Timing is Everything (Liam Payne)

My life returns to normal, or what I know as normal. Normal seems to be bi-polar lately. In my part of this floor, advertising offices, I am normal. The moment I step outside, that is not my normal. In my condo, normal. The security shack having to call local police to get reporters and "fans" to leave so people can get to their homes, not normal. I keep waiting to get the email from the complex that I need to move, my presence is upsetting the neighborhood.
Which brings the next question, what happens in six months? I'll be married for one, to someone who lives in London. Where does that leave me? What about my job? There is no doubt with my money, I really dont have to work, I choose to. With his money, if invested properly, our great great grand kids probably wouldnt have to work.
I've never had a panic attack but I think I feel the beginnings of one creeping up. I need to leave and now. I call my friend in accounting and tell her to meet me in the parking garage, thankfully she doesnt ask questions, she just does it. We meet at the elevator and she can tell by the look on my face this isnt a talking matter. As we exit the elevator she beeps her car to let me know where it is. We both get in and I let the seat back, reach in the back seat and get the trusty blanket she keeps there for me to escape the building with her. As we pull out onto the main road she asks where to and all I can say is home.
As she pulls up to my door she announces that we have arrived. I sit up and look around. This wasnt the home I was talking about.
She helps me in the door and I go to bed. Lights out.

Laurel's POV (Rachel's friend)
As I help Rachel in the bed, I take her phone. She doesn't need to be disturbed with phone calls and texts, but I do need to make some calls for her. First, do I call her parents or Liam? I make the decision to call Liam, totally forgetting the time difference, thankfully its only 3 PM there. He answers on the first ring. I hear a lot of commotion in the background.
"Hello love"
"Ummm this is Laurel, Rachel's friend from work, I've never actually met . . ."
"Where's Rachel and why do you have her phone?"
"Something is wrong, almost like a panic attack or something. She said she felt litke the walls were closing in, couldnt catch her breath, wanted to get out of the building and wanted to go home, to Georgia."
"Did you take her to the hospital? Call her parents?"
"No, I called you first. Health wise she seems fine."
"Call her parents, they can get to her before I can."

I wake up in my old room in Georgia, my mom messing around in my room.
"Good morning, or well afternoon now."
I sit up trying to get my bearings on how I got here.
"Dr. Goldstein came by yesterday. You gave us all a scare. Seems you had what he called a 'panic attack'. Whats going on? Do you need to see a therapist?"
It's starting to all come back to me now.
"No, mother. Its all the uncertaintly of the future and where I fit into it all. It all compounded itself on me yesterday."
"Honey, that was two days ago, not yesterday. The doctor gave you something to help you sleep. How do you feel?"
"I feel fine. I need to get back to Nashville, I have an out of town business meeting next week." I say as I swing my feet to the side of the bed getting up and gathering my clothes.
"You need to talk about this to Liam, you know. He's downstairs. Why dont you saddle up the horses, I'll pack a pic nic lunch for y'all."
There on my hope chest is my luggage packed with clothes. I start looking through it for some jeans and a shirt.
"Those sure are fancy under clothes" my mother says winking at me. I look away hiding my blushing cheeks.
I find what I'm looking for and get change and head down stairs. At the top of the stair case I can hear a conversation which makes me smile, an old southern accent answered by a young British accent. I could sit right here and listen to it all day. I descend the stairs and hear footsteps and lock eyes with my love. He opens his arms and pulls me close, just holds me.
"When did you get here?"
"Early this morning. I left as soon as I could."
"I know you did, I was in good hands."
We make our way into the kitchen and see that my mom has finished packing a pic nic basket.
"Finished. Do you need your dad to help you saddle the horses. I've got it unless he wants to help" I say as he comes in from the other door to the kitchen.
"You know, I think I will."
Liam takes the basket and we head out to the barn.I grab a blanket off the wicker chair on the porch to take with us.
I get my horse and fasten her up as I check her out before I saddle her. My dad doing the same to the old mare, old but gentle and less likely to be a pain in the ass. She'll follow, she knows what to do, and it will let Liam think he's doing a good job of riding. I think I could do this blind folded, it feels good to be doing it again. Liam stands and watches almost in awe how smoothly and effortlessly I do it. Saddled up and ready to go.
"Same place as last time?" he asks as he leave the barn.
"As if you could get us back there if you wanted to" I laugh "If I didnt have a pic nic basket strapped on, I'd tell you to try to keep up." I click, letting the horse know to pick up the pace.
I take him to a different place. This place is under some pines, shaded, perfect for sitting. We kick a few pine cones out of the way so we can spread out the blanket. I get everything out of the basket, eager to see what she packed. She went all out and cooked for us. Sandwiches would have been sufficient. Fired chicken and all the sides. She knows its his favorite. We eat in silence somewhat, just enjoying the weather, no sounds but the wind in the trees and insects humming. After we finish we lay back just looking up at the tree tops swaying. He reaches over and takes my hand.
"What happened this week?"
"It all just hit me, what happens to me when we get married? What about my job? Where will I live?"
He rolls over and scoots himself right next to me, up on his elbows. "For one, you become Rachel Payne, secondly doesnt your company have an office in London, get a transfer. Thirdly, you will live with me. if you want a house, I'll buy a house. That easy. You're thinking incredibly too much, too much stress, please dont do that to yourself. I dont think I nor your parents can handle it." He leans over and kisses me, letting it linger a little longer than a sweet kiss should.
"Wanting a repeat of last time we were out here huh?"
"Well, that would be nice." he says as he makes his way over me on all fours.
I let out a giggle as I wrap my legs around him.

