Austin's POV:

The show had been finished and over in no time and we were all back on the bus taking turns for the shower before the water ran cold. The amount of stage time we had flew by so fast without any trouble that I began to question why I was so worried to come back to Australia for in the first place. It really made me remember why I love doing this so much, the way the crowd cheers my name, calls the bands name over and over, the way they move and scream with us makes everything so pure and clear that I can see only love in this world.

Tonight was no doubt one of the best shows on this entire tour and it was definitely something I'd remember for years to come, the crowd was absolutely fucking insane. Out of all the mind blowing and crazy shit that happened tonight from Alan jumping into the crowd and losing his shoes or Jaime from Pierce jumping from the top of the speakers into the mob of fans there was one thing I couldn't shake from the back of my mind. Where did Oliver go? Thing is, I think I knew exactly where he went. Aurora...

Everyone had been acting so weird on this tour and as much as I'd like to say I didn't know why that'd be nothing more than a big fat lie to no one but myself. It's the fact that I know why that makes everything so much harder. If everyone just stopped pretending like my daughter didn't exist or that they weren't secretly visiting her it'd make all the tension disappear because honestly, who am I kidding? She does exist, they are visiting her and they are tip toeing around me as if I am completely oblivious to it all. This brings me back to earlier this evening when Oliver did a disappearing act.

He was doing exactly what the rest of them were, lying. Of course he didn't spot an 'old friend'. He spotted someone he, from the look on his face I could only guess, didn't expect to see standing out there staring up at the big, bright stage. His best friends daughter, his 'niece', my daughter and I bet he went and told her to get out of here for her own good. God knows what he's told her about me, he acts like he doesn't hate me like the rest of them but I can feel it when I'm not looking, his eyes shooting daggers in my neck where he only wishes he could pierce a real knife through my frail skin.

I can't even be sure that what I'm imagining is even what went down earlier my mind is racing and coming up with these ridiculous scenarios. Of course she's not here, I wouldn't even know for god sake. I couldn't spot my own daughter out in a crowd, how pathetic Austin. I must have laughed sarcastically at myself out loud because Aaron was shooting me a confused stare as if to say 'you okay mate?'. I just nodded quickly and went back to the laptop that sat on my lap before me avoiding the questions that were doubt about to come, I could avoid them for now but I knew in the back of my mind that he would save them for a more private time where he can force me to open up to him. Aaron was good at the sort of thing, you know, listening.

"Showers yours dude," Tino passed me patting me on the shoulder as he dried the water droplets from his soaking hair with a baggy red towel. I pushed the lid of the laptop shut and jumped up from the, now sweat covered, lounge and managed to drag my heavy feet into the bathroom sliding the door closed behind me making sure to lock it. We didn't need Alan walking in on me once again. It'd only be the fifth-hundredth time ever!

When I looked in the mirror I was shocked by my own reflection, it hardly looked like the Austin I used to be. I wasn't that happy-go-lucky dude anymore. I looked tired, decrepit, angry and old. You wouldn't believe I was forty-five by looking at me, fifty maybe, easily. The bags under my eyes were no longer purple but a mutilated grey and my forehead crinkled like I remembered my Grandma's used to. I should probably do something about that.

I couldn't help but chuckled at myself I probably sounded like some woman who couldn't stop thinking about all the cosmetic surgery she needed but in the end it wasn't age nor genetics or even pure ugly that made me look like this. It was the depression, the anxiety, the sleepless and loveless nights and I had nobody to blame for that but my own dumb actions somewhat sixteen years ago when I let Lani walk out of that hotel door with Mike.

I sighed aloud, just thinking about all of it made it ten times worse. I needed a pick me up, something that would wash away all my thoughts. I stepped onto the tiled floors of the tiny, bus shower and turned the metal handle and let the electrifying hot water slide down my torso and back. As it drowned my hair I couldn't help but sing my own lyrics, cocky I know but I was a lyrical genius. It was hard to believe that I'd lived my dream touring the world with my best friends for so long and now it's all coming to an end. All of the ups and the downs mean almost nothing now as it's all over, it all bought us right here to our last four shows ever right here in Australia where the downfall started.

"Dude hurry the fuck up I bet the waters cold now!" Phil's bashing on the paper thin door broke me out of my tantalizing thoughts. It only now occurred to me that the water was in fact beginning to run cold and giving me goosebumps. Poor Phil, he was always the last to shower. I must remember to give him my spot next time, I'll owe him after he freezes tonight.

"Sorry dude jumping out now," I gripped the handles to the hot and cold water so the water stopped running and grabbed the towel immediately wrapping it around my waist. I pulled back the door and made my way to the bunk hoping Phil would hear the door open as an invitation for him to have his turn in the shower. He must of because the bus made the funny churning noise when the water turned on.

As I slid into my baggy sweatpants in the back of the bus I thought I was imagining commotion out at the front of the bus. Commotion like fans yelling or the guys fighting, I wasn't too sure exactly but as it got louder I was certain that I wasn't imagining this. I didn't really have time to fiddle around in my bag for a shirt so I just tossed the wet towel around my neck and walked out to the front lounge slightly irritated by the wet, cold water dripping from my hair.

