their daughter

03

"Sit" Louis said while motioning to the couch. Julia was sent home but not without a phone call to her mother first.

"We're disappointed in your Annie" Zayn Said to the girl with a nod of approval from the other four. Damn he played the disappointment card Annie though to herself.

"Would you like to share your side of the story?" Annie looked around the room trying her best not to make eye contact with any of her fathers. She nodded thinking about where to start.

"After I saw that picture I wanted to know why Dad got so mad at me for looking at it. I saw Papa put in the code to the room and I decided to call ofer Jules and go investigate" Annie explained looking at her lap fiddling with her fingers.

The five parents sighed "We didn't want you in there Annie we needed to protect you" Liam looked at her even though she wouldn't look at them.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She looked at them with sadness in her eyes "Did you not trust me?" All the men just looked at the ground themselves digging their feet into the carpet.

"Great that's great to know." She let a single tear slip before turning her back to them

"No babe please-" Niall began to say but before anything Annie slammed the front door leaning them on shock. They knew she was probably going to Julia's house so they didn't have to worry that much. They texted Sandy, Josh, and Paul telling them to come over immediately.

"What's going on lads?" Josh asked with a confused expression when he realized Annie wasn't in the room.

"She found out" Louis blurted

"About the band? There's no way!" Sandy exclaimed

"She found a picture and then found the room where we hid all of it."

Paul sat there with guilt on his face because he knew if he didn't take out that photo this wouldn't be happening. "I'm sorry boys this is practically my fault"

"Paul were not blaming you this was gonna happen eventually" Zayn looked at the older man as he spoke.

They all sat in silence for a few minutes debating on what to do. "Would you all get the band back together?" Sandy asked looking at each one of them.

"I mean we're not against it it's just that we don't wanna throw Annie into that spotlight especially after management made it clear they don't want her" Harry looked at them hoping someone would agree with him

"Annie is older now I mean maybe we could have a meeting with management about this." Niall said while the others nodded

"Get Simon on the phone and schedule the earliest meeting"

Meanwhile with Annie. She was currently running her way over to Julia's house wiping her tears away. She vigorously knocked on the door but after about three knocks her mom answered.

"Annie sweetheart what happened?" She asked. Annie was always close to Julia's mom because she never had a mother figure so she always turned if she had any questions that her fathers couldn't answer.

"Julia isn't home right now she's at practice but you can talk to me because you're not going home until"

So that's what they did. For the next half an hour she explained to her what happened and how she felt.

"Annie they were only doing it to protect you." Julia's mom, Jennifer said to the distress teen. Jennifer had knew about this since Julia and Annie became friends.

"I don't need to be protected" Annie said with a pout.

Jennifer pulled her into a hug a gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"I think it's time for you to go home to your dads and have a nice long talk with them."

Jennifer sent Annie out with one last hug before texting Harry

To: Harry S
From: Jennifer
Annie came over to my house and we had a little chat. I just sent her home so she'll be arriving shortly. Please do not get mad at her she only wants to know the truth H.
read at 6:30

Annie opened her door and to her surprise everyone was there including a man she's never seen before, only on television. The man himself, Simon Cowell.

Everyones eyes diverted to her as Liam stood up.

"Don't even" She mumbles and rolled her eyes

Liam quickly grabbed her forearm before crouching down to her ear

"Drop the attitude, and go to your room we'll talk to you soon"

"Don't have to tell me twice" she whispered back

She marched upstairs before slamming her door and crying into her pillow. She brought this onto herself. She laid on her bed and looked at her ceiling before looking at a photo of her and her fathers from when she was younger. She quickly slammed it down so the back of the frame was facing up.

Minutes passed, which felt like hours until five men walked into her room.

"Ever heard of knocking?" She said

"Quit it Annie Rose" She fell back into her pillow feeling defeated.

"At least bring the other three in here" That was Josh , Sandy and Paul's que to walk in. They all looked at the teen before speaking up.

"We're sorry" They all said in unison. She gave them a look that said 'for what?'

"Annie we all only wanted to keep you safe. We knew throwing you into the spotlight as a newborn wouldn't be good for you. It was a win win and it wasn't good for us either. It gave us time to take care of you, for you to become the beautiful young lady you are now." Harry spoke before all the others nodded.

"We're sorry babe can you forgive us?" Niall held his arms out for a hug. Annie ran into them happily not thinking twice about it. She needed this. A Hug from the people she loved.

"We also need to talk about our manager Simon with you."