Chapter Nineteen

A/N - I update this story a few chapters at a time to keep up with it alongside my larger AO3 updates so please make sure you read through the chapters in there correct order !!

They wait behind the thick velvet curtain with bated breath. They can hear James' voice clearly enough through the fabric and the audience waiting in their seats but there's still a screen beside them warning them of the time they have remaining before they're set to go out.

He's stood on the end next to Liam, not able to stop the slight clamminess he feels in his hands about how this is all going to go. He certainly wasn't happy, nor Niall, when he found out that the five of them and James would be playing Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts. He'd had enough of a taste of the game, and its disgusting food when he'd done this with Kendall, he really didn't think he needed a refresher. Regardless, it was one of the audience's favourite games that James offered and drew in a fair amount of interest for whatever ridiculous questions they were to be asked later on during the game. The questions had all been approved by their five managers so he supposed they wouldn't be too outrageous, he trusted Jeff and the rest of them after all, but it didn't make the thought any more comforting.

"... so please welcome back to the world stage, One Direction!" James yells and his attention snaps back to the present just as the curtain is pulled apart and the audience erupts into screams as they step out in front of the numerous camera's and heat chases them from the stage lights.

James is before them in an instant, clasping each of them on the shoulder and pulling them in for a hug. He'd always liked James, of all the interviewers he was one of the most grounded and entertaining. He'd also spent enough time with the man to know he was just as charismatic off camera as he was before it.

Harry had been in this studio not a few months ago but being back now with the boys was like returning back to the days of their first few interviews, new and exciting. The audience finally settled enough for James to begin talking as the five of them sat huddled together on the plush sofa and James took his seat in a big leather chair.

"Well I've gotta just start by saying that I feel very honoured to be the first person you lot choose to come and talk with after the very big news that the five of you have reunited for a special, celebration tour kickstarting on March 28th!" James says and the audience loudly starts up again.

"Now Niall, you've claimed in recent times that it was in fact you who had the suggestion of getting back together for this tour, which I think is aptly titled Where We Belong, who was the first of the boys you reached too to get on board?"

"Well went through managers first but I got in touch with Liam pretty soon afterwards and he said yes fairly quickly so I thought that was a good enough start. Targeted Louis next and I gotta say mate," Niall says turning his head towards Louis, "Wasn't so sure about your answer with your album in the works and you still didn't have a release for it yet but you agreed fairly easily."

"Wouldn't have missed this for the world mate, who do you think I am?" Louis says teasingly, his bright media charm on full display.

"And how was it with convincing young Harold?" James asks and he feels the attention of the room slide to him. He clears his throat, fighting the urge to run his hand through his styled hair.

"I think we all knew we wanted to come back for something special at one stage and doing so this year kind of just made sense with it being the anniversary. It was difficult trying to plan it around my album release, as well as Louis' and Niall's which comes out next month but I'm definitely really excited for this year."

"Now Zayn you commented on your return to the band on the livestream the five of you did last week but how does it feel now that the news is out and everyone knows that you're back with the boys?"

"I think Louis summed it up pretty well, I wouldn't have wanted to miss this for the world so I'm just really excited and can't wait to get out there on tour, see all the fans and be up on stage with these boys again."

"Alright now obviously the Where we Belong tour is mainly to feature the songs written for the bands fifth studio album, Made In The A.M but as we all know, a certain member," and all the boys smile as they try not to turn to look at Zayn who keeps his eyes firmly trained on James but doesn't stop the sniggering in the audience, "How is the plan going for incorporating Zayn's vocals into these songs?"

"Well tour rehearsals begin next month so I guess we'll just have to wait and see!" Liam comments.

"And if it doesn't work then sorry mate but you're back out of the band." Louis says without missing a beat and the four of them laugh at his antics.

"Right then." Zayn says half pushing up from the sofa in a mock show of leaving the set.

