Voices Within.
In the late hours of the night, Charity crept into Daniel's room taking the sleeping child into her arms while quietly walking him out to the car.She didn't bother wake Faith to tell her they were leaving she'd told her how she felt about everything, and she really didn't need her approval of what she was set on doing.
As she rested Daniel the moonlight got to him as he stirred gently in his car seat, quietly shutting the door and openening the trunk to place their things in.And with a slight jerk of her keys into the ignition she was off.Away from Harmony, away from Jackson...away from Miguel.This is what she wanted she was sure of it then and there as she drove driving closer and closer to the city limits and away from everything she wanted to escape for so long.
While she drove in the silence, she heard the slight movements Daniel made as he slept unaware of where he was or, even where they were heading next.Not that she knew where they were going either, she'd imagined the look on his face when he'd figured out they'd left another place he dared to call home once more, but this was for the best.
Her eyes foccused on the small clock that flashed in her car as she drove;Eleven going on to twelve, the darkness quickly dissapearing as slight hints of the sun started to appear to her.
'what are you doing Charity? Why are you even here?'
Beams of bright lights past her as she continued to drive, ignorig a nagging voice in the back of her mind as she clenched onto the steering wheel.
'you know this is wrong, isn't this why you came to Harmony in the first place? To put Danny first.'
She was putting him first, that's all she'd ever wanted to do! Dammit, she knew how much he gre to love Harmony but he wouldn't be upset for long she'd make sure of it.They could start over, and Daniel could finally be happy, maybe she could be too.
'happy? In doing what, running.There's no joy in this Charity, there will never be ANY joy in running, I thought you've learned that already?'
Her eyes searched all around as the emptyness of the room confirmed her mental stance, as the flashing glimmer of the city limits sign shown in the darkness.
'the choice is yours, Charity. In the end it's always yours.'
The last sentence ringing in her thoughts, she pulled her car over to the side before turning off the ignition.The choice was hers, but it was what she was going to choose...
Be good, be good, be G-O-O-D.The constant reminders rung in Daniel's mind as he recognized that familiar house his mommy's car had pulled up to later that evening.His heart beat out control wondering if Miguel would actually tell his mommy how really super bad he was within those three days.
' Nuh- uh, he couldn't. ' Daniel thought pleasantly, shifting that from his mind as he foccused on his mother in the front.She smiled at him calmly asking him if he was alright as she usually did, he resaponded with his clad yet cool nod as his head eased back into the car seat, his dark hazel eyes fixaded on his mother's every move.She wasn't happy, that much he could read past her smiles towards him, and he knew why: ever since his daddy left, Daniel was sure his Mommy felt lonely...of course in his opinion how could she ever be lonely with a little boy like HIM to contend with,but, he admitted that talking to a three year old wasn't the most fun for his Mommy.
He hated it when she was sad, and with that thought in mind while he sat peacefully in his car seat he devised the perfect plan to make his mommy happy again.Daniel just hoped he had what it took to make it work.
His eyes trailed his mother, while she opened his car door and she gently took Daniel out of his seat.Setting him on the ground beside her, as the sound of the car door slamming could bea heard around the still neighborhood when she held out her hand for him to take, as she gripped onto it firmly.
The choice was hers, and she'd made it, but she never said that she liked this choice.As they walked closer to Miguel's front door she reminded herself, on her main purpose for doing this and no reason else.Daniel, she saw no reason for the both of them having to be raised without a father figure in their lives...so comming home was the only thing that came to mind.
'Okay, this is it.' he thought to himself as the door swung open, and Miguel stood in the doorway glancing over at him and his mother.With a deep gulp, he looked upwards and reluctantly opened his arms to the dark haired man that stood ahead of him.If being nice to his once arch nemesis, was what he had to do to make sure his mommy was happy; So be it.
"hey - Danny." Miguel groaned with a touch of wonderment, as he hoisted Daniel in his arms, a smile smile crossing her lips as he felt his little boys small arms wrap around his neck.
'a little man has to do, what a little man has to do.' he thought as he squeezed with feeling.
"I hope he wasn't any trouble, when he came to visit." Charity spoke, diminishing Miguel's eyes searching her as she cuffed with Danny's hair.
'NOOOO!'his mind roared as his eyes quinted, his grip starting to get tense as he awaited his answer.
"no," he replied quickly realizing his son's instant loving manner"he was just fine."
"good."she replied crisply, while folding her arms.
"Daniel, I think you left some things upstairs..."Miguel started his eyes deeply foccused on her as he spoke."why don't you go see?"
