Aviana's POV

I awoke in the morning when there was light filtering through my blinds. I groaned quietly, rubbing my eyes with the heels of my palms and then I sat up, peering around the room. I felt something was off, it felt peculiar. I sat up and realised something; Niall's presence was no longer here, he was absent from where he had been lying next to me, the night prior.

I looked around for anything that belonged to him, but it was as though it was traceless he was ever even here. I frowned and stood up, looking around the room before going to check on Harper. I opened her room door and when I did, I felt as though my heart had dropped. My mouth went dry. Her bed was empty. Someone had made it, as though she hadn't even lain in it last night.

I began to panic, feeling as though my chest was tightening. Daniel didn't come and take her, did he? No, that was improbable. I bit my lip and searched the other rooms, in the hopes I would find Harper, I needed to know she was safe.

On the fridge was a sticky note, 'Don't worry, I have Harper, we'll be back before twelve :) Your fruit loop xo' I breathed a sigh of relief when I read this note, feeling as though a weight had been lifted off my shoulders now I knew she was alright. I smiled softy, tracing a finger over his legible hand-writing. It is exemplary for a man.

I made my way down to my bedroom, opening a drawer in my desk and pulling out an empty notepad. Inside, I stuck all the sticky notes I had received from him so far, putting them in sequence of when I received them. Just as I was sticking the last one in place, I heard the front door open.

"Mommy!" I heard Harper's distinctive voice call out. She ran into the room and giggled, cuddling my leg.

"Hi baby, where did you go?" I questioned, running a hand through her diminutive pony-tail. Niall had obviously put her hair up for her because it wasn't like this yesterday.

"We went out n' got 'er mammy breakfast," Niall smiled, holding up a box and a cardboard cup holder with what appeared to be, two pumpkin spice lattes. I smiled brightly as Harper giggled.

"Were you good for Niall?" I asked as I followed the two of the to the living room.

"She was," he smiled. "Isn't her outfit cute? I picked it meself," Niall proudly smiled. I turned to observe what she was wearing. Blue skinny jeans, her Nike trainers I once got on sale and cute shirt with bird prints on it, as well as the jacket I had purchased with the leftover money Niall had given me.

"Yes, very stylish," I smiled, taking a seat at the kitchen table. I aided her in taking her coat off, hanging it on the back of the chair before lifting her up into her booster seat at the table so she could eat breakfast along with us.

"See, now, this morning' Harper decided we needed t' be healthy and I totally agreed with that," Niall smiled as he placed the box on the table. "So," he explained. "We got doughnuts."

"Wow," I sarcastically gasped. "You two are so healthy." I said as Niall opened the box, unveiling the doughnuts he had gotten. There was six in total, two each, I was guessing.

"That mine," Harper pointed to the pink one.

"No," Niall gasped, peering down at her. "I'm the princess, the pink one is mine," Niall said, placing his hand over his heart and looking down at Harper as though he was upset she had demanded the pink one. Her expression conveyed a rather bewildered one. She looked to me, then back at Niall as though querying if he was being serious.

"She looks horrified," I tell Niall, who bit his lip to refrain himself from laughing.

"No," She shook her head, a frown creasing her features.

"But you always give me the princess crown, so princess' get the pink 'un," he explains. She looked rather torn, looking between the two of us before pouting.

"Okay," she quietly said, not having a tantrum like a stereotypical toddler would. She just nodded solemnly and pointed to a different doughnut which she desired.

"I honestly thought she was gonna cry, not gonna lie," Niall admitted. "Didn't expect this," he mumbled and picked up the pink doughnut, placing that on her plate which earned a beaming smile from Harper.

"Ta!" She earnestly grinned. We both simultaneously smiled softly at her, neither of us could have conjectured that response. She is not an average toddler. "My little monkey princess," Niall pinched her cheek which emitted a giggle from her.

"It's almost her birthday," I bit on my lip, peering over at Niall. There is a sense of foreboding glooming amongst me about it. I am apprehensive as I don't know what I will do for it. I am lacking the wherewithal to purchase her anything significant. Especially considering how I am trying to gather as much cash I can for Niall. I guess I'll just have to attempt to squeeze in a few more shifts.

