Story Time :)

It’s always hard when Kendall is away on tour. Only being able to talk to him for 20 minutes a day, sometimes less. Sleeping alone every night for three months. Rocking your one year old son Kaydence to sleep every night as he cries for dada. You thought it couldn’t get harder than that, until Kaydence got really sick in the middle of the tour, and Kendall wasn’t there to help you.

“Kendall I have to take him to the hospital. He’s fevered and he is shaking really bad. I don’t know what’s wrong.” you panicked into the phone to your boyfriend on the other end. “I’m scared Kendall.”

“I know baby, I’m scared too. I wish I was there. But you can handle this alright? He’ll be okay. I’ll try to come home as soon as I can.” he says calmly, only internally freaking out. “call me when you get to the hospital.” 

You hang up the phone and wipe away your tears. You have to handle this on your own. 

You look down and Kaydence is sucking his thumb with the saddest look on his face. “dada?” 

“no honey, dada isn’t here.” you pick him up to consol him before carrying him out to the car and taking your tiny little boy to the hospital. 

Kendall texted you every ten minutes asking how he was, but you know that texts couldn’t make him feel like he was there. “He’s so sick Kendie.” You turn in the hospital bed to face your little man, who was laying in his sponge bob pajamas watching his daddy and uncles on tv. “Da!” he said with his thumb in his mouth. 

“Please get here..” you texted back before putting your phone away and snuggling in the uncomfortable bed with Kaydence.

You are woken up the next morning by a tiny finger poking your nose. “Ma. Up.”

“I’m up baby boy.” You kiss his nose, his body still fevered. “oh baby, why can’t you feel better for mommy?” 

“Maybe he’ll feel better for daddy?” you heard a voice in the doorway.

“Kendall..” you saw his sleepless body walk toward you. 

“I hopped on the first plane I could.” He leans down to Kaydence and hugs him tight. “How’s my little man?”

“Da. Da. Da.” Kaydence said over and over sucking his thumb. 

You watch your two boys interact and even though he was sick, you could tell that just Kendall being there was making him feel a little better. The sight of them was one you didn’t want to forget. You pull out your phone and turn the camera on. “Hey boys, look at mommy.” 

Your sick little man turned to you with no expression and Kendall leaned down to do a cheesy smile. You snapped the pic and smiled. As soon as you put your phone away, Kendall climbed in the bed on the other side of Kaydence and starting singing to him, hoping it would make him sleepy so he could rest. Kaydence reached up and tugged on Kendall’s hair as his security blanket til he fell asleep, his fever breaking shortly 

It was the 4th of July bash at the local park and the entire city was there. Kendall walked around shuffling his feet with his head down as he noticed all of the kids playing ball with their fathers. Kendall didn’t have a father. Well. He did, but to Kendall, his father was dead. 

Flashback:

“daddy, I want to go outside and play ball!”  eight year old Kendall said. 

“how many times do I have to tell you? Don’t call me daddy!” the man said harshly, drawing tears to Kendall’s eyes.

“but…”  was all that the young boy was able to get out as tears streamed down his face.

“oh, you wanna cry? How about I give you something to cry about!?” the man stood up and grabbed Kendall by the arm roughly. 

“no, please no. I’m sorry, sir!” Kendall cried as his father began beating him upside the head. Kendall screamed in pain.

Kendall blinked his eyes to stop the tears from flowing down his cheeks. As he started to pass out from the abuse, he saw the figure of a small girl in the doorway.

“Daddy? What are you doing to Kendie?” the tiny 6 year old said quietly.

“L-lorna. Go away.” Kendall managed to cry out.

“No bubby.” She ran into the kitchen as their father dropped Kendall on the floor and walked out the door. Lorna sat on the floor and kissed the bruises forming on the boys head. “mommy said a kiss always makes the booboos better.”

Kendall sobbed in his little sisters arms as the two waited for their mom to come home.

End flashback:

Kendall shook his head fast as he tried to get the memory of that moment out of his head.  As he approached his best friend James, who was combing his hair at the concession stand, memories of when James first found out about Kendall’s father flooded Kendall’s mind.

