His Fling, My Forever

•Chapter 18•

Shawn Mendes
As I saw her I couldn't help but let my mouth drop a little. She looked better than I remembered her.
I didn't know what to say or whether she would speak first. But as I watched her hide the baby's face from me and hold it closer to her it broke my heart a little and I knew that I had to say something.
"Can we talk?" I said and saw her look between the boy she was stood with and me.
"Ok" she said, after a moment of procrastination.
"Beck you don't have to." The boy said from beside her.
"She can do what she wants." I said and his eyes quickly jumped to me.
"And who are you to say anything? Where have-"
"Finn I can handle it." Elara said quickly.
The boy went to open his mouth but Elara shook her head before giving him a quick kiss on the lips.
"Do you want me to take her?" He asked.
"No. It's ok." She smiled and he nodded before walking off, a solemn look on his face.
She turned back to me.
"You can use the side room." The receptionist said and pointed to it.

Once we were sat in there it was awkward. Neither of us knew what to say. I looked at the little baby that was in her arms as it started to wriggle and whine.
"Elara let's not fuck around. Is she mine?" I asked and she locked her eyes with mine before letting out a large sigh.
"Yes. She's yours."
"Are you sure?"
"I hadn't slept with anyone before you or after you. Yes. She's yours." She said and I felt my mouth fall open and tears suddenly sprung to my eyes.
I had a daughter.
And I hadn't been there to see her come into this world, and I hadn't been there for Elara through the process.
I wiped away the tears and smiled.
"Can I see her?"
Elara turned the baby around so she was now facing me. Her little eyes were bright brown and her mouth fell open slightly.
"You can hold her if you like. She is yours." Elara said and I nodded.

I thought that I would feel uncomfortable and unsure of myself but as soon as I took her into my arms, I felt comfortable and at ease. She looked up at me and I looked down at her and I could almost feel a bond being formed between us.
"What's her name?" I asked, not taking my eyes off of her.
"Frances." Elara smiled and I nodded.
"It suits her."
I stroked her soft, chubby little cheeks and she was quick to grab my finger with her little hand and put it directly into her mouth.
I smiled as she tried to chew it and I saw that even Elara was smiling too. As I tried to pull my finger away, a little frown appeared on her face and Elara quickly dug round in her pocket before pulling out a small elephant plushie.
She reached over and placed it in my hand.
I shook the plushie infront of Frances' face and she reached her short little arms up at it. I tapped the elephant on her face and shook it around and she started to wriggle in my arms before cracking a large toothless smile and a little noise.

I heard Elara gasp and she leaned over to look at Frances who was definitely now smiling and kicking her legs up and down while making little gurgling noises.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Sh-Shes, this is the first time she's smiled. We've been trying ever since she was born but this is the first time." She said and inside I felt a well of happiness inside me at the realisation that I had been the one to make her smile first. But then I realised how Elara must feel. She had been doing this all on her own and I had just come in and expected this little baby to be perfect. But it was Elara that made her perfect.
"Elara, I'm so so sorry. I'm sorry that I never returned your calls or messages. I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you like you needed me to be." I said and she shrugged.
"I had Finn and Agnes. I wasn't alone." She said and I handed Frances back to her.
"Finns your boyfriend?" I asked and she nodded with a smile.
"He's been amazing with her." She said and a flash of envy went through me that he got to create a bond with my daughter before I did.
"But he's not her father." I said, more spitefully than I had intended.
"No. He's not. But he should be because her father was too arrogant to pick up the phone." Elara said, matching my anger.
"I said I was sorry!"
"Sorry isn't enough sometimes! And what now? You won't look after her. You've got touring and partying and being a celebrity to do." She said and turned her head back to Frances who was getting agitated.

I shook my head and had to bite my lip to keep myself from getting angry at her.
"That's not fair. I didn't know before. I know now and I'm here. I want to be with you two. I'll cancel everything." I said and she sighed heavily.
"I don't know how it would work."
"I've still got my house. Every weekend I can come and pick you up and you can stay with me." I explained and still she looked sceptical. I knew she was thinking about the blonde boy. Finn. But I'm Frances' father and that's the end of it.