– Athena & Jake –

     There are auras around everyone, some stronger than others. The strongest seem to be happiness and the other being sadness. It's all in the way someone holds themselves. How they stand, how they talk, the look in their eyes – it was basically the key to the soul. (Of course, not in a creepy way.) At this moment, Athena and Jake could feel the happy aura around the two adults.

    Everything was lighthearted, something Athena hasn't witnessed with her Father since she could remember. And though Harry has been lighthearted with Athena – that phase all parents go through with the baby talk and constant cooing –, Athena's never witnessed this kind of lightheartedness before. Where he stood tall, hands shoved into his pockets with an easy tone and more light in his eyes than she's ever seen – but there was still a spot left untouched, that look he's had since that dreadful phone call three years ago.

     Athena wished she knew what had changed from this morning to this afternoon.

     It was now time for Athena's dance lesson. She sat in the middle of the studio, doing the stretches Monica had taught her on the first lesson while watching Harry and Monica talk through the reflection in the mirror. They were both smiling.

     If only the conversation was something more personal, Athena thought to herself as she pushed her baby hairs out of her face. But it was still nice to see Harry smile with Monica since this morning was quite the opposite.

     "So what are you going to teach her today?" Harry asked changing the subject from bananas – which was something Harry had to eat three times a day, Monica made fun of it – to his daughter's lesson.

     "Maybe I'll teach the both of you a waltz," Monica answered, her eyebrows rising in the slightest.

     Harry parted his lips and tilted his head, making a couple curls brush his forehead. "You know how many years people have tried to teach me how to dance? No offence, but I doubt I'll be able to dance."

     "Well, I could try." Monica shrugged before letting a smirk pass her lips. "Besides, I might get in a few laughs if you trip and fall."

     Harry gaped at her in surprise but didn't have time to reply because Athena walked up and told Monica that she was done stretching. Athena was secretly holding back a laugh from Monica's remark. Monica gestured with her head for Harry to follow them to the middle of the studio.

     Jake watched from the bleachers outside the studio, laughing from time to time when Harry would trip over his own feet and frown as the two girls laughed. He smiled while watching Harry waltz with Athena, Harry was bent down with Athena's feet planted on his – it was a cute sight. He also smiled – a lot – when Monica had to take over as the girl partner to show Harry exactly how to lead and do the steps.

     "You have a tendency of stepping on feet don't you?" Monica mused after Harry accidentally stepped on her foot for the sixth time. Harry let out a small chuckle and looked up from his gaze on his feet to meet Monica's eyes.

     He cleared his throat and stepped back slightly, removing his hand from her waist and hand. "I warned you that I'm un-teachable. Besides, it's not just dancing. On my wedding day I accidentally stepped on Katelyn's feet at the alter and she – " Harry started to laugh but quickly cut himself off, the spark that was previously in his eyes gone now. Athena frowned from her spot and looked at Jake through the glass, seeing a frown form on his lips as well.

     This happened every time Harry nearly speaks of Katelyn, he shuts down and becomes solemn. It was hard, Athena understood that, to find someone of whom you'd thought you spend your entire life with but having them torn away in a blink of an eye. Any fond memory Harry held, was bound to resurface at any time and when they would, it'd bring him back to that day of losing her.

      He was trying, Athena, Jake and Monica could see that but it was easier said than done to be okay with the memories. For Heaven's sake, he believed that she was his soul mate – that they'd grow old and die peacefully in each other's arm like in the novel The Notebook. That didn't happen.

     "I think I'm done for today," Harry muttered quietly, his gaze set on the wooden floors. "I'll, uh, just talk to Jake until the lesson is done."

     Harry quickly turned away and walked toward the door, toward a gaping Jake Highland.

     Monica watched him for a minute, her heart still beating fast from when Harry held her – of course it was only to learn to waltz but it was still worth increased heart beats. Her lips were parted in shock, feeling that weight she felt the last time Harry had abruptly left her had returned.

     "Monica?" Athena questioned after inspecting her change in aura – it was sad now. After not receiving a reply, the blonde tugged lightly at Monica's yoga pants.

     "Oh, of course." Monica blinked out of her stare and looked down to Athena before looking at the clock. Only ten minutes remained.

     Monica insisted on learning something else for the remaining time. Though throughout learning a few ballet moves, Athena thought about this relapse Harry had took. She needed to make Harry comfortable with Monica in order for him to be able to talk – even think – about Katelyn. To build up that trust and break down the hurt – remove the rusted nail from the wood. She needed to come up with something before Harry and Monica went on that 'no talking' spree again. She wished she understood how adults work.

     She also wished that she could know more about her mother, that little cut off sentence was the most information – other than her appearance – she's ever gotten about Katelyn. She wanted to know more, and she could tell that Monica wanted to know more too. But Harry was still hurt from everything that's happened, and until that's healed, he'll never be able to talk about Katelyn without bursting into tears.

     "Can you take me to McDonald's?" Jake questioned Harry after a five minute conversation about superheroes. ("The Hulk is the best superhero." "No, I think Banana Man is." "There is no such thing as Banana Man." "Sure, there is. He's black and yellow." "That's Batman, silly!" ).

     Harry raised his eyebrows at the five-year-old and took a seat at the top of the bleachers, Jake followed in suit. "Why don't you tell your Mummy to take you?"

     "She says it's unhealthy and won't take me, but I like it!" Jake says secretively, leaning in closer as if Monica was listening to them. He widened his already big brown eyes. "But Uncle Jeff always takes me there when he comes."

