Handle With Care
By Mary
Rating: K
Pairing: Betty/Henry
A/N: A big Thanks to the ladies at the chat for the ideas for this story and to Ginger, who gave me the name for Henry's son.
Summary: What if? What if Charlie's baby IS Henry's? What happens when circumstances bring Henry and his son to New York 6 years later? Find out here!
Flashbacks are in italics
Parting is all we know of heaven and all we need of hell. –Emily Dickinson
Chapter One
Henry Grubstick glanced out the window of the airplane as the city of Tucson disappeared from sight. He thought about the plane ride that had brought him back home six years ago. His passenger then had been infinitely more unwelcome than the one that now sat next to him. Henry turned his head and looked fondly at his son.
Aiden Grubstick sat next to his father, his face a mask of concentration. Henry studied his son as he read "Dragon of the Red Dawn". Aiden loved the Magic Tree House Series and Henry encouraged him constantly. He would be starting kindergarten in New York and he could already read well above his age level. Henry ruffled Aiden's hair as his soon peered at him over his glasses.
"How's the book so far?" Henry asked.
"Good daddy." Aiden said, smiling. He pushed his glasses up on his nose as he looked at his father. "Merlin won't talk to anyone, so Morgan, Jack, and Annie are going to Edo. Did you know that Tokyo used to be called Edo?" Aiden asked.
"Really." Henry smiled. Aiden smiled back at his father.
"It's just something I know." Aiden said as he opened his book and began reading again. Henry smiled down at the dark head bent over the book. Henry's smile faded as he looked out the window again, wishing. Wishing that Charlie had tried to be a better mother, wishing that things had turned out differently for Aiden but most of all, he wished for Betty. Not a day had gone by in 6 years that he didn't think about her, usually right along with Aiden. He still loved her as much as he had that day on the bridge when he'd tried to say goodbye. Henry sighed, remembering his reasons for leaving Tucson and the mess Charlie had left for him to clean up.
Henry had been working almost ninety hours a week at a local accounting firm. He went from early morning until early evening, trying to keep himself busy. Charlie hadn't bounced back from Aiden's birth three months before, and spent most of her time watching television or half-heartedly working on her jewelry. She virtually ignored Aiden, so Henry had gotten their neighbor lady, Mrs. Thomas to check up on Charlie and Aiden while he was at work.
Charlie had grown sullen since Aiden's birth, constantly hinting and nagging Henry to get married. Henry had refused to consider the possibility, even as his moral conscience guilted him for not giving in to her. He would not have Aiden pulled into a tug of war between two parents whose marriage would be doomed from the start. Charlie grew resentful of Mrs. Thomas coming to check on them, watching the older lady jealously as Aiden began smiling at her, quieting whenever she was around, crying when he was left alone with Charlie.
The final straw for Henry had been the frantic phone call he'd gotten at work. Mrs. Thomas had called from his house after getting the landlord to let her in, Aiden screaming in the background. Henry had rushed home to find his landlord standing in his doorway and Mrs. Thomas trying to calm Aiden. Henry took his son gently from Mrs. Thomas as she and the landlord headed for the front door.
Mrs. Thomas turned to Henry as she turned towards her apartment.
"Henry honey, you need anything, you call me all right?" Mrs. Thomas said, patting Aiden's back. Henry's landlord also promised to check and see if he needed anything. As the door closed behind them, Henry looked at Aiden. His face was red and sweaty, but his sobs had quieted to small hiccupy cries. Henry looked around the apartment, but Charlie was nowhere to be found. Henry warmed a bottle and sat down on the couch. As Aiden hungrily drank the bottle, Henry spied an envelope propped up on the coffee table with his name on it. Henry ignored it for the moment as Aiden finished his bottle. He gently placed the baby on his shoulders and patted his back. After being rewarded with several small burps, he carried Aiden to his crib. Henry changed his diaper and onesie then tucked the sleeping baby into his bed. He walked back to the couch, eyeing the envelope as he sat down. Henry opened the envelope and drew out the sheet of paper with Charlie's loopy scrawl on it.
Henry,
I'm tired…tired of you and that miserable baby. It's obvious to me now that neither one of you will ever love me the way I deserve to be loved, so I'm leaving you. I never want to see either of you again. I don't care anymore what happens to either one of you. Don't try to find me……you never will.
Charlie
Henry reread the letter, not believing the callous things she'd said. After replacing the letter in the envelope, Henry called his mother. He told her what had been happening with Charlie and what she'd finally did and Henry's mother was shocked. She suggested to Henry to get in touch with a lawyer and secure Aiden's custody as soon as possible. Three months later, Henry had been awarded full and sole custody. His lawyer had submitted her letter to the judge and though the courts tried to find her, Charlie hadn't shown up for court. Henry dismissed her from his mind once and for all as Mrs. Thomas handed Aiden to Henry outside the courtroom after the judge had granted him custody. Henry held his son tightly to him, inhaling the fresh baby scent of him as he closed one chapter of his life for good.
Henry was pulled from his musings by his son's hand tugging on his sweater.
"Daddy, the pilot said we're almost to New York." Aiden said excitedly. "You gotta put on your seat belt."
"Ok, Aiden." Henry laughed as he fastened his seat belt, and then turned to help Aiden. As Henry relaxed back into his seat as the plane, Aiden turned to him with a worried frown.
"Daddy, do you think I'll make any friends in New York?" Aiden asked. Henry bent his head down to his son's until their glasses were nearly touching. He smiled warmly at Aiden.
"I don't think you have anything to worry about Aiden. I think everyone's going to love you, just like I do." Henry said, pinching his nose. Aiden giggled.
"I love you too Daddy." Aiden said as he pushed his glasses up on his nose. He settled back into his seat as Henry stared straight ahead. Henry prayed that everyone would love Aiden, although it was hard not to. With his infectious grin and open, caring nature, he was a naturally charming little boy. The only trait of Charlie's that he'd noticed was her carefree, sometimes wild spirit. Aiden was fearless, never meeting a stranger and talking to anyone who would give him any attention. Especially women. Women of all ages would stop and talk to Aiden when he caught their attention. Henry recognized the lack of a motherly figure in his son's life, but for now Henry would have to do. Only one woman could fit into Henry and Aiden's life, and Henry hadn't seen her in six years. Henry reached over and squeezed Aiden's hand as they felt the plane's wheels touch the runway.
Henry hoped that SHE especially would love Aiden. And maybe she would still love him too.
TBC………………
