Soft music plays from the outdated apple computer on the desk. Harry is in the back corner of the room where the kids have arts and crafts and Ember is seated across from him. She's happily coloring away, although her paper is coated in dark blues and grays.

They've been talking about anything and everything as they wait for her Aunt Claire to pick her up. It's unusual for her to be late and a few hours have already passed. But Harry can't just leave Ember sitting in the front office alone. He's trying to keep her entertained the best that he can, even though he's got stacks of papers to grade.

"What are you going to do over winter break? Anything exciting?"

Ember stops coloring for a moment to look up at him as she answers. There are a lot of things running through her mind and she's not even sure what's going to happen for Christmas this year. "I don't know. Mommy wants to go see Grandma and Grandpa. But Daddy doesn't like that and he wants to stay home. But me and Mommy are going to put the...the pretty things on the Christmas tree and...and help the puppies and kitties at the animal place."

Harry frowns, the yellow crayon feels heavy in his hand. Something isn't right in her household and it hurts just to think about. She's such a bright little girl and he hates knowing that there might be something going on that could dim that happiness.

Ember's coloring again and Harry can't stop himself from asking, "What about your Daddy? Doesn't he do those things with you too?"

This time Ember doesn't look up from her drawing. She shakes her head and her smile quickly fades to a frown, "No, Daddy doesn't come home a lot."

She finishes her drawing a few moments later and Harry feels like someone has just punched him in the chest. He cares for all his students, and it's heartbreaking to know that their home lives aren't as healthy as they should be.

Harry sets the yellow crayon down and offers her a smile, "Can I see your drawing, Ember?"

Ember nods and pushes the paper towards him as far as she can with her smaller arms. She doesn't look very proud of her drawing like most children would be, and his smile diminishes almost instantly.

Harry's frown deepens at he looks at the drawing on the table in front of him. Ember's drawn her family in slightly misshapen stick figures. A gray stick figure stands at the edge of the paper, another stick figure in blue is near the other end, and a red, smaller stick figure stands beside the blue, their long arms forming circles around each other and turning purple in some areas. There are tears in the blue figure's eyes.

"Ember, why did you draw this? Is everything okay at home?"

Ember shrugs her shoulders. She isn't sure what to tell him. Things at her house have been...strange for as far as she can remember and it's started to feel normal to her even though she knows that it isn't.

"Mommy cries a lot. Sometimes I pretend to have nightmares so I can hug her and make her feel better. I think it's Daddy's fault. He comes home at weird times and sometimes they yell a lot. Sometimes Mommy makes him sleep on the couch."

Harry doesn't know what to say. Ember's such a smart, sweet, and excited little girl and he never thought that she might be going through something unhealthy at home. He knows what it's like to see parents argue with each other and become distant. No child deserves to be in the middle of that.

"Are you okay, Ember?"

Ember smiles and answers with a nod, "Yes. I just want Mommy to be okay."

She's alright. Her Mommy makes her happy and she has a roof over her head, food, toys, and friends to play with at school. Sure, she knows that she probably should feel sad, but she can't be sad because she still has things that make her happy, even if her Daddy isn't ever around. Even if Daddy makes Mommy sad.

A soft smile pulls at the edges of Harry's lips, "I want your Mommy to be okay, too. Do you know who's picking you up today, Ember?"

She shakes her head and starts to draw something else. This time she picks up a bright pink crayon instead of a dark blue one. Harry leaves her to her drawing and thinks about who he should call to discuss the matter of her home life. Her Aunt Claire usually picks her up, but he isn't sure about bringing her into it because he doesn't know if she lives with them or not.

Usually her mother answers when he calls, but he doesn't want to discuss the matter over the phone. Eye contact makes all the difference. He's about to ask Ember why her Aunt picks her up, but the sound of rushed footfalls echoes down the hall and stops him before he's formed the first word.

Clearly, whoever is in a rush is wearing heels and headed towards his classroom. Ember notices it too, she and wears an excited smile as she looks up from her drawing. It isn't Claire though, she never wears heels.

A woman with dark hair and gray eyes rushes through the doorway. She's incredibly well put together in a pretty blouse and long skirt, but anyone paying attention can tell that she's losing it by glancing at her rushed actions and sorrowful eyes.

Immediately, a rush of apologies spews from her lips, like a fountain gushing steady streams of water in the middle of an empty park.

