Aurora's POV:

"Rory come on, the show's over," Sabrina was tugging at my arm trying to pull me unsuccessfully out of the tent.

Momentarily she managed to break me out of my ghost like trance with her almost violent pulling on my arm. I stared at the empty arena around me where hundreds of other metal fans crowded together just minutes ago. It amazed me how fast they had cleared out leaving Sabrina and I alone in the muggy tent. It was then that it had occurred to me, one I had missed the entire show someone and two, Trent was nowhere in sight?

"What? How? Sab.." I trailed off not even fathoming a full sentence in the depths of my own confusion.

"It's only been like five minutes since the show finished but you've just been standing here staring the whole time even during the show, it was like you just blanked out. We didn't know what to do and Trent said Oliver came and talked to you during the show and he knew where to meet him so he went to get him for help," it was comforting to know what was going on and even more comforting know the Sabrina was such a good friend that I didn't even have to talk for her to know exactly the right things to say to calm me down.

"You are seriously-" she cut me off midway through my compliment to her.

"The best, I know," she finished my sentence, practically reading my mind, but we were close like that. We laughed together and joked some more while we waited for Oli and Trent. I knew where they would be but I didn't want to risk going to find them and getting lost and not being able to find them at all.

"So, how was the show anyway? Since I missed it," I knew she was trying so hard not to fangirl over seeing her favourite band in concert finally.

"Oh my God Rory, you have no idea. They were amazing! I almost cried I was that excited. I'm sorry I didn't notice you were in that, well whatever you were in, I would have made you watch the show," she was so red in the face that you could easily mistake her for a tomato. I was excited for her it was hard not to give her the biggest hug ever, even if her favourite band was my loser Dad.

"It's fine I kind of feel like I was trying to stop myself from seeing him on stage because if I did I would have backed out later tonight," I had to admit it, not to Sab but myself. That's exactly what the whole 'blanking out' thing was about because I know if I saw him being nice to his fans and doing what he loves I'd see that he loves all those other kids more than he's ever loved me and that fucking scares me and lets be honest here I couldn't go into their dressing room or bus and yell at him that I hate him when I'm not even sure that I do.

"Oh Rory," I could feel the waterworks coming but I swallowed on that choking feeling.

"No it's okay, I'm fine, I'm just confused. One day I think I hate him and then the next I'm not so sure that I do. I mean I know I should hate him or be mad a him because he walked out but then again, he's my Dad you know and I've never wanted anything so bad than to have a real Dad," I don't know where any of this is coming from but it's spilling out. Maybe it's coming from the bottom of the deep dark pit that is my 'real feelings'. Something I've been searching for for so long.

"Hey, hey," Sab tried to soothe me, "Look Aurora, I literally do not know any girl who is as strong as you are. We've known each other since grade one and during that time you've had five major heart surgeries, two heart failures, one that was only last year at my house, you've got a Mum that went to jail for murder, a Dad who ran out on you and if that's not enough you've got Mike on your case twenty-four fucking seven trying to pretend that he is your Dad and not once, never, have you ever complained about being in pain, being upset or being alone. Nothing. You are so fucking strong and you are allowed to be confused because your life has been anything but easy but you know what, it'll all work out and even if it doesn't, you've got me and I'll always be here for you. So go in there and give Austin Carlile the hell he deserves, tell him how you feel because it's about time you had a mental breakdown!" I was gobsmacked, blown away, in complete awe. Sab had literally summed up my whole life in two minutes quicker than any of my long hours pondering about my life in my rooms has ever done before.

"Sabrina.." I was at a loss for words.

"Eh, don't worry about it, that's what I'm here for. Look there they are," she pointed behind me towards the back of the tent where I knew Trent and Uncle Oli would be striding over to us. I turned on my heels to see that I was indeed correct however they were more so sprinting towards us then walking.

"Aurora love, are you okay?" Uncle Oli was leaning down in front of me so he could meet my eye level in less than a second. Worry glazed over the emotion in his eyes as he pulled me into a tight hug.

"I'm fine Uncle Oli I promise," I tried to convince him as I pulled out of his breath taking bear hug.

