Chapter three: Faye.

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far, your support and compliments are an inspiration. I'd love to take the time to thank you all personally, but I'm afraid time is not something I have at the moment. So instead I'd like to dedicate the rest of this series (which I have now titled "Piece me back together") to all of you- I hope this is ok! Kat x

Faye was waiting for them by the time they arrived. She hadn't changed much in a year, her hair still hung around her face in straggly tendrils and her eyes, ringed with shadows, were still a dull shade of blue-ish grey. Her face lit up with a greedy delight, when she saw her son.

"Hi" muttered Joseph, not really sure what emotions he was feeling towards his ex-wife and Harry's estranged mother. She barely acknowledged his greeting, instead reaching for her son. "Let me hold him," she commanded. Unused to his mothers touch Harry began to whimper, making Joseph instantly want to snatch him back and whisk him back home to Jac and his unborn daughter. He was beginning to wonder why he'd ever loved Faye in the first place; even Jac "Ice-Queen" Naylor had become a better mother to Harry than Faye had ever been.

"So," he began tentatively, "How's Parisian life treating you? Well, I hope?" he hesitated.

Faye looked up abruptly from her son's face, "Fine, Harry's going to love it."

"I'm sorry what?" stammered Joseph.

Faye sighed condescendingly, "Didn't you get my letter? I want my son back. I want to start a new life, with Gérard and I want Harry to be a part of it" She insisted, a wild look gathering behind her doll-like eyes.

"Hold on" hissed Joseph, trying desperately to keep his temper, "You just show up here out of the blue, having not seen our son in nearly a year and announce that, you're taking him away to live with your latest conquest, in fucking Paris. Is that right?"

Faye nodded.

"You can't do that, I won't let you Faye. Not this time."

"He's my son," she snarled through gritted teeth.

"And he's also mine." Joseph whispered back, gently but forcefully removing Harry from Faye's arms. As he did so he noticed the fresh and angry scars that raced their way up her arms.

"Faye," He gasped. "What are these?"

She looked away, "I missed Harry. I missed Linden and Archie. I missed you. I messed up. I got angry." She choked.

Joseph sighed, he couldn't afford to fall for Faye's emotional blackmail, he loved Jac too much, but she was Harry's mother. He drew a deep breath, "Faye, I don't want to stop you seeing Harry. But before you do, you need to go and get yourself sorted. Go and see a psychiatrist, find a flat of your own, here or in Paris. Then call me when you're ready and able to be a mother and we can see if we can change the custody arrangement, but I can't do that now, it's not fair on Harry or Jac or you."

On hearing this, Faye looked up from the table where she had fixed her eyes. "Jac? You mean, Jac Naylor?" she scoffed "You're still with that, skull faced bitch."

"As it happens, yes." Joseph, ever the gentleman, tried not to grin, "We've been together for nearly a year now. Harry loves her."

"I told her the day he was born; it should have been her having that bloody baby. I don't want her anywhere near him." Faye growled.

"Sorry Faye, but you know I love her I always have one. And you were right, Harry should have been hers," Joseph hesitated, unsure whether he should tell her about his unborn daughter or not, but Faye, instantly noticed.

"What's that's supposed to mean Joe?" she snapped, then she realised. Emotions flickered across her face, first shock, followed by anger, then utter rage. "She's pregnant isn't she?" she shrieked, causing Harry to whimper in fright. "Or is she faking it again? You know it wouldn't be the first time. Or has she become that perfect wife and mother that I couldn't be?" Faye lowered her voice, but the spite was still there."

Joseph recoiled slightly at this last comment, then suddenly, he realised this was the moment he'd been waiting for, he could finally stand up for himself, his son and his girlfriend. "Actually Faye" he smiled calmly, "She has and she is. When Harry needed a mother, she was there and she didn't run, she loves him and she would never ever hurt him, unlike some people."

"Fine then!" Faye shrieked in a tearful rage. "I want nothing to do with any of you. He's yours and Jac's for all I'm concerned." And with that she turned on her heel and she was gone.

Joseph just looked at his young son, not knowing what to do, feel or think, so many things had just happened. He couldn't face going home to Jac just yet, she wouldn't be expecting him for at least another hour or so, so he put Harry carefully into his buggy and headed off to the nearest park, hoping the walk would clear his mind.

I hope this was ok, I wasn't really sure how to characterise Faye, there's not much about her on here (wonder why? :P). Any way I'd love to hear of your thoughts/suggestions.