Flashback:

Kendall laid helpless on the floor of his bedroom. His father had just went on a rampage and beat Kendall over the head with one of his hockey sticks. As he crawled to the bed, he saw a hand reach into his window. He whimpered as he heard his name being called by a familiar voice. Then James appeared.

“Hey Kendall, I wanted to see if you-oh my god!!” James ran over to Kendall and dropped to his knees. “who did this to you?” James laid Kendall across his lap and ran his hands through his bloody hair.

“my..d-dad.” Kendall mumbled. 

James’ face grew red with anger. “Where is he? I’ll kill him!” 

Kendall tried to laugh. “It hurts to laugh Jamesy.”

James frowned and kissed Kendall’s forehead. “Lorna always says, a kiss always makes the booboos better.”

Kendall smiled slightly as he clutched onto his best friend. 

Little did he know, Lorna was standing in the doorway watching, tears building in her eyes. “I’m supposed to be the one to help him.” She whispered.

End Flashback:

Lorna saw Kendall approaching James and her heart sank. For years, she was the one who could get her dad to stop beating Kendall, yet, he always went to James for help. She watched as they talked, the younger of the two boys slumped over.

“H-hey Kendie. You okay?” James asked. 

“Huh? Yeah, sure.” Kendall said half paying attention. 

“Must be pretty hard to be here today. I’m glad you came though.” James said smiling.

“Yeah, I guess.” Kendall replied rubbing the back of his head, feeling the scars left by his father. Tears swelled in his eyes.

James frowned and hugged his best friend. “He can’t hurt you anymore Kendall. He’s locked up. For good.”

Kendall nodded in James’ shoulder. “I… I know.” Kendall choked back tears as Lorna watched from afar, her own tears flooding her eyes.

Flashback: 

Kendall sat in the corner of his room with his head in his knees. The police was downstairs taking his father away. That morning, he had thrown Kendall out of the living room window, causing glass cuts all over the boys body. Luckily, that was the only damage done. A neighbor saw it happen and called the cops.

Lorna knocked slowly on Kendall’s bedroom door and peaked in. She slide in and curled up beside Kendall with her arms around him. “He’s gone bubby. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

The older boy leaned on her. She kissed the cuts up and down his arms. “I’m glad he never hurt you..”

“He did Kendie. Whenever he hurt you, it hurt me.” Lorna frowned. 

Kendall looked up into her eyes. The two leaned in to each other slowly. Just as their lips were about to touch, James busted through the door. 

The two jerked their heads and looked up at James. “Kendall, I saw the police leaving with your dad! Are you okay?” 

“I am now.” Kendall said keeping the position he was in.  James sat on the other side of Kendall and pulled him into a hug.

“He can’t hurt you anymore.” James said reassuringly. 

Lorna frowned and scooted away as the two friends embraced. 

“Thanks for always being there James.” Kendall said as Lorna stood up and ran out the door, tears streaming down her face.

End Flashback:

Lorna shook her head. “boy I cry a lot.” She said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. As she blinked her eyes, she noticed a familiar man walk through the entrance of the park. She looked back and forth from Kendall and the man. “Oh god. Dad!” Lorna said running over to Kendall.

“Kendall, take me home. I want to go home.” Lorna said not telling him why.

“Why? What’s wrong Lorna?” he asked her.

She looked over and saw her father with an angry look on his face looking around, as if he was looking for Kendall.

“Please bubby, just.. Let’s go. Please.” she said with fear in her eyes, pulling on his arm. 

Kendall followed her eyes. “D-dad…” he whispered with a scared tone in his voice. 

“Kendie please…” she cried.

“No. I need to do this.” Kendall said loosening Lorna’s arm and walked toward the man. Lorna cried for him to come back, but he didn’t listen. James just stood there silent. 

Lorna smacked him. “What are you doing? Stop him!” 

“Lorna, I… I can’t.” James said.

“Why the heck not? You are always the one to rush in and save the day aren’t you?” Lorna spat.

“I’m not the one he wants saving him!” James replied.

