Niall unlocked Amanda and his hotel room. He knew they only had a few hours left before Amanda had to go to the airport to go back home. He understood. He knew it had to happen but he wasn't looking forward to it at all. Things were progressing quickly but he knew it had to if it was going to work. There wasn't much time to get to know someone and go through the dating process. They got to know each other a lot through phone conversations, but it was just nice to be able to wake up next to someone. Know someone was always there for you and always on your side. He had great people around him but this was just different. He looked at Amanda. "I wish you didn't have to go yet. Seems like it goes so fast and its always time to say goodbye."

"Some pretty smart guy I know told me once, it's not goodbye, it's see ya later. I think he gave pretty good advice." She said walking into his arms.

He smiled and wrapped her tightly in his arms. "You think he's pretty smart huh?"

"Yeah I do. We will see each other as much as possible. You will have some extra time soon, and I can work a lot for a while to have extended time off. We can make it work. Long as I know I get to come back to you and your arms. Or you can come to me and mine, then we can make anything work." She told him.

"Now who is giving the great advice? That sounds positively perfect to me." He said kissing her.

"Oh you are so good for my ego." Amanda laughed. "I make you strong huh?"

He smiled. "I'm glad you caught that. Yeah its really nice to know you have someone there for you. I do need you. Already. And I think...." He kind of looked at the floor and bit his lip. "I think I may...." He was wondering if it was a good time. Screw it, he thought. "I think I may be falling in love with you."

Amanda stepped back and looked at him. She was in shock. She wasn't expecting it so soon. She was so taken aback she didn't speak right away. She just kept looking at him.

"Um, well. Maybe I shouldn't have...." Niall started.

"No! I'm sorry." Amanda quickly jumped in. "No you should have. Its just, I'm not sure I really know what love is; that I've been in love. What it feels like."

He took her hand and put it on his chest over his heart. "It feels like this. Like your heart is beating so loudly the world can hear it, and that it might come right out of your chest. It feels like there is no other person in the world you would want to spend your time with. It's knowing that the person is always there even when things aren't perfect. It's understanding the why's even though you may not always like them."

She smiled and looked up at him. "Then..." she put his hand over her heart. "I think I'm falling in love with you too."

He smiled a big, happy, cheesy smile. "Oh thank god." He kissed her. "Now come here so I can show you." He pulled her tightly to him and kissed her deeper and longer. They would make love that night. And it was the best feeling in the world.

Harry walked into the hotel room. It was dark and quiet. He immediately thought Julie was gone. That she ran. He turned on a small lamp and noticed her shoes on the floor. Took a minute, but he saw a lump under the comforter in the bed. He took a deep breath of relief. He walked over to the side of the bed she was laying on and sat at the edge. Half her head was all that was sticking out of the comforter. He moved a strand of hair from her face. She looked on edge again. Maybe he should have waited. She needed to know though. Maybe he felt protective, maybe he felt like someone needed to save her, and maybe he thought he was brought into her life to be that one. He wasn't sure, but she was leaving in a few hours; he had to let her know that he wanted to be there, that he wanted to help her. He wanted to be with her. Now he was afraid though, that if she did pull back, if she did run, since she was leaving he was going to have a harder time convincing her. It was a constant battle. He felt it was best to be honest and he had never felt this way so quickly about anyone.

Julie could feel him staring at her. She heard him come in, but she wasn't ready for the conversation they had to have. She needed a few more minutes to figure out what to say. She was trying to be open and honest like they've asked but she just wanted to run. Leave in a few hours, and be done with it all. She wanted to just get out of the intense situation, and stay busy, and not think about it. It would be a temporary fix though. She knew that he would always come back into her mind. That when he decided he had enough of her running, she would regret not giving him a real chance. She was overwhelmed though. She tried to stop it, but a tear escaped her closed eyes. She was hoping he didn't notice. But he did.

He wiped her tear gently from her cheek. "So you are awake. Can you please look at me?"

She took a deep breath to steady herself. She removed the comforter, put it under her arm, and opened her eyes to look at him. He was by far the most handsome man she had ever met. And his eyes were so kind and so welcoming. She sat up criss cross and faced him. She tried to blink back the tears but was unsuccessful. She was frustrated she was crying so much.

"I scared you, didn't I?" When she nodded he continued. "I was hoping I wouldn't, but I figured I might. I'm not asking anything from you other than what we've already discussed. Just give me a chance to be with you. Let's just see where it goes. But I still want to help you through the dark. I still want to show you that there is a lot more out there and show you that when you think about a relationship it isn't about the pain and the bad, but it's about kindness and caring, and the good."

