Kidnapped [Narry] || Editing

Chapter 17

- Two Weeks Later

"Thank you for saving us," Niall said, messing with his fingers. Eleanor smiled softly.

"Danielle and Perrie did just as much as I did." Eleanor wrapped her arms around Niall. "I'm so sorry about my dad, Niall. You can't imagine how much I hate him."

"I can imagine it's a lot?" Niall suggested, returning the hug. Eleanor nodded, the faint smile on her face now faint.

"You know," Eleanor bit her lip, pulling away from the hug. "he's been doing that for a long time. He would hurt, violate, and kill people right in front of me. I was only four, and I didn't know what he was doing. I couldn't have stopped him at such a young age anyhow. I could never save anyone from him. Th-that's why I had to save you myself. I would have just waited for the police if I were smart, but I had to do it myself. I had to show my dad that I wasn't a helpless four-year-old anymore. Louis keeps on asking me why I risked my life for you guys." Eleanor chuckled.

"I'm so sorry, El." Niall said, a sad tone in his voice. He would never have guessed Eleanor felt that way.

"No, don't be. When my mom found out she got me out of there. She yelled at him for so long, and she called the cops on him, but one of his buddies his the cop car and he escaped."

Niall didn't know what to say for a moment. He did wonder how Eleanor was so strong, growing up with a father like that.

"I wonder, sometimes, if he ever hurt mom." Eleanor was half speaking to herself now. "She's never told me- never wanted to talk about it. Something tells me he did, and I hate him so much for it."

"I-I'm really sorry, El." Niall wished he knew what to say, other than apologizing for things he didn't do. It was an act of sympathy, but still. He wanted to do more for her.

Eleanor chuckled again. "You're the only person I've ever told, you know." She stared at him for a moment before she wrapped him in a hug. "Thank you, Niall. Thank you for being strong and not dying on me. I don't know what I'd do if my dad killed you."

They were both silent for a while, hugging out their fear and relief.

"I want to be the hero." Niall said. Eleanor pulled away, looking at Niall with a confused frown.

"What do you mean?" She asked. Niall didn't know what to say for a moment. He fiddled with his fingers and glanced down, hesitant to meet Eleanor's gaze.

"I mean, I'm always the victim. I've never saved anybody. You, Danielle, and Perrie saved all of us. Louis, Liam, Zayn, and Harry all saved me. I've never saved anybody."

"No, Ni," Eleanor gave him a soft smile, placing a hand on Niall's shoulder. "you saved all of us."

"Huh?" Niall cocked his head, curious. How was he a "hero"?

"You saved me. I-I felt so empty. I felt like an awful person for not being able to save anyone. I was wasting away, slipping into the belief that I was worthless. The fact that I got to save you saved me. A-and you saved Harry too. He needs somebody right now. It's not because of the kidnapping but all the pressure he gets from the media and the fans- he needs someone to go home to at night. He needs someone to hold, someone to be there to tell him they love him, someone to kiss away the stress and the bad words he wants to say so badly. He really needs you, Ni. You're saving him."

"W-wow." Niall stuttered, smiling as he imagined what Harry felt for him. "Thank you, Eleanor."

"Don't mention it." Eleanor smiled back, patting Niall's knee.

"I'm back!" Harry shouted, coming through the back door. He peeked into the living room, smiling at the pair sitting on the couch. "Did you and El have fun?"

"Yeah." He said. Harry walked over to place a kiss on his lips. Niall thought back to what Eleanor had just said. Could he be kissing away some of Harry's stress or tension? Could he be swallowing back the bad things Harry wants to say?