Harry

Almost three weeks after Oliver was born I was able to take him home. The nurse explained that he would have to be put on medication to ease the pain. Apparently, there was more than a few drugs in his system that were hurting him. He was on a bunch of things to ease him out of the drugs slowly.

I had made friends with the other mum's in the NICU and spent my time singing and reading to Oliver along with working from my computer.

My phone buzzed at bedtime and I quickly answered. "Hello princess."

"Hi baby, how is he?" Marlene's voice filled my heart with joy.

"He's good, sleeping, the doctor ran tests and they said that if he can handle being in his car seat and everything, we can go home." Marlene had picked up the slack for me at work. Mr. Edmunds was confused about the baby but understood once I explained. I was on paternity leave.

I had been staying in California with my son and it was getting more and more depressing. "This is the worst of it." They kept saying to me.

"I miss you, and I can't wait to see him, I fixed the room and your sister sent some stuff so I had to move your bed to the other wall." She explained. I needed to find a new place for us.

"By yourself?"

"No, I had the movers who brought the crib to do it." Crib? "Oh I found a crib at the thrift store, I painted it light blue with little stars on it." I smiled.

"That's so sweet, well I have to go because I can tell Oliver is getting cranky." I looked over and he began twitching. I learned that the only way for him to calm down was to be held skin to skin in a dark room. They had put his medication all the way down to almost none gradually and now my little man was on his own.

"Okay, get some sleep Harry and call me when you're on your way. I will be on the phone with you the whole way if I have to." She warned me. "Don't want you falling asleep."

"Okay, I love you."

"I love you more." We hung up and I quickly pulled off my shirt and grabbed a pillow, blanket, and my baby to lay on my chest. He cried for a second until I rocked him slowly and hummed.

"It's okay, daddy's here." I was the only one here. Emily was nowhere to be seen and according to her mum she 'knew where she was, but is in no shape to see the child.' Then proceeded to dump money into my account. I had already contacted a lawyer who basically said if he's mine and Emily left without signing the birth certificate, she can't take him from me. Her leaving was basically her signing off her rights.

*

When I did make it home I was exhausted from the drive. I had to stop every two hours for feeding and change. I bought a new car seat and a stroller with the money Emily's parents gave to me and also formula.

Coming into my apartment was overwhelming. There are balloons and flowers from so many people. The place was clean and smelled like baked goods. "Love?" I called out. Suddenly Marlene appeared from the room and squeaked.

"Oh sorry." She covered her mouth. I set him down and she ran up to hug me. "I." Kiss. "Missed." Kiss. "You." Kiss "so." Kiss "much."

"I missed you more, there's someone I want you to meet." We kneeled on the floor and I slowly pulled up the blanket revealing Oliver's little face. He was awake, his grey eyes on display. "Oliver, this is my girlfriend Marlene. Marlene, this is Oliver." She sniffled.

"He looks like a grandpa." We both giggled. "He's so cute and bald." She lifted his hat up a little to see. She had seen him over photos only.

"You want to hold him?" She nodded sitting down on the couch as I pulled him out. She held him and pouted.

"You are so perfect, he smirked, Harry he's like you." I chuckled yawning at the same time. "You want to sleep a little, I'll watch him if he cries." She offered.

"I don't know baby he has tremors and his poops are bad. He cries a lot too and it's a bit overwhelming." She gently rubbed his back. "Twenty minutes, I just need twenty minutes."

*

I woke up a little while later, or so I thought. I stood up and stretched my arms over my head looking outside to see that the sun was rising. I walked into the living room and Marlene was fixing her hair up while Oliver slept in his bassinet. "What time is it?"

"Seven in the morning, he just ate. I have to get to work." My eyes widened.

"Marlene, you can't- he's my responsibility you can't let me sleep." She stood up and walked over to me.

"Harry, my love, you've been up with him for three weeks straight. It wouldn't have killed you if you slept a few hours."

"Twelve hours, did you sleep?" She nodded.

"Yes I did, give me a kiss I have to go. Oh, and your mom called, she said she'll be here on Friday with your sister." She kissed me. "I love you."

"I love you, princess, thank you." She hugged me and waved to the baby before leaving. I was blessed to have her in my life.

I sat down and Oliver kept twitching like he did at the hospital. He usually did that right before he was about to cry so I picked him up. "I know I miss Marlene too, but she'll be back and make this apartment feel like a home again."

He just moved his arms and began shaking again, letting out a loud cry. I sniffled holding him against my chest. "I know baby, I'm so sorry that your mum did this." I rocked him but he cried harder.

Hours passed by when he finally fell asleep and I got a knock at my door. Holding Oliver I walked over and opened it revealing a woman I recognized as my upstairs neighbor. We had crossed paths once or twice getting our mail. "Hi, I live above you." She said awkwardly.

