Chapter 118: Visual Memento

(Three days later...)

A sleek, black Ford Expedition SUV rolled into the airport amidst several other vehicles, coming to an idle stop at one of its on-site, premium parking lots.

Having booked ahead, Niall didn’t bother wasting any time as he stepped out the vehicle, remotely locked the doors and made his way to the curbside terminal.

A few minutes later, he’d arrived, standing in wait as he scanned the individuals filing out of the doors.

It didn’t take long after that, Niall spotted his girl and his parents, as did they likewise even despite him being in a face cap and nose mask get-up.

Without restraint, Camille on the other hand beamed, a brief, happy squeal coming from her as she practically skipped over with her luggage!

Reciprocating her genuine enthusiasm, Niall effortlessly scooped her up as she glomped onto him like a koala, an adoring laughter escaping his lips as the lady constantly peppered his face with kisses.

"I’ve been dying to do that for eight months, Sugah!" she exclaimed a moment after, her caribbean-blue irises glinting with adoration.

Before her boyfriend could get a word in, she promptly continued as Niall found himself laughing yet again.

By now, several eyes had already turned in their direction, a hint of amusement on several faces as they watched the young couple, some already taking videos as usual.

As for Claire and Clark, they simply walked over without hurry, hauling their luggage behind them with warm, reserved smiles on their features.

When they’d finally reached the duo, Niall easing Camille down slowly with yet another kiss, he then said to his parents;

"Ma, Pa, welcome to LA."

...

...

...

"Is it always this busy?" Claire curiously asked from the backseat as Camille whom was seated next to her inwardly remarked whilst gazing out the window, her intrigue on full-display;

’So many places to tap inspirations from...’

Within seconds, she had pulled out her sketchbook journal and had begun rough sketching things that were of interest to her as Niall replied to his mother with a light chuckle;

"Would you believe me if I told you this isn’t even peak hours?"

Claire looked visibly surprised to hear that.

Clearly, it was jarring experience for her, even if it did make a whole lot of sense in hindsight.

Seeing was believing, afterall.

As for her husband who sat next to their son in front on the passenger seat...

"No wonder we’re always hearing a honk or two most times we call." he simply remarked, taking in the sites as the vehicle slowly coasted down the road in the late morning sun, the traffic light.

Once again, Niall found himself chuckling, to which he then said;

"As bad as it looks, there are some really quiet residencies."

"Where I live now, is extremely quiet. Really nice house too. Like something straight out of a storybook, in fact."

Upon hearing that, all three snapped their heads to him, their pupils widening.

Last he told them, he was living in an apartment... though he never explicitly stated the kind of apartment it was.

And though it made perfect sense that he’d have gone right ahead to get a house at some point, it was the fact that he kept it a secret from them that had them stunned.

"Surprise!" Niall beamed, a light grin forming on his features.

Before Clark, Claire or Camille could congratulate him and ask about the details regarding said house, the young man spoke again;

"But, before we head over there, I’d like to take you somewhere else first,"

"We should be there in about...’ Niall glanced at the time on the infotainment system then followed up a moment after;

"...four minutes."

Hearing the warmth in his voice, all three decided to shelve their pleasantries for now... especially since they already seemed to be close-by.

True to his words, Niall pulled over at a parking space of a familiar old building in San Fernando right on the dot.

Stepping out the vehicle, same as his family, he then gestured to them to follow him with a tilt of his head as he made his way up the staircase.

A minute later, a door softly clicked open and in walked the young man alongside the rest of his family.

Then he turned around to them and said with a thin smile, his hands gesturing vaguely;

"Pa, Ma, Camille. This... is where I lived, for six years."

"Granted I’ve moved all of my stuff, I still kept paying for it ’cause I... wanted to show it to you." he added, his arms dropping slowly as he clasped a gently curled fist against a palm.

Then he turned to his parents specifically and said;

"I’m glad we’ve worked things out and we’ve moved past it... but I can’t exactly make up for the years I ran away from home, and had you guys worried. Words can only do so much, afterall."

"So, I guess, in my own little way, I wanted to share some of those moments with you, however late they might be. Give you something of a... visual memento." he vaguely gestured to the apartment once more, a bittersweet smile touching his lips.

Walking over to his side, Camille gently interlocked one of her palms with his with a soft squeeze, her eyes loving and assuring.

As for Clark and Claire, they both looked to one another briefly, equally bittersweet smiles on their lips.

Then they looked to their son in shared warmth as they said;

"Show us."

Nodding once, a grateful, relieved smile touching his lips, Niall let out a gentle exhale and began speaking.

About two hours later, he was done saying all that he wanted to, and his parents promptly embraced him in warm, assuring hugs.

As everyone filed out of the door a couple minutes after, Niall took in the apartment one last time and then spoke;

"Well, this is it."

"This is my honest, final goodbye."

"Thank you, for a good six years. You will be missed, but never forgotten."

Having said that last part, he then walked out, the door closing behind him with a soft click.

The drive to Niall’s new home was rather lively, everyone in the car conversing, a certain joviality and warmth to the air.

"Wait. What about Becca?" Niall asked of Camille whom had switched seats with Clark in the front seat, the man now seated at the back with his wife as they engaged in a convo of their own.

"Nana’s dandy," the red-haired lady responded, then added with an amused smile;

"She’s also been moving around a lot in recent memory. Even told me to shoo when I offered to have a caretaker take care of her in my stead. Said she’ll be fine as long as all the ranchers are around."

"She also told me to send her warmest regards to you. And in her words; Tell Niall I’m running on limited time. I’d like to see my grandkids~." the lady imitated her nana perfectly.

Laughing in response, Niall replied a moment after;

"Of course, she said that. I’ll facetime her once we’re home."

"She’d love it." Camille replied to which Niall then picked up, switching up the conversation;

"So, how’re you feeling, Red? You know, with your last session being in January next year?"

"Happy. Very happy. My oncologist says I’m probably cancer-free at this point, but they wouldn’t want to take any chances with a recurrence." Camille grinned, then said, her tone hopeful;

"Fingers crossed that it stays that way."

’It will. I’ll make sure of it.’ Niall inwardly remarked, then outwardly replied;

"That’s great to hear. And you can trust that I’ll be there."

"Thanks, Sugah. You’re the best." Camille replied, her eyes twinkling with loving adoration.

"Anything for you, Red. Anything for you." Niall glanced over to her and said, his smile affectionate.

A couple minutes after that, the family arrived at his new home in Silverlake, the automatic gates opening as he pulled into the driveway.

"You were right. This does look like it came straight out of a storybook." Camille remarked in pleasant awe, as did Clark who added as he glanced over to his son;

"Stucco. Good choice."

"Warm in the winter, cool in the summer." father and son synced like clockwork as they remarked, both sharing a chuckle a moment after.

Casually, Clark began investigating the house, opting to go around the building and its surroundings with a leisurely stroll, his head bobbing softly in approval.

As for Claire and Camille, they had already began moving inside, a sense of intrigue in their eyes as they giggled and conversed.

Clearly, both parties were in support of the house the young man had decided upon.

Niall on the other hand, remotely opened the boot and effortlessly began hauling their luggage in, clearly in high spirits to have his parents and his lover in his home.

Unknown to him and his family, they had begun trending on TweetTalk.

All as a result of a ’random’ video someone had posted online without thinking twice.

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/Caer07