Behind Closed Doors *Narry*

Chapter 12

Niall heard buzzing in his ears. Felt twigs wrapping themselves around his arms and shoulders. Smelt the unease in the air. Tasted the cold in the room.

He felt trapped. Confused. Ecstatic.

Niall could see the man, not much taller than himself, standing before him in a lazy hoodie and fitted jeans. He could almost feel his smile with it's enormity. The man was waiting for him. Thats why he was confused. Who'd want to see me? He thought carelessly to himself.

He could feel the presence of Paul and Liam at his shoulders, arms rubbing against his. He tried to hide the flinch at their grazing contact. The one thing he didn't quite understand was why Paul and Liam seemed so happy. Paul was completely beaming at Niall, his smile so wide he could have sworn his face might split in two. Liam was a little less excited, more reserved and calm about the ordeal but happy none the less. But what the hell would they be so goddamn happy about?

But as Niall neared the stranger in the worn out hoodie he began to recognize, to regester the features, the posture. The first thing he noticed was the sparkling blue eyes because of course he had a pair to match. Then it was the prickling hairs surrounding his upturned mouth. Then the hair, then the smile.

When he fully understood what was happening he full on sprinted. He forgot about the two men hovering behind him and bolted towards the man a never ending smile etching itself onto his face.

"Oh my God," was continuously repeated under his breath. And only did it stop when the man's arms encircled him.

"Hey, baby bro," Greg whispered into his ear for no one else to hear.

Niall was too busy gripping his brothers hoodie and pulling him taut against him to care to respond. And Greg didn't mind, he knew how he felt. He'd missed Niall just as much.

Niall and Greg didn't say anything else for a long while and neither tried to pull away from the other. It was hard not to cry at this point, they hadn't seen each other in the longest time and this moment was too much to bare. Niall's tears were just trailing down his cheeks in a hot stream as were his brothers.

The brothers were too caught up in thier reunion to notice the arrival of the three other boys. All of them stood awkwardly to the side as they embraced. The boys were confused to say the least. They were still completely unaware that Greg was a soldier making their enormous hug seem odd. Paul of course knew damn well what was going on and he couldn't be happier for the poor lad.

"Its been too long, huh?" Greg whispering chuckling against Niall. Niall doesn't answer still, merely nods his head rapidly.

As much as Greg would like to hold his brother a little longer he has to be polite and greet the rest of the boys. He hesitantly disconnects from Niall, with more than a little protest, and walks over to the lads.

"Its nice to see you, lads! its been quite a while."

They all embrace quickly exchanging kind words.

"Where have ya been, Greg?" Harry asks, concern dripping from his voice.

"Oh here and there, business has been crazy lately. Finally got leave for a while." He looks down at Niall for a second with unease in his eyes.

"Well as much as we'd like to stay and chat," Paul begins turning towards Liam Louis Harry and Zayn before continuing, "You four have got yourselves an interview to attend. So chop chop, go get ready you've got ten!"

They all back away confused and taken aback, looking between Paul and Niall with hesitancy in their eyes.

After Nialls sure the boys are much too far away he asks"Wait, Paul why am I not going as well?"