Part 13

My heart thudded and I shivered... It was like the sun had started shining after a long storm. Dougie was right again... Dougie. I gulped, opening the door. There stood Dougie, I ran to him and wrapped my arms around him. Dougie hugged me back, not saying a word. We stood there for what seemed to be a long time. I laid my head on his chest, sobbing. He rubbed my back sympathetically, telling me that everything was alright. I heard someone else approach and I froze, looking up. It was Danny, looking very relieved. He nodded at me, and I did the same.

"Was there anyone else here?" he asked, trying to be courteous. I shook my head. It was just me here. Danny nodded, and pointed towards the main door. "I'll be in the hall, if you need me." He left us alone. I looked up at Dougie, wiping my eyes.

"Dougie." I stuttered. "I'm- I'm really sorry. I was being-" Dougie hushed me, stroking my hair.

"Don't worry. Everything is fine." he said, trying to comfort me. "You're safe and that's all that matters."

"But, you were right. I should've listened. I should've stayed. But, I didn't and I stayed here. Now everything's all wrong." Dougie gave me an peculiar look, but quickly regained his composure.

"No matter what happened, it's in the past now." Dougie smiled at me. I believed him, nodding. He hugged me tighter and I laid my head back on his chest. He smelled like fresh rain. I missed him so much. I had only been gone a few days, but it felt like it was years.

"I'm sorry, Dougie. I should've never put you through this." I said after a silence. Doug tipped my chin up and I looked at him.

"Don't worry about such little things, I already forgave you. Danny told me everything you guys had talked about." He kissed my forehead, smiling.

"Then, how did you know I was here?"

"Well, when I saw Gabe in the car, I knew something was up. But, if I said anything, I guessed you'd be pissed and storm off. So, I got back on the bus and was talking to Danny. He told me that he knew where Gabe lived and gave me directions. And then I just came here, Danny said that I'd need back up and tagged along." Doug shrugged.

"Thank you." I whispered, kissing Dougie's cheek. "I need my stuff… We're going back right?" I pulled away and went back into the room. Shivering, I quickly grabbed my bag. Dougie and I left the apartment, Danny was on the phone. He saw us, smiling and continued talking.

"Hey. Harry was calling to let you know that you left your phone on the bus." Danny caught up to us as we were walking down the stairs. Doug looked confused and felt his back pocket. Danny started grinning when Dougie realized he had left it.

"I guess I was in a hurry." he shrugged, wrapping his arm around my waist. "But, I didn't want to waste any time getting over here either, so it makes sense." he smiled at me. Danny began filling in the silences for us.

"You know, I found her first. Shouldn't I get some credit?" He grinned at the base of the stairs. Dougie rolled his eyes, smirking at me.

"The nerve of him." he laughed. I shook my head, skipping down to Danny. I leaned up on my tiptoes and kissed Danny's cheek.

"Is that enough credit for you?" I laughed. Danny hugged me with one arm, laughing heartily.

"Hey now, you're my fiancée!" Dougie rolled his eyes. I felt comfortable with them. Why did I ever leave? There was a police car sitting by Dougie's and Danny's cars. Instinctively, I grabbed Doug's hand. "Relax, Jen. You're safe." he whispered in my ear. The policeman spoke with Dougie and Danny, asking questions. He looked at me, nodding.

"Do you want to press charges, Miss Turner?" he asked in a gentle tone. I gulped, seeing Gabe in the back seat. He was boring holes into me with his intense gaze.

"If it'll keep him away, then yes. Most definitely yes." I stammered. Some paperwork was filed out and the man told us he'd contact us for a trial date.

"Well... I guess that's my cue to leave. See you at the hotel, guys!" Danny slipped into his car and quickly left. Dougie and I stood by his car, silent. Our fingers were entwined and I felt safe.

"We should get back, you know. Before the rest of the guys start worrying." he mused. I looked up at him and nodded. He opened my door and then went around to the other side. I sat down, not saying much. Dougie didn't press me, thankfully. We went back to the city, and got stuck in traffic.

Stopping in the back of the hotel, Dougie kissed my forehead. We got out and went into the elevator. Dougie got a few phone calls from Tom and Harry.

"Yes, she's fine... Yeah, we're heading back to my room... You want to talk to her? Harry!... Fine." Dougie rolled his eyes. He handed me his phone. "Harry wants to make sure you're alright." I put the phone gingerly to my ear.

"Hello?" I asked. The voices on the other line were loud, but vaguely familiar.

"Jenna!" two male voices yelled. "We're so happy you're fine. We were so worried! Tom almost wet himself." one laughed. "Did not! You're such a lying git!" the other grumbled. "But we're just checking up on ya. So, talk to you later." they called, hanging up... They had talked so fast, overlapping eachother, that I didn't even get a word in. I smiled, shaking my head.

