Just a little one shot I've been working on ever so slowly about Amity's terrible 9th birthday. Though I think there was probably a lot more at play that night and took it all over the place.
I also see Waaay to little about Willows fathers. They (from the little we've seen and from their amazing daughter) seem like amazing hard working men who deeply care for her. So I wanted to expand on both of these wonderful men a little bit and that lead to this little story.
Hope you enjoy. Little authors note at the bottom.
Please forgive any spelling or grammar mistakes. It's only a one shot.
And as always please leave reviews, and enjoy.
-Whisky
"Stu." He called into the low lit house after fidgeting with the door for a minute or two.
His work day had been a long one and he was home later than usual, so without the sunlight to guide the front door was a little hard to handle while tired and hungry as well. Annoying as it was he did manage to get it unstuck.
Stewart should have heard the commotion and come running by now. Though He hadn't.
"Stu..."
Willow was out of the house for the evening... There might still be some hope of a date tonight, he hoped at least. Even if he was tired after the long day he would ignore it just to have some time with him. After all, how often did they have the house to themselves these days?
In fact, he had been grinning like an idiot all day thinking about what they may do with the rare free time. It pushed back the dark clouds of agitation the long day spawned just thinking about it. A dozen ideas filled his mind but over all his husband was the only real necessity; he would be happy with anything or even nothing, so long as Stewart was there.
No reply came in the dark two story house, he ruffled his eyebrows. "Strange. Usually he meets me at the door?" He thought, moving deeper into the house. He hung up his coat and glanced into the kitchen towards the clock. Quarter to eight.
"Stewart!" He called again. When no reply came he knew for certain the house was empty. "Must be out doing something." He shrugged at his husbands absence, a little disappointed.
With the house to himself apparently, Hartwig glided into the kitchen to prepare something to eat. Maybe he wouldn't get a romantic night, but food was going to happen either way. Thinking about how he had skipped lunch made his gut ache, so he went straight to the ice box to give his stomach some much needed filling.
Rustling though the fridge he grabbed a half eaten sandwich from the day previous and one of the juice boxes he usually put in their daughters lunch. She surly wouldn't mind sharing with her dad, he hoped.
Willow...
Willow was just a sweet girl like that, hell sometimes he had to stop her from sharing everything she had with somebody else. Their Sweet little Bloom, he called her.
He made to move out of the kitchen and begin his humble meal when when he caught sight of the note on the counter.
[Gone to the store for ingredients, be home soon. Don't think I forgot about you, and don't eat before me! XOXOXO, it read.
Slowly, painfully he put the sandwich back down. Even with his uncomfortable hunger he couldn't help but smile at the note, how was he suppose to ignore that?
With the food back in the fridge it was simply a waiting game. He had time so he figured a shower couldn't hurt, even if Stu did always like the smell of the greenhouse he always trailed home. He chuckled a little as he stripped off the grimy cloths and tossed them aside, his husbands words about 'the smell of soil' seemed sweet now, but had annoyed him any time he actually said them in person.
The hot water did wonders for his aching legs, his hair finally being clean was a dream and he was hesitant to even get out after twenty minutes. At some point though he swore he had heard the front door open so, more then begrudgingly, he wrapped up his shower.
Now dried off and out of the bathroom he noticed the new, aromatic smell of Plew Gourd being fried. It filled the house wonderfully even in the steamy upstairs bathroom and he knew Stu was home; and it seemed his husband was cooking his favorite tonight.
He smiled even wider.
"How am I so lucky?" He wondered. He had earned it somehow he supposed, but didn't feel like it most days. It just seemed like a twist of fate.
Now a more pressing matter. How could he pay Stu back for the generous act?
There wasn't much he could do this late or today even, but dressing nice could certainly be a start.
Now in the bedroom and scanning over their shared closet he picked out some less worn slacks and a light blue tunic. Not fancy but it showed an effort. He hurried them on and made for the stairs before halting with one last thought.
Now back in the bathroom he opened a cologne bottle and dawned a little on his neck, just enough to smell. It was a sweeter, citrusy smell that Stewart had picked for him a few months back, and he only wore it on special occasions.
"Might not be soil, but I know it works." He grinned.
