I fiddle with the strap of my bag slung over my shoulder as I stand there with people roaming around me. I feel nervous, my eyes never leave the sliding doors in front of me. Even when I get bumped by a man rushing by, does my eyes leave the gray doors with thick glass. I stumble a little but recall my balance. I strain my neck when a woman walks through the door followed by several other people. My eyes scanning the faces of the people rushing out trough the doors. When my stare land on the dark hair speckled with white a smile form on my face. I feel myself jumping in my place with excitement as I wave to get his attention. His face lightens up as he sees me and I meet him halfway to wrap my arms around his neck. His one arm hold me close on my back as the other still hold his bag.

“Hi Jules.” He say with his raspy voice. I take a deep breath, inhaling his familiar scent.

“Hi dad.” I say and grin big as I take a step back to look at him. He looks good. His hair seems to be trimmed and new clothes adorns his body. The brown cardigan showing off his slimmed stomach. It surprises me a little, I take a step back examining him. My dad has never been one to care too much of his appearance before. He has slimmed down, but doesn't seem to be starving. He has a nice healthy glow about him. I smile as I hook my arm with his and direct him to the door leading outside.

“How are you honey?” He ask as we walk down to the train.

“I'm good dad. Glad to have you here.” I grin over at him.

“That's good, I'm very glad to be here. It will be nice to make new traditions.” He say and I can detect a little sadness in his voice. Though that's no surprise since we've spend christmas at least for the last decade at my aunt's house. Now there's someone new living there, probably not able to make as good jam as she could. But we're going to make this work, do something different and make this christmas special in it's own way.

“It will.” I say and we walk up to the train already standing on the station. I take a seat near a window as my dad take the one to the aisle so he can keep his bag near. We sit and make smalltalk, me asking questions about the people back home, as the train glides closer to the inner city of London.

A little over forty minutes later do we jump off the tube at my station, we had to make a change from the airport train to get closer to my apartment. My dad has been here a couple of times before, so he knows the way by now, but I still like to meet him at the airport. It feels more welcoming. We walk the street a couple of blocks to reach my apartment building.

I let him inside the apartment and closes the door behind us. I hang my jacket up and kick my shoes off before entering the apartment.

“So I was thinking that you could take the bedroom.” I say and wave my hand towards it as I look over at my dad. He shakes his head.

“No, no. I'm not disturbing you that way. I'll be fine on the couch.” He say and put his bag down beside the couch. I frown, is that smart? That couch isn't that comfortable, not with his back.

“Dad, that couch isn't that big. It'll fit me better.” I try to argue with him. I know bringing up age and bad backs would only irritate him.

“No, it's fine! Beside – you snore, I need to keep you locked away.” He tease me and I gape at him.

“I do not.” I mumble and frown as I walk away to the kitchen. I hear his chuckling in the living room. I can't keep from smiling as I enter the kitchen, it feels so good to have my dad here. I take out two bottles of water before going back to my dad, who's now sitting on the couch. I put the waters on the tables before sitting down beside him. He reach over to plant something on the table in front of me. When his hands is removed I squeal in joy.

“Shh, not so loud! I smuggled them in, I can get arrested.” He say in a hushed tone, but all I do is laugh and hug him. I can't believe him, he remembered. A huge smile is plastered on my face as I look down on the table where my favorite candy from back home is placed. I can feel my mouth water only to think of their taste, they are too good. Though I think I will save them for later.

“Thank you so much!” I snicker as I take one to look at.

“You're welcome.” He mumbles as he lean back on the couch.

“So are you hungry? Do you want to order something?” I ask as I stand up to put the candy away somewhere safe.

“Sure that sounds good, what are you up for?” He ask and fiddle with something in his bag.

“How about Chinese?” I suggest and get a positivist response. I pick several choices from the menu as I call the delivery. Left over is never a bad thing. “They'll be here in half an hour.” I say as I enter the living room again. I pick my phone from my pants as it vibrates.

“Good.” My dad says as he reach for the remote to the TV. I see Louis's name flash on the screen and feel my heart jump an extra beat.

“I'll just be a minute.” I say to my dad and run to my bedroom and close the door.

“Hello?” I say into the mic, almost whispering.

“Hey beautiful.” I hear his lovely voice say and feel a shiver go though me. I haven't heard it since he left, he's been busy with family only being able to send a couple of texts.

“Hi.” I almost squeal into the phone. It's insane how much I already miss him.

“What are you doing?” I can hear something ruffling on the other end.

“Just got back from picking my dad up, now we're waiting on food.” I smile as I sit down on the end of my bed, picking on the hem of my t-shirt.

