We didn't go straight home like I thought was planned, but instead Zayn had taken me to a doctor he knew of. It wasn't the same doctor I had been dealing with, but actually someone who was concern about me. It was a nice women by the name of Janeen.

"So, I'm not going to ask what the hell happened because by the look of you two, you've been through hell." She tapped on the edge of her clip board. "I'll prescribe some antibiotics for you, Niall. And Zayn, let me check those stitches I put in you a while back." She had been the doctor that took care of him in the beginning when he was first injured.

"Thank you." I told Janeen. She smiled at me and then led Zayn to the other side of the room where the second bed was. "He's okay, right? You're fine, right, Zayn?" I was worried about Zayn more than myself and that seems to be a common theme in my life as of late.

"Oh, yeah. He's all good. Just need to poke and prod at him for a while." She did exactly as she said and poked around Zayn for a while, checking everything and making sure he was good enough to take care of me.

"Hopefully this will be the last time I see you for a while." Janeen told us as Zayn wheeled me out of her practice in a wheelchair. We were in fresh clothes and looked better than we had before we stepped foot into her office. When we were out of the building Charles was waiting for us with the car. Zayn helped me up from the wheelchair, my leg feeling much better with the anesthetic she injected into it, and we got into the car.

It was still late at night and everything seems a little too surreal. "I'm not dreaming, am I?" I asked Zayn, leaning into his side again as the warmth of the car again caused me to grow tired.

"No, you're by my side, just where you belong." Zayn's arm hooked around my shoulder and pulled me close. His shoulder must have been feeling better than it had before a few days ago, no weeks. I wasn't sure. Time had gone by without me knowing. The world kept turning while I stood in place. "I will never let you leave my side again."

It wasn't possessive in any way. Zayn wasn't like Liam and I knew that now. I just had to get used to someone being there for me since I had been alone for the majority of my life. "Oh wow." I suddenly said out loud, as I realized something about myself.

"What is it?" Zayn asked me.

"My birthday was the other day. I guess I'm finally seventeen." I shrugged because another birthday was just another year to me. I never saw it as something significant. But it was so significant because it meant that I could officially be emancipated from my parents without all of the court visits and paperwork. I could lawfully be on my own and be accountable for myself. I could get all my paperwork and finally get my life going.

"I'm sorry you had to spend it there." Zayn apologized.

"No, don't be. I'm just glad I'm with you now." I hugged his side, sighing and breathing in his new clean scent. "We can figure out all the other stuff later."

"Yes, we can. Just give all of this time to blow over. The police know I was involved at this point since I gave them all of the information, but it will all disappear. I've got my hands in a lot of projects across the country and with government officials. This will be no different."

"Y-you don't threaten people, do you? Bribe them? Or anything like that?" I asked, worried that the old Zayn that I had heard so much about was still around. I knew I loved this man that sat next to me and I loved who he was currently, but I didn't know if I could love him if I knew he was only covering up his old life.

"Absolutely not. I learned my lesson years ago with my father's business. I even now know more than anything that nothing can be solved with more crime and coercion." Zayn stared straight ahead. "I've always wanted to help people and unfortunately my father prohibited me from doing much of that in the earlier years of my life. But I am my own person and I promised myself that I am a different person now. I promise you that, Niall. If only you would believe me." Zayn was speaking through his heart.

I nodded. "I believe you."

We kissed again, this time deeper and with passion. I missed this feeling. This warm feeling in my chest that made the ice melt away from my heart. This was what I needed to feel my whole life, but god dealt me a s.hit hand. Things were different now and I never had to feel unwanted or unloved ever again.

"I can't believe I found you when I did." Zayn stared into my eyes. "I just cannot imagine my life now without you."

"Me neither." I smiled, pecking Zayn's lips with my own. "Even if you're an old man." I chuckled and he pulled back, giving me a disconcerted look.

"I'm not that old." He argued.

"Nine years older than me." I reminded him.

He frowned. "Now I feel like a cradle robber." He grumbled, but then smiled. "But you're my baby, my darling, my moon and stars, you know- all of that cheesy stuff." I rolled my eyes and then grabbed his face, kissing him again. He could call me whatever he wanted. I was his and he was mine.

"Sorry to interrupt, Zayn." Charles cleared his throat. He was always interrupting us. I just went with it at that point. "But what are we to do with the house." We were driving up the mountain side up to the house and I was confused by Charles words.

"What's wrong with your house?" I asked. We were getting closer to the house and I was then brought up to speed with what happened. The house did not look like how I had left it.

"Well, its under renovation..." Zayn sighed. "The front just needs to be a little less bullet riddled. John is helping out with the resurfacing." I guess John did actually did his landscaping and homework job along with being Zayn's protection.

"It's safe though, right?" I asked, a little apprehensive to be stepping into the destroyed house. The front windows were shattered and the door had more than a few bullet holes in it. There were tarps over things to keep the weather out and the place looked like a construction zone.

"Completely." Zayn assured me. We pulled up to the driveway and Charles parked the car to the side and I noticed that Zayn's jet black corvette was missing. I almost cried at the loss. "Shall we?" He led me into the house and we walked over a few tools that were left lying around. "It'll will all be fixed up in no time. You don't need to worry about a thing."

"Okay."

Yet I was still worried. Because that was me and thats how I always felt.

"I mean it." Zayn caught me by surprise by sweeping me off my feet and bringing me through the threshold of the house. Exactly like how a groom brings his bride into their home. "Just try and relax."

"You're shoulder!?" I panicked.

"I'm a lot stronger than you think I am." Zayn chuckled. He set me down inside once we got to the stairs. I scanned his body, making sure he wasn't hurt or anything. He looked pretty well put together with a few bruises here and there. "Strong enough for the both of us. I swear by it." I smiled because that was all the reassurance I needed.

I looked around at the house in shambles and took it all in. Even if the walls were cracked and the place looked as though a tornado ran through it it was home. I felt safer there than I ever did at my own apartment or even at the safe house. Maybe it had to do with the fact that Liam was dead and no one was coming after me. Or maybe it was because I finally came to terms with my life and where it had gone and where it was headed. Regardless, I was home. We were home.

"Anything else for you tonight, Zayn?" Charles asked as we stood at the base of the staircase.

"Nothing I can think of. Thank you." Zayn and Charles exchanged a nod and went there separate way. Zayn and I went upstairs while Charles disappeared off into the house somewhere. The sun was peaking over the opposite mountain range that faced the front of the house. I stood there for a moment and watched its orange and red hues burst into the sky and then I watched as the sun rays danced onto Zayn's face.

"Time for bed?" I asked with a slight chuckle to my voice. We had done this before... went to bed when the world was waking up.

"That sounds fantastic." We wandered upstairs to a less destroyed area of the house and to Zayn's bedroom where everything was left untouched for the most part. I had never seen a more welcoming bed than his in a long time. I had to pace myself to get to it, but once I touched the satin sheets, I knew I was in for the best sleep of my life.

"You go ahead and sleep. I'll be back in a moment." Zayn stood at the door and it hurt me to even think about him leaving me for a second.

"Zayn?" I caught his attention. He looked back at me as he stood in the doorway. "Whatever it is. It can wait until later." I told him. I was allowed to be greedy at times. And this was one of those times.

His whole body relaxed. "Yeah, you're right." He said, walking back to the bed, back to me.

I really hoped I was right.

A/N: And I am back and on a roll. I'm hoping to finish this story soon! Just gotta tie some things up and get to some good stuff. Be prepared. 

Much Love

Jachxx