Yet, now that he was back in the bathroom and with the mirror less foggy, he absentmindedly inspected his beard. It was brown and bushy, almost too large now maybe.
"Married life," He sighed. "Its just too easy to be complacent with the looks." Chuckling a bit at that sad little fact.
Maybe he had been in need of a shave...
He gripped the flat edge and started cleaning up the cheeks and neck, clipped down the over all hair and brought down his sideburns as well. In the end, it simply looked like somebody had taken time to groom themselves.
It was cleaner and even he had to acknowledge it looked drastically better than his rough bush. He hadn't been clean shaven in years but maybe he'd try it again soon. Would Willow like it, or would she think it looked odd? Did his beard cover up his chubby face more, was he baby faced? Maybe this had been a bad idea.
"They'll love you any way. They love you, Hartwig." He told himself firmly. "They, love you... Stu loves you, and he'll love the trim." He smiled again, convincing himself of it even.
He had been smiling so much tonight that his cheeks were sore. He decided it was the best kind of pain to be in as he flew down the stairs to greet his Husband.
.
Downstairs a tight embrace took Stewart from behind, the smell of a perfume Willow had helped him pick for her father fought the meal he was preparing for supremacy over the kitchen. He reached back in an awkward sort of way to try and hold his husband as well as cook.
"Hey charmer. See you finally decided to shower." He teased, kissing his husband. He couldn't really cook and kiss like this, so he abandoned the effort a moment to fully embrace his other half.
"Mmmm. Maybe I just didn't want to help with dinner." Hartwig cooed with a grin. He pulled him closer in a bear hug that had become his stapel.
"Well maybe I wouldn't want you're help. Perfume is such a better smell than smoke and burned stew." Stewart teased with a sly grin. It got an eye roll from Hartwig, who shrugged the jab off with a sigh.
"It was one time, love. No that's a lie, definitely more. But that's why you cook and I... What DO I do?" He asked back, raising a hand to his chin.
Stu chuckled. Fishing for complements was sad on his husbands part. And what's sadder, it worked.
"Oh love, you do more than I could ever thank you for." He whispered.
They held each other a while, it had been months since they had a night all to themselves. Willow was their sunshine, their pride and joy, but it was nice to have time for each other too.
Something burning made Stewarts eyes shoot open. He wiped around and began stirring frantically to save the meal. Hartwig laughing the whole time like he had planned it.
Once it was all sorted and the cooking done Steward served it on dishes to the table Hartwig had set, working into his husbands routine. One grabbed glasses, the other wine, and finally they met at the table for a quiet meal. They laughed, teased, reminisced and recalled how this love had formed all those years ago. Nights like this were all they missed from before Willow. But she brought so much more love and joy into their lives though, it was hardly a trade off.
Though neither had remember a dessert it was still a lovely night, and with dinner winding down they spoke easier.
"Remember that day at the park?" Hartwig laughed, cleaning out the last of his bowl like he would die any moment.
"Mmmmhmm" Stewart replied.
"She kicked you over like a bucking giraffe, got you on your butt like you were made of paper" He giggled.
"Language!" Stu hissed in mock offense. "Don't you dare say the 'G' word, what would you do if Willow picked up such horrible language." He laughed.
"Mmm she's not here tonight. I can say what I want for once." Hartwig boomed. Standing triumphant he raised his arms like a champion. It was funny, but Stewart's laughs died off quickly. Replaced with something... something less warm.
"Do you think she's having a nice time?" Stu asked gazing into his glass, his smile dimming a tad.
"Yes, I'm sure. She's been excited all week, practically jumping." Hartwig laughed.
Stewart was so gentle and fulfilled with everything involving Willow. Not that Hartwig wasn't. It was simply different for his husband.
Maybe it was that Stu's father hadn't been there, making him want to be the worlds best dad in response. Or his mother being such a loving and warm woman, he just wanted to continue that cycle of love. It didn't matter though, because Stu was made complete when they had adopted their daughter.
"I know your right." Stewart responded halfheartedly. That might have have been all, but he looked unsure. "I just, I dropped her off tonight, on the staff I mean...- Amity is a sweet girl, but her parents worry me. I think they don't like Willow." He confessed. His worry was showing through now and it caught his notice. Clearly Stu had been thinking this a while.
