It may have been months since Leah had last seen her father, but she could never forget what he looked like. But, compared to the tail end of winter, the last time she had seen him, he was tanned, brown eyes were well rested so they were no longer sunken with grief, and there was barely any stubble that grew so thickly on his face.

He was exactly the parent Leah knew and loved so dearly, and he was standing on her doorstep.

"Hi."

The ice breaker of a reply in July's heat was followed by a hint of a pressed smile that showed an honesty that he was glad to be where he was.

Something, resembling a happy relief.

Leah, meanwhile, was dancing with shock. Her breathing had shallowed, and she said nothing because she couldn't. That one verbal confirmation of her father's presence had firmed her grip on the door handle to the point where sweat was accumulating in her palm, and she was drowning in how many emotions she could feel in one day.

Louis shifted, awkwardly looking down.

"I uh, I wanted to see you since we...well, since I-"

"Who is it, Leah? Careful it's not the papz, cos they might have paid someone to- oh..."

Unfreezing, Leah swallowed down a lump that had crept into her throat. She felt Steven's hand on her back when he stood so naturally next to her, his touch always an opportunity for comfort.

But the surprise had taken his composure from the neutral fall of his face she saw, and even Liv clinging to his right side, picking with his necklace, was following the fearful widened eyes to the figure standing outside.

"Steven, it's...it's good to see you."

Subconsciously, Leah's free hand had gravitated to the dangling one of Steven's once it slipped from her back, but she only managed to tap his fingertips before he placed it on Liv's bent knee resting on his torso.

"Who's that man, daddy?"

Steven hesitated, tensing his posture.

"This is Leah's dad, blue. He's...visiting."

Denied a hand to hold, Leah clocked the suitcase and bag by her father's leg. She even saw the friendly wave directed to Liv, almost pitied it, but her inability to speak was washed further out of reach by the music escaping the garage.

"Your band?" Louis asked.

"Oh, yeah." Steven cleared his throat uncomfortably, glancing in the vague direction outside. "Yeah, we haven't quite managed to sound proof it all, sorry."

Easily the most random bit of information of the day, the awkward, full of unnecessary exchanges and apologies finally got to Leah.

"Dad, just come in, please," she said in exasperation, tugging the door wider.

She stepped back into her home with a dramatic drop of her arm, not looking at her father as she spoke, or at Steven because he was a new case altogether.

She understood why, was guilty that it hadn't been mentioned since the drama happened because she had refused the subject to come up in conversation, but right now she needed to prioritise herself, before addressing her boyfriend-father tension.

Flicking her eyes that had landed on the mirror and a very real reflection of her dad closing her front door behind him, Leah delicately slid her fingertips around her chin.

The heat would make a stress induced headache so much worse, and they weren't uncommon for her, so she had to try her best to stay calm and be methodical, if she could concentrate enough to process her current affairs.

"Hey," Steven whispered, touching her wrist. The new sprinkle of worry in his voice was reflected in eyes. "Did you know?"

"No," she responded softly, not about to get defensive stating the obvious. "No, I had no idea."

Steven seemed to have taken a step out of his own issues to cross right into hers. It was too considerate of him, maybe a flaw to constantly involve himself, but then he always found a way to show he cared, and he had a right to do so in this particular scenario.

"Liv, don't do that- just hang on, we'll go back down in a second."

"I wan' Patch! And cuddles with Jojo."

"And we'll go upstairs and get Patch, just be patient."

"Go," Leah urged, glancing over his shoulder. "And tell the guys to be quiet for a bit."

"Are you sure?" Steven asked, holding Liv's hand so she didn't tug at his necklace. She seemed grumpy to have been told off, fidgeting in his arms.

"Yes," Leah replied, twitching a weak smile. She shrugged faintly. "He's my dad."

Knowing their private conversation on the boundary to the kitchen had reached its break point, their staring contest of pleas and assurance let up.

Steven nodded before backing away, gave a polite smile to the unexpected guest who had occupied himself taking in first impressions of the home, and trekked up the stairs with Liv.

"Shall I-"

"Just leave your stuff there," Leah instructed, cold with the firmness in her voice that prevented the complete question.

Louis relaxed his pointing finger to his luggage currently residing by a collection of shoes that didn't just belong to the three that lived in the house.

It was a second, or two, but when her dad began walking over, Leah regretted letting Steven out of arm's reach, and silently begged him to come back down and save the pending talk.

That feeling almost swallowed her up, embarrassingly so when she locked eyes with a pair that had known her from the beginning of her existence, until realisation hit her through the curious case of déjà vu- she'd experienced, and she'd done a confession twice before.

