Epilogue ~ Lizzie

I look down though the little window next to my seat and I see London, just small buildings and red dots, I think they are buses but I can’t be sure. We’re still too high in the sky, approaching to the airport. I can’t get rid of the smile on my face and my legs bounce in sheer excitement. I’m so close, I’ll see my sister in a few minutes. It’s been a couple of months since the last time we saw each other but since she got a job she can’t visit us as much as when she was in Uni.

I can’t believe it’s been more than five years since she left and came back to London. I’m fifteen now and yes, I still live in Chile with Mum. I had the option to come here and study in England, but I’m really fond of Chile. Small little country, it grew on me since I was a kid. Plus, my life is there now. I guess I understand Darcy better now. If I had to come here because Mum got a new job, I wouldn’t be happy. I would want to go back to Concepción all the time, because that’s my home now. Still, I visit Darcy every summer and she does the same during her summer –my winter.

Many things have happened during these past five years. First, I’m in high school now and Mum is doing great. She tries to convince me all the time to study Geology, and I must admit, it’s a fascinating subject, but I feel more attracted to veterinary. Darcy graduated from Uni with honours, now she is a prestigious journalist. She got a job in a new and promising magazine for the woman of today. I love that magazine. She is very happy, so I guess she’s kept her promise.

Yes, I know… I know what you’re asking. Don’t be so impatient! I was going to get to this point eventually.

Liam and Darcy are still together, disgustingly happy, if I say so myself. Yes, they have had some fights, Darcy has called me crying and yelling because Liam is an idiot, but then she calls me two days later saying she is the happiest woman alive.

Being in love is weird.

Yes, One Direction does still exist, but they are not as massive anymore nor that pop. I guess they will always have fan, they are quite loyal, but there’s always something new who steals the hearts of the fans. But I think it’s a good thing, they already had their highlight in their career, now they can really focus on the music they want to make and they have time for themselves. Plus, paparazzi don’t follow them all the time, which allows them to go out without worries. It’s a good thing for everyone, they now can spend more time with their families.

Darcy and Liam live together, Brit is still with them and she got a boyfriend a few years ago that also lives with them. His name is Apollo and he is completely adorable. Darcy teases me that when I come to see them I spend more time with Brit and Apollo than with them. Which is kind of true, I just can’t help it; animals are my strength and weakness.

Harry, Louis, Zayn and Niall are great too, still as close as they were when I met them. I really consider them my overprotective uncles. I’m sure that if one day I get a boyfriend, that poor boy will pee himself because the four of them, plus Liam and Carter will scare the hell out of him if he ever dares to hurt me.

I can’t say I don’t have a big family.

We finally land and I just want to run, knowing the Darcy and Liam are waiting for me to spend two months together. Mum will come to visit in February, during January she’ll keep working on a new project.

I hurry as much as I can to pick my luggage so I can meet with my sister as soon as possible. Soon I find myself running, searching frantically for her. Now she has her hair long, which makes her look younger, I believe. I finally spot her, holding hands with a more mature Liam. His face lost all the remaining boy features from when I met him and now he looks like a man, not teenager anymore. After all, he is twenty-five.

When Darcy sees me, she lets go of Liam’s hand and rushes to my encounter. I hug her immediately. It’s been a few months only, but I’ve missed her terribly. Despite the distance, we are as close as when it was only the two of us. She is and will always be my best friend. Soon I feel another set of arms embracing me and I giggle, knowing it’s Liam who has joined the hug.

“Welcome, Lizzie,” Darcy says stepping back a bit, her hands still on my arms. She is smiling brightly, her dimples showing off and her eyes showing her happiness. “Did you have a good flight?”

“Yes,” I answer and I look at Liam when I say the rest so I don’t miss his reaction. “The guy next to me was really cute.”

As expected, his features harden and he is all serious now. I laugh and he furrows his eyebrows at me. “I hope you didn’t give him your number. I have to meet this guy before you even think of dating. I’m sure Harry won’t––”

“I was kidding!” I tell him punching him softly on the shoulder. “It was only a kid and his mum. I was just messing with you.” This time Darcy joins me in my fit of laughter at Liam’s expression.

“Oh… good. You can’t date anyone yet. Too young.” I shake my head and hug him tightly.

I don’t say anything. Having a boyfriend is not in my plans anyways and I just want to go home. Yes, I do consider their house my home too. I even have my own room for when I visit them, which is every summer. Well, winter here in London. Being in different hemispheres will always be messy.

In our way to Liam and Darcy’s home, a beautiful three story house with a big yard, an amazing pool –that’s my favourite part of the house but I can never use it as I always come in winter– and many rooms. The movie room is absolutely incredible and the best part is that they have all Disney movies, so I always take a trip to memory land when I’m here.

Darcy and Liam tell me everything that had happened here, including Carter proposing to his girlfriend. They have been dating for three years so I take this opportunity to mess with Liam.

“So… You’ve been with Darcy six years. Carter won this time, uh?” I say popping my head between their seats. I see Darcy blushing furiously and Liam goes stiff. “I never thought you were the one that was scared of marriage, Liam,” I keep going and I see his mortified expression, so I laugh again. “Relax, I was just having fun.”

I sit back again but I don’t miss the way Darcy and Liam look at each other. I’ve seen this so many times, yet it still impresses me. After all these years, it’s the same, the way they look at each other is the same. Like in The Little Mermaid, Liam looks at Darcy like Eric looks at Ariel, as if Darcy is all what he’s been looking and waiting for. Maybe it’s true, maybe Darcy is all what Liam needs and vice versa and during these years, that hasn’t change. He still looks at my sister as if she was his whole world.