"Trent here said you were in a trance like you were sleep walking but you weren't asleep, that's not 'fine' love," I have never in my life seen Uncle Oli worried until today, even when I was in hospital he was the one who was cheerier than everyone else trying to make me laugh even if it did hurt my chest but he didn't have doctor's and nurses or Mum here to worry for me he was the one who had to look out for me and I bet that scared him just as much as the thought of meeting Austin scared me.

I looked past Uncle Oli to Trent who looked like a mess. He had obviously been stressing and was still chewing on his already bitten nails. I felt bad for him, I did this to him. He hadn't even made eye contact with me this whole time I was staring at him, begging for him to notice me. I wanted to scream 'hey you over there, yeah it's your girlfriend that's been blanked out in a panic attack for the past two hours do you care to notice me?' but just before I parted my lips I just as quickly closed them as he finally looked at me. All of his nerves seemed to wash away and it made me jealous because my nerves still haven't subsided but instead of letting it get to me I let his adorable smile make me temporarily happy.

"Yeah I missed the show but I'm fine now Sab helped me," he let out a breath of relief and stood back up straight.

"Well I may as well just take you in through security now that I'm out here rather than sneak you in," he wrapped his arm around Sab's and I's shoulder as Trent followed eagerly behind.

Uncle Oli took a short cut and we just walked up the front of the stage to back stage, he said it saved the 'security bullshit' and no one would question who we were because we were with him. He was right, he led us right outside to the car park where all the bands buses were parked. All of them were parked next to each other, Pierce The Veils, then Bring Me's and last but not least Of Mice and Men's bus.

"Woah," it was the only word I heard Trent speak from the moment him and Uncle Oli came and found us right up to when we walked into Of Mice's bus. He was probably too starstruck to speak too much. He walked over next to me and slid his hand into mine and squeezed tightly for just a moment before making the grip more comfortable. He stood beside me the whole time but never said a word, but that's okay, I didn't blame him. I'd be shocked too if I was anyone else but myself.

"Well love, good luck and remember I had absolutely nothing to do with this," I turned to hug him goodbye and thank him but he was already jogging back to his bus.

As I looked around the yard I thought it was odd that there was barely anyone but us walking around but then again, they had all just finished a big show. They all probably just wanted to relax. I counted myself lucky that Mike, or anyone for that matter, hadn't been out for a smoke or something right now because my plan would have been busted.

"Well this is it guys, are you coming?" I took in a deep breath of air before taking my first step towards the big silver bus with the words "Of Mice And Men" down the middle.

"You shouldn't even expect that we wouldn't come with you,"

"Touche," I laughed nervously. The butterflies in my stomach were causing a riot and I felt like I was about to vomit, for real.

As we rounded around the bus closer to the door a tall, large man dressed in all black sitting on a fold out chair close to the door came into view. A security guard? Seriously boys, not even the other two bands have security guards. Maybe it was to stop Mike beating both Austin and Uncle Alan's ass. I flashed Sab a worried look and I knew she was thinking the exact same thing I was. We weren't getting into this bus.

The guard must of heard our footsteps because we certainly hadn't said a word before he jumped out of his seat and stood in front of the bus door. To be fair we were pretty close to just opening the door and walking in and he'd only just now noticed us when we'd been standing there walking closer towards the bus for a good minute now.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? No fans allowed," he husky voice and bellowing height scared the shit out of me, so much that I couldn't respond to him.

"Uh.." god say something Aurora, you must look like a bumbling idiot. I can feel my face turning red by the second.

"Look you probably hear this all the time but we're not fans," Sabrina comes to the rescue, thank the heavens.

"Well you're not press, the boys aren't scheduled for an interview today so you're fans. Bugger off, I don't even know how you got out here," he had grabbed Trent by the sleeve of his shirt and tried to push us away. Trent shrugged him off and pushed him by the chest making Sab jump between the two men before an all out brawl started right here in the car park.

"I'm Oliver Syke's niece, you can even go ask him. Alan Ashby he knows me, he's married to my Mum's best friend he's practically my Uncle we're that close," finally I'd conjured up some words and I might have saved our asses from losing the chance to get on the bus altogether.

