June 8th 2018

Lottie twisted the rings on her fingers, biting her glossy lips while sitting at the empty table. An untouched, decaf peach tea sat in front of her as she waited. How was she supposed to do this? 

Moments later, a familiar Irish man sauntered into the café, looking attractive as ever, which, only added to her nerves. He ordered a coffee, before coming toward her. 

"Niall" She said quietly, and a bit awkwardly. She had gained a little weight, and had a small bump, but it was hidden by the table. 

"Hi Lottie" he said, scratching his neck before sitting down across from her. "What did you uh, wanna talk about?" He really hoped she wasn't trying to date him, because, yes he did find her attractive, but he was in love with Shawn. He felt absolutely horrible for cheating on him, and terrible for leading Lottie on the way he had, and he'd hoped they'd just forget it ever happened. But apparently that wasn't going to happen. 

"I..." Lottie took a sip of her drink, "I've got news." 

"News?" Niall frowned, having an idea of where this was going but hoping he was wrong. "What news?" 

"Well..." She sighed heavily, "I'm pregnant, and it's yours." 

Niall's face paled. "Are you... are you serious? You're really pregnant?"

She nodded silently, a hand rested on her stomach as she reached into her purse and slid an ultrasound photo across the table to Niall. "I'm nearly three months along." 

"Holy shit." Was all Niall could say at first, because this, this complicated things. 

"I'm sorry Niall, I'm so sorry." Lottie said, tearing up and thinking he was mad.

Seeing the distress on her face, and hearing the sad tone to her voice Niall softened. "Don't be sorry. It's both our fault." He said sympathetically, reaching out and putting his hand on top of hers. 

"I know... but... like now Shawn's gonna find out what happened, and you're going to have a baby in your life.... well that's if you want him or her in your life" She paused, as she hadn't even asked that. 

"Of course I do." Niall said affirmatively. "Sure, I wasn't expecting this, but that's my child inside you. Of course I want them to be a part of my life." 

Lottie smiled tearfully, "I'm glad, they deserve a father." She said softly. "But how on earth are we going to do this?"

"Well one of us could have weekdays and the other could have weekends, and we could alternate holidays." Niall suggested, "Plenty of people do it." 

Lottie sighed, and her heart hurt a little. That hadn't been the answer she was hoping for, but who was she kidding? Of course Niall wouldn't want to make things work between them when he was in the perfect relationship with Shawn. "Yeah, okay." She replied. 

"Well, lets keep in touch. I'd like to come to appointments and stuff if you're okay with that?" Niall asked, not wanting to overstep his bounds.

"Oh, yeah of course." Lottie smiled, it not reaching her eyes. "It's your baby too." 

"Yeah, it is." Niall whispered, the information still so new to him. "Are you um, are you showing yet?" He asked, mentally face palming at how awkward he sounded. 

"I... yeah, a little." Lottie stood up, revealing her little bump. 

"Wow" was all Niall could say, he was completely in shock. "Well, I uh.. I guess I better get going. I have a lot of explaining and making up to do with Shawn" He chuckled. 

"Yeah.... see you later Niall." Lottie said, and once he'd left the café she sighed, resting her hands on her stomach. Even with a baby inside her, and Niall being as supportive as one could be in his situation, she'd still never felt more alone. 

********************

"I told Niall." Lottie told Harry as she sat with him and Louis at their home. Louis was curled up on Harry's lap, completely silent and not looking too good. Lottie held his hand over her stomach as she spoke to them. 

"Yeah?" Harry bit his lip, "how'd he respond?" 

"Not terrible, not great either." She sighed, "He seemed shocked. He's gonna be part of their life though, and he's willing to help with anything." 

"Well, what's the problem then? That's great" Harry said, as he pressed a kiss to the top of Louis' head. 

"The problem is I don't think I can go my whole life watching him with Shawn. I've been in love with him for years Harry." She admitted. 

"Oh Lotts...." Harry sighed sympathetically. "Love is just so painful isn't it?" Harry of all people would know.

"You got that right." She muttered, and then looked at her sweet brother. "He's lost a lot of weight." She noticed, "How's he doing?" 

Harry shook his head, "Not good. He's only eating half portions because it's getting too hard, and he's so so quiet." 

Lottie kissed her older brother's forehead. "Not much to say huh lou?" She said sadly, "That's okay. You can always listen." 

"I took him out for our anniversary  last night, huh boo?" Harry said slowly, even though he knew Louis wouldn't remember. "It was a bit rough, we saw someone from high school."

"Oh? What happened?" Lottie asked.

Harry carded a hand through his hair, "He said some bad stuff about Lou, I'd rather not repeat it." 

She nodded understandingly. "I don't get why people have to judge him so much. None of this is his fault." 

"I know... I don't get it either." Harry shook his head, "It is what it is I guess." 

Louis smiled at those words, they made no sense to him, maybe it was even just Harry's voice, but whatever it was, made him smile. 

"Aw Lou..." Lottie got tears in her eyes, every time he smiled it was just so sweet and precious. "Don't you ever stop smiling." 

She also noticed, that Louis couldn't keep his eyes off of her stomach and it made her smile more. "Baby." She told him, just as she did every time she saw him as of late.

He made a small hum, and no one really knew if he understood or not. But that's just how it was now, and they were just glad he was around. 

*********************

It was one of the worst night's of Harry's life. 

He awoke to quiet cries coming from the man beside him.  "Boo... hey calm down it's alright. It's alright." He whispered, having no idea what was going on or how to fix it. Louis cried a lot lately, hardly having any capabilities was really upsetting to him, and sometimes he'd just cry.

Poor Louis just kept crying though, having no other way to express his emotion. 

Louis cried and cried, not even really understanding why. He was upset and he just wanted to be happy, and he couldn't.

After a solid hour or so, Harry was in tears himself. "Baby..." He looked into Louis' eyes, and even though they made eye contact, Louis' eyes weren't really there. He saw Harry, but there was no recognition. No light in his eyes. 

And for Harry, that hurt.

As a last resort Harry tried the last thing he could think of. 

"You are my sunshine. 

My only sunshine.

You make me happy, 

When skies are grey.

You'll never know dear, 

How much I love you. 

Please don't take my sunshine away. "

He sang the song a couple of times, until Louis' tears stopped and he was able to go back to sleep. 

"Please don't take my sunshine away." He repeated the last line, kissing the top of Louis' head. 

Louis slept calmly, but Harry? He didn't sleep at all that night. 

Hey everybody!!! :) 

As always, thank you sooooooo so so so so so much for reading! I hope you're enjoying. :) What does everyone think with Niall and Lottie? Should Niall end up with her or end up with Shawn? Comment any thoughts or feedback! All the love! 

Sunnie