"Harry this is too intense for me. I can't deal with it. I'm struggling to deal with it. I never thought it would become this already. Part of me..." she stopped and bit her lip. He wasn't going to take what she was going to say well. "Never mind. Can we just slow down, please? I'm trying really hard not to just run back to being alone and too busy to worry about any of this, but right now that's all I want to do."

"Tell me. Part of you what? You wanting to run isn't a surprise." He said.

"Part of me....Harry, I don't." She saw the look on his face. "I just wonder how much of this is about me, and how much of this is about you thinking it's now your responsibility to try and fix me. And that once you feel I'm fixed it won't be as appealing to you. I don't want to be your charity case. Sometimes, I think you're too nice to leave. I don't want to hurt you and I know that saying that hurt you." She reached out to touch his cheek, but dropped her hand when he pulled back from her. "I deserve that."

He got up and started pacing the room. "You know what the worst part of you saying that is? Is that I'm not sure if you really mean it, or if you're just trying whatever you feel would be most effective in pushing me away. And that's frustrating."

Julie ran her hands through her hair. "I just don't want...I don't know. As scared as I am to be with you, I'm just as scared to be without you." She laid back on the bed. "You are scaring the hell out of me."

He walked over and looked down at her. "I just want a chance to see if we could fall in..."

Julie sat up quickly and interrupted him. "Don't say it."

"Just a chance to fall in..." He tried again.

She quickly covered his mouth with her hand. "Don't!"

He removed her hand from his mouth. "Fall In L..."

She kissed him. Long and deep. She wanted him to shut up.

When she finally broke the kiss Harry took a deep breath. "Are you trying to shut me up now using my tactics?"

"Yes." She said.

"It's not going to be that ea.." He started but she kissed him again. She put her hands in his hair and bit his lip gently. "Now you're just trying to......" He watched her take off her shirt. "Shit, not fair." He knew she was trying to distract him from the subject. He shouldn't fall for it. She was so frustrating and he just shouldn't let her distract him. But it was working. She was leaving in a few hours, and he just wanted her, and didn't want to spend the last few hours he had with her arguing. He leaned over her so she laid back on the bed again and climbed over her. "You are very bad. But very good at it." They would have time to fight through this. Right now they could do what they do best. Be together.

Niall and Amanda made the most out of the few hours they had left. There was no sleeping involved. Neither wanted to say goodbye. Niall watched Amanda sit up. "Already?"

"Yeah. We have an early flight. Have a feeling will sleep the whole way, since my boyfriend didn't let me sleep at all." She smiled at him.

"Yeah well I don't regret it." He said.

"Me either, but I have to shower and get ready." She kissed him and went to shower.

Julie laid down on Harry's shoulder out of breath. "Ok, I'm done." She kind of laughed. "You win. I can't take anymore."

He closed his eyes and chuckled. "What it's only been like 3 hours."

She rolled her eyes, picked her head up, and looked at him. "I'm not used to performing for 3 hours straight. I have no idea how you did that after putting on a show not long before that."

"What can I say. You bring out the best in me. C'mon lay back down here." He wrapped her in his arms.

"I can't. I have to shower and get ready. Gotta leave for the airport real soon." She kissed him and sat up wrapping the sheet around her.

He laid back and closed his eyes. "It sucks." He looked at her. "You don't have to be so modest. After that marathon I think I'm used to seeing you..."

"Just stop. I don't even walk around naked in front of myself." She shook her head, got up, grabbed her clothes and went to shower.

After Harry heard the shower running he quietly went to see if she locked the door. She didn't. He thought about slipping into the shower with her, but he figured she might not react the best to that, so instead he grabbed her clothes and took them out of the bathroom quietly. Harry heard his text notification and looked. It was Niall; said to call him if he had a minute. He called him. "What's up?"

"So remember when we were talking about Change Your Ticket and how the girls should hear the song? You gonna play it for JJ?" He asked.

"Yeah I think so. Knew it was coming but it kind of sucks. Think it will convince them to stay?" Harry asked.

"Can only hope. But what do you think your chances are?" Niall asked him.

"Honestly, probably not that great. Yesterday I pushed my luck a little. She is in full on flight mode right now." Harry told him.

"Oh, that sucks. Especially since Amanda probably won't stay if JJ won't. You know Mama Bear right now and all." Niall kind of laughed. He was only half joking. He was hoping JJ would stay because he knew Amanda would stay then. "Alright I'm gonna play the song when Amanda gets out of the shower. It won't be long before they walk out the door."

"Yeah man. Guess we will know how it goes soon. Good luck." Harry said.

"Yeah you too." Niall said hanging up.

Niall went into the bathroom but Amanda was already out of the shower and dressed. "Damn, I wanted to sneak in and join you. You were too quick." He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He rested his chin on her shoulder.