The first time she sobbed after her explanation was met with a lack of understanding. Second, she was driven by anger because there still wasn't an equilibrium between them. But now, she was leading her father into her home as if he were a mere guest.

She didn't have anything to be nervous about, especially, because this time it was in her space, and in her home, and she wasn't going anywhere if things went south.

She also had the best boyfriend in the world who could be summoned if there was fear in her voice, and his band which just so happened to be a collection of her best friends.

"Would you like something to drink?" Leah was already grabbing a fresh glass out of a cupboard for herself.

The catch of pointless air she heard in doing so was as if her question was humouring.

"Would you like to skip the small talk, and maybe sit down?"

Leah tensed her wrist, disrupting her pouring the jug of water. The last drop or two for a satisfactory fill were more clumsy, and made a tiny spillage on the counter.

Hands empty, she turned.

"I'd like you to answer my question, please."

Her arms folded across her chest, face neutral, voice assertive. She wasn't looking for an argument, but she had to make herself clear from the start that this relationship hadn't miraculously healed.

Louis was kneading the knuckles of his right hand on the corner of kitchen island, tensing his arm all the way up to his shoulder. Judging from the definition in his exposed forearms, he must've looked after himself physically in the last few months, back to cycling and rowing, so when the sharp point of his Adam's apple dipped, a weakness in his tough frame, Leah knew she had won the first battle.

"Then water would be great." He corrected himself obediently, accepting that he still had a long way to go.

"Ice?" Leah asked, pulling open the tray of cubes. She didn't look behind her.

"Sure."

Slow, uncertain footsteps retreated to what she guessed was the table, and Leah had the invigorating task of filling up an extra glass and popping ice cubes into them both. Ice clinked and crackled, and her fingers gathered the condensation from the glasses once she held them.

She was right about her father sitting down, her presence alerting his attention which had drifted outside to the garden, and dragged coasters up from the centre to place their drinks down

"I'd like to go first," Leah stated, taking the adjacent seat, conveniently at the head of one end of the table.

There was no opposition, so she drew her knees close together until they were touching, and formulated the question that had been on the back of her mind for months.

"How did you know about Steven?"

The reaction over her boyfriend's name was the same as every other time; a twitch of hatred. Leah may have been robotic a few minutes ago, but she knew the greeting towards Steven was entirely forced, especially when the displeasure now was so clear.

She practically glared as the glass was lowered onto the comical cartoon style speech bubble coaster.

"I hired someone," Louis replied, thick eyebrows raised at his clasped hand. "Gave me the details I wanted to know, but wasn't allowed to know from the police."

Since it was obviously the truth, Leah let the lack of elaboration into some kind of private investigator slide. She could be spared the details, the money spent, exactly how, or who, because her dad was being honest with her.

"Okay," she acknowledged, with a single nod of her head. She brought her fighting fingers interlocked in her lap up to the table to encourage them to stay still. "Was that...useful for you?"

Louis rested his palm that had been around his glass, flat.

"In some ways more than others."

"Like?"

She couldn't help it. Plus, it meant her dad finally looked at her properly. Eye to eye for more than a second, just not how it mattered.

"I had to know that you weren't in danger- useful." A tip of his head split his speech. "But Jake's murderer was inconclusive- not useful."

That stung. A lot. And not just because her brother was the subject.

"But you still blamed Steven." Leah tried not to resort to an argumentative nature, but she was defending the man she loved. He hadn't deserved to be treated in the way he did.

"I was angry."

"Yeah," she scoffed. "It made me angry too."

They fell into a tense silence, neither looking at the other.

"Did mum know?"

"She guessed, and she tried to make me drop it because she wanted the investigation put behind her as soon as possible, so she could move on."

"But you didn't want to?"

"No!" Louis let out, probably more passionately than he intended to. The composure and softened brown eyes soon returned. "No, I...I lost my boy, and I almost lost you."

"So did mum, and she's not acting like this." Leah was unaffected, keeping her mind clear. "She listened to me, not always willingly, but she gave me the chance to explain."

Louis wasn't so forthcoming in responding. He had hung his head, the gel in his hair toughening the texture.

"I know you care about Jake's justice, and what I got myself into, but you can't deny yourself a recovery, or tell me what I can and cannot do with my life. It's not fair."

"I know," he sighed, rubbing his brow. His eyes were screwed shut in conflict. "I know- I knew that."

Leah continued, sitting forward, "So you know when you said 'don't come crying to me when he breaks your heart?' You did it there and then. It wasn't about Steven, because he'd already done it, and made me grieve all over again. But guess what? He tried again- Steven got help and then proved to me that he would never shy away from it again. But you, dad, you continued to take the blame and didn't let me, mum, or anyone help you. Can you see the difference there?"