"Oh yes, hi I'm Harry and this is my son Oliver." She smiled.

"Listen I don't want to be that person but the baby was crying for hours and I worked all night so if you could do something about it?"

Frustrated and annoyed I snapped."No lady it's a baby, a baby that my ex got hooked on drugs before he's old enough to fend for himself and left him at a hospital by himself. He's going through withdrawal from heroin and god knows how many pain killers, he's a baby and he cries. I don't come up to your door knocking whenever you're having ridiculously loud sex or your stupid parties until four am do I?" She gulped shaking her head.

"No?"

"Okay great, so get some fucking earplugs and fuck off." I closed the door and heard a small giggle. As I looked down Oliver had cracked a smile. "You thought that was funny Ollie?"

He just gave me a crooked smile.

*

Marlene

I cried in my car when I left for work. I mean I cried like a baby. In the Twelve hours that Harry was asleep, I saw that poor baby living an actual nightmare. I tried to stay strong but the second I was alone I broke down.

I came into the office and got to work when Liam walked in. I was sitting at Harry's desk and he whistled. "Queen bee on her throne." I giggled but he looked at me closer. "Are you crying?" I shook my head.

"I was, can't tell you why?" Harry told me not to tell anyone about Oliver's issues.

"Is it about the baby?" The whole office, on the other hand, knew about him. "Did Harry break up with you?"

"No we're fine, it's just stressful taking on his job." He nodded.

"Well I can help you, but you have to do me a favor?" I raised an eyebrow. "You see I promised I'd bring something to the breakfast meeting tomorrow and-"

"Say no more, it's done, I'll send you the files." He smiled at me walking back out of the room. Well, that takes care of one thing. I began sending the files when I heard another knock. "Yes?"

I looked up and Suzie stood there. "Marlene the man from the other day is here, Shane. Should I just call security?" I huffed standing.

"No, I'll handle this." I walked out and towards the lobby where he stood by the elevators. He looked upset and a bit worried. "Shane what the hell are you doing here, you need to get it through your big head that I'm not-"

"Marlene! Will you calm down I came here to talk about something unrelated to that." I raised an eyebrow. "I'm worried about your mom, she hasn't been coming to church and I went over and she didn't come down." I don't know what was weirder the fact that my mom wasn't going to church or that Shane was comfortable around my mom just to show up and hang out.

"Well, what do you want me to do, go and kiss ass?" He looked at me and shook his head. "You know why she's being like this because she's an overdramatic narcissist. She told one person that I'm with a man who had a child out of wedlock and I'm sleeping with him and they told the whole church so now everyone is talking about me like I'm some harlot, and it's taking away from her."

"Will you listen to yourself that's your mother."

"And I'm her daughter, who she called a whore." I turned and walked up to Suzie. "Call security." She nodded.

*

Friday afternoon Harry's mom and sister were coming to visit and Harry needed help getting ready, of course, he'd never ask for it.

We stood in the bathroom as the warm water filled the little baby tub. "I'm nervous, they did this at the hospital for me." I rubbed his back.

"Oliver will love it, and he'll love that his daddy is doing it." He nodded carefully undressing him. "I'll go check dinner and then set out his outfit okay?" He thanked me.

As I stirred the pasta and shut the heat off I heard crying. I walked into Harry's bedroom and heard him talking to the baby. "Oh it's okay Ollie, daddy's here." He cooed but the baby screamed. Then he began singing. "Blackbird singing in the dead of night take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise. Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these sunken eyes and learn to see, all your life, you were only waiting for this moment to be free."

I walked into the bathroom and he smiled gently as he cleaned under Ollie's neck. "See he loves it." Harry smiled finishing his bath. He picked him up and wrapped him in a towel, walking towards the bedroom.

As he rubbed lotion on him one of Oliver's tremors happened in his leg. "I know buddy just give it a second." My eyes began to water so I stood up and walked back to the kitchen. I was so angry at Emily that if I ever saw that woman again I'd slap her.

The doorbell rang and I immediately took a deep breath walking over to Harry's door to reveal his mom and his sister. "Oh sorry, I think we got the wrong door?" His sister said.

"No Gemma this is Harry's girlfriend Marlene." Anne smiled.

"Hi come in Harry's getting Oliver dressed." I moved aside and helped with their bags. "I'm Marlene nice to meet you." I stuck my hand out to Gemma who looked at me and pulled me in for a hug.

"Oh thank you for getting him away from that woman." My eyes widened. Did she know about the abuse?

Harry's mom was in tears as she held the baby. "He looks like Harry as a baby." She told me.

