[ 8 ] 2014

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"He broke her heart, and I was there to pick up the pieces. And I was glad to because I love her."

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Arthur was not pleased with his team of hunters, to say the least, when he awoke in the hospital and found out what had happened. Though he was pleased that he had the person he had been in love with all those years. Harleen was spending all of her time between visiting him at the hospital and taking care of the twins Kellin and Ivy. Ever since she could remember everything and had found out the truth about the circumstances in which she was unable to see Arthur again when they were teenagers, she didn't want to leave his side. All the memories had been unlocked, and she remembered that he had been the man she had always loved. He had been her first boyfriend and her first love, and she was certain that there was still that spark between them.

Harley was conflicted in her feelings about the situation. She was happy for Harleen and Arthur because she had come to realize that they genuinely loved each other, even after all the time that had passed. But she was sad for Aaron because, if the other two were to decide they wanted to give their love a chance, then that would leave Aaron Quinn without a wife. He didn't deserve such a cruel fate after being such a good person. He was a good man--had been a good husband to Harleen and had been a great father to Billy and Harley. But, the seventeen year old thought to herself, that sometimes people who didn't deserve suffering still suffered anyway. It was the way of the world.

Almost like with Ashton. She deeply cared about him and yet she had gone down another path in which she had not chosen him. And not only had he not ended up with her, but he had lost his family in the 60s. None of it was something he had ever deserved. All the while the person who betrayed him had lived out his life comfortably.

Nowadays he didn't materialize around her as often as he used to anymore, and she rarely ever called him out.

But there were days in which she still missed him and she'd remember all the good times they had together. She was in her bedroom, sitting on her bed, looking out towards the balcony which had just been redone as an excuse for someone to find the remains of her ghost ex-boyfriend. There was a slight breeze that came in and rustled her hair just ever so gently. Her blue eyes closed at the feeling.

And she seemed to have called Ashton with her thoughts because in the next moment, the temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees and when she opened her eyes he was standing in the middle of the room, looking at her. That was something interesting she had learned about Ashton, and all ghosts in general. He didn't have any body heat. But when he entered the room, the temperature always seemed to drop just slightly. And whenever they'd embrace, hold hands, or even kiss, she could feel the way his skin was always a bit too cold.

A sad smile formed on his lips. "I got the feeling that maybe you wanted to talk to me."

Harley found herself heaving a saddened sigh. "I was just thinking about my dad." When it dawned on her that she needed to clarify because she had two dads now, she continued. "Mum has been spending a lot of time seeing Arthur in the hospital. And I feel like she's neglecting her marriage to Aaron. He's such a nice guy, and he loves her so much. He doesn't deserve something like this."

Ashton cut the distance between them and sat on the bed next to her, leaving about a foot of space between them. He wanted to badly to take her into his arms. But he knew it was not appropriate for him to do so, considering that she had a boyfriend who wasn't him.

"Sometimes things like that happen and its no one's fault." Ashton said to her. Then he pointed out, "Your mum loves Arthur, she always did. Even though its going to break Aaron's heart, I think he will understand and would want her to be happy." His words pricked at her heart because she thought about them--Ashton, Calum, and herself--how it was a similar situation. Except it was probably easier for Harleen because her one true love had always been Arthur. For Harley, she had been confused for a time. She loved Ashton, but she was in love with Calum as well.

A sad smile formed on her lips. Ashton was suggesting that Aaron would understand, just like he understood that she had chosen Calum. She placed a hand on his shoulder gratefully. "Thanks Ash. That actually makes me feel better."

Their moment had only lasted a few minutes because she decided to go find Aaron. Billy was at practice and would probably go over to Cindy's house after. Harleen was in the hospital visiting Arthur. The twins were now old enough that she could take them out of the house, and she had an in home care person who helped her take care of them. The only ones in the house at the moment were Harley, who had skipped cheer practice that day. She was surprised that she was still on the team after skipping practice almost every single day. But Cindy was the captain and her best friend. Her absences at practice were always excused, especially after the fact that she had been in the hospital recently.

The other person who was home was Aaron. Harley had heard his car pull into the driveway just moments earlier.

After excusing herself with Ashton, she left her bedroom and went to her dad's office. She knocked on the closed door and when she didn't get an answer, she opened the door slowly. His office was empty. Aaron did freelance design and advertisements, and on his desk were projects he was working on. He also had a bulletin board behind the desk with tens of flyers he had designed posted on there.

"Dad..." She called out to him.

But she got a response from her parents' bedroom. "I'm here, honey."

She walked down the hall to her parents' room and saw her father going around the room, gathering his belongings. On the bed was an open luggage and her heart drop as the realization hit her. Were things that bad between her parents that he needed to leave the house? Or perhaps he was going on a business trip. Though those were rare, he did go on business trips with people who wanted his advertising services.

