Broken Innocence

They shared the same room for two years...never knowing the others past until the day when both their walls fell down. The day that came too soon, they day their shared more than just their past. Contains abuse, drinking, cutting, possibly slash.

Chapter One

Daddy...

"Lacy please, not in front of Josh." A young Walter pleded with his wife in the kitchen of their small apartment.

"Walter, leave me alone." The brunette said softly as she stared her husband in the eyes. "Just leave me alone."

He couldn't hide the pain. He couldn't hide the guilt. He knew she was doing all of this because he messed up. Because he had the nerve to go out with some woman he'd met who had a thing for weather men. He stared at the bottle in his wifes fist. She sat at the kitchen table and lit up a ciggarete, the only thing that calmed her nerves these days. She inhaled a couple of times letting the nicotine flow through her blood, relaxing every last inch of her.

"Why Walter, why?" She asked starring at the wall, paint chipping off. They didn't have much money. This was the only place they could afford. The only place with a semi decent park that their 8 year old son could play in.

"Lacy, I don't know what I was thinking. I love you. Doesn't that mean anything to you anymore?" He yelled. He regreted rasing his voice so much. Josh was sleeping in the next room.

"I don't know Walter. I don't know if it means anything. You tell me you love me then you sleep with some other woman." She yelled back. "You expect me to believe you?"

"Lacy, I never slept with her. How many times do I have to tell you that. IT MEANT NOTHING!" Walter yelled as he threw the dishes off the table. "That's it, I'm out of here. If you don't want me, I'll just leave." Walter added as he rushed off to their room.

Lacy sighed. She knew this would happen. One of them would break. She just hoped it wouldn't be her. She was glad it wasn't. She just worried about Josh, what would happen to Josh. How could she explain to him that Daddy left. That Daddy didn't love them anymore.

Walter threw his belongings into his suitcase. Where too now? he wondered. What will I do? Do you think Audrey would take me? She seemed to like me that night... He slammed the suitcase shut. He didn't notice the little boy in the doorway watching him pack. Watching him leave his life, maybe forever. The little boy who was losing his Daddy.

"Daddy where are you going?" the voice asked as he looked up at his Dad with big brown eyes.

"I'm going away for a little bit." Walter said as he picked up his son. "You go back to bed and don't worry about me." He said as he placed his son back into his bed. "I love you Josh."

"I love you too Daddy." Josh cried as he hugged his dad. "I don't want you to go."

"I have to Josh, don't worry, I'll be back." Walter promised as he kissed the top of his sons head. "I promise."

Walter tucked Josh into bed and turned off his light.

"Daddy wait." The boy said as he ran up to his dad. "Take Mr. Hippo." Josh exclaimed handing Walter a stuffed hippo that was clearly loved by the boy.

"Josh, this is Mr. Hippo." Walter informed him. He knew very well that Josh was afraid of most everything and that Mr. Hippo, though innocent as he was, protected Josh and made him feel that the world was safe.

"I know. You might need him. I'm a big boy now." Josh said sticking out his chest.

"Thank you." Walter told his son. "Now get back to bed." With that Josh ran back into his room. His father stuffed the hippo under his shoulder and went to walk out of the door.

"I hope you have a good life Walter. I hope you know what you're doing. You're going to hurt your son." Lacy muttered.

Walter ignored her, not wanting to start another fight. He walked out of the door and out of their life for what he thought was forever.

Josh lay in his room. Silent tears streaked his face. He groped for his Hippo but remembered that he'd given him to his dad as he'd left. What his parents didn't know was that Josh had heard everything. He'd heard it all. The yelling, the screaming, the accusations. Maybe it all stop now. Maybe his Mom would realize, maybe his dad would realize. Maybe they could become a happy family again.

Josh turned over in his bed. He wasn't a popular boy, actually not many people liked him. He had no friends and this one boy. Drake Parker, made his life a nightmare. Calling him names like Tubby and Scaredy Cat. Not to mention the fact that Drake had publicly humilliated him numerous times, pantsing him on the playground, telling everyone he wet the bed. Drake even ruined baseball for him, stealing that last foam finger and starting the fight with him. Now Drake would make his life worse knowing that he didn't have a Dad.

Josh cried himself into a fitful sleep. His problems were only just beginning.

Lacy sat in the kitchen, the empty Vodka bottle in her hand, cigarette smoldering in the ash tray. He life broken to peices, her son's life broken too. She'd never be able to explain, never.

Okay so that's chapter one...sorry that it's a little short. This story I hope is another winner. I like it so far. Maybe you will too. R&R!

-Mo