“Come in!” I call out from my spot on the comfortable leather couch where I was watching E! News with a giant bowl of popcorn in front of me. Whoever knew where my flat was had a key. The boys and I had made sure that where we were staying until the tour started wasn't leaked. Having hoards of screaming girls in front of my house did not seem like something I would enjoy on my break.
“Ugh.” I groan as I push myself off of the couch. My sock feet padding against the wood floor, I fling open the door to reveal....nothing? Glancing around the hall, I let out a not-so-manly squeal as I almost step on the baby carrier beneath me. Baby carrier. That holds a baby. What the actual-
My thoughts are cut off as my phone starts to shriek from where I had left it on the couch. Do I leave the baby here or do I bring it inside before anyone stops by and sees Niall Horan holding a baby that looks impossibly similar to him? Yeah, that's a no-brainer. Snatching up the blue and white carrier, I slam the door behind me and grimace as I look down at the sleeping tyke.
I hurry over and gently set the carrier on the coffee table as I attempt to turn down the telly and answer my phone all at the same time.
“Yeah?” I ask as I press the phone to my shoulder as I make sure that the baby hadn't awoken during my mad dash.
“Pickles?” There was only one person on this Earth that called me that.
“Dear God, Niall. How can you eat so many of those?” She asks, giggling as she gestures towards the two already empty jars of pickles as I started off on my third.
“Because I know you hate them.” I tease as I swing the pickle back and forth in front of her face and she scrunches up her cute little button nose.
“Yeah, you just love to annoy me, right?” Her Australian accent shows up at the end of the sentence as she swats the pickle away.
“Of course.” I reply, sneaking a kiss and smiling broadly as she blushes at the show of affection. Almost two years and even something as small as that had her blushing.
“It's you?” I ask, baffled.
“Yeah, it's me. I guess you know what I'm calling for, huh?”
And suddenly, it all makes sense. She wouldn't have told me if she was pregnant when we broke up. She was way too prideful for that. She would have kept it a secret from me, deciding that she didn't need my help. Her pride was her major pitfall.
“Yeah. I get the whole baby thing. But why is he on my doorstep?” I ask, hoping that I'm not right.
“Ni, we both know why. He's yours.” She pauses before amending that. “Well, ours. His name is Carter.”
And with that, I feel my world slowly crash. What would the fans think? This was no way to raise a baby. What would Emily, my girlfriend think? And most importantly, why me?
Voicing my thoughts I stutter out, “Why? Why now? If you kept him from me this entire time, then why now?” I hear her sigh through the line.
“Because I have to go to America for my job and I can't be toting around a eighteen month old baby with me.”
“And I can?” I can tell that my anger is seeping into my voice.
“Niall, you're a superstar. I'm sure you can find a nanny for four months.” I can hear the irritation in her voice, like a mother telling her child 'no' for the umpteenth time.
“Four months?” I question before I can even think about it. This is my son. I like how that sounds. My son.
“Yes, that's all I ask of you. Just take care of Carter for four months while I'm at work. This is the only solution I can think of, Niall.” Her voice cracks on the last sentence and I have to stop myself from singing to her, a old habit I had developed whenever she was upset.
“Fine. See you in four months.” And with that, I hang up the phone and frustratedly toss it to the other side of the room, grimacing as I hear it hit the hard wood with a crack. Oh well. I can always buy another.
I look at the baby – my baby. He really does resemble me. Same blue eyes, same nose, even the same brown hair I have naturally. He sure is cute.
“So,” I say, unbuckling the straps on the seat. “Carter, eh?”
AUTHOR"S NOTE.
Yeah, it's a one direction fan fiction. All of my directionaters, please don't hate me. It's just far easier to base a story off of real people. Oh yeah, did I mention that I have this entire twenty five or so chapter book plotted out? Well I do. I also have another chapter I've written that I'll post tomorow. I think I might stick with this book, guise! :)