"If I go and get Oli you three brats will run onto the bus as soon as I leave," he accused us, rightfully so because it's exactly what I'd do.

"Take us with you," it was a rational thought and possibly the only way to make him believe us.

"Better yet, she said she knew Alan, he's right inside that bus. Go ask him to come out here and meet us he'll tell you if he know's us or not," Sab always thought quickly on her toes when she was under pressure. The guard seemed to think for what seemed like a lifetime before huffing in defeat. He dug his hand into the tight pocket of his jeans, presumably, searching for a key to the bus. When he finally found what he was looking for, which was in fact a key, he turned his back to us as he fumbled to unlock the door but before he could do it himself someone from the inside opened it first. I couldn't bare the suspense as I waited to see who was behind the tinted glass so I turned my back and looked out to the rest of the car park waiting to hear who it may be.

"Oh hey Dan," That must be the guards name, "we were just coming to ask if you wanted a drink but it seems you've got your hands tied with the fans out here," Uncle Alan. It was Uncle Alan.

"Actually Alan these people are claiming they know you," he was pretty drunk the night of the party at my house where he and Mike had the fight because he mustn't recognize Sab or Trent.

"What?" yep, he was really confused.

"Come on girl," Dan tugged at my arm just like Sab had earlier and pulled me towards Uncle Alan and stood me in front of him. I looked up through the loose strands of my red hair to the now furious man before me. I am in so much trouble and for some reason I feel like I've been saying that a lot lately. If I just went to that stupid public speaking competition with school this weekend I would not be in the trouble I am in right now.

"Hi Uncle Alan," I awkwardly coughed out.

"Oh fuck," he took another step down the stairs of the bus towards me.

"Al! What is it?" an unfamiliar male voice called from the back. I wonder if, that was Austin. When I looked at Uncle Alan the look in his eyes confirmed my suspicion. It was him he was in there. I took a step forward reaching for the railings into the bus but Uncle Alan stepped to the side blocking my way.

"Don't worry I'll look after it!" he finally responded to my Dad. Look after it? What was there to look after? Surely he wouldn't turn me away, would he? He finally stepped out and closed the door behind him. He ushered Dan away and grabbed all three of us to behind the bus, I'm assuming so Austin wouldn't see us outside the window.

"Please I need to go in there, I need to know if he cares," this time I failed at swallowing back the threatening tears. They had won this time, now they flowed down my heated, red cheeks and my breathing got short as I started to panic. Trent noticed immediately and pulled me into his arms. I leaned into his side and buried my face into his shirt, soaking it with my tears. I'd apologize later.

"And I need to keep you from getting yours and my ass kicked by your Mum when she finds out your here. You're not allowed to see him, it's better for you that way," he fed me the regular bullshit they all do when I bring him up.

"Why?" I screamed causing all of them to shush me, "Why can't I see him, why is it better for me this way? Why do you all think it's better for me to keep suffering, to keep being so fucking upset, you all just keep hurting me by keeping these secrets and you all think it's okay. It's not okay, when do I get to decide? He's my father and if I want to meet him I will!" Uncle Alan's face fell when I finished. I was so warn out from the yelling, the crying, the blanking out, the sneaking around. I was so tired of it all I just wanted to get what I wanted, just this one time.

"Go," he was giving up, he wasn't fighting he was demanding. I'd lost once again.

"No, I'm not going home!" I wailed almost falling to my knees if Trent hadn't been holding me up.

"Rory," he groaned annoyed that I was still arguing.

"No Uncle Alan-" he cut me off when he grabbed my arm pulling me away from Trent and towards the front of the bus. We stopped right in front of the door, confusing me until Uncle Alan pushed the door open.

"Aurora listen to me! Go and get on that bus and give Austin the hell he deserves," the tears stopped straight away and I flew up the mere three steps and stepped past the drivers cabin to where all of Of Mice and Men sat in the lounge area.

Tino, Phil and Aaron just stared at me with wide eyes confused as hell that I was here and I think they were scared for what was about to happen but they didn't say anything that would give away to Austin who I was. They didn't say anything at all.

