Author's note:

Just to let you all know there is a mention of self-harm in this chapter.

One month has passed since Dylan's birth. Nathan spent at least an hour with his son every day. His extra £140 a week went to buying nappies and Dylan's baby formula. Even though Nathan only had the entire day with his son on weekends, sometimes less than that because of his job, he cherished every moment. The seventeen-year-old had Dylan down on a schedule, feed Dylan every three hours, changing him every hour or two and him having frequent naps in-between, preferring his father's lap to his cot. Nathan's boss has given him at least one says during the weekend. That didn't stop him from being called in on weekdays, sometimes interrupting his time with Dylan.

On days when Nathan is called into work on weekends, he always calls Scarlett, who is more than willing to babysit her godson. Nathan was thankful for that, not wanting another fight with Sophie about Dylan's care. Sometimes their argument was about stupid things, things Nathan couldn't change. He was sick of it.

It was one of those days where no matter how hard he tried to complete his projects, things kept distracting him. Nathan tried to ignore any distractions until it became unbribable. The constant cries of his son get him on his feet.

Walking into Dylan's nursery, he picked up the sobbing boy. Having just fed him thirty minutes ago and having to put him down for his nap only ten minutes ago, Nathan guessed his child needed his nappy changed.

"Hello, buddy! Does someone need their nappy changed?" Nathan cooed, rocking the boy.

After changing his child, Nathan put him back in his cot. He had sure Dylan was comfortable before leaving the boy's nursery again, setting an alarm for 1 pm for Dylan's next feed. Hoping to get his project finished by his deadline in two days.

One and a half hours passed when Nathan's phone vibrated. Sighing, he took his eyes away from his computer screen, still not finished his project, and looked at the called ID. Seeing Sophie's name, he fought the urge to decline the call. Knowing doing that would make the upcoming argument worse, he accepted.

"Hello," Nathan began, moving to Dylan's nursery to check on his child, knowing Sophie would ask about him.

"Nathan, do you want a break from Dylan?"

"Ern, no! He's my son. Why wouldn't I want to spend time with him?" Nathan asked, irritation already in his voice, as he walked out of Dylan's nursery, not wanting to wake his child up.

"Why not! Listen, I have friends over, they haven't met him and they want to. So my dad is coming over to yours to pick him up in five minutes okay?"

"No! You have had all week to let your friends see him. It's only Saturday, he's coming to yours tomorrow night! Can't they wait? Do they live close?" Nathan questioned, not wanting to shorten his time with his son.

"They live half an hour away, there here until Monday, but they want to see him now."

"Well, I'm sure they can wait one day! He's my son too!"

"They are seeing him today! I don't care what you want! If you weren't so strict on when you can see him this wouldn't be happening!"

"Strict? I'm at work or school during the week so so have no time! It's not my fault!"

"Then just go to work today then. Get more money so you can stop being cheap."

"No! I would understand if they lived hours away, it's for half an hour and they're here until Monday! There is no reason they can't wait!"

"He's coming to home, Nathan!, you call yourself his father, yet you spend no time with him during the week! It's all me, Nathan! I guess it's true."

"One, don't you dare say I'm never there! I spend every spare second at yours visiting him during the week. And here you are, trying to shorten my time again! What do you mean 'it's true'? What's true?" Dylan sleeping was the only reason he wasn't screaming.

"Like father, like son right. Your father never spent time with you. I give it two months before you abuse Dylan. You're probably starving him now? I bet you're spending your money on drugs like you mum. That's where your money going, that's why you buy cheap stuff! Are you expecting Dylan to visit you in rehab like you had to? Are you going to break his heart when you kill yourself?"

"How dare you! Who do you think you are?! How dare you suggest I would lay a hand on my child! You know what? Do you want Dylan? Come and get him yourself!" Nathan was close to losing his temper.

"Fine, I will!" Sophie screeched and hung up.

Nathan checked on Dylan, happy to see his child was still sleeping. He checked he locked his door, not wanting Sophie barging in and trying to take Dylan.

It wasn't the first time Nathan had considered going back to his old habits. But as he stood in his bathroom and stared at that razor blade. He couldn't deny he was desperate to slice his wrist. His girlfriend's words hit harder than he thought.

Mentioning his worst fear. Nathan couldn't deny that wasn't the first time he had let his insecurities almost get the better of him. This was the closest he was to cut. The only thing stopping him was Dylan. Knowing that boy relied on him now. This wasn't about him.

