Not Another Cinderella Story (lxngdon & MaryGold)

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"And you no longer play?" Inquired James, quirking an eyebrow at the fact. Though he had kept a straight face through her answering, Mason knew for a fact he was put off knowing her previous profession was that of a blue-collar, knowing that alone he practically knew enough. He was too 'polite' to say anything about it, besides he wouldn't care enough to delve any deeper.

Unlike Margot and even Diana,who were always concerned with Mason, though, for two entirely different reasons, James could care less what Mason did with his life so long as he didn't hurt himself or the family. He allowed youngest Wagner to do as he pleased since he was a child, even defended him sometimes. There wasn't one time where he was ever truly upset with the man.

Of course, Mason suspected he only did so because he couldn't be bothered with his only son.

"She can't play," Mason answered, ending it as that. He didn't want to go to far into figuring it honestly didn't matter with his father or stepmother.

"That's too bad," Diana mumbled, subtly looking both Mason and Lainey up and down. She sighed forced a tight smile. "I'm sure you must have been amazing if you were professional once."

James nodded in agreement. "I would love to talk with you some more but first I must greet my other guest. Please, enjoy yourself while your here." He turned to his son. "Mason, don't go anywhere just yet. There is something important I mist discuss with you when I return." And with that, he and Diana walked away to greet the guest as they said they would.

"Don't worry about them, their naturally condescending, and Diana is almost bitter." Edwin offered a kind smile."Welcome to 'My Parent In-Laws Hate Me Club', you're squished in with me. Though, on the contrary, I think your quite lovely. How did you two meet?"
 
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Lainey could feel the pressure being lifted off her when James and Diana left, almost as if it was a physical weight being taken off her chest. She felt infinitely better when they had gone, which was probably a horrible thing to think when talking about her boyfriend's parents. But it was true. And apparently she wasn't the only one who thought that way.

Lainey shot a grateful smile in Edwin's direction. At least she had one ally, other than Mason, of course. "Thanks," she said to him, slipping her hand out of Mason's only to brush the hair out of her face. She returned the hand Mason's arm and looked around the party for a moment.

Everything was new. Everything was strange. She missed Harper terribly but knew he was in good hands. She also missed her brother and sister, since they were adept at socialising like she had never been.

"Um, we met in a nightclub, funnily enough," Lainey replied, looking up at Mason with a tender smile. "And I hated him at first."
 
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"Hate is a strong word," Mason commented but didn't deny her claim. He was amused by the memory and had to bite back a huge childish grin and instead smile softly at his partner. "Anyway, we all see how that ended." He gestured to their linked arms more than a little proud to have her at his side.

Edwin only smiled at the two and Margot pinched her lip to prevent herself from doing the same. Despite his wife being reluctant to root and approve of the couple he did. "That's amusingly sweet." He said.

"Were you high?" Margot inquired.

"A teensy bit." Mason admitted, tilting his head slightly. "I haven't been on the stuff since we first learned Lainey was pregnant Harper." It had been hard in the beginning and sometimes it was hard now. When things were difficult and nerve wracking he wanted to go back to it the most.

"I knew I you looked much better than the last time I saw you. I'm so happy for you."

Margot softly asked,"and how is Harper?"
 
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Lainey shot a pride-filled smile at Mason when he spoke of his sobriety. She knew, first hand, what it was like to quit a substance you're addicted to. Putting down the bottle had been hard for her, so hard that she hadn't believed she would be able to do it. But she had, and she was glad, because now she had a perfect, healthy baby boy who she loved so much it was impossible to describe. She still thought about drinking, but only every now and then. She didn't want to go back to that state.

She didn't need to. She had Mason and Harper.

"Harper's absolutely wonderful," Lainey replied to Margot, not sure if Margot was still bitter about the whole thing, but proceeding like any young mother who was infatuated with her child. "He still wakes us up in the middle of the night but it's not that bad. He's so soft, I never thought babies would be that soft."

