I had a fucking nagging suspicion that I was being watched and followed. So I drove the longer way home, and used the back gate to drive into the lot of the complex.

I then rushed up the flights of stairs and made my way into my apartment.

As soon as I was inside, I locked the door, and pressed my back to the door.

Wordlessly pulling out my phone I sent a message in the group chat:

Honey Bee: Need to be alone. Do not call, text, or come over.

Aly Cat: I'm sorry.

Rosie : Bee… I'm so sorry. I swear I didn't know.

Honey Bee: Save it, Rose. I don't want to hear it from any of you.

Katie: You take all the time you need, Bee. I'll hold them off.

I sighed, placing the phone onto the table and dropping my bag on the couch before heading to Lottie's room.

I stared at the toys splayed on the pink fluffy carpet, and her princess bed, trying to swallow around the knot lodged in my throat.

Fuck. That was not the way I thought the night was going to be.

I sighed as I bent over and pulled her second favorite teddy bear into my chest, taking it with me as I made my way to my room. I changed out of my clothes, and put on a pair of leggings and a loose oversized shirt.

I went to the bathroom, washed my face from all traces of makeup and tied my hair before I went back to my room.

As I sat down, I allowed a few tears to drop, before making my way back to the living room.

I knew I wasn't going to sleep anytime soon. My mind was running a mile a minute, and my body was too keyed up.

So, I began to clean, and do the laundry I hadn't done.

I started in the kitchen, before working my way through the living room, and to the rooms.

I had the phone in the dock, listening the music I only put on when I was annoyed or angry. I usually listened to All Due Respect by Asking Alexandria. Followed by Just Pretend by Bad Omens. The lengthy list usually allowed me to clean quickly as I worked my frustrations on the surfaces of my apartment and other stuff.

It was low enough that I could hear it, without waking up my neighbors.

As soon as I finished with the rooms I proceeded to do the bathroom, focusing on every little detail. Making everything impossibly cleaner than it already was.

By the time I finished it was a little after four in the morning and I was finally exhausted enough to shower and go to sleep.

Even then, I took an extra long shower, exfoliating, moisturizing, and even drying my hair before I finally made it to bed.

When I woke up it was sometime in the afternoon and had a blistering headache.

As I made my way back into the living room, my phone rang.

I checked to see who it was, realizing it was my mom. I sighed, before sliding my finger across the screen and bringing it up to my ear.

"Hello?" I answered in a calm tone.

"Bella? Hey, how was your free night, hon?" She asked.

"Not really. Rose called and invited me to a concert. And it ended in a disastrous fashion. To make this really short, the band that was playing was the one Lottie's dad plays in…. Before you ask, yes, I told him about Lottie. Once It was said and done. I drove home, and spent the night cleaning the apartment to clear my head." I told her honestly as I looked around for something else to do.

"You doing okay, hon?" She asked me, concerned.

I didn't know how to feel now that everything was said and done. To be honest, I wasn't scared. I had prepared for this long ago.

My lawyer, Marcus, had drawn the termination of parental rights while I was pregnant.

He never signed them. Maybe he would now.

I didn't have a prayer that he would if his reaction was anything to go by. But I still hoped for an easy way out of this situation.

I frowned, "I don't know how to feel." I told her, truthfully.

"You have nothing to feel bad about, sweetheart. You did everything possible to tell him. He didn't want to listen so… this is all on him, baby. You don't need to feel that guilt or anything else. Now, are you going to rest or should your dad, me, and Miss. Lottie come over?" She asked.

I sighed, knowing I wasn't going to rest unless I had her in my arms. She always levels me. "Yes, I'm not going to feel better until I have her in my arms." I whispered.

"Okay then, we'll see you soon then. Don't bother making any dinner, we'll pick something up." She told me before hanging up.

I sighed and went to shower again, thinking that the exhaustion would maybe fade if I showered with cold water.

Once out, I slipped on a pair of high waisted jeans, white sports bra, and a cropped blue hoodie.

I pulled my hair up in a messy bun, before slipping on a pair of white Vans.

I then made myself a turkey and lettuce sandwich, before settling on the couch again.

I debated whether or not to do this but I had to ensure Lottie's safety. So, I did the only thing I could do in situations like these. I called my lawyer, Marcus King.