As he let him down on the ground once more, Daniel looked up at him quizzingly wondering if Miguel had actully caught onto his mommy being sad too! Or, maybe they were going to grown-up talk and they didn't want him there...as he stood he figured his second assumption was more of the truth.Oh, how he hated grown - up talk...he never got to listen!Well not atleast in the very same room.
Charity watched Daniel traut up the stairs and out of sight, before finally foccusing on Miguel.
"he needs his father."she responded in the silnece answering what his eyes questioned, as if he'd almost known she'd tried to escape him.
He then nodded receptively, as his hands slid in his pockets."I need him." 'and you.' his mind blurted out in a soft whisper, as he watched her standing across from him unerved to be in his pressence after their last conversations."about the other day, Charity ---"
"so, I was thinking..." she quickly interrupted not wanted to rehash what had made her contemplate leaving in the first place, at this point she didn't need any of his empty apologies.She just wanted what was best for Danny."since I'm living here permanantly, you could have him every week-end...unless you have other plans."
Miguel shook his head slowly, hidding dissapointment."sure, that sounds good to me...I could even look after him tonight."
"no,"she blurted out calmly"no, I'm sure you have better things to do."
"I offered." he retorted genuinly, with a sigh."Charity, he's my son...I want to be with him."
"okay," she nodded."I'll just go and get all of his stuff, I'll be back." she concluded as she back away and turned around.
He let her walk away and leave with still so much to be resolved between them, and so much to be apologized for.With a slight shrug of discontentment, he closed the door heading upstairs towards Daniel.
Faith sat in the livingroom, oblieqly facing the window.When she had woken up a few hours earlier Charity and Daniel were gone, and she knew what choice her daughter had made for her son's future.No doubt she was dissapointed in her dissicions,her daughter was right she wasn't the best example for a child's stability but that was no reason for Charity to do the same to Daniel.
Her eyes glanced towards the hallway as Charity walked past.She looked at her briefly, before heading upstairs with her and daniel's bellongings...her eyes faced the cielling as her eyes became glossy and she smiled.
Charity stood in the middle of Daniel's room her arms crossed as she looked around it, only to turn at her mother's footsteps.
Her mouth opened halfly, as he lips motioned some sort of conversation.However staying compleatly still, as she walked in closer.
"I was ready to leave."she finally began, as she walked towards the window."I wanted to leave there was no way I would have let anyone, or anything seperate us again!" she continued in a slight bawl as she turned to her mother once more her eyes welded up with tears she faught."but I couldn't. When I thought of the look on his face - how he would have felt.I didn't do it okay?"she bellowed into the silence, as she constricted her jaw.
"I wanted to do right by him." she ended, as her tears fell indefeasibly."I'm sorry."
Faith felt frozen as she watched her daughter break, feeling herself broken just as much as she rushed her into her arms."I know honey, it's alright." she spoke on into her ear repeated the words softly as her embrace tightened.
A cop, that's what he said he was when Daniel asked; He didn't want his mother being friends with just anyone.He said he gets to keep people safe from all the bad guys in Harmony.
'like a superhero' he thought profoudly as he listened.
He continued in shear liking when finally, with allot of persuasion on his part, Miguel gave Daniel a slight glimspe of all his 'cop stuff' as the little boy quickly labelled them.Ever part of him aching to touch everything he saw, yet another part feeling very sure there'd be a bad consiquence if he did with the severity in Miguel's voice.
Later that evening they both sat across from all the junkfood imaginable to man, the perfect occasion to push forward with his plans to make his mommy happy.Setting the final chocolate bar aside and wipping his lips off in satisfaction, Daniel foccused on Miguel folding his arms as a business man would closing an impotant deal - in this occasion the important deal being his Mommy.
"Grand - ma says, you love my Mommy?" the assumption was that of truth, because his garnd-mother did talk about Miguel's feelings towards his mother when they were watching his mother's sixteenth birthday...and because he tricked her into it.
"oh really?" he cocked at brow, at his son's blatantcy.
"yes really."he replied"were you being honest?"he asked sharply letting Miguel know he ment business.
"well - um..."he fumbelled, as he foccused on his son once more."yeah - Danny, I was"
"did she love you too?" he interoggated.
"I don't think so anymore; No, Danny she doesn't."
"why not?"
" because I made her really sad once."
Daniel hushed slightly at his father's final asnwer as he swirved in his chair, glancing over at him once more."well, I think you should make her happy again."
