groaned, pulling her blanket over her head and frowning. Her head was pounding and her stomach churning. There was no way she was going to be able to go out with her friends now. She fumbled on her bedside table for her phone, but only succeeded in knocking everything to the floor. Even the lamp. There was an almighty bang and she heard movement from the bedroom next to hers. Another groan. Her bedroom door opened and she peered over her duvet to see Niall stood there looking worried.

“What’s up ?” he asked, moving into her room and pulling her duvet away from her face so he could see her. “Not feeling well?” he asked.

She shook her head and winced when her head protested.

He frowned. “I’ll tell not to come over.”

She nodded lightly and groaned again when her head thumped particularly hard. His face screwed up in concern as he turned away from her, heading from her bedroom and into the front room of their flat. Niall was her best friend. They’d known each other since The “X Factor”, both auditioning and making it to boot camp. Unfortunately hadn’t made it any further, but she’d bonded so much with the Irish singer that they’d stayed in touch and he’d asked her to move in with him.

He appeared again about ten minutes later. He was carrying a glass of water and a plate with some toast on it, a DVD pinched underneath the plate. He came back over to her bed and put the glass and plate on the bedside table. He collected the few things she’d knocked to the floor and picked them back up. She rolled in her bed and looked at him as he switched her phone off. “I’ve told you’re sick and she said she’ll call tomorrow.”

just blinked at him in acknowledgment, not daring to move her head again. Niall sighed at her and turned away, putting the DVD into the player and turning the volume on low. She looked but couldn’t see what he was putting on. She flopped her head back onto her pillow and sighed.

Niall appeared at the edge of her bed again, pulling his t-shirt off and climbing in next to her. She snuggled into his side straight away. Niall had a foolproof way of making her feel better. It included cuddles, movies in bed and singing to her. They cuddled for a while and Niall looked down, noticing that she’d fallen asleep. He squeezed her tighter to his side and carried on watching the Disney film he’d put on.

When she woke up next, Niall was watching her. He averted his gaze when he realised she was looking at him and they both flushed pink. She pushed herself into a sitting position and he passed her the water. She sipped at it and handed it back. He put it back on the side and she snuggled back into his side.

“Want me to sing?” Niall asked quietly. made a noise that sounded like a yes. He chuckled softly. He started humming and she closed her eyes, smiling into his chest. He was singing Westlife for her. The song choice was new though. “It’s every little thing you do, that makes me fall in love with you.” he sang softly. swallowed the lump in her throat and looked up at him through her eye lashes. He was tracing patterns into her skin with his hand and looking down at her with a serious expression. When he finished he let out a long breath and looked at her a moment longer, assuming she’d fallen asleep because she was very still. He looked back up to the TV and remained quiet.

“That was…beautiful,” whispered a few minutes later. He looked down in surprise, feeling his cheeks heat up.

“How do you feel?” he asked softly, brushing a stray hair away from her face.

“Better than earlier,” she smiled, lifting herself up from him and snuggling in, higher up his chest. He tightened his grip and pressed his lips on her cheek, almost on her mouth. He heard her breath hitch, before returning to a shaky normal.

“I’m glad,” he whispered before brushing his lips softly against her own. She held her breath and her heart pounded in her chest.

“You can be my nurse every time,” she commented when he pulled away.