Two Pieces

"I'm Not Going Anywhere"

"I have an alibi!" Sofia said, panicking, "I was with Chase Montgomery last night."

"The guy from the video?" Davis asked.

"How do you know about the video?" Sofia gasped.

"Because Madison's parents think it's proof that you wanted to hurt Madison, they think you'll blame her for it getting out," Davis said.
"She is to blame for it getting out," Sofia said, her voice thin.

"And now you're telling me you were with the other person in the video, the other person that probably wouldn't be happy about the release of this video –"

"Yes but –"

"But what?!" Davis yelled, "That doesn't make you look any better Sofia!"

"I left here at like 1:30 last night," Sofia said, "Chase picked me up."

"And so you were roaming around town with Chase?" Davis asked

"Not exactly, we went to Revolt. The dance
studio," Sofia said, "We got there around 1:45, and we were there until like 3. They have security cameras, you can check! Besides the 15 minutes in the car to and from, I'm on tape."

"So now you're telling me you were breaking and entering last night?" Davis growled.

"No!" Sofia argued, "I have the security code. Tammi Malone owns the place, she trains the dancers at our club. She knows I have the code, she's let me use the place before."

"And then what?" Davis asked.

"And then Chase brought me home, I got home around 3:15, and you were banging on our door by 5," Sofia spat out, "So unless you think I beat her up like an hour ago, and then crawled into my bed just in time..."

"We found Madison around 3:30 this morning, and she couldn't have been lying there very long. Her friends tell us they left another bar at last call, around 2... " Davis said.

"Well, that would mean that I had to be in two places at once," Sofia argued, throwing her hands up.

"I have to take you in," Davis said, "Until I get proof that you were in that studio, I have to bring you
in."

He had cuffs in his hand, and signaled for her to turn around.

"Don't fucking do it, Davis," Harry growled, "I'm warning you."

"You can't believe that I actually did this," Sofia said, her breath catching, "You know me Davis."

"I know that I caught you slamming Madison against a wall just a little while ago, and last night you threatened to kill her in front of a ton of people, and I know that you two have a spotty history that include a video of you in a vulnerable position being released," Davis said, shaking his head, "And you're not exactly the most honest person."

"Watch it," Zayn hissed at him.

"I have to take you in, Sofia," Davis insisted, "I have a teenager in brain surgery, and I have one suspect. I can't let this go. You have to turn around, don't make me charge you with resisting arrest too."

"What if I resist for her?" Niall snapped, watching as Sofia turned and faced the wall.

"Niall, don't," Eleanor said quietly, putting her hand on his shoulder.

"Is cuffing me really necessary?" Sofia asked, as Davis grabbed her arms, putting them around her back.

"No," Davis said, "But it makes it so much more fun for me."

"Now isn't really the time for your fucking jokes," Danielle snapped at him.

He pulled her back and turned her around, his hand on her arm.

"Liam," Danielle said, desperately, nudging her husband. Liam looked heartbroken and confused. He also looked ready to take Davis out right there, and Davis picked up on it.

"I have to take her, Liam," Davis said, "And if you try and stop me, you will have a bigger problem with the law then you do now."

"This is ridiculous!" Zayn roared, "You're acting like she's guilty already!"

"It's fine," Sofia said quietly, "Just let him take me. Don't make it worse."

"I'll follow you down," Liam finally said, "Don't say another word until I get there."

"Let's go, Sofia," Davis said, pushing her forward and out of the house. As he slammed the door of his car behind her Sofia turned to see the entire house on the porch looking just as blind-sided as she felt.


***


Sofia took a drag of a cigarette as she leaned against the wall of the room where the question suspects. It was like de ja vu for her, except this time she was painfully sober. The door opened, and Liam and Jay walked in.

"You okay?" Jay asked, "You didn't say anything else did you?"

"You know me better then that, Jay," Sofia said, with more confidence then she felt, "It's gonna take more then prison to get me to talk."

Liam walked over to her, taking the cigarette from her hand, and putting it out.

"Where'd you even get a cigarette?" he growled, looking at her.

"Cop. Felt bad for me," Sofia answered.

"You don't smoke," Liam said, it was more of an order then a statement.

"I'm a little stressed," Sofia replied.

"Yeah, well, let's not add lung cancer to that stress," Liam said.

"Sofia, I got to ask you," Jay said, looking over at her from across the room, "Did you do this?"

"No," Sofia replied, running her hand through her hair.

