A/N:

Hello! I'm having a 4 days break right now due to the Chinese New Year holidays, so just a heads up, I might hopefully be writing 2-3 more chapters this weekend:)
Enjoy reading, and to all my Chinese readers, if I have any, Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Oh ps: This chapter might be a bit weird, and irrelevant..apologies if it is, I just wanted to lengthen my story and develop the characters more in order not to jump immediately to what I'm planning to write for the next few chapters. But I assure you, it's not random, even the littlest details or little side plots I have play a part in the whole story:)

Peace x.

~Coming Home~

Beep..beep..beep

That sound had been ringing in my head for the past few days. The sound that helped me sleep because it told me that he was still alive. I watched as he laid sound asleep on the bed, probably dreaming of being anywhere else but here. Because that sure was what I had been dreaming about for the past week. One week could not have been slower. Everyday, I woke up with a fear that any moment my dad might give up on me. I knew that wasn't possible, the doctors had told me enough to assure me that death was not option for him at all. But deep down, the anxiety built up on me.

I was told that my dad had suffered an ischemic stroke. It was common for men his age to get it, and he was just one of the few unlucky ones to have had it in his genes. He had been under a lot of stress, and his high blood pressure might not have helped him much in preventing the stroke from happening. The doctor told me that my dad would most likely not be able to work for quite some time, till he regained back his physical fitness. It would require him a lot of work and determination to overcome the pain. He developed a speech impairment, and his right side was a bit weaker than his left. He wasn't fit to even move a muscle, what more do any physical work. When I first heard the news, I heaved a sigh of relief, believing that everything was going to be okay because he's not dead. That was my worst thought when I received the call that day. But now, as I looked upon him, I realised that my dad was the breadwinner between us. If he's not able to work anymore, then it was up to me to work. Bills were piling as I sat there looking at him, and no money was coming into our bank.

For the first time since I heard the news that my dad had a stroke, I broke down. Right there and then, beside my dad's bed. I didn't know what else to do. The thought of having to be the only one to support us, to work while still coping with my studies was horrible. I felt so alone. Sure I'd worked before, but that was simply to have more cash for my usual expenses. Not to pay the bills or school fees. That had never been my plan, I had never planned to support myself by the time I'm 18. My plan was always to stay with my dad till I get a degree and then, get a good job that could support both of us. I'd taken my dad for granted all this while. Now I felt so lost.

I dialled Niall's number. His voice was the one I needed to hear right now.

"Babe?" I said softly, trying not to break down again.

"Lila? What's wrong? You sound like you're crying," he noticed.

Tears immediately fall down again as soon as I heard his voice and in between my tears, I managed to let it all out,"I'm scared, babe, I'm really scared. I don't know what else to do. Who's going to support us? I can't do this alone. I'm not strong enough to handle this. I can't take the responsibility. I can't -"

"Lila, you're gonna be fine,"he interrupted. "You're going to be fine alright? I know you, you're hardcore. You can pull through this alright? Just stay strong for now. I'm gonna do my best to help out. Listen, I've already talked this out with Zayn and Pixie, and we want to be there for you."

He paused, expecting me to understand what he was saying. But I was just confused instead.

"Lila, we're coming to Bradford next week! I'm gonna be there beside you each step of the way, you're not gonna be alone in this,"he said excitedly.

I was lost for words. My three best friends were coming to Bradford, just to be with me while my dad was recovering. If that didn't prove they were the best people on earth, I don't know what will.

So Zayn, Pixie and Niall arrived at my doorstep the next Saturday. By that time, my dad was already out of the hospital. He was able to move now, even though he's kind of slow. He needed help getting his feet back up again, so he'd joined a support group. I called it his therapy session, because he'd always come home from it feeling much better about himself. I've already gotten a job as the paper/milk girl in the morning, and as a tutor for some kids in the neighbourhood. Pixie had told me I could babysit her siblings for the extra cash too. So now, my usual daily routine was to get up at 4am, do my route, then off to school, then come home for some tutoring. At night, I'll stay up do my assignments and essays. When I have the spare time, I'll follow my dad to his support group session.

When I first saw the three of them, I immediately just ran and crashed onto them with a huge hug. Then I hugged Pixie, and Zayn and gave the biggest kiss to Niall, which made him stumble and we ended up on the ground on each other. To be able to touch them, to see them in front of me was the best thing ever that's happened to me so no, I didn't care that I was super excited to have them here. For a second there, all my troubles were gone. I forgot how exhausted and drained out I was. I brought them into the house. I had a small apartment 2 bedrooms. We had to downgrade ourselves after some financial difficulties we faced a few years back.

It was actually the first time Niall was stepping into my life so indeed I was nervous. Since Zayn and Pixie already knew where everything was, I let them be themselves and took Niall's hand and led him into my house. My dad had left for his support group session, so he wouldn't be back till late in the afternoon. I had taken the Sunday off, but I still had to work that day. Niall pouted when I told him that some kids were coming over for their tutoring session. I showed him my house and we ended up in my bedroom. He stood over my study table and stared at the huge lump of textbooks and novels on it. His eyes went wide and looked at me in disbelief over the fact that I had so many books on it. I laughed and again, took his hand and brought him to my bed. We sat there as he continued looking around my room, scrutinising every corner of it. I watched him nervously, afraid that he might see something unlikeable about me.

