– Jake & Monica –

   There are certain things in life that you become accustomed to – probably because of previous times you've done those certain things. It's almost like a bad habit, but one that you can't break. Everyone has these certain 'bad habits' or 'everyday things' and Monica Highland was no exception.

   She has always had the habit of being late, a habit of sleeping in and waiting till the last minute to do something – you could easily peg her as a procrastinator. Today was one of those days, because right now the flat was a mess; various articles of clothing strewn across the floor and furniture, not to mention the dirty dishes stacked in the sink that had yet to be washed – Monica would walk past it and mutter, "I'll do it later".

   "I'm going to be late," the small brunet whined to his mother, his chest still bare from the hassle Monica was making for the perfect first day of school attire. He sat on her bed, his legs dangling over the edge, impatiently swinging back and forth.

   Monica glanced over to her giddy son – aware that this phase of 'I want to go to school' will soon fade – before looking over at the digital clock set on the dresser beside the bed. She had precisely fifteen minutes to find his favourite shirt – one that matches his father's style completely; a blue plaid button up – and then drive him to school which was about ten minutes away.

   Jake, her son, was really ecstatic about his first day of primary school not only because he was ready to learn but because he had missed his best friend Athena – which he had be-friended in preschool – and couldn't wait to see her again. But it wasn't like he could rush his mother because of it, because he didn't tell her about his first friend mostly because she was the type to document every little thing he did but because he was embarrassed to tell her that he made friends with a girl because all the other boys had said that girls had cooties. He didn't want his mum to think he had cooties from being friend's with her too.

   "Aha! I found it," Monica announced pulling out the blue shirt from the bottom of the dresser – go figure. She then walked back over to her son – or really, her exact replica and though she'd never admit it out loud, she was thankful that he looked nothing like his father – who now jumped up and down excitedly. She carefully placed the shirt on, being sure not to mess up the hair she took twenty minutes on – who knew a five year old would have so much hair? After successfully doing so, she stepped back from him and admired her work. "Okay, now we need to get going, fire ball. Don't want to be late on your first day, hm?"

  "No way," the boy agreed before hopping off the bed and dashing toward the door of their small apartment. It really was no mystery why she called him her 'fire ball'. "Come on, Mum! I don't have all day!"

   Monica chuckled at her son's ambitions before taking her time walking to the door, toward the impatient boy who bounced on the balls of his feet. He knew that his mother was doing this on purpose so he shot her a small glare – clearly getting that from Monica's stubborn side – hoping that he'd make her move faster. She didn't.

.

   Monica Highland didn't really speak much of Jake's father. It wasn't that she hated his guts or anything for not being supportive, it was because she simply couldn't do it, it was too hard. And, she fears that if she does tell him things about his father, her son would want to be just like him – and that would be too hard to handle. She wasn't ready for that.

   The thing about Jake's father was that he didn't want to be considered his father – or that's what he implied once Monica told him about her pregnancy. She was about two weeks when she had told him, and he immediately had denied that the child was his – his exact words being, "No way, that child isn't mine. This can't be mine." He had left the following day, leaving Monica to go to every appointment and check-up alone as well as raise Jake alone (aside from the help her brother gave her).

   During the first few years with raising Jake she had thought so little about herself, thinking that she was a terrible mother and that she's incapable of ever finding someone again because every time she'd hit it off with a lad she'd have to tell them that she has a son – usually, that was the deal breaker and they'd scurry off with some lame excuse.

   Monica didn't like to talk – even think about him or what's to come.

   So after a few minutes on the road toward the school – with less than eight minutes to get there –, Monica didn't know what to say when Jake asked about his father. It wasn't necessarily out of the blue, because they had just passed a park where a father pushed his (presumably) baby on a swing. Jake had watched the interaction when they'd stopped at a red light, wondering where his father was.

   Besides, it wouldn't be long before Jake started to ask about him (she just hoped he hadn't asked so soon, especially since she wasn't prepared to answer it) because he was surrounded with other kids with both a mother and father, and he only had a mother.

   "Not right now, Jake. Mummy's driving," she murmured with a sigh, trying not to show any emotion on her face even though her grip tightened on the wheel. "Let's just focus on getting you to school, yeah?"

   "Okay," Jake muttered before turning his gaze back to the window. Suddenly, he wasn't so excited about his first day of school because his curiosity was getting stronger and the more it did the more he knew that it just wasn't the time to bring up his father. He could tell by how her voice hardened, and how stiff she had gotten – this was such a soft spot for her, anyone could see that. He just wanted to know where his father was.

   Although Monica had no reason to be quite tense with him for this was the first time he had ever asked about his father – thank goodness for that – and he simply asked where he was. The thing was, she didn't even know. Monica hadn't had contact with the lad after he refused to answer her phone calls or texts

   If she even told Jake that she didn't know where he was, he would've been upset and she doesn't want that – especially on his first day of primary school.

   Once the car came to a halt, Monica glanced down at her watch and realized that she only had a minute and a half to get her son in those doors. Heaving a sigh, she quickly exited the vehicle and helped Jake out from his 'big boy' car seat before carrying him to the parent drop off – no doubt she'll be scolded by the other parents for being late or thinking about how she was too young to be a mother or whatever. Which wasn't the case Monica was a proper adult; she just had that gene of looking younger than she actually was.

   "Sorry I'm late!" Monica whisper-shouted once entering the building, making various parents look over to her. She ignored all of them as she placed Jake on the ground, squatting down to be eye-level with him. "Now, bud, go make some friends and have a terrific day. Give Mum a kiss."

