Hello all, I decided to take a swing at another chapter. Hope you like it!
"I will NOT!" a little voice yelled out, jolting Henry Higgins from his work. "Oh yes you will young man!" A female voice yelled back. Henry sat back in his chair laughing, wondering what kind of trouble his son was causing now. James David Higgins was the spitting image of his father, both in looks and personality. Henry had taken it upon himself to begin educating the boy from the time he was a newborn, reading him Keats and Shakespeare before he was old enough to talk. Now, at age six, Henry had virtually turned his son into his own personal mini-me, something that both amused and horrified his wife to no end.
Henry barely had time to blink before the little boy came stumbling into his office and running into his arms. "Don't let her make me daddy, I don't want to!" The little boy whined, prompting Henry's amused smirk to grow even wider. "Now then James, what is it exactly that you're mother wants you to do?" Henry asked. James took a step back from his father, and Henry kneeled down in order to look him in the eye. The little tyke was wearing a button up shirt (that wasn't buttoned) and a checkered sweater (that was inside out). Henry raised an eyebrow at his son's disheveled appearance, giving him a quizzical look. "I say lad, you're a downright mess! Now, what is it exactly your mother has you all dressed up for?" Henry asked his son, who was fixing him with a gaze that could have been seen on a kicked puppy.
Before the boy had time to answer, a very irate and red faced Eliza Higgins appeared at the door, fixing the young child with a dagger like glare, one that was generally reserved for her husband. "James David Higgins... You stop running to your father every time you don't want to do something!" Eliza exclaimed, turning the glare onto her husband when he started to laugh. "And you! You don't turn into a puddle of mush every time that boy runs in here with that puppy look on his face! God knows I have enough trouble dealing with one Higgins, two is absolute murder!" She huffed, crossing her arms and looking quite exasperated.
Henry tried to look apologetic and then fixed a stern gaze on his son. "Now James... What does your mother want you to do?" He asked. James let an indignant look cross his face before looking at his father with those puppy dog eyes. "She wants me to sing in the church choir... Daddy, Higgins's don't sing, especially in public!" James exclaimed, turning back towards his mother with a look of defiance. Henry turned toward Eliza, his eyebrows raised. "You want OUR son to sing in the church choir?" He squeaked out, looking almost as indignant as his son. Eliza shot him a look of death. "Yes... I want him to sing. He has a lovely voice, and bloody 'ell 'Iggins, you oughta take my side you should!" Eliza shrieked. Henry winced, well aware that when his wife slipped into her cockney accent, he was in deep trouble. "Not in front of the boy," he chastised, motioning towards his son. "Mommy swore... And she's talking funny again," James added, causing his mother to turn a darker shade of red.
Henry knew he had to quickly intervene, realizing his wife' s infamous temper was about to rear its' head. Bending down to face his son, Henry put a hand on his shoulder and gave his boy a pleading look. "Now James, I know you don't want to sing, trust me, I understand. But could you please do this one time, for both your mother AND me? You do have a nice voice, and even though this isn't something us Higgins men do, sometimes we have to make sacrifices," Henry finished, hoping the boy would understand his not so subtle message. "EXCUSE me?" He heard his wife squawk. Shoulders hunching, Henry bent down, whispering so only James could hear. "Please son, for me. For the sake of my sanity and health just sing this one time..." He begged. With serious eyes James nodded, understanding that his father needed his help. "Alright Daddy, for you," James sighed.
Henry gave him a satisfied smile ad patted him on the back. "Good lad, now finish getting dressed," Henry commanded, sending his son out towards the door. When the boy got to his mother, he tried one last plea to get out of the task at hand. "Mommy... If daddy doesn't sing, why do I have to?" The boy asked, much to Henry's amusement. Rather than let his wife answer the question, Henry jumped in. "Well son, because I'm an adult, so I don't have to. Also, just because I do not sing, does not mean you can't," Henry added. Hearing his wife snort, he shot her a warning glance. James looked between his two parents, obviously confused. Before Henry knew what was happening, his wife turned to her son, a wicked smile on her face."Don't let daddy fool you. He actually sings quite a bit...IN PUBLIC!" She crowed, smirking at her husband's squeak in protest. "He does?" James asked, eyes wide. Eliza nodded, noting Henry's growing panic. "Oh yes, as a matter a fact, the first time I met him was when he was singing," she added. "Eliza..." Henry pleaded, not liking where this conversation was headed.
"What did he sing mommy?" Asked James, very interested in this newfound information about his father. Eliza almost told him, but faltered when she saw Henry's pained expression. They had never really told their son the story of how they met and fell in love, and although Eliza was certainly enjoying torturing her husband, she never wanted to tarnish the image of the man that James knew. The old Henry Higgins, the one that had sung that horribly insulting song that day when she was selling flowers... He had been gone for years. "I don't remember sweetheart," she answered, smiling at the man behind her. Henry visibly relaxed, his eyes sending her a silent thank you and a, "We have things to discuss later" look. Eliza nodded and turned back to her son. "He also sang with me and Uncle Pickering back when we first started to get to know each other, and again when he and I had... A little argument," she finished, not wanting to explain that whole ordeal to her son. James turned on his father accusatorially. "Is this true Daddy? You do sing?" He asked.
Henry shifted uncomfortably. "Well I... I mean... That is to say I... Yes," Henry sighed, realizing there was no use in denying it. James's eyes filled with tears. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" Eliza asked, perplexed. "I don't want to sing! Even though daddy sings, he's ashamed to. He didn't want to admit it to me, and when he did, he was ashamed. If I sing, he'll be ashamed of me too!" James sobbed, crying into his mother's dress. Horrified, Henry crossed over to his son, taking the boy in his arms. "No James! I would never be ashamed of you! Not for anything, least of all singing. The reason I don't admit I sing is because...well... Singing is full of emotion, an expression of feelings. I've never really been good at that, I've always been afraid to show how I truly feel. Meeting your mother... It changed all that. James, singing is the most wonderful thing you can do. You have such a big heart, and are ready to share it with everyone. Expressing that love and joy through song is a gift, one that no one should ever be ashamed of. The reason I was so uncomfortable was that... Those times I sang that your mother mentioned, I was singing for the wrong reasons. But now that I have her, and I have you, I can sing for the right reasons again. Do you understand?" Henry asked softly, a smile splitting his face when his son looked at him, wiping the tears off of his face.
"Yes daddy, I do. So it's okay to sing?" James asked. Henry nodded, kissing his son on the forehead. "Of course it is my boy, and I'm sorry that I upset you. Singing is always okay around this house... As long as it isn't early in the morning," he added quickly, prompting a laugh from his son. As James disappeared up the stairs to finish getting ready, Henry stood up to find his wife in tears as well. "What's..." Was all Henry managed to get out, before his wife grabbed him by his tie and kissed him senseless. "That was the sweetest thing I have ever heard. God I love you Henry Higgins!" She gasped out once the broke apart. Henry smiled and wrapped his arms around his wife. "Eliza..." He started, worry in his voice, but she placed a finger to his lips. "I know Henry. You have nothing to apologize for, it happened years ago. That Higgins is gone, if your little speech was any indication," she affirmed. Henry kissed her again, marveling at how he landed this amazing woman as his wife. "I love you," he whispered, not wanting her to forget. "And I you," she answered. "Now, let's go get your son ready," she demanded, prompting a silly salute from her husband. "Yes madam!" He joked, and promptly offered his arm to his wife. The two made their way up the stairs towards their child, realizing that life could not be better.
Well there it is. Thanks for the request, please review!