Harley James Keener
{2001 ~ January:
Harley - 0 Years Old
Peter - Unborn}
It was January 17th, 2001. Matilda Keener was all alone in a Hospital, well not quite, there were quite an abundance of nurses gathered around her and a Doctor too. She was gripping harshly onto the hand of one of the many nameless Nurses gathered around her, said nurse chanting at the young women to just keep pushing; that she was almost there.
But despite the soaring amount of agony and discomfort vibrating around her body, even though the various articles she had read and countless people who had told her this was going to be the greatest day of her life; she felt empty.
There may have been, god, at least six other people in the clinical white room of the hospital. But the twenty-one year old's heart felt hollow, barren. Like her spirit had left her, she may have been battling through the most painful experience her physical body had ever gone through - but it was non-existent in comparison with the ache in her heart.
He doesn't love you, rattled around in Matilda's head, like a broken record. He promised he'd be here over and over again, she made sure the nurses called several times since she first arrived (luckily her neighbour was kind enough to drive her to the Hospital); yet they were all sent straight to voicemail.
He wasn't at work, he hardly was.
Matilda was the primary money provider for the young couple, if it wasn't for the fact Mason was friends with his Boss - she was certain he would have been fired long ago. "Nothin' a few drinks and some apologisin' won't fix.", he would always say in a slurred voice after not going to work for an extended period of time. Shortly followed by him asking the brunette for money, that Matilda had long since learnt not to deny.
She had no doubt he was out drinking, he spent at least fithfteen hours a day at the local bar. He probably had the layout of that place memorised more so then the face of his own wife. Matilda's heart sunk even further at this thought, but she was quickly snapped back to reality by a voice telling her it was almost here.
The agony was excruciating, but with the help of the nurse who was still (despite the iron clad grip which must have been painful) holding tightly onto the brunette's hand, with one final push she felt the pain slowly start to filter out.
Then there was crying, relief flooded her body in a tidal wave. They're okay, they're okay repeats over and over again in her head. The nurse who had previously been holding her hand wipes at Matilda's forehead with a cloth whilst telling her that she had done a wonderful job.
After a few minutes, a small bundle was handed to her followed by a voice saying it was a boy. Once in her arms, her breath was stolen and the feeling of emptiness melting away.
Blue eyes stare up at her green ones and Matilda's face pulls up into a smile. Her vision becoming blurry with tears, she lightly strokes the cheek of the newborn in her arms.
"Welcome to the world, Harley James Keener."
---
Two days had passed and Matilda was finally discharged from the hospital, after countless calls to her husband he had finally picked up late last night. He said that he'd pick her up (not acknowledging the other important individual during the call) the following morning, however the next morning turned into almost ten at night.
The now mother (it was still bazaar to say that) had been patiently waiting in the lobby of the hospital, looking down longingly at the small bundle in her arms who was sleeping peacefully (luckily she had manged to grab a bag of baby supplies before hurrying to Hospital); all the while ignoring the small twinge of sadness that only got worse which each passing hour.
Mason walks through the doors of the hospital, people near by instantly wrinkling up their noses in disgust and moving backwards hesitantly away. Spotting her husband, Matilda stands up (careful of the newborn still sleeping in her arms) as he walks nonchalantly towards her.
The pungent smell of alcohol invades her nostrils as soon as he comes within two metres of her, had she not been used to the smell by now she was almost certain she'd be coughing.
His hands remain in the pockets of his tattered jeans, as he stops right in front of her. His t-shirt littered with holes and questionable stains (Matilda purposefully avoiding looking at them), hair wild and messy (more so then usual).
Matilda feels her breath get caught in her throat as she takes in her husbands appearance, by now she was used to him looking more then a little disheveled, however... She'd been an idiot to think that he might make an effort since he was meeting his son for the first time.
Mason was swaying slightly, clearly still some-what tipsy from the sheer volume of alcohol he had no doubt consumed.
"Where's the car seat?"
The brunette asks the blonde, trying hard to keep her voice even and unfazed.
"Dunno."
Mason shrugs, the pupils of his blue eyes slightly dilated and unfocused. Matilda just nods, remaining quiet before glancing down at the peacefully sleeping child in her arms.
"Aight, I don't have all day. Let's go."
Mason turns on his heels, not once looking back to check if his wife was following as he walks back through the Hospital. Matilda follows a few paces behind, slightly struggling to hold the bag with supplies in and the sleeping bundle.
Once outside, she sees that Mason is already sat in the rusty old truck, tapping impatiently on the stirring wheel.
"Hurry up!"
He yells once he spots the young mother, who picks up her pace. She quickly deposits the bag on the back seats before climbing into the front next to her husband, since the latter of whom had forgotten the car seat she opted to hold the newborn in her arms.
Mason starts the car with a loud grumble, racing out of the parking lot without a care, not even stopping when he scrapes the side of another car leaving a rather long scratch on it.
Matilda subconsciously holds the child in her arms tighter as Mason drives recklessly, swerving all over the place. A car on the other side of the road blasts it's horn as Mason narrowly avoids hitting it, the blonde blaring his horn in rage as well.
The noise startled the infant awake, causing him to cry loudly. Matilda starts to rock the newborn in her arms, whispering comforting words to him.
However Mason, forever brash, just continues on driving wildly; this causing Harley to cry even harder.
