Strong.

That way the best way to describe Liam and Gray lately. They were strong together, even though they hadn't seen each other in five months. After their amazing week together in the UK, Gray went back to life in Illinois and he stayed. After that, life went up into a whirlwind. The guys worked twice as hard on their new album, as their management wanted them on tour as quick as possible. It meant no time to fly to the States. Gray as just as busy working long hours at Cooperson, trying to save as much money as possible for their wedding, and going on tour. It was true, she was going on tour, the full tour with them. No bouncing back in forth or waiting to see him again, they would be together, on a bus with four other guys for the next ten months.

"Well Gray, we definitely are going to miss you,” Lucas told the group. Everyone was staying after hours to say goodbye to Gray. It was her last day with the group before starting that new chapter in her life.

"I'll miss you all too, if I come crawling back, be nice to me," she smiled. Gray was beyond excited to spend real time with her fiancé, but she still worried about it all. Lately, his fans have been more then nice to her on social media, but no one knew about the proposal. How they kept it a secret for so long, she had no clue. Gray didn't wear her ring out in public. If it was going to come in public, she at least wanted to be with him.

They finished up the party and Gray went home. Tomorrow, she left for Miami where they were starting their tour. She still had to pack her bags and figure how what the hell she was bringing.

"Hey mom," Gray said, breezing past her on the way to her room. For these past months, Gray did the very same thing every night. She went through the pictures, remembering every moment with him.

"Hi baby. You ready for tomorrow?" Gloria asked. Gray turned and sat down on the couch next to her.

"God yes. Five months away from a fiancé is like a walking death wish," she moaned out.

"I still don't know what you were thinking either." Gray agreed, when she and Liam first realized they wouldn't be able to see each other until now they were okay with it. Gray shed some tears, but she knew she could do it. She didn't have a choice. After everything they went through, this would be cake.

"Me either. I'm just glad it ends tomorrow. They arrived earlier today so I am sure he is itching right now," Gray laughed. It was true, her phone didn't stop going off since he landed.

"Well, this is where I am supposed to tell you to be good, making good choices and all that, but pretty sure you are fine. Tell my son we miss him," Gloria told her, patting her leg.

"Of course. I'm going to head up, Mila will be here bright and early at 6." Gray gave her mom a hug before heading up. She changed into her pajamas and got into bed. Her phone started going off beside her. She knew it was him before she even looked.

"Hi baby," she cooed into the phone.

"Love, what are you doing?" After all this time his voice still made her heart skip a beat.

"Crawling into bed staring at your picture," she whispered back. She opened the book to a random page.

"You are a creature of habit. What did you land on this time," he asked. This was their normal ritual.

"The night you proposed," she told him. It was her favorite picture, hands down. After she got done crying that night, the birthday/proposal celebration began. Karen snapped a picture of them smiling up at each other with champagne in their hands. It pretty much summed up their whole night.

"I'm starting to think you have an obsession with me," he murmured.

"You wish jailbait." Gray ran her fingers of the picture, not able to stop smiling.

"I have to go love, the lads are pulling me away. See you tomorrow."

"See you," she breathed out. Gray put the phone and book down and snuggled into her bed. The memories of that night came flooding back to her.

Flashback

They spent the rest of their evening with both of their families loving that they were able to relax and enjoy it. There was no one there trying to snap their picture or screaming their name, right now it was all about the celebrating. The night weaned down and everyone was ready to head home.

"Thank you all for coming, honestly. You pulled off the ultimate surprise and I love each of you," Gray announced to the group, tearing up again. Liam squeezed her hand next to her. She wiped away a tear, not knowing what else to say. Before that night, she knew they loved her, but it meant so much more now.

"Harry, carry out your lover girl for me, would you," Gloria cut in. Once again, Grace fell asleep on him, keeping up with her trend. Gray was grateful for her, she knew she would turn into a blubbering mess soon. The rest of the group got up saying their goodbyes and heading out the doors.

"You ready love," Liam whispered behind her. She looked up at him, nodded her head yes. The look on his face took her breath away. It was like he was a new man looking strong and adorable. Liam led her out and helped her into the car. The streetlight hit her ring making it sparkle in her face. It really was breathtaking, and much more then she would have ever expected. Liam did amazing picking it out. Liam pulled out of the parking lot, heading a different direction then where Karen's home was.

"Where are we going," she asked, looking at him.

"I figured you didn't want to have our own celebration at my mum's place," he blushed telling her," so I got us a room at the inn." Gray laughed, it sounded extremely funny coming out of his mouth.

"What are you laughing about love, “he asked, picking up her hand and kissing her ring.

“Room at the inn, very Joseph and Mary of you,” she giggled. She felt alive right now, nothing would be able to take her off this high.