"Oh, is she almost two," he cooed, smiling over at her. "Are ya having a party?" Niall asked her. She just nibbled on her doughnut and gave no verbal response.

"No, mom will probably just come around and we'll have a cake or something for her," I explained. Niall nodded in response.

"Sounds nice," hesaid through a mouthful of food. "What date?" He questioned around his straw.

"Seventh of November," I responded. "Two years since my life changed, but she made it so much better," I smiled at her and then looked back to Niall, who had a rather curious expression up his face.

"I don't mean t' pry, ya don't have to answer, but like, is 'er father 'round?" Niall asked, peering over at Harper before looking back at me. I shook my head, looking down at my lap. I didn't quite want to discuss this, but the question was inevitable. "Why wouldn't he wan' t' be part a' her life?" He furrowed his eyebrows.

"No, he wasn't very nice," I bit my lip, picking at my nails and sighing deeply. I didn't want to discuss this topic right now, but I know I have to inform him at some stage, if he's going to be a part of our lives in any way.

"Nah?" Niall questioned, as though silently asking me to continue.

"No, not at all," I sighed, biting down on my lip and avoiding eye contact. "She's never met her father, I don't want her to meet him either," I explained, not wanting to include too much detail of what occurred. He doesn't need to know. And I don't need to remember.

"It wasn't 'cause of y'er job, was it?" Niall asked.

"Niall!" I exclaimed. He was basically implying if I had gotten pregnant from being a stripper. Nice move Niall. Way to gain my admiration for you.

"Sorry, ya don't have t' answer, I was just curious," he shrugged, biting on my lip. "Sorry," he chuckled. "I'll stop askin' now, I know m'annoying."

"No, you're not, you never ask questions. I know you're just curious, I mean who isn't," I chuckled, placing my hand on his and squeezing it lightly. The sides of his mouth curved up, creating a soft smile. I smiled as well, before turning away with a flush painting my cheeks. I felt a little close to him..

"Do you 'hink will she ever meet 'er dad?" Niall questioned.

I contemplated the question for a brief moment. "No, I don't think she will, frankly, I don't want her to either," I sighed. "I know when she gets older, it's going to be difficult because she's going to be asking where her daddy is when all her friends talk about their dads," I bit on my lip.

Niall looked over at her as she peered over at us with icing all over her face. "Daddy?" She asked, looking around.

"See, even now she's somewhat curious," I exhaled deeply as Niall wiped her mouth with a wet wipe. "I feel bad, but there's nothing I can do."

"I'm sure she will understand that he wasn't nice, did he want anythin' to do with 'er?" Niall asked me as he stood up and put the wipe in the bin.

"No, he wanted me to abort her," I peered down at my lap, picking at my nails. Niall looked rather stupefied. He appeared as though he was at a loss for words.

"Why would anyone want ya t'do tha'," he shook his head, repugnance evident on his face. "Some people are disgusting."

"Yeah, I mean, I didn't want her at the beginning either, I was so young, I didn't feel I would be a good parent," I admitted to him. "But then when I saw her on the scan for the first time, I knew I couldn't abort her, she looked like a tiny human already," I smiled softly as I recalled. "At that point I thought I would put her up for adoption but as she began kicking and moving around, it all just became more real. Then I held her for the first time and in that moment, I just knew I couldn't give her up. I knew I wanted to try my best for her and give her a good life, which is what I've been trying to do but I haven't done that great a job," I chuckled softly, biting on my lip and looking down at my lap sullenly.

"Avi," Niall placed his hand atop of mine. "I personally 'hink you have been doing an amazing job. I wouldn't be able t' do what you've done," he told me, earning a small smile from my part.

"Thank you so much," I whispered, a significant smile taking over my features. Nobody had ever complimented me like that, applauding me for my motherhood skills. It was a uplifting transition from the usual 'what kind of mother are you?' comments.

