Raura's Daughter

twenty five.

Ross' POV

Laura, Isabella and I were all laying down underneath a fort made out of old sheets that we'd managed to put together earlier on in the day. I found some candy and chips for us to snack on and made sure that Isabella had her favourite pink unicorn and of course her nightlight in order to feel completely secure in our little den.

"This is so lovely... thank you." Laura murmured with a smile, reaching her hand out to mine and cradling it tightly in her own. Isabella was sprawled out in the middle of us both with her eyes closed and her pink unicorn held close to her chest. "I really needed this."

I nodded my head sympathetically towards her. "I know you do."

I couldn't even imagine losing one of my parents and then finding out almost a year later that they were seeing other people again. Death had a way of diving even the happiest of people but it wasn't a permanent fix. I never liked to openly talk about my religion with my family let alone Laura but I truly believed that in the afterlife we'd all be reunited as one. It was a pity that some people can't wait to be reunited with their one true love.

"It's like she's trying to replace him." Laura murmured in disgust. I could see the pain on her face and how dark her eyes were from all the crying she'd done at home and in the comfort of my arms.

I shook my head slowly at her in disagreement. "Your father is irreplaceable, Laur. Your mom knows that nobody can ever take his place, just like you do."

Laura smiled gratefully at me and gently kissed the back of my hand. "He'd give you the biggest hug for saying that."

I twirled a piece of Laura's hair behind her ear and propped myself up on my elbow to look at her better. She looked so beautiful underneath the dim light of our fort even after all the tears she'd managed to produce from her eyeballs. "He was a great man. I won't let him be forgotten."

I truly meant it. Laura's father had accepted me as part of their family when I felt so hopeless in my own and despite what problems anyone in his family were dealing with he always put it above his own. "I love you Ross. I really do."

I held her hand tightly in my own and nodded slowly. "I love you so much more, Laura. I'm always going to protect you."

"Promise me something?"

I smiled. "Anything."

She giggled and latched her pinky finger around mine. "Promise me that this time around things will be different... we'll be different."

There was silence between us as I carefully latched my pinky finger around hers, forcing myself to nod in agreement. "I promise."

The saddest part of my promise however?

Well, I was about to break it.

Laura laid back down beside Isabella and smoothed her fingers through our daughter's blonde ringlets of hair. "So... what did you want to talk about?"

I gulped and quickly tried to brush it off with a chuckle and a frown. "What? Nah, that's in the past now. I can't even remember what I wanted to-"

"Ross." Laura bluntly stated, lifting my chin up with her fingers. She stared deeply into my eyes and pursed her lips together. "No more secrets remember. Tell me."

I gulped and shrugged my shoulders in defeat. "Before you arrived earlier... the five of us were in the basement finishing up a song I wrote."

Laura lowered her gaze from my face, almost like she knew exactly what was about to come. "Oh." She murmured quietly to herself.

"My father overheard us and reminded the five of us that there's a deal still available... a deal to go on tour and show the world what R5 are made of."

I sharply inhaled and powered on but I knew deep down that Laura would be extremely hurt by the time I was finished explaining myself to her. "Rocky, Rydel and Ratliff are very eager to take this opportunity. Riker and I however are not."

Laura raised her eyebrows slowly and glanced down at Isabella who was quietly sleeping beside us. "It's your life, Ross... your future. As much as it would affect Bella and I... you need to do what's best for you, not us."

I exhaled and cupped my hands underneath her chin. "This doesn't change anything between us, okay? We'll make this work if we try hard enough."

"You'll barely see Bella though." She whispered gazing down at our daughter with sad eyes. "She's going to be a year old in a couple of months..."

I sighed and pressed my lips to her forehead, pulling her close to my chest. "Like I said, I'm going to try and make this work. I failed you once, I won't fail you or Isabella again."

And I meant it.

My future with music or my band wasn't worth it if it meant losing the love of my life and my daughter was part of the process. I'd rather spend the rest of my life making memories and growing old with my family instead of missing out on every milestone we went through.

"I trust you." Laura whispered into my chest.

I can't let her down.

Not this time.

***

a/n

hey guys! so today I had my filling done, I was so anxious about it but it went better than I thought it would!

i barely felt any pain with the needle and the filling was quick and painless.

i'm home safe now resting up and all the aesthetic has left my mouth and face 😂💕

i love you all soooo much!!!

b x