She looked at him in the mirror. "Sorry babe. We really don't have much time. You should have let me know your plan." She laughed.

"It's ok. I want to show you something. Soon as your done ok?" He asked.

"Yeah of course. What is it?" She laughed.

"It's a surprise. And you know you look beautiful without make-up right? Just come out when you're ready." He walked out.

Harry laughed as he heard Julie exclaim, "Harry Edward Styles! You bring my clothes back here right this second!"

"Uh Oh, the middle name. I know what that means. But no, you have to come get them." Harry called out to her.

"Damn you." She came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, hair wet hanging over her shoulders. She went to grab her clothes from the bed and back towards the bathroom.

Harry got up quickly, and shut and blocked the bathroom door. "No need to go back in the bathroom."

"Get out of my way; I have no time for this. Seriously." She looked up at him.

"Well then you better just stop arguing and get dressed. You're lucky I didn't come right into that shower with you." He looked down at her.

"I'm lucky? You're lucky you didn't try." She went to reach out and pinch him, but with her hands full the towel slipped a little so she stopped.

"Oh, don't stop. I like the view." He laughed, cause she just shook her head and went and put her clothes on the bed. She held the towel and tried to get dressed without dropping it. "You are way too much." He climbed on the bed. "I want you hear something. It's another new song." He said grabbing his phone and looking for it.

"Oh geez, no more songs no more dedications. No more emotional crap. I'm losing my mind." She finally had enough on to drop the towel. Least it covered as much as the bikini she had already worn in front of him. She hated the scars she had, as much as she just wasn't confident in her body, but it was hard to dress holding a towel.

Harry watched her drop the towel. He stopped looking for the song for a minute. He shook his head to clear his mind. "Just listen to it please." Man he thought it sure fits this situation.

Julie kept getting dressed. She grabbed her carryon bag and put it over her shoulder to take it to the door. She heard his deep gruff voice start to sing the song:

Watching you get dressed messes with my head.
Take that bag off your shoulder.
Come get back in bed we still got time left.
This don't have to be over.

Harry looked at her when she stopped and turned around towards him. He really didn't want her to go. He wanted her back in his bed. This song may have been written and recorded before, but it sure hit the feelings he had right now.

When Amanda came out Niall started to play the song. Amanda kind of looked at him. She hadn't heard this song. She immediately recognized Harry's voice though and deduced it was a song from the new album. She heard Niall's voice next. She couldn't help but smile.

And you say it's hard to keep a secret
Girl don't leave me all alone in this hotel
And these shades can hide us from the streets yeah
One weekend I promise that I'll never tell

You should probably stay, probably stay, a couple more days
Come on let me change your ticket home
You should probably stay, be with me, a couple more days
Come on let me change your ticket home
Don't go, it's not the same when you're gone
And it's not good to be all alone
So you should probably stay, be with me, a couple more days
Come on let me change your ticket home

After listening to the chorus and rest of the song Amanda walked up to Niall. "Awe babe. I wish I could but I do have to go back home. At some point I have to leave."

"I know, I do, I wouldn't cancel your ticket. Just change it. A couple more days." He said pulling her close to him.

"We already extended our trip by a couple more days. Babe, my heart hurts leaving too, but it has to be this way. We knew this would be the way it is. But we will go home and figure out our schedules, and I'm sure as feasibly as possible we will be back, or you can come visit. Well at least me." Amanda said.

"Uh oh. Well I talked to Harry this morning. JJ is still here, so that's gotta be a good sign." Niall said. "I know you're extremely worried but seems to me she's made progress."

"She has, but she was completely freaked out last night. She was shaking. She was totally in her head and she admitted...." Amanda stopped. She wasn't going to say anything to Niall she didn't want him to tell Harry.

"Admitted what?" Niall asked.

"That she wanted to run." Amanda said.

"Yeah that's not a secret so wanna try again?" He said.

"She doesn't deserve him. I'm afraid she's going to sabotage herself. And that was before the Through The Dark performance. After that you could feel the fear. But I hate she feels she doesn't deserve him or help." Amanda said. "But enough of that. I wanna say a proper see ya later to my boyfriend." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

Julie felt the bag being lifted off her shoulder. She looked up at Harry while the chorus was playing in the song. She hugged him as the song ended and then stepped back to grab her bag.

"Just stay, please. A couple more days. Let me call and change your ticket." He said.

"I can't Harry. For many reasons." She said as she put her bag by the door, next to the suitcase, and walked back up to him.

"Just a couple more days." He said.

"We already extended this trip a couple more days. We have to go home. I have to go home." She said to him. "No more song lyrics right now."

"I know I shouldn't hate this so much. But I do." He sat down at the edge of the bed. He was expecting the same type of goodbye as last time.

