I jump on top of my suitcase and Luke drags the zip around the bag, tugging at it a little and closing it up.

"Thanks," I say gratefully and jump down from the bed and right into his arms.

He frowns. "You really shouldn't have so many things in one bag. What if you misplace it at the airport or something?"

"God forbid. Touch wood that it doesn't happen." I blab, tapping the wood of the bed post with my knuckles and he quickly does the same to my great amusement.

Luke wrestles the suitcase off the bed and carries it out into the corridor. I'll miss this tiny little room very much with its big bathtub and large windows looking into the snow covered trees. I fluff the pillows and arrange them, making sure everything is the way it was when we first got here.

"Don't worry about it so much," Luke says from behind me.

"I have to. It's a simple way of saying thank you when you leave things the way they were." I close open drawers.

"I'll miss you." I glance at him over my shoulder where he is silently watching me from the doorway.

He walks over to me at this and pulls me into his chest slowly. "Why? I'm right here."

"Well, I'll be going back to New York and I guess you will want to go home too?" I turn in his arms and rest my palms on his broad chest. I always feel so tiny in his arms but the safest. The chain I gave him yesterday as his Christmas present lies under his sweater.

He shakes his head, looking off into space. "I don't really have a home."

"I thought you had a place in LA?"

"The last time I was there, it was a mess and I don't think I ever want to go back. I'll come to New York with you. Maybe I can crash at your place." He playfully winks.

"You can move in too if you like," I say and peck his chin, satisfied with his answer. Not the part about him not having a home but the part about him crashing at my place.

"Are we married then?" He laughs airily and scratches under his chin.

"Didn't know we had to be married to move in together." I get down on the carpeted ground and look under the bed to make sure nothing has rolled under the bed. Sure enough, I find a pair of Luke's boxers. I pull it out and stand up, throwing it at him.

He catches it with a sly smile. "I don't even hold hands till I'm married." Luke tries to say in a very serious tone and a momentary burst of laughter leaves me. 

"I love it when you laugh like that." He smiles and tugs at his blonde hair.

"Are you two lovers done packing? The car is here." Ashton announces from the doorway and we quickly shuffle out of the room, closing the door behind us.

"You take care of yourself now darling." Sally hugs me tightly when we are outside, tears shining in her grey eyes.

"You too Sally. Thank you for everything." I breathe in her rose perfume deeply so I can remember everything about this lovely woman.

"Come see us again soon." She lets go and touches my cheek. A few feet away from us, Michael is clutching onto Georgia and telling her things frantically. He keeps promising her he will be back in London where she will be at University as soon as they are on a break again.

Poor guy.

Everyone says their goodbyes and we all pile into the cars. The driver pulls out of the gates and we open the windows, waving at the three figures standing on the steps until they disappear from sight. I look back at the house longingly, already missing its warmth and love. I couldn't have imagined a better way to have spent Christmas. I was more than glad that the tour bus broke down.

Luke squeezes my hand and reaches over to close the window. "We will come back." He promises.

---

When we land in the freezing cold of New York City, Luke announces that he will be staying here with me to the others. The band discusses this for awhile and after Dave makes a few phone calls, the other three band members are hesitantly on their way to LA.

Montana, Addy, Luke and I watch them go and walk out of the busy airport and into the waiting cars. Luke is slightly surprised that there aren't hoards of fans waiting outside since nothing ever gets past them.

"I already miss Calum." Montana chuckles from next to me, rolling her eyes at the same time.

The streets are covered with snow. Buildings, cars, billboards, people, everything. The lights are starting to turn on everywhere as the sun starts to lower in the sky. The familiar buzz of the city heightens my spirits.

Luke is silent the whole car ride as we drop off Adelaide. "Lilian wants us all in the office for a meeting tomorrow." She reminds us and quickly shuffles out of the car without a goodbye.

"What is her problem with you still?" Luke asks once the car starts to move again.

I blow air of my mouth wearily. "She said she needed time." Luke shakes his head and looks out the window again, squeezing my knee.

