Walking In the Wind // 1D AU ✓

Chapter 17

~You will find me,

And you will find me~

SEPTEMBER 2ND

Infinity was clasped firmly on Harry's chest as he rocked her into a restful sleep. She'd been perfectly happy and comfortable in the carrier, but his nerves were killing him. The baby was perfect to keep him calm.

The table had six chairs - perfect for the group that they had come with. At the moment, the only two empty ones were Simon's and Louis. Their boss was walking around, greeting family members and friends as they entered. His bodyguard was pleasant but a man of few words, trying to stay on the top of his game.

Niall seemed perfectly calm while Zayn's bouncing leg came into contact with him every ten seconds or so. While there was wine on the table, no one reached for it. "Kind of weird that we're just sitting here," Perrie spoke up. "And I have bombs in my purse."

"And there's a gun two feet from the baby?" Harry added with a cheery smile. "That's also highly concerning. And Louis doesn't even get one, despite being a "bodyguard"."

"Please stop talking about the job for like three seconds," Zayn moaned. "I'm going to puke."

Motherly Harry shoved a piece of bread in his direction, which he eagerly took and began pulling apart and eating. Looking up, he noticed the other two returning to the table, followed by someone neither of them had noticed yet, but who looked strikingly similar to Simon. Enough to be twins, but not quite.

Nicholas Cowell's hands wrapped around the back of Niall's chair, jolting him forward as his brother and Louis sat down. "NIce of you to bring so many guests to my reception, dear brother."

Simon had only smiles. "This is my team, Nicholas. Since I see that you also brought yours." Nothing in either of their expression betrayed what would be happening in that very house before the day was up.

He raised an eyebrow. "Do you know my people as intimately as I know everyone associated with you?" The gaze he cast around the table was calculating, like he was wondering where the rest of them was.

"I haven't got a clue who any of them are, actually."

His lie cast Perrie into activation. "There's twins - one with a fancy watch, and one in a beautiful green jumpsuit. I believe I've seen those two on the covers of magazines somewhere. Then there's the nerd with the glasses who looks uncomfortable in his own skin and a little seedy, like he was born in a bar bathroom. The one that's the life of the party - looks like he's telling mad jokes over there. The pale one in the chari nursing a large cup of lemonade and on her phone. And the one leaning against the wall and looking at all of us with a nasty glare."

Zayn in particular was surprised to see James - the fourth person that Perrie had mentioned. Everything was a connection in this world. Gazing around the room, he made eye contact with Gemma, who gave him an imperceptible nod, as if to say, "It's okay. You guys have got this."