   The small boy complied, giving his mother a kiss on the cheek before running toward the classroom but not before seeing a friend of his. "Athena!"

   "Jake!" A voice called back before she was set down, running to meet Jake and into hug. Monica rose from her squatted position and scanned the room for this girl's father and or mother. And though she should be slightly concerned that her son didn't tell her of his new friend, she wasn't because finally spotted the girl's parent which stood a few inches away from the two kids.

    And then it happened all at once.

   Green jade eyes met hazel ones, her posture straightened, her heart beat picked up and a shy smile was being sent over to the familiar looking lad. Monica slowly walked over, her right hand rubbing over her left arm because she was nervous not only because he was very attractive but because he was once part of a band that she was completely obsessed with – not that she'd ever admit it out loud.

   Once she stood in front of her old celebrity crush – it may have started ever since those 'fetus days' – she shifted between her left and right foot.

   "Did you have any idea about our children's friendship?" He was the first to talk, and she couldn't help but notice how much lower his voice had gotten – knowing that because of the many interviews and concert videos she'd watched – and how it seemed even slower. She thought he sounded undeniably irresistible but of course, she'd never admit that out loud.

   She shook her head, glancing down at the talkative son and daughter before meeting the breathtaking green eyes again. "I had no idea. I still thought he believed girls had cooties."

   Harry chuckled lightly, and Monica couldn't help but notice that his eyes brightened in the slightest bit. She was about to say something else but the teacher beat her to it.

   "Alright children, pick any seat you like and parents, hope you all have given a goodbye." This was the cue for the parents to leave.

   Monica looked back to Harry, watching him as his gaze shifted down to Athena, his daughter. She hadn't even known of her old idol's life after fame. All she remembered before moving on from those 'fangirling days' was his girlfriend, Katelyn. And following his gaze to the young girl, she could tell that Katelyn was the mother. She couldn't help but have her shoulders slump because of course he'd marry Katelyn, she's perfect and of course he'd have a child with her because they were in love and they'd make the prettiest child. Athena was beautiful, and exact replica of her mum (from the vague image Monica still held of her) but with Harry's eyes.

   "Go ahead, princess." Harry gave his daughter a kiss on the cheek, and then glancing at Monica who realized she was staring.

   Blushing, she looked down to Jake and gave him a playful glare. "I better not get a phone call about how you spilled glue and blamed another boy again, mister."

     He simply gave her a cheeky grin before running off with Athena to the classroom. Once they had done so, Monica looked back to the old popstar watching as he shoved his hands in his pockets. She caught glimpse of a ring on his ring finger.

     "Uh, hi. I'm Harry, Athena's Father."

   "Monica," she greeted back, following him as they walked out of the school side by side. "I'm Jake's Mother." She didn't bother to add the creepy 'I know who you are', deciding that it was probably a good idea to act normal since Harry Styles' daughter went to school with her son and they'd probably see each other again – hopefully. Because it's Harry freaking Styles – okay, and maybe her fangirling days weren't over.

     "I figured, looks exactly like you." He gave her a crooked smile – one that used to send her heart into a frenzy (which it did once more but again, she'd never admit that). "I guess Jake doesn't think girls are gross then, uh?"

     "Guess not." She shrugged, finally taking her gaze off of the lad beside her and looking ahead to notice how close she actually was to reaching her car but she didn't want to reach her car because it's Harry freaking Styles – and yeah, he has a wife but that still can't stop her from having those old fangirling thoughts invade her mind. "I feel betrayed, he lied to me."

     Harry let out another half-hearted chuckle, the small brightness in his eyes staying very small as if he was thinking of something else and wouldn't let it go. "Athena told me about a friend but I didn't think it would be a lad. I don't want her being interested in boys too quickly. I'm not supposed to have that talk with her until she's thirty."

     It was Monica's turn to let out a small laugh. "Wow, strict father I see."

   Eventually, Monica had reached her car making her retrieve her keys and sigh inwardly. She looked up to see that Harry was still standing beside her; he scanned for his car before looking back to the brunette.

   "Well, I guess I'll see you around Monica." All she did was nod because that little spark of brightness was gone.

- - -

(A/N): ah, it feels good – chapter two ladies and gents! I hope you enjoyed it! How do you all feel about Monica's character? Jake's character? I hope you like them because I feel like I'd be this type of parent... but I'll probably never stop my fangirling days like Monica had, haha. I updated in honor of Ashton Irwin – I refuse to believe that he's twenty. Oh and Monica is played by Kathryn McCormick – off to side x

Importance of Chapter: this is to show that not only is Harry struggling with something but Monica is as well. Also give a bit of background to tell why Jake's father isn't in the picture. It kind of showed how Monica is with Jake and how similar they are – I feel like you all needed to see their interaction with each other. As well as showing you all that Monica and Harry do in fact have this little spark but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll end up together.  Things are especially hard with both of them having kids, oh and please keep in mind that Monica noticed Harry's eyes (they always give away how someone's feeling). 

SONG FOR CHAPTER: START OF SOMETHING GOOD - DAUGHTRY

Importance of Song: This song is not necessarily about how any of the characters are feeling but really what could be for the characters. Basically setting up that what happens between Harry and Monica could be the start of something new – the just don't know it. As you read, Monica assumed he's married to Katelyn still when he's actually a widower. Yeah...

READ: It'd really help if you could vote and comment every chapter – I know it's a lot to ask but it'd really help because I have such a good message coming from this story and I'd love more to read it. Please share as well! xx

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