Lainey found that she was adjusting to motherhood pretty well. Of course, it was hard to get around sometimes due to her limp, and she was tired quite often, but the negatives were far outweighed by the positives. She felt complete when with her son, and she missed him terribly when he wasn't there. Like now. As pleasant as everyone was being, she wanted nothing more than to hold her baby.
 
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Mason's smile only grew as she described Harper to his family. Thinking of him now only made him miss the small infant. However, he had to admit it was nice to get a break every once and a while, even if that "break" was at one of his least favorite places with people more difficult to handle than his crying son. He still couldn't wait to get home, though, the only benefit of coming to the party was for his family to finally meet Lainey.

"Soft and small." Mumbled Mason, reminiscing the moments he held the boy.

The only experience he had of babies were that of his neices. It was incredibly different to be an actual parent and care for a baby everyday. The perspective had him noticing tiny to huge details about infants, his son in general. It was as exciting as it was warming.

"Oh, very tiny and soft and fragile." She placed a hand against her abdomen and smiled softly, though, it was brief and replaced with a frown. "To be frank, I'm almost certain Harper is what father wants to - "

The oldest Wagner child cut herself off as the twins suddenly appeared, one chasing the other around the adults. Normally would have simply laughed and care watched them if it wasn't for the fact he desperately wanted to hear his sister's heads up. He would need it, his anxiety was already eating at him as soon as she mentioned their father.

"Jessica, Jennifer, stop it immediately! That is no way to behave at such a party, have you no manners. " Diana demanded the twins who instantly ceased their playing at her voice, looking slightly fearful. The tall, dark-haired woman approached them along with James. "Seriously, Margot, what do you teach these girls."

"Leave it be, Diana. Now, Mason, Lainey, may I speak with you?"
 
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Lainey frowned when the children were told off by their step-grandmother. Sure, they were misbehaving, but they were still children, and she felt that Diane was being a little too hard on them. But whatever Lainey might have said was abruptly halted when she heard James speak.

He wanted to talk to himself and Lainey, and Margot had just foreshadowed that it might have something to with Harper. Their son. Immediately Lainey felt sick to her stomach and she wanted to turn from the room and run. But she couldn't do that, obviously. That would definitely not make a very good impression.

Lainey gripped Mason's arm even tighter than before, but she nodded politely and stepped aside with her partner. They followed James until he had found a desired location, and when they had stopped, Lainey looked up at the man somewhat nervously.

"What was it you wanted to talk about, sir?" she asked. She hadn't meant to call him 'sir', but in Hungary, all older males had been given that title and she had slipped back into habit out of nervousness.
 
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Mason raised an eyebrow at his father. Without realizing it, he held his breath, hoping it would be something small issue, whatever the issue may be. But that was a ridiculous hope, whenever James wanted to "talk" with his children it was never a small problem and always made sure that he got what he wanted in the end. The man held that much power.

James didn't smile, in fact he looked grave. And that meant whatever he had to say Mason wasn't going to like it, his stomach was already doing flip flops and bow the impending feeling of doom was settling in own him and that feeling was not one to take lightly for him.

He tried not to look nor sound stressed as he looked his father in the eye and spoke. "Something about Harper?" He edged on, exhaling quietly.

"Yes, Harper."There was no negativity in his tone, still he didn't look exactly happy either. "I think it is sweet that you decided to father the child, it also shows growth and responsibility. I congratulate you on becoming a father."

Mason's eyebrows shot up at his father's comments. That was not what he was expecting for him to say at all. He knew the man wouldn't care that he became a father to Harper but to compliment him on it was something else entirely.

"However..."

There it was.

"He should take on his mother's surname." He paused, watching the young couple carefully.

For a moment, Mason was dumbstruck. He was trying to comprehend what exactly his father trying to say. What? "What?"

"He can't take your surname, he may he your son but he's not a Wagner. I'm sorry to say it's a technicality that can not and will not look over."
 
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"Wh ... what?"