After not even five minutes, Mason screeches to a stop on the side of the road, his hands clenched into fists.
"Fuckin' stop screamin'!"
Mason roars at the baby, who only proceeds to sob louder. Matilda can see the veins on her husband's forehead pop out, she strokes Harley's cheek, begging desperately that he would stop crying.
But he doesn't.
Mason bashes the steering wheel in front of him harshly as the cries continue on.
"Get out!"
Clearly way past his limits, Mason yells at Matilda who was clutching tightly onto the blue eyed infant in her arms.
"W-What? But Mason we're at least a half an hour drive away from Rose Hill, it would take forever to walk home..."
Matilda tries to reason, anxiety clawing up her throat. Her hands begin to shake as Mason yanks at his hair, staring daggers at his wife.
"I don't care, get the fuck out of my truck! And take that shit with you!"
The twenty-three year old grits his teeth, Matilda's eyes begin to well up with tears.
"But... But this is your son..."
Her voice is almost a mute whisper, instead of responding, Mason gets out the car, slamming the door shut. He then walks around to where the bag of supplies are before tossing it on the grass at the side of the road where they had stopped, he then storms over to the passenger door and opens it.
"Now get out."
Knowing she shouldn't argue any further with her husband, she hesitantly steps out of the vehicle and over to where he had thrown the bag.
Mason climbs back into his truck, starting the engine.
"For the record, I don't give a shit he's my son. He can die for all I care."
Matilda's lip quivers as Mason doesn't wait even a second longer to drive away, leaving his wife and newborn son to fend for themselves.
The young Mother feels warm tears cascade down her face as she looks down at Harley, who stops whining as he looks up at his mother's now tear stained face.
"I'm s... sorry, baby..."
Matilda says in a choked whisper.
"I'll look after you, try an' give you a good life... No matter what, I'll always love you, Harley. I promise."
---
{2004 ~ May:
Harley - 3 Years Old
Peter - 2 Years Old}
Harley's earliest memory was when he was three years old, it was way past his bedtime but he couldn't sleep for some reason.
He climbed out of his bed, clutching his stuffed duck tightly to his chest (he was also wearing his favourite duck themed pyjamas). He stumbled on small legs towards his bedroom door, his Mommy always kept the door open a little bit since it scared him when it was closed.
He wobbles a little (mostly since he was tired) down the hall, passing the grandfather clock in the hallway. The small hand pointing to the number twelve, he had been practicing numbers with Mommy.
He yawns a little, rubbing at his eyes with one of his small hands when he hears a loud crash from downstairs!
He hurries towards the steps, pausing once he's there since he sees Mommy and Daddy in the hallway by the door. Daddy appeared to have thrown the photo frame with Harley and Mommy in it onto the floor - Mommy had told Harley to stay away from broken glass, so he decided it would be best to stay upstairs and watch.
Harley sat down behind the banister in the upstairs hallway, clutching tightly onto Mr. Ducky as he watches his parents yell downstairs.
"You've done it again, Mason! Again! Just look at you, you're covered in marks! Your hair is a mess and you even have lipstick on your face!"
Mommy is shouting loudly, it was kind of scary... Harley holds onto Mr. Ducky a little tighter as he continues to watch his parents.
"Oh fuck off, Matilda! So what? So what if I had a bit of a fling with another Lady, it's hardly a big deal!"
Another Lady? That doesn't sound very good, why was Daddy not with Mommy? Harley questions, a small frown forms on his face.
"You spend all your time with that little shit upstairs or at that gross diner anyway!"
"Oh you asshole,"
Mommy looks like she's about to cry, Harley thinks to himself. He wants to go and give her a hug...
"if you would actually go to work and provide money for your family, I wouldn't have to be there so often! And don't you ever say anything like that about my son again!"
After saying this Mommy kneels down and picks up the photo out of the shattered frame, holding the photo close to her chest.
"That's it, I'm going out."
Daddy picks up his truck keys from the bowl on the table next to the door, not waiting for Mommy to say anything and hurling the door shut.
Harley can hear his Mommy cry from his place upstairs, he stands up and hesitantly begins to walk down the stairs, trying to keep quiet so his Mommy won't hear him.
"Are 'ou okay, Mommy?"
Harley asks timidly once at the bottom of the stairs, Matilda looks up at her son, before crouching down and opening up her arms. Harley knowing full well what this means runs straight into his Mommy's arms, hugging her tightly.
"I'm okay, sweetheart. I'm sorry,"
She kisses his forehead.
"did we wake you up?"
She asks and Harley shakes his head.
"N-hu, I couldn't get to sleep... So me and Mr. Ducky thought we should go and explore!"
Harley's lips pull up into a cheeky smile and Matilda's heart melts at the sight, she really did have the most amazing son.
"Oh did you now?"
Matilda picks up her son, her voice smug. She taps her sons nose playfully, to which he giggles.
"Well I think it's about time a certain boy and his fluffy companion went to sleep, don't you think?"
Before he can respond, Harley yawns yet again.
"I'll take that as a yes, come on young man, let's put you to bed."
After walking upstairs, putting Harley in his bed and singing him a lullaby - Matilda ruffles Harley's curly blonde hair and then walks towards the door.
"Mommy?"
Harley says timidly, Matilda stops and turns to look at him.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"I-I love you."
Matilda tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, a smile planted on her face.
"And I love you too, Harley."