"I am so, so sorry. My sister-"

Harry cuts her off and stands from his chair while offering her a friendly smile, "It's alright, Mrs. Wood."

It takes him a moment or two to recognize her. She's only come in a few times when school started and a few mornings, but he's certain that this is Ember's mother, Marigold. It's hard to forget a woman like her. He's only met her twice, but each time she's struck him as someone who cares more about others than she cares about herself, particularly when it comes to children. Every time she's come in she's said hello to all the children and asked them about their days. They all like her and she likes them in return. If she didn't always come in dressed so well, he would have thought she was another teacher.

Mary hadn't expected him to recognize her. She looks confused for a moment before she realizes that she's had a few brief discussions with him when Ember started the school year.

Her chest rises and falls heavily as she tries to regain her breathing from running down the empty hall. She really needs to start exercising again. "No, no. You gave up your free time to watch her because I was incredibly late. I am so sorry for having you watch her for so long. Thank you so much."

There's something about her that has his heart sprinting to the finish line just a little faster, but he knows that it's wrong to feel that way. She's a married woman, even if she and her husband are having issues. Not to mention the obvious fact that her daughter is his student.

Nevertheless, Harry can't help the way that his smile grows like flowers in the spring. "It's really not a problem, Marigold. Ember is wonderful company. Can I talk with you for a moment out in the hall?"

Mary flushes at the use of her full name. Typically, everyone calls her Mary. She's found that it's less confusing and much easier to say. But she did like the sound of her full name as it rolled off his tongue and fell smoothly from his lips.

"I...yes. Please, call me Mary."

Ember runs over to her mother and hugs her legs tightly, "Mommy!"

Mary laughs and bends down to her level so that she can give her daughter a real hug. "Hi Emmy! I'm so sorry for making you wait so long. Mommy has to talk to your teacher for a moment before we leave. Will you be okay packing up your things by yourself?"

Ember nods confidently, "Yes, mommy!"

Harry smiles as he picks up the depressing drawing and leads Mary out of the classroom and into the empty hallway. He doesn't think that she's doing anything wrong as a mother, but he does need to talk to her about what Ember had drawn and his concern about Ember's physical and emotional health.

Mary's incredibly alarmed and she waits patiently for him to start the conversation so she can't jump to conclusions. It seems like that's all she does now.

"Are things alright at home, Mary?"

Her eyes widen slightly and she bites the inside of her cheek to maintain her composure. She doesn't want anyone to know that her husband is cheating on her. People like to gossip and she doesn't want those sad looks cast her way everywhere that she goes. And she certainly doesn't want people to treat her—or Ember—any differently.

"My husband and I haven't been on good terms recently. Ember doesn't see any of it because she's in bed when it happens. Did something happen? Is she alright?"

Harry frowns and pulls out Ember's first drawing so Mary can see it. He lets her take it from his hands as he starts to explain, "I asked her what she was doing for the holidays and her answer really only involved you. Then, I saw her drawing and I had to ask her why she'd drawn that. I'm not a counselor, but if I see something that I think requires outside assistance I'm required to ask and report it. She said that you cry every night and that her Dad is hardly there and that he comes home at weird hours and ends up on the couch by morning. She also said that sometimes she pretends to have a nightmare just so she can hug you and make you feel better because she knows it's her Dad's fault and she just wants you to be happy."

Mary's lips tremble and her eyes water as she looks down at her daughter's drawing. She never wanted her daughter to lose her vibrancy because of what was going on between her and her husband. All the times that she'd thought she was sound asleep in bed she was listening, and it breaks Mary's heart.

"I...I didn't know that she...oh my god."

Harry isn't really supposed to interact with parents on a physical level, but he can't stand to see anyone cry and he's off hours anyway. He closes the distance between them and wraps his arms around her to offer her a small level of comfort.

Mary practically melts under his touch. It's been so long since anyone other than her daughter has held her at all and she really missed the feeling. She knows that he's done it just to comfort her and to calm her down, but it still makes all the difference. She clings to him like lint on dark clothing as she cries. Harry doesn't mind at all.

Mary cries for about a minute before she reigns in her emotions and calms herself down. "Thank you. I'm sorry about all of this. My sister usually picks her up, but we got into an argument and she doesn't want any contact with me for the time being. And I can't change my work hours or leave early to come pick her up because they'll fire me and I don't know anyone else who can get her for me."

Harry doesn't want to ask in light of what she's just told him, but he has to. "What about your husband?"