Almost an hour later, I heard the familiar pitter patter of little feet running down the hall.

I immediately got up and rushed to open the door. I knelt down in time to catch her as she leapt into my arms.

"Momma!" She cried as she hugged me.

"Hey, muffin. How was your sleep over with Poppa and Nan?" I asked her.

"Fun! Poppa dwopped the donuts." She told me amused.

My dad scoffed, as he placed the bag of food on the table, "That wouldn't have happened if your toys weren't on the ground, you little shit." My Dad mumbled.

"Little shit!" Lottie repeated happily.

"Charlie!"

"Dad!"

My mom and I repeated as Lottie ran to her room.

"Sorry…" My dad mumbled as he rubbed the arm my mother smacked.

"As you should be." My mother chastised, frowning at him.

"So, what happened between you and Rose?" My dad as he took the other bag of food from her and placed it on the table too.

"Charlie…" My mom sighed.

"What? Rose called you earlier too. That only happens when they fight." He told her.

I sighed, "Look. Yes, I'm angry at her. No, I don't want you to butt in, or talk to her about it. Okay…? So, please drop the subject." I told them.

My mom nodded before snacking my dad's arm again.

Lottie walked back into the living room a few minutes later, as we sat down to eat. She climbed up into my lap.

"So, what's this fellow going to do? Is he finally going to pull on his big boy pants and start to act like a man?" My dad asked.

I sighed, "No, in fact, I told him Lottie and I don't need him. I've asked Marcus to contact his lawyers." I said as I handed Lottie a veggie roll.

"Baby, I know you want to be strong, and continue to do this by yourself. But he needs to be held accountable for his actions." My dad told me.

I stared at him, blankly. "You realize that I tried everything in my power to contact him. He ignored it. That ship has sailed, and the dock is burned. So, no there is no way. Now, please drop the subject." I told him.

He sighed, looking down with a frown.

My mother sighed, "Your father only wants the best for you and Lottie." She finally said.

"I get that. I do. But this is my child's life hanging in the balance and I'm not about to fuh-mess up everything for someone who was too much of a coward to stay when things got too real." I told them.

"You're right, sweetheart." She said as she elbowed my dad.

"Née." He complained.

"No, Charlie, Lottie is her child. Therefore she is the one who has the first and last word on the subject. Drop it." My mother told him.

He sighed, "Fine." He mumbled.

A week later, Lottie and I were walking home from the park when I ran into Rose and Em.

"Bella." She said with a smile.

"Rosalie." I replied, dully.

"I've been trying to call you…" She began but trailed off.

"I know. I've been ignoring you." I told her as I felt Lottie hid behind my legs as she looked up at Emmett.

"Is this the little munchkin?" Emmett asked as he kneeled down.

I nodded, as Lottie looked up at me. "Charlotte, this is Emmett, your aunt Rosalie's going to marry him." I told her.

"You gonna be my new Unka?" She asked him, eyeing him curiously.

Emmett smiled, as he pulled out a dollar from his pocket, "Sure am, munchkin." He told her as he offered her the money.

"I'm not a kunchin." Lottie replied, crossing her arms and frowning.

Emmett started chuckling, as he nodded, "Alright, do you prefer princess instead?" He asked her.

Lottie nodded fiercely as she finally took the dollar.

"Bella, I'm really sorry about how I dealt with everything. I should have told you, and I'm so sorry I didn't. I just— I thought ..." She stuttered.

I sighed, "I know what you thought, Rose… and that doesn't excuse what you did. I could let a lot of things go… if it had been about me. But this is Charlotte we're talking about, and I'm not going to allow anyone to hurt her." I told her.

Her eyes watered as she nodded, "I really am sorry, Bee." She told me.

"I know you are. But that doesn't change what you did. Usually, I am not one to hold grudges but for this one. I totally am… Keep your distance and we'll talk at the next family dinner... maybe." I told her.

With that, I said goodbye to both of them, before grabbing Lottie's hand, and walking home.

Author's Note:

A few things.

One, thank you for giving this a chance. As usual, this is only the beginning of the short story.

Two, always remember that people can change, even assholes and dickwads do have other redeeming qualities and possibilities.

Three, y'all didn't think it'll be that easy do ya?