The Queen and Her King

Fixing Ties (Part Two)

Brielle POV

"Ye better not have hurt my wife while I wasn't 'ere ya cowardly bastard"

Harry growled, meanwhile I'm... well I'm dead. You see, here's the thing, we're not married yet yes, but other people have referred to both Harry and I as "Brielle's husband" and "Harry's wife", but he has never called me his wife directly before, so... I'm melting. I lightly giggled and got all excited for a moment before getting back with the program and the moment,

"No, no son I didn't hurt Brielle. I'm here to talk, that's all I promise"

James thoughtfully spoke, but Harry didn't buy it one bit. He narrowed his eyes at his father and snaked an arm around my waist and protectively drew me into him,

"How did ye get past the guards?"

Was all Harry said next, a growl was still very much in his tone. James sighed and looked down again, not daring to move much in case he accidentally triggers Harry,

"I... I snuck in through the back hedges... I was scared the guards wouldn't let me pass so-"

"So ye broke onto our property and probably scared meh wife half ta death the minute she saw ya eh? Tell me, did ya scare her?"

Harry snarled, James stuttered for an answer and could barely get a sound out. I know Harry is gonna be hard on James, so just to give them both a chance to make today productive rather than destructive, I turned to Harry and whispered,

"Har, give him a tiny little chance, please? For me?"

Harry looked down at me and sighed as he looked at me, I could practically see the contemplation in his eyes before he spoke with a groan and turned back to his father,

"Fine, never mind that question. What do ya want? Why are ye 'ere? And the only reason I'm even letting ya stay in this house is because Brielle wants me ta give ya a chance, so don't fuck it up yeh?"

James nodded and gave me a smile before looking back up at his son, he began fiddling with his hat that he held in his hands and got his words underneath him before speaking,

"I came to say... I'm sorry son. I haven't been a father since your mother passed and that's when I should've been a father the most. Son, I've been sober for two years... I don't know if that matters to you but... yeah"

James spoke slightly awkwardly. Harry stood in shock now, his eyes went big and brow furrowed at the sound of an apology from his father,

"Ye've been sober for... two years? Really?"

Harry said in disbelief as I began leading him over to the couch across from where James sat to get Harry more comfortable. He went ahead and followed and slowly sat down with me, I put the sword down to my side and held one of Harry's hands in both of mine for support. James nodded proudly and smiled a little again,

"Yeah, it was hard but once I got sober every time I'd think about picking up a bottle I'd think of... my son and my two daughters... my wife.... it always brought me back away from the edge. I want to be better son... I really do"

Harry could only stare at James in shock, I saw his eyes getting glossier by the second. James looked down and slowly stuck his hand into his pocket before pulling out the folded photograph, Harry only watched his hand as he did,

"Harry... I love you, I don't think I've said that in years... and to think that only a few years ago I... I kidnapped and h-hurt my own s-son... f-for what? I-I don't even r-remember, a-all I know is I w-was plenty drunk.... t-that's not an excuse b-but... I t-thought you should k-know that I n-never stopped loving y-you, not f-for a second... I j-just didn't think I d-did for a long t-time until m-my head got cleared u-up, now I-I see... I s-see what a c-complete d-dick I've become... I j-just wanted to s-see you... in t-the flesh, n-not on the n-news... I w-wanted to tell y-you that I l-love you and... I'm w-willing to t-take the t-time to p-prove it"