"Sof, now is the time to be honest with me," Jay insisted, "If you did this, or set this up, we can work with that. I can make this go away, but I need to know if you had a hand in it."

"I didn't do this Jay!" Sofia snapped, her voice loud.

"You need to tell me –" Jay started to say.

"She said she didn't fucking do it," Liam yelled, "We take her word, and that's it."

Sofia looked at her brother in surprise. He never yelled at Jay. She knew he had to be pissed, and upset he was trying to get her out of police station for the 2nd time within weeks, but still here he was. He was by her side, and had her back. He believed her. She felt overwhelmed by his loyalty and love. She didn't deserve it.

Sofia let out a laugh, a distressed, nervous, almost hysterical laugh as she looked at her brother shaking her head.

"What?" he asked.

"I just don't know how we came from the same parents sometimes," Sofia said, before covering her face, "I just ... how can you be like this? How are you so good? Especially to me?"

"Hey," Liam said, grabbing her, "It's going to be okay. I promise you, Sofia. I'm gonna get us through
this."

"You never give up," Sofia said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"No," Liam said, "Not on you. I don't give up on you."

The door swung open, and Davis stepped inside.

"Well?" Liam spat at him.

"We found the video footage of you at the dance studio," Davis said, "There's no way you could have attacked Madison. So, I have to release you."

"Well good thing you cuffed and dragged her out here, huh?" Liam spat at him.

"Liam, they still think Sofia was involved somehow," Davis said, "Her parents are stuck on the idea that this was her. So, I can release her. But you need to stay local, and you need to be prepared that this comes back to you."

"They think Liam did this?" Sofia gasped.

"They think that someone involved with you attacked their daughter last night, and I'm guessing that their first stop is going to be one of the five guys that lives with you," Davis said.

"That's ridiculous," Sofia insisted.

"I don't disagree," Davis said, "But you have to stay local and you have to be prepared that we will be back to question you."

"And Madison?" Jay asked, "What's she saying?"

"Nothing," Davis said, "She's out of surgery, but still unconscious."

"Is she going to be okay?" Sofia asked, her voice breaking a bit.

"We won't know the damage done until she's awake," Davis said, opening the door, "But you are free to go."



***


Sofia was following Liam out into the main room her thoughts were with Madison. Sofia hated her, but she didn't want this. She was pulled out when there was a crash and a yell.

"Jesus Christ," Liam hissed, as Sofia watched Harry throw Chase against the wall, Niall trying to pull Harry off.

"Did you know someone was taping the two of you while she was high out her mind?" Harry yelled as Chase tried to push Harry off.

"Harry, come on man!" Niall cried out.

"You think Farm parties are cool?! Thinking getting girls drugged out their minds is cool?! Don't ever fucking come near her again!" Harry yelled, as Liam ran forward.

"Harry stop!" Liam barked, grabbing his arm, "Let him go!"

"I mean it," Harry growled, "If I ever see you even look at her again, I will come after you, you fucking pill pusher!"

"Harry enough!" Niall yelled, trying to yank him away from Chase.

"Do you understand me?!" Harry yelled at Chase, "Do you hear what I am saying?"

"Harry please," Sofia said, grabbing his arm and catching Harry's attention. Harry's eyes went wide when he saw her. He let go of Chase immediately.

"What the fuck man?!" Chase spat out, trying to catch his breath.

"I'm so sorry, Chase," Sofia said to him, trying to reach out for him.

"Don't fucking apologize to him," Harry growled, stepping between them.

"You should go," Liam said to Chase, before Harry could go after him again.

"We should all go, before the we give the cops another reason to lock us up," Jay said, pushing Harry towards the door. Sofia stood there wide eyed and overwhelmed.

"Come on, Sof," Niall said gently, putting his arm around her, "Let's get you home."

As they walked outside, and moved down the steps to the car, Sofia saw Mr. Vincent coming toward her.

"You did this!" he yelled, "I know you did this
to my daughter! And I will make you pay!"

"Mr. Vincent –" Sofia tried to say, as Niall pulled her behind him.

"I know you did this! You will pay for this!" he yelled

"Hey!" Liam yelled, stepping directly in front of her, "I'm sorry about your daughter, and I'm sorry your family is going through this. And I'm sure that you are just trying to protect your family, but don't ever fucking threaten my sister again."

Niall pulled Sofia towards the car, and Liam stood firm not allowing Mr. Vincent to move past him.

