The next morning I woke up with a dry mouth and a pounding headache. I groaned and snuggled deeper into the bed but then froze when I hit something. I wasn’t alone.

I opened my eyes warily to see I was lying in a bed I had never seen before and a panic began to set in. I sat up quickly to see not just one person - but two. Niall Horan and Harry Styles were sleeping soundly on either side of me. I did my best to suppress a giggle at their appearances. Niall’s body was flung out as if he was trying to take up as much space as possible, his head hanging slightly off the bed. Harry on the other hand was nuzzled so far into his pillow all you could see of him was his hair.

I pulled myself out from under the sheets, trying to move as little as possible as to not wake the sleeping beauties. I froze when I noticed I was only wearing my bra and panties. That’s interesting. I continued moving down the bed, pausing again when Niall let out a groan.

Once I made it off the bed I grabbed my phone and snapped a picture of the idiots and sent it to the girls before checking her messages. There were five missed calls, two from my father and three from Maeve. I held my phone to my ear as I dug in the dresser for something to cover up with.

“First message at 11:10 PM” Maeve immediately followed the recorded voice. “Thalia! How’s it goin’ babe? Made out with anyone yet? Never mind you’re probably too drunk to understand this anyway.”

I let out a giggle as clicked next and grabbed an old baggy t-shirt. Still holding my phone to my ear I headed out of the room as Maeve's voice broke through the speaker again.

“Second message at 12:02 AM… I have been waiting hours for updates! How was it? Were they awesome? Did you sleep with one of them? I’m dying over here please call me back.”

Hopefully my text this morning of the boys would be enough for her. I headed into the kitchen, noticing a sleeping Liam on the couch along the way.

“Third message at 1:45 AM…Lia where the hell are you? It’s two in the morning.”
Uh oh. My dad did not sound happy.

“Fourth message at 2:13 AM…ANSWER ME WOMAN!”

I jumped and nearly dropped the phone from Maeve’s yell.

“Fifth message at 5:46 AM…Hey Lia. It’s dad. I know you stayed at the boy’s last night. Try to make it home at a decent hour. We need to talk.”

Shit. I definitely pushed him too far this time. I immediately began to text him back:

To Dad: Hey! Sorry I just got all of your messages! I’m fine and I’m sorry I worried you! I’m going to make the boys a quick breakfast for letting me crash here! Be home soon! xoxo

It was now nine-thirty in the morning and I was surprised at least one of the boys wasn’t up yet. Rummaging the pantry I found enough ingredients for pancakes and quickly began preparing them. After a while I heard my phone buzz.

From Dad: I’ll pick you up. What time?

To Dad: I can take the bus if it’s too much trouble!

From Dad: I’ll be there at eleven.

Okay so he was angrier than I thought. Fabulous. I tried to push him out of my mind as I continued the pancakes.

“What are you doing up?” I jumped as Liam entered the kitchen.

“Good morning! Wanna help with breakfast?”

“What are you making?”

“Pancakes!” I smiled.

“I get the eggs.”

We worked in silence for a while before I heard a yawn followed by a laugh and giggles. Louis and Eleanor entered the kitchen looking sleepy.

“Mornin’ love!” Louis called before diving on the couch.

“Did everyone stay here last night?” I laughed.

“Zayn and Perrie went home,” Eleanor said with another yawn. “She leaves for tour again in a few days.”

I didn’t get to talk to Eleanor that much last night. She had pretty much been attached to Louis at the hip. But she seemed like a nice girl, just shy. Louis turned the television on as Eleanor pulled out some muffins to toast.

“Anyone want to go wake up the sleeping beauties?” I asked when we had finished cooking.

“I got it!” Louis jumped up from the couch and ran down the hall, Liam close at his heels.

“This is their favorite part.” Eleanor laughed. “Come on!”

“OI WHAT THE FUCK?” By the time Eleanor and I reached the room Louis and Liam had jumped on the bed, Liam nearly nocking Niall to the floor as he did it.

“Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!” yelled Louis, grabbing a pillow and whacking Harry over the head.

“Go away ya fucks! It’s like the ass crack o’ dawn!” groaned Niall, as Harry pulled the blankets back over his head.

“But I made breakfast for you!” I said. They both froze and a second later Niall popped his head up from the other side of the bed.

“Breakfast?”

“Mhm. Eggs…toast…chocolate chip pankca—”

“LET’S GO!” Niall yelled, jumping onto his feet.

