KAREN’S P.O.V.

I paced the small area of tile behind the table in the courtroom. Where the hell was Fletcher? He promised me he’d meet me there in the morning. Dammit. I should have known better. I glanced over and saw Piper and Anne walk through the double doors. They were both dressed in skirts, Anne wearing a matching jacket as well. As soon as I saw the hurt on her face, my heart sank. I loved Anne; I always had. In the past three years, I had forgotten about the
sixteen I spent around her and her kids. It seemed like another lifetime.

“Order in the court!”

The small room became silent. The only people besides court workers were me and my lawyer, Harry and his representative lawyer, Piper and Anne. It was a private case, so no one else was allowed to be there.

“Today we are presented with the battle over custody of Andrea Madeleine Styles-Taylor. Will the parents stand, please?”

I lifted myself off of the seat with shaky legs. I looked to my right and saw Harry. I had avoided
looking at him until that point. His eyes were bloodshot, his hair a mess. He hardly looked like himself; pale in the face and holding his hands behind his back nervously. I turned to look at the judge.

“Please respond to your name if present. Harry Edward Styles.”

“Present.”

His voice was weak and forced.

“Karen Marlene Taylor.”

“Present.”

“You may both be seated.”

The judge started to ramble on about our rights as citizens, as well as other things pertaining to the law. Every time I dared to look to my right, Harry was fidgeting. Just as soon as Piper rested her hand on his thigh, his entire body calmed. He was at ease just from her touch. She had such an effect on him. Harry’s words to me from the day before rang in my head.

“I’d bet a lot of money that’s what this whole lawsuit is about! You have some new bum who wants to move in and live off my money.”

Why did he have to be so goddamn right all the time? There I was, fighting to take my daughter away from her father whom she loved more than anything, and Fletcher wasn’t even there. That asshole who convinced me to even do this! I would have never thought of this on my own. Why was I even trying to make him happy. It’s not like he ever really made me happy. I was just so afraid of being alone.

The way Piper cares about Harry; that was what I was searching for and I never found it.

“Ms. Taylor, you have your daughter the majority of the time now, correct?”

“Yes, her father travels a lot, so I usually have her.”

I couldn’t even bring myself to say his name. It was Piper’s turn to intrude my thoughts.

“...stop worrying about someone tearing you guys apart and start worrying about the resentment she’ll have down the road when she understands that you tried to take her away from her dad.”

“And Mr. Styles, you only see Andrea in the privacy of a home, correct?”

Harry cleared his throat and I looked over to see him bite his lip before responding.

“Per management’s request, yes.”

“Mr. Styles, how would you describe your relationship with your daughter?”

I continued to watch Harry as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table he sat at. He ran his long fingers through his disheveled hair and sat up straight.

“I love Andy more than anything, your honor. She’s my whole life. I know it might not seem that way, because I put my career over her all the time, and I feel awful about that every day. I keep telling myself that it’ll all be okay in the end because this type of career doesn’t last forever. I signed that contract when I was sixteen and if I could take it back to properly raise my baby, I would. I- I just want to be able to see my little girl when I come home. I know that’s selfish of me when I’m gone so often-“

He started to cry, sniffling and wiping tears from under his eyes. If I didn’t know him better, it’d look like he was trying to get sympathy. But, Harry was a terrible liar. He was really trying to fight those tears. Piper put her hand on his shoulder and slid it down to squeeze his palm gently. As I watched him spill his heart out, I felt hot tears rushing to my eyes. I couldn’t have stopped myself from yelling if I wanted to.

“S-stop!”

I stood up and everyone shot their gaze to me. I looked around nervously at the confused faces before settling on the judge’s.

“Ms. Taylor. Please, sit down. We will get to you after-“

“No, please. Just stop the whole thing.”

I knew that interrupting the judge was a bad idea, but I wasn’t thinking straight. He looked appalled, but continued reasonably.

“May I ask what you mean?”

“I-I want Harry to keep joint custody. I should have never done this. I’m so sorry.”

That last part was directed at Harry and when I finally brought myself to look at him, his expression was full of shock. Anne looked around Piper and Harry and smiled as she wiped the tears away from her cheeks. Piper grinned as well and I felt as though I could hear her thoughts. She just seemed... proud of me? I was proud of myself.

“Do you both agree to make arrangements outside of the court on a joint schedule that is acceptable to both parties?”

“Yes.”

Harry and I spoke at the same time, his face still covered in surprise.

“Then, we shall dismiss this court after papers are signed. It is recommended that lawyers remain present during this private meeting to ensure agreement from both parties involved.”

The judge continued to ramble, but I tuned him out, realizing what an impact I just made on Andy’s life. On Harry’s life. On my life. My thoughts were interrupted by the slamming of a gavel on wood.

“This court is hear-by dismissed.”


HARRY’S P.O.V.


I was in complete and utter shock as the judge’s gavel slammed onto his podium. That was it? All that time spent panicking, thinking I would lose Andy forever, for Karen to change her mind? I was pleasantly surprised, but I still wanted to know what it was all about.
We all stood up and Piper wrapped her arms tightly around my waist and I kissed the top of her head in a daze. We were ushered out to a hallway and into a smaller room so that the court room could be used. Once behind closed doors, a court representative asked us to wait while she prepared the paperwork.

My mum hugged me, followed by Piper, forcing her hand away from mine, and I didn’t like that.
I felt comforted to have Piper by my side and I didn’t want to let go. I wrapped my arm around her and she rested her head on my shoulder as my mum sat down in a vacant chair. Karen started to walk over to us and Piper pulled away from my grip around her waist.

“Harry, I’m gonna go sit with your mom. You should talk to Karen.”

