[ 52 ] 2014

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"How do I know that's not just an excuse to see me naked?" 

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That afternoon, Jack refused to help Arthur recover and Calum left the old warehouse district empty handed. He was frustrated and powerless that he could not convince him--for Harley and for Arthur as well, who had been like a father to him. He and his friends left the offices of the warehouse with Jack having assured him again that it was nothing personal against Calum himself, or Harley for that matter. He just didn't want to help a man who would likely automatically put a gun to his head. His sister Hazel agreed with him. 

Calum dropped Niall and Andrea off at his house, the one across the street from Harley's, and then went back to the hospital to give her the bad news. When he returned, Harley had looked up with hopeful eyes as he entered the room. But she was met with a cruel reality, seeing him there alone, without the one person who could save her father. It was practically his death sentence. The doctors had warned her that only a miracle could save Arthur since he didn't seem to be making any progress since the surgery. Calum didn't want to meet her eyes, as he could not do for her what he knew she most wanted in that moment. And he felt his heart tear in half as she was shaken by sobs. 

Immediately, he cut the distance between them, dropping his wight on the couch beside her and pulling her into his strong arms for an embrace. "I don't want him to go." She said through her whines. He was barely able to understand her, as he had never seen her cry this much. It truly broke his heart, to say the least, and he felt tears stinging at his own eyes. Again, for her and for Arthur. But he willed himself to stay strong. If she saw him breaking down in front of her, things would be much worse.

She cried into his chest for what seemed like hours, until her cries died down and her face was tear stained. But there were no more tears to cry. Pulling away from him slightly, her electric blue eyes, weepy and sad, met his dark brown ones. Her words were ones that took him by surprise, yet he knew it was their reality. There was a chance they would have to do it eventually. "I want to see him, Calum." She sniffed through her tears. "If I won't see him open his eyes here, I want to see him there at least. One last time." He knew exactly what she was talking about. He and Harley could shift across dimensions. The other being where souls were directed after a person had passed. 

Except this was more like when Luke had been attacked by Kylie. He was trapped in between, not ready to go, but not entirely staying either. 

Calum felt his mouth go dry at the thought.

But he would grant her request. He looked to Dempsey, who only nodded in support. Her own eyes red and puffy. She would never forget the kind man who had helped her, given her a home, and a job when her parents were taken from her and brutally experimented on. Only Dempsey survived that night, hiding under her bed. Arthur found her and assured her that he would never hurt her. He only wanted to help her, and somehow Dempsey trusted him. Now she knew that joining the hunters was the best decision of her life. Forcing the tiniest hint of a smile onto her face, she said to Harley and Calum, "Tell the boss that Paul and I really appreciate everything he did for us. And I'm sure the others all feel the same."

Harley gave a nod of her head, assuring that she would let him know she was grateful. Calum then silently took both of Harley's hands in his and she closed her eyes. He closed his own as well and filled his mind with a deep concentration. He thought of nothing else but that darkened hallway, with only enough dim light for them to see the heavy doors that contained what each person was destined to find in the next life. 

He felt something like a pull, and when he opened his eyes, he and Harley were standing in that hallway with their hands holding one another's. Harley quickly opened her eyes and pulled her hands slowly out of Calum's grip. "Arthur..." She called hesitantly, her voice bouncing off the walls in an echo that seemed to go on for miles.

"Uncle..." Calum tried calling for him as well.

There were a few more attempts before a dark figure stepped out of the shadows. Harley's breath caught in her throat and she ran towards him when she figured out that it was Arthur. There, he was not wounded and she was just as she remembered him. A tall and handsome man with dark hair and brown eyes that held a sad happiness in them when he saw her. Harley jumped into his arms and he held her, while Calum stood back and watched the scene before him. Harley had changed so much since the first time they met Arthur.

She had once sworn bitterly that she would never accept him as her father because he and Harleen had betrayed Aaron. But she had been able to get past that and form a relationship with him. Arthur absolutely adored his daughter, just like he adored his son who had yet to accept him.

"I missed you, little one." Arthur told her as they pulled away from their embrace, and Harley crinkled up her nose at the nickname. She had never been a fan of anything that was even remotely cute.