Harry rubbed his eyes before saying in a groggy voice. “When did you make pancakes?”

“This morning! And they’re getting cold. So let’s get a move on!” Louis said, practically dragging him out of the bed. We headed back into the kitchen and everyone grabbed a plate full before taking a seat in the living room. We joked and talked until the boys began playing FIFA. Eleanor and I disappeared into the kitchen with the plates.

“Don’t you dare think about doing those dishes,” She threatened, dumping the plates in the sink. I let out a laugh and took a seat on top of the counter. She gave me a frown when I didn’t respond. “Hey are you alright?”

“Yeah. Just…my dad seemed a little pissed at me this morning.”

“Oh yeah Lou told me all about it...oh! I hope that’s okay!” She added quickly. I smiled and nodded as she continued. “Whew okay. Well I mean, I don’t think you have to worry too much. He might be a little mad but then again he’s never had too deal with a daughter older than two before.”

“Four,” I corrected. “I was four when my mom and I left.”

“Well that explains it then! He still hasn’t come to terms with the fact that you’re old.”

“Hey!” I laughed. She giggled before continuing.

“Take it easy on him. He’s still trying to figure it out. Let him yell. Let him blow off steam. But also let him know where you’re coming from and where you stand. He doesn’t know what he’s doing or how he’s supposed to act. And I think he knows he’s supposed to yell at you for sleeping at a guys house—”

“Fully clothed!”

“—But I think he’s also terrified that he’ll push too far and you’ll leave.”

I thought about her words for a moment before my phone buzzed. Shit! He was here! And I was still in Harry’s shirt.

“Thanks El! You’re amazing!” I yelled before running down the hall and throwing my clothes back on. As I ran back into the living room the boys turned to look at me.

“What in the hell are ya doin’?” Niall laughed.

“My dad’s outside!” I whisper yelled. Their eyes widened. “Thanks for last night guys! I had a blast! Catch ya later!”

“BYE THAL!”

“See ya!”

“Don’t die!”

They yelled their goodbyes as I headed out the door. My dad’s car was sitting in the driveway and I took a deep breath before opening the passenger’s side and sliding in. Without a word he started the car and we pulled out of the driveway. There was silence for two whole minutes before I couldn’t take it anymore.

“I’m sorry I never called last night.”

“Yer twenty years old Lia, I can’t make ya to call and check in.”

“But I worried you. And I’m sorry.”

He let out a sigh. “I jus’ want ya ta be careful is all.”

“I am being careful—”

“Thalia those boys…God bless ‘em but those boys live in a completely different world. A nasty world full of paparazzi an’ crazy fans. They find out who ya are and…”

“…And what? Put my picture on the front page? Did you not think it was ever going to come out that I was your daughter?”

“I jus’ don’t want people accusing ya of using this ta get close te the boys. They’ll spread rumors that yer sleepin’ with one of them an’—”

“So what!”

“So the press an’ fans will slut shame ya an’ ya won’t be able ta walk two blocks without being threatened!”

“The other girls seem to handle it just fine! Friends and girlfriends.”

“Thalia. As nice as the boys are, they hurt people. They hurt relationships an’ they sure as hell hurt girls.”

“How can you even say this right now? They’re practically your sons.”

“They’re my clients Thalia.”

“Whom I know you love. So why are you kicking them to the curb? You can’t honestly be choosing me over them.”

“Family comes first Lia.”

I snorted. “Yeah.”

“My contract is done with them next year, an’ I’ve decided I’m not going back. You bein’ here made me realize somethin’ Lia. Family is important an’ I’m not willing te loose it again.”

“You’re quitting? Dad, those boys are your family too.”

“My kids are growing up without a father. I’m not making that mistake again.” He growled.
I was silent for a moment as those words sunk in. “So what? You’re going to ban me from seeing them?”

“I couldn’t do that if I tried.” He snorted. “You’re yer mother’s daughter.”

“No. I’m my father’s daughter.”

There was silence after that until we pulled into his driveway. He turned off the engine and we both sat there.

“Thalia…I jus’ want ya te be careful.”

“Don’t worry dad. I haven’t trusted anyone since I was 4 years old.”

Notes

<3 Pauley.

I'm not trying to make him out as the bad guy, but I also want to get across how Thalia doesn't trust him yet. This is from her perspective and she's still warming up to the idea of a father figure in her life.