In the short amount of time that I had to observe what was going on I could tell you that Phil was still in the bathroom and everyone was exactly where they were before I got up except for Alan. Why must he insist on being the trouble maker? I heard faint mumbling from outside the door there was maybe three or four voices but I couldn't make out who it was or what was being said. I tried to peer out the window but Dan's massive frame made it out as if him and Alan were talking only among themselves, I couldn't see anyone else.

"What's going on?" I nosily asked with my head still pushed up against the window.

"Dunno man, Al just got up to ask if Dan wanted a drink but he's acting all weird," weird alright they're all whispering.

"Al, what is it?" I got up to walk outside to the door when he replied.

"Oh fuck..." he trailed off. I'm confused but there's one thing I know for sure, he wasn't responding to me when he said that. Just as I made a few more steps down towards the stairs he popped his little ranga head around the corner of the door and forced an unconvincing smile,

"Don't worry I'll look after it," he called and shooed me away before jumping out the bus slamming the door behind him. Well that was rude.

"Weird," I huffed but didn't make much of it. I slumped back into the lounge of the bus and swung my feet up. There wasn't much to do on the bus as we waited for roll out early the next morning but chill out.

"You know what Alan's like he's probably got some mysterious love child by another woman," Tino joked making Aaron and I laugh.

"True, very true," Aaron always sounded so smart and wise when he said things, it was just so Aaron of him.

"Could you imagine Tarni if she found out," our eyes went wide before bursting into tears of laughter.

"She'd go mental," we were in hysterics thinking about Tarni's reaction.

"Remember that time she found Alan's porn stash and she was cut about him hiding things? Imagine a child!" I couldn't help myself but bring up the memory, we didn't hear the end of that argument for weeks.

"Why do you think they never had kids?" Phil popped in out of nowhere plunking himself next to Tino and picking up the comic book he'd left there before the show.

"Maybe Tarns didn't want a ranga kid," Tino was always the one making the jokes.

"Fair call," I laughed so hard that I slapped my knee.

"How did that conversation get serious so fast?" Aaron questioned the sudden change of tone.

"No idea, lets stop talking about our kids," I said all too seriously, I couldn't think about kids anymore it's all I've done this entire tour.

"You're the only one with a kid bro," Tino blurted out, accidentally I presume because he through his hands straight over his mouth.

"I, well I suppose you're right," I couldn't argue him on that point, I was indeed the only one.

"What do you think Alan's really doing out there?" Aaron changed the subject making me stick my head back closer to the window for another peak.

At first he was nowhere to be seen but as I went to pull my nose away from the glass he came storming around from the back of the bus with two girls and some tall tattooed dude following him in his footsteps. One girl, the prettiest of the two, had bright red hair and Alan was dragging her by the arm. I couldn't begin to come up with an idea of who she might be or why Alan would possibly be hurting her. She looked like she was yelling, maybe even crying, but with all the windows and doors shut I couldn't tell.

"I'm not really sure what he's doing but I'm not sure I can comprehend him dragging some girl with red hair along by the arm as doing something," none of the guys responded they just jumped up from their spots and ran to the window. They all groaned, or sighed, I wasn't too sure like they knew what was about to happen. Before I knew it the front door to the bus was being swung open and all of us boys were racing to sit in our seats and act like we weren't just spying on them.

I'm not going to lie, I was most definitely confused when the pretty young girl from outside came running up the steps into the bus instead of Alan. Her eyes scanned the room like a hungry vulture, great she was a crazed fan and Alan was trying to get rid of her. I could feel more water drip from the stray hairs on my forehead. She probably thought I was sweating like a pig, not that I'm worried about what she thinks but the way she was staring at every inch of me made me uncomfortable and self conscious for some reason. I grabbed the wet towel that still hung around my neck and dabbed my forehead before sitting it on the couch next to me.

She looked over to the other three guys without saying a word but it seemed like she said so much with just her eyes and for some reason they understood exactly what she was trying to say. What the fuck is going on?

A moment later Alan trailed onto the bus like nothing odd was even happening and leaned up against the wall just watching everything unfold. The two kids that were outside with the redhead followed in. The boy took the redheads hand but when she didn't grip back he pulled away and stood back next to Alan. He looked disappointed but it wasn't his fault, even though he didn't understand that, I don't think she even felt him touch her. She had this crazed look on her face, like she was shocked into a trance not sure of how to say or do anything and it was getting really fucking creepy really fast. Can someone just tell me what the hell is going on?

"Alan I thought you said you'd take care of it buddy? Why's there a random fan on the bus?" I questioned wearily unsure of how she would take this bold statement. Not very well apparently because as soon as I said it the angry look on her face dropped and I could have sworn her lip wobbled as she tried to hold back threatening tears. Why would what I say upset her so much? Unless of course she was someone very important that I had only imagine would be here...

