Family Ties

Outgoing

Hannah's POV

I pulled back into the driveway after dropping the kids off, sighing as I turned off the car and grabbed my purse from the passenger seat. I was hoping Liv and Niall were still sleeping, I knew they needed a good rest and I'd done my best to keep the kids quiet as they got ready for school. I wasn't sure what to make of what had happened over the weekend with Liv, all I knew was that my best friend had been through something that sounded horrifying and all I could do was be there for her as much as I could.

I went into the house as quietly as possible, trying not to make any noise and hoping they were both still in bed, but my hopes were half gone when I found Niall sitting at the kitchen table staring out the window.

"Hey." I said softly as I approached him, gently running my hand over his shoulder as he turned to look at me.

"Hey, Han." He said, doing his best to shoot me a soft smile as he seemed to break out of the trance he was in.

"How you doin? I was hoping you'd still be sleeping." I looked down at him, noticing how tired he looked.

"I didn't sleep much." He sighed. "I just kept racking my brain trying to figure out why anyone could possibly wanna do this."

"I don't know, sweetie." I said sympathetically as I reached out and grabbed his hand. "But we'll get to the bottom of it."

He let out a big sigh and nodded, letting me know that he wasn't really comforted by my words but he appreciated them anyway.

"I take it she's still sleeping?" I asked as I stood up, checking the fridge for something I could make him to eat before I started to make him a cup of coffee.

"Yeah...took me a while to get her to sleep. She was fully shaking in my arms for the first little bit, I've never seen her like that." He said, his worry obvious. "You know Liv, she doesn't get too worked up about much."

"That's for sure." I sighed, thinking about how many times in our entire lives I'd seen her truly upset and having difficulty remembering any. "She's Liv though, she'll be alright. She always is."

He nodded in thanks as I handed him a cup of coffee, taking a sip and looking like he was hoping it would give him the boost he needed.

"Anyway, I haven't seen you in a while. How was the cabin? The kids have fun?" He asked, doing his best to change the subject.

"Yeah, I think it was really good for them. It was good for all of us, actually." I sighed, remembering the reason Harry and the kids came up there in the first place was because I'd taken off to be alone.

"Good. I know Harry was a wreck last week, I'm glad you guys sorted it all out."

"It really wasn't about Harry and I, he's amazing and our relationship is strong. It was me. I just...I guess I needed to sort my head out, think about my own shit, you know?" I sighed as I sat down across from him.

"Yeah...I know. We all do. You've been through a lot, Han. I'm really proud of the way you've handled it all. I know your mom and Em would be too." He smiled softly. "The kids seem to be doing well. I gotta say, it's a little crazy to see Harry like this. A few years ago he couldn't even tell you he loved you, now you guys are parents, building a new house, he's teaching Hank how to be a man and Mace is bribing him with kisses to watch Frozen. Life's crazy."

"It sure is." I chuckled. "I can't believe it sometimes. Sometimes I just feel like I'm in some haze, like I'm living in someone else's life. Don't get me wrong, it's a good life, I guess sometimes I just feel like I'm not as connected to it as I should be."