Claire's Pov

I was so glad my dad came over, I had been rehearsing my lines over and over about how I would explain this mess of a story. Who knows, maybe he wouldn't believe me.

I wouldn't believe me either.

Yeah right, a stranger trying to kill you while a whole gang puts you under their protection, and somehow they're all attractive? That only happens in One Direction x Reader fanfictions, is what they'll all say.

I carry the big plate of slightly brown pancakes and stumble out of the kitchen, accidentally bumping into someone in the process. "Merlins beard, the pancakes!" I screeched before trying to steady myself.

"Did you just say Merlins beard?" Todd laughed, taking the plate out of my hands gently. "Of course I did, I'm a Potterhead." I huffed, retreating back to the kitchen to grab the smaller plate as Todd and I walked into the dining room together.

Everyone was sitting in awkward silence and looked relieved to see me finally come back. "Food!" Kyle shouted happily, slapping Todd's hand away from the pancakes and already starting to help himself.

"Burnt food." I admitted sheepishly. Kyle bit into a pancake as we all watched him grimace but then try to play it cool. "I-It's good." He lied terribly, grabbing his glass of orange juice and chugging it.

"I think it tastes fantastic." Chris tried to grab my attention, but I was already pouting. I knew I couldn't cook but jeez, I didn't realize my food was INEDIBLE!

"Don't worry princess, we'll order some Macdonald's yeah? I heard that you love their mcnuggets." Danny smiled, my dad shooting him a look at the "princess" but I was too happy to even get embarrassed about that.

"Yes I want nuggies!" I screamed excitedly. As soon as I said that, I covered my mouth with a flushed face.

"Hell yeah! Bring forth the nuggies!" Kyle backed me up, standing up and taking my hand as he made me do a little twirl, causing me to giggle.

Just as the tension left and everyone seemed to be getting along, we all turned around to see Seth walking down the stairs anxiously.

I heard a gasp to my right and stared at my dad, watching his eyes widen whilst looking in Seth's direction. I looked back at the gang member and froze because then realization hit me.

My dad and Seth were a splitting image.

My father started tearing up and all I could do was open and close my mouth like a fish out of water, because I was in pure shock. Danny was behind me in seconds, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder, the rest of the gang barely even blinking and they too stared back and forth at my dad and Seth.

"S-Seth?"

"Hey dad."

I suddenly felt dizzy, feeling myself collapse into Danny's arms as everything went black.

Flashback

"Dada, look at those butter's!"
Four year old me screamed in delight, pointing at the butterflies in our garden. "They are called butterflies, petal." My dad corrected with a slight laugh.

"Jack, please get one for me." I whined, making grabby hands at the beautiful flying insects."Okay little one, but you owe me!" Smiled my six year old brother, Jack.

He ran after the two butterflies, trying to catch one even thought it was clear he was far too short.

I started giggling, finding it hilarious as Jack started laughing too, still trying to jump into the air and grab one.

"I bet I can catch one, you're just too short bro." Boasted my seven year old brother, Alex. "First one to catch one of the butter's wins!" Jack hollered competitively.

Jack and Alex started running around, pushing eachother playfully and still trying to beat the other by capturing one of the butterflies. I placed my doll on the soft grass before getting up and joining them.

Suddenly, a woman with long and curly golden brown hair, sun kissed skin and a sweet smile walked outside.

"Mama!" I squealed, running into her arms. She kissed my forehead and smiled. "Is my little princess having fun?" My mother asked softly, her voice sounding like honey. "Yes! I play with brothers!" I responded happily.

"Hi mommy!" Jack and Alex called out, jogging over towards us.

"I couldn't catch the butter's." Jack mumbled with a frown. Our mom laughed, brushing away a black strand that covered his left eye

"Remember my darlings, every living thing has a home and we shouldn't try to take them away from that." She explained kindly. "You wouldn't want anyone taking you out of your home, right?" My father added.

We all shook our heads quickly.

"We'll leave the butter's with their mama and dada." I said proudly, my brother nodding in agreement.

"That's my kiddos, now time for group hug!" My dad exclaimed, opening his arms. Alex, Jack, our mom, dad and I all squeezed together in a massive hug whist we laughed together in pure and utter happiness.

It's a shame nothing perfect can last forever.

And that's when we heard the gunshots.

Our mom and dad gave eachother panicked looks before grabbing my siblings and I tightly.

"Take the kids and hide upstairs, they don't know about them. I'll go get the gang and take care of the intruders." My father told to mom, before pecking her ever so gently on the lips, as if it was the last time they would see eachother. She nodded, telling him to be careful whilst we watched our dad take out a gun from his pocket.

My other held our hands and started ran up the stairs, dragging us along with her.

There was a lot of shooting and screams never seemed to end. "What's happening?!" Alex yelled in fear, after the three of us got pushed into one of the guest rooms.

"Bad men have come to hurt mama and dada so you need to stay here for me okay? If anything happens, I need you to take care of eachother. Promise me you will." Our mother tried to sound firm, but her voice broke in the end and she began to let her tears fall. "W-We promise mommy." Jack whispered.

"Don't cry mama!" I was full on sobbing by now, causing my brothers to pull me closer to them in a comforting hug.

"Boys, you are not allowed to leave this room unless you see a man in blue uniform walk through the door, do not move no matter what you see or hear. Please look after your sister and eachother especially." She sniffled. "Yes mommy." They said in unison, blinking away tears of their own.

"Find her!" We heard a man shout from downstairs. Footsteps started getting louder and closer to the door and my siblings and I shook in fear.

"Under the bed, quick!" Our mother hissed. We listened and dived under the wooden frame before realizing too late that our mom didn't follow us. She stayed up with a gun pointed straight at the door.

We held onto eachother and tried to see through the small bottom opening of the bed.

"Well well well, looks like we found the wifey!" A voice chuckled. We heard a gunshot and the man fell to the ground. All we could manage to see was his body in a pool of blood next to the bed.

I let out a scream.

Jack covered my mouth quickly as I cried silently.

Our mother closed the door after saying one last goodbye, reminding us not to move before we heard her footsteps getting softer and softer.

"Mommy!" Alex yelled in distress. "I have to go help mom, she might die!" Jack spluttered, crawling out from under the bed.

He opened the door and we jumped when we heard the insanely loud gunshots and screams of pain.

"I'm coming too, you can't go out there by yourself!" Alex said bravely, his big brother role coming in. "You have to stay here with Rosie, she needs you." Jack ordered, making Alex stare at me sadly. "Okay, but come back quickly." Alex sighed after a moment of hesitation.

"No, you're going to get hurt!" I sobbed. "Don't worry about me little one, I'll be back I promise." Jack smiled and ran his fingers through my hair soothingly.

Alex held my hand and pulled me back under the bed as we watched our brother run out the door, just as we heard a gunshot and our mother's scream...