Shawn walked into the living room with the "love therapist" behind him, Andrew Gertler.

Shawn walked to the end of the couch that I was sitting on and sat down. Andrew sat on the couch across from us.

"Alright" Andrew began. "First, Shawn, you need to greet Alana"

"Hey, Alana" He said without looking at me.

"No. Greet her like you would have a couple of months ago"

Shawn turned towards me and gave me a forced smile. "Hi, honey"

"Come on now" Andrew pouted. "I'm sure you would have kissed or hugged her or something"

"I am not letting him kiss me" I interjected.

"Then hug!"

Shawn and I both scooted towards the middle. He brought out his arms and I brought out mine. Then we gave each other the most awkward hug; I gave him small awkward pats on the back. Then we both pulled away.

"You guys are pathetic" Andrew scolded. "What kind of hug was that?"

"The best one we can give. Continue" Shawn said.

"No need to rush him" I said, annoyed. "Are you acting like a hellion with everyone?"

"Do you think I want to be doing this right now?" He argued back.

"Guys" Andrew's voiced stopped us. "Is this what happens every day?"

We nodded.

"Okay. The only way you two can recover is if you talk without arguing and cooperate with me. What happened to you two?" He shook his head. "You were so happy"

"Things change" Shawn spoke.

"Yup. He speaks for himself" I smiled.

"We're going to go around and tell your sides of the story" Andrew instructed us. "Alana, you go first"

"Ever since he's gotten back into the studio" I started. "He's been slowly but surely distancing himself from me, to the point where he wouldn't even acknowledge that I was in the same room as him. The biggest thing for me is that how can I love someone if they don't love me back?"

"Alana, you know I-"

"Shut up Shawn" Andrew had his arms on his knees. "How are you coping with that?"

"I don't want to say, it's too embarrassing"

"It's a safe space"

I sighed. "I cry. A lot. And during the beginning of this whole mess, I would watch our wedding video for hours on end and just sob and sob and sob"

Andrew gave me a look of pity then turned to Shawn. "Now you Mr. Home Wrecker, what do you have to say?"

Shawn made a weird face then continued. "Times have been super hard in the studio. I'm just trying to finish the album. You know that most, Andrew. I've been super exhausted and nobody's giving me a break. Alana is always on my case and it's making it worse"

"And how have you been coping with that?"

"Going to the studio and writing all the time. And distancing myself, I guess" He ran a hand through his hair.

Andrew let out a loud exhale. "Prescription for tonight: watch that wedding video together and please try not to argue. Instead of knit-picking at each other's words, say at least one compliment to each other every thirty minutes. Shawn, stop working on the album for now. It seems that you aren't ready to work until you learn to prioritize your family first. I'm going to go home now, you two, I'll come back tomorrow to see progress"

Andrew stood up and started walking out. "I expect greatness tomorrow" He yelled before exiting the house.

Shawn pulled his phone from his pocket and displayed our video on the television. It started with me in the room and Tiffany helping me get my dress on and switched to Shawn buttoning up his suit.

It then went to us walking down the aisle, our first dance, cutting the cake, etc. Even though I watched the video a million times, it was still able to hit me straight in the heart.

I stood up and walked a few steps to the kitchen, holding in a sob. I grabbed a napkin and blew my nose. A light tap on my shoulder made me jump. Shawn put his fingers under my chin and brought my face in his direction. Quick tears were making their way down my face. I think watching the video softened him up.

He brushed them away with the pads of his thumbs. "You know how much I love you, right? That'll never change"

"Well something has changed" I sniffled.

He put his hand down from my face and sat down on the counter stool. I sat on the one next to his. "Tell me" He said. "Who was the Shawn you fell in love with?"

"I fell in love with two. Celebrity Shawn when I was 18 and 20 year old Shawn from Toronto"

"Tell me about them"

"Celebrity Shawn was the guy I'd look at everyday on my phone screen. He had a beautiful voice that pulled me in. Very handsome and kind to his fans. He seemed like he'd be a great guy in real life. 20 year old Shawn from Toronto was everything I hoped for in a guy. Kind and gentle but always passionate. Loving, very very loving. A hopeless romantic"

"And 23 year old Shawn?" He said, softly.

I bit my lip then continued. "You want me to be honest?"

"Always"

"Don't get mad at me alright?"

"I'll try not to. Don't hurt my feelings too much"

"No promises" I sniffled then continued "I personally don't know 23 year old Shawn that well, now that I think about it. I was pregnant and you had to go off during tour so I didn't get to see you very much. I spent approximately three months with you and it took a turn when you started going to the studio. The kind and loving person I once knew turned cold and distant"

"You know, me suggesting divorce. That was a spur of the moment thing. I'd never actually want that"

"I know. That's why I got so hurt when you said that. Sorry for slapping you by the way"

"And your love for me. Has that changed?"