They pulled into the Inn and slipped into the building even though it was late at night. Liam led her through the dark hallway until they reached the last room on the end. He smiled at her and opened the door, revealing the whole room dark, with a candle lighting it up here and there.

“What is it with you and candles,” she flirted. Liam pulled her in, immediately kissing her while shutting the door with his foot. She wrapped her arms around his neck, getting lost in the moment. They had been waiting to kiss like that the whole night. His body was humming, she could feel it even underneath all those clothes. Gray didn’t stop kissing him, but worked his fingers to unbutton his shirt. She worked fast and stripped it off his arms, leaving him in just pants and shoes. Gray felt his hands looking for the zipper to her dress but was failing miserably.

“You have to pull,” she said, breathing hard and pulling away from his face. She reached down to the hem of the dress and yanked it over her head. It left her standing in just her bra and panties.

“I have the most beautiful fiancé in the world,” he huskily to her. He captured her body again, pushing her down to the bed so they could celebrate together.

----

“Explain this to me again, everyone knew before I even got here,” Gray asked him. They were sitting upright in bed, wearing the fuzzy bathrobes and munching on Chex Mix that Gray smuggled from the States.

“Correct, every single person.”

“Damn you people and your secrets,” Gray huffed out. She really needed to pay attention to things more often.

“Didn’t you wonder why I disappeared so often or chucked my phone when you were around? It was also the reason Perrie and my mum told you not to get me anything,” he explained. Gray was still having a hard time believing all of this. Shock is a good way to explain an engagement. She laid down on her pillow looking up at him.

“Start from the beginning, I want to hear this all.” Liam joined on her on the bed, flipping to his stomach so he could see her face.

“I knew the moment you left the hotel that I wanted to marry you, and finally I thought you were okay with the idea too. I talked to my mum about it when I got home, she was of course on board. Then I called your mum and spoke with her. It was actually her idea to come out here for it all, she is a smart woman. Everything else just felt into place. The restaurant, the ring, all of it. It became so easy because it was meant to happen. Thankfully you got pissed at me tonight so I was able to make sure everyone was there before we showed. So thank you for that love.” Gray rolled her eyes at him, but let him continued.

“That book took me the longest; I really didn’t realize how many pictures I had of you. I’m a borderline stalker. I just knew. I need weeks into being with you I was going to marry you so I wanted to take pictures of it all.” Gray reached down, grabbing the large book of pictures and sitting it between them.

“You have talent jailbait. If the band ever dies you could go into creative design,” she smirked. Flipping through the pages, she landed on the one of him and her in the bungalow when they got back together the first time.

“Maybe we won’t be so dramatic now,” she groaned, remembering that night. It made her feel embarrassed about it all. She was older, and supposed to be the mature one. Guess that fell out the window without her knowledge.

“Liam, I promise to stop acting like I did,” she told him, not looking up. Liam pushed the book off, making it land with a light thud on the floor. He moved closer to her, running his fingers on her exposed collarbone.

“Please love, I think its why I love you so much. You are a very passionate person.”

“Passionate and delusional are two different things,” she laughed. Liam pulled her in close, pushing back the big robe so he could see her face.

“I’m still going with passionate. Besides, you are stuck with me forever. You could go crazy and you still can’t get away from me,” he whispered. Liam picked up her hand, admiring the ring on her finger.

“Forever, huh?”

“Always,” he said, kissing her.

----

Gray woke up excited, how could see not. It was finally the day she got to see him again. After missing Thanksgiving, her birthday, Christmas and New Year’s without him, it was time. They were spending the rest of their lives with each other, even though they weren’t sure where that was going to be yet. She knew it would more than likely be in the UK, but it was hard to admit that just yet. Going months without her family and Mila would be extremely hard. She pushed those feelings out of her head, there was plenty of time to think about that later.

“Woman,” Mila yelled, walking into the house. Gray three bags were sitting by the door, ready to go.

“Shh, you wake someone up and I am dead.” Gray grabbed her purse and started hustling Mila out the door.

“Come on, I’m ready,” she moaned. Sooner to the airport the better. They loaded her bags up and headed off on the road to the airport.

“On a scale of one to ten how excited are you,” Mila asked.

“About a 47 right now.” Gray’s legs shook. She wished the next four hours would fly by already.

“I still cannot believe you are getting married, and I missed it all,” Mila huffed. When she got back from her honeymoon and heard it all go down she was shocked. Curtis and here were in Hawaii when it happened.
“Not for a while Mila, and I mean a while.” Gray was firm on that, both of them were still too young for it all.

“I hear you, have fun okay? I’m coming to visit at the end of March so be ready to party.” Gray smiled at her. She knew Perrie was coming around the same time and could only imagine what would happen. Mila pulled up the O’Hare drop off and got out.