Mary shifts uncomfortably and her gaze drifts to the floor. "He...he's busy and won't come to get her."

She won't look at him. She's too embarrassed because her husband won't pick up his daughter from school. Harry must know because she can feel the way that he's looking at her. He's looking at her with sympathetic eyes and parted lips because he doesn't know what to say. Marigold hates it. Everyone gives her that look and she wishes they'd stop.

It surprises her when he breaks the silence and the sympathetic look dims in his eyes, "I'll watch her for you. I'm not really supposed to, but I don't mind and I'm off the clock anyway."

Mary lifts her head to meet his eyes. She doesn't know what to say. No one's been this kind to her since she was a child and it's a feeling she's not quite used to. He's smiling at her and there's no more sympathy in his eyes, only understanding. She doesn't know how that's possible from a stranger.

She wants to cry again because he doesn't have to do this—doesn't have to go out of his way for her because her life is falling apart.

"Are you sure? I'd hate to ask you to give up your free time for my sake."

Harry's lips lift in a slight smile as he nods confidently, "Absolutely, I don't mind at all."

Mary wants to hug him again, but she doesn't want to bother him anymore than she already has.

She settles for a teary-eyed smile, "I can't thank you enough."

Harry's smile grows as he sees the new light behind her eyes, "Don't worry about it. And Mary?"

They're walking into the classroom again and Mary hums to let him know that she's listening. If she opens her mouth to say something, she's afraid that she won't stop talking until he knows everything about her broken marriage and how deeply it's torn her apart.

Harry glances at her and smiles because of the way she's looking at her daughter. It's clear that Ember is her world and he knows that they'll be okay, maybe not right now, but someday.

"If you ever need anything at all, you can always call me. Anytime at all for anything at all, I'll be there."

She wants to tell him thank you and that she's fine, but she can't. He knows she isn't fine. Ember's her rock, but she can't put all her problems on her sweet little girl who's only five years old.

Mary shakes her head, "I don't know what to say."

Harry turns to face her and smiles so brightly that she thinks he must have something in his teeth that reflects the sun.

"You don't have to say anything at all."

Ember runs over with her backpack and a new drawing in her hand, "I'm ready Mommy! This is for you!"

Mary drops down to Ember's level and gives her a smile that is specifically reserved for her, "Really!? Thank you, sweetie. It's beautiful!"

She kisses her cheek and pulls her in for a tight hug before she looks at the drawing. Ember's drawn the two of them in pink, their hands together and hearts surrounding them. The words 'I love you' are written at the very top of the page in her five-year-old handwriting.

It warms Mary's heart to know that her daughter doesn't think any less of her for the things that take place at night between her and Alec.

"Mommy? Why isn't Aunt Claire here?"

Mary looks into her daughter's pretty blue eyes and pulls her lips into a pained smile, "Aunt Claire and Mommy had an argument and she wants to stay away for a little while. I'm sorry sweetheart, I know that you love spending time with her."

Ember pouts, "Is she coming back?"

Mary's smile lifts around the edges and she nods even though she isn't entirely sure that her sister will come back. Claire has always been stubborn and that hasn't changed after all these years. "Yes, she's coming back, just not for a little while. So, that means that Mommy's going to pick you up from now on. Does that sound good?"

Ember's frown quickly transforms into a smile when she realizes that she gets to spend more time with her mother, "Yay!"

Mary hugs her daughter again and kisses her cheek, "Thought so! It's time to go home and get some dinner!"

She stands and Ember takes her hand even though she knows that she can just walk alongside her. Harry stops them after a few steps to give Mary his number written on a bright pink sticky note.

Mary's confused and he explains with a rather nervous smile on his lips, "My cell phone number. Like I said, whenever you want to talk or anything, just call."

Ember looks between the two of them, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She's young, but she knows enough and she certainly isn't blind. Ember doesn't say anything. She knows that her Mommy will be embarrassed and she likes to see her mommy smile.

Mary smiles as she takes the sticky note from his hand. She thinks he's far too sweet for his own good, but she doesn't mind it at all. Actually, she wants to stay longer just to experience that because his kindness has made the ache in her chest less prominent. But she doesn't because she knows that Ember's hungry and it's inappropriate.

"Thank you again, Mr. Styles. It really means a lot."

Harry shakes his head, his smile stretching his cheeks. "Please, call me Harry."

