Oliver Thorton

Johanna wasn’t speaking to him currently and Oliver really couldn’t blame her either. She was getting burnt out just sitting at home taking care of Sam while James and Oliver were off having a life. She had sat Oliver down just a couple of days prior and gave him an earful. She didn’t have his baby so that he ‘could say [he] has a baby while not doing anything to support said child’. There had also been a lot of choice curse words before Johanna had stormed from the house in a huff and didn’t return that night.

James had been in the kitchen and had, of course, heard the entire conversation. He couldn’t believe the harsh things that came out of Johanna’s mouth. He knew that Sam was Oliver’s world and it wasn’t that he was out having a ‘wonderful life’ - as she had snarled between clenched teeth - it was that he was working 16 hours a day to put food on the table and pay the bills.

Oliver was hurt. He was very hurt and the first thing he had done was cradle Sam while crying on the phone to Benjamin.

“She doesn’t mean any of it, love, she’s just tired is all. It’s not easy taking care of a six month old and she just needs some time to herself every once in a while.”
Oliver didn’t even stop to love the fact that Benjamin had called him ‘love’ - which he had done before.

“I know that!” Oliver sobbed out. “But what does she think I do all day? I’m on my feet, 16 hours every single day working my ass off so she can sit cozy at home and not have to worry about a single bill or how we’re going to eat for the next month. How dare she say those things to me when I would give anything not to have to work like this?”

Benjamin sighed on the other end. The man ran a hand down his face and pet Marvin for comfort. He hadn’t seen Oliver since their ‘not-date’ after Christmas, over three weeks ago. Oliver had been working himself ragged in an attempt to make up for the work he had missed when his brother was around and make up the money he had spent on gifts. It hurt Benjamin to see the younger man work himself so hard, but there was nothing he could do or say that could help in this situation.

And he was angry at Johanna for going off on Oliver like she had. She knew how much he was working and yet she still found the gall to yell at him for it not being enough. Benjamin knew that she shouldn’t be angry at Johanna, she was burnt out - understandable - but Benjamin’s crush for Oliver grew every single day and it was hard to see anyone hurt him in any way, shape or form.

“I mean, what does she want me to do? Quit my job and stay home with Sam while she goes out and has a life? And then where would we be? The streets? With a baby? But that wouldn’t matter to her, no, as long as she was happy having a life!”

Benjamin stayed silent. He knew it was best to let Oliver get out all of his frustration. Better over the phone than going off on Johanna and having a real fight break out.

And that’s how they were in the current position. It had been two days. Oliver was floored that Johanna could fault him for trying to make a better life for their child and Johanna...she was just angry. To say that she was angry at Oliver would not necessarily be the honest truth. She wasn’t sure what she was angry at anymore.

Johanna had been down for a while before she ever went off on Oliver. She looked at her son and although she loved him with every last bit of herself, she couldn’t help but realize that this was all her life was going to be. She had given up everything to stay with her son. She had wanted to go to school, but how was that going to be possible? Oliver was working himself ragged just to afford the roof over their heads, James was getting serious with the date that no one had yet to meet and Johanna...well she was alone. All the time. With the baby.

And bless her dear friend Charlotte for attempting to console her and make her feel better, but Charlotte was still young - and not stupid, Johanna thought bitterly - she had her life ahead of her and she living it, plus she also worked at the restaurant while taking culinary classes at the college.

Johanna wanted her life back.

She cradled her six month old son to her as she made her way down the isles of the supermarket, combing for baby Advil. Sam had come down with a dreadful cold and the poor child was miserable. That and his front tooth was threatening an exposure and his gums bothered him something mad.

She couldn’t help but let her mind wander once again to the conversation - yelling - she had had with Oliver. She felt guilty about what she had said. She realized that he had taken on 16 hour shifts at the shop in order to pay the bills and make up lost time. She knew that and yet she had yelled at him that he was neglecting their son and forcing her to do everything while he went out and enjoyed himself. She wanted to hit herself every time the conversation replayed in her mind. Enjoy himself? According to Charlotte, Benjamin and Oliver hadn’t seen each other in close to a month and Benjamin was worried about the boy working too hard to be healthy.

And yet she had told him that it hadn’t been enough. All Oliver every wanted to do - from the very beginning - was make a better life for Sam and he was trying his damn hardest. So why was it that she found the nerve to tell him that he was doing the exact opposite? She didn’t know how that must have felt for Oliver to hear. According to Charlotte, - who had heard from Benjamin - Oliver had been sobbing over the phone to Ben about how hurt he was. He was second guessing his choices and wondering if he was doing wrong to Sam for working so much and missing so much of his life.
But really, what choice did he have? Oliver was pressured to purchase the home in which they currently reside and it seems to be too much for the man. She didn’t know that Oliver had put his car - the Christmas present from James - up for sale in order to make more money to put towards the bills so that he could get somewhat of a short break from all of his hard work.

