Stephanie's POV

"How does it feel now you're seeing your Daughter more frequently?"

I bite my lip as I look down at my phone that rests on my lap. As every move and word I use helps them analyse me, I try to keep the best poker face possible; I know I'm terrible.

"Stephanie.."

"I feel better. I feel as if I'm finally accepted but not by other people but by myself. I don't have to hide any demons that I once created, I'm no longer my enemy." I answer and she nods as she writes down on her note pad. I try to flick my eyes over but her writing is too small to read.

"Would you say you're adapting as a single Mother?" She asks and I mentally curse those two words as I hate them being used together. I'm proud to be doing things my way and for having the chance to start again. But it's just shit when I am called a single Mother. I guess it's not how I pictured my life to be.

"Yes." I answer as I don't want to give too much back. I try reserving myself hoping that the conversation will slide on to something else but I'm wrong. I should know better that I'll never mentally beat her, this is her profession. I'm her job.

"What about Harry? Has your friendship continued?" She asks as she crosses her legs. I sit back and I softly shrug my shoulders.

"It's steady" I answer and she nods. "I guess I'm realising the reality of how it all works. He takes Amelia for a few days and then I have her. We make a routine that works but it doesn't mean it's easy." I add and she writes some more notes.

"Are your feelings towards him strong?" She asks and I look away as I don't want to be talking about him. Not today.

"A bit."

"Do you worry he has moved on?" She asks and I find myself getting more tense by her questions. "Are you in love?"

"Is this necessary?" I ask as I sit up straight. "Does it matter what I really feel towards him? At the end of the day I'm concentrating on my Daughter. Her relationship with me is the only one that I have security with. She needs me and I need her. Isn't that the most important?" I ask and she shakes her head.

"Doesn't mean you can let your feelings towards others be less important. You need to be able to feel" I ignore her words as I glance at the clock noticing I'm almost done. I sit up and grab my bag by my feet.

"I feel enough but talking about it over and over again doesn't make me feel less. I'll see you next week." I say as I stand up sling my bag over my shoulder.

"You did well today." I don't look as I walk to the door and I say my goodbyes. I just want to get out of here. Sometimes I'm okay talking and other times I just don't feel like it. If I feel steady I want to stay steady; I hate rocking the boat.

I take a longer journey home as I recap my session today. I know I wasn't easy and I should have relaxed a bit more. But being in that seat is harder than it looks. It's like everyone is watching me, waiting for me to show some insanity so they can try to fix me. I don't think anyone can be fixed, we all have our insecurities and errors, we're human.
As I reach our door I look back and notice a different car parked outside, it wasn't there this morning. Prehaps Zayn or Chloe have a guest that they forgot to mention.
I open the front door and immediately recognise a voice that I have not heard for a long time.
Heading to the kitchen, I see his blonde hair styles upwards like it always is and his laugh that fills the whole room.

"Niall.." I smile as he turns around and grins happily. He opens his arms as we exchange a brief hug. "What are you doing here?"

"I've come to stay for a while." He answers and I raise my eyes in shock. I want expecting this. "I've split with Sadie. A girl I met and ended up moving in with" He rolls his eyes in shame and looks away as I stand back.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Are you alright?" I ask and he nods whilst he shrugs his shoulders.

"You're okay with Niall staying for a bit aren't you?" Chloe asks and I smile as I reply happily. It will be good to be around someone different and to have some different things to talk about.

"I've just had a text from Kara." Zayn says as he walk into the living room and suddenly stops as he looks at me. He slowly looks at Chloe as she questions his comment. "Uh yeah.." He looks back down at his phone.

"What is it?" I ask as somehow I sense he's holding back because of me. He swallow sharply and coughs to clear his throat.

"Uh she's on a date." He answers and I frown in confusion to why he's stalling so much. "With Harry." He adds and that's when my heart literally sinks to the pit of my stomach.