I served dinner and sat down. "So how was the flight?" Harry began the small talk. Anne ate while holding Oliver, but I couldn't help notice his body would twitch every now and then. I hadn't realized everyone was almost done and I hadn't even taken a bite. I began eating and listened to their conversation. "Addison called and said she'd like to meet the baby, I told her that when Emily's clean she may, but she can forget about taking him."

"Well, she has a right to her child," Anne said making Harry shake his head. "He'll want to know her one day."

"Not as long as I can help it."

*

Harry

Marlene sat on the bed and gently played with Oliver's fingers. "I have to go okay." He smiled at her soothing voice. "I'll see you soon okay cutie." She kissed his forehead and set him in his bassinet.

"Why don't you stay?" I asked.

She shook her head looking around awkwardly. "No you should be with your family and stuff, I have to go home and feed my cat." I nodded walking her out past my mum and sister who sat on the couch. "It was nice to see you two." She waved before heading towards the door.

"Mum can you look out for Oliver I'm going to walk Marlene to her car." She nodded and I quickly followed Marlene out to the hallway. She didn't say anything as we waited for the elevator. "You okay?" She nodded pushing her hair to the side. We got in the elevator and began riding down in silence. "Huh we met in an elevator, I feel like all good stories start in one." She hummed. "Did I do something?"

"No baby I'm just tired, I don't want to worry you about that when you have your own things going on." I immediately put my arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

"Don't ever think that I don't want to listen to your stories princess. Yes, I have a lot going on too, but I promise I'll always find time for my girl." The doors opened letting us step out.

She began telling me about work and how much stress she was under. "My uncle said that he's hiring a bunch of interns to do bullshit work." I chuckled noticing we reached her car. "Here we are." I hummed leaning against the car. "I miss you."

"I'm right here."

"I mean sex, I miss having sex." I leaned forward and brought my hand to the back of her neck pulling her closer for a kiss. "Don't tease me," she said before I captured her bottom lip between mine. It was a very slow and passionate kiss.

"Wednesday I'll ask my mum to watch Oliver and we can go out to dinner and have some wine at your house, maybe dessert?" She looked at her hands and nodded. "Look at me, I love you."

"I love you." She kissed me getting in her car and driving off.

I had to learn how to do this on my own, and as hard as it was going to be I had to learn.

*

Of course, things don't go out as planned. My sister had an emergency at work and had to fly earlier so she left, and because my mum hates flying alone she went with her. So as Wednesday rolled around I was left without anyone to watch the baby.

I had Ollie in my arms as I got some work done from my new laptop and waited for Marlene to get out of work so I can tell her that we might have to cancel.

Oliver had been doing better and eating more these past few days. He's sleeping more at night as well. I've begun looking for daycares in the area and doing extensive backgrounds in each place.

I had to have the best for my son.

My phone rang and I quickly answered. "Princess?"

"Daddy?" I smirked. "What are you doing?"

"Just finishing up the reports for this week so you won't be to overwhelmed on Friday."

"Oh that's sweet, so where are we going tonight?" I sighed. "No dinner?" She was pouting I could just tell.

"My mum went home with my sister and we're on our own. I'm sorry."

"I'll call you back in a bit." She hung up and I immediately knew she was upset.

I looked at Oliver and sighed. "Just you and me tonight Ollie, how about we try some tummy time, hmm?" He just stared at me, drooling. "Same kid."

About an hour later my front door opened and I smiled because the only person with a key was Marlene. I stood up and walked over to find her coming in with bags of groceries. "Okay, I'm here." She smiled at me.

"I thought you were mad at me?" She scoffed.

"No, why would I be mad at the person who's going to make me dinner?" I raised an eyebrow as she set the bags down and walked over to me to take the baby from my arms. "Hi cutie, hi." She cooed going over to sit on the couch with him. "Were you doing tummy time?" He smiled.

"Wait so I have to make dinner?" I said confused.

"Yes, and I'll give you dessert." She winked at me.

Well if she says so.

*

Somehow we ended up sitting on the floor of my living room watching a movie and eating while Oliver laid in his swing a few feet away. We finished and Marlene cuddled into my side. "I need to move, I can't raise him in this small apartment, he'll need a place to run around and play. Somewhere he can laugh and cry without my stupid upstairs neighbor complaining." I told her. "I think we can live in the suburban area, nice little house and he can have his own room with toys."

"That's sweet baby, get a dog for him?" I nodded looking at her.

"Would Polly get along with a dog if you moved in?" She tilted her head.

"Are you asking me to move in with you, in a house?" She smiled but her tone was a little questionable.

"Well I would have to wait for the lease to be up in January, then I'd have to look for a house, probably rent one, a lot cheaper." I shrugged. "But yeah would you live with me and Ollie?"

"Yeah I would, but under one condition?" She raised a finger. "Sunday's we have waffles." She raised a pinky. "Promise."

"Promise."

*

Thank you for reading. Xx

-k