Halley...

I wake up with a yawn and out of reflex smack at my alarm clock that isn't even beeping. A wave of realization hits me when I look across the hall and see Michael cuddled up in the sheets, I take a deep breath and continue moving down the hall. When I get closer to the stairs I hear muffled voices coming from downstairs.

"What in the hell?" I mumble to myself. I have lived alone since I was twenty-two, so I grab the metal baseball bat I keep in the hall closet, but as soon as I make it all the way down the stairs I realize the noises are only coming from the TV. "I thought I shut that off." I say reaching for the remote and shutting the TV down.

"Auntie Halley!"

"FuCk." I jump. "I didn't know you were awake."

"That was a bad word."

"Yes I know, so don't repeat it."

"Then why'd you say it?" she asks sassy.

"Ugh you're just like your father."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"I said that word because you scared me and I am an adult. Are you happy now?" She just gives me a dead look and shrugs her shoulders. A six year old that acts like she's fifteen isn't that great? Not. Emily always used to say that Melody got her sass from me, but I like to think it runs in her blood.

"Is daddy still sweeping?"

"Yes, do you want to make him breakfast, then wake him up?"

"Yeah!" she says excitedly and skips into the kitchen.

"What should we make?" I ask.

"Waffles!"

"Alright," I agree. Melody pulls the batter mix out of the cupboard while I get the eggs and milk out of the refrigerator, I get the bowl and we mix all the ingredients, making a batter and pouring it into my waffle maker. Yes, I have a waffle maker. I like waffles. This has actually become routine between me and Melody, while her mother was sick she would spend nights here and in the mornings we would make both her and my favorite breakfast, which just so happens to be waffles, bacon, and chocolate milk, so Melody knows exactly where everything is and how to work it all. While the waffles are baking I pull out a skillet and put it on the glass stove, pouring some oil into the pan. Once the pan gets warm, which happens to be after one waffle was done, I put the bacon into the pan hearing the sizzle as soon as the cold meat touches the hot metal. Twenty minutes later all the food is done causing a delightful aroma to be sent through the whole home.

"You ready to wake up your father?"I ask after Melody and I are done eating.

"Yeah!" she cheers. We walk up the stairs and into the guest room. Melody jumps on Michael while I put the plate down on the beside table.

"Ugh." he groans.

"Daddy! Daddy wake up! Me and Aunt Halley made you breakfast!" She says jumping up and down beside him.

"You did?" he asks pulling her onto his chest which I just now noticed is bare even though I gave him a shirt.

"Mmhm." She nods.

"There's something I gotta do before breakfast."

"And what's that?"

"I have to tickle you." he says grabbing at her sides making her laugh uncontrollably.

"Daddy! Daddy stop! Help Auntie Halley!" Melody screeches.

"You're lucky I love you." I say reaching for Micheal's sides, which makes him squirm and let go of Melody. "Run!"

"You didn't think you were going to get away that easy did you?" Michael asks pulling me back onto the bed and into his arms where he tickles me.

"Stop! Help Mel! I-It tickles!"

"That's the point." Michael replies. I haven't the slightest clue where Melody disappeared to, but all I know is she is not in the room anymore.

"I-I can't- bre-breathe." I complain. My laughs and Michael's tickling finally stop as he hovers above me, holding his body above mine. His warm breath fans my face while I look into his green eyes that are so pretty you could just stare at them for days. He leans closer and closer until-

"Daddy what are you doing?" Both of our attentions snap back to the five year old standing in the doorway.

"I was uh... torturing Halley what else?" he finishes. "See?" He plops his full weight down onto my body.

"Ahhhh. Michael get your fat ass of me." I order.

"Why are you looking at my ass huh?"

"You're a dick."

"At least I have a dick." he argues.

"You won't if you don't get the hell off me right this second."

"Okay, okay jeez." He says rolling off of me.

"What's a dick and what does it do?" Melody asks. I look over to Michael who almost spit out his chocolate milk at her question.

"She's your daughter, bye." I say rushing of the bed and out of the room.

"ASSHOLE!" he calls after me.

---

"So did you have fun?" I ask when Michael walks down the stairs sulking.

"I hate you."

I chuckle at his response. "That bad huh?"

"She's so curious its fucking ridiculous." He groans.

"I know, I don't know where she gets it."

"*cough* *cough* you *cough* *cough*."

"Fuck off."