It was somewhat satisfactory when her dad didn't look up. Her words resonated for longer. She had successfully put him on the spot, and she had made a point that seemed to stick with him, so he wasn't able to retaliate.

She also wasn't the one fighting tears this time.

"I understand your reluctance for Steven, but you don't know him like I do. You don't know any of them- Joe, Brad, Joey, Tom. If you had let me, I would've shown you, but you never gave me that opportunity."

"I don't hate Steven." Louis' response, along with his glazing eyes he revealed surprised her. He pinched his tear ducts, but he couldn't quite mask the quiver in his voice. "I don't hate any of them."

Leah desperately scrunched up her eyebrows.

"Then why do you act like it?"

"I was scared for you!" A tear rolled down his cheek. "You're my little girl, Leah and I don't want to see you hurt! Not then, not now, not ever!"

Leah didn't say anything. She couldn't whilst failure convinced her father to pour his heart out in front of her.

"And maybe because I couldn't be there for Jake, I became over protective of you. But all I did was push you away- I made you hate me, and you don't have to lie about it, because I would hate me for what I've done too."

An emphasising finger pointed at her was followed by Louis standing up. It wasn't aggressive, he wasn't breaking down into tears, and if anything, it was in desperation because he was that ashamed of himself.

"Please, don't blame yourself." Leah was sympathising, because he was finally understanding and communicating. "Dad, you know-"

"I miss him so much," Louis confessed, taking the moment before it slipped away from him. A shadow of pain screwed up his face, the squiggly vein on his hairline had appeared, and he was trying too hard to keep it together. "There isn't a day that goes by where I don't think about him, a-and there's nothing I can do to bring him back."

The tears clogged up his voice, the grieving love that hadn't quite found a way out like she had. And it might just have been their fractured relationship, inflicted because of the heartbreak of a loss that had changed his behaviour, holding him back.

A damp drop registered on Leah's cheek as she blinked rapidly to unblur her vision. It wasn't seen since her dad had his back turned again, staring into the garden, and no more followed, but she had to brush it away with her fingertips and take a sip of cold water to soothe the impending scratch in her throat.

The mention of Jake didn't make her upset like it used to, and she wanted her dad to feel the same. Patch up a wound, because pain didn't have to scar.

The white painted wood of her chair creaked gently as she stood, and the determination to encourage the healing process over her brother's name settled in.

"I write to Jake sometimes." Leah stood next to her father's side, following the gaze to the earthy coloured marshes beyond the property.

She waited for the sniffling to ease, because the skies were too clear to be clouded with tears.

"I tried to make it a weekly thing, but I'm always required in this house. From the moment I walk through the door, or when I've just put my feet up to watch the telly."

Steven did tend to make a lot of mess in the kitchen, leaving things everywhere, and Leah hated mess so she always tidied away, and there was always something he couldn't find, or he was moaning about something in the media, or Liv wanted her attention, and there were kids toys in the walking path, and the list went on, and on, and on.

"But when I do get a moment alone, I make sure to update him on my American Dream and sit right out there at the end of the garden- see?" She pointed to the boundary, the perfect spot nestled with nature just past the stone wall. "And then I read it aloud."

Leah glanced at her father. Hands squeezed his folded arms in the crooks of his elbows, but he didn't seem quite so fragile. Damp cheeks, hard blinking eyes, but the cries had dried up.

Out of decency, and to give him a bit of space, she went to grab a box of tissues from the downstairs bathroom, also checking Steven wasn't eavesdropping. She wouldn't be mad, but she did want to do this on her own, despite the initial panic.

"You know if he was here, he'd be out there with a ball at his feet," Louis said, on her return. A weak smile teased the corner of his mouth, a surprising, yet warming sign of progress.

It made talking that bit easier, like it used to be. Like it had been before.

"I was actually thinking of buying a goal," Leah found herself saying, placing the box on the table.

"What? For you?" He grabbed one.

"God no, my feet aren't coordinated enough, you know that." She adjusted a pink pillow on the window seat, thrown into thought. "But if I start talking to a goalpost it might be my downfall into insanity."

It earned a small clogged laugh, and when Leah looked over, her dad's lingering smile tightened into appreciation.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

Louis bunched up his shoulders.

"For not...slamming the door in my face, or chucking that glass of water at me because I deserved it- yes, I know I deserve it."

A joke now, but Leah had seriously considered the latter, and she might have been beginning to smile.

Maybe, she was getting her dad back, and she would always be willing to put effort in, if it was reciprocated. She wouldn't be half the person she was without him, and it went for both her parents.