We take the long way back to the house, talking the whole way about the wedding and where we might want to go on the honeymoon. I throw a few places out and and he gives his ideas. The common theme, beach. "How about you surprise me." I say.
"Really? Surprise you?"
"Yes, we get on a plane and I find out when we get there."

As the horses make their way to the barn my dad steps off the porch and meets us there.
I throw Liam a brush to brush the horse after all the tack is removed. He does this while my dad cleans her hooves. I'm doing the same, glancing at Liam as he watches what I'm doing. After they've been given some pampering we put them back in their stalls and feed them.

"Here's some fresh warm towels for the shower" my mom says handing them to us as we pass the laundry room. I hand Liam his and wink at him.
After we each shower, seperately of course, we meet my parents in the kitchen and have a seat at the breakfast table.
"I'm going to head back to work in the morning. We've talked and I'm Ok now. I just started thinking about everything all at once and went into overload. I'm fine now."
"I'll see her back and then leave from there to go back to London."
"Sounds like you two have it under control."
"Dad, can we walk outside and talk about what I want to do with the wedding, well, mom you too, well all of us then."
We all walk out and I point as I describe what I would like done to the barn and if it can cleaned out and animals put in the other barn. I point to the oak trees and the area surrounding them and tell what I'd like to do there. I look at my mom and she's crying, my dad not far from it.
"It will all get done, dont you worry about a thing. Pete can get the guys for security. If it needs to be done here, we have it under control." He says this as he kisses my forehead like he always did growing up.
Its been an emotional day for me so after dinner I kiss everyone and tell them I'm going to bed. I see my dad nod to Liam, as in you go to bed too. He gives him a questioning look, as if he doesnt understand. Then he gets it and follows me to my room.
"Wow, you've made some kind of impression. I'm shocked." I say in all seriousness. I cant believe my dad just did that. Liam takes me in his arms gently kissing me on my temple, somewhat rocking me like we were dancing. "So are we practicing for our first dance?" he takes my hand and starts slow dancing with me.
Why had I freaked out like I did? All I had to do was talk to him. I'm so used to handling everything on my own I forgot he could and would help me. I breathe in a deep refreshing breath, and exhale all the negative stressful things, lay my head on his chest as we slow dance to silence in my childhood room.

Notes