Summary: After 7 years of marriage, Hayley, a successful artist, and Klaus, a wealthy businessman, are in the middle of a messy divorce and a bitter custody battle. As they fail to see their faults as parents and concentrate on making each other's life as miserable as possible, their 6-years-old daughter, Hope finds herself in a world she can't or shouldn't have to understand. How can she handle being torn between two homes and parents who hate each other and each other's new companions? The story was inspired by the movie "What Maisie Knew", one of the best movies I've ever seen. The whole story will be from Hope's pov, takes place in New York.

Rating: T, because of some strong language

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 1

When Daddy Moved Out

As long as Hope could remember, her parents had yelled at each other. Daddy wasn't home much, he traveled a lot because of his work, but when he was home he always shouted at mommy and she shouted back. Mommy said that she hated him and she hoped she would have never met him and daddy said that she was the biggest mistake of his life. They called each other names, or at least Hope thought so, she couldn't understand all the words they used, like slut, dick, fucking bitch and lecher. Sometimes when they were really angry, they threw things against the wall. When they started to yell, Hope usually went to her room and started to hum, pretending that she couldn't hear them.

She was safe in her room with all her toys. She had more toys than she could count; mommy and daddy bought her new ones all the time even if it wasn't her birthday or Christmas. They said that they bought her things because they wanted to show how much they loved her. She would have wanted them to love each other the same way, but they didn't. Hope was standing in the hallway, holding her favorite stuffed animal, a dog called Happy. Her parents were in the living room, they were shouting again.

"Fine, go!" mommy shouted. "I'm sure your whores are already waiting!"

"Oh, I'm going!" daddy shouted back. "And the only whore around here is you!"

"Look who's talking! I'm not the one who fucked Hope's nanny!"

"No, you're the one who fucked my friend!"

"Yes and unlike you, he knows how to satisfy me!"

"Fuck you!"

"Right back at you, asshole!"

Hope started to hum and tiptoed to her room. She climbed onto her bed and held Happy tighter, cradling him soothingly.

"Sweetheart?" daddy said before coming to her room. He wasn't shouting anymore, he never shouted at Hope. He was smiling when he walked to her bed and sat beside her. "What are you doing?"

"Taking care of Happy," Hope replied.

"That's nice," daddy said and touched her head. "Listen, sweetheart, daddy needs to talk to you about something very important. Mommy and daddy have decided that it's best if daddy doesn't live here anymore."

Hope kept cradling Happy and looked at her father. He tried to smile and touched her cheek.

"Daddy loves you more than anything, don't ever forget that."

"But…where will you live?"

"I'll have my own apartment and you'll have your own room there, bigger than this one. I'll find someone to decorate it, all you have to do is say what you want…"

"Does mommy have a room there too?"

"No, sweetheart, mommy will live here and you will spend time with her and me in turns. But it'll be fun, you'll have two homes."

Hope didn't want two homes, but she didn't say anything, she never did. She had learned that she had to be an easy child, she was afraid that her parents would start to yell at her like they yelled at each other if she wouldn't be. They always said how good girl she was, she never caused any trouble. She had hoped that if she would be really, really good, her parents would start to love each other like they said that they loved her. Daddy lifted her onto his lap and told her how nothing would change, she would still have both of her parents. He explained how this would be better for everyone, they would all be happier. Why hadn't they been happy together? Hope was sure that it had been her fault, she had done something wrong. Daddy kissed her cheek and promised to call her later. Then he was gone. Hope pressed Happy against her chest and went to look for mommy. She was in the living room, sitting on the floor. She was crying. Hope kneeled next to her and wrapped her little arms tightly around her.

"I'm sorry, sweetie," she sobbed. "Everything's going to be alright."

"Please don't cry, mommy," Hope said, her voice was very quiet.

"I won't, not ever again. These will be the last tears I'll shed for that… We'll be much better off without your father."

Hope didn't think so, but she didn't say anything. She curled up against her mother and let her cry until she had no tears left.