“Whatever..” Lorna said running after Kendall.

Kendall approached his father with a purpose.

“Oh ho ho, look who it is? The little bastard I used to call my son.” Mr. Knight said.

“What are you doing here? You are supposed to be in jail.” Kendall exclaimed.

“It’s called breaking out. I had some.. Unfinished business to take care of.” Mr. Knight said in an evil tone.

Lorna ran up to Kendall’s side and clutched him. “Kendie, let’s go. Please.” 

“And there’s my precious daughter. Here to save your beloved brother are you?” he said. “god, its like you are in love with him or something.” 

Lorna’s face turned red with embarrassment. 

“you are, aren’t you?” her father laughed. “ha, my children, incest freaks.” He reached across and grabbed Lorna’s arm tight, leaving a welt.

Just then, Kendall balled up his fist and punched his father right across the face, causing the older man to fall to the ground, hitting his head on a rock. Blood poured out of the man’s head as people screamed around them. 

Kendall backed up from his father with a blank look in his face as paramedics and police ran over to check on him. 

“K-kendie?…” Lorna whispered, still clutching on his waist. Kendall stared blackly ahead of him, ignoring Lorna. “Kendie? Say something.” 

A policeman approached the two as Lorna tried to get his attention. 

“please don’t arrest Kendie, he was protecting me. Our daddy always hurt him and he was going to hurt me.” Lorna said scared, Kendall’s mind still wandering. 

“We aren’t going to arrest him. When he broke out of jail, we followed him here. We were watching the whole time. You two are safe now.” the police officer said.

“That’s what they said last time.” Lorna said.

“He died.. On impact of the rock.” the police man explained. “you two are safe now.”

The man walked back over to the crime scene and Lorna broke her grasp of Kendall’s waist. She stood in front of him. “Kendie…Kendie say something?” She said rubbing her arm where her father had grabbed her. 

Silently, Kendall grabbed her arm and brought it up to his lips. He kissed it softly. “Kisses always make the booboos better.” 

Lorna looked up at him and smiled. She brought her lips to his, leaving a small, yet passionate kiss. 

“He was right ya know.” Lorna whispered. “I am in love with you.”

Kendall smiled and kissed her again as James watched them from afar. “I told her, I wasn’t the one he wanted.”

18 year old Kendall Knight looked down at his newborn daughter Hali, who he held carefully in his arms. Scared about being a father so young, he vowed from that day he would be the best father in the world, letting nobody hurt her.

————————

23 year old Kendall held his five year old daughter’s hand as he walked her up the steps to her first day of Kindergarten. 

“Daddy, I’m scared. I don’t want to go to big kids school!” Little Hali said in her tiny voice, her long blonde curly hair flowing in her face. 

Kendall squatted to her level and held her hand. “baby girl, you will have so much fun at school! I promise.”

“But, the kids are so big! They will hurt me.” She frowned. Kendall pulled her in to a giant hug.

“Those big kids wouldn’t dare hurt my baby girl! I promise, daddy won’t let anyone hurt you.” 

Hali sighed, holding onto her daddy’s waist. “Okay daddy. I love you.”

“I love you too Princess. I’ll be right here when you get out of school.” Kendall said as he scooted his baby girl into her classroom. Hali looked back and waved at him, melting his heart.

————————-

30 year old Kendall sat in the audience with his wife Claire, holding the video camera.

“There she is!” he exclaimed as his 12 year old daughter danced her way on stage in her 7th grade dance recital. His face beamed as she pirouetted gracefully, her hair flowing in the wind. “That’s our baby!” He looked over at Claire, who was crying.

“When did she grow up?” Claire asked, turning to Kendall. As her song ended, Hali spotted her parents in the crowd and waved sweetly at them. 

————————-

“Daddy, how do I look?” Hali asked, spinning around in her wedding dress. 

“beautiful baby girl.” Kendall replied placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. “But didn’t I tell you, you weren’t allowed to date til I was dead?” 

Hali laughed. “I know daddy!” 

Kendall sighed as Claire walked in the room. “You look beautiful princess.”

