liam finding Niall before he was completely gone.

Ah Liam magic Harry sighed, it always worked better on Niall then Harry magic did, he thought.

Meanwhile Niall did indeed feel relaxed. Maybe not the 'lay back in the recliner and take a nap' relaxed, but he was able to breath a little better. He knew that once he left prison he would have a place to go. He knew Liam didn't hate him.

However... that didn't stop him from hating himself

A/N Just a little fore-warning, the next chapter skips over the next few months.