Ronan: To the Moon and Back

29. Can We Pay Your Bills

Rae's startled awake by a loud crash coming from the first floor. Her eyes fly open, landing on the digital clock next to her bed; 6:58 am. She groans. It's her day off dammit. Rae weakly wipes the sleep from her eyes, shifting and stretching out her body with the covers tangled around her legs before sitting up. Another loud crash alarms her, finally realizing with a surge of fear, that it's too early for her mother to be home yet.

Glancing around her room looking for anything that can be a makeshift weapon, her eyes lands on a clear umbrella sitting in the corner of her room. So she gets up, grabbing it before quietly and cautiously tip-toeing downstairs. This intruder isn't very discrete, not with how they're making all sorts of noises in the kitchen.

Rae presses herself against the wall just before the entrance, hoping her any sort of ninja skills comes in handy. Taking in a deep breath, she peeks around the wall and sees nothing. She leans back, shrugs and throws caution to the wind. She abruptly jumps out from behind the wall, umbrella weapon raised in the air. Apparently said intruder was further in the kitchen than she thought, and they turn the same moment Rae jumps out; both yelping in surprise.

"Bloody hell, Harry!" Rae curses loudly. "How'd you get in here? Actually, why are you here?"

Harry eyes the umbrella warily, frying pan in hand. "What do you mean? We were here all night. What were you going to do, poke our eyes out?"

She lightly smacks his hip with her weapon of choice. "I thought you were robber or -wait no. You didn't answer my question. How'd you get in here? Why are you holding a frying pan and, why are Zayn's glasses on the counter?"

Harry chuckles, placing the frying down on the stove. "You're rather observant in the morning."

"You broke into my house." Rae mumbles, pouting as Harry makes mocking hand motions to her umbrella.

"First, my little umbrella wielding pal, you were the one who put the key in the flower pot. Louis called us around two in the morning. Told us to get our arses over here otherwise he'll take back our Christmas gifts, but by the time we got here you were already sleeping. So Zayn and I decided to stay the night. Liam and Niall were here too, but they were called for a radio interview and had to leave."

Rae's mouth falls open into a little O, recalling her panic attack last night. She finally drops the umbrella on the island, leans forwards and drops her face into her hands. "I forgot. M'sorry."

A moment later, she feels a hand rub soothingly at her back. "Wanna talk about it? Louis was beside himself. Almost drove back in the dead of night. In a snowstorm." Harry informs her. Rae makes a sudden sound, but Harry reassures her.

"He didn't though. We tried convincing him to stay a few more days. But he's stubborn and worried about you so, he'll be back tonight."

Rae nods and misses the way Harry bites his lip in concern. "Do you not want to talk about it? It's just..." He pauses to take a breath. "Your, erm, your chest was a bit red and I just want to make sure you're alright."

Raelyn peeks an eye out first, then drops her hands, leans up and places one hand on Harry's and squeezes. The tiny show of appreciation doesn't go unnoticed; Harry returning a smile. She swipes her thumb over his small cross tattoo.

"I'm all good now, yeah." She tells him softly. "Ronan is- he can be quite curious. He's so smart, you know. He notices things most four year old shouldn't. He noticed that the twins weren't there and just started asking questions. Like why this and why that and if God hates him. I guess it just got to me and gave myself a bit of panic attack." She shrugs. "But thank you, really, for checking on me."