Walking Through the Time Capsule
Chapter 64
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Niall...
I had consistently been checking the time, and as the clock finally reached ten o'clock, signaling the end of the two hours, I was elated. I stared at her eyes, anxiously waiting for her to wake up. When it reached quarter after, and there was still no sign of movement, I was really starting to get antsy. Two hours was obviously an approximation, no need to freak out over fifteen minutes. I was just justifiably antsy because I wanted her awake.
Finally, after what felt like hours, but was only another five minutes, her body slowly started twitching and stretching, preparing to wake up. She sucked in a long intake of breath, then breathed it out as she rolled slightly onto her back, only to curl back onto her side a second later.
I clutched her hand tight, feeling her give it a subconscious squeeze, as she let out a soft groan. After a second, her eyes finally started to slowly flutter open. She calmly blinked a few times, surveying her surroundings and adjusting to the bright lights that her previous prison lacked, clearly much calmer than she initially was.
I eagerly stared at her fluttering eye lids, patiently waiting for her to meet my gaze. When she finally did, I felt my heart skip a beat as she took my breath away.
"Annabelle." I breathed, letting my love and relief fill my whisper.
Her eyes slightly widened as she took in my appearance. "Niall?" She whimpered out in shock, shifting her head off the pillow slightly. Her eyes started brimming with tears, like she couldn't believe I was actually here.
"Yes, Princess. I'm here." I repeated for probably the hundredth time, happily willing to say the words again and again.
She tried to shoot up to me, but I was quick to stop her, carefully scooping her into my arms instead. She started to violently sob as she wrapped her arms tightly around my neck. I would be lying if I didn't say tears were starting to drip out of my eyes too.
"I thought I'd never see you again!" She cried, her voice muffled since it was buried in my neck.
"Never." I croaked. "I never would've stopped looking for you."
I continued to cradle her in my arms as we both cried. At some point, I ended up off the chair, and sliding into the bed, pulling her completely onto my lap where she curled up on me.
"I thought I was hallucinating when I saw you. I thought I was dying." She sobbed into my chest.
"It was me, darlin', I found you." I cried with her. "I found you." I whispered softer, as if I still couldn't believe my words. "I thought I lost you."
"I don't hate you." She pulled away to look into my eyes. Her face was scrunched up in agony as she cried. "I could never hate you. I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. I'm so sorry. I don't hate you."
"Hey, hey." I cooed gently, pulling her back to my chest. "Stop that. I know you don't, I know." I wasn't about to tell her that her words had been haunting me since she ran out of the kitchen. "All that matters is you're here now. You're safe, and I love you." I kissed her forehead, leaving a salty, wet kiss. "I love you so much."
I laid with her in my arms, for what felt like forever, before we both stopped crying. I calmly held her close, brushing my fingers through her hair. She silently laid on top of me, clutching her hands on my shirt, as if she was frightened to let go.
I let the soft sound of her light breathing keep me at ease. I would've thought she had fallen asleep on me if it weren't for her speaking quietly.
"There was a tiny little window." She said it in the smallest of whispers, if it wasn't already silent in the room, I wouldn't have heard her. "It left a little patch of light on the floor. During the day, the sun would warm it up. At night, the moon left a silver square. When they weren't with me, I would always lay in the spot." Her voice started to crack, causing my eyes to water again. "I felt close to you when I laid there. I knew that, no matter where you were, you were feeling the same sun and seeing the same moon." She started to full on cry again, tucking herself into me. "You're the only thing that kept me going."
"I love you, Annabelle." I mumbled into her hair, not knowing what else to say. I knew if I spoke more, I'd be a blubbering mess.
"I love you, Niall." She whimpered.
I held her in my arms for what felt like forever, but was only really fifteen minutes, before we both finally stopped crying.
"Where's everyone else?" She asked, seeming a lot more calmed down.
I was about to speak when the door burst open.
"Right here." Melanie cracked, rushing into the room.
"Mellie!" Annabelle shrieked, allowing me to help her into a sitting position to hug her best friend.
"Gosh, were you guys listening through the door or something?" I asked with a slight chuckle in my voice.
"Nah, we just got good timing." Louis shrugged, taking his turn to hug Annabelle, who started to cry again.
"Like we said, we wanted to give you guys some time alone, and we happened to peek through the door in time to hear her ask where we were." Eleanor explained.
"We are so glad you're okay." Harry cried, hugging his 'little sister'.
Everyone went around to give their hugs, and the doctor had come in to check on her. When he saw everything was fine, he left us alone again. We spent the next couple hours just being here for each other, filling Annabelle in on things she'd missed, and bringing out all the birthday stuff again. We had a few hours left of her birthday so, why not?
"Of course you did." Annabelle giggled when I put the Rapunzel tiara on her head. "I love it."
"I knew you would. I got this too." I grinned, loving her reaction to the Cinderella party hat I put on myself.
"I'm telling you, if you were a girl, you would be the perfect twin of Cinderella."
"I know you can't eat it, but look at how pretty the cake is!" Melanie bubbled, shoving the half eaten cake on Annabelle's lap. "We made sure to save the picture for you."
"I love it so much guys! Thank you! This is the best birthday I've had in so long." She smiled, squeezing my hand.
I couldn't help but let a slight pinch of sadness and guilt seep in. Having her day spent in the hospital after just getting out of a violently induced coma, should not be the best birthday she'd had in years. I couldn't help but blame myself for it.
"We're so glad you like it." Liam cheered, leading me to nod in agreement, forcing away any negative thoughts before they could cloud my mind.
"Once you're feeling better, why don't we go do something fun, to make up for spending your birthday here." I suggested. "Anything you want, Princess."
She barely thought for even a moment, before a small smile graced her lips. I couldn't help myself from stealing a quick kiss. "How about Disneyland." She said once I forced myself to pull away.
I chuckled, along with everyone else, not even feeling the least bit surprised. "How fittingly perfect, for my princess."
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YOU ARE READING
Walking Through the Time Capsule
Fanfiction"I don't know what to do. How do I fix her, when she won't even look me in the eye?" "Do you still have that box she dug up?" "Yea, why?" "I think you need to help her remember by re-telling her the both of your story. Walk her through your time cap...
