Divorced Lives

Chapter 6

Lexi's House

Spence woke up and saw that Harry and his father were talking. Harry stood and walked into the kitchen. Spence drew in all the courage he had and spoke to his father. "I'm sorry I got angry with you dad," he whispered lightly, "I just wanted you to trust me."

Severus looked down at his charge. "I do trust you bud," said Severus, "but if your mother ever did anything to hurt you I need to know okay squirt?"

"Okay. I love you dad."

"I love you too buddy."

Spence sighed. "What would you do if she did beat me?" he asked.

"We would take her to court and have a trial for custody. All you would have to do is show them your bruises and answer some questions under a truth serum. Then you would be with me."

Spence thought for a moment. 'What if I did tell him? Would he be angry at me? Angry at mom?' he thought.

"Dad?" he said, desperation etched in his eyes.

"What's wrong bud?"

"Would you be mad?"

"What?" Severus looked down at his son. Tears were welding up in Spence's eyes. "Mad? Buddy I wouldn't be mad at you."

"No, not me, at mum. Would you be mad at her?"

"I'd be furious Spence, she doesn't have the right to hurt you."

Tears were now streaming down Spence's face. "It isn't her fault though."

Severus didn't say a word. He just got up and walked to the phone. "Dad, please, no." Spence murmured. Sev put his finger to his lips and dialed Spence's mom's cell phone number.

"Lexi, we need to talk, will you please come up." he said gently.

"Why, is Spence alright?"

"No, he's alive, but I need you to come up."

"This better be good."

"Oh," Sev laughed hollowly, "it's good alright." He hung up the phone and walked back over to Spence. "Everything is going to be alright. You'll stay with me now."

"You think it's over? No dad, you just made things worse! I can deal with her beating me, it's not a problem, god! Now you and her are going to have a screaming fight and I'm going to have to go to court, again, as you two have another custody battle!" Spence was sobbing. All of the pain that he held inside for so long seemed to just seep out in a big blur and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

"Do you want to stay there?" Severus asked fiercely.

"Well no but,"

"Well, then you have to go to court."

"Daddy no! I don't want to! Please don't make me!" Spence buried his face into a pillow and started to sob even more brokenly then before. Severus sat down next to his son and lifted him into his arms. He was so light and small, Severus knew it was from malnutrition.

They stayed like that for two hours. Sirius walked into the room. "Lexi is in the front room Sev, she said you sent for her." he said softly, noting that Spence was sleeping soundly.

Severus nodded. "Can you take Spence?"

"Sure." Sirius lifted Spencer into his arms and carried him upstairs.

"Well, here goes." Severus murmured to himself and walked slowly to the front room.

Her straight blonde hair was tied back into a bun and was wearing a white blouse and black pants. She was staring at photos on the wall and was absentmindedly commenting about each of them.

"Alexa?" Severus said quietly.

She jumped and turned around. "Hello Severus, is Spence alright? I heard you say no on the phone and I'm a little concerned." she said.

"Why don't you take a seat, and please be quiet because Spence is finally sleeping after a really rough night."

Lexi took a seat on the couch next to her ex-husband. "Sev, what is wrong with Spence?" she asked quietly.

"A few of his ribs are broken. It's not his fault either. Look, I know you beat Spencer, and he didn't have to tell me for me to know this. You should see him, he's a mess."

Alexa looked at Severus. "I don't beat Spencer."

"Yes you do, you don't think I know what goes on but I do. I'm taking you to court Lexi, I'm sorry."

Spence was terrified when he went home that weekend. The whole drive she shot the most horrible looks at him. Severus came with them. He refused to let him go home by himself. He called the judge and he said that Severus was allowed to stay with him there but Spence could not be out of his "home assigned" until trial was over. If Sev so much as sees Lexi raise her hand to Spence, he would take him out anyway.

Spencer was still sick. "Daddy?" Spence murmured gently, his head rested on his father's chest.

Severus looked down at him. "Yes bud?" he replied just as softly.

"I need Sirius, I hurt really bad still."

