BONUS•THREE

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This chapter describes the life of Courtney, Dylan and their child, two years after chapter 58 but before the epilogue.
Enjoy :)

She stares at herself in the mirror and her eyes trail over her face. Her brown hair that is now cut shorter rests on her shoulders and her hazel eyes hold tiredness and exhaustion within the swirls of brown. She picks up her brush from the stand and runs it through her curls. Suddenly a little girl; four years of age comes running in.

"Mommy!" Her high pitch voice squeals making Courtney swivel around in her chair. Courtney's lips quirk into a smile as she takes in the sight of her daughter. She had luckily taken features from both sides of the family. Melody's blue eyes stare up at Courtney's while her black curly mop of hair seems untamable in the humidity of Miami.

"Yes, love?" Courtney inquires.

"Can I go play dolls now?" Melody whines, rocking on the heels of her feet innocently. Courtney stands up and walks to her daughter, crouching down to her level.

"Of course, but remember that we have a movie night tonight." She reminds the little girl. Melody flashes a toothy smile, her baby teeth a blinding white. Courtney presses a kiss to her daughter's forehead before she runs off again, leaving her mother with chuckles escaping her lips.
Courtney hears a door close downstairs before Melody squeals and a masculine laugh makes itself present. Courtney shakes her head with a smile.

Shortly after, a tall figure appears by the bedroom doorframe, Dylan giving her the same toothy smile as Melody. They were alike in so many ways. Courtney was grateful for that; she didn't want her daughter to take after her malicious and scheming ways. Dylan strides in, his flannel shirt creased from a days work of being a sales rep. If you had asked either of them what they imagined their lived to be like, they would have never responded with this. Courtney wanted to be a fashion designer, bringing newfound ideas of handbags and shoes to the light of the world while traveling the vast expanse of the Earth. Dylan on the other hand had plans to go into law. He wanted to help people who couldn't help themselves, he wanted to bring justice. It was strange how he wanted such a formal and serious career path yet he was anything but. However, due to the fact that she couldn't keep her legs closed for one night and he couldn't keep it in his pants, here they were; married at the age of twenty with a daughter.

They had hooked up numerous times before the night everything went down, but they had never done anything before that. When they did, they overestimated the strength of contraception they were using. Too bad. Some would say their mistake took place in the form of Melody however, Courtney and Dylan both knew better. Just because the Smiths cut them off and they can't live the life they imagined, they could never love Melody any less. She was their whole world.

Courtney looks up at Dylan, pecking his lips in greeting.

"How was work?" She asks, genuinely interested in her lover's life. Dylan shrugs, rubbing a hand over the stubble on his jaw. He hasn't shaved in quite a while.

"It was alright," He finally responds. After Mr and Mrs Smith disowned their daughter, Courtney relied heavily on Dylan for the moral support she needed while raising a child at the age of twenty. This meant that although they had the money, she received monthly payments from her parents and Dylan's family was generous, Dylan couldn't go to college. She needed him to help raise their daughter without the additional stress of studies getting in the way. But Dylan decided to work due to the fact that knowing the Smith household, they'd pull out of the deal of monthly payments just to be spiteful. This was just extra precautions and what harm would extra cash do? They could at least save up for Melody's schooling independently this way.

"How was your day, babe?" Dylan asks Courtney. She usually answers with a lighthearted comment about her work colics at the salon, but today she didn't have that response. Somedays she would realize how much she really screwed up in life and she would internally kick herself for it. She was a horrible person in high school and although that happened two years ago, she still carries the guilt and shame of that time on her shoulders like a cloak of desperation. Neither her nor Dylan spoke to anyone from high school; they didn't need reminders of how they messed up.

Courtney forces a smile onto her face. "It was quiet but that's better because the heat is tiring me out."
Dylan nods before wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her forward.

"Have you picked out movies for tonight?"

Courtney smiles with a nod and Dylan winks at her as he begins stripping his clothes, pulling on sweatpants and an old shirt. They have been married for nine months now and they couldn't be more grateful. There was no denying how much they loved each other. However, Courtney had always dreamed about have a beautiful and extravagant wedding that would put others to shame. With a beautiful white wedding dress designed specifically for her, set in a catholic church of Italy where history of the building screamed to be heard, flowers leading to the altar where she'd say her vowels with the man she loved.It's a pity, though, because she had the opposite.

Courtney makes an attempt to leave the room but is shortly stopped when she is lifted in the air from behind. She giggles as Dylan swings her onto the bed. His fingers begin attacking her skin and she laughs hysterically at the tickling sensation.

"D-Dylan!" She wheezes. "Stop!" But Dylan doesn't listen, rather giving her a devious smile while he continues to pin her down and make her laugh.

"Hey!" A young voice calls out, catching Dylan's attention and giving Courtney a second to compose herself. Melody scowls at her father but it seems more like a confused smile. She puts her hands on her hips sassily and Dylan grins at the girl he loves the most; the child he helped create. Melody pouts angrily at him and before she has time to react, he swipes her up and tosses her beside her mother. He tickles both of them as they squirm, the laughter of a family resonating throughout the house. These were the moments the married couple lived for.

****

'Doctor Doo Little' plays on the TV screen before the family and whenever an animal opens it's mouth to say something, Melody lets out a long string of giggles. With Courtney pressed against Dylan's side and Melody on her lap, she shakes slightly whenever her child laughs. Watching their daughter laugh at purely nothing was more entertaining than the show itself. Courtney rests her head on Dylan's shoulder and he looks down at her with an adoring smile. He still couldn't believe that he was married to the love of his life. He truly did want to spend the rest of his life with her. However, he wished that their wedding could have turned out differently. It was nothing extravagant or unique- like Courtney would have liked- due to the fact that they hardly had anyone to invite. So, they settled with the simple marriage in the court. That was enough for Dylan though.