“Oh, right. Am I interrupting?” His voice filled with concern.

“No, no. It's fine. What are you doing? How is it to be back?” I lay down on my bed, enjoying the tone of his voice as he speaks. I can envision his facial expression in my head as he talks.

“I am laying down on my bed. I feel exhausted, there are too many people in this house.” He chuckle. I love that we are in the same position, even though he's so far away, I can imagine him here beside me. “But it's nice, even though I wish I could have some space for myself, my little cousin is staying in my room.” He groans.

“Aww, poor you! Having to do your funky business in the bathroom.” I tease.

“Hey! It's you who do my funky business for me, so shut up!” He chuckle and I wrinkle my nose. “Besides that's not what I meant. I just feel like there's ears everywhere listening in. I want to lay and talk to you all night, but I can't do that because my cousin in sleeping in here and there is people sleeping in every corner in this place.” He groans. I feel his irritation.

“I know. But you are talking to me now.” I try to ease his mood.

“Yeah, but I can't for long. We're going out to buy a christmas tree.” He say with a fake cheery voice. I snicker at his bad acting.

“Well, at least you're getting a christmas tree.” I say and pout a little. I haven't had the money or even the room to get a real christmas tree.

“You want me to get you one?” He offers and I laugh, even though I hear the sincerity in his voice.

“Thank you, but no. I don't have the room for a christmas tree. Would have to throw out the TV and that will never happen.” I say and smile. What the hell would I do without a TV? Louis laugh on the other end and I love the sound. I hear another voice a little muted in the background.

“I have to go now.” Louis say a little reluctantly. “I'll try to call you later, but at least I'll send you a text.” He sighs.

“Yeah, do that. And have fun. Enjoy your family.” I say as I sit up on the bed.

“I will try, but I miss you.” He say low. I love when he confesses his feelings for me, it makes my stomach flutter.

“I miss you too. Now go buy a big ass christmas tree.” I say and snicker. He laughs before we say goodbye. I sit and stare at the phone for a little while after we've hung up. I try to calm my body down a little before going back out to my dad.

---

I wake up to the smell of coffee. I sigh in enjoyment, I've actually slept really nice, maybe because I'm not alone. I thought it was just the emptiness in my bed that made me lonely, but that might not be the whole truth. Though I do miss having a warm body beside me when I sleep. I guess I'm not a huge fan of living by my own.

I get out of bed and throw a hoodie over my body and some warm socks on before I walk out of the bedroom. I already have pants on. Since it's so cold in this apartment, I sleep in pajama bottoms. I run a hand through my hair as I step into the kitchen where my dad is sitting by the kitchen table. I smile at the wonderful feeling inside me – I love having my dad near. I've missed waking up to have breakfast with him.

“Good morning.” I say as I take a cup and fill it with coffee.

“Morning sweetie.” My dad smiles up from the paper in his hands as I take a seat opposite him on the table. I look outside seeing small flakes of snow swirl around the air.

“Have you got anything special you need to do today?” I ask as I set my cup down on the table, still keeping my fingers around it to heat them up. I don't know if he had planned on doing some christmas shopping while here in London.

“No, not really. Did you have anything in mind?” My dad ask and set the paper down.

“Yeah, I have a suggestion.” I smirk as I lift the cup to my lips again.




We step into the apartment all covered in snow, it has been a couple of hours since we stepped out. I throw my beanie on a chair in the hall before trying to untie my shoes. It suddenly started to snow a lot, making us both white as we walked home.

“I just forgot that I had something to buy.” My dad says behind me and I turn around to see him still in his clothes. “I'll just be a little while.” He say and smile at me. I frown but nod as he steps out of the door. I wonder what he had to buy all of a sudden, but shrug off the issue.

We've been to a christmas market a couple of blocks away. It was so nice, the streets filled with people, music and amazing smells. We have walked around drinking hot chocolate, bought christmas cookies and candy for the holiday and looked at all the beautiful lights everywhere. There was a lot of nice stands filled with jewelry, clothes and what not. It was amazing walking around with all the people so happy and the snow slowly descending down. It was a perfect day and now my feet are cold and aching.

I step into my bedroom, getting my pants off – that's gotten wet from the snow – and on with a pair of sweatpants. I sit down on my bed, pulling myself up to the head of the bed and lean against the bed frame. I know what today is and I take this opportunity when my dad is away to make the call. I raise my phone to my ear as I cuddle into the bed, bringing my knees up to my chest.

“Hello?” I hear the warm voice on the other end answer.

“Happy birthday!!!” I shout into the phone with a smile on my face. I hear Louis's laughter, making my smile widen.

“Thank you, love.” He say and I hear the smile on his lips.

