Pieces of memories fall to the ground

There was a car sitting in Alastar Hughes' drive that had never been there before. A very executive looking car, the black paint gleaming in the midday sun that shone down upon it. In the driver's seat sat what could only be a chauffeur, the man sitting calmly and waiting for his employer to inform him of where to drive next. David wandered past the car, blue eyes curious as to why it was here. Pausing by the driver's window, a friendly tap was given to the glass, and he smiled at the man seated inside.

"Is everything all right?" he asked.

"Quite fine, sir," the chauffeur replied, tipping his hat to David. "Merely waiting for Ms. Rose and Master Hughes."

Standing upright, gaze fell onto the front door to Al's home. Harmony wasn't due to bring Reuben for another week, and Al hadn't mentioned anything about his son staying over. "Do you know why she's here today?"

"She was ranting something about her ex-husband 'stooping lower than low' to get back her, apparently."

David hummed softly in his throat. "Any idea what she meant?"

The man shook his head. "I do not pry into the personal affairs of my employers unless they share the information freely, sir," the driver replied.

David nodding, waving the man and giving him a cheeky grin. "Well, thanks for the info, Jeeves," he said, moving away from the car and up to Al's home. David had been seeing Alastar for some time now, and had even been graced with his own key to the bungalow. Whenever he was home, Al didn't lock his door, and a gentle push to the door handle proved that the man was indeed home. With it now open, David could hear voices, one of which was raised.

"I cannot believe you, Alastar!" called out the female. "My boy comes home and tells me how his father's 'new friend' kisses him. You're subjecting your own son to such perverse scenes!"

Quietly closing the door behind himself, blue gaze wandered around the hallway. David knew only of Harmony through what he had been told by Alastar. She was never spoken of in a degrading way, but neither was she given praised, Al treating her in a very indifferent way. It seemed that now was his chance to finally meet and make up his own mind up about the ex-wife of his lover. Making his way to the lounge where the voices were dominant, he remained in the doorway, watching the scene before him.

Alastar was standing in the middle of the room, confronted with a blue eyed blonde woman. She was young, her hair set into tight ringlets that was held up on her head, curls hanging down. She was indeed a very attractive woman, to the point where her appearance was one that had effort, but not too much to look overdone and still remained natural.

"You knew about me when you married me, Harmony," he said, Alastar doing his all not to raise his voice infront of his son, who was seated on the leather couch, clutching a bright blue stuffed elephant to his chest, hiding his face into it, his clear blue eyes peering over the top. "I never denied liking guys, you knew about my past relationships. I'm not going to hide it from Reuben just because you've changed your mind about me."

The pair didn't seem to notice David standing in the doorway, but little Ben had. He looked to his parents, then slipped carefully down from the couch, wandering over to the man, still clutching the elephant to his chest. As the five year old approached, David knelt down to his level, offering him a bright smile. "Hey there, Roo," he whispered softly, noticing that the other adults still hadn't noticed him. "Do you want to come with me into the kitchen?"

The little boy nodded, releasing one arm from around his elephant to hold David's hand, allowing the older man to lead him into Alastar's kitchen. Once in there, David released his hand to find him a glass for himself, and a plastic cup for Reuben. "What would you like to drink?"

Ben mumbled something into his stuffed animal.

"You'll have to speak up. Loud and clear," David told him softly, ruffling the boy's hair while filling his own glass with water.

"Apple juice," he finally said.

The argument in the lounge managed to filter in to the kitchen, mainly Harmony's voice. David fetched Reuben his juice, and passed him the cup. Taking a seat at the table, he helped Roo into his own seat. "How long has Mommy and Daddy been talking?"

"Mommy asked if I had fun at Daddy's last time, and I told her about you," he said honestly. "I said that you were Daddy's new friend, and that you kissed goodbye when you went home." The little boy had no idea what sort of impact it would have on his mother. "I didn't know I wasn't supposed to tell Mommy."

David smiled at him. "We never said that you had to keep it secret, Roo. Your Daddy never said that your Mommy would be upset about it."

"Where's Ben!?" called out a female voice from the lounge. "Ben? Benny?"

"In here, Mommy!" the boy called out, looking over at the door where both his parents appeared, giving them both a toothy grin.

Harmony's blue eyes narrowed at the man sitting at the table with her son. "And who are you?" she demanded.

"That's David," Alastar replied simply, moving passed his wife and making his own way to the table, hand brushing over the older man's shoulder. "He's thirty six, teaches photography at Constance,"

"Oh, well, if he's a teacher..." she started.

"He's also the man I'm dating," Al cut in before she could say anything else. "Ben likes him, I like him. I'm not going to stop seeing him, just because you think it's wrong, Harmony. Reuben has the right to know about his father, and any parents I choose to have, be they male or female."

"He's fun, mommy," Reuben added, looking up at his mother with innocent eyes. "He's got a boy of his own named Bailee. Davie reads stories to me, and likes playing games that Daddy doesn't." He didn't understand why his mother seemed to show a dislike from the older man. His Daddy liked David, why didn't his Mommy? "Why can't he kiss Daddy? You said that it's okay to kiss people you love. He loves Daddy."

She looked to Alastar, then David, and back again. "Is this true?"

Her ex-husband nodded. "You're just going to have to live with it, Harmony. You can kiss your boyfriend infront of Ben, I don't see why I can't."

Slowly, David pushed himself up from his seat, walking over to the blonde woman. "Ms. Rose. I know that not everyone is ready to accept same sex relationships, and I'm not saying you have to change your views on it, but, please, I love your ex-husband, and I think your son is a wonderful little man - he clearly has your eyes - I don't think you should punish your son because of the relationship his father was in. Put yourself in his shoes, how do you think you would feel if Al wouldn't let you see your son just because you're in a relationship with another woman?"

"But I'm not," she said, glaring up at the taller man. "This is my son, I'm not having him subjected to this freak show."

"I don't want to stop seeing Daddy!" Reuben called out, standing on his chair. "I don't want to stop seeing Davie!" Eyes of blue so clear glared at his mother. "I hate you and I'm not going home! I'm staying here!"

"Baby...?" Shocked by her son's outburst, she pulled her hands to her chest. "Benny, you don't mean that?"

"I don't like you taking me away from Daddy," he told his mother, climbing down from his chair and walking over to her, his little arms wrapping around her waist. "I miss him, Mommy. You always leave me with Nanny. Daddy doesn't. Daddy is always here.

Soft hands brushed through the messy brown strands. "Mommy still loves you. You're Mommy's little baby boy."

He smiled sweetly up at her. "I know. But I'm Daddy's too."

"Let him stay the night," David suggested. "It's not right to keep a son from either parent. We'll bring him over tomorrow."

Harmony eyed David curiously. "Well, I suppose you seem all right," she said, finally caving. "And I can see why Alastar likes you so much." Crouching down, she placed a tender kiss to her little boy's forehead. "Mommy and Daddy will never be together, baby, but we don't like seeing you cry. I'll see if you can come here more often. no more hating Mommy?"

Reuben shook his head. "No more hating Mommy."

A hug and kiss goodbye, and Harmony stood, waving goodbye to her son and leaving Al's home.

Once she was gone, David broke out his boyish grin. "Well, now i know what your ex-wife is like!"