We drop off Montana at her apartment which is only a couple of blocks away from mine and my excitement at finally being home starts to build up.

When the car stops in front of my building, I hurry into the lobby, waving at the security at the front desk. "Haven't seen you in so long miss!" The old man bellows.

"Did you miss me, Bill?" I ask and the man laughs.

"Sure did."

"I'll see you later buddy." I wave and pull Luke into the elevator behind me.

"I never really liked New York City. The rush is too much for me. Probably because I'm from Australia where you see more birds than you do people." He observes.

"I love the city. Always have, always will. There is just so much ambition in the air." I gush.

"I'm sure you'll find a way to make me love this place." He laughs and the elevator doors finally open with a ding onto the familiar top floor.

I all but skip towards my door and fish through my bag for the keys I haven't touched in ages. I finally find it with the help of Luke who holds it up for me. I brace myself for the layers of dust that must have accumulated over the months I've been gone. I could have easily gotten someone to come in and clean it once a week but something about someone else being in my house alone has always left a bad taste in my mouth.

I push open the door and walk in, switching on all the lights as I go. The house is in pristine condition. I look around confused and spot a balloon tied to a chair at the dining table.

"Welcome home!" It says and there is a card attached to the end of it. Luke grabs it before I can and reads it out loud.

"Welcome home, my main binch," Luke reads and raises an eyebrow at this questioningly. 

"I knew you would throw a fit if you saw how shitty this place looked so I cleaned it up for you. I'm in San Diego for the weekend so call me when you get this. All the Love, Troye." Luke purses his lips and tugs at the balloon with a smile.

"I have the greatest friends!" I cheer and grin to myself. I wanted to hug Troye and thank him repeatedly. A clean house always meant a happy Sierra. Weirdly enough.

I head into the kitchen and rummage through the refrigerator that Troye has thankfully stocked too. That boy was an absolute angel.

Luke slides the curtains open and gazes out the large windows looking over the snow covered city. "This is the first time I've actually seen where you live. Last time it was covered in people."

"Well, do you like it?" I ask, opening the carton of orange juice in my hands.

He turns from the windows and looks around. "I do actually. It's very, sleek? Is that the word?"

"Modern you mean?" I laugh and he clicks his fingers in front of his face. "That's the word."

We sit down on the couch and he takes the juice carton out of my hands. "You're probably the first girl that has drunk orange juice right out of the carton in front of me." He smiles and takes a swig, scrunching his nose at the citric taste.

"I don't let people's judgement on my juice drinking tendencies get to me. I enjoy it too much." I take the carton back from him.

Luke's phone starts to ring as he goes for a retort and he pulls it out of his pocket. "Cal." He says into the phone.

I hear Calum's voice on the other end and I watch Luke's face as it goes from content to pissed off in half a second. I move closer to him and touch his arm, his fingers have formed a fist on his knee.

"What?" I whisper and he shakes his head, standing up and moving towards the window again. He leans his head against the glass and closes his eyes. "Just get someone to clean it up and hand the keys over." He murmurs into the phone and ends the call.

I put down the juice carton and saddle up to him, kicking my shoes off in the process. I wrap my arms around his waist. "Is everything okay?" I question, kissing him on the shoulder.

"Just our management." He says dismissively and I know he is lying to me.

"Where's the bathroom?" He inquires before I can ask questions again and I give him directions.

I look around my house and it suddenly feels empty even if Luke is only in the other room and his suitcase full of his things are still in my doorway.

Rubbing my temples I go through a drawer and select a Chinese home delivery menu so I can order dinner for us.

I decide to call Troye next and thank him for everything. While on the phone with him, I walk into my bedroom to check on Luke and lose my train of thought when I see him fast asleep on my bed, fully clothed and huddled in a fetal position. I put Troye on hold and pull off Luke's boots so that he is more comfortable. He lightly snores as I pull a comforter over him and kiss his forehead.

I feel the jet lag make its way into my bones and my body yearns to cuddle up to him and go to sleep too but I switch off the lights and close the bedroom door, determined to get some work done and not disturb Luke.