Under the Mistletoe {Niall Horan Christmas Story}

Chapter 2 -- Let It Snow

December 22nd, 2012

8:21 am

New York, New York

Niall Horan

"Welcome home, Niall!" Greg greated me with an outstretched grin and a huge hug. I smiled at him, jumping into his arms like we would as kids.

"Great to see you, man!" I laughed as my mum scurried to the doorway from the kitchen bearing a rather large dish of mashed potatoes. My mouth watered at the sight. I pulled away from Greg and flew into my mum's arms, planting a kiss on her cheek. She smiled fondly at me, extending out her bowl of mashed potatoes. I grinned down at them before scooping the bowl into my arms, ready to dig in...

"Niall...?" said my mother. My eyes immediately tore off the mashed potatoes to meet my mother's. "Niall?" she repeated.

"Yes mum?"

"Niall?"

"Yes mum?!"

"Niall?"

"YES MUM?!"

Blinding sunlight pryed open my eyes and I jerked a little as I realized the whole thing had been a dream. Stephanie's face loomed above me, and she had a slight smile pulling at her pink lips. Her blue eyes were vibrant, yet tired, but much less red than last night.

"I'm not your mum," she said softly. I felt my cheeks turn slightly pink at that, but I quickly pulled myself up from the luggage I was sleeping on. An immediate pain shot through my back, making me wince. Sleeping on uncomfortable airport chairs definetely wasn't something I'd like to try again in the future.

My eyes turned to Stephanie, who had stripped of her large white coat and now only wore a striped long-sleeve henly. The airport was now much more crowded than last night, with loads of last-minute flights and tourists piling in. The highly decorated airport employee that I had spoken to last night was now happily chatting with an older couple who seemed just as annoyed as I was last night.

"Mornin'," greeted Stephanie in her charming American accent. I smiled, my eyes hopefully flitting to the sign right above the flight attendent's head for any sign of a change of plans for the Mullingar flight... and to my dismay, nothing.

No flight to Mullingar.

Trying to view the glass as half full, I turned to Stephanie, who was tapping away at her phone. "Busy?" I asked, cocking my head to the side. Her eyes immediately flitted up to meet mine. A slight blush crept at her cheeks as she gave me a polite smile.

"Oh, no. Just Temple Run," she chuckled, stuffing her phone in her pocket. I grinned as a familiar scene from last night replayed in my head.

"Stephanie, I promise I'll make this the best Christmas ever,"

Though she might not even remember what I said after the excessive crying, a Christmas promise is a Christmas promise, as I learned while watching a Christmas movie with my little cousins years ago.. Merry Christmas Blake and Mosh, was it called?

Pushing myself of the rather uncomfortable airport chair, I asked,

"Coming?" Stephanie furrowed her eyebrows together, looking confused -- which I had to admit was quite adorable.

"Coming where...?" she asked cluelessly.

"To have the best Christmas ever," I paused, waiting for her reaction. "Duh." A moment passed, and that confused look was wiped away by a massive grin as the events of last night played through her head. Standing up, she asked,