Dark Flame - (Liam Payne AU)

Ch. 18

Juliet POV:

There was silence in the room after Liam introduced his mother. She had sandy blonde hair, and was wearing a dress. She was smiling, but it was an awkward smile. 

"Uh, mom..this is Juliet. My girlfriend." He said introducing me. I shook her hand.

"Hello, dear. I'm Deborah. Just call me Deb, though." she smiled. 

"It's wonderful to meet you, Merry Christmas." I said.

My parents decided that they both wanted to go to bed. I tried to leave Liam and his mother alone,  but Liam begged me not to. 

We both sat on the couch, opposite from her. 

"The house looks the same, dear." His mom said quietly. 

"Thank you for coming, mum. I didn't think you would." Liam said.

"Liam, I've missed you so much. I really have. I was just too scared to come back, you know?" She said.

"He's dead mum. The man who took her, and there's a note that we found." he said, getting up to go get the note.

His mom turned to me. "Hello, dear." She smiled.

"Hello." I said quietly.

"Juliet, is my son good to you?" she asked.

"Yes, he is wonderful." I smiled. 

"Oh, good, good. His father used to be the same way. He was an angel, until.." she trailed off.

"So, how do you like America?" I asked.

"Oh, it's okay. I love Florida. You both should come visit."

"I told Liam that we should...but he said he couldn't because..well, you know." 

"Oh, yes, I forgot about that.." she laughed, "I guess you'll just have to come see me when you're in America." 

"Oh, really?"

"Of course, dear. You're dating my baby boy, so you're practically family..I just wish that I could be here still." She said sadly. "But it's okay. London is filled with too much heartbreak for me. Maybe I'll move back, but to the country side. I hate the gangs here. I love Liam, and I know it's his life, but if I could, I would make him go back to school and never get involved in his father's gang." She says, shaking her head. "Where are you from?" she asked, hurrying to change the topic.

"Oh, I'm from Memphis, Tennessee." I said. 

"Oh, really? It's a beautiful city."

"It is. Where do you live at in Florida?"

"In Key West."

"Really? I used to vacation there! We actually had a beach house there when I was little!" 

"It's a truly wonderful place."

Liam came rushing back into the room. "Here, mum." He said, handing her the paper.

She read it and looked up at Liam. "Could it mean what I think it means?"

"I already have people searching for her." he said, looking at me.

She went up and hugged Liam. "Oh my baby, I've missed you so much." she cried. 

"Mum, do you have a place to stay?" He asked. She shook her head.

"Well you can have the couch or the guest bed if you want." He said.

"No, you can have my room." I said interuppting. "It's comfortable, and the sheets are freshly cleaned. My room is nice and cozy."

"Nice and cozy sounds good..but where will you sleep dear?" Deb asked.

"Yeah, where will you sleep?" Liam chimed in.

"With you, of course." I said, joining arms with Liam. "You're okay with that, right?"

He nodded. "Of course. It's Christmas, and no one should be sleeping on a couch."

"It's been ages since I've celebrated Christmas. I'm sorry I missed all of the festivities." Deb said. 

"Well, there is one thing that I haven't done yet. It's a tradition." I said, going over to the piano. 

I began to play 'Silent Night' and then I heard the door to the room my parents were in opened. I started to sing the song, not missing a note. I always sang this song for my parents and my brother every single night on Christmas. I knew the lyrics by heart.

Once I was done, I heard Deb whisper to Liam. I don't know what she said, but I was curious. 

"Beautiful, as always, sweet pea." My mother and father yelled from their room. 

I smiled as I shut the piano lid. 

"That was great, Juliet. Thank you for saving one thing." She smiled, and gave me a hug. "I'll go upstairs now. Leave you two alone for a bit. Good night." She said, giving Liam a hug and a kiss. 

"I guess that's why I am always so soft." Liam said as soon as we were alone. 

"What do you mean?" I asked, unknowingly. 

"All the other boys don't have parents, or they hate them. I liked my parents, and they are both alive. I know my mom is disappointed in me, but the gang is my life. I can't leave it now." 

"I know, Liam. I know the feeling. You've been in it so long, that you don't know how you can live without it, right?" 

"Right.." he said.

"It's kind of like me with you."

"What do you mean?"

"I've lived here for almost 4 months now..and yeah, at first, I didn't like you. I hated you, actually. I thought you ruined my life, but you didn't. You made my life better, Liam. I don't think I can live without you."

"I know for a fact that I couldn't live without you." He said, looking up at me with his pure brown eyes. They weren't as sad as I remember, but they were happier. I gave him a light kiss.

"Liam, I love you." I said, finally. I had been thinking it for at least 2 weeks now. 

"You do?" He asked. "Like, for real? You aren't lying to me?" He asked.

"No, absolutely not." I said. Before I even had the chance to say something else, his lips were already against mine. 

He held me in his arms, his warm, strong arms. I laced my fingers with his. He was hovering over me now, just staring.

"What are you staring at?" I asked, while laughing.

"You. Are you sure you're not an angel?" He asked.

"I don't think I am." 

"Well, you're my angel." He smiled. "Come on, let's get headed on upstairs." He said, picking me off the couch and carrying me like a princess to the bedroom. 

We fell asleep in his bed, facing eachother; fingers intertwined. Every now and then, his nose would twitch while he slept. I just watched.

I wasn't just his angel, but he was mine.