vinnie hacker blurbs

17. broken pieces

a/n: 

i've finally moved in! and i'm finally updating! i hope yall enjoy, per ususal. this one's a little bit darker, and it wasn't exactly how i wanted it, but the idea is there. 

lemme know what you think! 

relationship: long term, w/ fostering daughter, marley (5/6 yrs old)

this wasn't how things were supposed to go.

it was minor, it wasn't a big deal, and yet he couldn't breathe watching her.

mistakes happen, my love, he thought, frozen in space and time, not believing what he had done.

where had he gone wrong? what had you both failed at as parents to where you couldn't help her from feeling this pain, this agonizing, internal pain that's now just revealed itself.

you were crouched on the ground next to her, gently prying the glass pieces from her hands, wincing at the sight of her knees pressing into the small shards crushed under her weight. vinnie watched you as you attempted to speak in soothing phrases complimented with small, graceful touches, and how she just didn't understand what was going on. and he wished he could tell her, and comprehend her actions, but he was just as lost as she was.

what was going on?

...........................................................

family dinners were a staple in your home, now that you shared it with more than just the two of you, and you and vinnie were both happy to have the subtle change in your live's now that liv had joined you.

after many difficult conversations between you both regarding your current situation, and how you didn't feel you were ready for kids yet, you'd decided to give it a rest for a few years to get adjusted to married life.

until marley came around.

with vinnie having a hectic schedule on social media and you a full-time student still, almost ready to graduate, you'd decided to spend some free time volunteering at a local youth project in inner city LA. on your first day, you'd met marley, and you, along with her, had become attached immediately.

marley came from a previously broken home, made up of many issues and complicated problems that weren't any of your business, but her spirit and smile never seemed to drop from her as you'd expected from someone in her circumstances.

she was quiet, and quite shy from what you could tell, but she seemed to gravitate towards you compared to anyone else working there.

on your nights after coming home from the shelter, you'd tell vinnie all about this girl who you loved, and he encouraged you to continue to foster the relationship, because it was most likely the only one that she had.

at six years old, she was beautiful with silky ginger locks and deep brown eyes, and you knew you were in for a treat the moment you met her.

a few months went by and the volunteering was going great, and you were approached by the woman who ran the program before walking out after a shift. she'd brought up the idea of you fostering marley in your home for the time being, and due to her extreme anxiety, she'd never seen marley make such an attachment to a stranger. she said that she was comfortable sending her home with you, and that it would be a good experience if you were up for it to help her acclimate to different households easier. you immediately fell in love with the idea and brought it up to vinnie a few days later. after a few days of consideration and planning, he'd agreed to do it, and you'd brought marley home with you for the first time around three weeks ago.