My head turned to where he sat all wide eyed and sweaty from the show he just performed. There was a towel around his neck that he pulled off to dab his forehead before placing it on the couch next to him. He had a few crinkles around his eyes but beside that he still looked young, not a wrinkle to be seen. His freckles were darker than in the photos and his eyes were the dark chocolate brown that Mum always described. I didn't have his eyes, or freckles or anything except for his dark coloured hair that I had dyed a fire engine read to destroy any trace of him that I had in my blood but I could tell just by looking at him, that he was my Dad.

"Alan I thought you said you'd take care of it buddy? Why's there a random fan on the bus?" the questions came from the one and only Austin Carlile. Those two questions alone belittled my confidence. He didn't even for a split second recognize who I might be. I mean I know he never met me as a baby,he never saw baby photos, and he's probably never asked Mike for a recent photo but did I not remind him of Mum?

"I did take care of it mate, she's not a fan. I know her," he stepped onto the bus with Trent and Sab next to him. They all stayed where they were not making a move or sound as they waited for what I would do next but to be honest, not even I knew what I was going to do.

"Well who is she and why are you all staring like you've seen a ghost and why is she just staring at me with daggers for eyes like she's about to attack me? I'm a little freaked out right now," his husky voice echoed in the silent, cold bus.

"She has a good reason to look at you like that," Austin's face contorted at Uncle Alan's comment and he scoffed like what Alan had said was bullshit.

"What the fuck are you talking ab-" I cut him off, I didn't want to hear another rude word he had to say. He needed to know.

"Hi Dad," there was no gearing myself up to saying it, I just did, it just slipped out as soon as I parted my lips. Maybe a lot louder than I had expected but at least I knew he would have heard me. Only now did Trent and Sab step closer towards me both leaning in close for support.

"Dad? Good joke," he laughed. He fucking laughed.

"I wouldn't be laughing if I were you," Tino spoke up. Austin's neck almost snapped as he looked toward the three men sitting across from him.

"She's serious isn't she? You all know it's her, you've all seen her," he was weary now. A little shook up too but that was expected. Anyone would be overwhelmed if their best mate sat a kid before them and said 'hey here's your fuck up child'. Everyone; Tino, Alan, Aaron and Phil, they all just nodded confirming Austin's question.

"My Mum is Leilani Bennett if that proves anything to you," I don't know if that meant shit to him but it was worth the try.

"I believe you, they said it's you so I believe you," I didn't realize until now that I had been holding my breath until I let it go. Suddenly this chip had been removed from my shoulder and all the weight was gone. Who knew that's all I had to do. There was no yelling, no slapping, no crying, just a simple 'hi'.

"I, um, I don't know what to do.." I mumbled making Trent and Sab laugh.

"Come here," Austin begged. He patted the lounge next to him moving the towel to the floor. I hesitated before taking a step toward him and looked back to my two best friends.They nodded encouraging me forward.

When I sat next to him his eyes grew wider as he took every detail of me in as I did him when I entered the bus. His hands found their way to my face where I flinched away at first before trusting him. He didn't hug me or kiss me he just studied me in awe. He was so shocked and as awkward as I felt I couldn't look away as the tears streamed down my cheeks for the second time today. He wiped the tears with his calloused, rough thumbs and chuckled to himself.

"It's really you," I nodded crying harder than before, "I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry," I didn't want to believe that he was telling the truth but every fiber of my being was telling me that he wasn't lying. He cared, he really cared.

"I hate you, I do," he nodded in agreement, nodding over and over as he pulled me into a hug. That was when I exploded into a blubbering mess of tears. I thought I was crying hard before but now I was really crying.

"You're allowed to hate me, I fucked up, I'm so sorry," he was too crying now.

"I don't hate you because you left," I managed to blurt out between tears and heaving for air.

"What?" he was confused, rightfully so.

"I hate you because you're the opposite of how I thought you would be. I thought I'd walk onto this bus tell you I was your daughter and you'd turn me away and tell me you never wanted me and that you couldn't love me but here you are welcoming me with open arms and apologizing and crying. I hate you because you make it hard to hate you, I love you when I should hate you," he nodded with every word that I said. It made sense to him, it made sense to everyone in the room who thought they'd never see the day Austin would reconcile with his daughter he left so long ago.