“Is that her?” I hear a womans voice in the background ask.

“Is it the mystery woman?” Someone else shouts, sounding a little further away. I raise my eyebrows as I hear shuffling.

“Hold on.” Louis say to me, I think he hold his hand over the microphone but I can still hear the curses he gives the people around him. I snicker a little as I wait for him. It gets quiet before I hear his breathing again. “Sorry about that.” He say and the background is now quiet.

“It's fine. Am I disturbing?” I ask with a snicker.

“No, it's just crazy around here. How are you?” There is something in his voice that makes me wish that I was with him, so I could be able to look into his bright eyes.

“I'm good, just got back home. Me and dad was at that christmas market that I talked about before.” I say, hugging my knees.

“Oh, that's nice. Was it fun?”

“Yeah, it was nice. It's been snowing the whole day, so I'm finally getting some christmas feeling.” I snicker. “How is the birthday boy doing?” He lets out a little sigh.

“I'm good. We've had cake and all that. Got some gifts from my parents.” I can almost hear the shrug he gives away. I frown a little. I feel like there is something going on with him, something isn't as it normally is.

“Are you really okay? Is something wrong?” I ask now a little worried.

“I don't know.” He lets out another a gust of air. “I wish you were here.” His voice get low. I wish so bad that I was there to hug him right now. I bite the inside of my cheek. It's a mix of feeling happy about those words and sad. I don't want him to be sad on his birthday, though I really miss him.

“Me too.” I mumble, feeling slightly sad.

“My whole family wants to meet you.” He say and let out a chuckle. My eyebrows raise at his statement.

“You've told them about me?” I ask surprised.

“In theory. They know that there is someone, it's hard to hide the smile on my face whenever I get an text from you.” His confession makes me grin. “Though only mom know who you really are, the others is just making up their own stories about you.” I laugh.

“Well, I hope they make me really hot in those stories.” I snicker.

“Oh, I don't think they could even imagine how hot you really are.” Louis say with a chuckle. I feel my cheeks heat a little at his words.

“Well thank you there mr.” I say, my voice not passing off as cool. I bite my bottom lip.

“You are though, you know that.” He say now a little more serious. I feel a little embarrassed by his words. It's not that I hate the way I look, but to admit that I'm hot is a totally different thing.

“Not as hot as those v-lines on you.” I say and smile. Louis laughs loud on the other end.

“Well it's good something is hot on me.” He say, still chuckling.

“Oh there is a lot of things that's hot on you. You want the whole list?” I ask, feeling butterflies in my stomach. I love to make Louis laugh, it's the nicest sound in the world.

“Oh god no, please!” He exclaim quick, making me laugh.

“Well, what are you're plans for the rest of the day?” I wonder, changing the subject.

“We're going to have dinner and them I'm meeting some old friends at the pub later.”

“That sounds nice. I really hope you have a wonderful night, you should enjoy it.” I extend my legs on the bed, resting my head on the bed frame. It's an unfamiliar feeling missing someone. I thought that my ex was the one for me before and I didn't even miss him while he was gone for two weeks. Now I know that he wasn't even close to the one, but I should have gotten the clue right then. Louis I miss only after a few minutes of leaving. It's insane. Though thinking the thought that he might be the one scares the hell out of me. It all still feels like a dream, like it's going to burst anytime now. I shake my head, trying to rid me of these thoughts.

“Yeah I will. I'll text you later?” He say and I nod, soon remembering that he can't see me.

“You do that. I'll talk to you soon. Happy birthday again.” I smile.

“Bye, love!” And I melt. That word with his accent – it's too much. I feel goosebumps cover my body.

“Bye!” I whisper before hanging up.

I sit on my bed for a couple of minutes more until I hear the front door open. I step out into the hall and greet my dad. He has a black bag in his hand, but I'm not gonna bother him about it since it's christmas – it's the time for small secrets.

I sit down on the couch and wrap myself in the blanket as I put the TV on. My dad sits down beside me and I smile at him.

“So, no change in the warmth in this place?” My dad ask, eyeing my cuddled up body in the blanket.

“No, I don't think it ever will. Be glad that there even is heating right now.” I say and shake my head in horror. It would be so bad if the heating would brake on christmas.

“You should find somewhere else to live.” He state.

“Yeah, but it's so expensive to live here, I don't think I will find anything close to here for the same amount of money. I would have to commute to work and that doesn't sound appealing.” I wrinkle my nose. Think about opening up the shop and having to leave even earlier in the morning, no thank you!

“Yeah...” My dad mumbles as he concentrate on the show on the TV.

