f i f t y - f o u r

*6 months later*

"Eat your broccoli," I said when the only thing left on Arlo's small plate was 2 small bits of broccoli.

I pushed his plate towards him but he just made an angry sound and hit the edge of it, almost making the broccoli fly off and across the room.

"Arlo James Horan you will eat your broccoli!" I said firmly, "We can sit here all night if you want."

He probably couldn't understand what I was saying but it seemed a little bit like he did because he just frowned and stared at me.

"You know what fine," I gave up and picked up his plate, "No pudding for you."

We were already sat in the kitchen so I didn't have to go far to put his plate in the sink. I ran it under the tap quickly to rinse it off because it had only had a bit of broccoli and a few bits of bread on. Arlo loved bread and I was certain that it was his favourite food. I cut the crusts off of course because he'd only just started getting teeth so he couldn't chew the crusts but the soft bit of the bread he loved.

"Come on," I said and lifted him out his high chair to take him into the living room. Evie was sleeping on the sofa but as soon as Arlo saw her he started screaming with happiness and clapping his little hands. He loved Evie more than he loved me.

Arlo made some funny gurgling noises that sounded a bit like he was saying Daddy and I sighed.

"Daddy isn't here remember," I said and sat down on the sofa with him in my lap next to Evie. Niall was away on tour for Flicker after a very long time of putting it off. He'd been away for a good few months now and it was horrible not having him at home with me and Arlo.

"Evie," Arlo almost said perfectly, surprising me because he'd never said her name that well before.

"Evie," I repeated for Arlo and she opened her eyes. Arlo screamed as Evie plodded along the sofa towards us and I sat Arlo down in front of her.

I watched as Arlo laughed and screamed and laughed some more as Evie licked his face and nuzzled her face into his small tummy. Even if Niall wasn't there I was still so happy. I mean I had my little Arlo, the happiest boy in the world.

Suddenly the doorbell rang and Evie started barking. I groaned because Arlo still hadn't gotten used to Evie barking yet and it always made him scared and start crying.

"Ok," I sighed and stood up from the sofa. I picked up Arlo as well and tried to calm him down as I walked towards the door but it wasn't working to well because Evie kept barking.

"Evie bed!" I said firmly, "Now!"

She walked over to her bed in the corner of the living room and went quiet. Thank god I spent a lot of time training her when I'd first got her otherwise she would never stop barking when the doorbell went.

"Shh it's ok," I said desperate to stop Arlo crying before I opened the front door. Arlo's cries turned into just small whimpers as I reached the door and opened it. My eyes widened and my jaw fell open as my eyes scanned over Niall standing with his huge suitcase by his side with a large smile on his face.

"I'm not late for dinner am I?" he joked.

I laughed and let him hug me carefully because I was still holding Arlo. 

"I thought you were still on tour," I said, confused, when he'd hauled his suitcase inside and the front door was shut.

"I was... but I've postponed my last few shows because I missed my little family," he said as we walked into the living room. 

I sat down on the sofa next to him and he took Arlo from my arms to say hello to him properly.

"Hey big boy," Niall said in his cute voice he used when he talked to Arlo, "Did you miss Daddy? Did you?"

Arlo laughed at Niall when he started pulling funny faces but he soon got tired and quickly fell asleep on Niall's lap. He looked very much like Niall when he slept. I couldn't explain it, he just did.

"I'll take him to bed," Niall said and got off the sofa carefully so he didn't wake Arlo. When they walked out the living room I went into the kitchen and over to the coffee machine to make me and Niall both a cup.

I'd just pressed the go button on the machine when I felt arms around my waist. My mouth automatically formed a smile as kisses were placed on my neck and I felt Niall's warm breathe against my skin. I let my head tilt to the side and my eyes shut because I'd missed Niall so much the past months that I would've loved to stay in that moment forever.

"I missed you," he whispered. I stood up straight and turned around so I was facing him properly.

"I missed you too," I smiled, "When are you going back to tour?"

He looked at me, "Not for at least 100 years."

I chuckled, "You can't do that. What about your fans?"

"You're more important," he said quietly and before I had the chance to say anything back to him he slammed his lips against mine. A breathe I didn't know I was holding came out my nose as he wrapped his arms around me and I hooked my arms around his neck. He really did make me as relaxed as I possibly could be. I giggled when my bum hit the kitchen counter and jumped up onto it so it was more comfortable.

"Don't go away again," I breathed when we broke away briefly for air. Of course I didn't mean it properly, he had to leave again soon and finish off his tour, but a part of me did actually hope he wouldn't go again. I hated it when he left.

"Never," he whispered. It sounded like he meant it which was bad because it would mean I would have to force him to go.

I kissed him again and then looked at him with a smile, "I love you."

He twisted a curl of my hair around one of his fingers for a second and then looked back at my eyes, "I love you."

I leant in and kissed him again. In the months he'd been away it was torture not being able to kiss him and now I finally could I never wanted to stop. Niall was like my oxygen, it killed me not having him. I was sure I would've died while he was away if it hadn't been for Arlo. So many thing in Arlo reminded me of Niall like his smile and eyes and little giggle that it made it so much easier to get through the days.

I have Niall for the long haul though and he has me. We both know that no matter how long we spend apart we'll always love one another exactly the same as we always have. Our story has been complicated and sad and happy and confusing and amazing and almost every emotion in the world, but the love we have can't ever be broken. And now we have Arlo, our perfect little boy who brings so much joy into our lives in a way neither of us could've ever dreamed of. Maybe we'll have another child in the future, to be honest we don't know. Life is full of surprises, especially with Niall. For now though, our life is as perfect as it can possibly be even if Niall does go away on tour. That's just a small part of the craziness that comes with being married to a world famous singer. But I love my crazy life with Niall and I always will. Forever and always, until death do us part.

The end.