"Alright, alright!" James calls out as the audience is still settling down, "We're not trying to split up the band on your first appearance! Moving on, now as well as the rather passionate debate about fruit preferences," James starts and the five of them have to suppress their snorts of amusement, "And the obvious fact that you five are in fact coming back together after hiatus, the fans have been pretty alight about a certain comment made on the Instagram livestream and that is the one that you five would consider adding a special extra song into random shows if there was enough pressure from the fans. Is this true?"

"I don't think we'd feel pressured to add in a specific song from the fans," Zayn offers, "But ultimately we're doing this to give the fans something special and to say thank you for all the support they have shown us over the years and if that includes adding in a special extra song at a few places then I think that's something we could manage." That starts up a whole new wave of murmuring and excited whispers from the crowd and Harry watches as Zayn sends a wide smile into the audience.

"Now let's talk solo music. I know you briefly talked about this on your live but for those who haven't heard yet how are you all are going to incorporate your own music into the set lists."

"So each show will have one each of our own songs into the set list, we've chosen a number of songs from our own albums or single releases that we'll perform and switch it around for each of the shows." Niall explains and Harry reaches forward to take a sip from the water lain out on the small table before him, catching Louis' eye briefly as he does so.

"Ok now we want to play a quick game before the break and it's fairly simple, we know you've all done this before and is a pretty standard game but when people wanna know things, can't go very wrong with a game of True or False Paddles!" James says and Harry is glad he's swallowed the water so that he doesn't splutter remembering just how well this game has gone in the past. It's a bog standard interview game, as if a warm up for what's to come later but he accepts the paddle anyway and schools his expression into neutral interest.

"Quick fire here let's go!" James says as he reaches behind him and grabs several cards off his desk and spins back around to face them.

"True or false boys; there was a discussion of whether the band's name would change for your return?"

All of their panels turn to false, it was a general question, one designed to simply give information to the fans.

"Good to know, good to know. Ok, true of false; 5 Seconds of Summer will return as your opening act for a stage of the tour?"

They all hesitate slightly, it was something they had discussed, even reached out to the four Aussie's about it but negotiations were still in place considering they were set to be releasing their own fourth studio album and heading out on tour. They were also very much large enough names in the industry now to not need to open for another act.

Eventually they all turned their panels to false, a collective groan sounding from the audience and the five of them turned to laugh at the crowd.

"If you'd like we can just go back on hiatus and leave you all with the Aussies..." Louis starts and there is a chorus of collective 'No!"' that resonates through the studio and they laugh once more.

"Alright, we'll stay!"

"Can't believe people once payed for one ticket and got to see both acts." James mutters and the audience laughs once more. Anyways, next question and the answers on your paddles are changing a bit here so true means you would and false means you wouldn't ok?" He asks and they all nod their heads in understanding. "If I asked the five of you to film a second Carpool Karaoke, would you say yes?"

The audience screams at this and Harry instantly flicks his paddle around to show true. He'd thoroughly enjoyed both times he's done those videos and had definitely thought about it when Jeff had told him they were doing the interview with James, and he'd definitely been hoping they'd be filming another version of One Direction Carpool Karaoke rather than the game that was still to come. He notices all the boys other than Niall flip to true and they all turn to the Irishman waiting for his explanation.

"The last time I went along with this bloody idea, I ended up covered in Pigeons and a lie detector wrapped around me!" He says with a sign and they all grin widely at that. He really has to watch this. He glances over the others boys faces too and sees a similar look of interest in their eyes and knows it's one of the first things they'll do when they're all next together.

"If I promised that there would be no birds involved would you change your mind?" James asks and Niall gives in with a nod.

"Ok and last question before we go for a short break, paddles returning to normal for this one. True or false; I enjoyed being a solo artist more than being a part of the band?" James asks with an evil expression twisted on his face and Harry groans and promptly throws the paddle away behind him, hoping he doesn't hit anyone.

Liam's paddle has been dropped from the floor, Zayn crosses his arms over the paddle covering it from sight, Niall tries to hand it back to James and Louis is trying to stuff his down the side of the sofa.

"We're gonna call that an inconclusive test result! We'll be right back after the break for a game of Spill Your Guts of Fill Your Guts with One Direction!" James yells and the audience bursts into applause.