Jaws dropped, and multiple eyes all staring straight at me. "Excuse me?" Jake says shocked. "You heard me, I'm keeping her." I say matter of factly, still not really believing whats coming out of my mouth. "Give us just one moment." Jake says polietly as he grabs my shirt and pulls me out of the room.
"Just what the hell do you think you're doing?" He whisper yells at me. "I decided I wanted to keep her, what's the big deal, she is my daughter." I snap back. "This is career suicide, you're ruining everything this whole band has worked for..." He says harshly. "Plenty of celebrities have children and they're still rich and successful." I try reasoning with him. "But none of the are a member of the biggest boyband in the world, liam." He counters back. He was right, I'm not fit to care for a child. But she's apart of me, how could I ever give her up? "No." I shake my head. "I'm keeping her, and that's final." I tell him ending this whole conversation.
"You're making a huge mistake." He says walking back into the room. "No, I'm fixing one." I smile when I see Ellie bouncing on Niall's lap. "So, are you ready to sign the papers?" The Social worker smiles and asks in my direction. "No, I'm keeping her, I'm keeping my daughter." I coo picking my little princess up and kissing her on the head. Everyone still staring at me with their mouths open. "Oh, I'll be in touch." Jakes hissing as he leaves, along with the lawyer and social worker.
"So you're actually going to keep her?" Louis the first one to speak once they leave. "Yeah, I just can't give her up, shes literally half of me. I owe it to her." I announce sounding more confident then before. "What about recording, and touring? We can't just have a baby during concerts, Li." Harry says seriously. "I know, but I can get one of those live in nannies, someone to help." I say hoping they'll understand. "I'll do it." I hear a girls voice say. We all turn to see Laney standing in the doorway. I completely forgot she was even here. "What?" Louis looks at her funny as if he doesn't understand what she just said. "I'll help take care of Ellie. It's not like I have anything else better to do." She shrugs. "And what about work?" Louis asks. "I work at a flower shop Lou, not NASA. I can quit. Besides, it means I get to spend more time with you again." She grins. I've never really paid attention to their relationship before, I mean she never comes around, so I didn't think they were that close, but something about this conversation said different. "I guess if its okay with Liam, it doesn't seem like such a terrible idea." My best mate says looking over at me. "Perfect!" I smirk.
"Can we finish discussing this over lunch?" The familiar Irish accent whines. "Dude, you just ate breakfast." Zayn remarks looking amused. "That was like 6 hours ago, I'm starving." Niall continues. "Okay, seriously it was only 2 hours ago, but fine go pick us up some sushi." I laugh watching his eyes light up as he grabs harry and heads out of the flat. Zayn, Louis, Laney and I decide to make of list of everything were gonna need for a baby.
"I really appreciate you doing all this." I say quietly after I put Ellie down for a nap. Laney was making us some tea while the guys played Xbox. "Its not a big deal." She says nonchalantly. "Quitting your job and moving in with your brother and his friends to help raise someone else baby is not a big deal?" I look at her curiously. I don't know how I've never noticed her eyes before right now. They were grey, and at the right angle they almost sparkled in the light. I'm pretty sure they were the most gorgeous eyes I've ever seen. "I miss my brother, okay? We used to be so close when we were younger, I just want that again and this seemed like the perfect opportunity." She says with a low voice. It was like she didn't want Louis to hear. "Okay." I said back simply, not pushing the subject anymore. Honestly it doesn't matter to me, she was doing me a huge favor, so I didn't really care why.
After finishing the list, and double checking to make sure we didn't forget anything important, Zayn and Louis set out shopping. "Have you told your parents yet?" Laney asks holding Ellie in her arms. "No..." I look down at my feet slightly embarrassed. How was I supposed to tell my mom and dad that their grandparents when I just learned I was a dad two days ago. They would freak. "Have you told anyone besides the guys?" She looks at me skeptically. "My girlfriend, well ex now." I frown. "I'm sorry..." She pauses before walking over to me. "Maybe we should go tell them, I'm sure they'll be thrilled." She smiles optimistically. "They're gonna,find out sooner of later..." I mumble agreeing with her. I get up and call my mom to let her know I'll be over soon while Laney got Ellie dressed.
"Hey, calm down, everything's gonna be okay." Laney tries soothing me as we pull up in front of my parents house. "If you would have seen the last time I broke this news to someone you'd be nervous too." I sighed unbuckling my seatbelt. Ellie fell asleep so Laney lifts her out of the carseat careful not to wake her. "Li, is that you?" My mom calls from the front door cheerily. "My baby." She runs up to us when she confirms it was me. I give her a hug and kiss on the cheek laughing at her excitement. "Who's this?" She asks eyeing Laney and Ellie. "Mom can we go inside?" I motion to the door. "Of course."
"So are you going to introduce me to your friend?" She procceds with her earlier question once we all settle in the house. "My name is Laney, I'm Louis's sister!" Laney answers her for me. "Oh its so nice to meet you, I can't believe how much you two look alike I should've known." She responds. Ellie still sound asleep in Laney's arms, thankfully a blanket was covering her, if my mom thought they looked alike just wait till she sees this. "So Li, what did you need to talk about, you had me worried on the phone." I like look over to see concerns written all over her face. She's going to be so disappointed in me. "Well, umh...where's dad? I ask trying to stall. "At work, now, tell me what is going on, I can tell some things wrong. I take a deep breath, you can do this liam. Laney pats my back comfortingly with her free hand. "Do you remember when Sophia and I broke up last year?" She nods. "I did something stupid and immature." I tell her, shame plastered onto my face. "Go on, you can tell me anything." She urges with a smile. "I had...sex with a random girl." I say looking up at her hoping she'll connect the dots. "You don't have an STD do you?" She gives me a horrified expression. "No." Laney and I both laugh. "I don't understand." She looks at me confused. "I got her pregnant, I'm a dad." I finally spit it out. She eyes got wide. "I'm a grandma?" She chokes out, tears on the corner of her eyes. "Yeah." I smile faintly. "Is it a boy or girl? How old? When can I meet them?" She bombards me with questions. "Its a girl, her name is Elizabeth, she's 9 months and right now if you want." I answer honestly. "What?" Her eyes shoot over to the sleeping baby. "That's her?" She asks as she wipes her tears. Right on cue Ellie starts to wake up, Laney lifts up the blanket so she's visible. "Oh my god, she's beautiful." My mom says practically speechless. "She looks identical to you, li." She stares at the little girl. "Can I hold her?" She looks over at Laney questioningly. "Absolutely." She hands over Ellie who yawns with delight.
After telling her all the details and letting her spend some time with Ellie we decide to get back home. Just as we were about to leave my mom pulls me into a big hug. "I'm so proud of you, Liam James." She whispers. "I love you mom." I tell her with a smile before running out to catch up with Laney, who was strapping Ellie in to her carseat. "Told you it would be okay!" She giggles when she sees the relieved look on my face.
"Thanks for coming with me." I look over at her in the passenger seat. "No big deal." She winks at me, and then continues looking out the window.