The conversation had started out seemingly pleasant but had spiralled downwards and crash landed before Lainey could even reflect on the fact that James was congratulating Mason on becoming a father. It took Lainey a few moments to truly understand what the older male was saying to her, and when it clicked, it took her all her might to restrain the tears that threatened to spill over.

James wanted them to change Harper's last name to Applewhite. He did not want Harper to carry the Wagner name. The rejection of her son hit Lainey like a slap in the face. She clutched Mason's upper arm to prevent herself from toppling over out of dizziness.

"We -- I -- he -- but Mason is his father," Lainey insisted in a trembling tone. She looked at Mason first, and then at James with a desperate look in her eyes. "I know he's not biologically but that doesn't matter! It's his name on the birth certificate, he's the one who's been there for both me and Harper. He's the father."

Her voice wasn't intimidating or threatening, in fact, it was pleading. Lainey didn't know if she would be punished for speaking against the patriarch in such a way but in that moment, all she could think about was the demand James had just made of the two young parents.

Lainey knew that changing Harper's name would not change Mason's feelings for his son. But it had been a big deal for Mason to take on the paternal responsibilities for a child that technically was not his own. It had been a big deal for him to deceive his whole fanbase and publicly recognise Harper as his son. Therefore, it would be an even bigger deal if they had to change their son's surname.
 
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"If I'm to be frank with you, dear, I don't care."

James wasn't at all fazed by Lainey's tears, his resolved didn't soften in the least. No, it only proceeded to become more harden and firm as did he. He frowned opening, clearing disapproving of her response. That being her crying and raising of her voice.

Though she was louder, his tone was still on the same level as before. Yet, it was booming in the ears of Mason. Booming loud and absolutely heartless.

He should have seen this coming from the beginning. He knew deep down his father wouldn't truly approve of Lainey and Harper but he never thought he would reject them in this fashion or at all! He couldn't understand it, and did he even want to?

"Why the hell should we care?" Mason questioned fiercely once he found his voice again. He was angry and stressed and completely high on those two nasty feelings alone. He dropped Lainey's arm and clenched his fist at his sides. "As far as I'm concerned he is a Wagner."

"Mason, don't be foolish." James snapped at his child as a parent would. "Not everything's about you and what you want, maybe I spoiled you too much." He sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose as if the whole situation was putting too much stress on him. Truly the most stressed person there was Mason, he felt like puking.

"As far as I'm concerned, you aren't blood related to this boy which means he is not a Wagner. So, he will not have our name." The older man shook his head at the two.

"Does it matter!?" Mason snapped back at him, though, louder causing gather a bit of attention from others. Margot and Edwin and even Diana had been cautiously watching from the beginning.

"Watch it, young man." His voiced dangerously lowered. "You'll do as I say and that's all there is to it. Do not force my hand."
 
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James' words thudded in Lainey's ears, repeating themselves over and over again, the tone of voice intensifying and growing in resentment with every repetition. "I don't care. I don't care. I don't care." By the time Mason drooped her arm, Lainey felt numb. She didn't know what to say or what to do. She couldn't find the words to defend herself or even her small child.

Mason's child. Mason was the father and he always would be. He was the one who cared for Harper and provided for him. He was the one who had been there in the delivery room and cut the umbilical cord. It was his name that was on Harper's birth certificate.

But that didn't matter to James.

Mason was arguing back and some forgotten part of Lainey felt proud of him, but she didn't have the energy or the nerve to tell him that. She just weakly put her hand on his shoulder in an attempt to claim his attention.

"Can we go home?" she asked, in a very quiet and timid tone, hardly audible at all. She wouldn't be surprised if Mason actually didn't hear her. He was angry.
 
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Mason could hardly hear Lainey over the thundering pulse in his ears. Though he heard the sound of her voice he had no idea what she had said, nor did he try to interpret it. He had a one-tracked mind in that moment and he struggled to find what to say let alone what to do.

"Now, if you'll excuse me ... " James cleared his voice, straightened his tux coat and turned to leave them.