Severus just kissed Spence on the top of his head. "I know you do, but your mother doesn't understand that you need his help and wouldn't reason with me. I'm sorry buddy." Spence looked upset. "Although, Sirius did give me some medicine if you are hurting terrible."

"That would be great. Can you give it to me now?"

Severus nodded and pulled out a bottled potion. He pulled out a spoon and poured some of the potion on to it. "Open." he said gently. Spencer did as he was told and Severus gave him the potion. Spencer felt better after a little while.

When they reached the house Lexi didn't even wait for them to get out of the car. She just grabbed Spencer's bags and walked into the house. Severus took this opportunity to pull out this cell phone and called Sirius.

"'Lo?" Sirius mumbled, he must've been half asleep.

"Sirius, um I gave Spencer that potion he seems to not be in as much pain as he was before." Sev said.

"Oh that's good, just don't give anymore to him till tomorrow, the effects don't last that long but you'll over-dose him if you do that ok?"

"Alright, thanks Sirius." Severus hung up the phone and helped Spence out of the car. "Come on buddy." Spence couldn't walk that well so he was using Severus for support.

When they got into the house Lexi was sitting in the kitchen with a drink in her hands. Severus helped Spence settle upstairs in his bedroom and then sat with her in the kitchen. "Why do you do this?" he asked her gently.

"It's not like I want to do it Severus, I have a problem." she replied.

"You can't hide behind your problem forever. Take classes if you have too much anger, you can go to jail for this very easily you know. You hurt our son. Our only son."

"Well maybe if you'd come home we can work something out."

"Lexi, I can't come here ok? I don't love you anymore."

"Why Sev?"

"Because I just don't. We need to work this out but me coming home is not the answer."

"Spencer would be so much happier if you just came home." she said stubbornly.

"No, what I think Spence would like is if he could live with me without restrictions."

"Well I can't do that. Spence is all I have now."

"I guess we have something in common then." Severus looked worn out. His son was sick and his ex-wife was trying to bribe him into coming home with her.

They heard footsteps coming down the stairs, obviously Spence's. Spence looked at the two of them and sat in between them on the bench.

Severus ran his fingers through Spencer's hair. "What's wrong buddy?"

"Nothing, it was just too hot upstairs." Spence replied gently. "Mum, is it okay if I stay here for awhile? I mean, I can go back up if you want, it's okay if you don't want me in here-"

Severus interjected. "It's okay. You're not feeling well. And it was rather overheated upstairs if I do say so myself."

"His air conditioner wasn't on apparently." Lexi said snidely.

"Well I'm not sending him back up." Severus replied cooly. He turned his attention back to Spence. "You can stay here. Try to get some rest though."

Spence nodded and rested his head on his father and tried to get some much needed sleep.

Severus looked at Lexi. "I found a huge bruise on his side to other day. He said he fell."

Lexi looked at him oddly. "And...?"

Severus let out a short breath. "And, he's been using that excuse for a long time now."

"Well, you know now that he was lying."

Severus grinned. "Yes, I do. Isn't that wonderful? I am going to have full custody of my son, he won't be seeing you much longer unless you get some help and there is nothing you can do about it."

Lexi looked scared. Severus couldn't take her son from her! It wasn't fair! "Sev, he's all I have! My job sucks, I have no friends, you're going to take the only person that brings joy to my life!"

Severus was enraged. "He was your punching bag!" he bellowed. "You hit him all the time! I can't even count how many times he came to my house with black eyes or broken bones and I needed Sirius to heal them! He's leaving and there's nothing you can do about it!"

Spence stirred and looked up at his father. "Daddy, what's wrong?" he whispered gently.

Severus looked down and his features softened. "Buddy, I'm sorry if I woke you." he said quietly. "But it's good you're awake, we're going to the courthouse."

"WHAT?" Lexi yelled. "Have fun getting there! You're not taking my car!"

Severus chuckled darkly. "Side apparating is wonderful Alexa." And with that he and Spence were gone.

A/N: Whooooo! I updated! Alright, sorry it took so long! Thank you reviewers and please continue to reviews and I hate everyone who doesn't cause it's not nice!

-Dracozchick