ALEXANDRA

"Idiot." Zayn laughed, flicking Liam on the forehead jokingly.

"Ow!" Liam cried as he rubbed at the area. "Prick!" He groaned, looking at Zayn with an amused expression.

"Aw Li Li! I love you too mate!" Zayn sniffled playfully, pulling Liam into a hug that involved way too much pinching and nudging than normal.

Scarlett, who was sitting in Sophia's lap, began to make grabby hands in my direction. So in order to take my little girl into my arms, I had to push off of Louis' chest and lean toward Sophia to grab my baby girl.

"You want Mummy sweetheart? Go with Mummy." Sophia cooed gently, threading her fingers through Scar's chestnut colored locks, before passing my daughter into my awaiting arms.

"Hello there sweet girl. You missed Mummy?" I murmured as she rested back against my chest, her tiny hands holding onto my much larger fingers.

"You girls are quite literally the most precious thing I've ever seen. You're such a great Mum, Alex. We're so proud of you." Louis commented as I rested back against him, the lads -and Sophia- calling out their praises and agreements to what Louis had previously said. I blushed furiously under their gazes.

"Thank you." I murmured softly, flashing a shy smile at them all.

As the lads fell back into a conversation about traveling to Italy the next coming day, I busied myself with Scarlett. I began to wiggle my fingers around to catch my baby's attention, who I hoped was awake.

As if to confirm my earlier thoughts, Scarlett let out an excited shriek. "Woah there little woman; on't use that kind of language in here!" Louis joked, causing the rest of us to let out fond chuckles. .

"What's going on out here? I can hear you from where Lux and I were watching The Little Mermaid." Niall tisked playfully, appearing by the doorway with Lux sat on his hip.

"Miss Scarlett here, was using profanities to express her excitement, Mister Horan." Louis stated, for some odd reason speaking with an American accent that made us all burst into a fit of laughter.

"Good job princess! Tell them who's the boss here." Niall praised coming over to scoop up a now giggling Scarlett, who more than willingly went with her Uncle Niall.

Lux, who had been placed back on the ground, toddler over to me so I could sit her on my lap. As I did so, the blonde haired girl busied herself by playing with the ring I had on my index finger.

"So guys, Lou told me to tell you that after the show we go straight to the airport." Sophia informed the lads when she locked her phone and placed it back into her pocket. The lads groaned loudly when they heard the news.

"Oh grow up," Sophia scoffed teasingly. I let out a loud laugh as I saw Louis Niall's faces.

"You're so mean to us!" They cried in unison. Sophia rolled her eyes at them.

"You idiots love me. Don't lie." She smirked knowingly.

||||

"Lads, you have five minutes before show time." One of the stage managers advised the boys who were all over the place.

"Okay guys. You better head out now, wouldn't want to be late." I chuckled, standing up to go get Scarlett from her spot on Louis' chest.

"We need hugs and kisses!" Louis and Niall whined playfully. Sophia and I giggled at the boys silliness.

"Fine, fine." Sophia laughed. Whilst I went over towards Louis and Niall, she went towards Zayn, Liam, and Harry.

"Good luck guys. We hope you have fun." I giggled as Louis hugged me tightly, Niall was too busy cuddling Scar to reply.

"Thank you darling, we'll see you after the show." Louis beamed sweetly. "Gimme my goddaughter Horan!" He glared at Niall, the Irish man completely ignoring Louis' demands.

I giggled softly at the pair. "I love you, little princess!" Niall cooed before passing Scarlett into Louis' arms.

"Alexandra, come here you." Liam called out excitedly, I shook my head softly as I approached him and a laughing Zayn.

"We need hugs and kisses for good luck!" He reminded knowing, poking my nose gently as I giggled softly.

"Yeah, yeah. Good luck, my darlings; you guys are going smash it." I beamed proudly. Zayn and Liam both hugged and gave me kisses on the forehead before they had to leave.

"Let's go give Scar hugs and kisses before we go!" Zayn shrieked. Liam followed after him, laughing hysterically.

As the lads all skipped out of the dressing room, I saw Harry standing by the doorway, staring down at his phone.

"Harry?" I called out softly, almost shyly.

"Huh?" He hummed, tearing his eyes away from his mobile phone to lookup at me expectantly.

"Um... I just wanted to wish you luck for the show tonight. I hope you have fun." I simpered delicately, my eyes drifting between looking at Harry and my feet.