"I'm not changing it." He somehow managed to get out without gritting his teeth in the possible. Though his hands still clenched at his side until his knuckles were white. They were only balled because had started shaking horribly and he needed o prevent himself from grabbing his father by his shirt collar.

He swallowed the lump in his throat, watching as James turned around and parted his lips to speak. Mason beat him to it. "So, you can just fuck off, you pompous ass." Naturally, he didn't think before he spoke but he was so angry he could care less about the consequences.

Mason bothered not to see his father's face or reaction, he grabbed Lainey's hand and headed straight for the exit.

"Mason, " Margot began as soon he was close enough and reached for him. "I'm so so -"

Without missing a beat, he slapped her hand away and continued on their way.

However, once outside, he dropped Lainey's hand vomited the contents of his stomach into a garden bush. He barely held himself up as heaved once more, his body wanting to throw up again yet there was nothing left in his empty stomach.

"Fuck, fuck, where are my keys ..." He was trembling, but his hands were shaking the most as he searched his pockets horribly.
 
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Mason spoke up against his father, and beneath her nausea part of Lainey was very proud of him for doing so. But the bigger part of her was scared, scared for her son, and scared for herself. Scared for Mason, too, because neither of them knew how James would retaliate after this display of defiance and disrespect.

But they didn't stick around to see. Lainey followed her partner dutifully until they got outside and Mason stopped to throw up. Lainey didn't blame him at all. She wanted to throw up too, but she managed to stop herself before she hurled up the contents of her stomach.

"You put them in my bag," Lainey said weakly, opening up the tiny drawstring pouch she had been carrying around on her wrist all evening. She pulled out Mason's car keys and clutched them as she directed him around to the passenger seat. "I'll drive."

She had her driver's license but barely used it because she didn't need to drive anywhere often. But tonight, she was clearly more composed than Mason, even if only by a fractional amount. So she helped him sit, before she got into the driver's seat and started up the vehicle.

She pulled out and had just gotten onto the freeway before she started to cry softly. What was going to happen to her son? It occurred to her that Mason's name was protecting Harper. If they had to change Harper's last name and Harrison got out, he could use the fact that Harper was an Applewhite legally to fight for custody rights. Of course, that wasn't the main reason Lainey was miserable.

She was miserable because Mason's fatherhood was being contended by his own family.

"Can he actually make us change his name?" Lainey moaned, her fingers white due to the strength with which she was clutching the steering wheel. "Can he actually make us do that?"
 
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"I don't know ... " That wasn't necessarily true. "Probably." The blonde quietly admitted. James Wagner wasn't only capable but quite powerful with his wealth and connections. If Mason was to be completely honest he probably wouldn't be where he was now if it wasn't for his father who had saved his ass countless times in his teenage years.

Mason released a quivering breath and open his glove compartment, searching for his medication. He always kept one bottle in the car in case he suddenly lost it or was losing it, like now for example. As soon as he located the small container he remembered in the moment he had consumed at least one glass of champagne earlier at the party. Therefore, the drugs would only make it worst.

He dropped his head against the cool glass of the window and closed his eyes. Cautiously, he reached out and squeezed her thigh softly, hoping to comfort her if even a little. He hated to see her cry and even more so when he was involved in the reason.

"But even if he gets a name change it'll be fine and we'll work it out. Like we always do."
 
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Lainey felt her heart drop to her feet at Mason's words. Probably. There was a probable chance, a more than likely chance, that James would get his way. That was so frightening to hear, heartbreaking to know. That their son could be robbed of his rightful name. That Mason's paternity could be so casually ignored and dismissed.

Lainey put one hand over the one on her leg and bit down on her lip as she drove. She didn't say anything else until they arrived at Ted's house, where her baby likely slept inside, waiting to be collected by his parents. Lainey looked at the house with a trembling lip before she turned back to Mason. She had to say what she was thinking.

