The sound of my boots clicking on the pavement broke through the quiet night, as I rushed out of the tube station and headed towards home. Knowing that Noah was so close filled me with a strange feeling. A feeling that I hadn't known since I was a child.

I remember one Christmas Eve, when dad was still around. My mum had tried to put me to bed at least three times, but the warm glow of the lights from downstairs and the noise of her shuffling around making last minute preparations was too much. Each time I'd managed to creep about halfway down the stairs, she'd spot me peering through the bannister and chase me, giggling, back up to my room.

It was only when dad came to tuck me in one last time that I'd finally stayed tightly swaddled in the covers and drifted off to colourful dreams about the next morning. His low, soothing, voice; the way he stroked my hair as he told me stories, he was my comfort. The same way Noah had felt when he had unexpectedly turned up outside my house on that surprise night back in December.

Given the way contact between us had died down while he'd been away on the first leg of The Ambition tour, I'd expected things to be different. Awkward maybe. But they weren't. Nothing happened between us on that snowy, winter night; we'd just talked. And then, when our lips were too dry and our bodies too tired to even think about doing anything else, we'd talked some more.

For the first time since I'd met him, I'd allowed Noah tell me everything. No interruptions, no assumptions, just his story; spilling out into the safety that the four walls of my flat shrouded his secrets in. It hurt to hear all the gory details - it hurt badly - but I needed to hear it. And, more importantly, he needed to say it.

Noah had ended up staying right through the holidays. My mum had been a little taken aback to say the least when we both turned up at her house on the day before Christmas Eve, but she'd quickly fallen as in love with him as I was.

Now, he was back in the country again. In a few minutes, my boyfriend would be back in my arms. The thought whipped my stomach into a frenzy as I turned the final corner onto my road, the tall, white brick houses looking eerily beautiful in the moonlight.

A sleek, silver Mercedes sat outside my house, its engine still purring to keep the heaters running. My walk almost broke into a run as I got closer. It had been six weeks since I'd last seen Noah and I'd missed him more than I'd ever thought possible.

When I was almost within touching distance of the car, the back passenger door swung open. A tall figure jumped out, swamped in a black, padded winter coat with the hood pulled up. From the movement of his limbs alone, I didn't need any confirmation who it was before jumping into his arms.

Noah's lips were warm against the cold of my face. Pressing them against my cheek, my senses revelled in his scent. The feel of his arms around me, the light tickle of his stubble as he moved his lips to mine.

My mouth felt as though it had been starved. I could have kissed him all night long, glued to the spot in the quiet London street I called home.

"Evening, Abigail," he said, pulling his face back to smile out at me from under the giant hood.

"What the hell are you wearing?" I laughed, tugging one of the elastic toggles that hung from under his chin.

"It's my European winter wear. Don't you like it?" he smiled.

I shook my head and let out another quiet laugh, before pressing my forehead to his. "You were gone too long," I whispered.

Noah met my lips with his once again, the soft and tender kiss sending warmth from my scalp to my toes.

"I know," he replied.

Dropping me back to my feet, he glanced around the street before sticking his head back into the car and thanking the driver. His smile was wide as he emerged again, now clutching a huge bouquet of white roses in his hand.

"It's cheesy, I'm sorry," he laughed.

Taking the flowers from him, I could feel my face begin to flush even in the crisp night air.

"They're beautiful," I smiled, "Thank you."

Wrapping his arm around my shoulders, Noah led the way to the front door. The feel of his strong, tall body next to mine again was enough to make my skin erupt with excitement, a sharp jolt of electricity running from the back of my neck all the way to the bottom of my spine. We barely made it up the stairs to my flat before crashing together in a fit of pent-up longing. I wanted him, there and then. I needed him.

My fingers fumbling with the ridiculous zips of his coat as he pushed the door closed behind his back, I couldn't help erupting into a fit of giggles.

"Seriously, I hate this bloody coat," I laughed, throwing my hands up into the air and stepping towards the entrance to the living room.

Noah's smile was mischievous, like his 'disguise' was some kind of hilarious prank that he'd been planning all along. Pulling off the grey beanie he wore under the hood, his disheveled blonde locks sent a pang through me. He may have been a rising star in the music world, but he was still Noah. My Noah.

Dropping the heavy coat onto the floor as I hung my fur jacket up on the hook, he followed me through into the living room. It may not have been a penthouse apartment, but I'd made the place feel like home. It was my sanctuary from the hectic pace of London, the stress of University, and the pressures of PCJ.

I slipped my boots off as I crossed the wooden floor towards the sofa, stopping to fling each one across the room. The thick, cream rug was soft under my aching feet and I dropped down onto the sofa with a sigh. Noah plonked himself down next to me, naturally pulling me into his chest as we curled up together.

I remember once reading a quote somewhere. It said something about how true friends are people we don't see for ages, yet things always feel normal as soon as we're reunited.

That's how Noah felt. He felt like home. On a newer version of the red sofa Charlotte and I had owned, in a new neighbourhood, with a new life unfolding for each of us, he felt safe. The quiet between us was comfortable as he twirled a lock of my hair between his fingers. I could hear him breathing in the smell of my shampoo as he rested his chin on my head.

"So..." he began, "How did it go tonight?"

I'd nearly forgotten all about it. The excitement of seeing my first hit song performed live had almost been erased from my mind with the excitement of Noah being back. Sitting up, I turned to face him and couldn't stop the grin that spread across my face.

I must have talked for at least an hour. Noah had plenty to tell me, no doubt. He was the one touring Europe after all. But he let me waffle on about the past six weeks without even so much as an interjection.

"I'm so sorry, I haven't even asked about you," I said, clasping a hand to my forehead. "And I've not even offered you a tea."

Noah's single dimple appeared as he smiled.

"What's so funny?" I frowned.

"I've got a flight out in less than ten hours," he replied. "I don't want to waste that time drinking tea and telling you what I've been up to."

"But I want to hear it," I smiled, shoving him playfully. "I need to know all about your rock n' roll antics."

"Rock n' roll antics?" he laughed. "I've been to fifteen different countries over the last six weeks, and I've seen the inside of fifteen different hotels. That's about it."

"Noah!" I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Don't act like you don't love being on stage every night, people screaming your name and singing along to their new favourite band."

"I do love it," he smiled, "But it's hard. I'm tired, we're all tired. Alex misses Charlotte and the baby. Most nights, me and him just hang out in each other's rooms playing video games."

"Oh come on," I groaned. "There must be more exciting stories you can tell me. You know, what goes on tour and all that..."

"Stays on tour," he finished. "Not sure you've quite got the hang of that quote there, Abi."

I shoved him again with my shoulder. "Shut up," I laughed. "Tell me all about the European Music Awards, you looked - and sounded - amazing on TV."

"I'll tell you about it after," he muttered, the piercing green of his eyes glinting in the warmth of the lamp.

"After what?" I replied, scrunching my nose up. I knew exactly what he meant, but after not hearing his voice in person for so long, I wanted to watch the words fall from his beautiful mouth.

"After I show you just how much I've missed you," he smirked, wrapping his arm around my back and pulling me towards him.