"What makes you say that?" He asked more serious as well. He would take Stewart's worry's seriously every time now. The one time he hadn't he had nearly lost the love of his life, and he would never make such an arrogant mistake again.
"I don't know. They just had-" Stewart didn't know how to put it into words. "She had this- this look. It was bad Wiggy." He tried, but by the look Hartwig had the message was clearly not delivered.
"Ughh. I didn't like that woman's look. Mister Blight? He's fine, respectful but distant. He try's but fails, but that's enough. That woman though... Hartwig, there was something there, for the first time like, ever. I dropped her off and Odalia was... -Normally she doesn't have any emotion, its creepy, but tonight she had something. I don't know what but it WAS something, and it was focused on Willow." He explained again as best he could.
Hartwig had never met the Blights, his husband mostly handled taking Willow to school and friends houses. But he knew a few things from people around Bonesborough; suffice it to say the two men had been wary when their daughter first brought her new friend home.
Stu was right in one part though. Amity was a pleasant and respectful girl, and both men liked her immensely and encouraged Willow to peruse the friendship.
Not because she was rich. Because she was a good person.
Her parents though, well they remained weary.
And if Stu was worried now, well it was serious. When dealing with the Blights, his husband always described it as walking past a sleeping Slitherbeast. Like they were always on the verge of danger, and the choice was never theirs on when it would go south.
Hartwig nodded. "Okay. Any ideas?"
"I don-"
The door knob jiggling cut them off and instantly they were both up, frozen in the kitchen. They were both home, and Willow wasn't doing to be finished until half past 9. Hartwig spared a glance at clock, it was 8:40. Could the Blights have taken her home early? Surly they would have called to inform them if that was the case. Right?
They locked eyes, the air was so tense it could snap, and slowly Hartwig crept towards the door with Stewart in tow. No silhouette was viable though the doors stained glass, but slowly he reached for the household staff that leaned in the corner behind the door. Grasping the carven vine inlaid stick he felt a bit stronger, the power of their shared, though lesser quality staff was still considerable, and more than enough to go toe to toe with a common criminal.
But before they could do- well anything at all, the locks clicked open and in walked their daughter. Though clearly not okay. Her eyes were red and puffy, tears still visibly falling. Her hair was a mess. And she was dirty and tense, and her shoes were filthy.
The two men stood there shocked, now had she gotten home? And what had happened to leave her in such a state?
"Willow? Baby what happened?" Stewart asked incandescently. But before either could make a move she pushed by them and ran straight to her room.
The shared a brief, worried glance before making chase. The door slammed ahead of them while they rose up the stairs, and once at her threshold they could hear her sobbing inside. They jiggled the knob but it was locked.
"Willow!" Hartwig yelled, knocking harder than he probably should have. "Willow, love, what's going on!" His heart was racing, what the hell had happened to his daughter?
"Willow, unlock the door sweetie. We need to make sure you're okay!" Stewart added leaning below his husbands arm to speak through the seems of the door frame.
Worry was increasing to panic in both of them and in different ways. While Hartwig was bearing on the door, not trying to break it down but seeing if it would magically pop open from his force, Stewart was trying to talk to her, look inside or just to his husband to see what they should do.
Before either came up with a plan though, she opened the door.
.
He slowed the staff from the near racing speeds he was at moments ago once the pompously large manor came into sight through the trees. There was no way he would enter their airspace though, the spells he was sure were in place against unwanted guests would obliterate him, so he stopped at the front gates.
Approaching the dark iron gates he could see up the hill, the lights of the party, still lively as ever.
Evidently his daughters abuse hadn't ruined the mood.
Rage bubbled like a boiling cauldron inside him. He would level this place if he could.
In some of the dark space along the path between the gates and the Manor he spotted a servant going about his duties.
"You!" Hartwig barked. The man in question jumped in the yard, looking about frantically for the source of the order. The abruptness or the anger of his voice must have startled him badly.
Finally the servants eyes landed on him behind the gates and, slowly as a weary trout, the lanky man made his way to meet him. "May I inqur-" He began to ask, but was cut off almost immediately.