"You won't threaten me," Mr. Vincent hissed.

"I'm not threatening you, I'm telling you that you will not ever threaten my sister again," Liam said, his voice low and dangerous, stepping towards him, "And believe me, when I find out who did this to your daughter, because I will find out, I will make sure that they don't ever do it again."

"Like you don't already know who did this," Mr. Vincent hissed at him, "But you Payne's always seem to get away with it, don't you?"

Liam didn't get to respond, because Mr. Vincent was running up the steps and into the police station.

Sofia made a move to follow him, to tell him her side, and to promise him she would get to the truth and make someone pay, but Niall stepped in front of her.

"You can't," he said, as though reading her mind, "Just get in the car."

Sofia looked up at him with desperate eyes, and it broke his heart.

"Sofia," Harry said, from inside, "Let's just get you home."


***


"Oh thank God!" Danielle cried, hugging Sofia tight as she came through the door, "Are you okay?"

"What happened?" Emily asked, looking at her horrified.

"How's Madison?" Katie asked.

"Alright girls, maybe just give her some room," Louis said, moving them back with his hands. Sofia moved towards a kitchen chair. If she didn't sit, she was going to be sick. She hadn't said anything the entire car ride, leaving everyone in the car even more worried then they were before.

"Did they clear her?" Zayn asked.

"For now," Jay said, "But her parents still think she had something to do with it."

"Yeah, but she didn't," Louis said, confidence in his voice that surprised Sofia. She looked up at him, grateful.

"If she didn't do it, it had to be a set up," Niall said.

"Obviously," Harry snapped, "I mean, a girl beaten up in an alley way? That's sounds familiar, doesn't it?"

"If this was a set up, they had to have seen the fight last night," Jay said, "I mean, they knew that it would make Sofia look guilty, and they moved fast on it."

"What does that mean?" Danielle asked

"It means we were being watched last night," Liam said, shaking his head, "They have to have more people in and out of our club then we know."

"But why Sofia?" Emily asked.

"I don't know," Liam said, shaking his head.

"My best guess is their trying to shut her down because she was the one their girl made contact with," Jay said, "We're lucky they didn't go after Sofia herself. Or maybe it was just their first chance to really screw us over with the law. I mean, a jumped teenage girl, there's no way the police can ignore that. Just keep your fingers crossed Madison doesn't die because..."

Sofia laughed in her hands, causing everyone to stop and look at her.

"Because then it's just another death on my hands," Sofia said, still laughing, her laughter broken, "But I mean, why not? It's what I do. I'm the fucking angel of death. It's what I was born to do!"

"Sofia –" Danielle said, tears in her eyes.

"I mean Jesus, of course I'd get Madison killed! It's what I do, I lead people into dark alley ways so they can die!" Sofia voice was raising, and her laughter was breaking more and more into what sounded like cries.

"It's amazing!" Sofia said, standing up, "I've gotten so fucking good at my job, I don't even have to do it! I can just look at somebody, and they'll be dead alleyway by the next morning."

"Come on, Sof," Louis said, "Just sit down and calm down, you're upset..."

"Dad must be so proud of me!" Sofia said, laughing again as she shook her head, "He must be thrilled with my skill set right now! I guess all that training wasn't for nothing, right?!"

And then Sofia let out a heart-wrenching sob, as she collapsed back into the kitchen chair. Her body was shaking as she wept into her hands. No one knew what to do or say as Sofia sat there sobbing. Hearts broke across the kitchen as they saw just how much pain she was in.

"This is not your fault," Liam said, approaching his sister as he kneeled next to her, "Sofia, this isn't your fault!"

"No," Sofia shrieked, finally looking up at him, tears pouring down her face, "It's dads. It's dads fault. He did this to me! He did this, Liam! And I hate him. I hate him so much. God, I hate him."

Liam grabbed her pulling her into a hug, and let her sob on his shoulder.

"I know he did this," he whispered in her ear, "I know he did this to you, and I hate him for it too."



***


Sofia pulled herself together, because that's what she did. No matter what, she could always pull herself together. The hot water from her shower burnt her skin and pulled her back to reality. As the water beat down on her, it washed away her tears. It gave her time to be away from everyone, and pull herself together.

"See? Didn't that hot shower just make you feel better?" Danielle asked quietly, as Sofia hit the bottom of the steps with her hair still wet. She gave Danielle a small smile, because she knew Danielle needed reassurance that Sofia wasn't a total wreck.