Mary blushes even though she's sure that being called Mr. Styles makes him feel old so he prefers to go by his first name. "Okay, Harry. Have a good night."

His smile softens and his gaze momentarily drops to the floor before returning to Mary's stormy gray eyes, "You too, Mary. You too."

Ember decides that she's been too quiet and smiles brightly as she waves at her teacher, "Goodbye Mr. Styles!"

Harry returns her smile and wave, "Goodbye Ember! I'll see you in class tomorrow!"

Mary smiles as Ember skips beside her and swings their hands back and forth. She has to walk a little faster to make sure Ember doesn't drag her down the street, but she doesn't mind. Her daughter is happy and that's all that matters.

Once they step outside, they're greeted with muted hues of red and orange. The sun has had enough for today and it's time for the moon to take her place in the sky. Mary has always adored the sunset, it paints the sky with the colors of her heart and reminds her that there is always something good in the world, even when it seems like there isn't.

Even though her heart is hurting, she feels at peace looking up at the fading colors and the dying rays of the sun, and that feeling coupled with the love she and her daughter share is enough to keep her going for another day.

Mary's so caught up in the colors of the sky that she hasn't paid much attention to what she's doing. Ember giggles as her mother nearly bumps into the car.

"Mommy!"

Mary laughs as she digs through her purse to find her keys, "That was silly of me, wasn't it?"

Ember nods and continues to giggle until Mary's helped her into her booster seat. Once Mary makes it into the driver's seat and gets the car started, Ember hears her stomach make weird sounds.

"Mommy, can we please get McDonalds? My tummy is making weird noises and I'm hungry."

Mary wants to say no because she's making spaghetti when they get home, but she feels terrible for leaving her at school for so long. She takes one look at Ember through the rearview mirror and she caves because she can't say no to that pout.

"Of course we can, sweetheart. What would you like?"

Ember smiles and straightens up in her seat, "Chicken nuggets, please!"

Mary stops in the drive-thru and gets Ember her chicken nuggets before she drives home. The drive is quiet save for the soft music on the radio and Ember's humming. Mary's phone goes off a few times and she tries to ignore it. It's only Alec telling her that he'll be home late or not at all.

Ember is finished eating by the time the car rolls to a stop in the driveway and Mary's desperately trying not to look at her phone. She knows that she'll be upset once she reads the messages and Ember doesn't deserve to see that or to be the one to comfort her.

She helps Ember out of the car and Ember grabs her hand as they walk inside, her empty McDonald's box swinging in her free hand.

Mary helps her with her homework and then it's bath time. Ember likes bath time because she can talk to her Mommy and the water feels nice on her skin. And she loves the bubbles that her mommy creates with the bubble bath soap.

Ember plays with the bubbles as Mary massages shampoo into her scalp. It's a lot easier to do this time because Ember has decided that she wants to take a bath with her. She hums to a song whose name she can't remember as she runs her fingers through Embers blonde hair.

Mary likes nights like these because Ember has this way of making her forget that anything is wrong. She likes to think that she named her Ember because she knew that she would always warm her heart from the day that she was born. Of course, she didn't know how true that was until recently, but her name definitely suits her.

She rinses Ember's hair and repeats the process with conditioner. Mary's just gotten the remainder of conditioner out of Ember's long hair when she asks a question that makes her wish that her sweet little girl wouldn't grow up so fast.

"Mommy?"

Mary smiles as she sets the cup that she used to rinse Ember's hair with back in its proper place, "Yes, Emmy?"

Ember makes this weirdly cute face and scrunches her nose as she points to her mother's chest, "What are those?"

Mary gives her a playful and questioning look as she points to her breasts, "These?"

Ember nods and looks at her curiously. She wants to know why she doesn't have them even though she's not quite sure what they're for.

Mary smiles at her daughter, "Well, grownups call these boobs. The boys really like them when you get them and they don't really do anything until you have a baby. I'll tell you about that when you're older. All girls get them when they grow up, and someday you'll have them too."

"Is that why you wear that...thing?"

Mary laughs as she nods, "Yes, that's why I wear a bra. It keeps them in place and everything hidden. I'll teach you how to wear those when you need them, I promise."

By the time they get out of the bath, Mary feels like she's taught her a whole lot more than she ever thought she could teach her.

She's tucking Ember in when the happy little bubble they've been trapped in for a few hours finally bursts.

"I miss daddy."

