Aurora's POV:

I didn't even give Mum the time to scoff at Dad's proposal before, against all orders, I ran out to where the adults were congregated. It was like someone had just died out here, except I actually hadn't. At the quick glance I got before he turned away I noticed Austin's face was soaked, and not from the rain. He hadn't taken a seat the whole time and was pacing back and forth. When he took his next step, his back facing me, I came into plain sight. Mum stared at me from over the shoulder of a man she hadn't seen in nearly seventeen years.

"Aurora please," she paused as Austin turned to face me, "go back to your room," she was stern and I knew it was because she knew I heard him ask.

"Mum please," I begged as I neared closer. Austin didn't move, he just stared in disbelief.

"You're not going with him Aurora," Mike started to interject before Mum silenced him just by lifting one finger as if to say 'stop'.

"Mum I'll never forgive you," I cried.

"Don't do that to me, not to me. Throw that shit at someone who doesn't care about you but not at me. I've raised you single handedly for sixteen years. I've been there for every surgery or every hospital visit unconditionally. I've done everything that is right by you, do not tell me you won't forgive me from saving you once more," she was crying now too and it stung.

"What's there to save me from Mum? I'm not two anymore there's no monsters under my bed in the tour bus!" as much as I was hurting for Mum, I understood her, she needed to understand me too.

"It's not all as glam as you think! The fan's, they're crazy, you get no sleep, all they do is party and you're too young. Aus- you're father, he's going to be working the entire time you'll never see him," all the excuses hit me in the face like a fist.

"I'll see him more than what I have my whole life," Mum's voice cracked and Austin sighed, I'd said the completely wrong thing.

"Don't act like that's my fault. He's the one who walked out," Austin dropped to his knees, tears trembling down his red face.

"Lani," he pleaded for her to listen.

"Stop, I don't care anymore," she reverted her attention back to me.

"I... I know that Mum, I'm sorry. But please.." I stared straight into her eyes hoping she could read how much I wanted, no, needed this.

"Baby please don't make me let go of you," she caressed my cheek and wiped away my tears.

"You're not Mum, I'll come right back," I promised, I meant it, I could never leave her.

"What if you love him more than me?" Oh no. Alarm bells went off in my head, how do I say the right thing without hurting either of them and keeping them both happy at the same time?

"Oh Mum, I could never, you're my everything but please let me do this," I fell into her motherly hold.

"Why?" she supported me as the men watched on not sure of what to say in this ordeal.

"I need it, I need to know who I am. All these years I've wondered who I am if I'm not like you and this is my chance to find out. Only God knows how much time I've got to discover the real me. I felt so incomplete all my life until I met him Mum," I know I was guilt tripping her but it was all true, every single word. I could only hope she believed me.

"I..." please crack, please crack, please crack, "I have conditions."

"Please Mum?" I began to beg expecting her to say no when it clicked. "Wait.. did you just?" I looked back to Mike for confirmation and he just nodded his head yes. Now I looked back to Austin and scrambled to him throwing myself at him. His large, warm hands wrapped around me at the same time he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. We had won.

"There's conditions Aurora," somehow all her tears were gone and she was the stern Mum I'd always known her to be.

"Anything Mum, I'll do anything," and that was the honest truth. Austin squeezed me harder in excitement but I knew he was still hurting so bad, boy would we have a lot to talk about in the car.

"You don't have to do anything," she calmly replied, maybe too calmly. It was scary.

"What?" I was so confused, in fact I think everyone was.

"Leilani, you don't have to do this," Mike intervened as if he knew exactly what Mum was about to say. So everyone but Mike was confused now.

"No I need to do this too, to make up for lost time," a random idea ran through my mind but it was utterly and entirely unbelievable. She wouldn't.

"I'm going with you," she stood up and walked off to her bedroom before anyone could say anything.

Was she really going to do this? Was she going to pack up her things, put her job on hold and spend a month if not more with the man who crushed her heart. She hadn't seen him for sixteen years and suddenly she wants to spend everyday around him. As crazy as it was it meant I got to go with Austin, my Dad, and I couldn't argue with that.

I unravelled from Austin's hold and faced him, sat on the floor. Mike had followed Mum so we were by ourselves. He took in a deep breath, recuperating from all the tears and drama. He looked at me thoughtfully before wiping the smudged mascara from under my eyes once again.

"Are you ready to go to the movies?" I sighed in relief. I got away from talking about everything right now but I knew it was coming later.

"Yeah, lets go," we stood up together and headed for the front door.

I never knew it could feel this good, even in such a rough time, to have a father. I loved it.

Notes

Well it's only been like 9 months since I've updated but what the heck. I've really missed writing, this in particular, and I've missed all you guys. I hope you're all still here to read! So sorry for my shitty updating. I'm here to stay this time!