I pick my phone out of my pants when it pings. I open up the message seeing it's from Louis. I burst out laughing when I see the image he's sent. I see the edge of his boxers with the text Calvin Klein clearly written over the white fabric and then his stomach, clearly viewing those wonderful v-lines. I feel my cheeks flush heat and I is probably red as a tomato.

“What's so funny?” My dad asks with raised eyebrows. I bite my lip, my whole face hot and bothered.

“Eh, nothing.” I say waving my hand. I think my dad was going to argue with me when the doorbell rings. Saved by the bell! Thank god.

I walk to the door, opening it to find a man in blue work-clothes standing there.

“Hi, are you Juli?” He ask and I frown, wondering what this is about.

“Yeah?” I say as I hold the handle of the door with one hand as the other holds the doorframe.

“I have a delivery for you. If you could sign here.” He say and hold out a small device and a pen. I write my name on the digital screen, biting my lip. I haven't ordered something. Wonder what this could be. He bends down to pick up whatever it is hiding behind the door. I open it a little and almost stop breathing. “Here you go.” He say and hand the thing to me. I take it with slightly shaking hands.

“Thank you.” I say breathless as he closes the door for me. I look at the pot in my hand and the plant within it. I shake my head in amazement.

“What was it?” My dad ask from the living room. He's heard the conversation with the deliveryman, my apartment is too small to keep secrets. I walk in slowly to the living room with the plant and see my dad raising his eyebrows. I set it down on the floor and set my hands on my hips.

“Who gave you that?” My dad ask, admiring with me the most wonderful little christmas tree ever. It's only about three feet tall and with glitter decorating the branches. I feel my heart swell as I know exactly who sent it, giving me a loving grin on my face.

“I don't know.” I lie, still looking at the wonderful gift.

“There is a note.” My dad say and point to the side of the pot where a note has been put. I take it up and open it up.

Have a wonderful christmas beautiful!
/Your secret admirer

I snicker as I read it, thanking him for not writing his name, would be hard to hide from my dad. I hand dad the note as I take the pot up and move it to beside the TV. It fits perfectly, not taking up too much space. I enjoy the beautiful tree for a minute before I turn around to dad again.

“So you have a secret admirer, huh?” He ask with a smirk. “Know who it is?” He ask, raising a brow.

“No.” I say as I sit down. I try to hide the smile and my rosy cheeks, but dad sees them.

“Hmm...” He says, not convinced at all. But thankfully he ignores it and turn the channel to some christmas movie. I bite my top lip as I take my phone out again. Opening up the message that I got from Louis.

To Louis
I just got the two best christmas gifts ever in under one minute, you really are the best person alive! That picture is the only thing I will look at for the rest of the holiday (getting hot already), except for the amazingly, wonderful, sweet tree that I got. It was from a secret admirer, though I might have a feeling who that could be!

From Louis
Oh, really? Is that so?

To Louis
Yes. And it's time that you get jealous, because it's the nicest thing someone has ever done for me. ;)

From Louis
Well, then. I have someone to beat up. Glad you liked it beautiful!

To Louis
I LOVED it. Thank you so, so much!!

From Louis
So the picture got you hot, huh? ;)

I have to bite my lip not to laugh at his message. I love how he couldn't ignore that little statement. He always gets me hot, pushing the right buttons. He knows how to make me want him even more than I do. It's amazing.

To Louis
It's the best porn ever.

From Louis
Hahaha! When do I get any porn? ;)

To Louis
Oh, but you have your computer full of it. I know you do! ;)

I love having these conversations with him, they are always teasing and sexy, making me miss him even more.

From Louis
But none of them are of you. It's not even interesting to look at anymore. :(

I gape at his words. I feel a shiver go deep in my body. He's getting more and more emotional when it comes to me. Telling be more often how he feels and that he actually likes me. I still can't believe it. I don't understand why he would like me of all people, but I can't deny that I like it. Because I feel the exact same thing back. He's taken over my mind, filling it with only him. I don't wanna do anything else than be around him. I wanna hold his warm hand, smell his wonderful scent and kiss those amazing lips. I feel that deep longing in the pit of my stomach again.

To Louis
You just wait until you get back, then I'll show you porn!

Notes

Hi my lovely friends!

I hope you had the best christmas and new years, and that the new year has treated you well so far. I had a wonderful christmas with my family and I'm very happy to get the time to spend it with them.

Sorry that you had to wait for this chapter, it's been hard writing lately, but I still deliver sooner or later. Though I hate when other people don't update often, so I guess I hate myself a little :P

Next chapter is gonna be christmas day with dad and Niall... what do you think will happen? ;)

Lots of love!!
Please comment!
xx.