Liam Payne has opened up about becoming a dad, admitting that having Bear at such a young age "messed him up".
The Familiar singer, now 26, was just, 23 when his then girlfriend Cheryl gave birth to their only son, who is now two-years-old.
While he sung Cheryl's praises, Liam admitted that he was "in a bad place" when he first became a father.
He makes the admission in his upcoming documentary Ant Middleton and Liam Payne: Straight Talking, according to Heat magazine.
Speaking on a trip to Nambia with the former solider, Liam says: "Becoming a dad at such a young age, it's such a difficult thing.
"And I think I built fatherhood up so much in my head that it kind of messed me to up start with. I started in a bad place with it.
"I think it spooked me out early on, and I was just worried I would not be enough to look after the both of them.
"They're so important to me — Cheryl as well.
"She's one of the most, if not the most, important people in my life."
Liam explained that though they aren't together anymore, Cheryl is still there for him.
He added: "I'm lucky I have someone who understands what I'm going through.
"The one thing I was missing as a man in the relationship I had, was a level understanding about what she was feeling about stuff.
"I think I learnt through away being that, while I want to protect her, there's a big part of her that wants to protect me."
He also joked that they could get back together if she "plays her cards right" but admitted that he'd be in trouble for saying so.