"You're wearing off on my daughter and it's annoying me, she's so much like you it's not even funny. She couldn't take after her mother. Noooooo, she had to take after you." He complains.

"Shut up Michael she's  going to hear you."

"She can't hear anything right now she's watching Netflix with my headphones."

"Well in that case fuck off you fucking bastard at least she took after me and not Emily's mother."

"True that. That woman reminds me of all the Disney villains combined."

"I can't believe it, I think this is the first time ever we've agreed on something." I say.

"I think you're right. O my fuck what the hell is happening to us?"

I laugh. "I'm not sure. Oh and by the way-" I slap his arm.

"Ow,what the fuck was that for?"

"That was for tickling me you sneaky little bastard." I explain.

"Damn you hit like a boy I have a mark. You left a fucking mark!" He says trying to be serious, but failing miserably and falling into a fit of giggles. I watch his chest moving up and down with his laughs. "Like what you see?" He asks cockily.

"Never have, never will." I reply a blush rising to my cheeks.

"Then why are you blushing?"

"I'm not." I lie my cheeks turning a deeper shape of red. He bursts out into a fit of laughter.

"I saw you checking me out, no need to be embarrassed." He mocks.

"You're an ass."

"At least I have an ass." he sasses.

"Are you saying I don't have an ass?"

"Your words not mine."

"Does that mean you've been looking at my ass?" I ask.

"No," he answered.

"How do you know if I don't have an ass if you haven't been looking at it, huh?" I snap. The devious smirk his face that was plastered on his face drops into a serious line.

"I-"

"Shh I know my ass is fabulous, no one can keep their eyes off of it, not even you."

"Fuck you."

"You'd like to wouldn't you."

"Ew gross." He contorts his face into a weird face that makes me laugh.

"I have to jump in the shower, help yourself to whatever you need." I say.

---

After my shower I throw my robe on and walk to my room, because me being the idiot I am, left my clothes in my bedroom. I close the door and dig through my drawers throwing on the first things that actually look half decent. While digging through my sock drawer I come across a picture that makes my breathing unsteady and tears stream down  my face, it's my favorite picture of Emily.

Me, Emily, Michael, and My ex were at the best view point in Sydney and I was sitting on the hood car with my boyfriend and Emily's and Michael's backs were facing us as they were looking at the sun setting, while holding hands it was so picturesque I just had to snap a picture. That was back when everything was perfect, we were all still in high-school, we had cutsie little relationships that we thought would last forever, and the least of our problems were babies and cancer.

Why couldn't everything always be like that? Why does life have to be so cruel? How come everything couldn't be like in the fairy tales? Princes and princesses living in castles where all they worry is about what to wear to the next ball, or what to say to the people waiting outside the castles. Why couldn't we all have fairy tales? Why couldn't things just end with Happy Ever After's? I let out a strangled sob without even noticing it.

"Halley? You okay?" Michael calls through the door

"Y-Yeah." I manage to choke out before collapsing onto my knees letting my tears hit the floor as I cry.

"Halley? Halley I'm coming in." He warns. The door creaks open and then Michael is at my side hugging me and rubbing my back. He doesn't even say anything just comforting me with his present until I calm down enough to breathe.

"I-I'm s-sorry I-I j-just I- she was my best friend Michael." I stutter beginning to sob once again.

"I know Halley. I know."

"It hurts."

"I'm so sorry Halley."

"What am I going to do Michael? She was my best friend, h-how am i g-going to live without her?"

"Halley I know it's hard, but you're so strong, you'll get through this I promise." He comforts.

"How?! How can I get through this? Make it stop Michael! Make it stop." I whisper the last part while I continue to sob.

"I wish I could, I'm so sorry, I know it hurts and it's always going to, but it'll be ok."

"I-I'm s-sorry, I j-just, I can't." I stutter not even forming a coherent thought.

"Shh just cry Halley, get it all out you'll feel better." I cry and cry until there are no more tears left. "Feel better?" he asks.

"Actually, yeah a little, thanks Mikey."

"You're welcome."

"Sorry I got your shirt wet."

"Actually it's your shirt."

"Oh. Where's Mel?" I ask.

"Sleeping I think." he shrugs.

"We should check on her."

"Yeah." We walk across the hall and find Melody sleeping in the middle of her bed.

"Wanna watch a movie?" I ask.

"Sure," he agrees.

