A/N: None of you have predicted what's about to happen but I love it :)

It's been so good to have a few days off and get a couple of things sorted out. Thanks for sticking by my side!

PS: I'm a bit tipsy so let's see how this goes!

＊＊＊

＊＊＊

"Have you called the lawyer yet?" Billie asks through the phone.

"Not yet, I will after dropping off Hazelee," I explain as I continue to brush through Hazelee's hair with Billie's on speaker phone.

"Sounds good, I'll see you in a few hours. I love you." It feels so good to be able to tell her that!

"I love you too," she says in a sing-song voice before ending the call.

"You ready to see Claudia and Finn?" I ask Hazelee, a large smile pulls on her lips as she claps her hands. This is going to be hard but it's better than the other outcomes that have been playing through my head.

After a short drive to Finneas and Claudia's house, I unbuckle Hazelee and watch as she runs up to their front door, using her small knuckles to knock on the door. Soon the door opens and Claudia opens it up, picking up Hazelee and embracing her in a warm hug.

Hazelee runs to the pile of toys that are in the corner of the living room while Finneas joins her. "Thanks for watching her. It's much easier to go to the grocery store alone," I thank Claudia.

"Of course Carter. I love every moment with her and the more she's here the easier it will be for her to adjust."

A few weeks ago Finneas and Claudia asked me to come over which I was confused about but I came and they proposed the idea of adopting Hazelee. They said that they've both been wanting a kid and they were ready. It was a difficult decision to make but I know that they will both make great parents and not just that but I'll be able to see Hazelee whenever I want.

I have to call the lawyer today and set up a hearing with the judge. Since James is technically now Hazelee's legal guardian he has to sign off his rights. He hasn't even tried contacting me since dropping Hazey off that one day. I doubt he'll even show up to court.

Since we all agreed on this, Hazelee and I have been spending a lot of time at Finn and Claudia's house so she can get used to it. They've even let us sleepover in the guest room a few times. They are already so excited, Claudia has started planning a bedroom for her and has bought way too many toys. I just hope they aren't getting their hopes up for nothing.

＊＊＊

"You like that?" I whisper into Billie's ear, pinching her erect nipples between my fingertips.

"Mhm," she hums out, throwing her head back. I inch my mouth down her neck, placing sloppy kisses until my phone starts ringing for the third fucking time.

"Oh my god," I shout with frustration, pulling away from a now pouting Billie. I see that it's Hailey calling which is odd. She usually just texts me. "Hang on," I whisper to Billie, getting off of her.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Hi, I-I'm really sorry but do you have w-weed?" She cries through the phone.

"Are you okay?" I ask with concern.

"Not really... I just need to get high," she sniffles.

I look over at Billie with sad eyes as she stares at me, a questioning look on her face.

"Hailey, you're a big Billie fan, right?"

"Yeah but what-"

"Meet me at the usual spot in ten minutes, okay?"

"O-okay."

I end the call and climb back onto Billie. "So, I need a favour and then we can come back and finish what we started." I tease, brushing my fingertips over her skin.

"Who's Hailey?"

"A big fan of yours," I answer plainly.

"And you want me to meet her?"

"Yeah, is that okay?"

"You know I always love meeting my babies but you're torturing me right now," she pouts.

I hop off of her and grab her shirt off the floor, throwing it at her. "Ow!"

"Billie babe, that didn't hurt. It's a shirt," I chuckle, picking up my own shirt. "Now, get dressed and I'll explain in the car."

＊＊＊

"So, she's in high school, she's addicted to drugs and she's a huge fan of yours," I explain, glancing towards her at the red light seeing a genuine look of hurt on her face.

"How do you know she's a fan?"

"She has a blohsh phone case and once I saw her wearing merch. She once said, and I quote 'Dude, I would do anything to have her rail me, but also I'd be satisfied with just a hug."

"Oh my god! A threesome," Billie joked.

"Shut the fuck up," I playfully smacked her.

