For muse_shuffle | June Disc Two
20. Feel a little guilt for
The damage that's been done
It should be where you're going
Not where you're coming from
[Keep Us Together - Starsailor]
Harri had never been one for her own family, let alone anyone else’s. The exception was Aiden’s, but she barely saw them. They’d travelled to Canada twice in their friendship for the specific purpose of seeing his family, both times Harri had actually enjoyed herself. The Lewis’ were a family she could manage to abide.
She’d stood in the back of James’ hospital room, watching as tears flowed, and hugs were shared, she wondered still wondered if this was the right thing to have done. She’d wanted to see for herself that things were going okay, and that James was getting his family back, but she’d felt like an interloper at first. Partially her own fault for not announcing her presence. The family had been too intent on each other to notice her.
It was only when James had seen her and held out his hand for her that the rest of the family noticed. The brother understandably looked confused, and the parents just seemed to stare. Especially when James’ other hand went to Harri’s stomach.
As small as the bump was, there was no mistaking it on the normally skinny woman. The lies had tumbled from both their lips with ease, the backstory James had decided on enough to satisfy the Campbells. Harri should have felt bad, but she didn’t. They were lying for James, and in a way they were lying for their child. To make sure they had a chance.
It was later that Harri got a complete shock. Even as she lay in bed next to James now, in her apartment, she still couldn’t get over it. Mrs Campbell had given her a hug. They’d known each other for an hour at that stage, but Harri had been given a warm hug by James’ mother, like she was getting welcomed to the family.
Harri hadn’t known what to expect, but it wasn’t that. Normally people took a while to warm to her. Maybe it was because she honestly didn’t care anymore about keeping people at a distance, that Harri was discovering she could actually be quite nice. The pregnancy was softening her as well, even if she still had to go into work tomorrow and rip someone a new one for writing a pile of shit article.
She rolled over to look at James, and shook him gently. A week had passed since the hospital, and since that hug, and Harri still had the keys to Luke’s apartment. She’d gone to look at it herself, but she needed to look at it with James. She knew he wasn’t settled, and she understood.
“James? Love... wake up.”
She got a grunt in response as her lover rolled over, and pressed his face into her shoulder. She didn’t even know what he was. Boyfriend? Partner? Lover just seemed to fit still, until they found their proper niche.
“James, please... I need to talk to you.”
Some mumbling followed by cursing. She was greeted with one open eye as he looked up at her from under messy blond hair. “Mm?”
“Tomorrow, after the ultrasound, I need you come somewhere with me.”
“S’where?”
Harri didn’t mind the grunting, she could deal with it. She just hoped he retained some of this conversation when he woke up properly. “To look at an apartment. I think I’ve found our new home.”
He nodded as his arm slipped around her, and nuzzled back into her. “M’kay. S’good. Sleep.”
Harri covered his hand with hers, and closed her eyes finally. ‘Home’ wasn’t the scary word she’d expected it to be now that she’d said it. They were about to start their own family. Having a home just felt like the next natural progression.
agentcampbell used with permission. mrpublicity referred to with permission.
The damage that's been done
It should be where you're going
Not where you're coming from
[Keep Us Together - Starsailor]
Harri had never been one for her own family, let alone anyone else’s. The exception was Aiden’s, but she barely saw them. They’d travelled to Canada twice in their friendship for the specific purpose of seeing his family, both times Harri had actually enjoyed herself. The Lewis’ were a family she could manage to abide.
She’d stood in the back of James’ hospital room, watching as tears flowed, and hugs were shared, she wondered still wondered if this was the right thing to have done. She’d wanted to see for herself that things were going okay, and that James was getting his family back, but she’d felt like an interloper at first. Partially her own fault for not announcing her presence. The family had been too intent on each other to notice her.
It was only when James had seen her and held out his hand for her that the rest of the family noticed. The brother understandably looked confused, and the parents just seemed to stare. Especially when James’ other hand went to Harri’s stomach.
As small as the bump was, there was no mistaking it on the normally skinny woman. The lies had tumbled from both their lips with ease, the backstory James had decided on enough to satisfy the Campbells. Harri should have felt bad, but she didn’t. They were lying for James, and in a way they were lying for their child. To make sure they had a chance.
It was later that Harri got a complete shock. Even as she lay in bed next to James now, in her apartment, she still couldn’t get over it. Mrs Campbell had given her a hug. They’d known each other for an hour at that stage, but Harri had been given a warm hug by James’ mother, like she was getting welcomed to the family.
Harri hadn’t known what to expect, but it wasn’t that. Normally people took a while to warm to her. Maybe it was because she honestly didn’t care anymore about keeping people at a distance, that Harri was discovering she could actually be quite nice. The pregnancy was softening her as well, even if she still had to go into work tomorrow and rip someone a new one for writing a pile of shit article.
She rolled over to look at James, and shook him gently. A week had passed since the hospital, and since that hug, and Harri still had the keys to Luke’s apartment. She’d gone to look at it herself, but she needed to look at it with James. She knew he wasn’t settled, and she understood.
“James? Love... wake up.”
She got a grunt in response as her lover rolled over, and pressed his face into her shoulder. She didn’t even know what he was. Boyfriend? Partner? Lover just seemed to fit still, until they found their proper niche.
“James, please... I need to talk to you.”
Some mumbling followed by cursing. She was greeted with one open eye as he looked up at her from under messy blond hair. “Mm?”
“Tomorrow, after the ultrasound, I need you come somewhere with me.”
“S’where?”
Harri didn’t mind the grunting, she could deal with it. She just hoped he retained some of this conversation when he woke up properly. “To look at an apartment. I think I’ve found our new home.”
He nodded as his arm slipped around her, and nuzzled back into her. “M’kay. S’good. Sleep.”
Harri covered his hand with hers, and closed her eyes finally. ‘Home’ wasn’t the scary word she’d expected it to be now that she’d said it. They were about to start their own family. Having a home just felt like the next natural progression.
agentcampbell used with permission. mrpublicity referred to with permission.