"Tell your masters to come out here, IMMEDIATELY!" He yelled, making the poor man jump yet again.
"Sir, they- well I'm sure you can see, well, they have guests at the moment. May I, uh, take a message?" The man stammered from behind the gates. He was wavering purposely out of arms reach like one would at a zoo.
Hartwig may have growled a bit. But there was a better way. So he straightened up to emphasis his size over the small, lanky jockey, smoothed over his windblown hair, took a breath, and spoke as calm as he could.
"I will tell you this, only once. This party is trivial to them, I know that. To me? To me it means nothing. Tell Odilia and Alador that I'd like a word before I blow this gate down and move on to their front door."
The man shrunk a bit, thought less then a moment, then moved to carry out the request.
Once he was gone Hartwig let out a breath, he didn't actually know if that would work, or what he would have done if he servant had any sort of backbone or brains.
Titan bellow there was no possible way their staff was strong enough to break the spells on these gates he knew that. And he knew a hollow threat could have been called at any moment. But it had worked and the message would be delivered. Yet now, in the darkness of the little stone court surrounded by trees outside the gates of Blight Manor, was the first time tonight that Hartwig began to wonder what he would actually say to the two aristocrats once they came to face him.
With nowhere to sit in the darkness outside the main gates he simply began to pace and think about that little snag in his plan.
Maybe this was poorly planned. What would he have done if nobody was there, stood in the dark all night? He hadn't thought this through in the slightest. And should this go poorly, worse come to worse, what would actually happen. He was sure the Blights wouldn't take kindly to being interrupted during a social event... Titan what was he doing there?
The click click of heels on stone brought him from his worries, fresh fire took there place and wiped clean his mind of any fear. Up the path he saw the witch herself coming down towards him. Her husband tall as he was, in tow.
She grew closer and so too did Hartwig to the gate, he now could see her eyes, nothing but pure contempt. He knew this dreadful bitch loved this, the confrontation. Stews words rung true in his husbands mind. He hadn't understood the 'look' he had described during dinner at the time, but he did know. And it left a sour taste even this far away.
"Hello Mister Park, may I help you? I'm afraid to say we are hosting at the moment, so my hospitality may be a bit lacking. But I can always spare a moment."
"What the hell did your daughter say to Willow?" He demanded, grabbing the bars of the gates before him.
Their eyes remained locked a moment, her smiling at him, and he glairing at her. She broke the duel first, casting a small spell circle and as she did her smile expanded past the false mask she normally adorned herself with, now becoming real with teeth and a horrible glee in her eyes.
It scared him.
The bars in his palms became glowing hot and he pulled away quickly. She smiled a bit a bit wider as he hissed in pain.
She had burned him. He grew more angry than before, but remained on the point. "What did you people say to Willow?" He demanded
Behind her stood Alador. He grimaced at his wife, the plant workers pain and the situation as a whole, but remained silent.
"Ah, so she did end up getting home, mmm. Well then." She trailed off slightly, giving him a moment to absorb before continuing. "Amity said what she should have at their first meeting. It is as simple as that. A mere course correction if you will. Now if that's all." She spoke through the gates, turning to leave.
"You knew she left. In the middle of the night... Alone?" He whispered to himself.
Though Alador may have heard by the way his ears twitched, Miss Blight showed no sign that she was still listening, simply continuing up the path with that Click Click following her. Not a care in the slightest towards his evident distress.
"You. Let her?" He spoke again, louder this time.
"We knew, yes." Alador stated, standing straight. His voice carried no glee, he owned up to it.
"You let my little girl walk this far home in the dark!" Hartwig roared, intent to get the woman to look back. This was not over.
"The girls got in an argument in Amity's room-" Alador began, but Hartwig yelled over him before the explanation even began.
"I don't even care about the girls relationship, HOW DARE YOU!" He roared. Alador fell silent. "I ENTRUSTED YOU WITH OUR DAUGHTERS SAFTY AND YOU- and you let her leave crying and vanish without a thought! All the money of Bonesborough combined and you're still no better than monsters!" Hartwig spat from his side of the gate. Burning or not he slammed his fists against the gate, it jolted with a massive noise but still Odilia did not look back.