Emily sat on the couch, and Sofia moved to her friend, sitting down next to her, wrapping her arms around her, and placing her head on Emily's shoulder. Emily played with Sofia's hair lightly, and Katie put her head in Sofia's lap.

"She's gonna be okay," Katie said quietly, looking up at Sofia. Sofia didn't say anything, she just allowed herself to be in the amor of her friends.

"I've never seen her like this," Liam said quietly from the doorway of his office as he watched her, "She looks so vulnerable, like a child."

"Yeah, well, something like this would shake anyone," Louis said, placing his hand on Liam's shoulder, "She'll be alright. She's finally starting to break down."

"Maybe that's what she needed," Niall said, "Something to shake her so much that she didn't have a choice but to break down."

"Sof," Zayn said, walking into the living room, and sitting in a chair, "You gotta tell us what the story is with this Madison girl."

Eleanor and Danielle paused, looking at Sofia from their spot on the other couch. Liam, Niall, and Louis all came from the office into the living room. Harry moved from his spot leaning on the kitchen doorway, and instead leaned against the stairwell, looking at her. She felt Katie squeeze her hand, and Emily stopped playing with her hair.

"I know you've never liked the girl," Liam said, "But what happened to make it this bad?"

Sofia sat up, still leaning on Emily. She glanced at Katie wouldn't let go of her hand.

"It wasn't always like this with us," Sofia said quietly, "Madison moved here our first year at school. We weren't friends, but we traveled in the same group of people. Her boyfriend was a few years older, and we all ended up hanging out with the same people, going to the same parties."

"So, what happened?" Niall asked.

"Towards the end of our first year, we were all at a party together. Madison wasn't there, she had gone away on holiday with her parents. Her boyfriend made a pass at me, but I wasn't interested. I don't even remember what he did, it didn't occur to me that was a big deal. But, by the next Monday, it had gone all around school we had hooked up."

"Madison was devastated," Emily said quietly.

"I tried to tell her that nothing happened, but he told her that I came on to him, and he made a mistake. She was so angry, and I felt so bad. But she wouldn't listen to me. She was in love and she wanted to believe him. She called me a whore and a slut, and would say things in the hallway, but I got it. She was upset."

"She was cruel," Katie insisted.

"About a week later, her boyfriend broke up with her in the middle of the hallway. I mean, he humiliated her and broke her heart, in front of the entire grade."

"It was terrible," Emily said, shaking her head, "I mean he just crushed her, and didn't think twice about it."

"She blamed me," Sofia said, "She had it in her head that he broke up with her because he wanted to be with me."

"So she hates you because her boyfriend dumped her?" Zayn asked.

"No, she hates me because I did something horrible," Sofia said.

"What'd you do?" Liam asked, sitting on the arm of the couch next to Danielle.

"I was at school, late one day. The same week he broke up with her. I was by myself, and Madison and a few of her friends jumped me in the gym locker room. And I let them, I didn't really fight back. I just figured if I took it, they'd back off and maybe the whole thing would be over."

"I don't remember hearing about this," Liam said.

"Uh no, I guess you wouldn't. I came home with a black eye and a swollen lip, and dad was furious."

"Because you got jumped," Harry said.

"Because I could've taken them," Sofia said, "Because I let someone beat me, and Payne's didn't do that. He gave me a 2nd black eye, and just tore into me about how weak I was. He was fuming. 'I didn't raise you to be a loser, Sofia.' 'Payne's don't back down in fights.' 'If you're going to be this weak, why bother training you at all.' 'I'm not raising my daughter to be a typical high schooler.' He wanted me to fight back, so I did."

"You jumped her?" Niall asked.

"No," Sofia said, shaking her head, "Jumping her probably would have been the nice thing to do. Maybe she would've healed from that. But, I wanted to break her, I wanted her to know that I was always going to beat her. I wanted her to break like Dad broke me that night. So, I went to a party, and I hooked up with her boyfriend right in front of her. I was cruel, and I made sure she saw it. It was her worst fear and the thing she would hate the most, and I did it. I didn't think twice about it. It was the 2nd time that week she had been humiliated in front of all of our friends. She was in tears, and I just laughed. I literally laughed at her, before dragging her boyfriend up to a bedroom."

Everyone was staring at Sofia, they didn't look surprised but they did look like it was painful for them to hear.

"I think it was the first time I played with someone's life, and didn't give a shit about how it would make them feel. I guess it became 2nd nature after that."

