"Come grow old with me,
the best is yet to come."
-unknown
—
shawn mendes
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Happy was the word I could use lately, I was simply happy, happy in everything that I do.

My phone rang as I answered it. "Hey daddy!" Her voice echoed through the room as I smiled. I missed her. "I miss you."

I smiled and pouted. "I miss you too. Tell me how's Toronto without mommy and daddy?" I asked as she started to talk about her first week without us.

An hour later, Brooke hung up because she needed to go to school, unfortunately. For her delight, Bails woke up before she left so she was pretty happy to talk to her mommy.

"We didn't talk a lot yesterday but how did they take the news?" Asked Bailey as I turned my body towards her.

"They took it, well pretty good. They were happy for me but a little sad that I'm leaving and..I know I'm not supposed to feel this but I felt guilty, but I know that is where I belong to." I said smiling. "By your side and Brooke's side in Toronto, into our house" I told her as she smiled.

"You have all the right to feel guilty, Shawn. They are your best friends." She said patting my cheek. "I felt guilty too, I will have to leave Em, if she doesn't want to come, Michael and well pretty everyone. But, I'm ready to do this with you." She leaned closer and kissed me softly.

I pulled away and stared at her. "God, I love you so much." She smiled and hid her face. "Don't hide, Bails. You look perfect."

"I am not but you are tho." She said climbing on my lap as she hid her bare chest with the sheets.

I shook my head. "You are my wife, well soon-to-be wife and I'll not let you think that you're not perfect to me" I pouted as she leaned down and kiss my lips for the second time today.

"I wish I would meet you earlier." She said smiling.

"We did meet." I answered. "Four years ago, you were busy." I said to her as she gasped.

"So, we already met?" She asked as I nodded. "Shit, how did I not notice you?" She giggled while I shrugged.

Four years ago : Islands Records, New York

Damn, this elevator was bounded with people. How was it possible? I looked around as my eyes landed on her, Bailey Jones.

I must have stare at her for long cause she turned around and looked for, me. Her eyes found mine as she smiled to me and waved, I waved back and grinned.

She backed up and came next to me, suddenly I felt all sweaty and dizzy. "Hey stranger." She smiled.

"Hey," I replied as she looked up. She was so little compared to me.

"What are you doing here?" She asked as I shrugged. Should I tell her?

"I am here to stop my career." I said. Surprisingly my voice was monotone.

"Stop your career? Why?" She whispered to me as I shrugged, again.

"Because, something bad happened and it was my fault." I said to her as she nodded. I was thankful that she didn't ask other questions.

"I didn't recognize you, the one and only Shawn Mendes." She chuckled. "Nice to meet you."

I shook her hand. "Nice to meet you too." I answer. Suddenly the doors opened and she stepped out of the elevator but turned around.

"Oh and Shawn, I don't know why you are stopping your career but I bet it is for a good cause." She smiled. "Don't let them step on you, if you want to, do it and say it loud or they won't understand." She added. "Follow your heart, bud" She said smiling and left.

That's exactly what I was going to do, follow my heart.

"Oh god, I remember this day!" She yelled. "But, gosh I was so stressed this day." She chuckled.

"I know but you helped me tho." I smiled.

"Did you listen to me? When I said this speech?" She asked as I nodded.

"Yeah, I did" I answered. "I stood for myself, and told them I wanted to stop," I said frowning, this seemed like an eternity ago.

"And..you ended your career, I remember this day I had an appointment with Andrew. He was a good friend, before" She told me as I smiled.

"Yeah, I think I should see him one day. I miss them." I smiled

"Why did you end your career? You don't have to." I said, I shook my head and smiled.

"I ended it because one day I was on my way to the airport with my family, and when we came here, they were a lot of girls" I said and took deep breath.

Four years ago : Airport, Toronto.

"Sweetie, are you sure you want to take pictures?" Asked my mom as she looked at the girls crying, screaming for me.

"I-I don't know mom. But they're going to hate me." I said as my mom shook her head.

"Listen, you take pictures everywhere they aren't going to be mad because you don't want to today." She told me and she was right.

The car stopped as we all got out, my dad came next to my mom while I went next to Aaliyah and wrapped my arm around her shoulder. We begun to walk in the airport as the screams got louder. Fuck.

I'm sorry guys but today Shawn can not take pictures!" Yelled Jake as some of them nodded, cried or yelled. "You need to understand that he's with his family, they have a plane to take so he can't stay." He said as I waved at them but kept my arm around my little sister.

"Son, are you okay?" Asked my dad once we sat at Starbucks, Jake still behind me.

"I am, just a little guilty." I answered taking a sip of my black coffee.

"Shawn, can you let me go? I have to pee." Said my little sister as I took off my arm. She giggled and started to walk.

"Jake man, can you follow her please?" I asked as he nodded and walked behind her.

Few minutes later, Jake and Aaliyah came back. Jake was out of breath and Aaliyah was crying, I looked over my only little sister, her cheek was hella red and quickly understood that my fans touched my sister.

"I'll stop." I said quietly hugging my sister, my mom stared at me.

"What do you mean?" She asked as I nodded.

"You heard me, I'll stop my career. They touched my sister, this unacceptable mom." I told her as she bit her lip but nodded.

"I'm sorry Shawn, I try to run after the girls but I lost them in the crowd." Said Jake quietly.

I smiled sadly at him still holding my sister as she cried into my chest. "It's okay Jake. You did your job and you couldn't go in the toilet with her" I said to him as he rubbed his face, I knew he felt guilty, he was like a member of the family.

"Don't stop your career, Shawn" Said my sister as I shook my head and kissed her forehead.

"Liyah, you are more important than my career. You are my family, my priority" I said to her as he hugged me tighter. "Alright, let's go we have a plane to take" I said and walked with my sister near me.

"Wow, I never thought that it was that bad." She said quietly as I stared at her.

"Yeah.." I answered quietly. "But, now everything is okay. She's better, I am better everyone's better"

She grabbed my face and kissed me all over my face. "I love you and I'm here for you, always." She smiled

"I love you babe" I smiled and held her closer to me.

—
Damn it, what a long chapter!
and two throwbacks!!!!

I hope I didn't do mistakes! :)
Love y'all