"Turn around you Bitch!" He screamed, now red and seething. "TITAN DAMNED TURN AROUND!" He slammed the gates again.
And she did. Mr. Blight for his part looked mildly ashamed, angry as well, but his wife? No.
Miss Blight turned with controlled excitement and a tight smile. She seemed almost... pleased. Had she wanted him to loose his cool? The thought staggered him for a moment.
"You wish to trade insults, hmmm? Then allow me to explain tonight's events." She hissed back, reproaching swiftly. "Your daughter is a rube, like her father it seems. She is a talentless witch and, as so clearly shown by her father, has no one to teach her how to even Imitate a lady in the slightest sense. Though I should not be suppressed by that judging the nurture of her... parentage." The woman sneered back with all the venom of a snake, glancing the man up and down.
Hartwig was taken aback by this, the clear insult of he and his husbands marriage. How dare she! But before he could get another word out edgewise the woman continued.
"The other one, her other father Stewart could at least pretend to be in control, regardless of how untrue that was in any or, dare I say, EVERY situation. You on the other hand are as in control as a child, even of your own emotions. Your Willow has no place with my Amity, and the idea of her even being in the same school is a shame. She can hardly. Draw. A. Spell circle, let alone cast, and will surly drag everybody near her down as well. And yet, you yourself are a Sterile witch, if I'm not mistaken? Mm yes, a magicless witch, such a cruel fate. And yet curious. Perhaps even adopted children can inherit ineptitude." She actually laughed at the last bit.
The look Hartwig shared with Alador was nothing short of shock for both of them. He couldn't even think of any retort before she continued.
"Now as for the matter of her silly little flight. If the foolish little girl had been smart enough to even wait a moment before storming out like an animal I might have dispatched a servant to take her home. But she did not, rather choosing to brave the dark with nary a word to any adult present. Should anything have happened to her tonight it would be through no fault but your own for raising her to be so foolhardy. Now, what do you say to that? Any more curses or rude names?"
He only stood there, still trying to absorbs how much... Titan, how much hate she had.
"No? Well then, good evening, Mister Park." She finished coldly, seeming to have said her many, many pieces.
She turned, making her way back towards the mansion seeming pleased.
Even Mister Blight stood speechlessly on his driveway, waiting for some kind of reaction from Hartwig.
Yet all Hartwig could think was how overly confident should someone be, to turn a back to another person after saying such things to them, and about their child no less? How could she know he wouldn't use that staff to turn her to ash the moment she turned around.
All he could see was red, and with not much thought, he chose to act on the feelings of rage and hate that boiled inside him.
"How. Fucking. Dare you!" He screamed back, brandishing his staff and striking the gate with all the force of a bull. "You, you monstrous bitch! You HEARTLESS WHORE! How dare you speak about my husband, about MY child like that. Open this FUCKING GATE then well see how pompous your rich grin is you-" He was cut off by a sudden explosion from the previously silent Mister Blight.
"SILENCE!" The guarded man boomed, startling even his departing wife for a moment. "DO NOT FORGET WHOM YOU SPEAK TO." He growled firmly and with a finality Hartwig had never encountered.
He stepped back a bit. Maybe even shrank.
"You have spoken your piece and while I am ashamed of how things drew out tonight, more so even of the distant and utter rudeness my wife has shown you," He yelled, almost more towards Odilia. "I will not stand for slander on my property. I extend you my truest apology for losing track of your daughter but do not think, even for a moment, you may speak that way of my wife. Not even in private. Now leave our home with your record unchanged before you utter even one more foolish word. I will only extend this courtesy once in your life." He growled quickly, closing the gap and meeting him at the gate.
Mister Blight was quiet and well composed every time the two had seen him. To see his fury was a humbling experience. So while to say that Hartwig was by any means scared would be wrong, he was still taken aback enough to find the wisdom in the Lords words. The odds of his encounter being forgotten were slim, he could loose his job with even a cough from the Blights no matter how unimportant, and he had gone well beyond that. So while he would never forget this, he chose to leave before any damage was done that could not be un-done.
"Have a good evening, Alador. Tell your daughter she will NOT be seeing Willow again." He hissed, allowing the spell on the top of his staff to fade into the wind.
