corporate affairs [Niall Horan AU]

E L E V E N

 E L E V E N

After dressing I stomp my way downstairs, cheering up a little at the sounds of Theo's happy squeals. At the bottom of the stairs I survey Maura's living room, recognizing everyone except a young man beside Niall. Katherine meets me happily with a hug, cheering me up even more.

"Did Niall tell you? We're going out tonight!" She claps happily, bumping her hip against mine. 

"No, haha, he didn't." I murmur quietly, watching him and the young man chatter happily. 

"Oh, figures. He and Sean are always making plans last minute. Anyways, I'm excited. My folks were getting obnoxious." She slips her arm around mine, pulling me towards Niall and who I guess is Sean. "Ni, I do believe you have someone to introduce Sean to." 

"Oh, yeah," he says without much enthusiasm. "Sean, this is Elouise. Elouise, Sean."

"Nice to meet you, Elouise." Sean says with a warm smile and a cautious glance in Niall's direction. 

"You too," I reply, trying to smile wide. "Excuse me, I'm going to see Theo before we leave." I brush past Niall without a second glance, making my way to Maura's circular kitchen table. Denise and Greg greet me happily and Denise releases Theo to me without much asking (or any).

"Take him," she states with a cheery smile. "I'm tired of the little bugger. My arms are going to fall off." I do as told and lift him into my arms, bouncing him a little to provoke that angelic little smile. Theo fusses a little, so I take him outside in an attempt to calm him down. 

Niall's grandmother is sitting on the porch beside an electric heater, a thick blanket in her lap. I take Theo to the rocking chair beside her, gently combing his hair with my fingers. 

"You're good with him," Granny says with a tranquil smile, her weathered hand reaching over to pat my knee. 

"Oh, no, he's just easy." I say with a smile, wrapping my arms around his squriming body. "Look Theo!" I declare with a smile, pointing at the sky. "Look at all those birds!" Theo giggles, and suddenly, I'm as happy as I can be, no cheering up needed. 

"Are you excited to go out dancing tonight?" Granny asks me, a fond twinkle in her eye. "I used to go out dancing with Theodore, Niall's grandpa. Oh, it was magical. He had just gotten home from the war, and he sat down next to me at the soda bar, still in his uniform. I remember thinking he was the most handsome man I'd ever met." I tuck Theo under my arms, turning to listen to her intently. "He was very confident, so I was compelled to turn him down every time he asked for a date until finally, one day, he told me it was the last time he was going to ask me, and then he was going to give up. As much as I'd liked the chase, I knew it was time to stop hiding." She giggles happily, squeezing my hand. "We were engaged two months later. Married three weeks after that." 

"That's so sweet, Granny." 

"Elouise, I know what you're doing," she declares in a stern voice, her grip tight on my hand.

"W-what?" I stutter. How could Granny possibly know the whole thing is fake? Had we not convinced his family? Had we slipped? Had we been too cautious?

"We're very similar you know, you and I. Before Theodore, I'd had another man that I'd fallen for. We were engaged for a time, but he was killed in the second world war." 

"I'm so sorry..."

"I was going to leave him, Elouise. I'd packed my things when I got the telegram. When Theodore and I began courting, I searched for ways out the entire time. I was terrified that he was going to disappear one day." Theo places his chubby hands against my cheeks, squealing in delight when I fill my cheeks up with air.