You're NOT allowed to hate me after this chapter. Please? It works in the story. Plus, it was my best friends idea. Not mine. I just couldnt get it out of my head after he mentioned it. This chapter is complete fiction, obviously. I don't believe Tom would do anything like this. Ever. In a million years. I'm sorry before hand. Just dont hate me, please?

Chapter 3: The Walk Of Shame

Harry threatend to kill me when he found out about Shannon being pregnant, but I've come to find thats normal among Judds. Both Shannon and Harry threatened my life many times durring those few months. Shann went into labor two months early, but everything ended up being fine and they were allowed to leave within a week. Much to my dismay, Shann insisted on naming our son Thomas Micheal Jr, who we've come to call TJ.

I smiled and grabbed my lyric book and a pen, then started to write down lyrics... then TJ started crying, again. I closed the book and got up, then threw the book and pen onto my desk and ran my hands though my hair. Addapting to having a baby in the house hasnt exactly come easily to me. Carsyn wasn't happy at first because the baby turned out to be a boy, but Kayla recently found out shes 4 months along with a baby girl, so Carsyn got over TJ pretty quickly. Shannons addapted well, the only thing she doesnt like is getting up in the middle of the night, so I usually get stuck with that.

I on the other hand, have not addapted to any of this. The aww factor wore off on about the second day of him being home. Everytime I started to write a song, he'd start crying and I'd either have to go get him, or I'd just loose the song in general. The labels made it evident that their not very happy about that.

"Shann, could you do something about him?" I yelled, pulling at the end of my hair. After a few minutes, I hadn't heard Shannon go into his room, so I walked down and picked him up out of his crib. "Shh, its okay TJ." I whispered, soothingly, but of course it didn't help. I sighed and went on a mission looking for Shannon. When I found her, she was sititng in the kitchen with Carsyn. She looked up at us and saw the look on my face and ran over to us, taking TJ from me. He stopped crying almost instantly.

"Sorry, I was helping Cars with her homework. How long was he crying for?" She asked, rubbing his back. I took a deep breath and looked at Carsyn, then into the dining room.

"Long enough. Can I talk to you? In there?" I asked. She nodded and Carsyn got back to her work as we walked into the dining room. Once I was sure we were out of her earshot, I turned to Shannon. "I think maybe we've got too much on our plate right now." She raised her eyebrow and moved TJ to her other shoulder.

"What do you mean?" She asked, confused. I sighed and leaned against the wall, facing it. I thought for a minute, then turned around and faced her.

"I... I dont know anymore, Shann." I mumbled, then slid down the wall and hugged my knees to my chest. "Maybe TJ is too much for us right now." I answered, quietly, but I know she heard me.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" She asked, raising her voice. I snapped my head towards the kitchen to make sure Carsyn wasn't trying to listen, and Shannon lowered her voice. "What are you saying?" She asked, calmer.

"I'm saying that the studio is going to drop us if I dont come up with a song by tomorrow. I haven't written a song in nearly 8 months! I can't even edit songs, I dont have any time to. Carsyns grades dropped dramatically since TJs been home. Maybe we can't handle this." I explained, running my hands though my hair, avoiding eye contact with her.

"You did better without Universal then you ever did with them! Let them drop you, go back to using Super! Carsyns grades dropped becasue you used to study with her constantly. Now, you barely come out of you're music room. What are you suggesting?" Shannon asked, but sounded like she already knew where I was going with this conversation. I looked up at her and her face dropped. "No. No! You're not taking him away from me! You can go to hell!" She yelled. I glared at her and jumped up to my feet.

"Shann, I'm just trying to do whats best for my family!" I yelled, then sighed and rubbed my temples. "You know I love him, hes my son. I'm just not cut out to be a dad." I said, quieter. She frowned.

"You're perfectly fine with Carsyn." She said, spitefully. I rolled my eyes.

"Carsyn is seven! She doesnt cry every time her binky falls out of her mouth or everytime she wants her mum. We dont have to change her diapers. I know I missed that, but I cant handle it." I said. Shannon glared at me.

"We are not putting TJ up for addoption. You're out of your mind." She said. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"Shann, if its for the best then maybe we should.." I sighed, already tired of this fight.

"Get out." She said. I opened my eyes and glared at her. "You heard me. Get out." She said, more sternly.

"It's my fucking house!" I yelled, irritated. Her eyes narrowed.

"I have Carsyn, TJ, and Draco. If you arent out of this house in fifteen minutes, Draco will be set loose." She said.

"Whatever. This isnt fucking worth it." I shook my head and walked into the foyer and grabbed my eyes, wallet, and my jacket, before I felt something grab onto my jacket. "WHAT?" I asked, turning around expecting to see Shannon. Instead, Carsyn was looking at me, confused and scared. I knelt down infront of her. "I'm sorry. Whats wrong, baby?" I asked. She frowned at me.

"Why were you and mommy fighting?" She asked quietly. I sighed and shook my head.

