I am so fucked. I told her everything in a drunken moment of trust and now it was coming back to bite me in the ass. I angrily scan the rest of the article, only snapping out of it when my phone starts vibrating. I answer it and almost instantly regret it when I her her voice.

“Niall?”

“You.” I answer tersely. Yeah, it wasn't her fault that I told the reporter but I couldn't help but be mad at her. If she had just told me she was pregnant I wouldn't be in this mess! I would have been there for Carter for every moment of every day. I would have been there for all the important milestones: sitting up, first words, first steps. All the moments I was never there to witness.

“I have a favor to ask of you.” I keep quite and I guess she takes that as a cue to continue.

“I need you to keep Carter for an extra sixth months.” My jaw literally drops.

“You what?” She sighs, as if she has the right to act like I'm burdening her.

“I need you to keep him for ten months total.”

“Yeah, I got that. What I don't understand is why.”

“Because I've been asked by a major fashion company to stay! Aren't you happy for me?” You see? This is why we broke up! Because she's always making things about herself, never worrying about anyone else.

“Do you realize how much trouble Carter has already gotten me into with management?”

I can practically see her roll her eyes.

“Whatever. I have to go now.” She announces as I hear a distinctly British voice in the background call for her. And with that she hangs up, leaving me glaring at the phone.

Oh shit, speaking of phones, I have a manager to call.

I dial the number and smile as it rings several times without answer. Maybe she got busy and- “Hello, Mr. Horan.” Or not.

“I assume you've seen the news?” I nod and wait before realizing that she can't see me. Oops.

“Yes, I have. I'm so sorry, Ms. Tarim.”

“Niall, this is disastrous. I thought you understood how badly you needed to keep this son thing under wrap.”

“I do. I'll make this right. I'll make up a cover story or-”

“No, Niall.” She interrupts. “You need to go on an interview with Carter and admit he's your son. Just tell them you didn't know about it and that he won't be in the One Direction family long.”

“I'm sorry, but I can't do that. I'm not going to completely cut out my son from my life. I was actually thinking of increasing his stay.” I hear a sigh on the other line.

“I can't keep you from your own son. But just remember what I said about too much bad publicity. I have to consider what's the best of the band.”

So I'm sitting at Harry's later, the rest of the band surrounding me as I re-account the day's activities to them.

“She what?” Lou demands after I explain about Ms. Tarim threatening to cut me from the band.

“She can't do that!” Similar cries from the rest of the band have me smiling weakly at their loyalty to me.

“Yeah, they can.”

“But they won't.” Liam interjects. “They know how much they would lose in sales if they fired you.”

“I say we fire them.” Louis mutters.

“I agree.” Harry chimes.

“It still doesn't solve the Carter problem.” We all look at the sleeping child in Lou's arms.

“Well, we'll just have to work through it together.” Zayn says. We all smile before Harry groans.

“That was so cheesy, mate! It reeked of an after-school special!”

“Alright, well I'm going to get some coffee. Anyone want some?” I announce as I stand up and Eleanor looks at me skeptically.

“Are you sure that's the best idea what with all the press about you?”

“Well I'll be damned if I can't go get some coffee. I need some normalcy right now.”

I stalk out the door to my car and drive to one of the many Starbucks in town and order a Chocolate mocha frappe with a drizzle of caramel. It sounds girly but it tastes so good.

“Niall?” They announce. I'm just glad they didn't ask for a last name.

A girl's dirty blonde head pops up at my name and I don't recognize her until I see her dark brown eyes.

Carter's mum and my ex.

It's her.

Notes

Haha I hope nobody expected that! And I just realised something: Niall can't drive. Let's pretend he can, k?