"I've always loved you and your mother, god I miss Lani so much but by the time I realized I fucked up it was too late. Your Mum and Mike they were happy together and he was raising you, your Mum had probably told you all the horrible stories about your deadbeat Dad. You have no idea how many times I just wanted to travel half way across the world and say 'Hi baby I'm you're Daddy and I'm here now' but it was wrong. I deserved to suffer," he was crying just as hard as I was. I took in every word and it made so much sense now but it still hurt so much.

"But I didn't deserve to suffer, I didn't!" I could't help it when I pushed him in the chest away from the hug, I was angry. I shocked him and immediately I regretted it but before I could say sorry he was the one apologizing.

"I know, I messed your life up really bad. It's all my fault I won't deny it but I want to make it up to you," he was pleading for my forgiveness and it was only now that I could look away and hope that the others would give me some sort of sign that this was the right thing to do. Sabrina was crying and Trent looked somewhat angry, like he was ready to pounce if Austin did anything wrong. Uncle Alan sat next to the others and he was the only one paying attention to notice that I was begging for an answer to my question. Was Austin really sincere or should I walk away and give up.

"He loves you," he mouthed to me and that was all I needed to believe Austin.

"You do?" I asked hesitantly.

"I really, really do," it was convincing enough for me to leap across the couch and throw my arms around him one last time. We didn't have to say anything else we knew we'd do anything to fix the relationship between us. No matter how long it would take for me to trust him it would happen, I would have a father.

"You know I would've thought it was your friend over there to be my daughter, she has crazy coloured hair like your Mum did," he joked making everyone in the bus laugh except for Trent, Sab and I. We were instead, confused.

"Mum had something other than blonde hair?" the three of us looked at each other dazed.

"You mean you haven't seen photos?" he was genuinely amused like my Mum's hair was some sort of secret.

"Nope, she got rid of it before the baby photos began," Alan giggled.

"She had peacock blue hair when we were together," Sab and I's jaws dropped to the floor. I would never have taken my Mum as the bright blue kind of person.

"Are you serious?" Trent laughed at the thought.

"Deadly," Austin added making me giggle again.

"She rocked it though," Phil made a comment like Mum was 'hot'. Ew.

"Speaking about Mum she'd kill me if she ever found out I was here," I regretted it as soon as I said it because it made everything serious again when we all just started laughing.

"We better get you back to our house, last time we snuck out your Mum quickly figured out we weren't at our house?" Trent walked closer and offered me his hand as he helped me up and pulled me to his warm side. His familiar smell of cologne comforted me among all the craziness that took place today. I could feel Austin's eyes as he carefully watched Trent and I as he figured out our relationship. I could tell he was a little uncomfortable with the idea but I could also tell he knew the boundary of what he does and doesn't have a say in.

"Well drive home safe, it was really great to finally meet you," he heaved himself from the couch where he sat the entire time and I leaned in for one more hug. This was nice.

"I mean I didn't get to slap you like I had planned but I think I like how it went better anyway," I joked but I could tell I made him feel slightly uneasy like I had been rude. I shied away back to Trent's side then feeling sorry and awkward.

"You've got your Mum's sense of humor," he chuckled lightly softening the aura.

"You should see her, she's lonely," oh my god Aurora, you just made things really awkward. He looked hurt like he knew it could never happen. I knew better than to say something like that, I knew Mum would refuse to see him ever again even if I had something to do with it.

"I don't think that's a good idea," he mumbled under his breath before quickly recovering.

"No one thought it was a good idea if I met you," I subtly changed the subject.

"I think it was pretty good idea," his words put a smile across my lips. My heart fluttered at the idea that he really cared about me, his daughter.

"Ditto," I replied shooting his one last smile before I turned towards the door with my friends.

"Catchya later kid," he waved me off.

"Bye Dad," I could get used to that.

Notes

IT'S HERE! THEY MET! SHE HUNTED HIM DOWN!

What do you all think? How did I go? I know a lot of you wanted me to make Rory hate him but I couldn't do it. I hope you guys like it, I've been writing this one chapter for so freaking long.

Thank you all so much for your patience xxxx