1D) Adopted by Niall Horan *Under Major Editing

Ch. 23 The Brits

Niall's POV

"For Ellie." "For Ellie." "For Ellie." "For Ellie." "For Ellie."

We said the same thing before the Brits started. We were each wearing our bracelets and I was also wearing my tags. All for Ellie, because tonight, she could be out there watching like the rest of the country. She could also be dead, but no one wanted to mention. It was better to be positive.

"We do this, and then we party," Harry said, "We can talk about the other thing later." Zayn refused to let us mention anything that had to do with Ellie. I was fine with the rule, if anyone would have said anything, I would have burst into tears. My poor little Ellie.

I warmed up with Harry since he was closer to my age and we could talk about things. "How's life," I asked. "Okay, right now atleast," he replied. There really was nothing to talk about except what had happened to my precious daughter.

"Next performing tonight will be every girl's favorite in the house, one direction!" the host said, making all the ladies go wild. We were so lucky to be that famous and have such great fans. More of a blessing than a curse, that was for sure.

"Hello England, how are we doing tonight!" Louis yelled into the microphone. Everyone screamed back and cheered. I picked up my guitar and began to play with the band. I made sure to make every note perfect, just for Ellie.

Harry and Liam began the song with beautiful, clear voices as always. Then, Zayn took over with his lovely voice. After that, it was my turn.

"Written in these walls are the colors that I can't change. I leave my heart open but it stays right here in its cage. I know that in the morning..." I finished it and returned to focusing on my guitar. Don't think about it, Niall. Just ignore every thought in your mind except singing your next part and the guitar.

As soon as Zayn began singing, every memory with Ellie flooded into my mind. And running after her now was really like chasing the clouds. Almost impossible.

I opened my mouth to sing again. "The story of my life, I take her home. I drive all night to keep her warm and time, is fro-o-o-o-ozen." I couldn't take it anymore. I ran off stage, crying. I heard the crowd gasp, but I didn't care. The boys could do the chorus without me.

I ran behind a random curtain and cried to myself. She was missing. And only God knew where she was at this point. No one knew where to look and there was barely any evidence. There was a good chance that I would never see my baby again. What I would give to hear her laugh one more time. To hold her one more time, I would never regret it and I would cherish every second.

"Where the hell could he have gone?" I heard Zayn say. I just slid farther behind the curtains. I didn't want to talk to any of them, I just wanted to talk to my Ellie.

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Ellie's POV

They were all wearing their bracelets.

That was the first thing that I noticed as they walked on stage. "Hello, England, how are we doing tonight!" Louis shouted. The crowd screamed and cheered in response. Niall looked back and began to play.

It was all perfect until the end. "And time is fro-o-o-o-ozen," Niall sang before running off stage. He sang it perfect, but he ran away. At first, I thought that it was choreographed, but then I looked at the rest of the lads' faces. They were shocked, but they continued to sing. The last glimpse that I caught of Niall's face was one that I will never forget.

He was crying.

I felt tears form in my eyes. He couldn't even finish the song without me. I couldn't believe my eyes.

"Niall Horan runs off crying, Linda, what do you think could be the matter?" the man that was hosting the talking part of the show said to his co-host. "I would suppose that it would have to do with emotional issues concerning his daughter, Ellie," she said. Oh my god. It was true. "Yes, I guess that would be so," he agreed, "She is quite the cutie, isn't she?" "It would seem that most of the crowd agrees," she said. I saw multiple #FindingEllie signs. They all had the same picure of Niall and I walking into the zoo. The memories that flooded in my head made me tear up.

"Niall won't speak to anyone except us," Harry said on the tv, "He is depressed, hopefully you all understand." Everyone screamed and cheered again, as they always did. "Thank you!" Liam shouted as my tv shut.

I knew deep in my heart that when it came back on, it would show horrible images. I knew that the lads would get the Brit. I knew that they would have a huge speech and that I would be in it. And I knew that everyone in the building would be crying. I prepared myself for the expected, but it was worse.

"This Brit means so much to us," Harry said, "We love you all, everywhere that you are tonight. It was so amazing to win this award, and it is all because of every one of you out there. You are the best fans and we couldn't ask for better. Especially after what has been going on for the past few weeks. You can't even begin to imagine the storm going on in our heads." He sniffed as he continued. "Ellie, I know that you are out there. I just want you to fight. I want you back. Zayn wants you back. Liam wants you back. Louis wants you back. But most of all, Niall wants you back. Fight for it, love, don't let them get to you. What doesn't kill you can only make you stronger." And with that, the tv shut off.

I stared at it for atleast ten minutes, stunned by what had just happened. Harry gave me useful advice that I hadn't yet figured out.

I could get out of this mess alive. That bastard upstairs wasn't making me weaker at all. Everything he said ricocheted off of me. It was useless shit. I was better than that. I knew that there are people out there that love me. I wasn't useless. All I need was one phrase.

"Fight for it, love, don't let them get to you. What doesn't kill you can only make you stronger."

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