"Sofia, why?" Danielle asked.

"Because I got to come home and tell my dad I destroyed her," Sofia said, "And that's all I cared about."

"Yeah, but the next week, Madison sent out photoshopped pictures of Sofia," Emily scoffed, "It was horrible. Pornographic photos. Of Sofia and tons of guys at our school."

"I became the school whore," Sofia said, "But at least I had the power. Everyone knew that if you screwed me, I'd screw you more."

"You didn't do anything about the pictures?" Louis asked, skeptically.

"Oh no I did," Sofia said, "I uh, hit her in the hallway. Sent her flying to the ground. Got my first dentention for that one. And since then I think she's been looking for a way to break me the way I broke her. I don't think it occurred to her that that wasn't possible. There was nothing Madison could say or do that hadn't already been done or said. She didn't say things that I didn't already think about myself. And I think that drove her crazy, she didn't effect me. But I ruined her."

"I didn't know he was so bad," Liam said quietly, "I didn't know that he was that intense when it came to you. And by the time I did know, and I did it..."

"It was too late," Sofia said, quietly, "Yeah, I know."

"So when you went out with Chase last night, was it plot revenge?" Louis asked.

"No," Sofia said, shaking her head, "I don't like Madison. But I would never want her dead, Louis."

"So why see him last night?" Harry asked, straightening up.

"Because I was upset and pissed, and I wanted to know if knew we were being filmed," Sofia said.

"Did he?" Harry asked, his voice tight.

"He says he didn't," Sofia said.

"I don't believe him," Harry growled, "He's a fucking pill pusher and he was clearly more in control in that video. He took advantage of you."

"No he didn't," Sofia snapped, standing up, "I'm not a victim, Harry. I took the drugs, and I came on to him. I knew what was going to happen when I swallowed those pills, and I did it anyway. I knew what I was doing when I was on that couch, and I did it anyway. I'm not one to be taken advantage of, usually I'm the taking advantage."

"But why, Sofia?" Eleanor asked.

"I don't know," Sofia said.

"You do know," Liam responded, looking at her.

"Don't shut down now," Harry said, shaking his head.

"I told you what happened with Madison," Sofia answered, "I don't have anything else to say. You know what you need to know."

"Are you ever gonna talk about him?" Liam asked, standing up, frustrated.

"He's dead, Liam. What's talking about him going to do?" Sofia asked.

"Set you free," Louis said to her, shaking his head, "Don't you want to be free from him?"

"I'm his daughter, Louis," Sofia said, "I'm never going to be free from him."

"I am," Liam said, looking at her.

"Yeah, well," Sofia said, "You've always been
better then me, Liam. We both know that."

And with that, she walked out of the living room, into the kitchen, and out the front door. She needed air. She needed to be alone. She needed to pull herself together before she completely lost it.



***



"I'm not talking anymore," Sofia said, as Harry approached her by the pool. Her feet were in it. He was giving her a look like she didn't have a choice, but seemed to change his mind.

"I just came out to enjoy the pool, not everything is about you Sofia," Harry said jokingly, slipping into the water. Sofia let out a light laugh, as he swam in front of her.

"So, what's the deal with this Chase guy?" Harry asked, his voice calmer then he felt.

"What do you mean?" Sofia asked.

"I mean, are you like, into him?" Harry asked.

Sofia snorted, "No, he's just ... another guy."

"You seem to have a lot of guys," Harry said, looking away from her.

"Well not all of us have Caroline we can call when we're feeling frisky," Sofia said.

"Don't you just want one person?" Harry asked, "Isn't hard juggling guy after guy?"

"Not really," Sofia shrugged, "It's not like there are feelings involved. It's always physical."

"You aren't gonna get what you need from that, you know," Harry said quietly, "They aren't going to make you feel whole."

"I'm not trying to feel whole, Harry," Sofia said, "I'm just trying to have fun..."

"And be distracted," Harry said.

"Yeah, they're a nice distraction," Sofia said, "They don't try and get into my head." She looked at him pointedly.

"Just your bed," Harry said.

"You would know," Sofia said, "It's not like you haven't been one them with other girls."

"Yeah," Harry said, "I have. Always felt good for the night, and then I felt worse in the morning."

"That how you feel with Caroline?" Sofia asked.

"You like to throw her name in my face, don't you?" Harry asked.

"I'm just trying to figure out at what point during you lecturing me about this, you're going to realize how hypocritical you sound," Sofia responded.

