"Ender be careful, please!" I called out to the boy who was doing tricks on his skateboard, almost running into Gracie who was sitting on the ground playing with her toys.

It was a nice day outside and I decided to let the kids get some fresh air before the show tonight in Osaka.

We had moved hotels last night (again) and arrived at the new stadium this morning.

I leaned against a brick wall as I watched the kids while simultaneously reading a book on how to raise teenagers.

"Hey there you are." I looked up when I heard Ashton's voice and saw him coming outside. He walked over to me and bent down to kiss me.

"How's your book?" He asked. He was the one who had ordered it for me.

"Good. You're reading it next right?"

"Yup."

"You still get to give him the sex talk you know." I pointed out.

"We never agreed who would do that." He shook his head.

"Well, I'm telling you that you get to do it and
you will agree." I smiled up at him cheekily and he rolled his eyes playfully. "I'm reading about fluctuating attitudes right now."

"Oh, a topic you're familiar with." He teased and I reached up to smack his arm.

"Don't be rude."

"See what I mean." He poked fun again and I was about to make a sarcastic retort when I was interrupted.

"Dad, come watch this new trick!" Ender called out to Ashton and all of us froze.

We turned to look at Ender who looked shocked himself and I saw his eyes begin to well up before he took off running across the field.

"Take Gracie inside, I'll handle this." Ashton said and began to follow Ender.

I picked up Gracie and her toys before walking her inside and to our dressing room where she sat on the floor and continued to play while I sat on the sofa trying to register what happened.

Ender had actually looked at Ashton and called
him "dad".

Yes, Ender had mentioned Ashton being like his dad several times but had never called him that to his face.

And I think what hurt me about all of this was that Ender ran off. I didn't know what Ashton was going to say or how he was going to handle it.

I sniffled and wiped under my eyes where tears had spilled.

"Mommy?" Gracie ran up to me, looking confused. "Mommy you sad?"

For some reason this only made me cry harder and I heard her run off.

"Mommy crying." I heard her voice again moments later and I looked up to see her dragging a confused Harry into the room by his hand.

She led him over to the sofa where I was and Gracie climbed up next to me to try and hug me while Harry hesitantly placed his hand on my shoulder to attempt comfort as well.

Ashton's PoV:

"Ender!" I called out.

I had chased after him after he had run off but now I couldn't find him.

"Ender!" I yelled again as I walked around the outside area. I turned a corner and called out his name again before I heard what sounded like his crying and I whipped around to see his small body behind some large equipment boxes.

"End." I jogged towards him and moved to sit down next to him before pulling him into my arms.

"I'm sorry." He sobbed into them.

"Hey it's okay." I rubbed his back.

He let out another cry and my heart broke for him.

"I'm not mad at you, I'm not mad at you." I assured him.

"You're not?" He sniffled.

"No bud, I'm not mad. I'm a little surprised, but I'm not mad." I said. "But I think we need to talk about this, if that's okay with you?"

He nodded.

"Ender I know we've had a few talks about my role in your life and yours in mine, but if you calling me dad is something you want to do then I need you to let me know."

"I don't know." He sniffled. "It just slipped out."

"I know, but you obviously said it for a reason.
End just a few days ago you said I was the only dad you had left, and I didn't take that lightly. You know how important you are to me and you know that I want to be that father figure in your life, and I hope you want me to be, but if you're going to start calling me dad I need a little heads up."

"I don't know." He shrugged. "Do you think Carter would be mad at me?"

"I think she wants you to do whatever makes you happy, Ender."

"Do you think my dad dad would be mad at me if I called someone else dad?" He asked and I figured out what he was really upset about.

"Ender," I sighed as I gathered my thoughts, "Your dad loved you very much, and you know that, and even though he may not be here anymore, he will always be your dad, but now you're older and you've come to a place in life where other people have maybe taken up those same roles that he had but that's okay. Your dad would want you to have someone to do those things for him. No parent wants their kid to grow up with out them but there's things in life that we can't control."

"He would want you to do all of the things that a dad should do for me." Ender said and I smiled.

"I like to think so. I mean I hope he would approve of me."

"I think he would." Ender looked up at me with a smile.

"You think he would?" I laughed and he nodded.

"You remind me of him." He put his head back on my chest.

"I do?"

"Yeah. You're funny like him."

"Oh yeah?" I chuckled.

"Mhmm. And you like music like he did, and play games with us like him."

I smiled.

"Tell me more about him." I ruffled Ender's hair and he looked up at me with a smile of his own and began to tell me stories and things he remembered about his dad, making me realise just how much I needed to be a better person and be the dad he didn't have anymore.

