A/N; Hello lovely people new chapter has arrived! This has taken me a while and it's not the longest chapter in the world. I have written and rewritten trying to write the main points in a interesting and believable way and I'm still not happy with it I promise the next one will be better. So enjoy – hopefully – Bit of a story filler.

I don't own Austin and Ally

Chapter 16 – One Sleepless Night

-{Ally}-

I slowly remove my hand from Melody's back as she sleeps soundly in her pale blue onesie a little pink and white bunny held tightly in her chubby hands close to her body protecting her. I smile exhausted. Finally, she sleeps she's been a tiny sleepless monster disguised as a tiny angel with golden curls. I back away from the crib and fall onto the bed next to Austin laying bare-chested on the bed even in February headphones blaring music into his ears.

I try to prevent my eyes from glancing at the clock all I know is that it's late and the sun is due up soon. I snuggle close Austin feeling his warmth listening to his heart beat. Austin stokes my hair letting me know he's awake while I run my treble clef through my fingers. I look up at Austin he smiles at me I pluck a headphone from his ear and put it in mine.

"One Direction?" I asked confused, raising an eyebrow I didn't think boy bands was Austin's thing. Austin's face grew red.

"It's written by Ed Sheeran" Austin quickly defending himself but song continued to blare in our ears.

I picked up Austin's phone "You're listening to the album" I chuckled.

"Yeah, not very manly is it" Austin laughed anxiously shuffling slightly still stroking my hair softly.

"You don't need to be ashamed of anything, you're the manliest man I know" I kissed Austin tenderly on the lips. The kiss made me feel warm, secure and loved. My body wanted Austin's his passionate kisses showed he wanted mine too. I almost gave into my body's most adult of desires a gurgle from the crib interrupted us reminding us why we couldn't do this. Not with her in here anyway, this house is getting smaller as she gets bigger. I push away from Austin.

"I'm sorry" I whisper kissing him softly on the lips. Austin sighs in disappointment but realisation kicks him and embarrassment is evident on his face. I know we feel the same.

We lay next to each other in silence. Specks of dust dance and pirouette in the air above me shining in the light from the street lamp breaking through a gap in our old curtains. I turn my head on the pillow and look over to Austin he too is watching the dust dance above us, sleep excluding him also.

"4 am pancakes?" I asked.

"Hell yeah" Austin leaped out of bed even the thought of pancakes gives him more energy than a six year old on caffeine.

-{Austin}-

"Pouring the syrup!" I sang squirting the maple syrup bottle watching as the sugary liquid dribble down the stack of pancakes marbling with melted butter making my stomach rumble with lust. Ally giggled on the high breakfast bar chair at the kitchen island watching me dance around making my delicious creations.

"Yummmm!" Ally dragged with an over enthusiastic grin as I placed the pancakes in front of her, her eyes glazing over in pleasure at the sight of the food before her the baby monitor in her hand green robe tided tightly around her waist.

I sat next to her picking up a fork and digging in. Ally roared in laughter pointing at me causing her to drip syrup down her robe making me laugh I caught my reflection in the stainless steel toaster maple syrup giving me a clown smile, made me laugh even more. 4 am pancakes is my favourite tradition. I wake up every day at 4am hoping Ally is awake only occasionally she is and it's always the highlight of my day. We eat and we laugh and we kiss there is nothing more I could ever ask for. Those months where Ally was cut off there was no pancakes.

A large thud from the front door immediately silences us mid laugh. I can see fear in Ally's brown eyes. Adrenaline abducted my body removing all fear. I rushed to the hall cupboard picking up a baseball bat ordering Ally to go to the bathroom and lock the door as the thuds continued. I heard the door screech open.

Fearlessly I peered to the corridor leading to the front door the baseball bat firmly gripped in my hands ready to pounce.

"Dad?" I asked confused stepping into the corridor dropping the bat. I've never seen my father so run down his usual clean shaven face and dark salt and pepper 5 o'clock shadow, his hair was messier than a rats nest, his clothes that usually sit neatly to perfection are tattered and falling from his limp body and he reeked of alcohol. "Are you just getting in? It's 4:30 in the morning!"

"What's it to yah?" He sneered with piercing beady rat eyes. He stumbled towards the stairs aggressively; a man previously I believed wouldn't get angry even under torture. What's going on here?