"I mean it when I say it, I know I might not know ye that well yet, but I can tell you are an amazing mammy," he squeezed my hand gently. I looked up at him, peeing into his eyes, a little cautious. They were gleaming in the low light, such a majestic blue. I could look into them all day, if I could.

"Out," Harper cut in on our little moment. I blushed and sat back, while Niall chuckled and took her out of her booster seat, whispering to her to go mo-mo her teddy and the princess gear. I smiled softly, wondering how he can recall her teddy's name. He is so good with her, a much better male figure than her father.

"She's such a cute kid, d'know why he wouldn't wan' t' be a part a 'er life," Niall shook his head. "Some people are sick really."

"He was just simply a sperm donor, as I see it because that's all he ever done for Harper," I ran a hand through my hair, ruffling it gently. It actually wasn't in a 'mommy bun' today, it was still down from last night. I assumed it was a mess, but by the way Niall was watching me, I guess I thought wrong.

"I have a question, n' ye can tell me t' fuck off if ya want," Niall chuckled, moving to the edge of his seat and intertwining his hands.

I looked somewhat perturbed for a second, a deep frown creasing my features. "What would that be?" I asked.

"Well, I was just wondering if maybe ye like, like maybe like.. wanted t' go on a date?" He looked down at his lap, his cheeks glowing as he did. I bit on my lip, my eyes widening a little. Wow, didn't think my hair looked that appealing.

"I mean I.. " I found myself at a loss for words, not quite knowing how to respond to that. "Well, maybe sometime yeah, but for the moment, I have Harper's birthday coming up and I'm so busy with work and -"

"Say no more, s'grand. We can go some other time. Just know the offer is still on th' table," he assured me. God, he is so intuitive.

"i'm not rejecting you or anything I'm just-"

"Busy, it's grand. You have a kid, priorities first," he smiled. "She's only going t' be two once, I'm sure I'll still be here in a few weeks," he chuckled. "If not, well, you missed your chance," he winked at me.

"Yeah, you're a popular man, I may have just missed my chance," I smirked slightly, quite content he didn't take it the wrong way.

"Well, a mean, only have like twenty somethin' million followers," he shrugged which made me giggle. "Oh yeah, that's what I was meant t' ask then," he piped up. "Look," He showed me his phone which had the selfie he took with Harper and him on it, Niall sporting Harper's princess crown and holding her wand. "wanted t' ask you if it was okay if I put this on private Facebook, it's just too freaking cute. Make the girls go wild." He nudged me.

"Yeah, people won't see it or know who she is though, will they?" I questioned and he shook his head.

"Nah, it's a private Facebook anyways n' m'not gonna say who she is, just gonna add a really cute caption," he giggled quietly, typing on his phone. A few moments later he showed me his phone again, this time on it was the caption 'princess Nialler and his stylist' "Isn't that adorable," he giggled. "Profile picture material right here," he chuckled.

"Harper." He called. She didn't hear him the first few times, which didn't surprise me but she she did, she came running in. "Look, y'er on me Facebook," Niall told her, lifting her up onto his lap and showing her the photo. "It already has seventy likes." He chuckled. "Now, if it was on Twitter or instagram it would have hundreds of thousands, cause you know, I'm famous," he rolled his eyes, trying to be funny.

"I'm famous too," Harper giggled, pointing to the photo.

"Yeah, and you're much cuter than Niall," I told her, placing my hand on her knee, which in turn, made Niall stick his tongue out at me, in a puerile manner.

"Hey, I make a damn cute princess," Niall defended, rolling his eyes. I just smiled, smiled, because in that moment, I was happy.

Being happy doesn't mean life is perfect, it means you've decided to look beyond the imperfections. With Niall here, my life wasn't perfect, but it sure was a whole lot better than it was before he came into it.

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A/N Sorry I didn't update last week, if you guys read oblivion you would have known I had taken last week off writing, just to get a little break :) Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this!! Can we try get this to maybe 15 votes and 10 comments?? Do you think you guys can do that ;)

Anyways, I love you all, I hope you're all having a wonderful day! Don't forget to vote and comment!!