Julie walked up to him, between his legs, and wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed his head and when he buried it in her chest, she rested her head on his. "It's ok. It's not over."

He didn't know why he was crying but he was. Everything was so emotional, but he was so relieved when she actually said the words that it wasn't over. He wrapped her tightly in his arms. "Thank god."

"I have to go Harry." They heard a knock at the door and knew it was Amanda and Niall, but instead of letting go he held her tighter. "Babe please." He squeezed even tighter for a second and then let her go. She walked to the door and let them in. Everyone was so down. "Ok look I get it. It's tough. But seriously? It's not like it's forever."

"Seems like it." Both Harry and Niall said at the same time.

"Oh for crying out loud. You guys should be more used to it than anyone." Julie said. She couldn't handle everyone in tears. "Ok we really have to go, like now." She gave Niall a hug. "Bye Ni, see you soon."

He squeezed her back. "Remember, we are always here if you need a friend. Run towards us. Not away."

"Right. Thanks. Tell everyone bye for me." Julie said to him.

"Hate you. Remember that." He said as he kissed her quick. When Julie just looked at him, he laughed. "Hey if you can do it so can I. I got your back sister."

Amanda hugged Harry. "Bye my friend. Glad she was here to say goodbye. I know I was worried last night."

Harry hugged Amanda tightly. "Yeah last night, early this morning, was tough. And we still didn't get through it all. She distracted me."

Amanda laughed. "Yeah I bet she did, and I bet it didn't take much, and even less clothing."

"Do you really wanna talk about that after yesterday afternoon?" He laughed at her expression.

"No!" she said.

Harry kissed her quickly. "I didn't figure. I may need to talk to you about a few things. Hope you don't mind if I call or text."

"Not at all. I'm sure you're gonna need a lot of support. She's difficult." Amanda laughed.

"Yeah but she's pretty great." He said.

"That she is." Amanda squeezed his hand.

They each put their carry ons over their shoulder and grabbed the handle of their suitcase. Niall opened the door for them and they walked out.

"Let us take you to the airport. Come on this is ridiculous; we could have another couple hours with you." Niall said.

"Or better yet. Let us change your tickets home." Harry said.

"Sorry but we have to go." Amanda said.

"And sorry, but no airports. Too many eyes and cameras. Not a scene for a goodbye." Julie added.

Amanda walked to Niall and kissed him one more time. She whispered, "Love you." To him.

"Love you too. Why are we whispering?" He laughed.

"Don't want them to feel any pressure to say it." Amanda said.

"Why would they feel pressure?" He asked.

"Oh just trust me." She kissed him one more time.

Harry leaned down and kissed Julie. "Will you call me when you land?"

"Of course." She touched his lips gently with her thumb then reached up and gave him one more quick kiss. "Bye, boyfriend."

He let out a sigh of relief. "It's so good to hear you say that."

"I told you, it's not over. Talk to you later." She turned and walked down the hallway with Amanda.

Julie and Amanda waved to Harry and Niall when they were waiting for the elevator. Julie looked at the floor, bit her lip, then dropped her bags she started running down the hallway back towards Harry.

Harry had turned to go into his room when he felt Niall nudge him. He turned to see Julie run, and jump into his arms. Oh god, it made him so happy, and feel so much better about where they were at. He wrapped his arms around her as tightly as he could. When she nuzzled her head between his neck and shoulder he closed his eyes. She kissed him and then hugged him again.

Niall took the moment to walk to Amanda. "Guess I can have one more too then?" he asked. He didn't wait for an answer, he kissed her and held her in his arms. He watched Harry carry Julie back down the hallway in the same embrace he left them in.
Took the girls convincing them but they finally let them go.

Julie and Amanda got into the elevator and waved one more time. The elevator door closed. They looked at each other and tears rolled down both their cheeks. "Well this sucks." Amanda said.

"Yeah, but just think how nice it will be when we get to see them again." Julie said. They rode the rest of the way to the airport in silence.

When they finished boarding the plane, Julie laughed. Amanda looked at her wondering what was going on.

"Before you turn your phone on airplane mode you have to see what Niall posted on his Instagram." Julie said looking at her.

Amanda pulled up the app and stared at it. It was Niall and the back of her head. He must have taken it when they were in a long hug. It captioned: #hardtosaygoodbye #tilwemeetagain #safetravels #strong. She sat back and stared at the photo. Guess they were officially official now. Wow. She had to put her phone in airplane mode but she text Niall quick. She said "sneaky, but love the IG pic. Call you soon."

The girls both fell asleep quickly and slept the whole flight home.

*if you are enjoying the story please vote/comment/share. I would love to be able to respond.

*the story is complete fan fiction