"Thank you, Alexandra." Harry smiled; a real genuine smile.

When I turned around to walk back toward Scarlett who was laying inside of her carrier, I couldn't help the fluttering in my chest and the wide grin that spread across my face.

Finally, we might be getting somewhere.

HARRY

Whilst the lads exited the dressing room, I stood by the doorway as I looked down at the text message Gemma had sent me.

I was about to send my reply when Alexandra's voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Harry?" She called out shyly.

"Huh?" I hummed, tearing my eyes away from my mobile phone to look at her expectantly.

"Um... I just wanted to wish you luck for the show tonight. I hope you have fun." She smiled delicately, her eyes drifting between looking at me and her feet.

"Thank you." I smiled; a real genuine smile.

When Alexandra went back to the little girl who was laying in her carrier, I was still yet to move away from the doorway and follow the lads. For some reason, the small interaction Alexandra and I had just shared was lurking in my mind.

Perhaps things could be looking up for us both, who knows?

"Harry, mate, you coming?"

•

"You guys were amazing!" Sophia praised, going over to kiss Liam, whereas the Wolverhampton lad was quick to wrap his arms around his girlfriend's waist in a warm embrace.

The rest of the boys each went in the directions of their own dressing room, I did the same and went into my own for some much needed quiet time.

As soon as I opened the door, I was greeted by the sight of Alexandra sitting with the little girl on the sofa, playing with her stuffed toys.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I entered my dressing room and closed the door behind me.

Alexandra looked up from where she was playing with the small child and glanced up at me nervously.

"Uh, oh- they were going to fuel the buses so I came in here, I hope you don't mind. I could go somewhere if you're uncomfortable." She stammered, already getting up from the sofa with Scarlett in her arms.

"No, you can stay. I don't mind." I assured, walking over to my duffle bag and pulling out my iPhone charger, walking over to one of the outlets and plugging it in after I had connected my phone.

"How was the show?" Alexandra inquired as she placed the little girl on the play mat that was in the middle of the floor, sitting behind her to keep a watchful eye on the baby.

"You didn't stay to watch it?" I asked instead of answering her question. Alexandra shook her head softly, "no. I went back to the tour bus instead because Scarlett was getting fussy before the show started." She added, motioning with her hands down to the small child in front of her.

"Oh." I mumbled awkwardly, quite honestly not knowing what else to say.

"So... the show? How was it?"

"It was great; as usual. Loudest crowd we've had in Europe, I'm sure." I chuckled as I plopped down on the couch in front of Alexandra and Scarlett.

"Spain is known for being loud, isn't it?" She teased, her eyes swimming with mischievousness.

Oh, how I've missed our silly banter.

"They are quite loud, aren't they?" I snickered into my fist, glancing at the baby who was trying to reach for her Minnie Mouse plush toy.

"I used to have one of those." I commented, nodding toward the stuffed toy Scarlett was attacking savagely. Alexandra's eyes followed my eyes to where I was looking at the baby, who by now had managed to stuff one of Minnie's feet into her tiny mouth.

"Oh no, Scarlett Anne." Alexandra huffed, taking the toy from Scarlett's hands and putting it behind her, Scarlett wailing pitifully.

"I'm sorry, baby. But you can't do that; you'll get sick." Alexandra pouted, taking the baby girl into her arms when her cries grew louder.

"Uh- do you need me to get you anything?" I stuttered. I was shocked at the fact that I was actually willing to help her tend the crying girl in her arms. Alexandra must've been thinking the same, if he wide eyes were anything to go by.

"Uh- can you grab me one of her burping cloths from her carrier? She's probably hungry again." Alexandra opted, her free hand working to pull up her sweatshirt, fingers unclasping her bra.

"Here you go." I murmured, placing the burping cloth on her shoulder as Alexandra brought Scarlett closer to her breast and helped the baby latch on.

"Thank you." She praised, looking up at me shyly. I flashed her a smile as I went to sit back on the sofa.

"Yeah, no problem." I replied, laying back on the sofa with my hands running through my hair as I pulled it up onto a bun.

Whilst Alexandra nursed the baby, I let my mind wander to its own happy place.

A place that consisted of too much thinking and feeling sorry for the way I've been acting.

Shit.

:::

A/N

I hope you enjoyed.