Mary frowns as she tucks a strand of hair behind Ember's ear, "I know sweetheart. I miss daddy too."

Ember pouts and it nearly brings her mother to tears, "Is he coming home tonight?"

Mary doesn't know what to say. She doesn't want to disappoint her by telling her yes and having her even more upset because Alec decided not to come home. And she doesn't want to tell her no because she's her mother and it pains her to have to tell her child that her father doesn't want to come home.

Mary rests her hand on Ember's cheek, "I don't know, sweetheart."

Ember can see the tears in her mother's eyes and sits up and wraps her arms around her the best that she can, "I love you, mommy."

Mary does her best to keep the tears at bay as she hugs her daughter, "I love you too, Emmy."

When she pulls away, Mary kisses Ember's forehead and smiles softly, "Goodnight sweetie."

Ember manages a small smile as she cuddles into her covers, "Goodnight, Mommy."

Mary shuts of the light and leaves the door open a crack as she leaves. She doesn't go very far before the tears fall on their own and it feels like she's suffocating. She leans against the wall next to Ember's room and sinks to the floor.

It shouldn't be like this. Ember shouldn't have to tell her that she misses her father because she shouldn't miss her father in the first place. He should be home every night and tucking her in with Mary and telling Ember that he loves her. At the very least, he should still respect Mary and be faithful to his vows. She knows that he doesn't love her anymore, at least not like he should, but he could at least make an effort to see his daughter.

Her tears are heavy and hot against her cheeks and she feels like someone has shot her in the chest. She knows that she needs to get away from her daughter's bedroom soon. The sobs will start soon and she doesn't know how to keep them from being so loud.

Mary pushes herself up with her hands and strains her knees to get herself on her feet. She quickly walks down the hall and into her bedroom, closing the door gently behind her.

Before she realizes what she's doing, she's got a pink square of paper in her hands and her cellphone in the other. Her fingers quickly type in the number and she's about to press call until she thinks better of it and locks her screen.

She doesn't want to bother him at this hour and she doesn't want him to hear her crying. She can't pour her sorrows onto another man, no matter how much she needs it and no matter how much she wants to.

Mary leaves the phone on the dresser and crawls into bed with her cheeks incredibly warm and her heart unbearably cold. She lays on her side, wraps the covers around herself, and closes her eyes in hopes that the pain will just go away and that sleep will come easily for once.

Her hopes are not met and she ends up awake and in tears for hours. The alarm clock next to the bed reads two-thirty when she finally stops crying and three-fifteen when Alec finally shows his face.

He climbs into bed beside her and all she can smell is liquor, and cheap perfume. Mary is disgusted and heartbroken all in one breath even though she's known about his mistress since the first night he met her.

Alec rolls on his side to face her and starts to wrap his arms around her, but Mary stops him just as his fingers are hovering over her skin.

"Don't touch me."

Alec sighs and retracts his arms as if she's burned him, "Mary..."

The way he says her name is meant to convince her that some part of him still cares and is hurt by her actions, and maybe he does and maybe it does hurt his feelings a little. Mary doesn't know what the truth is anymore because all he does is lie to her and break her heart.

Tears are pooling in her eyes again. She hates crying. She hates the heavy tears and the horrible feeling in her chest. She hates how she can't breathe and how her body trembles. She hates getting a runny nose and puffy eyes. But most of all, she hates the fact that it's Alec that makes her cry.

Mary closes her eyes and tries to force herself to breathe deeply so that, maybe, she won't cry again.

"Please, just don't touch me."

She wants him to touch her, craves it even, but she isn't going to be his second choice. She isn't going to pretend like everything's alright.

Alec's staring at her, she can feel it, but she's not going to let herself look because she knows that she'll give in to him the moment that she does. He's always had that effect on her and she can't stand it anymore.

Another sigh leaves his lips before he finally gives up and turns to face the wall. He doesn't say anything else and for that she's grateful, but she wishes that he would at least try to act like he's sorry and like he still cares for her.

Mary cries herself to sleep and wonders where everything went wrong. She thinks that maybe, if she can figure out what happened to drive Alec to a mistress, there might be a chance at saving their marriage. It's a slim chance, and she knows that, but she's always been an optimist and she's still clinging to a very, very small hope that he will change. And maybe, just maybe, he can learn to love her and Ember again.

Author's Note:

Please let me know your thoughts so far! This fanfic is so different than the ones that I've written before and I'd really love to know what you think!