I Do / S.M/ ( sequel to Strings) *On Hold*

Chapter 14 Hiatus

Shawn POV
Seven Years Later

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Zoë asks gently. We're sitting backstage at The Tonight Show and I'm going to announce that I'm going on hiatus. "I need time to enjoy being a parent. I missed part of Skye growing up by being gone all the time that and Zoë and I are about to get married. I open my twitter and scroll through my tweets for a moment. "You're still going to get tons of comments on your posts." Zoë jokes nudging my shoulder."

"Why have you stayed with me for so long?" "Because I love you... duh." She says and kisses me. "Shawn your up." A voice says by the door. I nod and hug Zoë tightly before going to the stage.

"Shawn great to have you."

"Thanks for having me, Jimmy."

"You said that there was something important you wanted to tell the fans?" I take a deep breath, "I'm going to be going on hiatus this year, it was a long and hard decision to make but it's for the best, I'm twenty- seven now and I have a family. I want to be there for my daughter. I'm not saying I'll quit making music altogether but for right now I'm putting all projects and tours on pause. I don't want life to pass me by, now is the time." I swallow trying not to tear up. "Wow that's big news, what would you like to tell the fans?"

"I'll be back for sure, promise." I look right at the camera and nervously mess with one of my rings. "Well good luck with your hiatus, what are you going to do?" "I'm going to marry my beautiful fiance Zoë," I say and can't hide the smile on my face."

"Now how long have you two been together because I know she posted about you proposing back when you were twenty."

"We've been dating since we were nineteen," I say. "That's great, wishing you a great hiatus, enjoy your time off."

"I'm so proud of you but are you-"

"Zoë I'm sure, I need to take a break anyway," I say. "Well if you say so." She messes with her ring nervously. "You want to go out tonight?"

"But Skye... is old enough to be at the apartment by herself." I soothe. She looks deep in thought. "C' mon we haven't been on a nice date in a while, and we can discuss the wedding." I raise my eyebrows. "I um don't know..." "Zo... I grab both her hands and walk backward down the hall. "Let's just get drinks then?" She rolls her eyes and nods. "fine, drinks then we can go to the apartment alright?"

"Sure."

I grip her hand as we weave through the crowds of people as a light snow begins to fall. "Where are we going?" she asks glancing up at me. "My favorite bar were almost there," I assure her as we wait at the crosswalk. "This dress is not warm enough." She complains. "You want my jacket?"

"Yes." I pull off my suit jacket and drape it over her tiny shoulders as the light changes signaling us to go. "Remind me when we get to the bar to text Skye." She says teetering across the street in heels. "I'm sure she's fine she's a teenager let her have some freedom." Zoë looks over at me and sighs. "I have to worry it's my job, I feel like I'm being a mom now then I was when she was born, which is great but also terrifying. "You were winging it when she was born, we both were and now were real adults." Zo raises an eyebrow and laughs. "Real adults huh? Okay if you say so."

"Why are you giving me that look?" I ask as I look at the restaurants we pass and try to figure out where this bar is again. "So your an adult who plays with lightsabers with the Star Wars theme music blaring behind them?"

"I was dueling our daughter she loves it and so do I," I reply. She sighs. "Gosh, you're a dork." She says smiling as I hold the door open and follow Zoë inside the bar. "This place is gorgeous!" exclaims looking around the bar. I look around the crowd of people when i recognize a familiar face. "What are you looking at?" I glance back over at Zo who's looking over a menu."I think I saw Niall, you grab a table I'll be right over."