Collision Course

“Well, well. Someone looks tired today.” Hektor said to me as I moseyed into the green room. I nodded in agreement, not willing to talk quite yet. The coffee in my hand was only a quarter of the way gone and the caffeine coursing through my veins was nowhere near enough to merit a vocal response yet.

An extremely chipper Louis and Niall were sitting on the couch next to each other. Lou had his legs thrown over Niall’s. No matter how much time we spend together, it seems that we all tend to sit ridiculously close to each other. What started out as a way to annoy each other has become a part of us, down to the core. We would rather stay close, physically and emotionally, then risk loosing our brothers.

“You do realize I told you, and Allie, before you left dinner last night to make sure you had a good nights sleep. We only have two days before this tour kicks off. It is high time to kick all your asses in high gear.” Hektor said to me as I chugged my now lukewarm coffee, hoping and willing for the caffeine to kick in soon. “You should really take my advice every now and then.”

“It was worth it, only getting two hours of sleep.” I said, sending him a knowing smile.

“You do know that your girlfriend is pregnant. That means you should let her get as much rest as possible now since in a few months you two will not be getting much sleep.” Hektor scolded.

“Like I said, worth it.” I said.

“You know what Liam, as much as I love you, I would rather not be discussing you sex life first thing in the morning. I find it just a little off putting.” Zayn said, having entered the room just moments before.

“Well, what an honor. Zayn is not only on time but a few minutes early.” Hektor cheekily stated. “Now if only the honorary Harry Styles would grace us with his presence.”

“He went home with Allie’s friend last night. I doubt we will be seeing him for at least another hour.” Lou said, chiming in from the couch.

“Why don’t we get started, Harry can jump in when he gets here.” Niall said, pushing Louis off the couch and standing himself up. “Besides, it’s not like we are really dancing some Shakira moves, we more wiggle our butts.”

“You might not be dancing Shakira, but if you threaten it, I can still change the moves. But you all do have some cute little butts.” Hektor said. “Alright, everyone out then. Time to get to work.”

Paul found me during one of our breaks, laying flight on my back enjoying the feeling of the cold floor against my skin. “We should talk.” He said in his fatherly voice.

“Should I be scared?” I asked, gingerly prying myself off the cool ground.

“Nope, just come with me.” Not waiting, he walked away from me and through a door that lead into his makeshift office.

Sitting in a chair facing him made me feel like a child again. As if I had been called into the headmaster’s office for some juvenile act of indecency.

“Have you and Allie thought at all about having her come with us on tour?” Paul dove in.

I shook my head, realizing for the first time that I was unsure if I could even go on the tour if she were not present.

“I know she has her internship, but there is more to think about then there was even a few days ago, Liam. You need to take the time to talk. And I would like to be there when you do.” He said, acting both as a manager but also more of a father figure. After he had seen me grow, had known me so long, Paul was protective. Not only was he our manager and bodyguard, but also he was a confidant. Paul was someone that I could turn to with anything, someone I wanted to turn to.

“Is it possible for Allie to come on tour with us? I mean, what are we going to do about doctors? And there is no way for us to hide that Allie and me are serious if she is with us. Even more so, someone is going to figure out sooner or later that she is pregnant.” I said, unsure how to tread in a situation like this one.

“Yes, she is more then welcome to come with us. Eleanor is coming with us, so why should I say no to Allie.” Paul exclaimed almost shocked that I would even think that she would not be wanted on tour. “As for the doctors, we will figure something out. Whether we fly her back to London every month, or we find them in the cities we go to. We will make sure Allie and your baby is well taken care of. As for the public finding out about the pregnancy, well that is going to happen no matter what. We can either tackle that hurdle when we come upon it, or we can announce it.”

“What do you think we should do about people finding out?” sleepily I asked.

“Personally, I think that you should try to be normal.” I gave him a weird look. “Look, I know your life is far from normal, but you should try to make it normal in your relationship. Clearly you are already doing it. You have told your close friends, or at least some of them, and your families of the pregnancy. That is how it should be. I don’t see why people announce to the world that they are going to have a child. Facebook updates where people alert the masses and press releases, in my opinion, are terrible.”

“So you are trying to tell me is that when the time comes that we can not wait any longer to tell the world, then we should? But until then we should make it a family affair?”I tested.

“Precisely.” He replied.

I found Allie back at the apartment, sleeping on the couch with Loki. Needing a shower after the day’s rehearsal, I tiptoed into the bedroom and into the shower. Suds in my hair and humming to myself, the shower door opened to reveal Allie, fully clothed, standing there. “Why didn’t you wake me?” She asked.

“Because you were obviously tired.” I said.

“Thanks. What do you want for dinner, Hun?” She asked.

“I could eat a horse, so as long as it does not take long to make, I am good with it.” I gurgled from under the showerhead.

“Got it, horse.” She said before closing the shower door. Strange, how it seemed so normal to be in the shower and talking to my fully clothed girlfriend. Even a month ago, that would have been strange.

By the time I stepped out of the shower, the smell of steak and something I could not put my finger on wafted through from the kitchen. As if I needed more of an incentive to get into the kitchen faster, I did not even bother looking at what clothes I was putting on. With my hair still wet, only having run my fingers through to make it more manageable, I found Allie at the stove. Her hair swept into a knot so as not to get it into our dinner, she stood bear footed. Her dress reached nearly to her knees, dark red with brown polka dots.

Slinking my hands wound her waist and laying my head on her shoulder, I glanced at the skillet. “Steak?” I asked.

“Steak au poivre.” She replied before she looked to me, kissing me on my lips, which waited in anticipation.

“Mmhh.” I murmured into her. “I missed you.”

“Always.” She said, kissing me again while still cooking the steak.

A bark interrupted our kiss. Looking to the floor, Loki was sitting patiently with his bowl at his paws.

“Hungry, boy?” I asked, grabbing his bowl and heading to the pantry. He replied with another bark and was quick at my heals.

“You know, we should probably set Loki up with a feeding schedule. Neither of us have been good bout feeding him at any regular interval.” Allie called to me.

“I have a plan.” I said as I emerged from the pantry with a dog eagerly jumping on me. “Down, unt-uh.” I sternly vocalized at the dog. As soon as he was patient and sitting, I set the bowl down in its usual space. Loki waited no time in scarfing down the bowl.

Liam let out Loki just as we were sitting down to dinner. Sitting across the table, I was able to enjoy Liam’s face as he took a bight of one of my favorite things to make. It might not be as healthy as I would have preferred with all the butter in it, but who can turn down a steak encrusted in black pepper? Certainly not me. As his fork deposited his first bight onto his tong, Liam’s eyes hooded in pleasure. A groan rang through his vocal cords, proclaiming his love for the recipe.

“I think I can go to heaven.” He said, between bites of his food, careful to never show his food to me.

“Like it?” I asked, already knowing his answer.

“Like it, oh Allie, it might even be better then sex.” He said.

Throwing him a sideways glance, both of us laughed.

Notes