"Mason ... If we have to change his name, and Harrison gets out, he's going to use that to get to him," she said weakly, her voice trembling. "You're his father and I won't hear anyone say anything else. You are his father. But Harrison's not going to give it up and h - he can't have him, he'll hurt him." Lainey burst into tears again. She knew Harrison was in prison but she was so worried for her son that she was stressing more than what was healthy and jumping to conclusions.
 
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"Lainey ... "

Mason unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over to take her hands. He squeezed her hands tenderly and lifted them to his mouth, pressing his lips against her hand. He had no idea how to comfort her. Using reason would be the answer, because she was so clearly not thinking reasonable or logically. However, he wasn't in his best line of thoughts either so he could think of nothing to say.

He took a deep breath to calm his own self and tried to think clearly with his muddled brain. After a moment't pause he was able to think of something to say that did not sound like complete and utter nonsense. With another deep breath from the bottom of his lungs he straightened up in his seat and squeezed her hands once more.

"That won't happen, so, don't bother even thinking about it." Mason told her firmly. There were hundred reasons why that would never happen. He simply couldn't grasp any of those reasons right now but he knew. They had nothing to worry about.

"Come on now, cheer up buttercup." Said Mason, trying to cheer up himself. He even managed a smile despite feeling sad not not only for Harper but largely because of his father. Still, he managed to smile. Mason was good at it. Smiling despite the pain, it was mandatory skill for Wagner's.

He kissed her cheek and moved away to open his car door. "Harper and Ted are waiting for us."
 
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Lainey still felt like shit, but the promise of seeing Harper again helped her pull herself together and wipe her tears off her cheeks. She knew that Harrison was in prison and couldn't touch Harper. She also knew that Harper's surname didn't matter when it came to the affirmation of his parentage. Even if he wasn't Harper's biological parent, Mason was still his father. That wouldn't change.

"Okay," she said weakly, sniffling and running a hand over her hair to smooth down the stray baby hairs and calm herself down before she got out of the car. She met Mason at the front of the vehicle and took his hand as they made their way up to the house.

Once they were let inside, Lainey went in and tracked down her baby, sleeping in his rocker in the cozy living room. She stifled another sob as she leaned down and picked him up in the most gentle manner possible, holding the precious infant to her chest. How could anyone want to reject this child? How could anyone dismiss this innocent little person's safety and security? Lainey couldn't imagine it.

Harper woke up and looked up at his young mother. He immediately lifted a hand to touch her face very gently, and Lainey sniffled and gave him a small, teary smile. "Hey, sweetheart," she whispered, leaning in and kissing him on the forehead. "I love you. Mummy and Daddy love you so much, okay?"
 
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It was one of those days in which all Mason wanted to do was lay in bed.

The atmosphere was perfect along with the past events for staying in bed. He was tired and still upset with the very unpleasant encounter he shared with his father. He was also feeling guilty toward his sister for how he treated her, especially since she had called in the past two days and the night after after the part to check on him, most likely.

He didn't answer her call, or anyone elses, really. The singer wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. The only person he did talk to was his girlfriend. Lainey was just as torn as he was about thye situation and if not, even more so.

She had cried and freaked so much about it that night. The person he felt the most guilty and sorry for was her. He should have foreseen something so horrid to come from his father's mouth. He shouldn't have even gone to the damn party.

Alas, moping in bed he could not, would not. Mason wanted, needed, to cheer up his girlfriend.

"Hey, Lainey," Mason said once locating her in the nursery. He smiled at Harper, and leaned against the doorway. "Do you want to go out? You, me and Harper. The weather is nice."
 
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The past two days had been rough on Lainey. She hadn't gone out at all, and had only seen the sun when she had taken the trash out to the curb each morning. She could feel that her depression was threatening to come back and that honestly terrified her. She was so happy, with her baby and her partner. She didn't want to lose that.