"You're welcome," she said, fiddling her hand on top of a chair.

There was a spring in his step, as Leah watched her father go over to the drawers unit in the corner, observing the framed photos.

"So, Steven," Louis began thoughtfully. He turned his body outward, "A lead singer, band pioneer, father...Him?"

Leah raised her eyebrows, ignoring his pointing finger at the snow scene photo.

"Are you insulting him?"

"No no, not at all." Louis shook his head firmly. "I think he's an established young man who has swept my daughter off her feet, apparently multiple times."

"Really?" Disappointed droned her voice. "That was unnecessary."

"Which part?"

Leah rolled her eyes at the innocence. She knew they weren't conventional, had broken up over more than one lie, but she'd take her unique story any day because it had worked out, and better than she could have ever imagined.

"I'm happy with him. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."

She joined her dad as she spoke, drawn to the same photo from January in the snow- Steven standing proudly next to the snowman with his chest puffed out, pulling the same expression as the drunkenly smiling face of the snowman, flaps from his hat lopsided over his ears, thick coat and scarf powdered with snow, and with a lot of pink dusting his nose and cheeks.

Classic Steven. Goofy as always, whatever the weather.

"You have a very nice home together, and as long as you're happy...then so am I."

"That's because he's a 'well established young man'." Leah quoted him, slowly lifting her eyes from the memories.

Once again, she had outplayed her father. Sharing pointless witty remarks with him, smiles almost twinkling, and pertinent of all, the light-hearted comments had a much deeper meaning.

At long last, they were on the right track.

"You're working?"

"Yes, more than him actually. At least more regularly."

Louis was nodding, but his attention kept drifting to the photos. He took his time with each of the four currently residing there, gently touching a rose designed frame.

"You're so grown up."

The fondness in his voice made her smile, as she had grabbed her glass. The heat was relentless, especially standing in a direct patch of blazing sunlight.

"It does tend to happen." Thirst quenched, Leah twisted the shutter pole on a couple of the windows in the conservatory.

"This one's very cute. I remember when you were that small."

"Liv?" Leah was smiling, leaning over the sofa to grab the tiny beads on the blind pulley. "Yeah, she's a handful, but we have our moments. Steven has taught me a lot, and somehow vice versa."

It was only as she was smoothing the ridges in the side of her hair, quite possibly caught up on the idea of family and that big discussion with Steven, that she realised it wasn't a topic she had broached with either of her parents.

No one to be exact. And she was going to keep it that way, until things were certain.

"Can I see the garden?"

Thankfully, her dad didn't notice, or he just chose not to notice. Either way, it was appreciated, and she was glad to show him around.

"Is it not warm enough for you?" Leah referred to his jeans, locating the key from underneath a mini plant pot. At least he wore a short sleeved shirt.

Louis moved out the way.

"It's got to be thirty five out there, surely?"

"Yes, if it wasn't Fahrenheit that I'm constantly having to convert from."

"Oh, you poor thing."

"This is what I get for living here." Leah opened both back doors onto the seating area, hit with a swarm of heat.

She slipped on adidas sliders and unfortunately, caught a sight that made her flounce.

"For god sake, Steven," she groaned, crouching on the decking to the array of colourful mega bloks. "They'll bleach in the sun. You put them in the bag, and then in the shade or inside."

Reds, yellows, and pinks were quickly bundled into the building bag that had been left abandoned, apparently for almost a week. Funnily, it was his mess directly because she remembered they were sitting out for dinner the day before the New Hampshire trip, and he was the one making creations.

It really was like living with two kids.

"I take it you got my address from mum?" Leah placed the bag underneath the table where there was a bit more shade. She was squinting against the bright light. "You're lucky I was in though, because we just got back from New Hampshire."

Louis was standing on the grass because the decking was feet-burning hot, so she joined him.

"But somehow you weren't the first-" Her humour drained, the comment losing its purpose. "-unexpected guest of the...day."

"I'm so sorry, Leah." His demeanour had changed again, and the apology ripped through his submissive body language. "For showing up out of the blue- for a lot..."

Leah remained quiet, waiting for him to continue.

"I wanted to be the one to make amends because I know this was my fault, not yours."

"Dad." Pleading, she furrowed her brow further. "It's not all your fault."

"But I acted in completely the wrong way to you. And it's something I'm not sure is really forgivable."

Hearing those last few words, seeing the shame in her father's eyes mixed with undoubted fear, actually hurt her. She thought forgiveness would take its time, but right now, after everything, emotions brittle, love surging through, it was simple.

Leah did the human response, confirmed the unnecessary self belief, and hugged him.