"No, but for real, I can't wait to give her a hug. I don't want any of my cuties feeling like they need drugs to escape from reality. What's her story?"

"To be honest, I don't know. These meet-ups are usually pretty quick, we don't really talk. I feel like she's gonna hate me for bringing you but also I'm scared to tell her that I'm not gonna sell anymore. I don't want her to start going somewhere sketchy to get her shit but maybe her idol can help change her life?" I ramble on, pulling into the parking lot.

"It's gonna be okay," Billie assures me, squeezing my thigh gently. "Is that her?"

"Yeah," I nod my head, seeing her walking through the soccer field towards my car with her head down. I look towards Billie just in time to see her wiping a tear off her cheek.

"You okay?" I ask.

"Yeah," she smiles sadly.

Hailey doesn't lift her head once as she makes her way to the car. I begin to get nervous as she pulls open the passenger door. She looks up, making eye contact with Billie then at me, looking back and forth between us for a few seconds.

"No," she shakes her head, tears beginning to stream down her already tear-stained cheeks. She takes a few steps back, sobs escaping her as she sits down on the gravel parking lot.

Billie and I both step out of the car and I watch them, letting Billie do her thing. Billie sits down next to her, pulling her into a hug as she cries. Billie laid her head on top of Hailey's, a few tears escaping her own eyes.

Only a few seconds later Hailey pulls back, looking at Billie's face. "Am I tripping? I swear I haven't taken anything today," she mumbles along with a few sniffles.

"You're not tripping," I chuckle.

"Your...Billie," she looks up at Billie, both of them still on the ground.

"Hey Hailey," Billie smiles before standing up reaching out a hand to help Hailey off the ground.

"Can I give you a proper hug?"

Billie chuckles, pulling her into a hug, swaying her back and forth for a few moments. I see Billie whispering something but can't hear what's being said. A few minutes later Billie and I are sat in the front seat with Hailey in the back.

"Can we talk for a minute?" Billie asks, sitting backwards facing the backseat to give Hailey her full attention. Hailey nods her head shyly.

"You're so beautiful. I don't know what led you to start doing drugs and you don't have to tell me but I want you to know that I'm here for you, okay?"

Hailey doesn't say anything and my heart breaks. Her eyes are red and puffy, her hair a mess, mascara staining her cheeks. I can't tell if she's shaking because she wants drugs or because she's nervous around Billie, maybe a bit of both.

"I know it's gonna be hard and you might mess up a few times but everything will be okay. Can you hand me your phone?"

"Hell no," Hailey's eyes go wide making both me and Billie laugh.

"Just open up your contacts, I swear I won't look at anything else," Billie promises.

"You're giving me your number?" Hailey questions.

"Yes. Look, I wish I could text all my fans daily and have personal relationships with them all but unfortunately, I can't. But every single one of you has helped me in a way I can't even begin to describe and all I want is to give back. In this case, I can talk to you every day and I want you to know you can tell me anything without feeling judged. You also don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to but Hailey, I do want you to stop doing drugs."

"Okay," Hailey nods, handing Billie her phone. At this point, I'm fighting back tears. "Can I please get some weed though?"

"You can have one but after that I'm all out," I admit, handing her a pre-rolled joint.

"All out?" She furrows her brows, taking the joint.

"I have to stop dealing, but I really really don't want you going to some sketchy ass person so I swear to god if you absolutely need something, please just call me first."

She lets out a deep breath, taking the phone back from Billie, burying her face in her hands. "I can't believe this is happening," Hailey mutters. She pulls her hands away and looks at Billie.

"Billie, you have saved me m-more times than I can count," her voice breaks and Billie reaches out to hold her hand.

"And I'll do it again and again. You have me, okay. Do you hear me? You have me."

＊＊＊

A/N: Look who's crying now...

Before ya'll freak out about how Billie gave her number to a stranger, keep in mind that Carter has known her for years and trusts her completely. We trust Hailey.

1627