But then he turned back to me, smiled and kissed me. When we parted, I giggled, looking at him weirdly.

"What was that for?" I asked.

He smiled widely and shrugged it off. "Nothing. I just want to kiss you."

I immediately blushed and couldn't hide my smile. He saw and he chuckled, which just made me giggle even more. We continued in our suppressed laughter for a while, before he went in for another kiss. I kissed him back, and we ended up making out for a few minutes. We were so into it, and I could feel his hands on my waist, slowly moving up. But before anything else happened, I parted my lips from his.

"I love you" I muttered as our lips parted and I rested on his chest.

He kissed my forehead, and replied,"I love you too Lila."

We continued sitting there, embraced together until the doorbell rang. I grunted, not wanting to let go just yet. I was perfectly fine in his arms, and the doorbell just reminded me of how I had to get back to reality. Niall stood up first.

"Cmon Lila, your kids are here,"he smiled, extending out his arm for me to take it.

I pouted, and grabbed his hand but I still didn't want to move. He laughed and tried to pull me up, but I resisted. Then he playfully grabbed me by the waist and lifted me over his shoulder. I was screaming for him to put me down.

"Niall! Niall! Put me down, this isn't funny!" I screamed, ironic because I was laughing at the same time. I kept punching him on the back, begging him to put me down.

He continued laughing at me, and brought me to the living room, where he suddenly stopped laughing. He slowly placed me down, and I realised that the kids were already sitting there with Zayn and Pixie, looking up at us and staring at us with their mouth hanging, surprised at our behaviour. I was so embarrassed, and nervously fidgeted around, looking at my shoes and then at Niall. I could see Zayn and Pixie trying to hold their laughter.

"Erm..Hi guys..erm..this is Niall! He'll be helping you guys out for the next few days.." I said, trying to sound casual.

Niall waved to them, and awkwardly went to sit beside them. The kids immediately continued back to what they were doing as if nothing happened, which was a relief. So the session went on for another hour, before they left.

"Getting cheeky huh?" Zayn teased as the last kid left the house.

"Shut up" I rolled my eyes at him.

"So did you guys do it just now?" Pixie said sneakily.

I gasped. "God, NO!"

"Well, don't act so surprised! You know very well, he's gonna want to do it with you someday," she said casually.

I smiled politely at her remark as Zayn let out a laugh. I gave him a look and he shrugged sarcastically. He knew something about me that I hadn't told anyone else before. I had a strong belief in abstinence, not so much because of God, but more towards personal reasons. I just found it gross to have many different men up in me everytime I thought he was the one for me. Zayn had respected my decision and told me not to worry about having people judge me for it as long as I strongly believe in it. That was probably one of the great moments Zayn and I shared together, the way he smiled and didn't judge me for it just reminded me of how lucky I was to have him in my life.

After Pixie went off to talk to Niall, Zayn came up to me. I knew what he was going to ask me.

"Did you guys nearly went to the next base just now? You were in your room right?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I managed to casually stop it from happening. Don't think he noticed."

"So I'm guessing Niall doesn't know?" he said softly.

I shook my head. "I don't know if I should tell him. I could easily stop him again if he tried to make a move right?"

He stared me down, till I felt guilty. "Lila, you know he needs to know about this. He's gonna want to, and he'll be upset if you reject him without an explanation. Or have you changed your mind about it? No, the Lila I know sticks with her beliefs..no, you're just scared he won't want you anymore, aren't you?"

He looked at me, and I nodded embarrassingly. "It's just, I really like him, and we've got a nice thing going on here. I don't think I can take it if I know he doesn't want me anymore because of a silly matter like this."

"Hey, this is NOT a silly matter okay? I know Niall, and he won't run away just because of this. He cares about you, he loves you no matter what you believe in alright? But now you gotta tell him."

I looked at him, wondering if I really do need to tell Niall about this. But Zayn continued staring at me, and I knew he wouldn't budge until I agreed with him.

"Fine. I'll do it later."

"Good. Tell me how it goes."

My dad returned home, and I introduced him to Niall. His memory's still a bit blurry too, so he needed some time to remember that I was dating someone. But I think he likes Niall after our dinner. Niall was his usual charming self, and impressed my dad I thought. Well, he certainly impressed me anyways. After dinner, Pixie had to get back home, so Zayn had to give her a ride. That meant Niall had to leave also, because he was staying over Zayn's. But before he left, he pulled me in for another kiss, a great one in fact, but I pulled him to the side.

"Babe, I need to tell you something." I said slowly.

He looked at me suspiciously.

"I..you know..I've only ever told this to Zayn, so I don't know how you will react to it. But I hope it won't change anything between us."

I took a deep breath again, and what I wanted to come out as cool came out an abrupt blurt,"I don't believe we should have sex together"