"And to you, Mister Park. Worry not, that was already arranged."
And with that mister Blight turned from the man at his gates and retreated home, surpassing his wife quickly and ignoring her entirely.
.
Hartwig growled, screamed and even broke a few tears before he left the gate of Blight Manor that night. His anger had no where to go. How could they treat of a child like that? How could they speak to another person like that?
How had Willow found a friend in somebody who had come from those kind of people?
He stopped a few yards beyond the gate.
Willow...
She had just experienced what was probably the worst night of her life and her father had left her alone in a rage. Shame cooled his heart like ice water. He left his baby girl alone to come here and scream at the rich monsters who had done this, but how did that help her? How was he helping at all by not being there to comfort her right now. Titan he was blind.
He was about to take off, start sprinting home yet a tiny hand caught his sleeve before he could.
He flinched in fear at what had crept up on him.
On his left was a young girl. She wore a little black dress, green socks and had puffy red eyes like she had cried gallons tonight.
But most distinguishing was a head of mint green hair that stood out even in the dark.
Amity Blight.
He turned to face the young girl, equal parts anger and confusion fighting him for the reins upon the sight of another Blight. But before he could so much as open his mouth she timidly presented a small box to him on her tippy toes.
For lack of a better option he took it in his larger hand, examining it in face of no other explanation. It was crudely wrapped and had a poorly done bowtie.
The tag said: To Amity, From Willow
"What..?" Was all he could mutter in question, but she was now too spent to keep it together any longer.
The girl burst into tears, seemingly out of strength to hold it back. She crumpled under her own weight to the ground gasping for air between sobs like she was drowning. He couldn't bring himself to comfort her, but his anger towards her was gone. Replaced by worry.
"I know me- we- aren't friends any more. But please- give this back to Willow." The little girl blathered over her tears.
This was Willows gift for her friends birthday. Stu must have helped her pick out at some point and she didn't wanna keep it after all that had happened.
She didn't want to take a gift from Willow after all that had happened...now that made him sad.
The parents were harsh, contempt with the pain Willow had felt and spared time to rub it in to her father. But this little girl, she didn't seem happy. She looked like she had just been through as bad a night as his daughter had. This clearly wasn't her idea, so what kind of person would do this not only to somebody else daughter, but their own as well.
Who would put two children through so much pain?
He was ashamed that he had almost yelled at this little girl who so obviously felt terrible. Who had no control of what had happened. Who's whole birthday party was ruined and had lost her best friend in the same night. Who had just see-
"Dear god. Did she watch the entire argument?"
The thought terrified him, had he been screaming in front of a child? Had the Blights? Did they know? Was that why they were so aggressive. Looking back it was like they were making an example, BEING examples. Had they made Amity watch how they treated him?
All these thoughts shook him. It made a disturbing amount of sense looking back, but why? What was the goal, who would want this?
Maybe he would never fully understand.
But for now, this little girl was a good person. Better than her parents by far. And he needed to be better than them too.
"Amity-" He kneeled down beside the crying girl. But what was he supposed to say? Stu had always handled Willows friends while he was at work, he had rarely seen this girl, he didn't know her.
"I... I can't say tonight was okay, it was wrong. But I don't think it was your fault." He explained lamely. It was all he could come up with, but he was sure it was true.
And the truth meant something.
She didn't respond but he didn't think she would, he just hoped it helped.
After a while she ran out of tears, his presence may have helped but he didn't do any more than kneel beside her. After it was clear neither would say any more he gently pulled her to her feet and guided the girl back to the gates of her manor. The Blights may leave children alone in the dark but he wouldn't.
The gates floated open for their masters child, though he dare not attempt to pass though with her. So with her on the other side safely he started to walk away from the nightmare of Blight Manor, but the young girl called him out.
"Tell Willow- I'm sorry." She Squeaked, getting upset again.
He stopped to think about a response. But the adult thing was to make this easier for the both of them. It was clearly out of the girls hands anyways. Might as well tear the band aid off.
They would never be friends again.
"I don't thinks that's a good idea, Amity. I think... It's best to forget you two were ever friends..."
