– Jake & Monica –

   It's inevitable in life, really, that at some point you'll end up being a third wheel. Maybe it's because your friend is nervous to be alone with the opposite sex or maybe because you just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Or maybe you just like being a third wheel, but right now, with his first experience of feeling like the third wheel, Jake Highland hates it.

   The two single parents have been talking for a little less than five minutes, but that was enough to make the five-year-old brunet bored and a tad grumpy. That was until he stared up at the two adults, seeing that they in fact were talking and talking could end up becoming so much more. At that moment he wished that this 'Uncle Li' character never took Athena back to the car because then she could help him on making them more.

   And yeah, he's seen those moves where someone or something pushes one of the two people so that they could get closer but really, Jake didn't have the strength to do that (although he does like to think himself as his favourite superhero – The Hulk – with incredible strength) so he couldn't do that.

   Monica, although a mother, loved to act like a teen and force Jake into watching chick-flicks with her on her days off (she owns a quaint dance studio, and though she doesn't like to admit it to Jake, it's not doing so well) which happens to be on Tuesday and Saturday. So Jake happened to know a lot of things that could get his mum with Athena's dad – he just had to think of the perfect one.

   Tuning into the adult's conversation, they were on the subject of Liam Payne and how he had decided to go on solo.

   Harry subconsciously fiddled with the ring on his left hand, twisting it slowly not even noticing that Monica was watching him do so. "Yeah, I had considered on going solo after One Direction ended but I really just wanted to settle down and you know, have a family."

   "And you do," Monica said snapping her gaze away from his left hand. She watched as he stared at the ground, a sad smile grazing his lips (which confused her greatly) as he was probably thinking of something. "And you, no doubt, have amazing friends to go along with it."

   Harry did have a pure smile then, making Monica return it because it was simply blissful to see such an enduring smile on the old boyband member's face. It was one where his dimples were visible but not completely there – her favourite kind when he was still out there, making music with his mates.

   She wishes that she hadn't pushed herself away from all the friends she had when finding out she was pregnant. She honestly pushed them away before they could do so to her. She was afraid that they'd react like Jake's Father had, maybe not as terrible – but still. So she had cut them off, and the only person that she really found herself having is her brother Jeff and the occasional parent.

   Just when Harry was about to respond, Jake spoke up, finally coming up with something that could make the two get closer. "Mum, can Athena and Harry come have dinner with us?"

   Monica's lips parted as she stared down at the boy, there was a mischievous look in his eyes and frankly, that made her a tad suspicious. She was about to deny it with a, "he probably has something to do" or better to do, she added mentally but Harry had replied before she could say anything.

   "I think that would be nice... I'll get to know you a bit more – uh, and we'd get to see just how good of friends our kids are," he said biting down on his lip to prevent the blush creeping up his neck. Monica looked away from Jake and toward Harry. "Uh, Liam can come too, yeah?"

   "Of course," she replied slowly, not wanting to say no to the lad she completely adored years back. She then took grasp of Jake's hand and turned her head to look toward the door. "We should probably go then. I think I can hear Liam honking the horn."

   Automatically, Harry shook his head at his friend before walking beside Monica out of the school. As they walked out, Jake couldn't help but lean his head forward – since they walked in a line – and look at Harry and Monica in awe.

   Jake couldn't wait to call him his father.

.

   On the car ride back home, Monica suspiciously watched Jake in the rearview mirror with her lips pursed. She wondered why Jake was so keen on asking such a thing, it could be simply because he wanted to spend more time with his friend but because of that giddy and mischievous look in his eyes, Monica knew there was more. Especially since he was kicking his legs excitedly and he never does that – not even this morning because his thoughts had went to his father – and that made her suspicious.

   Turning the radio down, she looked at Jake for a second longer before looking at the car behind her. She could clearly see Harry talking to Liam – who sat in the passenger seat, occasionally looking back at Athena – as his eyes stayed focused on the road and her car. She wished that she could know what they were talking about but it wasn't like they were talking about her.

   "So, Jake... Why did you want them to come have dinner with us?" She asked, tearing her gaze from the rearview mirror and onto the road. She tapped a soft rhythm on the wheel, waiting for his answer or possibly, excuse.

   Jake immediately stopped kicking his feet, his eyes widening a bit because he in fact, hadn't thought about his mother asking him for a reason. He didn't have a one other than his 'parent plan' which would set her and Harry up together, giving him a father and Athena a mother – but he couldn't tell her that, no, because he had promised her to be a good boy and if he told her, he wouldn't have kept his promise.

      So instead of answering he hummed and said, "Can we have sauce noodles?"

   'Sauce noodles' or in other words, spaghetti – he simply couldn't pronounce that though. Hesitantly, he looked at his mother who narrowed her eyes at the road, wondering if he had successfully changed the subject.

   "Of course, fire ball." She reached back and patted his leg before returning back to the wheel. She continued, "But only if you tell me why you wanted to have them over because the place is dirty."

   Huffing, the five-year-old folded his arms and pouted thinking his cuteness will get him out of this one. (He knew this trick very well – pouting was always Monica's weak spot especially with arms folded.)

   "Do you... do you have a crush on Athena?" Monica questioned hesitantly, not knowing if he'd react like any other five-year-old boy would when mentioning liking a girl.

   "Do you have a crush on Harry?" He replied sassily and mockingly, but he had mumbled it so Monica couldn't catch what he had said. Because no, gross he doesn't like girls in that way (at least, not at this age) but he does like her friendship wise but he won't tell his mother that.

