(Kalila)

Niall kept checking his phone and I could see him becoming more and more anxious.
He brought it to his ear again.

"Gwen, if you don't call me back within the next five minutes, I'm going to come looking for-"

Niall heard a faint chime before he could finish his voicemail message and looked at his phone.

Gwen: Niall, I'm in bed-I'll call you tomorrow

Niall huffed at the message.

"I'm going to call a cab to go check on Gwen, do you need a ride?", Niall asked me.

"No, don't call one, I have a driver, he'll take us to Gwen's", I said and Niall nodded, then followed me to the front entrance where Ty picked us up.

Niall couldn't help but be impressed with my ride. He looked at me curiously and I just lifted up my shoulders and said, "Zayn".
He didn't say anything, he just nodded.

I could tell he was in deep thought about Gwen, but I had to ask.
"Why are we checking on Gwen? Is everything okay?", I looked at Niall.

"I hope so", he sighed and looked out of the window.
That short answer told me to stay quiet and we rode in silence until we got to her place.

"Stay here", Niall opened his door.
"Wh-", I moved to get out with him.

"Lila. Please", Niall looked me in the eyes, pleading.
"Okay", I said, sitting back.

Before Niall got out, Ty spoke up.
"Sir, may I be of any assistance to you?"

"Oh, no, thank you. I'll let you know if I could use a hand, though. I appreciate that very much", Niall said.
"Yes, Sir", Ty nodded.

(Niall)

I ran up to Gwen's door and tried the handle, it was locked. I got out my keys, found the spare that Gwen gave me and got inside.

"Gwen?", I said loudly, turning on a light.
"Gwen", I said louder, walking to her bedroom, opening it and turning on the light.

Her bed was empty.

"Fuck", I cussed under my breath.
"I fucking knew it".

I swear, if I find her at Theo's

"Can you take us to 2144 Oceanfront, Amalia?", I asked Ty as I climbed back in the car next to Lila.
"Of course, Sir", Ty quickly got us to that address.

I didn't have to ask Niall who lives here.
This time I followed him out of the car and Niall turned to me.

"Lila, get ba-"
"No, Niall! She's my friend too!", I frowned at him.
"Look, Lila, if something happens, I don't need to be worrying about you! Just stay in-"

I walked past Niall and he grabbed my arm.
We both heard Ty get out of the car and clear his throat, we turned to look at him and he was staring at Niall's hand on me.

Niall immediately let go.
"Okay. Lila, if you come, Ty, would you please come with her?"
"Of course, Sir", he said and walked behind Lila who walked behind me.

A few seconds after I rang the doorbell and knocked hard on the door, a light turned on and Theo opened the door.

"Niall?", Theo looked at him, then to me and Ty standing behind him.
"What's going on?"

"Where's Gwen", Niall said.
"Niall, she-", but Niall interrupted.
"Don't deny that she's here!"
"Wait. Okay, just calm down", Theo said, but Niall pushed past him.

"Gwen!", he yelled, bounding up the stairs, the three of us watching him, but a light turned on at the top of the stairs before he reached it.

Gwen stood in a robe.
"Niall! I told you I'm in bed and I'd call you in the morning", she said, her eyes squinting at the light.

"You didn't tell me whose bed", Niall shot a glare at Theo.

"Niall. I'm an adult. I can make my own decisions", Gwen said and I could hear how drunk she was.

"Gwen, get your ass in the car now or I'll carry you out myself", Niall said without blinking.

Theo took a step toward him with one of his hands up.
"Niall, look, I understand you're protective of Gwen, but you-"
"Yes, Theo", Niall walked down the steps and walked in front of him.

"I am very protective of Gwen. Even more so when I feel that she is in need of protection", Niall said and continued to stare Theo in the eye as he added, "Gwen. Cullen"

I looked up at Gwen and her expression changed completely.
She immediately made her way down the stairs, only in her bathrobe.

I held my arm out to her and she curled into it, hugging me as we walked to the car. Ty sprinted in front of us to open the door for us.
I thanked him and crawled in with Gwen and hugged her as she cried softly.

Niall was saying something to Theo, then I saw him turn away from him and walk toward the car.

Theo stood looking after us for a minute, then lowered his head and slowly closed the door.
He looked so sad.

Niall got in the car and slammed it shut.
He sat there silent, glowering straight ahead in anger.

Gwen sniffled hard against me and Niall instantly looked over at her, just now realizing that she was crying.

I saw his eyes go from hardened and cold to gentle and caring at the sight of Gwen like this.

"Gwen....", he raised his hand to put it on her back, but stopped himself.

"Gwen, you...I...I care about you,
Gwen", he looked like he was in physical pain at the sight of her crying.

"I...I've looked after you with Cullen since you were a little girl and-"

Gwen jumped up, making both Niall and I flinch out of surprise.

"But I'm not a little girl anymore!!!", she screamed loudly at him and he looked at her with shock and deep concern.

"I'm not a LITTLE GIRL, NIALL! AND I....I....", but she couldn't finish her sentence as she started crying harder and was now chocking on her tears.

Niall couldn't take it anymore and grabbed her, pulling her into his arms, his muscles flexed hard against her from hugging her so tightly. I wondered how she could breathe.

Gwen fought him for a second, then grabbed onto Niall, fisting his shirt in her hands and curled up into a ball on his lap.

Her voice came out from against Niall's chest and even though it was muffled, it was clear.
"I...love....him", she cried in between each word.

Niall held her firm and started to rock her, his eyes shut tightly as he listened to her sobs.

I started to tear up at the sight of the two of them, seeing how much pain they were in right now.

Nope
No way
Niall doesn't need two crying girls on his hands
Suck it up
Think of them
How can I be helpful
What can I do

"Ty?", I leaned forward.
"Yes, Miss", he looked at me with eyes wide.
This poor man

I whispered because I didn't want Niall or Gwen to protest.
"Would you please drive us back to Zayn's?"
"Yes, Miss", he nodded.

A while later, we pulled up to the house and Ty went to Niall's side and opened the door.
Niall stepped out, still holding Gwen and thanked him.

"Ty, thank you so much", I said.
"Oh, it's my job", he nodded.
"No, thanks for...everything", I said and he smiled.
"You do smile!", I laughed out.
His smile widened and he deeply chuckled.

"Would you like to come inside? I'm going to make us something to eat", I smiled brightly at him.

"Oh, no, Miss. I need to be getting home", he answered.
"Okay. Yeah, it's late, I understand", I said and held out my hand to shake his.

"Goodnight, Miss"
"Will you please call me Lila?"
"Okay, Lila", he smiled.

"Another smile!!", I raised my arms in triumph and he chuckled again.

He got in the car and drove off and I turned and ran, catching up with Niall, carrying Gwen.

I grabbed my single key from my thigh wrap, unlocked the door and stood aside for him to enter.

"She's asleep", Niall whispered.

I waved him over and he followed me to one of the guest bedrooms.

I watched him lay her down and straighten her robe, making sure it was fully covering her.

Niall tucked her in, then smoothed a few strands of hair away from her face.

He then bent down and kissed her forehead, then turned to the door and closed it quietly.

We walked out of that part of the house and into the kitchen, way out of range from the room Gwen was in, so we could talk.

Niall looked at the time.
2:04 a.m.

"Uhhhh", he rubbed his temples.
"I'm calling in one of the managers to fill in for me tomorrow. I am nowhere even near ready to sleep.

I walked over to the pantry, then to the refrigerator. I held up some bread and a bottle of wine.
"Grilled cheese and wine?", I smiled.

Niall smiled back and lightly laughed.
"That sounds absolutely wonderful".