A Knock With Fate

2| James

This isn't fucking happening. This can't be happening right
"James, you need to tell us what the hell is going on" Hunter said, it's been a few hours at this point since she arrived. Or should I say since she was found.

I stared down at the baby in front of us again, she was oblivious to the chaos around her and I couldn't help but think that was for the best at this point but I just don't understand
How can things go from being fine and simple to then being the ray of a disaster not even 12 hours later 
Today was not supposed to go like this, hell nothing about this situation was supposed to happen 

"Who's baby is that? What is she doing here?" West asked calmly, I sighed picking up the piece of paper that had been tucked into her blanket when she got here
"her name is Matilda but also goes by Tilly. It's Natalie's baby, she couldn't take care of her anymore so here she is I guess" I said before groaning brushing my hands over my face
"She can't do this right?" I asked looking at the boys
"Natalie can't just fucking drop off a baby here right?" I asked again but the boys shared a look

"It depends James, is she yours? If she is that Natalie hasn't actually done anything wrong but if she isn't then no she can't just drop her off" Eldon said making me groan again 

The baby was possibly 3-4 months old maybe? If she is then I don't doubt that she's mine. Natalie was supposed to be a one night stand, a means of distraction after a night full of my fathers belittling
It was never meant to go further then that. I can't look after myself let alone a baby 

"Try and call her again James" Hunter said making me nod before walking into my room

This can't be happening, this is a bad dream right? I'm going to wake up and it'll be like it never happened right?

"James. You've got to stop calling" Natalie's voice said filling my ear making my eyes widen. I'd called close to 100 times at this point, this was the first time she had picked up
"Natalie, come and get your daughter" I warned her before hearing her scoff
"She is as much your daughter as she is mine James. I can't look after her so you've got to figure it out" She said but I shook my head frantically

"Natalie" I warned again but it was useless
"You'll be able to give her a better life then I ever could James. You and I both know that, Tilly will grow up around people who love and care about her if she's with you" She said 
"I don't know the fir-" I started
"You'll learn James, you'll adapt. Tilly is yours now, I don't want to hear about her again" Natalie said almost whispering the last part before the line went dead 

Agitated doesn't even begin to explain how I'm feeling right now, I stand up throwing my phone across the room probably shattering it before there was a scream from the living room
Unless the boys voice boxes have heightened from stress. Something was wrong with Tilly
I walked out of the room to see Eldon, West and Hunter all covering their ears while Tilly sat in her car seat screaming the place down

"What did you idiots do now!" I asked but they all shook their head
"She woke up and just started screaming" Eldon said
"Get her to stop man!" Hunter yelled
"How! What do you expect me to do" I yelled back placing my hands over my ears to in the hope it would silence it a bit

"You can't leave her screaming" West said making me groan looking down at Tilly, she was going to stop anytime soon, that's for sure 

"Girls are good with babies. Go ask Riley for help" Eldon said making West and Hunter nod frantically practically running out of the door
"She isn't going to help man, she fucking hates me" I remind him
"Riley doesn't know you James. Cut the girl some slack, you two could get along if you weren't so James about everything" He said loudly over Tilly's cries making me roll my eyes 

--

It didn't take long at all for Hunter and West to come back to the flat. I did anticipate that they would come back alone but Riley walked into the flat looking around just as confused
"Can you get her to stop please" Eldon pleaded before Riley's eyes found mine. She looked at me for a moment before mumbling something to herself

"What is going on?" Riley asked approaching the car seat
"We don't know, can you help?" I asked, Riley jumped at my voice before looking up at me and nodding
"Can I?" She said motioning to Tilly. She wanted to pick her up

Of course she did, why didn't we fucking think of that

I nodded before watching Riley quickly undo her buckle picking her up. Tilly continued screeching until Riley started bouncing from one foot to another rocking Tilly back and forth 
Slowly and surely, Tilly started to settle until she had fallen back asleep this time cuddled up to Riley's chest

"What's her name?" Riley asked looking around the boys still trying to avoid any eye contact with me
"Matilda but we've been calling her Tilly" Eldon said making Riley nod looking down at the baby
"I take it she is yours?" Riley asked this time looking at me allowing me to nod slightly
"You can tell?" West asked making Riley laugh
"You can't? She is the spitting image of him" Riley said making all of up tilt our heads trying to see the resemblance
"She looks cute, she doesn't look like that numb nut" Hunter said making me glare at him

"Now onto the bigger question, what the hell is going on?" Riley asked nodding towards all of us, the boys instantly looked towards me knowing at this point I was the only one with answers 
"Her mum claims she can't look after her anymore. She's dropped her here for god and doesn't want to hear about her or from me again" I said kicking the back of my foot

"Who would do that to you sweetheart" Riley cooed stroking the back of Tilly's head, I could have sworn I saw Tilly's lips creep up into a smile

"We don't know the first thing about looking after a baby" West confessed
"Evidently, how long has she been in the car seat?" Riley asked making me widen my eyes
"Why? Shouldn't she be in it? What?" I panicked
"It can restrict her airway if she's in their too long. From her screeches I'm going to assume she was getting uncomfortable" Riley said shrugging

"We don't really have anything else to put her in" I said bowing my head 
"Take your daughter James" Riley said making me look up at her confused
"How, what? why?" I panicked before Riley rolled her eyes walking over to me passing Tilly to me
"Support her head more" Riley warned me making me adjust my arms until Tilly was securely in my arms 

Before I could ask Riley anything else she had turned on her heels walking out our front door making me look at the boys confused
"Now what?" I said to myself