The only solace she had found in the house the past two days was in Mason, who was clearly affected by the whole ordeal just as she was, and in Harper, their precious baby son. Sweet, innocent little Harper, who had no idea what was going on around him and no concept of the threat his grandfather posed to his security. Lainey had been particularly clingy with her baby for the past two days, carrying him everywhere she went in the house and only putting him down when she needed to cook or clean something.

Which was how Mason found her in the nursery. She was breastfeeding Harper before setting him down for his nap. Lainey looked up and met Mason's gaze from the rocking chair in which she sat.

"Go out?" she repeated, as if wrapping her head around the idea. Going out was the last thing Lainey wanted to do. She felt as if going out would be akin to broadcasting Harper's location to the world -- exposing him to James Wagner. But clearly Mason wanted to go out, and Harper needed some sun anyway. So Lainey nodded.

"Okay." She finished feeding Harper, did her shirt back up and stood up, limping over to Mason as she burped her baby. She stood before him and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. "Where do you want to go?"
 
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"Oh, no," Mason leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms. His grin melting into a softer and genuine smile directed at her, made because of her. Honestly, sometimes Lainey was just too sweet. He didn't deserve it either, especially after the mental strain he had put her through by taking her to that horrible party. He was hoping the timeout would make her feel much better, the both of them. She deserved whatever she wanted, she had been through a lot.

"You decide, it's a nice day today so we could just about anywhere." He owed her that, and even if he didn't he still would go anywhere she wanted and do anything she asked.How could he deny her anything she wanted when she asked for so little. He wanted to give her a lot but whatever made her happy was enough for him.

The blonde singer tilted his head until it was press against the door frame as well. "Indoors or outdoors is fine with me," he'd simply put on the stereotypical sunglasses to disguise himself. It would and could get annoying to have his fans interrupt his family date. Not to mention, he still had,'t replied to Karoline's claims.

Karoline's claims, her cheating claims ... Another annoying mess he would have to mop up soon. He didn't mind so much the misunderstood obnoxious comments he received on his end. What bothered him what was being said about his girlfriend and child.

Today, he was to forget about that for now and the same thing went for his father. Today was meant to be a good day, a break from the harsh realities because they deserved that. Surely, it would put them at ease.

"We could go to the park, have a picnic," suggested Mason, listing off his ideas with his fingers."Or maybe the movies and a dinner. Oh! I heard Scotland and Belgium is great this time of year! We could catch a flight out." He teased, biting the corner of his lip gently and reaching out a hand to twirl a piece of her fine hair. The idea of traveling with Lainey was very appealing, though. He had gone to so many places even before he became a singer. The more he thought about it the more he wanted to show her all the amazing places there was to see. He figured she hadn't traveled much at all.

"Where would you like to go, love?"
 
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Mason was too good for her. He was just such a genuinely nice person — a stark comparison to Harrison, who was mean and callous and cruel and terrible. Mason just genuinely wanted her and their baby to be happy, and that was far more than Lainey had ever thought she had genuinely deserved. But she had secured that, she had secured the perfect partner, and she could not have been more grateful if she tried.

The idea of travelling, of getting out of this toxic city, was very appealing to Lainey. She wanted to escape the suffocating atmosphere of London, she wanted to leave the grey country of England all together if she could, even if only for a day. However, Lainey still wasn't out of her old saving-money mindset. She didn't like spending large amounts of funds, she didn't like splurging for no reason, even if Mason was a millionaire and certainly could afford a couple of plane tickets.

But ... she really wanted to get out of there. Out of the city where the party had been held, the party that had disturbed their happiness and sent her back into the dark, depressive state she had lived in for years prior to meeting Mason. Maybe if she got out, she could get happy again, for her partner and their amazing and perfect baby.

"I suppose I can stomach you spending a few hundred on tickets over to ... France, maybe?" France wasn't too far. "Maybe we could take Harper to the Disneyland in Paris. But you have to promise not to splurge on me after that." Lainey pointed at him seriously. She knew that even if Mason promised, he would probably do it anyway, but she still needed the temporary verbal confirmation to justify what they were about to do.
 
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