Maybe that’s the reason why I don’t have a boyfriend or no one seems good enough. Since I was nine this is all I’ve seen, the way my sister and Liam look at each other with such devotion and love, the way he treats Darcy. I can’t lie, my standards are pretty high. I want someone that will love me like Liam loves Darcy, not less and I don’t mind to wait many years for him. All the time will be worth it if he can look at me the way Liam has always look at Darcy.

I’ve never met Dad, I never saw Mum in a relationship –she is just work and family–, so Darcy and Liam are all the example of a real relationship I have ever had, and I think they are the best example. They complement each other, they make each other better people an when they are not together, it’s like they are not whole. I noticed this when one winter Darcy came to see us without Liam and she wasn’t the same. She was happy, she had a great time, but there was something missing in her eyes. Next year she came with Liam and she was even happier. I never saw that look in her eyes when he was around.

I’ve never met two people more meant for each other than Darcy and Liam. My sister has changed, enormously, but only for the better. She is really happy and just seeing her like that, even if it’s just twice a year, it’s all I need to be happy myself. I know she is living her dream, having all she has ever wanted and more. And it’s at Darcy whom I look up to. I remember when she would never do something for her but now she matters, too. She has made a lot of things because she’s wanted them. Like when she went to America for one semester without Liam to study abroad because she won a scholarship.

Since she left Chile and came to London to study and live, she learnt to make her own decision instead of just doing what was better for the others and I couldn’t be prouder of my big sister.

When we get home all our friends, including Brit and Apollo, are waiting for us with a big sign that says ‘Welcome Back, Lizzie!’ They rush to hug me when I put my first step in the house. In a matter of seconds I’m surrounded by men, drowning in testosterone. They pull apart but Harry stays next to me, his arm around my shoulder. If Darcy is my best friend, Harry is my best guy friend. Even from afar, he has always been there for me. Although he has problems accepting I’ve grown and I’m not the nine-year-old little girl he met six years ago.

“You’re so big! Stop growing up!” He scolds me seriously

“I try, I swear I try, but you know, my body is pretty stubborn. It doesn’t listen to me!” I joke making everyone laugh, or maybe they laugh at the resigned expression on Harry’s face.

After that, it’s all about catching up, eating and laughing. It’s so good to seem them all, including Carter and Lu –his fiancée–, a lovely girl with medium brown hair, cute smile and joyful eyes from Philippines he met when she was on holidays here in London.

I remember that when I was a kid, it was only Darcy and I. Carter was like a brother and Mum was never around, but I was happy. My only friends were my sister and her best friend, but I never complained. I had a small but beautiful family. Now I have this huge family that I get to see every year and that I adore. I honestly can’t see my life without them. The day we met One Direction at Carter’s family’s shop, we met the rest of my family.

By the time everyone leaves and there’s only Liam, Darcy, Brit, Apollo and I, and I’m in my room unpacking, Darcy knocks at my door and she walks in, finding her way to my bed. She is smiling brightly and there’s a sparkle in her eyes. I’ve always loved to see my sister this happy.

“I’ve missed you, little sister,” she says and I leave my jumper aside to walk towards the bed and take a seat next to her.

“I missed you, too,” I answer looping my arm around hers. “But now we’ll have two months to spend together.”

“Yes, and I may need your help with some things here.”

“Oh sure, count me in for whatever you need. If you need help in the magazine or some party, you just let me know,” I wink at her and she giggles leaning into me a little bit.

“Great. Well, it’s late and you had a looooong flight, so I’ll let you get rest. See you in the morning, Lizzie,” Darcy says kissing my cheek and standing up to leave my room. She takes a few steps before she turns around and looks at me with a weird smile, almost as if she knows something I don’t. “Oh, by the way, do you like it?” She asks holding up her left hand and for a moment I don’t understand what she is saying but then I see it.

In her annular finger, around a silver band there’s a shinny sapphire and I hold my breath as realisation hit me. Darcy’s smile grows wider and I can’t stop looking at her ring. But then I react and I scream at the top of my lungs as I lunch myself towards her, literally tackling her against the floor.

“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!” I cry out. “My big sister is getting married!”

Still on the floor, Darcy is only laughing as I keep squealing. Brit and Apollo come running and think we’re playing and try to join. Soon, Liam also appears and when I see him I scream again.

“AAAHH!! Well done, Liam! Finally! Aaaahhh! I’m just so excited! You’re finally getting married! Now come here and let me hug you!” I shout grabbing his hand somehow and pulling him down with us. Both can’t stop laughing as I hug them. I’ve never been this excited. “Congratulations! But honestly, it was about time.” That only makes them laugh harder. I’m just happy for them! Without a doubt, they are the best couple ever and I know they will be together forever.

-:-:-:-

And now it's officially over. I'm really going to miss this story, so I may write some one shots sometimes. No, I won't write a sequel about Liam and Darcy I just don't like those kind of sequels. Anyways, I really wanna say thanks, guys. I'm so happy you enjoyed this story and all those comments on the last chapter made me so happy I felt like crying all the time. Thank you! You're the best.

Don't forget that this Monday 15 I start posting my two new stories: Masquerade and Bitter & Sassy. You can find the fist part of both on my profile (:

Last shout outs to @drummergirl7, @bellatats, @AlexisMichellexox, @ohsnapitzsel and  @AshleyWeekipediaAcev.

Remember I love you all and I really hope you enjoyed this epilogue <3 The cheesiest of them all!

Bel, xx