She found herself laughing with a bit of embarrassment. "Dad, its not cute to call your punk rock daughter little one." She pointed out.

Calum walked up and commented with amusement tinging every word. "I like it, actually." Then he continued as he stopped by her side, "I can use it as a nickname for her too, since I'm way taller than her."

Harley stuck her tongue out at him playfully, looking up in a side glance when she felt his warmth and an arm found its way around her waist. "Okay, but you're taller than half the town, babe." Babe, the nickname she had for him made a proud grin sneak its way onto his face. He would never get used to knowing that he had her. That she was his, and there was no more useless struggling. No more suffering.

The boy with raven hair chuckled at her comment, a genuine laugh that made the sides of his eyes crinkle. 

Why couldn't things be that simple? Why couldn't they just be normal? Arthur, a normal dad with his normal daughter, and her normal boyfriend. But then again, Calum thought that if they had all been normal from the start, he and Harley would probably not be together. She might have even stayed in Perth, or would have moved to Sydney and never even so much as glanced his way. Calum was a reject at school anyway, ever since it had been found out that he and Kylie had been sneaking around behind Luke's back.

Arthur heaved a sigh full of nostalgia, breaking them out of their happy moment. His hand reached forward to push a stray strand of hair out of her face. "You're so grown up, and so beautiful like your mother. I really wish I'd have been around to see it happen."

Harley felt her eyes sting again with tears that wanted to spill.

"I promise I'll remember you always." She assured him in a weepy voice that she was starting to lose control over. Calum's arm around her tightened slightly, ready to catch her, should she need his support both physically and emotionally. "Paul, James, and I will keep the organization going--"

He gave a shake of his head. "I left them in charge in my will because I didn't want you getting involved. I did you enough harm as it was, by not being around."

"I want to be a part of it." She told him with insistence.

"I will help too, uncle." Calum spoke up, tears pricking at his own eyes. There was only silence between them, and it was a moment before Calum spoke again. "We should get going. Staying here too long really fucks up your brain cells."

Harley jumped forward again, into her father's arms. She clung to him desperately, knowing there was a chance it was the last time she would see him like that. Tears streamed down her face again as Calum tried to pull her back gently. He didn't want to leave either, but they had to go. "Dempsey, Paul, and the others really appreciate everything you did for them. You were like a father to them and they will always be grateful. And...I'm sure Michael feels the same, even beyond his resentment."

-

They returned to their own dimension and found James and Paul in the room. Paul was sitting next to Dempsey, and they seemed to be on good terms at the moment. Her head was rested on his shoulder as she slept comfortably. Her own face was tear stained. Paul had been watching Calum and Harley, unconscious in the room, and he knew what they were doing. James was sitting in a chair by the other couch where the hunters were sitting. 

Though Harley didn't want to leave, the hunters and Calum convinced her that she needed to get some rest in her own bed. James and Paul assured that they would stay to watch him, and let her know if anything else happened. Harley then reluctantly left the hospital with Calum, promising that she would come right back if something else happened with Arthur. 

In the car, Calum whispered to her, "I'll take you home after I take a quick shower."

She nodded her head slowly. She knew that he was still going to his sessions with the school therapist to get over his phobia, and Harley had been doing her best to help him for a time, before everything with Arthur happened. But she also knew that he still needed someone to coax him into even getting close to water, especially taking a shower. Normally Andrea and Niall did it for him, mind controlled him into showering. But Harley didn't mind helping. She knew it would get her mind off things.

They went to his grandfather's mansion, Harley felt as though her heart had been squeezed as the memories came flooding back. By now, the police tape around the house had been removed and they were allowed entry by the guards. The service had done a thorough cleaning of the house and when they entered, it was spotless, as though they had erased all the remnants and bad memories of what happened that day.

Kila came to greet them when she heard the front doors open. "Master Calum." She bowed her head.

Calum immediately gave her a set of careful instructions. "Kila, please run a hot bath for me in the master bedroom. Harley will be staying here in the living room. Do as she says until I return. She is as much an equal owner of this house as I am."

His maid nodded in agreement and then disappeared towards the master bedroom to run a bath for him as he wanted. Calum then turned to her slowly, "If you will."