Words falling as clear as anything has ever been, as Miguel wondered how a small boy - his little boy could be as assertive as he was during this converse.These weren't unfamilar words to him, he'd heard them time and time again, in ever variation possible but these ones getting through to him in ways he never thought they could.
She rushed down her stairs wipping away teard from her flushed face, as she opened the door to Miguel.
"can I come in." he asked waiting for her response on the other end.
"sure, where's Daniel?"
"with Theresa and Gia; It was getting late so I figured I'd drop by to pick up his things."he replied walking in and closing the door behind him.
"oh my God, I'm sorry. Um - let me got get everything, I was about to..." she paused while turning and heading up the stairs hidding her tears and sadness as she did" but there was so much to do, I never noticed how long I've been away...you know."
"Charity..."he whispered, as he watched her leave feeling how un-happy she was.
"I guess it's all going to have to take some getting used to." she kept on as the tears fell.
"Charity," he went on voice rasing as he approched her more."look at me."
She turned to him at last, here eyes searching beyond his as she stood at the foot of the steps.Charity hesitated shaking her head adamantly as the tears fell profusely, before facing him."when is all of this going to be over? I mean God, I can't even walk around in my own house without - being afraid that..." she paused as if ashamed " that he'll just come back and this nightmare of I life were living in will never be over."
"don't think that."
Her eyes glanced towards him." what the hell else is there to think!? "she hissed softly."I'm trying very hard to be positive about this whole situation, but you know sometimes I sit and wonder what's next."
She watched him inch towards her taking a seat on the steps at her side."you move on." she glanced over at him as he continued" I know my word isn't all that much to you right now, but I swear the worst is behind us..."he trailed as Charity looked away.
His hands reached out towards her chin as he turned her to him."I want to help you, Charity - I'm going to help you no matter what;But, you have to want me to."his words fell into a quiet as he faced forward, sensing Charity's hesitations were her decline to his proposition.
Facing him she nodded slightly in response to his statement while standing up and clearing her throat before she spoke."I better get Daniel's things, he's probably waiting for you."
Closing Thougths-See! I told y'all I'd get it updated earlier...I just didn't say when.Anyways I hope this chapter didn't make you tear up too much (Bravenewgirl- I'm Sorry!), and as always I hope you've enjoyed this chapter just as you did the one that followed...latz.
In the late hours of the night, Charity crept into Daniel's room taking the sleeping child into her arms while quietly walking him out to the car.She didn't bother wake Faith to tell her they were leaving she'd told her how she felt about everything, and she really didn't need her approval of what she was set on doing.
As she rested Daniel the moonlight got to him as he stirred gently in his car seat, quietly shutting the door and openening the trunk to place their things in.And with a slight jerk of her keys into the ignition she was off.Away from Harmony, away from Jackson...away from Miguel.This is what she wanted she was sure of it then and there as she drove driving closer and closer to the city limits and away from everything she wanted to escape for so long.
While she drove in the silence, she heard the slight movements Daniel made as he slept unaware of where he was or, even where they were heading next.Not that she knew where they were going either, she'd imagined the look on his face when he'd figured out they'd left another place he dared to call home once more, but this was for the best.
Her eyes foccused on the small clock that flashed in her car as she drove;Eleven going on to twelve, the darkness quickly dissapearing as slight hints of the sun started to appear to her.
'what are you doing Charity? Why are you even here?'
Beams of bright lights past her as she continued to drive, ignorig a nagging voice in the back of her mind as she clenched onto the steering wheel.
'you know this is wrong, isn't this why you came to Harmony in the first place? To put Danny first.'
She was putting him first, that's all she'd ever wanted to do! Dammit, she knew how much he gre to love Harmony but he wouldn't be upset for long she'd make sure of it.They could start over, and Daniel could finally be happy, maybe she could be too.
'happy? In doing what, running.There's no joy in this Charity, there will never be ANY joy in running, I thought you've learned that already?'
Her eyes searched all around as the emptyness of the room confirmed her mental stance, as the flashing glimmer of the city limits sign shown in the darkness.
'the choice is yours, Charity. In the end it's always yours.'
The last sentence ringing in her thoughts, she pulled her car over to the side before turning off the ignition.The choice was hers, but it was what she was going to choose...
Be good, be good, be G-O-O-D.The constant reminders rung in Daniel's mind as he recognized that familiar house his mommy's car had pulled up to later that evening.His heart beat out control wondering if Miguel would actually tell his mommy how really super bad he was within those three days.
