*NOT EDITED AT ALL*

(This is how I imagine Sarah!)

James' POV

"Hellooooo, James to earth?" I heard from somewhere as my brain was finally registering Charlotte's voice. I shook my head, my brain refocusing as I realized that I was still standing in the kitchen with Charlotte's hands still around my neck and Sebastian somewhere in the living room, if the train noises coming from there were any indication.

"Babe, what's wrong? You were gone for a moment there." I turned my eyes towards her to find her frowning, a look of worry in her beautiful green eyes. I sighed heavily. "Has sonething happened? Are you okay? You seem lost." I frowned as everything was coming into focus.

So I hadn't actually said the words out loud? Figured as much. I shook my head, taking her hand in mine as I started walking towards the living room, no words said. I needed to do this the right way, but I needed to do this now or else I would lose my nerves. And as she followed me to the living room, I could feel the tension building in her but she said not a thing and for that I silently thanked her. This wasn't going to be easy, but then again, nothing really was.

I sat her down on the couch and took my jacket off. And as our eyes met and I could do nothing more than to kneel in front of her, I had the sinking feeling that this moment right there would change the trajectory of our life forever.

"James, you're scaring me." Her voice broke. I took her hands in mine and placed them on her lap. I stared at them and a sad smile escaped my lips as I watched the way our hands fit so well together. Finally, I looked up.

"I met someone today." I started and noticed how focus her eyes were on me. "She's two years old and she's so beautiful. Her eyes are big and blue and full of wonder. And when she smiled, I saw something so mesmerizing that it took my breath away." I stopped for a second as I watched her reaction. She seemed confused but smiling nonetheless.

"Okayyyyyy, I still don't understand what that has to do with anything. Unless you're trying to tell me you have a daughter out there that I knew nothing about because that would be hilarious." She laughed nervously, her eyes guarded. She watched me. I could do nothing but to stare right back until she understood what my words could not say.

"James? What are you saying?" I felt her hands slip from mine, the smile gone, her eyes wide, boring into mine. This is where it all happened. This is the beginning of something and it was all my fault.

"Her name is Ella Paisley Darcy." I started, the words coming out hot and heavy, loaded with the understanding of what it all meant. "She's my daughter, Charlotte. I have a daughter."

"That's not funny, James."

If only it were a joke. "She's as real as you and I. And Charlotte she's so beautiful." I replied again. Another moment of silence, her eyes never leaving mine.

"Whose is she?" She asked and I understood it for what she was actually asking. So I replied.

"Sarah's."

"As in your ex?"

"Yes." I replied so she nodded. Another moment of silence. I waited and waited. Then,

"Okay. Okay." She started then took a deep breath and then let it out as a smile appeared on her face. "So you have a daughter. And she's real. Okay, okay."

"I never cheated." I had to make sure she knew that.

"I know that. I know you would never...at least not anymore. " She said and this time around the smile that I was met with was softer and genuine. It was as though I could finally breathe. She held my head in her hands and laughed. "Holy shit, you have a daughter." Then she kissed me. "Well obviously we have to meet her, as in Bastian and I since you obviously met her already. I'm guessing that happened today. We set something up and invite Sarah and the kid over."

She got up and started towards the kitchen. "What's her name again? Holy shit, James." She kept going. Then I understood. While she seemed okay with this enormous news, she still hadn't processed it completely. She understood the words, and knew what they all meant. But the Charlotte in front of me was the Charlotte who was trying really hard not to freak out and who was slowly losing the battle.

"When do you think we should invite them over? Oh my, we'll obviously have to talk to Bastian first and explain to him that he has a new little sister. And our friends, we'll obviously also have to tell them." She laughed and grabbed a cookie from the tray on the island. She took a bite. "We should do it tonight since Rose and her family will be here any minute now. Better now than later. Am I right? Maybe we could meet your daughter tomorrow. Maybe lunch? I mean obviously you'd have to check what Sarah's schedule is like."

She laughed again and took another cookie then turned toward the fridge which she opened. I got up and went to her. She didn't make a move to retrieve anything from the fridge which she still had her head in. The cold air blasting around us. I could hear her shaky breath. I took her arm, pulled her to me and closed the fridge door which had started beeping for being open for too long.

"Babe," she turned, her eyes pointing down. She wouldn't look at me and it broke my heart. With a finger under her chin, I softly pulled her head up. And as our eyes finally met and she closed hers, a single tear fell on her cheek. "I'm sorry." Those were the only words I could get out before my voice broke.

She shook her head and finally opened her eyes. Red and wet. "No, I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm crying. I'm being stupid. It's the hormones. It's fine, I'll be okay. You have a daughter and oh, my God. I'm guessing it must have been a crazy day for you_" She was saying then in a moment, something happened. She stopped in midsentence and pulled away, frowning as she looked up at me. A step back.

"You say you met her today. When have you known of her existence?"

"Babe_"

"When, James?" Her eyes hardened. I was fucked.

"Four months ago." I replied. She nodded as a chuckle escaped her lips but there was no humor in the way her eyes hardened.

One minute the cookie tray was sitting on the island, next a loud sound resonated in the whole place as it made contact with the floor, barely missing me in its passage. Cookies now scattered around.

"Fuck. You."

And then the elevator dinged, the automated voice announcing the arrival of someone. Charlotte was still staring at me with wide eyes, as they were still glued on me, her nose flaring. Her intake of air making the movement of her body noticeable.

"Charlotte, please..." I was saying but could not get anything else out as I heard voices coming from the elevator, I heard her name being called out and footsteps approaching. She shook her head and went down on the floor to pick up the tray and the now inedible cookies. I followed down and reached out to her.

"Get the fuck away from me." She growled and got up and without another word, She took another long look at me and made her way towards Rose and her family.

"Fuck." I got up right as Levy ran to me and hugged my foot. Laughing happily.

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There was a feeling of dread that took over my body when I finally left Bastian's room after having read him the two books that he had picked out for the night. To say that I was wanting for his night time routine to never end would have been the understatement of the century. I knew what was waiting for me and I hadn't wanted to walk into that shit storm when I knew there would be no way I would walk out of there with a happy smile on my face. It was very cowardly, yes, and I would gladly take being called a coward if it meant this whole mess would be over.

Contrary to what I had imagined, the night wasn't horrible. Charlotte and I held appearance for our guests as best as we could, though Charlotte made it her mission to avoid me as best as she could. It hurt but I understood. But then every once in a while her eyes would land on me, her face set with determination. I begged silently for....something! I would have preferred anything over the silence that was between us.

I wanted them to be gone, to leave so that we could be alone and that I could then try to mend what I had surely broken. I wanted them to leave so I could fall to my knees in front of her and beg her to forgive me. I was stupid and I made a mistake because I was human and I wasn't perfect and if only she could have it in her pefect forgiving heart to forgive me, to let it go, then I would never again hide a thing from her.

And then as they were finally leaving, I could have given anything for them to stay a little longer because the longer they were there, the longer I didn't have to face what was waiting for me. Yes I was a coward.

I knocked once. Just a soft scrape on the door. Something I had never done in the more than three years we had been leaving together. I waited and when nothing was said, I pushed the door open and entered our bedroom. Charlotte was sitting on the bed, staring at the door I had entered through. I noticed the bag sitting next to her. I stopped and shook my head.

"Charlotte, please_" I started but couldn't finish as she threw the bag in my direction which landed right at my feet.

"Get the fuck out."

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Oooh Darcy is in so much trouble!!! Charlotte is pissed!!! What do you think of her reaction? A bit much? Too little? I want to know what you have to say!

Don't forget to vote and comment.