"Well, no one's perfect, Sofia," Harry said. But he knew he was being a hypocrite. He couldn't give her advice on being a one guy kind of girl, if he had yet to be a one woman kind of guy. He watched her as rubbed her face, desperately trying to wake herself up.

"You should probably get some sleep," Harry said.

"I'm fine," Sofia said, "I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway, until I know Madison is okay."

"Sofia, you can't stay awake just waiting. You got what? 2 hours of sleep last night?"

"About," Sofia sighed.

"Maybe you'd get more sleep if we put bars on your window," Harry said, "I knew that window would be a problem."

Sofia laughed, "You know who taught me how to sneak out of that window?"

"No," Harry growled, his eyes narrowed.

"Emily," Sofia said with a smile, "She was always sneaking out of her window. It would drive her mom crazy."

"And she thought she'd pass the trick on to you?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," Sofia said, "But I didn't really need to sneak out the window until Liam. I could use the door, dad wouldn't notice. Most nights he didn't even realize I was gone."

"Well, I think Liam is going to take notice from
now on. Pretty sure he's coming up with a plan for that window."

Sofia yawned, looking away from Harry and covering her mouth.

"You need to sleep," Harry said, his voice hard, "It's not really a suggestion."

"I don't want to until I know she's okay," Sofia said.

"She's going to be alright, Sof," Harry said, quietly.

"What if she's not? Or what if she wakes up and blames Liam or one you guys?" Sofia asked, "It'll be my fault."

"We will deal with whatever happens, but that doesn't mean you have make yourself sick over it. You're exhausted, you've had a long emotional day. Maybe sleep would make you feel better."

"Doubt it," Sofia whispered, "I hate sleeping these days anyway."

Harry froze, this was it. If he did this the right way, she would finally come clean about the nightmares she'd been having.

"Who hates sleep?" he asked, with a laugh, but it was forced. Nothing about this was funny.

"You know, don't you?" she asked, looking at him.

"Know what?" he asked.

"About the dreams," she said.

"I... assumed," Harry said slowly, "It wasn't hard to pick up that you weren't sleeping. And you've woken up in a panic a few times. And you're restless, even when you are asleep."

"I see him," Sofia admitted quietly, "I see him every night. He always there."

"Your dad?" Harry asked, looking past her as he saw Liam and Louis approaching the pool.

"Yeah," Sofia said, her voice barely there.

"And what's he doing?" Harry asked, his voice careful.

"I don't know, it's different every night," Sofia says, "But by the end, he's always yelling about something. Tell me how weak I am. And then he chokes me. I can't breathe, and I can't wake up. And I can't fight back. I'm just there, and he's choking me. And I always wake up terrified because the last thing I think about in the dream is that he's going to kill me."

Harry couldn't help himself, he pulled himself out of the pool and grabbed her. His eyes were wide with concern and worry.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Harry asked.

"Because their just dreams, Harry," Sofia said, "It's not like anyone can change them for me."

"No," Liam said from behind her, surprising her, "But we could try to help. We could wake you up, or talk you out of it. You shouldn't have to experience shit like that alone."

"I didn't want you to know," Sofia said, looking at him and Louis, "I didn't want you to know I was terrified of something that wasn't even real."

"It is real, Sofia," Louis said, "It's real to you. And so it's real to us."

"You all knew, didn't you? You knew anyway?" Sofia asked.

"Yeah," Louis said, as Liam nodded.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Sofia asked.

"Because we wanted you to come to us, Sofia," Liam said, "We didn't want to push you before you were ready."

"I just want one night," Sofia said, "One peaceful night."

Harry looked up at Liam and Louis carefully, before looking at Sofia. He thought carefully about his next move, what he was going to say next.

"You know, Sof. You never have nightmares when you're with me," he said quietly.

"I know," she said, looking over at him.

"Why do you think that is?" Liam asked, his voice a little hard. He wanted to help Sofia, but he was still very cautious about Harry. Harry looked at Sofia like he was wondering too, he was biting his lip, almost scared of her answer.

"I think it's because I feel safe," Sofia answered quietly, "You make me feel safe."

"So why didn't you just ask me to help you out?" Harry asked.

"Because the fact that you make me feel safe, scares the shit out of me," Sofia said, "I don't want to depend on you. Any of you."

"Why?" Louis asked, "That's why were here."

"Yeah, you're here until your gone," Sofia said.