"What are you doing, dad?" She wondered, walking into the middle of the room and staring at the luggage and then at her dad as he placed items in it.

He turned to her and heaved a sigh. He looked so sad, and so tired. He didn't even have the energy to smile for her. He stopped what he was doing, walked over her and took her by the hand, pulling her gently to sit on the bed next to him. He started to explain what was going on, even though it was already clear to Harley. She was his daughter, and he owed her that much. "I'm packing my things because things with your mother haven't been the same and I just think we both need some time to think." Harley could already feel the lump forming in her throat and her heart beating madly against her chest as she heard him speak. How could she be happy if her father left the house? "Ever since Arthur returned, I can feel that she longs to be with him. He was her first love and I understand that. But it still hurts. I have loved no one like I love Harleen."

There was a pause for a moment when she heard his voice crack. She herself was speechless. She didn't know what to say to him. She couldn't ask him to stay if he was leaving for his own sanity. She wanted Aaron to be happy as well, or at least to separate himself from whatever was making him upset.

"I have loved your mother my whole life, Harley." He continued after taking a deep breath. It had been a silent moment that felt eternal to her. And of course she knew the story. Growing up, her she enjoyed hearing it from her parents as a bed time story. How her parents had known each other their whole lives and grew up together. "You know I was there that day your grandmother Hayley went into labor. I was three years old and I still have vague and foggy memories of that day. Your mother hated me though, always did. She wouldn't give me the time of day until she was seventeen and Arthur broke up with her. He broke her heart, and I was there to pick up the pieces. And I was glad to because I love her."

Harley bit down on her lip before speaking. "I'm sorry, dad."

But Aaron didn't want her to feel sorry for him. He just wanted to get it all off his chest. He was like Billy growing up--popular in school, captain of three sports teams, impeccable grades. Arthur had dropped out of high school halfway through senior year to go back to Perth. And even so, Harleen had always picked him. She still always preferred him. Aaron felt like he wasn't enough for the woman he had given his heart and his entire life to.

Her dad then forced a tiny smile onto his lips. With a shake of his head, he assured her, "Its not your fault, sweetheart. I don't even blame your mother, or even Arthur. I just help but feel bad for myself because I love her, and I feel like I've done my best as her husband and your father. But that just wasn't enough. You can't force someone to love you."

"I don't want you to go." She said, tears stinging at her eyes. "But I know you have your reasons for putting distance between you guys."

He sniffled and lowered his head. But in the next moment, he wiped his blue eyes with the back of his hands and cleared his throat. He was going to be strong for her and for Billy. They were his kids and he absolutely adored them.

"You can always visit me in Perth." He told her, trying to be optimistic. "I'm staying with your grandparents for a few days while I get an apartment. But I'll still pay the bills over here. And whatever you need, don't hesitate to let me know and I will get it for you. The same goes for Billy. I know his basketball playoffs are coming up in a couple of weeks."

Harley could already picture what her grandmother Ava would say, which were most likely negative things. She already didn't like Harleen, and she'd probably try to fill Aaron's head with rubbish and assumptions that she didn't even know if they were true or not. That she knew all along that Harleen was cheating on him and that he was a fool for not seeing it sooner. She would try to get him to cut all ties with Harleen and Harley, but not with Billy because he was her favorite grandson, considering that he was the exact image of Aaron when he was a teenager.

Aaron packed up his belongings and waited until Harleen returned from the hospital. Billy returned first from Cindy's house and Aaron had a talk with him just like he did with Harley. He explained the situation to his son and told him that he would have to be the man of the house from now on. He would be the one to take care of the family in his absence. Billy was clearly upset, but was able to hold his composure. When Harleen returned from the hospital was when the water works broke out. But she didn't beg him to stay. She told him that she understood his reasons and he promised to come back in a few days so that they could talk again.

The house felt empty when he left and Harleen felt an ache in her chest when she had to return to their bedroom alone. Half of the items in the room were missing, as though he had erased himself from the life they had shared together for over eighteen years. And she realized it was her fault. She drove him to that decision.

Harleen couldn't help but feel bad. Aaron had been her husband, her partner, her best friend. A part of her felt guilt at the fact that she was never fully able to love him because she was still in love with Arthur Vega.

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this chapter is sort of filler ish, but I hope to update again soon.

also, there is a question of the day today: would you all prefer for harleen to stay with aaron in the end, or with Arthur?'

please comment below.

aaaaaand, I have started planning a continuation series. so after this series ends, I will start a new series starting Harley's son. I will not say right now who the baby daddy will be. it can be ashton or cal, or it might be someone different. who knows? only me, of course. but I hope you all enjoy the update.

thank you loads for reading.

-clary