Through The Dark COMPLETED

Chapter 25

Julie and Harry walked into Niall's house when he opened the door the next morning.  "Sorry Niall, I don't mean to disturb you guys but I'd like to give Amanda her birthday present if that's ok.  I wanted her to have it before tonight."  Julie said to him.

Niall kissed her cheek and hugged her.  "Of course.  It's no bother.  She's in the shower now though.  How are you?  We kinda booked out of the airport didn't even get to really talk."

"I'm good.  Seems kind of surreal still, that I'm in London.  Never even dreamed that would ever happen to me.  Let alone with the two hottest guys on the planet."  Julie smiled at him.

"Wow.  Listen to you.  This England air must be messing with your head."  Niall laughed.

"Maybe.  But it's true none the less."  She laughed as he walked them to the living room and they sat on the couch.

Niall sat next to her and put his arm around her.  "I missed you too, ya know.  I haven't gotten to tell you I hate you for quite some time."

Harry grabbed Niall's arm from around her and pulled him up, he then walked him over to the chair and sat him down.  He went back and sat next to Julie.  "I'm telling you two right now you need to cut that out."

Niall laughed.  "Oh the jealousy.  I seem to recall you kissing my girlfriend in LA."

"Only because mine told me too."  Harry said.

"Oh good lord you two."  Julie rolled her eyes.  She stood up when Amanda came into the room.  "Happy Birthday Bestie!!!"  She went over and hugged her.  She took her hand and walked her over to the couch.  "I wanted to bring you your present first.  Before Niall shows me up."  She handed her a wrapped box.

"You didn't have to get me a present."  She slowly started to unwrap it.

"Oh, it's nothing much.  It might even be quite corny so I'm sorry about that.  Besides money might be a little tight since, oh, I don't know, we ran off on our responsibilities to hang out with cute boys."  She shrugged.

Amanda laughed.  "It really is good to have you back smartass."

Harry shook his head and laughed.  "Seriously.  Welcome back."

Niall laughed.  "She's calling us cute though.  I will take it."

Julie watched Amanda open the box.  It was a Best Friends picture frame.  Inside the frame was the very first picture they had ever had taken together.  The day they moved into their apartment.  Next to the picture Amanda saw a poem.  She could tell it was written in Julie's notebook and carefully removed and placed inside the frame.  The poem read:

From the moment we met everything fell into place
Whenever I'm down I just have to look at your face
You help me up whenever I fall
You never question my complete confusion at all
You're beautiful and kind and full of love
It's like you're my angel watching from above
You accept my crazy, my fear and my pain
You get me through the storm and the rain
I can't imagine living my life without you
So thank you best friend for all that you do

It was signed.  All my love always and forever.  Happy 22nd Birthday.  Your bestie, Always.  JJ.

"JJ."  Was all Amanda could say.  She just kept staring at the frame and its contents.

"Yeah.  Again, sorry it's corny.  But Happy Birthday.  And I love you."  Julie said shrugging her shoulders.

Amanda looked up at JJ.  The tears were streaming down her face.  She still didn't have words to express the way she was feeling.

Julie stood up.  "That bad?  Sorry."

"Oh god no!"  Amanda pulled JJ back down to the couch.  She hugged her which knocked her into Harry.  Amanda then took JJ's face in her hands and covered it with kisses.

"Panda!"  Julie said trying to sit back up.

"It...is...the....best...gift....ever!"  Amanda said.

"Ok! Ok! Ok!"  Julie said trying to escape.

Amanda finally let her go.  "If that is what you write in that damn notebook how come you don't let everyone see?"

"It's no big deal.  Really."  Julie said getting uncomfortable and standing up.  "I'm glad you like it though."

"Like it?  I LOVE it!"  Amanda said standing up and hugging her again.  "But I want to read more now.  Why don't you let anyone?"

"I don't want to talk about it, especially today."  Julie said.  She kissed Amanda's cheek and then stepped back.  "We're going to leave now.  Will see you later tonight."  She reached her hand out to Harry.

Harry took it to stand up.  He grabbed Amanda into a great big hug.  He held her there for a while.  "Happy Birthday beautiful!  Hope you have a super day."  He kissed her quick and then stepped back.

"Thanks, Harry."  Amanda said hugging Julie again.  "And thanks again for the best present.  We will talk later."

"Ugh what is it with you people and talking.  Let's play the game who can be quietest the longest."  Julie said.

"No, you'd win that game hands down.  That's not a fair game."  Amanda said laughing.  "See you tonight and remember you have to wear what I packed.  And no looking until you put it on."