"Yeah, they're always like that." Dougie grinned, taking the phone. Something was different, it was like I already knew that. I had vague memories of the two, they were muddy at best. But they were still there.

"I know." Dougie gave me a strange look. "What?... I just kinda know that they're always crazy like that. Well, except when Gio and Izzy get a hold of them, then they're all sappy and romantic."

"... Are your memories coming back and you're just not telling me?" he blinked slowly. I shook my head. There weren't any new memories, not to my knowledge. "Then how do you remember Harry and Tom?"

"I don't know... I just do. Sorry." I murmured, looking away. Dougie hugged me tightly, kissing my cheek.

"Don't be sorry, love. This is good, this is really good!" the elevator doors opened loudly, distracting us. I started giggling, and kissed Dougie's cheek. "I guess this is our stop." he pulled away, but still held my hand. I remembered the last time I was here, frowning. Dougie pulled me along down the hallway. He quickly swipped his key and opened the door. I scurried in and looked around the posh room.

"I'm going to practice my bass, if that's alright." he dropped my hand. I nodded without a word, still walking around. I opened the closet, it was practically another room. The bed was huge and pillows were scattered everywhere. Sitting on the edge, I picked up a picture on the night stand. It was of me and Dougie, on the beach.

Doug came back into the room, carrying his blue bass. He sat next to me, looking at the picture.

"That was a good trip." I murmured, my fingers grazing the glass. Dougie nodded, giving me another strange look. "I think I am remembering things again. Like, things feel familiar. But I don't remember remembering them, if that makes sense. Like I just know it, as if it was there all along." I blurted.

"That's good. I told you that they'd come back." he smirked. He strummed the bass, checking if it was tuned. It was, he started playing a song I recognised. It was like the melody, or whatever he was playing, was in my bones. I nodded along to the beat, setting the picture down. I focused on him and the song, they meshed together in my head. The words started coming to me, kind of like when somethings on the tip of your tongue and then you remember it finally.

"If you see Kate, tell her that I'm looking for her. She's so fine, that girls been on my mind. Ooooh." I murmured. Dougie nodded, his face lighting up. A flashback played in my head. It was when we were at Tom's house and Dougie told me that he wrote the song, for me. Based off how we met for the first time.

Then, there was another memory. And another. So many of them, that I couldn't even process them all. It was like a floodgate had opened inside my head. Flashes of me as a child, playing with my sister, my parents, Friday night football games, Dougie buying me ice cream in the park, moving in with him. I gasped, gulping the air as if I'd been drowning. Gripping Dougie's arm, I caught my breath. He cupped my face, worried.

"Baby, what's wrong?" he stammered, searching my face for some kind of sign. I looked him in the eye. Throwing my arms around him, I buried my face in his chest. I squeezed him tight, Dougie rubbing my back sympathetically.

"Dougie... I-I... I remember. Everything." I pulled away, smiling. His face lit up and he stood, pulling me up with him.

"You remember? Oh my god, Jenna!" He squeezed my hands. "Where was our first date?" He cleverly tried quizzing me. I grinned, remembering clearly.

"At Hugo's. And you got under cooked steak, so you puked when we were in the park." I chirped. Dougie laughed.

"I was hoping you wouldn't mention that last part. But, still! This is really good!" he was bursting with happiness. I was too, it just hasn't really sunk in yet though. I sat down on the bed again, still smiling.

"Not to rain on your parade though, Dougie... But I'm knackered." Dougie sat down next to me, his arm around my shoulder.

"I can understand. A lot has been going on today and it's pretty late... I'll get you a shirt for you to sleep in." He went into the closet, I could hear him unzipping a bag, returning with an oversized Blink 182 T-shirt of his. Smiling, I took it from him and quickly changed. I got into bed, Dougie next to me. I snuggled up against him, almost falling asleep.

"I forgot. I've got something for you." Dougie murmured. He got up, and grabbed something small from his bag.

"Really... You didn't have to, Doug." I smiled sleepily. He shook his head, grinning like a little boy. Laying down next to me, he took my left hand. "Getting all proper, now are we?" I laughed.

"You'll see." Under the covers, he put something on my finger. I made a face, pulling my hand up. My eyes grew wide when I realized what it was.

My engagement ring.

"Dougie." I whispered. "It's... My ring." Dougie tipped my chin up, looking me in the eye.

"I know. I wanted to put it back where it belonged." He pressed his forehead to mine, smiling. "I love you," he whispered. I kissed him, a smile on my lips.

"I love you too, Dougie."