Maybe it was cruel, maybe it was selfish, maybe it was wrong. But as the girl broke down yet again behind her family's gates and by his words now, he knew that it was for the best. The less those two saw of each other, the less painful it would be.
At least he hoped.
In the end, all a father can do it hope he's doing what is best.
.
The house was dark when Hartwig returned. He lumbered up the steps and to the door, his anxiety was on overtime now. What would Stu say about this? He had just heard Willows account and stormed out with no thought to his husband nor their daughter. He left to satisfy his anger and nothing more. He was selfish and he shouldn't be surprised if the house was locked and they left him outside for the night.
He jiggled the knob, it was unlocked...
Maybe that was worse.
Inside was dark and silent as it had been when he got home from work... Titan it felt like years ago.
He made his way up the stairs towards their room, the light was on. Dread pooled in his stomach as he reached the top of the stairs and entered he and his husbands shared room.
Now, it wasn't that Stewart Park was incapable of being mad, though it was rarely seen. His anger was something of an out of season storm, a surprise that could ruin a harvest, kill off the fruit tree blossoms or knock down a tree. Stewarts anger was rarely tested though. He spent most of his time at home, did a great many things with Willow who could never upset him even if she tried, and never got into conflict with strangers. So it was not that he couldn't get angry, it was that he rarely had an opportunity to do so.
In fact, the only person on earth who could upset him was his husband. And now, entering their bedroom, he could see that he had once again done just that.
Stu sat on the end of the bed arched over and exhausted, his brow furled and his lip curled. Beside him, in his spot and tucked in, rested Willow. She looked exhausted, her hair was a mess meaning she hadn't combed it like she usually did, and she wasn't even in her jammies.
"Enjoy yourself, Hartwig?" Stewart inquired. His voice was calm and collected like usual, but lacking the softness needed to be comforting. He also tensed at the use of his full name by his husband, that was never good.
He swallowed his pride and met his husbands eyes, intent to be honest.
"No." He simply said.
Stu wasn't taken aback, but allowed him to continue. Maybe that was good.
"I did not have a good time Stu... It was- well it was disturbing." Stewart gestured to the chair on his side of the bed, and Hartwig tiptoed over and took it solemnly. He would be walking on egg shells the whole night and he knew it, best to start now.
"What happened?"
"Well I went. I spoke to them. They knew what had happened, they knew Willow left upset. She insulted me, us, and her and told me that if anything happened to her it would be our fault because we're bad parents. And she told me Amity was too good for Willow." He explained.
Stu remained listening only. Beside him Willow rested peacefully.
"The woman was a monster Stu." He confessed. Looking back without his anger as a shield, some of the things she had said, they stung. "She's cruel for the sake of it. She relished tearing those girls apart, but I don't know why. The husband at least he apologized. He yelled at me, it was in his rights, and he even let me have my moment without retribution. But she just- I don't know... I understand what you meant about the look. She gave me it once I showed up. The idea of her looking at our daughter like that makes me ill."
Stu sighed. "Look Harty, you-" But Hartwig cut him off.
"I shouldn't have left, dear. I know that. In fact I've been thinking about it since I arrived at that damn place. I should have been here with you comforting our daughter," He reached over his other half to stroke the girls soot black locks, she did not stir a bit. Must have been exhausted. "I just got so mad Stewart... I got so mad about what they did to Willow I forgot it was ABOUT her, not me..."
Shame overtook him as he explained, he knew he was in the wrong. He couldn't even meet his husbands eyes as he spoke. Tears came as he gazed at his littler girl, how had somebody been able to look at her and think of anything malice?
"I'm glad you know that, but it's still not alright Hartwig. She needed us. BOTH of us."
"I know."
"Tomorrow you need to start trying to make it up to her. I honestly don't know how tomorrow will go... Amity was her only real friend, Harty..." Stu professed.
"She was a good girl. She's a lot better than her parents." He snorted. "The little thing even came out and apologized to me, gave me back the gift and asked me to tell Willow she's sorry..." He explained, raising the tiny gift into sight.
That was a somber memory. One he was unlikely to forget. He may hate her parents, but Amity Blight was a good girl. A good friend to his daughter. He would miss her.
"... I think its for the best that we don't tell her that." Stu said after a moment of quiet thought.