     "You're a little rebel, aren't you?" Harry grinned, seemingly to forget all about what happened in the studio as he talked to the adorable brunet. Jake grinned widely at him before rising a finger to his lips as if to say 'this stays between us'. Harry chuckled. "Your secret is safe with me."

     "I miss Uncle Jeff," Jake pouted after a few beats of silence. He glanced up at Harry. "And I miss McDonald's."

     "Okay, bud. I'll try and get you some McDonald's," Harry said, mentally cooing at Jake's pouty face – it was similar to Athena's – with widened eyes, scrunched eyebrows, and a pushed out bottom lip. He couldn't resist the pouty face. "But if I get in trouble, you're going down with me."

     Jake giggled but nodded anyways, completely forgetting the fact that Harry had walked out on his Mum once more.

 .

     Athena giggled at Monica's disgusted face, taking a bite out of the golden nugget blissfully since it's been a while since she's eaten at McDonald's as well. Jake did the same, only he had already finished his four nuggets and was now chomping down on his chips, shoving five into his mouth at a time.

     After Athena's lesson ended, Jake and Harry stormed in with pouty faces, Jake mumbling 'McDonald's' loud enough for Athena to hear and start begging Monica as well. And Monica simply couldn't say no to two adorable five-year-olds nor could she say no to an adorable (yet broken) twenty-eight-year-old. She was simply outnumbered.

     "Jacob Riley, you're eating like I've never fed you before." Monica scolded the brunet beside her. She grabbed a napkin and wiped at his salted fingers and face, pushing a couple strands of hair out of his face. Jake simply stuck his tongue out after she looked away, making Harry choke on his drink from across the table. Everyone turned to him.

     "Sorry, I, um, saw a bug?" Harry said in the form of a question. He avoided Monica's eyes and looked to Jake, sending him a wink before looking to his little girl on his right. She ate at her own pace, dabbing her mouth with a napkin after eating a chip or a nugget. His smile faltered before he stared at the table.

      His aura has changed too.

     Jake knew that something just reminded him of Katelyn, every time he'd get that look in his eye he was thinking about her – that was very obvious to him. If only it was obvious to everyone else.

     "I forbid you from talking to Jake about anything McDonald's related," Monica said half-joking trying to lighten the mood after seeing his smile falter. Jake gaped at his mother but then looked to Harry as he shook his head.

     "He said I'd be his favourite adult if I got him McDonald's," Harry stated taking a sip of his soda.

     "Jake!" Monica mocked hurt, looking down to her child who sipped his milk innocently. "How could you betray me like that?"

     "You don't give me McDonald's," Jake answered while taking a glance at Athena who had a hand over her mouth trying to contain her giggles. "Uncle Jeff and Harry does."

     Monica's lips parted. "Jeff gives you McDonald's?"

     "Uh, no."

     "I'm going to give him a call," Monica stated, poking Jake's nose as she slid out of the booth and pulled out her phone to call her brother.

     "Is Jeff your Mummy's brother or your Daddy's?" Harry questioned, genuinely curious. He looked out the window to see Monica leaned against the side of the building, the phone pressed to her ear. He met Jake's eyes who were already on him.

     "Mummy's. I don't know Daddy," Jake replied with a frown. Harry mentally hit himself for forgetting that crucial detail. "I want a Daddy."

     "You'll get one soon, bud. When your Mummy finds the right lad," Harry comforted the brunet.

     Jake looked up and met Harry's eyes, thinking 'you'll be my Daddy – you're the right lad for her'. But rather than saying that out loud, Jake nodded and threw Athena a glance who was watching Monica reenter the fast food restaurant, arms folded.

     "Jeff is grounded," Monica told Jake, making him pout. "No McDonald's without my permission, fire ball."

     "Way to strip him from his childhood," Harry muttered softly but Monica still heard.

     "Got a problem with it, Styles?"

     Harry stayed quiet, placing his drink down and nudging Athena softly. "Come on, Baby Girl, let's go home."

     "Harry," Monica called before Harry scooted out of the booth. He turned to her with raised eyebrows. "See you tomorrow?"

     "Of course, Mon."

- - -

(A/N): [THIS ISN'T EDITED] okay, that was the worst thing I've ever written and I'm so ashamed right now not only because it's crappy but also because it took forever to update this. I'm so sorry about that by the way, it's just really hard to find time right now bc my SATs are coming up and I really want to get a good score not to mention two AP classes so please understand why it may be hard to make updates.

Importance of Chapter: It shows that Harry is slowly warming up to Monica (despite the fallbacks that happened) because he almost shared something about Katelyn to her – that's a good sign guys, even though he had shut down afterward. It also shows you Harry and Jake's relationship and how close they're getting (remember it's not particularly a good thing – even if it is cute) and then you find out that Monica's a bit of a health freak haha, poor Jake gets his childhood ripped from him. By the way, what Harry said was jokingly not rude – it seemed rude but it wasn't. And look! A nickname for Monica! But is that a good thing? ß keep that in mind

SONG OF CHAPTER:    HUMAN – CHRISTINA PERRI

Importance of Song: this song is, of course, about Harry and that he has his limits so don't be frustrated with him. He goes through pain everyday by not having Katelyn anymore, it was such a tragic thing to experience and it'll take him a while to heal. Don't forget that he hasn't really talked to any woman besides his mother and Gemma – so of course it'll be harder. It's been three years, and maybe three years was enough for Monica to be able to build him back up again – who knows?

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