She watched from across the room, leaning against the door frame, eyes glued as they witness Lexi and Jagger run around, giggling and squealing as they played tag together.
“Adorable, yeah?’’ The voice scared her slightly, resulting in a slight jump.
‘’Yeah,’’ Tori smiles, feeling Cody’s hands on her waist from behind now, pulling her back against him.
“Your mom called,’’ He mumbles into her hair, taking in the scent of strawberries and vanilla.
“What she say?’’ Tori asks him curiously.
“They want me to come over for dinner with you. Well, at least she does, she said your dad wasn’t so fond of the idea,’’ Cody tells her of his short, previous conversation with Jana that occurred just moments ago.
“He’s still, uh, adjusting. That’s all.’’ Tori says.
‘’He doesn’t like me, Tori, not one bit.’’
‘’He’s my dad, of course he doesn’t like you.’’ She releases a light laugh, turning around to meet the eyes she feel in love with just months ago.
‘’Your mom loves me, your sisters and your brothers.. but why.. why can’t he?’’ Cody asks in a deep sigh.
‘’He’s my father, he hates you, get over it.’’ She winks lightly, smirking little at him.
He just laughs in response, knowing and hoping, even praying, that things will get better, it will just take some time, that’s all.

---

“You look beautiful, Tori.’’ Cody mumbles as Tori checks her appearance in the full length mirror yet another time in the past five and a half minutes.
Tori had always been doubtful and insecure about the way she looked, but aren’t we all, despite her obvious inner and outer beauty, and her qualities. Like most people, she didn’t believe she had any of those things, no matter what anyone else told her.
‘’I know you think, but I don’t believe it, nor do I feel it to be true at all, Cody.’’ Tori admits with a deep sigh, depressed a little at the topic she always hated.
‘’You’re naturally beautiful babe, don’t stress it.’’

---

“Oh my goodness! It’s my little princess!’’ Niall says happily as the door opens and lays his eyes immediately on Lexi.
Her light grin turns into a bright, huge smile, full on flashing teeth, sparkling and shining.
‘’Hi Pappy!’’ She squeals, full of excitement and such.
‘’Hey babygirl, I missed you.’’ Niall says as he picks her up, hugging her tight in his arms.
‘’I missed you too, where’s Tiffy?’’ Lexi asks, leaning back some to see Niall’s face.
‘’Tiffany’s a little sick, babe, she can’t play today, she has to stay in her room.’’ Niall sighs, a light frown as he sees the smile on Lexi’s face fade away quickly.
‘’Oh..’’ she mumbles, ‘’What ‘bout Talya?’’
‘’Uh, well, love, she’s uh, she’s taking a nap. She just got over a cold she had for a few days.’’ Niall says, not really wanting to upset or disappoint his little princess, but there was just some things that were the truth, and he couldn’t lie about them.
‘’Is anyone okay, Pappy?’’ Lexi sighs lightly, you could see the emotions in her eyes, upset and sad.
‘’Yeah babe, everybody else is fine. Tristan and Taylor are upstairs playing on the PlayStation, Tinl-‘’
‘’I think I’m gonna stay with you, Pappy.’’ Lexi cuts him off with a nod added in.
“You can stay with me baby, that’s fine. We’re going to eat really soon, though. Go in the kitchen with Meme and go save me and you a seat, okay?’’ Niall tells her.
‘’’Kay.’’ She smiles lightly.
Niall sits her down soon after pecking her forehead, giving her a light kiss. She runs off before he could do or say anything at all. He looks up and smiles, holding his arms out for Tori.
“How are you baby, you look beautiful.’’ Niall mumbles as he engulfs Tori in a tight and close hug, it had felt like ages since he saw her, but really he saw her a few days ago.
Ever since she moved out, the house felt weird to Niall, Jana too, even the rest of the kids. They were all used to Tori being there, and Lexi too, but then with a blink of an eye, they both vanished, it seems.
“Good, and thank you Dad.’’ Tori replies with a smile as Niall releases her.
Cody clears his throat as Tori walks past Niall to go in the kitchen and greet Jana, leaving the two alone which usually isn’t too good at all.
“Hello, Mr. Horan, how’ve you been?” Cody asks respectfully, all he’s ever wanted was for Niall to accept him, but he knows it won’t happen any time soon, or at all even.
“Fine, where’s Mel? Jagger, the baby?’’ Niall raises his eyebrows in question at the absence of three people he loves just as much as his own children.
‘’They’re with Cara, she took them to the park earlier and out to a movie. But she’s going to bring them by soon.’’ Cody tells him.
‘’Oh, okay, well uh, make your way to the kitchen, dinner’s close to being done.’’ Niall says, more of a demand than just a simple statement.
‘’Yes sir.’’