"Shall we go downstairs?"

"Okay," he says following me out of the room, down the hall, and down the stairs into the living room.

"What do you wanna watch?" I ask.

"What do you have?"

"Netflix." I respond simply.

"Um..."

"Here pick out a movie while I make the popcorn, and no chick flicks." I say handing him the X-box controller.

"Will do."

I go into the kitchen and put a bag of popcorn in the microwave and climbing on the counter to get the bowls. I'm short, so I have learned how to use my kitchen counters as a jungle Jim, it's  completely normal for short people like m.

"You know you could of just asked me for help?" I can basically hear the smirk in his voice.

"I'm fine, I do this all the time."

"Why?"

"Because I'm short." I state in a 'duh' voice.

"Why don't you just use a chair?"

"This is easier and faster."

"Until you end up in the hospital with a broken arm." He retorts.

"I am a grown woman Michael, I do not need you to tell me what I should and shouldn't do."

"I'm just looking out for you."

"Why? You would've never cared if I did this before."

"Yeah well you're old now, so I don't want you to break a hip or some shit."

"You're older than I am." I argue.

"But I'm not the one using the counter as a jungle Jim now am I?" He sasses.

"Did you pick out a movie?"

"Yep," he answers.

"What is it?" I ask.

"I'm not telling you."

"Ughhhhhhhh." I start to get off the counter, but before I can climb very far Michael's hands are placed on my hips. I squirm under his touch at first, but I let him help me down. "T-thanks." I stutter a blush rising to my cheeks.

"Yeah," he responds flatly. I take the popcorn out of the microwave and pour it in the bowls. "You look way different you know?"

"Well yeah, I mean its been like five years, you look different too." I shrug.

"I personally think you look way better as a brunette."

"So does Emily. Did. I mean she thought I looked better as a brunette also."

"You really shouldn't torture yourself like that."

"Like what?" I ask.

"Don't think about Em so much Halley you're hurting yourself."

"It's kind of hard when we did everything together. Plus why in the hell would I want to forget my best friend? She may be dead Michael, but that doesn't mean I'm just going to forget she ever existed." I spit.

"That's not what I meant Halley and you know it."

"I know I'm sorry I just-- gah I don't know just I'm sorry I shouldn't snap at you." He starts giggling. "How is this funny?"

"You just get so frustrated, it's so entertaining."

"Ass." I mutter under my breath.

"What was that?" He asks.

"Nothing." I smile taking the popcorn into the living room. "Press play." I order. After all the commercials the music for 'The Conjuring' starts to play. I screech.

"What was that?" Michael scrunches his eyebrows at my inhumane noise.

"I love this movie!" I say excitedly.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Are you sure your a girl?"

"Yes Michael, I am sure I am a girl I think I know my own fucking gender." I say.

He laughs. "Well okay." I roll my eyes and keep my eyes glue to the TV the rest of the movie.

---

After Michael and I watched about four movies he finally decided it was time for him to go.

"I'll go get Melody." I volunteer.

"Okay."

I walk up the stairs and into Melody's room where I find her playing dolls."Hey Mel."

"Hi."

"Melody I need you to pack up your stuff okay?"

"Why where are we going?" she asks.

"You're going to your new house with your daddy."

"What?"

I sigh. "You know that your mummy is gone right?"

"Yes."

"And you know you lived with her right?"

"No, I thought I lived with you." she answered.

"No baby, you were only staying with me, but now that your mummy is gone you get to live with your daddy."

"But I don't wanna, I wanna stay here, I like it here."

"You'll like it there too Mel, he has a big house and you'll get to meet your uncles." I say.

"I don't care I want to stay here with you."

"I want that too Melody, but that's not how it works."

"Why not?" she prods.

"Because I'm not your mum." I explain.

"You're like my mum, so I should be able to stay."

"Melody I love you, but so does your dad and he wants you to live with him and what he says goes." I say sympathetically.

"No, I won't go and you can't make me."

"Melody Hope Parker you do not speak to me like that." I warn.

"See? You're just like a mummy, so I should stay here."

"Melody please don't make this difficult and do as you're told."

"Why can't I stay with you?"

"Because it's against the rules. You have to go with your dad whether you like it or not because he wants you to, and so does the court apparently."

"So if daddy told me I could live with you could I?" she asks.

"Yes, but he wants you to live with him baby so pack up your stuff." I answer.

