“'Ello?” The Bradford bad boy's voice fills my ears, bringing me just a tiny bit of my sanity back. If there was anyone I could trust, it was my best mate.

“Hey, Zayn. I need you and the boys to come over.” I spill out in a rush as panic starts to set in as I realize that I know absolutely nothing about babies.

“Um, mate, only Liam and I are at home. Harry and Lou are out on some double date.”

“Good. Tell them to bring El.”

“Mate, I can't just up and tell them-”

“Zayn, it is a code 524.” My voice rises with panic as I use the code the lads and I had created to signify a emergency that needed to be taken care of as soon as possible.

He paused for a moment, to take in the situation I assume before saying, “Fine, Niall. But this better be important.”

I chuckle humorlessly. “It is, man. It is.”

I waste time by jumping on the computer and googling good baby stores. I would go shopping tomorrow. I glance back at the carrier I had set Carter in before I called Zayn and I swear, for a moment my heart stopped.

The baby wasn't there.

“Carter? Carter, where are you?” I hear a giggle from the kitchen that instantly calms me. Funny how I'd only known the kid for a good twenty minutes and yet I was ready to have a panic attack about how he's out of my sight.

“Hey, buddy. You can't just run away from your Da like that.” I say as I scoop him up off the cold kitchen floor and onto my hip.

“Da?” He questions, his little forehead crumpled.

“Yeah. I'm your Da.”

“Niall? Where you at?” Louis' voice calls from the den, approaching the kitchen.

“In here.” I say, my voice cracking at the prospect of my friends meeting my son.

“Okay, so what's- Oh. Who's this?” He says, gesturing towards Carter.

“What an adorable baby!” Eleanor coos, rushing up to him.

“Who is he?” She asks, repeating Louis, her boyfriend of two years had just asked. She had a habit of being quite oblivious when her attention was otherwise engaged.

Waiting until all of the other boys were in the large kitchen, I take a deep breath before announcing, “This is Carter, my son.”

Dead silence.

Harry was the first to speak. “How?”

And so I told them. I told them about how I thought a long gone girlfriend had suddenly dropped off our kid at our doorstep and how I was so scared. I knew nothing about babies!

“Are you sure he’s yours, Ni?” Harry asks, a skeptical look on his face.

“Look at him and tell me that he doesn’t look like me.” I say, referring to the sleeping baby in my arms. He must have been worn out from today. I know I was and it was only like, nine o’clock.

“Yeah, there’s no denying that he’s yours, mate.” Lou chimes in.

“What are you going to tell the paps?” El asks, referring to the paparazzi that continuously followed us wherever we went.

“I’m just going to say he’s a friend’s. I mean, it’s only four months.”

“Just make sure you tell Emily. Your girlfriend needs to know.” Louis does have a point there. I’ll just make sure to tell her tomorrow.

“Alright guys. Thanks for coming. Hey, El?” I pull her aside as I’m ushering out the guys.

“Do you think you could help me go shopping for baby stuff with me tomorrow?”

A wide smile appears on her face. “Sure, Ni. What are besties for?” I just laugh and shut the door behind my friends. There was absolutely no romantic thoughts of Eleanor in my brain. We were just friends.

I take Carter to my room and gently lay him in the middle of the bed as I shrug out of my jeans and t-shirt.

“I love you, Carter.” I whisper as I press a kiss to my son’s little forehead. I really hope I don’t screw this up. I mean, how hard can it be?

Notes

Second chapter. Not my best but not my worst. Thanks for reading, loves!