Just as Much

2 Years Later- Erica's POV

I can't believe I'm finally here for Christmas. Finally in Miami with my grandparents, Niall, my mom and Walter. I thought it would be awkward with Walter but as it turns out, things really aren’t. He doesn't act like a father to me, I'm old enough I don't really need one but he is someone I respect and look to if I need help with anything.

We spent last year with Niall's family for Christmas. It was so much fun. His family is so musical, all of his cousins there, people singing and playing the piano. Yelling. He's got a large family so talking is near impossible when you're trying to talk over everyone else's conversation. But none the less I enjoy it. Denise is pregnant, expecting a little girl in March. She's so excited, Greg is freaking out, he doesn't know what to do with a girl. And Niall is just being Niall, ready for her to arrive and spoil her with everything the little princess wants.

Mom rented a beach house for our stay, Grandma and Grandpa always have a lot of people staying at their house so she wanted something that's a little more quiet, more space for everyone. Mom always likes her own space. Currently Mom and Walter were out on a date. Mom wanted to visit a few places that used to be her favorites and watch a film at the cinema so it was just Niall and I. She invited us but I wasn't up for fighting for privacy. Niall is still always in the public eye. I've gotten used to it, I don't always like it but if I want to be with Niall, and I do, then I have to learn to live with it.

Things between Niall and I aren't always perfect, I'll admit that. We've had our struggles but the good outweighs the bad for us. We always make it through. He's always there for me when I need him, even if he's on another continent, we always make time for each other. It's not something we just picked up right away, it was something we had to learn. It took time but we got the hang of it. We know how it works, we're comfortable with each other and we can finally understand how we tick. It's different when you're friends compared to when you love each other. We just make sure that even if we don't talk that day that we at least text each other an “I love you” before we go to sleep. Just because we can't talk to one another doesn't mean we're not thinking about the other person.

“So do you want to go in?” Niall tugs on my hand, our fingers laced together. I always just want to hold his hand.

“Yeah.” Even if it's Miami, it's still a little chilly when the wind comes up on the water. We walk back to the house, people have been nice and leaving us alone, a few people have stopped and asked him for pictures, I've accepted that it will always be like that.

We take our shoes off at the door, sand always gets in no matter what you do so I can't avoid it. Thankfully mom is a bit more of a clean freak than myself so she's been cleaning up after everyone, not me.

“Want to watch a film or something?” Niall suggests and I nod.

“I'm just going to go change into some sweats and I'll meet you in the basement?” I wait for him to grunt a yes before I take off to our room at the top of the steps. We're celebrating Christmas in a few days then back to Dublin to exchange gifts with Niall's family. Then New Years then he's off for another tour in February. I always love the breaks, I know fans don't but they're our holidays.

I pull my jeans off and change into my favorite pair of Niall's sweatpants, they're a little big for me but that's what makes them comfy. I flip my head over and gather all my hair into a high pony tail, I just want to relax.

I race down the steps to meet Niall as he hands me a cup of hot chocolate, I wrap my hands around it, letting the cup warm my fingers up. “This is a big cup.” I laugh, not realizing that I've said it out loud.

“Yeah, I found it in one of the cupboards and I thought that you would like it better then the smaller one that I grabbed. I know you love your hot chocolate.” I snuggle closer to him as he messes around with the remote.

“This is the beach that my dad took me to when I was little.” I whisper to him.

“I know.” He squeezes me tighter, kissing my hair. I'm sure that my mom did it on purpose but she hasn't mentioned it. It's always so difficult for her to come back here, which is why I'm surprised that she brought Walter with us but that's her decision and I respect that. We all have our different ways of coping with things.

Niall finally settles on Real Steel. Not my favorite choice considering it's robot boxing but I humor him, we didn't bring any movies and their isn't a lot showing on a Tuesday night. I sip my hot chocolate until it's almost gone but I still want more.

“I'm going to make more. Would you like some?” I ask Niall, it's only fair that it's my turn to make some since he did it last.

“Sure.” He passes me his cup and I head up the stairs. I pull the milk out of the fridge because it's the closest thing when you enter, I need to rinse everything out before I make some more. I rinse Niall's under the sink then mine when something catches my eye at the bottom of the cup. I take a second glance then see it.

“Marry me Erica.” Is embossed in the bottom of the cup. I read it again and again, touching it to make sure what I'm seeing is real.

“Erica.” I turn to see Niall on one knee on the kitchen floor and I almost drop my cup.

“Niall.” I reach out to touch him and he grabs my hands. I'm literally shaking, I can feel his palms are sweaty, I can only assume he's nervous as well. This is not happening, my jaw already hurts from smiling.

“So, surprise.” He laughs nervously and I can't help but join him. “Erica I love you. I never thought that the first time I met you that you would be such an important part of my life. I think about constantly and I can't get over that. You fell in love with who I really am. We've struggled a lot but I can't imagine anyone else I'd want to struggle the rest of my life with but you. Will you please do me the honor of struggling with me the rest of our lives?” I laugh a little bit because of the way he says it, struggle with him for life.

I squeeze his hand. “Yes.” I whisper as he pulls a ring from his pocket and slips it on my finger, I don't even look at it just pulling him up as quickly as possible to squeeze the life out of him.

“Jesus, I was so damn nervous.” He laughs.

“Why?” I ask.

“Well it's kind of a nerve wrecking question Erica. You don't know because you'll never have to ask it.” I can't quit laughing, that's true.

“I think you did fantastic.” I kiss him sweetly.

“So you and me. You're going to be stuck with me. My farts, my occasional bad attitude, grumpy morning face, my football obsession, and my love for sleeping. Forever.”

I shake my head. “And you'll be stuck with my occasional burnt food, my history obsession, my hide the remote when a match is on, talk to loud on the phone terrible habits. Forever.” I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss his nose.

“And I wouldn't have it any other way.”

And I think I love him more and more everyday.

Notes

The end! Ahhhhhh!!! I don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow when I have nothing to post! I'll start my Zayn story next week sometime, I'll post here to let you all know about it. I can't believe this story is over. :)

I've NEVER ended a story with a proposal, not something I usual do. I actually thought of having Niall propose and Erica say no, but I didn't want to kill you all. :) No bonus chapters with this story, sorry, even though the proposal was low key, I felt it was very fitting for them, sweet and at home.

I just can't thank you all enough for all your kind words, messages, reads, subscriptions, and votes. You all have made me a better writer because lets face it, if I didn't get the response I've gotten, I would have never continued to write so from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

I hope you all have a fantsastic day, I'll be writing Zayn later today so I can five you all more than a chapter next week!!

xoxoxoxoxox