"I'd be lying if I said no. I hate you a little more now. But I'd be stupid to stop loving you at all"

He nodded. "I think we've succeeded in finishing Andrew's task, eh?"

I nodded my head with a chuckle. "For sure, yeah" I stood up from the stool. "I'm going to go feed Sweets"

Shawn rushed to stand up. "Let me help you"

He followed me up the stairs and into the nursery where Jasmine was hugging her stuffed animal. I picked her up and brought her to the rocking chair in the back corner of the room.

Shawn passed me her bottle and I started feeding her. "She's getting so big" He said, looking over my

shoulder.

I nodded in agreement. "She's such a good baby too. Sleeps through the day and barely wakes up at night"

"Can I hold her?"

I looked up at him with a smile. "Of course" I handed her to him, making sure the bottle didn't fall out.

"Come on" He nodded his head to the doorway. I stood up and followed them into the bedroom. Shawn sat on the bed, his back against the headboard.

I did the same. "Why is this happening?" I asked.

"Why is what happening?"

"Why do we fight all the time? It's so tiring. We used to be so happy"

"Like you've said before, I've turned into a dick"

I jokingly dropped my jaw and covered Jasmine's tiny ears. "Don't say that while your daughter's in the room"

Shawn chuckled and looked down at the baby. He took out the bottle as she was finished and had gone to sleep.

"Here" I said. "Put her in the middle of the bed" I pointed and he did as I said.

I put the pillows on the bed around her so she wouldn't easily fall off.

"Do you want a drink?" Shawn asked me.

"I would love a drink"

"Really?"

"Yeah, why not?"

"You hate drinking"

"Things change, Mendes"

"Well said, Si-" He paused. "What the hell. I'll call you Sinclair for old times sake" He grabbed the baby monitor from the nightstand and the both of us went downstairs.

Shawn went into the pantry and got out a bottle of tequila and a couple of shot glasses.

"Are you sure we should be drinking? I don't think it's good for drunk people to be taking care of a baby"

He set down the things on the counter. "You're right. We'll be awful parents. But don't Elena and Josh do it all the time?"

"No! Not all the time. Once in a blue moon. They usually bring Layla to Mom and Dad's"

Shawn raised his eyebrows. "We need to bond. It's been ages"

"I don't know, Shawn"

"Please" He stuck out his bottom lip.

"You're a bad dad, just remember that" I pulled out my phone and called my mom.

In less than an hour, Jasmine was at my mom's house and Shawn was pouring the drink. He handed me a cup.

"Cheers" He clinked mine with his and we both downed it.

I squeezed my eyes and scrunched my nose. "Mmm. Nope. I'm done"

"Already?! You're still the same, Alana" Shawn laughed.

"Can we watch a movie or something?" I asked.

He gave me a lazy smile. "Fine"

I walked over to the grey couch in the living room and found the remote. I put on Grease. Shawn sat down right beside me.

We were watching for a while when it paused all of a sudden. I looked over at Shawn's thumb over the remote's pause button.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

"Can we start over?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Start over? Okay" I brought my hand out to him. "Pleasure to meet you. I'm Alana Sinclair"

He took my hand and shook it. "Shawn Mendes"

I let out an exaggerated gasp. "No. No way. The Shawn Mendes?"

He scrunched his nose and grinned. "Yes. The Shawn Mendes" I cleared his throat. "Tell me something about yourself, Ms. Sinclair"

I scratched my chin. "Hmm. When I was twenty, I used to wake up next to my boyfriend and he'd try to kiss me but there was one time where I accidentally slapped him"

His eyebrows raised, remembering the incident. "Ah. I'm sure it was painful for him"

"Mm. No I don't think so"

Shawn chuckled and looked up at me. The second he made contact with my eyes, it was like everything froze. I stared deep into his hazel eyes and I had the sudden urge to kiss him.

"Can I kiss you?" My thoughts came out from his lips.

I bit my bottom lip. "Sure"

He grabbed my forearms, pulling me closer so I sat on his lap, my legs wrapped around his waist. Shawn gently placed his fingers behind my ears, thumbs on my cheeks, and pulled me in.

The second his plump lips touched mine, my heart felt like a new flower was growing inside, it's petals and leaves igniting something powerful beyond my intuition.

I pulled away, catching my breath.

"You felt that too?" Shawn blushed.

"Felt what?"

"That feeling. The glowing feeling" He removed a hand from my waist and pressed it to my chest. My heart began to beat more heavily. "That"

"It's different isn't it. In a good way"

"What is?"

"Us. Our love"

"Of course. We're growing and we had our first fight as a married couple. Things are changing. It's making us stronger"

I haven't posted in sooo longgg. School has been consuming me and I've decided to focus on that more. Anyways, how have you guys been? I hope you're enjoying the story!