"I'll always forgive you."

It was a promise, one she would always keep, and the embrace between them had been a long time coming.

They were finally on the road to recovery. Together.

"God, I've missed you." Louis reciprocated quickly, relief coated in the strong hug back. "So much."

"I've missed you too," Leah mumbled, into his shirt collar. She didn't care if it was too hot for hugs.

"I'm so, so sorry."

"I know. I'm sorry too- for not texting or calling since I left."

In hindsight, her approach to avoid amending her terms with her father, was something Leah knew she was just as guilty of. Overridden by her dad's views and how he was adamant that he took the blame, but it wasn't entirely fair.

She could've tried to reach out in the time apart, but she hadn't. Luckily, it ended up being beneficial for them both, focusing on individual thoughts and feelings, before mending and regaining their strong relationship dynamic.

"Is it alright if I stay with you?" Louis asked, a gentle hold high up her arms before letting go completely.

Leah couldn't help her amusement.

"You really took a gamble, didn't you?"

"Well yes and no. I did look at motels- somewhere to stay, but I feel so out of place over here. Haven't been to the US in years, and never the east coast before."

She'd assumed her mum had been the bearer of her address, and she probably had something to do with the trip, but Leah was grateful. On paper, it was completely the wrong timing, a day that should have been scrapped as 'just one of those days' but it actually ended up being perfect, and the stress over all of the unexpected guests had gone.

"Of course you can stay," Leah said, giving him a smile. "I'll get the spare room ready in a bit."

With Louis' thanks, they headed back inside, out of the sweltering heat, seemingly on much better terms than when they had consulted the outside to confess.

"Leeaahh!" Steven made a rushed appearance, poking his head out the door. "Hi, what are we doing for dinner?"

"Delivery," she said, stepping out her sliders. "Because we have no food, and a lot of people to feed."

"The boys are staying?" Steven was pleasantly surprised.

"I think my dad should meet them." Leah was half smiling, looking at the surprise in her father's eyes. "Only if he wants to though."

"Oh." Even though Louis was put on the spot, nervous from how he scratched the back of his head, he didn't hesitate for very long. "Yeah. Yeah, I'd love to."

And that was the perfect answer Leah could have hoped for. Polite smiles and nods in exchange between two important men in her life, were some of the last things that needed amends.

"Well that's great, I'll go tell them."

"Uh Steven?"

"Yeah?"

Leah became a witness. A witness to her father outstretching a kind right hand having bounced forward to gain Steven's attention. It was the closest they had been in a long time.

"Can we...start over?"

A timid request, far-fetched in a lot of ways, and the lengthy pause raised a lot of cruel anticipation. But the flick of eyes in Leah's direction, like Steven was confirming his decision, calmed her down. He could've winked- he might have- but all the attention was on the curved lines that appeared at the corner of his mouth.

A sparkle of hope and charming brilliance all in a single expression.

"Sure, man." Steven shook the open hand firmly. "We're family."

The perfect boyfriend, with the perfect smile, persona, knowing what to say...the list could go on.

If it wasn't for her father's frown, and an incredulous gesture over his shoulder, Leah could've kept fighting with a smile that adored.

"His hair isn't longer than yours, is it?"

"What? Oh dad- no- why?" Not making any sense, but conveying the disappointment over such a comment, she tipped her head back.

"He's a rockstar, I get it."

"Please be nice to him. I love him a lot."

Leah didn't have time to realise the slip of words, because her dad was playfully hooking his arm around her, forcing them into a messy headlock.

"Oh là là tu es amoureux!"

"Yes!" Leah laughed, gripping his arm. She tried to wiggle out. "Yes I am in love!"

Eventually being set free, only one of them remained intermittently laughing.

"You're such a child," she grumbled, letting her messed up hair loose. "Sixty next month and a child."

Louis shivered, grimacing.

"Don't mention the next decade."

"Are you having a party?"

"Me? No, absolutely not."

"Party?" Joey appeared first, looking behind him. "Did I hear a party?"

"Oh no please, not another party. I can't face another hangover."

"Brad, you're the youngest. Grow a pair."

"Y'know acting your age doesn't do you any harm, Tom."

"What? Sure it does! It's no fun being an adult."

Aerosmith had tumbled into the kitchen, Steven making his way out of the crowd, Tom with an unnecessary insult, Brad still trying to redeem himself from his drunken drama, and Joey complaining about being an adult.

Joe there too, smiling at his friends' idiocy but he was occupied with Liv holding his hands and walking on his feet towards the table.

Leah took a deep breath, Steven at her side and sliding a hand around her back.

"Dad...meet Aerosmith."

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