Tangled Web (Catfish Sequel) {M.C}

Chapter Four

A/N: Sorry it's taken so long, but I'm back for good now! I have finished University so I can focus on fanfiction writing whilst I look for work! :D 

A few weeks later, the story had finally died down, with a lot of help from management. They banned anyone from asking about it in interviews, and had as many of the stories taken down as they could. While they were happy that it had died down, they were coming closer to Michael having to leave to go on tour. 

Ivy had mixed feelings for it all. Michael and the guys had invited her along but it wouldn't have been fair on Olivia to cart her around the world. She needed stability. As much as it was going to kill her to be away from him, she knew Michael had to do this alone.

Michael and Ivy tried to carry on as normal throughout the weeks that followed, but the knowledge that he would be leaving for the tour hung over them like a dark shadow.

"I should probably start packing." Michael said quietly whilst him and Ivy were cuddled up on the sofa.
"If you start packing, it makes it real." She replied, sadly.
"I know, but if I don't pack, the boys will moan at me for being unorganised yet again." Michael told her, rubbing her cheek with his thumb.
"Okay, do you want some help?"
"Do I want help from the person that writes a million lists a day and is the most organised person I know. Um, I'm gonna say yes." He laughed.
"Come on then, lets get this out of the way whilst Olivia sleeps." She told him.
"You know how to charm a man." 

After packing, emptying a few times and finally repacking Michael's suitcase, they were finally done. Just in time too, as Olivia's cries came through the baby monitor. 
"I'll get her." Michael told Ivy, kissing her on the forehead before leaving the room.
Ivy could hear Michael talking to Olivia through the baby monitor, and before she knew it tears were running down her face. She had no idea how she was going to make it through without Michael. Olivia was a daddy's girl through and through, and most nights would only settle to Michael singing softly to her until she fell asleep. She made a mental note to get some recordings of Michael singing in hopes that it would help. 

"Should we have a barbecue tomorrow? You know get everyone round for a big meal before I have to leave?" Michael said, pulling Ivy away from her thoughts.

"Um, yeah okay. I'll order the food online, I really don't want to have to go out. The more I can avoid people, the easier life is." She joked, regretting her choice of words straight away. "I didn't mean that, sorry."

"It's okay, I get it. I still just wish we could go out whenever we wanted and it didn't turn into some big thing. I'm sorry things aren't easier." He replied. 

"So am I ordering shrimp?" She laughed, trying to ease the tension.

"Did you really just go there? You're as bad as Nova with her stereotypes." Michael laughed. "As long you order some tea bags!"

"I deserved that." She admitted. 

"Yes, yes you did." Michael told her, before kissing her on the forehead and walking back to the kitchen to grab some juice for Olivia. 

The Next Day: 

As planned, everyone was arriving for the barbecue. Michael was in charge of cooking the meat, and was failing. Luckily Ivy's dad turned up and took over, telling Michael to stick to his day job. 

The last people to arrive were Calum and Nova. Calum had told the guys he was going to pick her up so she didn't have to travel alone, although he'd left two hours earlier than he'd needed too. The guys all knew what was happening, and weren't sure why Calum didn't feel comfortable enough to just outright tell them what was going on. They didn't get away with it when Ivy collared hold of her as she walked in though.

"So, whats the deal with you and Calum then? I thought you'd stopped hooking up?" Ivy quizzed Nova. 

"Yeah well, things changed." Nova replied.

"Spill the beans then, you know every detail of mine and Michael's relationship whether I like it or not, so it's only fair." Ivy laughed.

"Fiiiine." She protested. "We've decided not to see other people whilst he's on tour, and then see how things go when he gets back."

"Wow. That's a development." Ivy told her. 

"I know, I'm excited though. I really like him, I didn't want it to be serious, I was happy with just being a hook up, but seeing you and Michael settled with Olivia gives me hope. Maybe it will be nice to settle down, and I like Calum, so we may as well see where it goes."

"Fair enough." Ivy replied. 

The barbecue was uneventful other than that. Calum seemed to have explained the situation to the other guys too because noone questioned anything when they were practically joined at the hip for the entirety of the barbecue. Ivy tried to forget that the whole reason for the barbecue was as a goodbye to the guys, and enjoy the company of her friends and family, but the dark shadow of the tour was still constantly at the front of her thoughts. She watched Michael playing with Ivy in her high chair, trying to get her to eat the pasta he was feeding her and smiled. She didn't want the night to end.

A Few Days Later:

A beep came from outside the house, and Ivy's heart dropped. The car that was taking them to the airport had arrived, and Ivy was far from ready to go. Every time she thought she was okay, she started freaking out again. She wasn't ready for Michael to be thousands of miles away, she wasn't ready to look after Olivia on her own. She didn't even think she could. The lump in her throat was getting harder to ignore as she tried to hold back her tears. Michael grabbed some of his bags and loaded them into the boot of the car whilst Ivy got Olivia and her car seat into the car. Michael grabbed the last of the bags and stood in the hallway looking around and let out a long sigh before slowly walking out of their house and locking the door behind him. Ivy and Michael both squeezed into the back with Olivia so that he could wrap his arms around her for longer.

When they got to the airport, a couple of crew members were waiting at the drop off point and grabbed Michael's bags for him, leaving him free to walk with Ivy and to carry Olivia whilst the driver found a spot to park ready to take Ivy and Olivia home. Michael carried Olivia and held Ivy's hand as they walked through the airport together. Ivy knew she was probably squeezing Michael's hand way too hard but neither of them seemed to care. They were fast approaching the terminal that Michael was meeting the other guys at, and they both seemed to notice as their walking slowed. They heard the other guys before they saw them. Calum's laugh could be heard first, and it sounded like Nova was with them too. When they got around the corner they saw that Calum, Nova, Luke and Ashton were also joined by the guys parents, and Michael's parents were waiting there as they'd already arranged. 

Ivy stood with Nova and let Michael say goodbye to his parents. Finally he turned back to her, and pulled her into his arms as far as he could with Olivia still on his hip with his arm around her. 

"I love you so much, I will try and get back as soon as we get a long enough break. I'll call you everyday. Send me pictures everyday and videos, I don't want to miss anything." He started rambling as the airport attendant shouted that the plane was ready for them to board. 

He kissed her with a sense of urgency, and squeezed both his girls tightly. 

"I love you Olivia Clifford, be good for mummy whilst I'm gone." He passed her back to Ivy, his voice cracking as he spoke. 

Olivia started crying as her daddy walked away from them, and Ivy tried to soothe her to no avail. Tears were running down her face too. She hugged Olivia as tight as she watched Michael turn the corner and disappear from sight.