"Another spectacular quote from Geoff Payne," Liam said, rolling his eyes, "Don't depend on anyone. Because they're around until they're gone. Things happen."

Sofia smiled at the bitterness in his voice. It was becoming so clear to her how different her brother and father were, and how maybe Liam was right all along. Maybe Liam's outlook on life was the right one, and maybe that's why her father tried so desperately to keep them apart.

"I'm not going anywhere," Harry said.

He wasn't looking at her, he was looking down at the pool. But he had to say it. He had to say it to her, and he had to say it to Liam. That was him making his choice, that was him taking his stand. He was in this for her. Sofia didn't understand what his words meant, he just thought he was trying to comfort her, but Louis looked proud, and Liam looked slightly horrified.

Harry looked up at Liam and shrugged, and that was when Liam realized he couldn't stop this. Whatever was going to happen between Harry and his sister was going to happen. Harry was in, and he was making that known. It was up to Sofia now. Although, Liam thought, first she was going to have to figure out what Harry was saying. And Liam didn't think that would come easy.


***


Sofia was laughing, as Harry dangled a cookie above her mouth. She had her head in his lap, feeling the exhaustion of the day hit her. Her feet were in Louis lap as he shouted at the screen where he played his video game.

The door slammed open, as Niall walked in carrying pieces of the trellis from Sofias side of the house, Zayn behind him.

"Is that the trellis?" Sofia gasped, sitting up looking horrified.

"Yup, took it down meself," Niall said, "Like to see you climb in and out of your window without it."

"You're kidding me," Sofia said, her mouth dropping open.

"Nope," Zayn growled, "We were thinking about bars, but we don't want to make the house look ugly."

Sofia snorted at him, before grinning widely.

"What?" Zayn asked, hands on hips.

"Nothing, I just seem to recall you using the window in your room more then you used your front door," Sofia said, pointing out the hypocrisy.

"That was different," Zayn said.

"Why?"

"Because .. you use your window to go meet with guys," Zayn snapped, pointing at her.

"That's not true, I have used it just as much to meet up with the girls," Sofia said, as Harry pinched her arm.

"Ow!" she hissed, batting his arm away.

"I'm just saying, the next time you sneak out your window, we'll know because you'll have to have broken an ankle or something," Niall barked.

"So you'd rather me break my bones?" Sofia asked.

"We'd rather you use the door, after asking permission to leave," Liam said, walking into the room. Danielle was behind him with a tray full of tea.

"You approved of them taking down our trellis?" Sofia said, gaping at him.

"Of course I did," Liam said, "And I'm thinking about putting cameras up."

"Watching you, big brother style," Louis said, his eyes still on the television. Sofia rolled her eyes.

"You know, if I didn't sneak out, I wouldn't have an alibi," Sofia mumbled, laying back down.

"That's the only thing saving your ass right now," Harry mumbled.

"You gonna give me that cookie or not?" Sofia asked.

"Say please," Harry said, with a smirk. Sofia glared at him.

"Manners, Sofia," Harry said, raising his eyebrows at her.

"Please," she said, before opening her mouth wide. Harry smiled at how goofy she looked, but put the cookie in her mouth.

"Maybe you can be trained," Harry said, jokingly, "With a reward system."

"Gonna take more the cookies for reward to get me in line," Sofia joked back. She looked up at him with a smirk, and Harry's mind went blank. When she smirked at him like that, he just wanted to rip her off the couch and show her just how he could reward her. And it had nothing to do with cookies.

He pushed the thoughts from his head. If he was going to try and do this with Sofia, he had to do it right. And taking her clothes off wasn't what was right. She had to trust him, and he had to prove to her, himself, and every one else this wasn't just about getting her in bed. He wasn't going to be like every other guy she allowed to touch her, when he touched her it was going to be more then a physical thing. He refused to let her put him in the same group as every other guy.

His hand was to her hair, and he played with it lightly as he saw her giving into all of her exhaustion. Her eyes were barely staying open, and he wished she would just stop fighting it.

There was a loud knock at the door, that made her jump. Liam's hand instinctually went for his gun, as he made his way to the front door. Looking through the window, he looked back at them.

"It's Davis, and Mr. Vincent," Liam said, his voice strained.

Sofia sat up quickly, as Liam opened the door.

"Davis," he greeted, before opening the door wider to let them in.

"Mr. Vincent," Liam said, "What can we do for you?"