“Call me if you need me, always.” They hugged it out and Gray grabbed her bags.

“You watch my husband too,” Mila waved, getting back into the car and headed out. Gray carried everything in and waited at baggage claim. She discreetly switched her ring to her right hand, just in case anyone questioned her on it.

“Oh boy, lot’s of bags for a two hour trip,” the man at the counter flirted with her.

“Long trip,” she smiled, wishing he would move faster. She knew she needed to calm her butt down really fast. It was making her feel very uneasy and grouchy, not something she liked to be anymore. Over these last months, Gray worked hard on changing herself. She was sick of seeing the bad in everything, always sensing the worst in her life. It became a problem that would eat her alive and she knew that. Once she left back in August for him, she just about broke off her perfect engagement with Liam because all she could think of was the negative effects. The fans, the business, the lack of being around him. It was stupid. Only took Mila and her two bottles of wine to see it. Thankfully, she felt like was in control of these feelings. Only took three trips to a therapist to realize it.

Gray got her ticket and started to head for TSA. She never thought in her life that standing in airport lines would be the norm for her. As she waited, her ring caught on the skylight, making it glimmer on her pants. Three hours to go.

----

Gray jumped off the plane and made a bee line through the terminal. She was on a mission, ready to push over any elderly woman or small child there was. Her fiancé was waiting for her! She grabbed her phone out of her purse while continuing her speed walk to baggage claim.

Liam: Where are you?

Gray smiled, she knew he was just as antsy as he was.

Me: Plowing down people on my way to baggage. Be there soon love.

She took the escalator stairs two at a time to see Steve waiting at the bottom. She even missed Steve!

“I missed you!” She gave him a huge bear hug which made him flinch. Poor Steve couldn’t show emotion, but Gray still liked to bug him when she had to chance.

“Hello Gray, it’s been far too long.” Amen to that.

They walked over to baggage claim, patiently waiting for her bags to show. Gray felt like a blown up balloon, soon someone was going to let go and all the energy in her body would make her zoom over the airport. Trying to have patience was out the door right now. She needed Liam NOW.

“Those yours,” he asked, snapping her out of her trance. All three of her large bags came shooting down. Gray grabbed the smallest while Steve grabbed the other two without ease. It had been nice actually, Gray wasn’t recognized once. The Pioneer never brought her name up anymore since technically no one had seen them together. It was weird in a way. Here they were, getting ready to spend the rest of their life together, and yet never showed affection for it other than texts. It was weird, very weird.

Gray and Steve walked quietly through the airport until they reached the parking lot.

“I need to pick you up more, the airport is actually fun then. We can be normal,” Steve joked. Gray rolled her eyes at him.

“You don’t like blocking screaming girls all day?”

“I love my job, and I love those guys, but some days I wish I lost my hearing,” he gripped getting into the car. Gray joined him in the passenger seat and they took off to the hotel. She swirled her ring around in anticipation. It felt like her birthday and Christmas all rolled into one. She looked out the window, staring at what Miami had to offer. It was her first trip there ever.

“Big crowds,” she asked, making small talk. Usually the hotels were covered outside with fans. It could be a very uneasy situation to walk into.

“You don’t even want to know. Luckily we have underground parking.” Gray breathed a sigh of relief. She was fully aware that the secret of her being there was going to come out, but she would rather wait until at least a week for that to happen here.

“How many shows do they have here?” She still hadn’t read the itinerary Liam sent her weeks ago.

“Three. Then it’s off to Tennessee on Thursday.” Almost a full week in Miami, Gray was ready to get her tan on. Steve pulled onto the street of the hotel and Gray could see more girls then she could have ever imagined. It was like a complete zoo. The boys pushed their record out so fast it made their fan support double. Gray loved it, but severely insane. They pulled into the back of the building and went into the parking ramp. Gray’s skin went into razor sharp pins of hair. She could feel him in the building, this was it.

“Go, I’ll bring your crap up. 9th floor, room 943.” Gray took off for the elevators before he could even finish. She jumped in, bashing the ‘up’ button repeatedly, hoping it would move faster. Gray quickly grabbed her phone and sent him a message.

Me: Running the elevator now

It felt like the world was moving in slow motion. Nothing could go fast enough, she kept hitting the number 9 button trying to make the elevator realize she had places to be. Finally, after what seemed like forever, the elevator doors opened. Liam was standing near the end of the hallway beaming at her. Gray took off on a full sprint towards him. The tears pushed out of her eyes and slid down her cheeks. She had been waiting for this moment for so long. She got down to him, jumping up in the air and locking her body around his. Liam supported her weight with ease, shoving his face into her neck and inhaling her smell. God he missed this, so much.