“Thank you mommy.” Hali ran over to Claire and hugged her tight. “I hope I’m as good of a mom as you.” Hali said rubbing her slightly pregnant stomach.

“You will be. You and Justin will be great parents.” Claire replied looking at her watch. “It’s time.” She kissed her daughters cheek and proceeded to her seat.

Kendall lifted his daughter’s veil and kissed her forehead. “Ready?” 

“As ready as I will ever be daddy!” She said smiling.

She was ready, but her fiancée wasn’t. 

Hali sat at the alter in her tear stained wedding dress as Kendall approached her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and laid her head on his chest, as he used to do when she was a little girl.

“I’m sorry I let you down baby girl.” Kendall said rubbing her arm.

“Huh?” She sniffled. “Daddy you didn’t let me down.”

“I promised I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you.”  he replied.

“aww, daddy. It’s not your fault.” she hugged him tight around his waist. “I knew not to trust any boy but you.”

Kendall couldn’t help but smile. Claire walked in and sat on the other side of their daughter. Hali wrapped her arms around both of them.

“I have the best parents in the world.” Hali said smiling.

“And this little one will have the best mommy in the world.” Kendall said poking Hali’s stomach.

“And she’s not dating til I’m dead.” Hali said as they all laughed. 

Kendall walked through the front doors of the adoption agency and waited nervously in the waiting room for his turn to meet with the head of the company. Today was the day he was going to know whether he was approved to adopt a child. Kendall always wanted children, but finding the right woman to be with has always been hard for him. Of course having a child with a woman he loved would be great, but giving a loving home and family to a child who doesn’t have one, was so much greater for Kendall.

“Mr. Schmidt?” a beautiful woman approached from the long corridor. Kendall stood up and nodded, knots forming in his stomach. “Hello sir, I’m Claire. It’s lovely to meet you. Right this way to my office.” 

Kendall followed with his hands in his pocket. He was taken aback by this woman’s beauty. The way she walked. The way she tried to hide her southern accent which was obviously there. The way she kneeled down when a young girl, around 3 years old, ran up to her to show her a drawing she had made.

They entered her office at the end of the hallway and Kendall sat across from her desk. “I’ll cut right to the chase. After checking out your home and references, we have come to the conclusion, that you are definitely approved to start the adoption process.” Claire said smiling at Kendall. She in turn was smitten by him. He was very handsome. Blonde hair, green eyes, tall. The whole package.

“That’s amazing! Thank you so much.” Kendall said smiling from ear to ear. He was going to go meet all of the amazing young children who needed a father. 

Claire led him to the playroom where there were kids as young as newborn to 10 years old. “What age exactly was your first instinct when choosing adoption?” She asked as he watched the children interact.

He hadn’t really thought about it. He just wanted to give a child a good home. But seeing over 20 newborns, his heart sank. 

“The newborns are breaking my heart…” he strays away from her and over to this tiny little girl on a blanket playing with a rattle. He kneels down and rubs her finger and she immediately latches onto his.

Claire comes over to them and kneels on her knees beside of Kendall. “Her name is Kaya. Her mother was 14 years old and wanted her to be placed with someone who could care for her and love her more than she ever could.” She explained the young babies story as she watched Kendall just melt over the tiny girl. 

“She’s beautiful.” he said with big eyes. “can I hold her?” Claire nodded and watched Kendall take her carefully in his arms. She smiled watching him just stare at her with loving eyes. He seemed like the perfect gentleman.

“Hi Kaya. You are so beautiful.” Kendall said as Kaya cooed in his arms, still grabbing on to his finger. 

“It looks like someone has already chosen you.” Claire looks at the two of them and Kendall nods agreeing. “would you like to take her home today?”

Kendall’s eyes lit up. “I would love that. I need to go buy things for a newborn.” 

Claire spoke up. “I get off work in a few hours. I could take you shopping, so you get the right things of course.” 

Kendall smiled nervously. “That would be wonderful. Pick you up here at 7?”  Claire nodded and took Kaya back from him for her nap.

“See you then handsome.” she winked and walked back to put Kaya in her crib as Kendall left.