"Adult stuff." I answered. She sighed.

"Why is mommy crying?" she asked. I sighed and closed my eyes before shaking my head.

"Dont worry about it. I have to go now." I said, looking behind her where Shannon was standing, rubbing her eye with one hand, holding TJ with the other.

"When are you coming back?" Carsyn asked, worried.

"I dont know, maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow. Dont worry, it's nothing for you to worry about." I said. She frowned and nodded. I turned around and opened the door, then Carsyn latched herself around my legs and I felt the tears start to build up in my eyes.

"I love you Daddy." She said quietly. I rubbed her head, messing her haif slightly, afraid to hug her. If I hug her, I might not be able to leave, and I need to right now.

"I love you too, Cars. Go finish your homework." I said, then she let go of me, I walked to my car, and drove off without looking back.

Obviously going to Dougies was out og the question, as he lived next door, and thats the first place Harry would come after me at. And it was obvious that going to Harrys was a death wish, so I decided on Danny and Kolbies. It was far enough away, and even though I knew I couldn't stay there long, I could always talk Danny into going to a bar near his house. I parked in his drive way and then walked up to the door and tried the doorknob. Like I thought, it was open, so I walked in to see Danny and Kolbie cuddling on the sofa watching a movie or something. Danny looked bored to death and when he saw me he smiled.

"Mate!" He laughed. Kolbie looked up and smiled, then frowned at me.

"Whats wrong?" She asked. I shook my head.

"Is it cool if I steal your boyfriend for a few hours?" I asked. She looked up at him and nodded.

"Yeah, sure." She said. Danny smiled and kissed her forehead, then ran upstairs and Kolbie straighted up, then patted where Danny had been sitting. I sighed and sat down next to her and she leaned her head on my shoulder. "Seriously, Tom, whats wrong?" She asked, rubbing my arm a little. I sighed and shook my head.

"Nothing. I dont want to talk about it." I said. She sighed and nodded, then was quiet for a minute.

"Can you just answer one question?" She asked. I sighed and nodded. "Why are your eyes bloodshot and glossy?" She asked. I bit my lip and rubbed my eyes, then sighed.

"Because I was crying." I answered, quietly. She rubbed my arm again, then Danny came downstairs.

"Mate, I thought you were looking for a dudes night, not a chick flick fest." He said, smiling. I laughed slightly and got up then we got into my car and I drove via Dannys directions to the nearest pub.

After about 7 Guinness', I could hardly even see straight. I'd gotten Danny just as drunk as I was, just so he couldn't try to stop me from continuing.

"Mate, we should find girls to dance with. Look at all those hot girls!" Danny slurred, but given my state, I understood him loud and clear.

"Danny, you have a girlfriend." I laughed, then hiccupped and raised my bottle to my mouth, only to find it was empty. I frowned and put the bottle back down then looked at Danny, who did the same as me. "Need more?" I asked. He frowned and nodded. "To the bar we go!" I laughed, linking arms with him and heading towards the bar. When we got there, the bartender leaned towards us.

"Dan, don't you think you've gotten Tom drunk enough?" She asked and I wondered for a minute how she knew our names, but then I remembered I've probably been here before with Dan many times.

"Immm not the one drinkin' tonight. Tommys the one gettin' wasssttteeedddd!" He slurred, laugheding as he threw his arm over my shoulder and pulling me into him, kissing my cheek.

"Whatever you say." She laughed as I pushed Danny away, making a face, then the room started to spin so I grabbed onto his arm and stumbled to the side, into someone.

"Shit!" I laughed, then looked up at the person. "Sorry!" I said, still laughing. At first, she turned around looking pissed then she smiled at me.

"Thats okay." She smiled. "Hey, um, do you want to dance?" She asked.

"YES! Yes he does!" Danny yelled, pushing me towards her. She laughed and took my hand and lead me out to the dance floor. Nothing wrong with dancing, right? She put her hands on my shoulders and I put my hands on her hips out of reflex and she started swaying and grinding on me. But its just dancing, so its okay, right?

"So, wheres your wife at?" The girl asked. I finched and she frowned and put her hand on my cheek. "Aww, touchy subject?" She asked. I didn't respond and started to look around for Danny, who had dissapperaed into a crowd of girls a while ago. I groaned inwardly and turned back to the girl I was dancing with, only to be pulled into a kiss. I froze and it felt like whatever intoxication was currently holding over me, faded away. I pushed her off me and glared at her.

"Dont do that. I'm married." I said, then someone grabbed my shoulder and I sighed, releaved. I turned, smiling.

"Thank you Dan. Lets-" It wasn't Dan and I was thrown off balance and had a huge pain in my cheek. I rubbed my cheek and growled, then looked up to see Harry glaring at me. I closed my eyes and braced for impact of another hit, but instead was pulled from where I had stumbled by my collar into the crowd. Harry grabbed Danny by the arm and pulled the two of us outside, then he pushed Danny away and me up against the wall.