He kisses her head and Courtney smiles, her content coming out in the form of a sigh. 'Dr Doo Little' begins talking to a tiger when the telephone in the house begins to ring. Courtney sits up, placing a now laughing Melody onto Dylan's lap. She pads her way into the living room, picking up the telephone and pressing it to her ear.

"Hello?" She greets the unknown caller on the other end.

"Courtney, baby!" A familiar feminine voice gushes out. Courtney's eyes widen in alarm, her heart beating erratically now while she holds the phone in a knuckle-whitening grip.

"Mom," Courtney asks lowly "Why are you calling me?"

She hadn't received any calls or texts from them for the last seven months. What could they possibly want now?

Her mother lets out a sigh.
"Your father and I need you to do us a favor."

Courtney's eyebrows scrunch together in confusion and she steps closer to the cord of the phone. "What favour?" She inquires, curious as to why her parents are even calling her.

"Kings Co wants a partnership with Smith Enterprises. However, they believe strongly in family unity which means they want to see our daughter with us. We need you to come with us to the formal dinner on Tuesday."

Courtney's heart drops in disappointment and she shakes her head at herself. Of course her mother would only be calling her because she needs something regarding the business. Not because she wants to find out how her daughter, or granddaughter are doing.

"So," Courtney begins, her voice wavering slightly. "you want me to come with you guys to the formal dinner and pretend like we are the perfect family? Like you and dad never cut me out of the picture?"

A laugh is heard over the phone and Courtney feels a rush of anger flow through her veins. How can her parents be so selfish that they would ask something like this of her? Their family was no longer complete. Not only that, but this means they're lying to the Kings family. Courtney is tired of all the schemes, lies and falseness she's had to put up with. This was how her family was so successful; they schemed and weaseled their way through opportunities. Her father was a true businessman. Perhaps that was where she learnt everything she had used in high school.

"Oh buttercup, that doesn't matter right now. We just need you to come with us." Her mother insists. Courtney scoffs, catching Dylan's attention from the TV room. He can't see her but he frowns at himself while wondering who she could possibly be talking to.

"Of course it matters, mom." Courtney hisses, her emotions getting the best of her. "You don't even know your granddaughter. How disgusting is that?"

"Watch your tone, Courtney." Her mother scolds. Is it not sad how Courtney hasn't missed the sound of her own mother's voice? It's supposed to bring comfort and security where as all it brings is pain. Courtney scoffs again; who does her mother think she is, ruling over Courtney?

"I'm not coming." Courtney grits her teeth. It's silent over the phone as her mother takes in her answer. Courtney has never declined an invite as such so today is truly something else. Courtney breathes heavily.

"Excuse me?" Her mother says in a patronizing voice.

"You heard me," Courtney continues. "I'm not coming. I'm not going to pretend like our family is perfect when it's not. Nor am I going to pretend that you and dad are the most amazing parents either when you're so far from it. I'm no longer your little doll that you can use for business deals, mom. I have a family of my own now and I intend on being here for them unlike my own parents. So, please, for the love of all things good in the universe, never call me again. I don't want anything to do with you. You lost your opportunity to be a part of my life when you refused to meet your granddaughter." Courtney bellows.

"Courtney Smith how da-"

"Courtney Harris, mom." Courtney corrects her mother. "Have a good evening. Don't contact me again." Courtney responds, ending the call and putting the telephone down. She stares at it, realizing what she has just done. How she has just told her parents to get out of her life. A few tears escape her eyes and she closes them, trying to compose herself. She wishes she had a normal family where her parents would come and spend time with Melody. However, life is not at all fair so she didn't get that.

Once she has regained her composure, she walks back into the room and to the couch. Dylan watches her every move, a worried frown etched onto his face as he takes in her glossy eyes. She takes her seat beside him again and he leans over, eyeing her carefully.

"What's wrong?" He asks, hoping it's nothing to worry about. He hated seeing Courtney in pain.

"It was my parents," she whispers softly and Dylan's eyebrows raise in surprise.

"What did they want?"

"They needed help with a business deal." She sighs and Dylan looks down sadly. He at least came from a loving and supportive home. His mother and father often visited them and took Melody out. They were also very fond of his wife so he can only imagine how Courtney is feeling.

"Why are you crying?" He investigates further. Courtney wipes a stray tear from her eye, rubbing a hand over her face.

"I told them to never contact me again."

Dylan looks at her in shock, knowing she had wanted this all along but never had the courage to tell her parents off. He gives her a proud smile before pecking her lips and pulling her tighter towards him. She sniffles, feeling relief that she finally has that weight off her chest.

"Mommy? Why are you crying?" Melody asks, her blue eyes no longer glued to the screen but to her mother's face. Her eyes swirl with worry and Courtney gives her a small smile, tucking a strand of messy black hair behind her ear.

"Mommy just did something she needed to do for a very long time." Dylan responds. Melody frowns in confusion, not understanding why she's crying yet.

"Then why are you crying?" She asks.

"Because she's happy crying." Dylan informs. That seems to be enough for Melody as she nods and moves so that she's sitting closer to her mother now. Courtney was going to be a better mother to Melody than her mother ever was to her. She was never going to leave Melody's side and Dylan was never going to leave hers.

Am I the only one who enjoyed reading a little bit about Courtney and Dylan? I hope you can all see that they had their reasons to do what they did. Everyone has their reasons.

Let me know what you think! I'd love to hear your thoughts
on this chapter! :)

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