' Nuh- uh, he couldn't. ' Daniel thought pleasantly, shifting that from his mind as he foccused on his mother in the front.She smiled at him calmly asking him if he was alright as she usually did, he resaponded with his clad yet cool nod as his head eased back into the car seat, his dark hazel eyes fixaded on his mother's every move.She wasn't happy, that much he could read past her smiles towards him, and he knew why: ever since his daddy left, Daniel was sure his Mommy felt lonely...of course in his opinion how could she ever be lonely with a little boy like HIM to contend with,but, he admitted that talking to a three year old wasn't the most fun for his Mommy.
He hated it when she was sad, and with that thought in mind while he sat peacefully in his car seat he devised the perfect plan to make his mommy happy again.Daniel just hoped he had what it took to make it work.
His eyes trailed his mother, while she opened his car door and she gently took Daniel out of his seat.Setting him on the ground beside her, as the sound of the car door slamming could bea heard around the still neighborhood when she held out her hand for him to take, as she gripped onto it firmly.
The choice was hers, and she'd made it, but she never said that she liked this choice.As they walked closer to Miguel's front door she reminded herself, on her main purpose for doing this and no reason else.Daniel, she saw no reason for the both of them having to be raised without a father figure in their lives...so comming home was the only thing that came to mind.
'Okay, this is it.' he thought to himself as the door swung open, and Miguel stood in the doorway glancing over at him and his mother.With a deep gulp, he looked upwards and reluctantly opened his arms to the dark haired man that stood ahead of him.If being nice to his once arch nemesis, was what he had to do to make sure his mommy was happy; So be it.
"hey - Danny." Miguel groaned with a touch of wonderment, as he hoisted Daniel in his arms, a smile smile crossing her lips as he felt his little boys small arms wrap around his neck.
'a little man has to do, what a little man has to do.' he thought as he squeezed with feeling.
"I hope he wasn't any trouble, when he came to visit." Charity spoke, diminishing Miguel's eyes searching her as she cuffed with Danny's hair.
'NOOOO!'his mind roared as his eyes quinted, his grip starting to get tense as he awaited his answer.
"no," he replied quickly realizing his son's instant loving manner"he was just fine."
"good."she replied crisply, while folding her arms.
"Daniel, I think you left some things upstairs..."Miguel started his eyes deeply foccused on her as he spoke."why don't you go see?"
As he let him down on the ground once more, Daniel looked up at him quizzingly wondering if Miguel had actully caught onto his mommy being sad too! Or, maybe they were going to grown-up talk and they didn't want him there...as he stood he figured his second assumption was more of the truth.Oh, how he hated grown - up talk...he never got to listen!Well not atleast in the very same room.
Charity watched Daniel traut up the stairs and out of sight, before finally foccusing on Miguel.
"he needs his father."she responded in the silnece answering what his eyes questioned, as if he'd almost known she'd tried to escape him.
He then nodded receptively, as his hands slid in his pockets."I need him." 'and you.' his mind blurted out in a soft whisper, as he watched her standing across from him unerved to be in his pressence after their last conversations."about the other day, Charity ---"
"so, I was thinking..." she quickly interrupted not wanted to rehash what had made her contemplate leaving in the first place, at this point she didn't need any of his empty apologies.She just wanted what was best for Danny."since I'm living here permanantly, you could have him every week-end...unless you have other plans."
Miguel shook his head slowly, hidding dissapointment."sure, that sounds good to me...I could even look after him tonight."
"no,"she blurted out calmly"no, I'm sure you have better things to do."
"I offered." he retorted genuinly, with a sigh."Charity, he's my son...I want to be with him."
"okay," she nodded."I'll just go and get all of his stuff, I'll be back." she concluded as she back away and turned around.
He let her walk away and leave with still so much to be resolved between them, and so much to be apologized for.With a slight shrug of discontentment, he closed the door heading upstairs towards Daniel.
Faith sat in the livingroom, oblieqly facing the window.When she had woken up a few hours earlier Charity and Daniel were gone, and she knew what choice her daughter had made for her son's future.No doubt she was dissapointed in her dissicions,her daughter was right she wasn't the best example for a child's stability but that was no reason for Charity to do the same to Daniel.
Her eyes glanced towards the hallway as Charity walked past.She looked at her briefly, before heading upstairs with her and daniel's bellongings...her eyes faced the cielling as her eyes became glossy and she smiled.
Charity stood in the middle of Daniel's room her arms crossed as she looked around it, only to turn at her mother's footsteps.
Her mouth opened halfly, as he lips motioned some sort of conversation.However staying compleatly still, as she walked in closer.