“Hi baby,” she sobbed, not letting go of his body. It almost didn't feel real. Even though he was the same Liam she always knew, he still felt different to her. Gray unlocked her legs, letting her body fall to the floor and kissed him. It made her knees weak. She missed him more than anything. Liam wouldn't let go of her either, his lips worked and remembered hers, just like a puzzle. They stood in the hallway in their own little world. Gray’s body was still plastered against his, not wanting to be anywhere else.

“Love,” Liam breathed out. He couldn't think of anything else to say. Five months was way too long, such a foolish idea. He knew her face and her body, but still almost felt like a stranger to her. They spoke every night, texted facetimed, everything else under the skin but there was a small part of him that could tell something was off. He smiled, not wanting her to realize it too.

“Oh how I have missed you,” she told him, holding on to him against and burying her face in his chest. He smelled amazing, just like she remembered. Liam’s hands ran up and down her back before finally rested right above her butt. Liam kissed the top of her head, just thankful she was here in person.

“Come on, we best get down to the mates before they start looking for you,” he said, reluctantly. It was not the time to share her with anyone else. They needed to reconnect and find each other again, not hanging out with guys cracking up about nothing. LIam grabbed her hand and walked down the hall to were the boys were camped out in Louis' room. He sighed, ready to get this all over with.

"Gray!" It was the collective sound from the room when they walked in. Harry and Niall immediately got up and grabbed her in for a hug making her hand lose contact from Liam. He didn't like it one bit, his hand was cold missing her touch.She laughed, hugging them back. Gosh she always missed these boys even though they were a bit crazy.

"How are you all?" She went and sat on the bed between Niall and Zayn while Liam stayed by the door. The look on his face could of made children cry. Sharing Gray was not what he wanted.

"Lou, how's my Eleanor," Gray asked. She wish the dream team of her, Eleanor and Perrie could get together over this tour.

"Good, we are in a good place, she misses you," Louis blushed. Even after she left, Louis still called her for a womanly view on his relationship. It was nice to talk to him so honestly without having to worry about the other guys around.

"Five months was way too long without you. We need woman," Niall cheered.

"We need drinks," Gray laughed. She really had an urge to sit around with them and kick back with beers. The all sat around talking, not even noticing Liam at the other end of the room. His fists kept clenching harder and harder with every passing minute. Here was his fiance, who he hadn't seen in person in five months and she was pretending like he wasn't even there. He understood her need to visit, but right now wasn't the time. Liam stared, at her noticing something that sent him over the edge.

"Gray, why is your ring not on your other hand," he barked, causing everyone to grow quiet. Gray looked and quickly changed the ring over to her left hand.

"I forgot to change it after the plane ride," she told him calmly. She looked at him, wondering why he looked so bad. It was an honest mistake.

"Fuck it." Liam left slamming the door behind him. Gray looked at the other guys hoping they knew what was going on. All of them looked just as shocked as her.

"What was that all about," she asked. All of them shrugged trying to figure it out. Gray jumped off the bed and headed for the door.

"I'll be back later," she announced, walking out. She made the short way down the hall and knocked on his door. Minutes went by but he never opened.

"Liam open the door," she yelled,knocking again. He finally did, standing there brushing his teeth. Gray walked in following him to the bathroom.

"What's a matter?" Liam stayed quiet, finishing up. He tried to breeze past Gray, but she blocked the door making him stay in the bathroom.

"Liam, you need to start talking," she told him quietly even though she was losing her patience. It had only been an hour and he was already mad. If this went on, it was going to be a long trip.

"Why don't you wear your ring like you are supposed it," he asked, staring at her. The look in his eyes actually made her nervous, it wasn't like him.

"I thought we talked about this. Better to break the news when I am with you." He should of known this by now. It wasn't anything new. Gray felt more comfortable springing this on the world when he was with her. Liam was her protector.

"Can you just wear it normally now," he asked, some of the anger on his face wiped away. Gray reached up, pulling his face towards her. Their foreheads hit and Gray held on, making him stay there.

"Jailbait it's going to be a long trip if you go super protective anal man on me," she joked. Liam pulled her in, giving her another kiss like he did in the hallway. He wish he could make her understand how much she meant to her. Gray held on, not wanting to stop.

"I love you Gray," he whispered, looking back at her.

"I love you too Liam." Gray really did, he was her life but she felt something was off between them. They weren't the typical team Gram. Something was missing, the spark and flame had dimed between them. Gray didn't say anything, wanting to enjoy the moment, but she wondered if those five months alone could have broken them.

Notes

Sequel is up and running. I think I finally worked out a plan for story. Super huge props to singer Justin Nozuka. His music has become my music for this one. Check him out on Youtube!

Title Creds: "Be Back Soon" by Justin Nozuka.


Send me some love :) I'll try to update tomorrow or Saturday.