Fic: Fractured Hearts
Title/Chapter: Fractured Hearts (02/?)
Author: Amanda / writefiction
Pairing: Taylor Hanson / OFC (Libby Hanson)
Rating: PG-13
Notes: written for the Don’t Judge a Book… challenge
Other Notes: AU, no Natalie or kids had with her
Warning: language
Word Count: 951
Master Post
Summary: Libby and Taylor Hanson have only a year left with their two year old daughter, Lily, who was diagnosed with a fatal cancer. When she finally succumbs to her illness the couple is heartbroken and their marriage begins to fall apart at the seams. Will they be able to fix their fractured hearts, or will they be destined for divorce?
CHAPTER TWO
Taylor went home around 9:30 that night. He was tired and his eyes were sore from crying. There had been a seemingly permanent frown stuck on his face the entire ride home and while he entered his house; unsure of how he was going to face his wife. “Libby?” he called out as he shut the door and slipped off his sneakers.
“In here,” she croaked. Taylor followed the sound of her voice to the living room where he found his wife curled up on the couch, her back to him, with Lily’s baby blanket. Taylor’s shoulders slumped at the sad sight and went to sit on the edge of the couch. He placed his hand gently on her hip.
“You okay?”
Libby turned her head towards Taylor, whose frown deepened when he saw the red lining her eyes. “Not really,” she answered.
“Come here,” Taylor murmured and motioned for her to sit up. Libby did so and Taylor wrapped his arms around her, held her tightly to his chest.
Libby pressed her face into her husband’s neck. “I don’t hate you,” she whispered. “And I’m sorry I blamed you for Lily’s death.”
“Don’t apologize if you’re only doing it because you think that’s what I want to hear,” Taylor replied quietly. “I want a real apology; I want you to mean it.” Libby didn’t respond. Taylor sighed and began to draw back, but Libby clung to him tightly.
“Don’t,” she said, a plea in her tone of voice. “Don’t pull away. Not when I need you the most.”
Taylor sighed again but didn’t make a move to wrap his arms back around her. “I need you, too,” he told her. “But you…” He swallowed around the sudden lump in his throat. “You keep pushing me away and we keep fighting and it hurts so much.”
Libby pulled back, wiped at her wet eyes, and looked into Taylor’s baby blues. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I keep starting these fights. I don’t know why I do it; I just… I get so mad, about everything, and I… I can’t control myself.”
Taylor framed her face gently with his hands and pecked her lips. “I know you’re mad,” he said. “I’m mad, too. I’m pissed and hurt and sad and just… so fucking lonely right now.” His eyes began to water and he wasn’t sure if he could hold back the tears. “I just… I want things to go back to the way they were… before we lost her.”
Libby shook her head as a tear slid down her cheek. “We can’t go back. We can never go back.”
“Why not?”
“Because she’s gone, Taylor, and there’s no way I’ll ever be the same.”
Taylor bit his lip. “I want my wife back,” he whispered.
Libby looked at him with wide eyes. “What?”
“You heard me,” he mumbled pathetically as he looked down at his wife’s hands clasped in her lap.
Libby pushed Taylor away and stood up, hands on her hips. “You want your wife back? I’m here, Tay, I’m right fucking here! If you can’t love who I am now then you should leave because I will never, ever be the woman I was before we found out Lily was sick. Never.”
Taylor sighed and slumped back against the couch, ran his hands through his hair. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe we need a break.”
“Are you… are you serious?” Libby asked, her face as pale as a sheet.
Taylor gave her a look that said he was and replied, “You’re the one that suggested it.”
“But I didn’t-
“If you didn’t mean it, you shouldn’t have said it,” Taylor interrupted harshly. Libby’s lower lip started to tremble. Taylor scrubbed his face with one hand and sighed again. “Look, maybe we just need some time apart so we can stop fighting. I don’t know if it’s a good idea or not, but I’m willing to try anything, ya know?” Libby nodded but didn’t speak.
After a moment of silence Taylor said, “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
Libby looked up from her feet and stared at her husband. “I’m thinking that this is the most horrible idea you’ve ever had. I’m thinking that maybe you’re the one who doesn’t love me anymore. I’m thinking that I just want to scream and cry and throw things at you until you decide this is a stupid idea. That’s what I’m thinking.”
Taylor gnawed on his lower lip, thinking. “I think it’s for the best,” he told her quietly.
“So, what? You’re just kicking me out of our home?” Libby asked.
Taylor shook his head as he stood. “No, I’ll go stay with Mom and Dad for a while. You can stay here. Or go stay with one of your friends so you won’t be alone.”
Taylor watched as Libby’s dark eyes filled with tears that soon flowed onto her cheeks. “I don’t have any friends anymore,” she said. “No one can stand to be around me. I’ve pushed them all away.”
“That’s not my problem,” Taylor replied, instantly wishing he hadn’t as Libby flinched.
“Fine then. Pack a bag and get the fuck out,” Libby spit. Taylor didn’t have the energy for another fight so he did say anything even though he had a retort waiting right on the tip of his tongue. He walked passed Libby and down the hall to the stairs, which he took two at a time, and made his way upstairs to their bedroom. He quickly packed a bag and hurried out to his car. He revved his engine and squealed his tires as he backed down the driveway and headed in the direction of his parents’ house.
# # #
TBC: chapter three