"I did take care of it mate, she's not a fan. I know her," the words leisurely rolled off his tongue like what he had said was no big deal but we all know what he just said was more than just a big deal because when he said that everything started to click.

"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," I didn't need to ask who she was, I'd already put that part of the puzzle together. This is who Oliver ran off to see in the middle of the show. It took a solid minute for any sort of reply from anyone. It was getting so awkward you could cut the thickness in the air with a knife. It was haunting.

"She has a good reason to look at you like that," I felt my face screw up instantly. Not that he wasn't right but that he even said it at all. In all the years that have gone by he's never lectured me or told me I was wrong. He just silently pretended he was fine with what I did. I guess this was the karma coming back to me. I scoffed then at how ironic this whole situation was becoming.

"What the fuck are you talking ab-" I didn't even get to finish when she, Aurora, said her first ever words to me. Just seeing her lips part was enough to shut me up.

"Hi Dad," she sounded so frail, so innocent and delicate like she's never seen anything wrong in the world. My heart jolted in my chest at the sound of her voice. Could this really be happening right now? No I couldn't, she'd never come looking for me. Why would she? I ran out of her life the second I knew she even existed I didn't deserve to know her.

"Dad? Good joke," I mocked, instantly regretting it when I saw the deepened sadness turn into hatred for herself.

"I wouldn't be laughing if I were you," Tino lectured me making my neck snap when I turned to them asking for the truth. Again I asked myself, is this really happening?

"She's serious isn't she? You all know it's her, you've all seen her," I didn't really need the confirmation she looked exactly like Lani did, besides the hair of course. I wondered what her natural colour was underneath the burning red. Was she more like Lani or myself? I found myself secretly praying that she bestowed my dark brown locks.

"My Mum is Leilani Bennett if that proves anything to you," those words just made things ten times more serious because no fan sixteen years down the track would even know the name Leilani Bennett.

"I believe you, they said it's you so I believe you," I really should have said, I believed it as soon as you stepped onto the bus but stupid fucking me said something entirely different.

"I, um, I don't know what to do.." she sounded so uncomfortable as she looked back at what I presumed was her friend and boyfriend asking for answers as for what to do.

"Come here," I answered for her patting the spare seat next to me inviting her over. She looked back again and they nodded her forward as if to say 'go for it'. I pushed the wet towel to the floor and rubbed the seat of water so she wouldn't sit in the puddle.

She hesitated as she took two steps forward but I begged for her to be close to me. She continued closer and sat right beside me. The aircon blew passed us at that very moment making the smell of her orchid-like perfume fill my nose. I felt my eyes grow wide as I let every beautiful detail sink in. This was my daughter, my blood, I made this beautiful creature. I wasn't being biased at all, she was purely magnificent. Her skin was an icy porcelain colour, free of any blemishes or freckles and her eyes burned the same emerald green like her mothers. Every second I looked at her had me falling more deeply in love with her. She was mine. She was so small compared to me, lucky girl got more of her Mum then she did of me.

I didn't know what I was doing next until it happened and I wasn't sure if I was making her uncomfortable but I couldn't help it when I cupped my giant hands around her soft, round face. She flinched away, scared, as if I'd hurt her making me pull back my hands but she pushed her face forward, relaxing into my palms as if she trusted me wholeheartedly. I studied her over and over noticing little things like the way she blinked when she felt awkward or the way her ears were stretched beyond no tomorrow. I'm surprised Lani let her put those things in her ears. I can just hear her yelling now.

Something wet hit my wrist making my eyes flutter back up to Aurora's face. Her cheeks were wet and the tears kept rolling from her now red eyes. I couldn't help but push away the tears with my rough thumb. It hurt seeing her in this pain because of me.

"It's really you," I don't know why I even said it, because it was her. I was just so shocked, "I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry," I meant it. I really did. I don't think it meant shit and there was no way in the world that those three words would ever make up for the horrible thing I did but it had to be said. It cleared my conscious knowing that she forgave me when she pulled me into a giant teddy bear hug gripping around my torso harder than any fan or girl has ever done before.

I loved her from the moment she walked onto the bus. My daughter Aurora, I love her. I might have missed holding her tiny frame when she was bought back home from the hospital and the diaper changes or watching her first steps. Hell I missed sixteen years of her life, all the school awards and achievements, learning how to ride a bike and now a car. I missed it all but there was nothing stopping me now from making all new memories with her. I wanted to be in her life, I wanted her to be in my life and I would never let anything get in the way of that from this day forward. I was going to make amends with my daughter and be the father she always needed. It took me this long to realize that it was never too late to be there for her.

This is my chance to be a Dad.

Notes

I'M SO SORRY EVERYONE FOR BEING SO FUCKING SHITTY! YOU MUST HATE ME!

Here 's Austin's point of view, I'm not sure how I like it but hopefully you all love it I just felt like it needed to be seen from his point of view so you guys can understand that he does want to be a part of Rory's life even though he's been a major jerk the last 16 years.

More updates to come (REGULARLY) from now on!!!! Love you guys thanks so much for reading and hanging out so fucking long for this chapter.