   Eventually, Monica pulled up to their complex with a heavy sigh. Knowing that her freaking idols are going to see the pig sty she calls 'home'. She was embarrassed really, at how they might react because seriously, who lives in such a disgusting place? It's not like there are bugs everywhere or suspicious things on the floor, it's just clothes and dishes but still that wasn't clean enough for company.

   If only she had magical powers so that she could fix the place up with a snap of a finger.

   After exiting the car and helping Jake out, she waited for the group of three to exit their vehicle. And once they did so, she gestured them to follow her and she walked to her flat, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip as she thought of an excuse she could give them so she could make them leave for a moment so she could clean up the place a bit.

   Once they stood in front of a door marked '20' Monica turned to them and raised her index finger. "Could you wait one moment?"

   They nodded and watched as she quickly unlocked the door and slipped in. Jake stayed outside, turning his head toward the two adults with a grin. "Mummy is cleaning because it's dirty."

   Liam chuckled at this and slowly squatted down to Jake's height. Jake stared at him with wide, brown eyes before poking his nose – something he'd do when people stared at him – and receiving an eye crinkling smile. "Aren't you adorable?"

   Liam stood up and glanced at Athena before looking back up to Harry. "Man, I can't wait to settle down with someone and have a child."

   Jake's ears perked up at this. "You can be my daddy!"

   And Monica couldn't choose the worst time to open the door because her heart broke when hearing her little boy say that. Her lips were parted, looking down at the floor before slowly raising to meet Harry's gaze. He looked at her with much sympathy and understanding – but she didn't know why.

   "Why don't we come inside and I'll get started on dinner?"

   Everyone entered the small home before Harry squatted down and told Athena to go play with Jake in the living room. After doing that, he followed behind Liam into the kitchen where Monica took out the needed items for 'sauce noodles'.

   When realizing their presence she gave a weak smile. "You don't have to help me make dinner."

   "It's quite alright. We want to help," Harry said standing beside her in front of the stove. He pursed his lips and looked around, the small doodles on the fridge – no doubt made by Jake – caught his eye, making him smile. He turned back to her. "No need to act fine around us, Monica. I know what you're going through."

   "I'm fine," she whispered lightly and as confident as she could whilst she poured the noodles into the water. "You don't have to pretend you know what I'm going through. I know you have a wonderful wife and life."

   Harry's shoulders slumped at the mention of his wife – late wife – but of course, Monica didn't know what made his shoulders slump. She knew that Harry was only being sympathetic and pitied her because she was a single mother and how pitiful is that? Very. She hated it, she even wishes sometimes that she had never met Jake's father but then without him she wouldn't have gained the best thing in her life. She at least wished that he could've been supportive because other than that, Jake's Father was a great lad.

   "Um, Monica," Liam piped up from his spot at the table that sat in the kitchen. He fiddled with the place mat, knowing Harry didn't want to say the words he'd have to tell Monica. "His wife passed away three years ago."

   Quickly raising a hand to her mouth, she turned to look at Harry with wide eyes. "I'm so sorry, Harry. I just figured that she... because you have your wedding ring on."

   Then, hesitantly she wrapped her arms around his waist feeling absolutely terrible for being harsh to him. She buried her face into his chest, waiting for his arms to wrap around her as well because she knew that everyone going through single parenthood needed a hug. And she was right because a few seconds later, Harry's arms wrapped around her shoulders and his cheek landed on top of her head. Eventually, she felt Harry's shoulder's shake softly meaning that he was silently crying.

   Pulling back, she looked at him with sympathetic eyes and wiped his tears. "I'm sorry."

   "You didn't know, s'okay." Harry sniffed and stepped back before meeting her eyes. He chuckled, though it wasn't a humourous chuckle. "Where's the loo?"

   "Down the hall, last door on the right."

   And right after he disappeared, Monica's gaze shifted to the other lad in the kitchen that sat at the table a small smile on his lips as he stared at her, still fiddling with the place mat. "You know, there's something about you that's good for Harry."

   "What?" She questioned obviously caught off guard. Good for Harry? She doesn't know exactly what that means but it's a good thing and hearing may or may not have made her heart skip a beat. "What about me is good for him?"

   Liam sent her this heartwarming smile, letting his shoulders rise slightly before he let them drop again. "That's what I'm trying to figure out."

- - -

(A/N): okay, so how was that? I don't know, I just really like this chapter because of adorable little Jakey – it's really sad how he wants a dad so desperately. He's my fave. Oh, and by the way, I decided not to cast Jake or Athena because I want you to picture them how your imagination does (well, the description of them does). So, yeah, I hope you liked this update! 

 Importance of Chapter: The conversation Monica and Harry had is important because yeah, Harry had lost his wife (though Monica didn't know at that time) but there is still so much good he has in his life and he's thankful – it shows in that smile he held. Also, the meddling begins with Jake inviting them for dinner. I really like Jake's third person view because you get to see how much he wants a dad and notice, it seems like he wants a dad more than he wants Monica to be with someone (that's important). Oh, and Monica knows! And that hug, it was heartwarming and shows that they understand each other on a level that no one else could reach. And, the thing Liam said at the end, it's important too because there is something about Monica that brings out something he hasn't seen in Harry – he just doesn't know what it is yet.

 SONG OF CHAPTER:   NEVER KNEW I NEEDED – NE-YO

Importance of Song: This is to reflect a bit of what Liam had said at the end, that in fact there's something about Monica that Harry needs right now. And through Harry doesn't know, he'll realize it (maybe too late or maybe at the right time).

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