"I never agreed to that."  Julie said.  "You just assumed I would."

"It is my birthday and you would never disappoint me on my birthday."  Amanda pouted.

"Oh shut up."  Julie said walking to the door.

"Love you, JJ!"  Amanda yelled as JJ and Harry were walking out the door.

"Love you too."  Julie said.  "Hate you Niall."

"Hate you too.  See you later."  Niall said shutting the door behind them.
Niall wrapped Amanda in his arms.  "Well that was a nice surprise.  Who knew JJ could be so sentimental."

"I did.  I knew she has a big heart she just doesn't show it.  I have guesses as to why but that's for another time."  Amanda said.  The tears started flowing again.  "I'm just so glad she showed me what she wrote.  She opened up something she's hidden for so long.  I'm just so glad."

"For you, Amanda, I think that girl would do just about anything."  Niall said kissing her.  "I think that you completely saved that girl from self-destruction."

Amanda started crying harder.  "Geez.  If this is how today is gonna go I might run out of tears."

"Well, it's true.  It's my turn to give you your gift.  Weird I'm the song writer and I didn't think to write you something like that."  Niall laughed.  He took her hand and sat her back down in the front.  He handed her a small beautifully wrapped box.  "Happy Birthday Princess."

Amanda took a deep breath.  For some reason she had a feeling she would just keep crying.  Probably even harder.  She took her time and carefully unwrapped it.  She opened the box and pulled out the necklace.  It was custom made from Tiffany's.  It was in the shape of a guitar.  Which was perfect enough.  When she looked at the face of the guitar it was engraved with the words "My Princess".  When she flipped it over she saw N & A with a heart.  She was right the tears flowed even harder.  She looked up at him.

"I didn't mean to make you cry."  He squatted down in front of her.

"How could I not cry?  It's the most amazing gift ever.  It's beautiful, first of all, and then it's so personal and the fact you took the time to have it made custom for me.  Oh my god.  What a perfect birthday so far."

"And it's only just begun."  Niall said standing up.  "We have reservations for dinner at 7.  That gives us a couple of hours before we have to leave."  He took the necklace from her hands and put it around her neck.  He took the guitar in his hands.  "It looks even better in its place."  He kissed her.  "I love you.  Happy Birthday."

"I love you too."  Amanda said trying to stop the tears.  "I don't think I'm ever going to stop crying.  Damn you and JJ."

Niall laughed.  "It's only because we love you."  He kissed her again and wrapped his arms tighter around her.

Amanda stepped back and grabbed his hand walking backwards pulling him with her.  "I'm taking you to your room.  For making me cry."

"Oh please, punish me."  He said laughing.  He followed her willingly.  He was glad they had late dinner reservations.

Harry walked into his house after he let Julie in.  He threw his keys on the table and walked into his living room.  He watched Julie standing at the window looking out again.  She was quiet on the way home too.  He walked behind her and put his arms around her waist.  He smiled when she put her hands on his arms.  That's how it was supposed to go.  "You ok?"

"Yeah."  She leaned back against him.  "I'm good.  Feels good to have an ocean between me and my problems.  Least for a little while."

"Huh.  I never thought about it like that."  He picked her up and took her to the couch.  "How about you let me spoon with you for a little while."  He wrapped her in his arms.

"I thought you liked to be the little spoon."  Julie teased.

Harry laughed.  "Yeah, well, not when it comes to protecting you.  I want to wrap you up and keep you safe."

She cuddled into him as close as she could.  "I've always been pretty independent.  Pretty strong.  I never counted on anyone besides myself.  I blame you for making me soft.  Cuz this is the only place I want to be."

"Soft isn't exactly how I would describe you, love."  Harry laughed.

"Wow.  This whole love thing.  Once it starts...."  Julie started.

"Yeah get used to it."  Harry said.  "It's not a bad thing."

"No, it's not."  Julie took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  "But it is rather intimidating."

"Only to you love, only to you."  He kissed her.  "I think there's nothing better."

"I'm trying."  Julie said playing with Harry's fingers.  Seemed to be a lazy habit of hers.

"I know you are.  I'm not complaining.  I never dreamed you would tell me you loved me first.  So I'm taking it and running."  Harry said.

"You don't seem to be getting very far."  Julie said closing her eyes.

"I'm running with you.  Wherever it takes us."  He laid his head back and closed his eyes.  Before either knew it, they were asleep in each other's arms.

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*the story is complete fan fiction