"I was ready to leave."she finally began, as she walked towards the window."I wanted to leave there was no way I would have let anyone, or anything seperate us again!" she continued in a slight bawl as she turned to her mother once more her eyes welded up with tears she faught."but I couldn't. When I thought of the look on his face - how he would have felt.I didn't do it okay?"she bellowed into the silence, as she constricted her jaw.
"I wanted to do right by him." she ended, as her tears fell indefeasibly."I'm sorry."
Faith felt frozen as she watched her daughter break, feeling herself broken just as much as she rushed her into her arms."I know honey, it's alright." she spoke on into her ear repeated the words softly as her embrace tightened.
A cop, that's what he said he was when Daniel asked; He didn't want his mother being friends with just anyone.He said he gets to keep people safe from all the bad guys in Harmony.
'like a superhero' he thought profoudly as he listened.
He continued in shear liking when finally, with allot of persuasion on his part, Miguel gave Daniel a slight glimspe of all his 'cop stuff' as the little boy quickly labelled them.Ever part of him aching to touch everything he saw, yet another part feeling very sure there'd be a bad consiquence if he did with the severity in Miguel's voice.
Later that evening they both sat across from all the junkfood imaginable to man, the perfect occasion to push forward with his plans to make his mommy happy.Setting the final chocolate bar aside and wipping his lips off in satisfaction, Daniel foccused on Miguel folding his arms as a business man would closing an impotant deal - in this occasion the important deal being his Mommy.
"Grand - ma says, you love my Mommy?" the assumption was that of truth, because his garnd-mother did talk about Miguel's feelings towards his mother when they were watching his mother's sixteenth birthday...and because he tricked her into it.
"oh really?" he cocked at brow, at his son's blatantcy.
"yes really."he replied"were you being honest?"he asked sharply letting Miguel know he ment business.
"well - um..."he fumbelled, as he foccused on his son once more."yeah - Danny, I was"
"did she love you too?" he interoggated.
"I don't think so anymore; No, Danny she doesn't."
"why not?"
" because I made her really sad once."
Daniel hushed slightly at his father's final asnwer as he swirved in his chair, glancing over at him once more."well, I think you should make her happy again."
Words falling as clear as anything has ever been, as Miguel wondered how a small boy - his little boy could be as assertive as he was during this converse.These weren't unfamilar words to him, he'd heard them time and time again, in ever variation possible but these ones getting through to him in ways he never thought they could.
She rushed down her stairs wipping away teard from her flushed face, as she opened the door to Miguel.
"can I come in." he asked waiting for her response on the other end.
"sure, where's Daniel?"
"with Theresa and Gia; It was getting late so I figured I'd drop by to pick up his things."he replied walking in and closing the door behind him.
"oh my God, I'm sorry. Um - let me got get everything, I was about to..." she paused while turning and heading up the stairs hidding her tears and sadness as she did" but there was so much to do, I never noticed how long I've been away...you know."
"Charity..."he whispered, as he watched her leave feeling how un-happy she was.
"I guess it's all going to have to take some getting used to." she kept on as the tears fell.
"Charity," he went on voice rasing as he approched her more."look at me."
She turned to him at last, here eyes searching beyond his as she stood at the foot of the steps.Charity hesitated shaking her head adamantly as the tears fell profusely, before facing him."when is all of this going to be over? I mean God, I can't even walk around in my own house without - being afraid that..." she paused as if ashamed " that he'll just come back and this nightmare of I life were living in will never be over."
"don't think that."
Her eyes glanced towards him." what the hell else is there to think!? "she hissed softly."I'm trying very hard to be positive about this whole situation, but you know sometimes I sit and wonder what's next."
She watched him inch towards her taking a seat on the steps at her side."you move on." she glanced over at him as he continued" I know my word isn't all that much to you right now, but I swear the worst is behind us..."he trailed as Charity looked away.
His hands reached out towards her chin as he turned her to him."I want to help you, Charity - I'm going to help you no matter what;But, you have to want me to."his words fell into a quiet as he faced forward, sensing Charity's hesitations were her decline to his proposition.
Facing him she nodded slightly in response to his statement while standing up and clearing her throat before she spoke."I better get Daniel's things, he's probably waiting for you."
Closing Thougths-See! I told y'all I'd get it updated earlier...I just didn't say when.Anyways I hope this chapter didn't make you tear up too much (Bravenewgirl- I'm Sorry!), and as always I hope you've enjoyed this chapter just as you did the one that followed...latz.