Honestly Hartwig was relieved. He thought the same as Stu but didn't know if it was the right call. But now that he knew Stu thought so, he was sure.
"I was thinking the same thing, Honey. But what makes you think so?"
He glanced to Willow asleep in her fathers bed, his heart hurt. "If we tell her Amity misses her, I don't know, but Willow will know it's just the Blights in the way. She'll see it as surmountable, she'll have hope that they could be friends again. But they wont let that happen and I don't see Amity disobeying them in the near future... It's best that Willow move on, I think."
"I came to the same end." He agreed.
Silence took the room as they both drifted to their own thoughts for a while.
"Maybe I could make Snaggle berry cakes tomorrow... They might make her happy." Hartwig half smiled. It was an attempt at least.
Stu gave an encouraging smile. "I think that's a good idea, Harty."
He nodded and took his leave, grabbing a few pillows and the quilt at the foot of their bed for the couch that night. Stu didn't stop him from his self imposed exile, every time he messed up he took the couch.
"Hey, hub?"
"Yes hon?"
"Happy anniversary." He whispered.
"Heh, I don't know that it was.. There's always next year for a happy one though..."
"There's going to be a lifetime of next years, hon."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
And so Steward drifted off in the chair beside his bed where their daughter lay, and his husband downstairs as he always was when they fought.
Tomorrow would be a new day though, and another would come after that. And one day Willow would move on from that terrible night. It would take time, and it would hurt, but it would happen. And her fathers would be with her every step of the way, always trying to make the best decisions they could.
Because that's what a good father does.
.
.
.
"You did a good thing tonight, Amity. The right thing. You did a good thing for our name. Always remind them that they are beneath the Blights and your rewards will come themselves." His wife praised from the doorway. Prim and proper as ever.
He himself was in disarray, even down to brown locks falling into his face. How? How could she be okay with ANYTHING that night?
His wife would chastise him later for loosing composure, maybe even find retribution. Who knew.
On her bed Amity looked terrible. Like she had been tortured or abused. The dead look in her eyes broke his heart. Those once shinning, inquisitive eyes were now guarded, they hid things and thoughts like the twins did. She would never trust them with the truth again. His wife's arrogance and vain need for control would blind her to that, but he knew what children did when there parents where like this, they hid, they lied and the grew as far away from them as they could, because the ground the apple fell to was salted.
He himself had such a home once. Titan knew his parents died never knowing their son truthfully. And now he would know the same fate.
"You'll receive a large breakfast tomorrow, and a play date with the Regal and the Cuddy girls. Sleep well daughter. And happy birthday." She finished, then drifted away. Not a thought about the tears on her daughters face.
Alador idled. Amity ignored him, but he stayed. And after a few moments he wandered into the room unsure, he felt like an invader but he came to her. And as he made to whip away a tear from his poor girls face, she flinched away.
And now he knew...
He had lost his last child tonight. And he would die a failure of a father.
He grimaced, maybe even wanted to cry, but he understood.
Before he left, he withdrew a small box. Nothing elaborate like the other gifts of the night she had fake smiled at, but a simple little case. That was his style, love not cost.
"Happy Birthday, my dear little Rabbit." He smiled at the childhood nickname, it was warm on his lips. Titan she loved that Rabbit book.
He placed it on her bed beside her and left.
Tomorrow would be a new day though, and another would come after that. And one day Amity would move on from that terrible night. It would take time, and it would hurt, but it would happen. And her father would regret it for the rest of his life, because had no choice.
And he had lost the love of his last child.
Glad ya made it to the bottom. Hope you enjoyed.
I came up with my own Alador, which in turn led to Odilia... anyways there are only a few ways you can look at them, so I picked my head canon and went with it. I really hope he's a good guy or at least redeemable.
I did my best to be respectful of the G in LGBTQ but had to make Odalia a little hateful, so I'm very sorry and wanna say I personally hold no malice. I hope I represented well and did not offend anybody.
Anyhoo here that is. I have two more installments planned if people like this one and I'm currently working on a whole OH storyline of my own that I hope will be enjoyed by everybody on this amazing Fanbase. I literally can't wait for season 2.
Drop a like. Hope to see you again.
-Whisky