Placing the razor blade down, his inner demons still screaming at him to make that cut. It took all of Nathan's willpower to walk out that room when he heard a knock at the door.

Bracing himself, Nathan unlocked the door to reveal Sophie standing there. Nathan just glared at her.

"You might as well leave. I'm not letting you take him," Nathan informed.

"I want to make sure you're treating him right!" Sophie argued, walking towards the door to Dylan's nursery.

"I am, I'll get him, but you're not holding him," Nathan countered, entering Dylan's nursery and picking the baby up as the child yawned, having just woken up.

Before heading into the living room, Nathan changed Dylan and walked into the kitchen to prepare a bottle, while blowing raspberries onto his son's cheek, smiling at the child's laugh.

A minute later Nathan walked into the lounge with a towel over his shoulder. Sitting down, he cradled Dylan and began feeding him.

"You haven't fed him! I can't believe you!" Sophie shouted.

The second she raised her voice, tears polled out of the one-month-old's eyes.

"He just woke up!" Nathan defended, as he took the half drank bottle out of his, now sobbing, child's mouth, before calming him.

"You made him cry! You do abuse him! Give him here," Sophie demanded.

Dylan's tears only increased as Sophie continued to raise her voice.

"No. You're making it worse!" Nathan hissed as he continued to rock him. Charming the boy in a minute.

"Let me see him!" Sophie demanded. Before Nathan could comprehend what was happening, Sophie had ripped Dylan out of his arms,

Sophie shook the boy, screaming at him to shut up.

"Leave him alone!" Nathan shouted. Taking Dylan out of Sophie's arms. Trying in vain to calm the sobbing child.

"Leave!" Nathan demanded, still not having comprehended what happened.

"Fine! You keep the brat! Let's see how you do without me!"

"Don't worry, I will! We're over!" Nathan hissed, glaring at Sophie as he calmed Dylan. The one-month-old clinging to him.

"Fine! You'll be begging to have me back!" Sophie shouted as she left.

Nathan ignored her, and the slamming of his door as he sat down and rocked his boy.

After five minutes, Dylan had calmed down enough for Nathan to feed and burp him.

Nathan put his son in his playpen he moved to the lounge as he gave his child some toys to play with; monitoring him.

The seventeen-year-old grabbed his phone and called Scarlett.

"Scar I just need you to come over... we need to talk," Nathan begged.

After Scarlett agreed, Nathan hung up, realising he was going to rely so much on his best friend. He just hoped she was willing not to help him.

The twenty minutes it took for Scarlett to arrive, Nathan didn't let go of his sleeping son. The day's events clouded his mind and left him afraid and confused.

Nathan knew he was no stranger to begging on his own, but this was different. In the past he only had to look out for himself, that made life easy, but now his son had to be his primary focus. He knew if Scarlett couldn't find the time to look after Dylan, Nathan was going to have to quit college, whipping out the possibility of achieving his dream. And that his search for another job had to stop. He would have to make this work somehow.

The second Scarlett walked in the living room, she knew something was wrong. The fear of her friend's face was something she hadn't seen since they were ten. It made her uneasy.

"What's happened?" She questioned, stepping forward to take Dylan from his father's arms and put the baby in his cot. In response, Nathan held him tighter.

The next ten minutes were spent with Nathan filling Scarlett in on what happened, not leaving out any detail. To say Scarlett was mad by the end of it was a massive understatement.

"She said what?!" Scarlett hissed as Nathan stood up to put Dylan to bed.

"Yep. I should have known she would do that. I mean Simon warned me about her leaving but... I don't know I didn't think she would do it."

"Don't worry about her. Yes, it's not ideal, but you're not on your own. I'm not going anywhere. Besides, I love the little guy."

"Thanks, Scar."

Scarlett's sighed as she placed her phone in her pocket.

"I'm sorry. Mum just texted me, I need to go," Scarlett informed, a scowl on her face.

"Don't worry. We'll be fine. Are you free tomorrow? Something tells me my boss will ring."

"You know I would cancel any plans. Of course I'm free. Nathan just thinks about getting a new job. There are loads that pay decent if you look hard enough. I'm not saying quit, just promise me you'll look."

"I will, I promise. See you tomorrow, Scar."

Scarlett smiled once more before walking out, leaving Nathan with his thoughts. For the first time since Dylan's birth, Nathan felt alone.