Dedicated to BellOceans @halo_queen @eidamark @ritu1306 @lalazada @lazytai @eboneykg @sdlijkldk and @MaOne01Neo for voting.

Unedited.

~

"Harry?" I grunted out with a hostile voice. He, out of all places was here, where I least expected him to be. It was clear all the sadness and hurt I endured over him vanished and never existed in the first place. The hurt was replaced by a strong emotion — hatred.

"Autumn, hey." He cheekily smiled with his enchanting dimples. It was his way of making you swoon. Now, looking back I don't know what the hell I saw in him in the first place. He was just like any other guy with dimples. There was nothing special about it.

"What are you doing here?"I didn't care for an answer as as long as he stayed out of my life.

"Oh, I'm just waiting for someone..."

"Bye," I turn on my heels, not hearing another word. I didn't have to think twice as I stomped out the hallway.

"Wait... Autumn," I groan, hearing the familiar voice call out. "I'm sorry." His unexpected apology surprised me. He was apologizing?

Harry shrugged sadly, remorse in his eyes as he saw keep his gaze on the floor. He looked sad, maybe even a little guilty. The way he avoided my gaze said the words he couldn't say.

"What?" I asked in disbelief, half in a gasp.

"Autumn, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what I did... I didn't mean. I mean I did and I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what? Exactly?"

"For breaking your heart. Cheating on you," he spoke through a broken voice. My eyes narrowed suspiciously. He couldn't possibly mean that.

"Why now?"

"Why what?"

"Apologize." Harry cleared his throat, bracing himself for my reaction.

"I'm a father," My eyes shot up, shook covering every inch of my skin. Harry? A father? The Harry I once knew didn't want kids. Ever.

"You're a father?"

"Yes, well not yet anyway. The point is I'm about to be a father of a baby girl and the other day I was just thinking. Thinking about myself, and all doubts came to mind. If I was ready to be a father... and then it was you,"

"Autumn, I owe you an apology. A real one this time. I'm sorry... I was a stupid bastard who only thought about me and cheating on you when you were faithful to me... was unfair. It was unfair to you and hurting you was something I have always regretted. I don't know if I deserve forgiveness because if my daughter was treated the way I treated you, I wouldn't."

My mouth dropped in surprise. My mind couldn't fathom what he just did. Apologize. The Harry I knew, didn't feel remorse or an ounce of guilt when he bluntly admitted he cheated on me with one of late night hookups. I remember we where at his apartment and I saw the painful message of fuck buddy, telling him to come over.

I was outraged, and nothing made sense. I saw red and it was the only color I saw. I was humiliated and discarded as trash. Harry, the beloved boyfriend I thought I knew, stormed out before admitting he was indeed cheating and was going to sleep with her. I remember the horrid fight and the things he said to me.

I was a fool and Harry didn't care. Now, looking at him in this very moment, it was different. He was different. After all this time, Harry had changed. I didn't believe it. Harry, the asshole prick was now — nice?

I couldn't question it more as a soft voice filled the empty hallway. "Harry," It was a brown haired woman with bright eyes and she wobbled across the floor with a full belly. She was clearly pregnant.

My eyes narrowed softly. Was this the woman Harry is having a child with?

"Hi, babe. How was it?" The woman in front of me smiled sweetly, leaning forward to place a chaste kiss on his Harry's lips. I stood in silence, fiddling with my fingers as I was yet to be noticed.

"It was good. She's healthy as she can be." She said, running her hand down her belly as she gaze up with adoration. "Did you find the bathroom?"

"Uh... I didn't. I ran into Autumn before I could." She squinted, question on her features.

"Autumn?" Harry nods, directing at me. She turns before gasping.

"Oh, you're Autumn? The Autumn?" She looks at Harry as he nods. Both communicating with their eyes. He told her about me? This wasn't right. He couldn't possibly tell her.

The brunette woman said nothing and smiled as a tear slowly rolled down her rosy cheeks. "Harry told me... about you. He was... a bastard when I met him." She laughed recalling something I didn't. Harry coughed, clearing the air.

"I'll be right back. I have to use the restroom." Harry pecks her forehead, leaving me with his girlfriend. I looked with bloodshot eyes, unsure about this whole thing.

"He told you about me? Why?" She sighed, crossing her arms. She softly nodded.

"He's been... well guilty for the longest time, at least after we got together." I quirked an eyebrow. How did this have to do with me? She answers the inner question by continuing with her speech. "Harry was a bastard but somewhere in the lines he changed. I don't know how but he did. I was cheated on and Harry was there for me in the aftermath. I think after realizing what cheating really does to a person... it was like a switch. Not long after we got together and well this happened." She laughed, rubbing her small bump.