"Yes ma'am." she sighs.

"Good girl."

Michael...

"Are you ready baby girl?" I ask.

"Yes," she replies simply.

"Bye Mel." Halley says giving Melody a kiss on the forehead.

"Bye."

"See ya' Michael."

"Bye Halley." I respond. "Let's go girly." I buckle Melody into her seat.

"Daddy can I stay with Auntie Halley?" She asks suddenly.

"Of course you can come and visit baby."

"No, no daddy I mean can I live with Auntie Halley?" Her question breaks my heart into a million little pieces. My daughter is asking if she can live with someone else, that hurts.

"No baby, I'm sorry."

"Why not?" How in the fuck am I supposed to answer that?

"Because I'm your dad and normal kids live with their dad."

"Normal kids mummy's don't die either, so why can't I live with Auntie Halley?" she sasses.

"You cannot live with your aunt Melody, end of discussion." I say possibly a little to stern.

"But-"

"No Melody."

"Meh," she says sticking out her tongue and crossing her arms over her chest. I sigh and get into the drivers seat pulling out of Halley's driveway.

The whole car ride to the house is completely silent with me fuming in the front and Melody sulking in the back.

"We're here baby girl." The frown on her face disappears the moment she sees the giant home.

"I'm going to live here?"

"Yep, let's go inside." I climb out of the car along with Melody and she jogs up to the door whilst I get her stuff.

"Mi- um hi." Calum opens the door. "You must be Melody, I'm your Uncle Calum I guess."

"Hi, I'm Melody Parker. I'm five see?" she holds up five fingers.

"Very good."

"Hey Cal." I say walking to the door holding Melodies two tiny suitcases.

"Hey Mike."

"Come on in Melody I'll show you around."

"Okay," she agrees quickly.

"This is the living room and in there is the kitchen. There's a bathroom down here and a game room right next to it." I show her. "Up here are all the bedrooms." I walk up the stairs Melody following close behind. "This is Calum's room." I point to the door on the left. "Then this is your uncle Luke's room. Luke are you in there?!" I question banging on the door to the right.

"What the fuck do you want Michael I'm busy?!" He calls back.

"Melody is here."

"Fuck shit fuck shit fuck shit." I can hear him mumble.

"What's going on in there Luke?"

"I dropped my laptop and stubbed my toe and SHIT!" I open the door to find Luke lying on the floor.

"What the hell just happened?"

"Ow."

"Are you ok?" Melody asks innocently.

"Yeah. I just fell."

"Tripped over your giant legs did ya'?" Ashton pops up.

"Shuddup."

"Hi Melody I'm Ashton."

"How'd you know my name?" She asks confidently.

"Your dad told me about you."

"Oh. Hi."

"I'm Luke." Luke says still lying on the floor.

"We should leave uncle Luke to be stupid in peace." I laugh.

"Fuck you."

"Bye Luke." Melody waves. "It was nice to meet you."

"Same to you Melody."

"So Melody what do you like to do?" Ashton asks as we walk down the hall towards her room.

"I like to play dollies and I like to sing."

"That's cool your daddy likes to sing too."

"Do you sing uncle Ashton?" She questions.

"Sometimes." he shrugs.

"This is your room Melody and that's daddy's right there." I point to my room across the hall.

"Okay."

"What do you want to do now Melody?" Ashton asks.

"I want to play dollies." she replies.

"Can we play?" He asks.

"Mhmm. Daddy has my dollies in that bag." she says pointing to the pink suitcase in my right hand. I hand her her bag and she pulls out two dolls. "This ones name is Leah-" she says holding up the dirty-blonde.
"-and this one is Ana from the movie Frozen, she's my favorite." she whispers the last part about the red head that looks like she was pulled right out of the animated film. "I only have two dollies though, so only two can play."

"I'll play with her Mike you do what you need to do." he whispers.

"Thanks Ash."

"Daddy's tired so I'm going to play with you okay?"

"Okay," she smiles.

"Love you baby."

"Love you too." she mumbles already starting to play with her dolls. I walk into my room and plop on my bed and just lay there, thinking. My least favorite thing.

Dedicated to birminghamuke because her writing is so freaking good it is frustrating because I become addicted and can't stop reading it and it makes me emotional. Like the other day I almost burst into tears in the middle of reading one of her sadder books. ITS ALL SO FREAKING GOOD GAHHHHHHHHHHH!!