"Dad, your drunk let me held you" I offered reaching for his arm getting over the shock of seeing my father in such a state.

"Don't need no help" He shot back pushing me away with strength I never knew existed. "MIIIIMIIIII!" He bellowed at the top of his lungs tripping on the bottom step falling forcibly to the floor.

"What's going on? Ally asked softly from behind me baby monitor in hand.

"Dad's drunk. Never seen him this way, think it's best if you just stay out of the way" I told her trying to help my father up even though he kept resisting pushing away muttering under his breath cursing the stairs.

"Ok" Ally stepped quietly into the kitchen and began to clean up our mess.

"I don't need no help!" My dad mumbled his eyebrows narrowed in anger "MI MIIIIIII!" He yelled up the stairs pushing away my helping arms.

"She's in bed, let me help you get up to her" I tried to console him the smell of alcohol on his body intoxicating me making me feel sick.

"DON'T NEED YOUR HELP BOY" my father yelled in my face his nauseating whisky breath slapping my face as he pushed me out of the way making me stumble if it wasn't for my hands magnetically gripping on to the stair banister I would have fallen.

I watched statued by shock as my father trembled up the stairs groaning muttering curses under his breath words I didn't know he knew. A couple bottles of the poison alcohol has metamorphosed my loving caring goofy father into ugly beast with no control.

"Daddy?" I hear a tiny high voice ask sweet and innocently, I stumble my way up the stairs. Jessie is standing before our disguised father in pink pyjamas yawning and stretching out her arms to him. My father grunted and continued swaying to his room.

"Daddy?" I could feel the sadness in her voice "Daddy, I had a bad dream" Jessie followed our dad like a baby duckling her arms open waiting for him to reach for her and swing her around and tell her he loves her like he always.

"I've been living a bad dream we learn to get over it" He sneered at the little blonde girl not an ounce of compassion in his hazel eyes darker than usual.

I rushed to my little sister traumatised by her father's harsh words tears flowing from her green eyes. I pulled her into my arms she buried her face in my chest like when she was small. "Go to your room glitter pants dads not himself, I will be there soon, promise." I whispered kissing her on the cheek. She did what she was told rushing to her room followed by Ally.

"How can you talk to her like that dad?" I asked bravery floods my veins tonight facing the monster that possesses my father. "She's eight! You know better than to drink this much and stay out this late does mom know? I bet she's sick with worry!"

"Don't you talk to me like that! You're no man you're just a boy!" My father shouted at me his face red slurring his words.

"I know that yelling at your daughter and getting so pissed that you don't know which way is up makes you a fool, your just as much a boy than a man as me" I shot back shocked with how easy these accusing words flowed from my mouth, not once have I ever argued with either of my parents.

"Don't you call me a fool!" before I had time to react I saw his fist heading for my face his eyes wide open, face burning with lustful anger. My body feel to the floor in shock. I felt no pain on impact just astonishment, never in a million years would I believe this could happen. I closed my eyes lying on the floor my jaw burned in pain I could feel it throbbing with its own heartbeat growing and swelling. I push myself up glaring at my father wondering what could have happened to him forcing him to turn to the bottle.

"What's going on out here?" My mother demanded hands on hips in her purple nighty eyebrows crooked face in a hard and stern "Austin" Her face softening eyes welling in tears she rushed to my side cradling me in her arm like when I was five and had a cut on my knee.

"MICHAEL!" Mom screamed in a hushed tone "How could you do this?! I told you to quit the drinking now look what you've done" Dads a drinker? How did I not notice? How long has this been going on right under my nose? Tears streaked my mom's pink cheeks but she smiled at me whispering how everything is going to be fine holding me close to her.

"I'm sorry" my dad whispered stumbling to my side "Drink did it not me you know I love yah, never lay a hand on yah" I nodded in agreement accepting his apology.

"You did think Michael not the drink! Go get yourself cleaned up you reek, can't stand the sight of you!" Mom shot back I have never seen her so angry before. Dad bowed his head and did what he was told trailing off like a naughty boy sent to the principal's office.

"Are you ok little prince?"

A/N; Aurgh! So not happy with this will get the next one up asap coz auuuuurgh! But I hoped you enjoyed it please review I really appreciate it

Do what you love and love what you do

xox