"Madison is awake," Davis said, looking at Sofia, who took a large sigh of relief before tears came to her eyes.

"How's she doing?" Danielle asked.

"She says couldn't much," Mr. Vincent said, "It was dark, and they wore masks. But she said that when they first pulled her into the alley, one of the guys, his shirt sleeve went up. He had a tattoo."

"A sun," Liam guessed.

"On his wrist," Davis said, nodding.

"Davis tells me that none of you guys have such a tattoo," Mr. Vincent said.

"We don't," Liam said, "But if you want to check..."

"I don't," Mr. Vincent said, "I just want to find who did this to my little girl. And I don't know who else to come to..."

"You came to the right place," Liam said, "We will find them, and I will make sure they pay for what they did to her."

"Not on our streets," Davis warned, looking nervous. It wasn't the first time a citizen had asked the Payne's for a favor, but usually it wasn't done in front of the law.

"I'll handle it," Liam said.

Both Mr. Vincent and Davis nodded, before turning to leave the house again.

"Mr. Vincent," Sofia said, making the man turn, "I'm sorry about Madison."

It was the first time anyone had ever heard Sofia apologize on her own. She had tears running down her face again, and she looked the most sincere and real anyone had seen her in years.

"I'm glad she's okay," Sofia said.

"Thank you," Mr. Vincent said quietly.

"I promise they won't get away with it," Sofia said quietly, "Make sure she knows that. They won't get away with what they did to her."

"I will," Mr. Vincent said, before turning and walking out the door.

Sofia took a deep sigh, that turned into a cry. She collapsed on the couch, and Harry wrapped his arms around her.

"This is good news, Sof," he said quietly.

"I'm just glad she's okay," Sofia said, tears still running down her face as she lay back down in his lap, "No one deserves that. I'm just glad she's okay."

"We're gonna get these guys, Sofia," Zayn said.

"They're gonna be sorry they ever tried to fuck with us," Niall said, bitterly.

Harry wiped a tear from her face, catching Sofia off guard. She nudge Louis with her feet, causing him to glare at her.

"What?" he hissed, still invested in his game.

"Friends is on," she said.

"And?" he asked

"And no one wants to watch you play this stupid video game anymore, Lou," Eleanor said, rolling her eyes. Louis glared at her. Sofia noticed they had been biting each others heads off lately, but stayed out of it. Louis relunctantly stopped the game and changed the channel to Friends.

"This must be what normal families do," Sofia said, glancing around.

"Yeah, probably," Liam said, smiling at her use of the word family.

"I don't think most of them spend the first part of their day in jail though," Louis said, "You know, Sof.. you keep it up and you could set a record."

"Not funny," Liam mumbled, but Sofia was laughing.


***


Sofia was asleep, her head still in Harry's lap. He didn't want to wake her in fear that she wouldn't go back to sleep. He gently moved himself from under her.

"I'm gonna take her up to bed," he said to everyone.

"How you gonna do that?" Liam asked, with a smirk, "She's out, dude."

Harry didn't say anything as he picked her up off the couch bridal style, her head found his shoulder.

"Look at you, getting all Prince Charming on us," Niall said, with a grin.

"Fuck off," Harry growled, before moving up the stairs with Sofia.

When he got to her room, he gently laid her on her bed. He turned away from her to turn off her light.

"Stay," she mumbled startling him as she opened her eyes.

"I was going to," he said, flipping off her light and getting into bed next to her, "I told you, I'm not
going anywhere. But should say please. I'm not one to be ordered around."

"Please. And If I'm restless, feel free to go," she mumbled, "I don't want to keep you up."

"Don't worry about me," Harry said, rolling his eyes, "Just go back to sleep."

Sofia was half asleep, and maybe that's why she did it. But she rolled over to him, wrapping her arms around him, and moving her head into his shoulder. He could feel her light breath on his neck, as he moved his arms so he was holding her.

"I noticed it when we were dancing," she mumble into his shirt.

"Noticed what?" he asked, frustrated she wasn't asleep yet.

"How well we fit," Sofia said, and her words made Harry's heart stop.

Maybe she saw what he saw too. Maybe it wasn't just him. The way her body fit hers perfectly, her size and his. There was nothing awkward about when they danced, or laid together. They were uncomfortable. In fact, it was almost too comfortable. Like they were always supposed to be this way. Maybe she saw it too. Maybe she was realizing that they were two pieces that fit perfectly together.

Harry fell asleep with a smile on his face at the idea.