"It's funny how life works." She laughed again, thinking about something as she gazed down at her tiny miracle. She stopped her hand, looking at me. "I'm not asking you to forgive Harry because that is down right wrong and it's hard to forgive. I just want to say I'm sorry, and if it helps I'm really believe Harry does realize what he did."

"Why are you apologizing?" I asked, it wasn't her fault.

"Because I know how it feels, to be hurt by the person you thought you knew or even loved." I almost laugh hearing love and Harry in a sentence but I recover coughing. Truth was I don't think I ever loved him as a person in love should. I did love him... but not as much as I though I did. I guess it was more than why me then why would you do it question. It was selfish of me to think that but it was the truth. It trickled me that it happened to me. I seen people get cheated on and I knew people who went through it.

It bothered me that I was one of those people. Now, I couldn't care less. Looking back, my insane pride was bigger than any common sense I had. Harry wasn't a problem, it was me. I was too consumed with the pain he once caused me and it was taking a toll in myself. Harry has changed and it didn't matter what he did in the past.

I could forgive him but that it does not necessarily mean I like him now because he's Harry. No matter what.

"Right."

Harry pops in, standing right side his girlfriend. I wanted to leave,  I still had to get food for Issac and myself. "Well, I have to go. I have to be somewhere."

His girlfriend and Harry nod, understanding. I hope he doesn't mess it up but in my heart I know he won't. I give him a signal. A signal that I was okay and that the past didn't matter. After all, it was because of him I got drunk and slept with some else. I couldn't hold it against him. I wouldn't had Issac if it wasn't for his "mistake."

~

Nessa left as soon as we stepped foot in my apartment. She kissed a grumpy Issac goodbye and said to call if we needed her. I agreed as I put a tired and restful Issac in my bed. Usually, Issac would throw a fit but today was a long day and even Issac himself couldn't protest. It was late in the evening when I warmed up a cup of coffee and leaned against the comfort of the terrace view.

I stood in thought, upon the sliding door looking out into the faded ruckus of New York. The sounds of straddlers converting the streets, and honking of cars and taxies where familiar and the fresh snow falling down was the very thing I loved about New York.

Call me crazy, but I loved the snow as much as Issac did. It was a pain in the behind but it was like any other precious thing Mother Nature has blessed us with.

I smiled, sipping the cup. I gazed down the street, seeing pedestrians laugh and converse. Others walking alone and others shielding themselves from the snow. It was funny, it was times like the snow and rain that was most smoothing to me.

A small smile played its way through my lips as I gazed down the people of New York. My grin soon leaves me as I gazed down a young couple. A woman kissing her beloved shyly on his mouth before snuggling deeper into his hard chest with redden cheeks. He laughs pulling her back, deepening the kiss.

I look away. Hurt in eyes as I recall Marcello. He was a liar and he couldn't tell me the truth. Was his name really Nico and was it really that hard to stay committed? I didn't think so although men this days usually cheat. My stomach churn in pieces thinking about the whole situation. Marcello is terrible right?

Then, why does my heart say other wise? I groan, knowing I'm going to regret this.

Hey, can we talk?

~

I was torn in two, wondering if I did the right choice. I texted him to come by at noon and I was freaking out. Issac was ready, playing with his toy cars as he rolled them over imaginary track he had in his head. He was sliding them across the rug in the living room, making adorable noises out of his mouth for the cars.

Gazing at Issac made me calm down a bit, and it was working for a second until my phone buzzed, lighting up a message.

I'll be there.

He's coming. God, I hate myself. I felt myself grow uneasy for the bastard's arrival. My curious side needed to know the huge why in the equation. Why he would make me think things that were just unrealistic and tainting? I wanted, no, needed, to know why me out of all people. I was genuinely kind and had nothing against anyone excerpt for Harry. Although, it just yesterday I realized Harry didn't matter and I was better off. It took me long to realize it but I did.

I pressed the phone to my ear, dialing the number whom I know to be the most reliable in die hard situations. I called Nessa, hoping for her to take Issac out today. I know, beyond reason, Issac will want to see Marcello and that it will be a disaster if he begs me for him to say. He would be hurt when I tell him it will be the last time he came around. Okay, so I'm stalling and I wasn't ready to break my baby boy's heart when I tell him about Marcello. I'm waiting for the right time and today is not that day.

Nessa picks up on the second ringtone, and I tell her the situation and make sure she takes Issac for a little while. She immediately agrees, excited she would spent the day with her golden blue eyed nephew.

I exhale a huge breathe, ready for this day to be over. I know this isn't going to be easy because it isn't. It's quite hard but for all I know is I deserve more than an article in a magazine that said my infatuation with Marcello was over. I needed him to say it for my heart to learn that. I needed closure and that's what I'm going to get.
~

Okay, that's it for this chapter. Thoughts on the current situation. I hoped you guys had a wonderful Christmas and a soon to be New Year.

Hoped you enjoyed this chapter. Until next time...

Love, The Author

-Katherine