---

The room was quiet, silent, dead almost. Niall was finished eating, but unlike the kids he hadn’t gotten up and walked away. He just sat there, arms on the table, eyes glued on the person across from him, Cody.
Tori could feel the tension, but decided not to say a word, mainly because she knew her father very well, and knew that he would purposely slip up and say something insulting to Cody.
Before the silence could continue any longer, someone spoke up.
‘’Pappy, my tummy hurts.. I don’t wanna eat anymore.’’ Lexi mumbles, looking up at Niall from her chair which sat right beside his, pulled closer to his though.
‘’Okay baby, you can go in the screening room with everyone else, but behave.’’ Niall tells her with a light smile.
‘’Okay.’’ She nods, jumping down from the chair.
Once Lexi was out of sight and her footsteps not able to be heard anymore, Jana speaks up, hoping to spark up a conversation.
‘’So, Cody, how’s Melanie’s whole.. therapy thing going?’’ Jana asks curiously.
‘’Um, she’s doing okay in it. But there’s some things she still won’t talk about.’’ Cody replies.
‘’It’s not working, Mom. It’s not.’’ Tori admits, not wanting to lie about it.
‘’She’s a damn kid, she’s not going to tell a stranger why she’s depressed. It’s hard talking about your parents’ death, you know. People her age can’t cope with it. You’re doing more to ruin her by forcing her to go than to help her.’’ Niall adds into the conversation.
‘’Well, I’m just trying to show her I care.’’ Cody says, but not making any eye contact with Niall, he knows better than to do that.
‘’Obviously it’s not working. The child has told me more than she has you, so why do you keep it up?’’
‘’Because, she’s my little sister, and I love her.’’
‘’Clearly not, she’s more depressed than she ever has.’’ Niall retorts, rolling his eyes lightly.
‘’Mr. Horan, with all due respect sir, I think I know what to do, she is my sister anyways.’’ Cody sighs lightly.
‘’With no respect at all,’’ Niall mocks Cody’s tone, ‘’I think not.’’
‘’Dad, please stop.’’ Tori says, sighing loudly.
‘’No, I’m not going to stop just for his benefit. I know what I’m talking about, the kid’s suicidal and you’re forcing her to tell some person she doesn’t know why she wants to die.’’ Niall says, a blank expression on his face.
‘’Ni, I think it’s time to-‘’ Jana was cut off by Tori, who clearly wasn’t even aware that her mother was talking, or otherwise she would have kept quiet for sure.
‘’It’s not your issue, Dad, please just be quiet about it.’’ Tori insists.
‘’Whatever. When she ends up hanging herself in the closet, don’t come running to me and asking what was wrong. Because you’re gonna wish you would have listened to me.’’ Niall says, standing up, resulting in his chair to slide back roughly some.
Before anyone could say a word, Niall disappeared through the door, no telling where he was going, but they all knew why he left.

Notes

<< Chapter one is up my loves! I really hope you like it, and remember for the new readers--->if you haven't read the first series it's okay!! -||•||- Comment those thoughts//feedback you got! -||•||- A/N: The chapter's won't be any certain length, they will vary so don't expect the same every time -||•||- Love you, thanks for checking it out! >>

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