Carters POV:

"What's going on in here?" Luke's voice interrupted my crying as I saw all three boys walk in. "Woah Car, you okay?"

"Ender- he called Ashton dad." I hiccuped and Calum came over to the sofa and sat down next to me before pulling me into his arms, Harry's hand slipping off my shoulder.

"It's okay. Tell me what you're feeling." Calum hugged me.

"I don't know, I'm just heartbroken for him, he seemed so upset after he said it."

"I'm sure he and Ashton will work it out." He patted the back of my head and I nodded.

"Do you want one of your pills?" Michael asked, crouching down to my level and tucking some hair behind my ear.

"Yeah." I nodded, drying off my tears with my sleeve. "They're in Ashton's back pack."

Michael left to go get them and came back with one in hand and my water bottle.

"What are you giving her?" Harry asked, but he was behind me so I couldn't see him.

"An anxiety pill. She has seizures if she gets too stressed so the doctor gave her these to calm her down so she doesn't start seizing and we don't have to rush her to the ER again,
right?" Michael smiled at me as he spoke to Harry and then playfully touched my nose making me laugh.

"Thank you." I smiled back at him.

I took the pill and a deep breath.

"Where are they?" Calum asked.

"Outside. Ender ran off and he went to go find him."

They nodded.

"I hope they work this out." I sighed.

"Was Ashton mad?" Luke asked.

"No. He was more surprised. I think he just wanted to talk it out with him and see why Ender called him that." I sighed. "Um, would you mind if I have a few minutes to myself?"

"Sure. We'll head out." Luke smiled and patted my shoulder before he lifted up Gracie and the guys left the room, Harry included.

I took several deep breaths, hoping that everything was going okay, but I snapped my head up when I heard Ashton and Ender walk into the room.

"Hey." I sat up. "Is everything okay?"

"Ender." Ashton nodded at the young boy and he came forward to stand in front of me.

"Um, I was wondering if it would be okay with you if I called Ashton dad?" He asked me nervously.

"Babe, if that's what you want to do then that's more than fine with me. I want you to be happy bub." I moved my hand up to his cheek.

"Does this mean I have to call you mom now too?" He asked and I laughed.

"No. You can call me whatever you want, okay?"

"Okay." He nodded with a smile and I pulled him into a hug.

"I love you so much."

"I love you too." He hugged me back.

I moved to kiss his cheek and then felt Ashton sit next to me, putting his arm around my waist.

"So what did you guys talk about?" I asked as I pulled Ender into my lap, him sitting on both me and Ashton.

"Your dad." Ashton answered. "And just dads in general. We had a good talk, didn't we End?"

"Yeah." Ender smiled.

"Well I'm glad." I kissed his cheek.

"I'm hungry." He said and I laughed.

"Me too." Ashton said. "Let's go get some food yeah?"

They stood up and Ashton pulled me up with him before Ender jumped on Ashton's back and we walked out of the room to find lunch and have a good rest of our day.

The next day was night two in Osaka and I was reading quietly in a space I had found back stage where no one was when I heard footsteps.

Looking up I saw Harry walking my direction.

"Are you alright?" He said as he stopped in front of me. I was sitting on the floor and he was standing over me so I felt very small.

"Yes? Why would I not be alright?" I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

"Well you were crying yesterday and I didn't see you at the show."

"Oh. I'm fine." I gave him a little smile. "And the kids were tired so we took them back early."

"Oh." He nodded. "Um, are you busy right now?"

"No." I shook my head.

"Well I was going to go into town and wanted to know if you'd like to join me?"

Ashton was currently doing interviews with several radio stations and online blogs, and Gracie was napping while Ender worked with his tutor.

"Uh sure. That sounds fun." I smiled.

He reached down a hand and helped me up.

"Just let me drop off my book and get my bag first." I said and he followed me to the dressing room where I gathered my things and kissed Ender and Gracie, telling Ender where I would be.

"You ready?" Harry asked me.

"Sure." I smiled and he led me out of the room, a smile on his face as well and down the hall.

There was a car waiting outside and Harry opened the door for me and I felt his hand lightly rest on the small of my back as he let me get in first and then joined me in the back seat.

I was excited to get to know Harry better and I felt like he wanted the same.

I had felt a little alone since we left, and making new friends would be a good way for me to be more social and fit in better.

--

Hmm, Carter and Harry spending the afternoon together? I wonder what Ashton will think, or if he'll even care.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm what will happen....

I'll have the next part up soon ;)

Much love xx-m