She gave me a warning glance as she walked away and I turned to Karen, telling myself that I needed to be nice. This may have been pointless, but she has proven her power to me. It wouldn’t be impossible for her to take Andy away; that judge was not impressed with me as a father. To be honest, I wasn’t either.

“Harry, I-I don’t know what to say, so I’ll start by apologizing.”

I crossed my arms and nodded to her.

“Then apologize.”

She sighed, obviously not expecting me to urge her to continue.

“I’m sorry, Harry. I really am.”

That was all she had to say? No explanation?

“Why did it happen, then? Why now?”

She nervously fumbles with the collar of her dress.

“I-You were right, okay? There’s this guy. There was this guy. Fletcher. I’m actually about to call him and tell him to never talk to me again-“

“Wait, so he knows that Andy’s mine?”

“Well-“

“Karen, what the...”

I let my voice trail off and took a deep breath, still reminding myself that she can take me back
in that stuffy courtroom. I had to be civil if I wanted this to end well.

“I hope he keeps his mouth shut.”

“Me too. I don’t think we have much to worry about.”

“May I ask what changed your mind?”

I didn’t want to ruin everything, but I was very curious.

“Actually, it was what Piper.”

I glanced over and saw the beautiful woman I had finally trusted enough to share my biggest
secret with. She was laughing about something with my mother, her smile reaching her eyes. I remembered being nervous to tell her that I had a daughter, and somehow, here she was fighting for her.

“Piper? How?”

“Well, there were a few things. First, it was how she treated Andy. Just the fact that she left your
flat so Andrea could stay with you really touched my heart. But, it scared me too. Then, in the car, she ensured me she would never try to come between Andy and I... it just surprised me that she even understood what I was feeling. But, she said something I will never forget; she said I needed to worry about the resentment Andy would hold against me if I took her away from you. Because, Harry, Andy loves you so so much.”

I felt my heart warm as she spoke of Piper’s actions. Just that she fought for me after leaving in the car with the mother of my child proved how much she loved me. And how good of a person she was.

“Karen-“

“No, that’s not all. There was one more thing. The moment it really clicked for me. I looked over in that courtroom and I saw how she looked at you. She was feeling your pain, even though she only met Andy yesterday. That didn’t matter. She was hurt because you were hurt. And then, when you were anxious and she touched you, your whole body calmed. From one touch! I’ve been fighting for the wrong man. I never realized that real love exists, but Piper has proven to me that there is someone out there that will put me above everything and I truly believe that I’ll find that person who will care about me, and about Andy, like Piper does you.”

My eyes watered for about the fifth time of the day and I rested my hand on Karen’s shoulder.

“You will find that, Karen. I promise. You have a good heart; so stop giving it to assholes who don’t appreciate you.”

She chuckled and thanked me. I hurried over to the sitting area, feeling an overwhelming need to shower Piper in love. I knelt down next to her and pulled her into a tight hug, letting the tears stream down my face.

“Thank you, Piper. Thank you so much, love.”

She stroked my hair and kissed the top of my head and I looked up to find her face in confusion.

“For what, Harry?”

I held her face in my hands and grinned.

“It was you. You changed Karen’s mind. You.”

“But I-“

I broke her retort with a powerful kiss, crashing my lips to hers while holding her cheeks in my palms. I worked my lips with hers and felt her warm tears meet with mine and I felt overcome with emotion.

“I love you so much, Piper.”

“Harry, I love you. I’m so glad this all worked out.”

I kissed her forehead and wiped the drops from under her eyes.

“It couldn’t have without you.”

Our sentimental moment was interrupted by an unfamiliar nasally voice.

“Mr. Styles and Ms. Taylor?”

I turned and followed the woman’s instructions to join her at the counter.

“Okay, I just need you both to sign here the agreement to joint custody. No decisions will be finalized unless both parties reach amicable conclusions. Compromises can be made to ensure practical results. If needed, a mediator can be assigned to your case to assist in decision making with lawyers present. Do you have any questions?”

I turned back to look at Piper and my mum, then to my left at Karen and shook my head.

“I have a question.”

I waited for Karen to continue.

“With him out of town most of the time right now, should we wait to make final decisions until he’s home for a longer period of time?”

“That is completely up to you two. Basically, from here on out, you will make these decisions without court appointed legal advice. I can recommend a mediator or counselor if you would like.”

Karen looked at me and I responded.

“We can take the information at least, and decide later.”

She nodded in agreement and the woman pulled out a business card from behind the counter.

“Okay, here you are. And if you could sign on the dotted lines provided, you may be on your way.”

I reached for a pen and signed my name neatly next to the printed version. Karen followed suit and before I knew it we were walking toward the door. We stood there by the exit and Piper held my hand, resting her head on my shoulder. My mum stood on the other side of me, her hand stroking my back comfortingly.

“Well, I’m sorry for this mess. I’m sorry to all of you.”

My mum walked over and surprised everyone by pulling Karen into a hug.

“How about you come with us to meet Gemma and Andy at the hotel?”

My eyes shot open, but I held back my objections. I had to start being reasonable about this
situation.

“Umm- I would like that. If it doesn’t put a damper on anyones’ plans.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but Piper beat me to it.

“Not at all; I think it’ll be great.”

Great wasn’t how I would put it.

Notes

Hello <3 So, this it'll be a few days before I can update again. Sorry in advance. I will update ASAP. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. xx

Were you surprised by Karen's decision? Do you think it'll be easy for Harry and Karen to make decisions about Andy now?

RANDOM FACT:
I saw the new Thor movie last night. and woah. It was fantastic. Tom Hiddleston is just kjfjfsadj so hot haha. I suggest watching it though.. it's intense. I would have to say that Spiderman or Thor are my favorite superheroes... but really I mostly like Thor for Loki, sooooo idk if that counts haha. What are you favorite superheroes?