The next morning

As you opened your eyes you blinked a few times before you found yourself in your suite once more. You sighed perhaps it was just a dream a wonderful dream. However you heard snoring and looking to your smiled as you looked to Harmony lightly snoring as she slept her arms wrapped around little Anthony now three months old was sound asleep in his mother’s arms.

While you had read that it wasn’t a good idea to share a bed with little Anthony until he was 6 months old based on being gone for a month Harmony couldn’t keep her hands off of Anthony even if she wanted to nor did you have the heart to stop her.

As you looked to see the sleeping mother and child you closed your eyes once more allowing sleep to take you for just a bit longer before you felt a hand grasp your arm. Opening your eyes once more you looked to see Harmony smiling her brown eyes looking at you smiling as she tugged on your arm.

You slowly and carefully moved closer making sure to leave some space for little Anthony before moving your arms to wrap around Harmony and Anthony and closed your eyes once more taking in that strawberry scent you had missed for so long.

After sleeping for a few hours taking a shower and getting ready for the day you laid in bed as Harmony played with Anthony rubbing her nose with his before she spoke. “So do you have any plans for today I mean it is Saturday after all.” She said as she lifted up a laughing Anthony into the air.

I think just being with you two is all I need for now you said laying back on the bed with Harmony and Anthony next to you. However Harmony soon reached out a hand stroking your lower face which of course was still covered in stubble before she spoke. “You know I have to say that stubble really is a nice look for you Nathan.”

You only smiled before replying. “I’ll be sure to keep it then but no that we are together again when do you think we can you know?” You said gesturing with your eyes. Harmony sighed smiling before replying. “Still perverted I see however your are right how about tonight after dinner and this little guy is sound asleep!” She said rubbing her nose with little Anthony. You only nodded planning in your mind the perfect plan for tonight when Harmony spoke up.

“But I want an explanation for those scars on your face and body mister because those weren’t there a month ago and by the looks of those they look like they have been there for years.” The room temperature dropped severely, Anthony went silent along with Harmony before she spoke. “I’m sorry I-“

“No your right these scars weren’t there a month ago and I guess you deserve to know but your gonna tell me where you got those bruises right after I’m done.” you said as you stood up taking off your sweater, untied your black skull tie and then reluctantly you unbuttoned your white shirt before shedding that off as well exposing your bare skin to the cold air.

You heard a gasp and closed your eyes sighing before beginning to explain. “When I was 10 the Ministry run orphanage I lived in was overflowing underfunded and understaffed with no foreseeable I did what most kids did we walked away to try and make our own luck on the streets of South Wellington.”

“It didn’t take long for us to realize how many of us became orphans with the cripples and invalids fresh from the Stevensville Conflict we never stood a chance out on the streets. We fought like animals **** as our constant companion with those who could use magic forcibly recruited into gangs or killed of course not everyone was killed I was one of the lucky few who did break under their **** methods.”

You sighed clenching your fist. “By the time I was 18 was alone I scraped by learning quickly how to pick both magical and regular locks and breaking into homes stealing to survive. Then one day I saw a poster for the Ash Forest Academy entrance exams the first one free and open anybody with no entrance fees and possible full ride scholarships for students from South-Wellington of course I tried my luck and well I got in, accessed my father’s trust fund that he set up for me, met you, fell in love, made love, became a father at 19, and well here we are.” You said turning to face Harmony as you put a T-shirt on.

“Now your turn Harmony who hurt you.” You said authority laced in your voice. Harmony seemed to shrink away kissing Anthony’s little head as clapped his little hands looking up at his mother before Harmony spoke.

“My father he umm well after you left he tried to umm..”

Harmony looked away holding Anthony closer to her chest before he took her finger in his little hands causing Harmony to smile before she spoke again. “He tried to get me back, tried to get me return home with home and bring Anthony along as well but I stood up to him and told him to go to hell.”

Harmony brushed some hair to the side before continuing. “He umm didn’t take to kindly to that and well thats how I got those bruises.” Harmony said watching as Anthony tried to stick her finger into his mouth. Sighing you walked over giving Anthony your finger as his eyes lit up before he took Harmony’s finger and your and jammed them together laughing as the two fingers poked each other.

“I know you want to do something about it but please don’t it’ll only make things worse and well I don’t want to give my father any more ammunition because I think he’s trying to get his hands on our son.” Harmony said tightening her grip on Anthony. You smiled placing a kiss on her forehead as you placed a hand on Anthony head stroking his little tuff of blond hair.

“Hell or high water your father won’t lay a hand on our son not if we have anything say about it the Ashcroft family name dies with him Anthony BlackThorn is just that a BlackThorn heir to the company I built and no one’s taking him from us not without one hell of a fight.” You said as you and Harmony wrapped your arms much to Anthony’s confusion as he looked up between the two of you confused before happily giggling as you began to tickle him.