"Harry?" I repeat even though I didn't intend for it to come out loud. Zayn nods and looks cautiously to Chloe who's now giving him a stern look. Kara, I remember. She's the one with the platinum blonde hair and wolf like eyes. I start to feel shit as I remember how beautiful she is and how Harry must really be into her.

"Steph.."

"I'm good, just going to get a drink." I excuse myself as I head into the kitchen and I sit down on a chair. I should have prepared myself for something like this, it was bound to happen sooner or later. I just didn't expect to it be now.

"The whole date thing could be really innocent" Chloe starts and I shake my head as I look up at her.

"I know. He's entitled to date, it's been long enough." I answer bravely and Chloe sits down and nods. "I'll get used to it, it was just a shock."

"I'm really sorry Stephanie, I hate to be the one-"

I cut Zayn off as I look at him and shake my head. I force a smile. "It's not your fault at all. I'm okay." I stand up and I plave a hand on his shoulder. "Honestly, I'm fine." I smile as I head out of the kitchen and I walk into my bedroom. I take a seat down on my bed and I scroll through my phone. As much as I don't want to be looking on social media, I feel I can't quite stop myself.
With Harry out, someone is obviously babysitting Amelia. It doesn't take me long to confirm Amelia is staying with Louis as a picture of them both is on his page.

"Hey.." Niall taps on the door as I've left it open, I look over at him as he softly smiles. "I've mentioned about going bowling. Thought it would be fun, you up for it?" He asks and I immediately go to decline but instead I ignore my inner thoughts and I make myself feel a little energy to join them.

"Sure, why not" I answer and he nods as he smiles. "What time are you thinking?" I ask. I put my phone down and I stand up.

"We could leave in about twenty minutes?" He offers and I nod as I tell him I'll be ready. He leaves my door way and I turn around as I head to my wardrobe and find a cardigan. Even though Harry keeps popping up in my head, I try to ignore it as much as I can. I'm soon distracted as my phone vibrates and I see Louis is calling. I already know it must be Amelia.

"Hello?" I answer as it sit back down on the edge of the bed.

"Hi Steph, Amelia just wanted to ring you. Is it okay to talk?"

"Yeah of course. Where is she?" I smile as I wait for her voice.

"Hi Mummy."

"Hey sweetie, are you alright?" I ask as I hear Louis talking quietly to her in the background.

"Yeah I'm okay, I'm baking with Louis. I have cookies." Amelia's voice sounds so grown up on the phone, I can't stop smiling as she explains what her cookies are like. "I'll save some for you" She adds sweetly.

"Oh thank you. I'm sure they're yummy." I laugh and she tells me how they're the best ones she's ever tasted. "Louis must be a secret baker." I joke and she giggles down the phone.

"Where are you?" She asks as the conversation is suddenly diverted.

"I'm at home. I'm looking forward to seeing you tomorrow." I answer as I look at the doorway to see Chloe walking by.

"Me too. Can we go to the park?" She asks and I smile as I agree to take her. "okay Mummy. I have to go and decorate the rest of my cookies now." She adds and I nod whilst laughing.

"Okay sweetie. I'll see you tomorrow." I say a little louder. "Love you." I add as those two words mean so much when I say it to her.

"Love you Mummy." I hear Amelia pass the phone over as her voice gets distant in the background.

"Hi Stephanie. " Louis says friendly. I say hello and ask if he's okay. "All good here thanks. I hope you're good." He says and I know he's gently referring to Harry's where abouts.

"Yep I'm alright thanks." I stand up as I walk to the window. "I better shoot, have fun with Amelia, thank you for letting her call me." I add as I bite my bottom lip a little too hard.

"No worries. Have a good evening Steph."

"You too."

With that we say our goodbyes and the line falls dead. The sadness I had felt has suddenly melted with happiness from just a short conversation with Amelia. I smile to myself as I turn around and I see Niall walking towards my door. He looks as if he's about to ask if I'm ready.

"Let's go." I say happily as I walk past him and I head towards the door to grab my bag. Tonight is going to be fun, tonight I'm going out and I'm not going to think about Harry.

Notes