Harley turned to face him as well, placing a hand on his shoulder. She went on her tiptoes to press her lips to his before sinking back into her heels. Her blue eyes became steely and hypnotic as she spoke a command to him. "There's nothing to be afraid of, babe. Its just water and it won't hurt you. Go bathe comfortably, and if you need any assistance, I'll be right here."

The boy with raven hair nodded his head absently, the command realizing in his head. 

His hand shot out to grip her wrist like a scared child. "I can't go alone."

Harley bit down on her lip. "Why don't I go with you, and sit in the master bedroom? Would that make you feel better?" 

He nodded slowly.

The two walked up to the master bedroom together. Harley saw him disappear into the bathroom by himself with worry pressing onto her chest. He was so genuinely afraid of drowning after his experience at the pier. She sat on the bed and waited. She waited for twenty minutes, then a half hour, until it was almost an hour and she began to worry even more. She got up and her footsteps carried her toward the door.

She knocked on it, but saw that it fell open with the slight force of her hand. 

Calum was inside, sitting inside a magnificent silver tub in the very luxurious master bedroom. His dark eyes were closed and his head drawn back, exposing his neck. His raven hair was dripping with water, his bare chest and torso exposed, and the rest of him submerged beneath hot water and soap. His arms were draped along the sides of the tub, knuckles trying to break out of his skin as he held himself up, and she was relieved to find as she walked further into the room that he was breathing. 

Harley stopped by the side of the tub and sat on its edge, watching him. Her fingertips danced across the water and she found it was cooling. 

His eyes fluttered open when he felt her presence. 

"What are you doing in here?" He asked her, not that he really minded.

She felt her cheeks flush red. "You were taking kinda long, so I came to check on you."

That cocky grin she remembered from a Calum she used to genuinely hate made an appearance on his lips. "How do I know that's not just an excuse to see me naked?"

"You're my boyfriend." She countered cheekily. "I don't need an excuse."

He gently shrugged his shoulders, careful not to move too much or else he'd remember where he was. Submerged in water. "That is true." After a moment, he said a bit nervously, "Join me."

Calum pulled his knees in, exposing more of his skin. Harley observed him curiously. 

It took another minute before she got back on her feet. He thought she would give some witty remark and leave the room. But she knew this wasn't Calum being the arrogant and horny teenager who wanted her v-card. He was a vulnerable boy who had fears and weaknesses, and who needed her. And what was more was that she wanted his comfort as well. Still, he was surprised when she peeled out of her clothes--her band shirt first and then her jean shorts after kicking off her boots, leaving her in her undergarments. 

He gulped at the sight of her, his own cheeks glowing red. She smirked at him. "Calum Hood blushing? I never thought I'd see the day."

"Stop." He puffed up his cheeks. He hated being the one to be teased instead of being the one doing the teasing.

She sucked in another breath to steel herself and closed her eyes, removing the last bits of her clothes. Her eyes remained closed as she felt around for the silver bathtub and stepped inside. When she opened her eyes, her blue eyes were met with his brown ones, already watching her.

"This is probably the best form of therapy for me." He admitted to her in order to lighten the mood.

"Of course." She said, her face feeling like it could warm the water since she was blushing so much.

Moments later he pulled her into his arms, her small frame being pulled onto his lap. When his lips met hers, everything felt so right. Even them being together, naked in a bathtub, after everything that happened. Her hands settled on his chest and when his own hands roamed her body, asking if every touch was permitted in between heated kisses. She wanted it too, and she lost herself to her feelings for him, giving herself entirely to him.

-

this chapter is longer because the end has a special surprise for you all. after waiting for a whole year (in this story universe only a year has passed), but five years in our human life span, CALUM FINALLY GETS THE V. 

i think he and harley needed something cute in their lives.

also, i have not decided yet if i will let arthur die. i really liked him as a character. but maybe it would be for the best for him to pass onto the next life.

that's pending. anyway, thank you all loads for reading. im going to eat and then go work out with my cousin. i hope you all have a wonderful night. thank you for reading this series. a song that i recommend for you all to listen to is "human sadness" by the voidz. its so beautiful and sad. and its like 11 minutes long. but every second is worth it. it reminds me of maven from red queen.

-clary