"What the fuck did you do?" He hissed, though gritted teeth. I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath, suddendly feeling the after effects of the alcohol catching up with me, and I had to supress the feeling to throw up.

"I fucked up Haz." I mumbled. Harry pushed me against the wall harder.

"No shit you fucked up. You wanna know why I'm here? My seven year old niece called me, crying, saying that you and Shann faught and you left and Shann was crying in TJs room. So I went and talked to her and she told me that you want her to give TJ up, and how you dont love her anymore, and-" I cut him off.

"Of course I still lover her!" I yelled, pushing him off me slightly. His eyebrow raised slightly and I backed myself up against the wall again. "Harry, you dont know how insane its been at our hours. Carsyns barely passing her classes, TJ cries all the time, and I've been stressing to get a fucking single wrote so that we dont loose our jobs." I said, then put my hand on his chest. "Mate, back up unless you want to get barfed on." I said quietly, pushing him away. He backed up a little and Danny made his way over.

"Mate, why you pushin' Tom against the wall?" Danny asked, leaning on Harry. He rolled his eyes and pushed Danny away again. I looked up at Harry again and winced, holding my stomach

"I need to go talk to Shannon, but Dan and I cant exactly drive..." I trailed off. Harry nodded, then back me up against the wall again.

"You didnt let me finish. I saw you danicing and kissing that girl." He said, glaring at me. I looked at him then sighed and looked down.

"She kissed me. I know I shouldn't have even danced with her, like I said, I fucked up. And I really need to talk to your sister. And Danny needs a bed." I said, looking over at Danny who was hugging the wall with his eyes closed. Harry was looking at Danny too, then he sighed.

"I'm not done with you yet." He mumbled, pulling his keys out of his pocket and grabbed the back of Dannys shirt. "Come on, you." He mumbled, then we got into Harrys car and he drove Danny home first, then me back to me and Shanns house. He walked in with me and when we got inside he turned to me. "I made sure Carsyn was asleep before I came after you, and Shannon was in the dining room feeding TJ. I've got to get back to Kayla, she doesnt know whats up and shes worried I'm killing you. Carsyn knows to call me if anythings up, as does Shannon, and if she tries to kill you, dont call me because I wont stop her." He said, then patted my back and left.

I sighed and took my jacket off, then slipped out of my shoes and walked though the entire downstairs, not finding Shann anywhere. I went upstairs and Carsyn was standing in the bathroom doorway. She smiled at me.

"Hi Daddy." She said. I smiled then looked at my watch. Even though it was still a little blury, I knew it was after midnight. I walked over to her and kissed her forehead.

"Go back to bed baby." I said. She smiled and nodded, then started towards her room but I stopped her. "Wait... where's your mom?" I asked. She pointed at TJs room and I sighed and nodded. "Thanks babe. Now, get back in bed." I said, scrunching my face up. She smiled and went into her room, shutting the door behind me. I walked over to TJs room and took a deep breath before I opened the door. Shannon was sitting in a rocking chair next to TJs crib, curled up in a little ball. If I didnt feel like complete shit, I would've smiled at how adorable it was. I walked over to her and put my hand on her knee. She opened her eyes slowly and when she saw me, she bit her lip and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"I.." I started to talk, but she put her finger over my mouth and pulled me out of the room, down the hallway, and into our room. She shut the door behind us and turned around to me, then wrapped her arms around my neck. "You're not making this easy." I laughed slightly, even though I knew nothing was funny. Shannon did too, running her fingers though my hair and pulling at it slightly.

"I didn't think you were coming back." She whispered. I sighed and squeezed her torso, then kissed her forehead.

"I'm so sorry. Everything that I said, I'm sorry. I didnt mean it, any of it. I was just stressed about the band, but you were right. We can make it was just Super. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I mumbled, squeezing her tightly nuzzling my head into her neck. She pulled away from the hug and put her hand on my cheek.

"Is that from Harry?" She asked, running her thumb over my cheek. I couldn't feel anything, but I'm sure it was probably red or purple by now.

"Yeah, probably. But I diserved it. Look, I have to tell you, I went and got Dan and we went to a pub and we got smashed and this girl danced with me and she... she kissed me." I said quietly. Shann frowned and I sighed. "It didn't mean anything, as soon as I processed what was going on, I stopped the kiss... I'm sorry." I said, looking into her eyes. She smiled slightly and put her hands on the back of my head, pulling my forehead down to hers.

"I forgive you." She breathed. I smiled and leaned down, pressing my lips to hers, but she quickly pused me off. "You reek and taste of alcohol. No kiss. But I forgive you." She said. I smiled and pulled her into me, hugging her tightly.

"I love you." I said. She laughed and hugged me back, just not quiet as tight.

"I love you too."

McSteph: First thing I thought of when it comes to Tom threatening a child- No santa. Thanks so much. You'll probably hate me after this, but in my defence, it was Christian(my best friend)'s idea, so I'm sorry about this! :(