She would find out though, through Charlotte - who had heard from Benjamin - a few hours later when they were on the phone with one another. And Johanna would start to cry and bawl and sob loudly. James would have to come and comfort her to the best of his ability while not knowing what was wrong. She had never felt so guilty in her life. Why did she have to say such cruel things?

...

Oliver was miserable. He spent as much time as he could with Sam, going as far as once spending the night on his nursery floor because he didn’t want to be separated from him. And why did he feel the need to do this?

He had heard Johanna speaking to her mother. She wanted to go home.



“She’s not going to take him from you, Oli.” Benjamin rubbed his hands soothingly down Oliver’s back. It was one of those rare days when either of them had a day off. What was even more rare was the fact that they both had a day off at the same time.
Benjamin had made the short trip to Oliver’s home. James was sitting beside the two on the bed, Sam cooing away in front of his dad, sucking on his fingers and looking around happily.

“I heard her, Ben.” Oliver sniffled. “She wants to go home and there’s no way that she’s leaving without Sam. She might not have wanted him in the beginning, but she wants him now and she’s not going anywhere without him.”

Benjamin and James shared the same look of concern as Oliver buried his face in his pillow continued to cry. He had done nothing but cry since he overheard the conversation between Johanna and her mother a few days prior. He mostly stayed in the office while at work, using the excuse that he had too much paperwork to catch up on. That was somewhat true, but Oliver had absorbed himself in so much paperwork that he needn’t do anything for another month and he would still be caught up.

“Johanna is your friend and I know that she feels absolutely horrible about what she said to you. Charlotte says she’s been crying her eyes out the past week and she just doesn’t know what to do with herself. Maybe she will leave Sam because she might just...need time for herself.” Benjamin attempted. Both him and James had been attempting all morning to no avail.

“No...she won’t leave him. She’s his mother and she loves him more than anything. And if she felt guilty then maybe she would come and apologize. What? Does she think I wouldn’t forgive her for being so daft and rude?”

James sighed.

“You two need to stop this. It’s getting out of hand. You used to be the best of friends and now look at you! You guys need to sit down and talk about this like the adults you are! I’ve called your brother and he completely agrees with me.”

Oliver had been ignoring Thomas’s incessant phone calls. He knew that his brother was just worried about him, but he didn’t want to hear what he should be doing about this situation.

“When’s Thomas’s next break?” Benjamin asked James in a low voice. Oliver still heard, but
pretended to be focused on flattening his son’s unruly curls.

“Reading week is in February. He had been planning on staying at the school to study for his exams, but he says it might be best if he came down for a few days.”
Oliver didn’t want to hear that. As much as he loved his brother, he didn’t want to see him at the moment...or any moment anytime soon.
Benjamin’s phone began to vibrate and he excused himself from the room to answer it. It was Charlotte.

“Now’s not really the best time, sis. Oliver’s having a mental breakdown.”
Charlotte sighed. She hated seeing two people she knew and loved behave like this.

“Yeah, well I just got a message from Johanna saying that she might not be staying for much longer. She’s under way too much stress and she says she needs some time away from all of this to rethink her life plans.”
It was Benjamin’s turn to sigh.

“Oliver heard her talking to her mother on the phone. she’s worried that Johanna’s going to take Sam from him.”

“Honestly, I’m worried about that too. She keeps talking about how Sam’s too much for Oliver to deal with and how she thrust a baby on him too soon. She doesn’t seem to realize that had Oliver not wanted Sam, he wouldn’t be alive right now!”

“Can you try talking to her? Or try talking her into coming home right now. I think her and Oliver need to sit down and have a long talk.”

...

James was rocking a fussy Sam on his hip, attempting to get him to take the bottle. Both him and Benjamin had been ushered upstairs with the baby. Johanna had come home from one of her friends’ and they had immediately thrust her and Oliver into the same room and shut the door behind them.

“You think this’ll get settled?” James asked. “I mean, what if she really takes Sam and goes back to Glasgow?”

“Then I think it’ll take a long time for Oliver to pick up the pieces and even contemplate moving on.”

“You know what would happen right? He would just pack up his things and move right next door or something. He’s not going to accept his son being more than 7 hours away from him!”

Benjamin sighed. It was true. If Johanna left with Sam, Oliver was sure to follow. And then a very selfish thought ran through his head. Benjamin stopped himself before he could give himself a nice slap on the ear; he didn’t want Oliver to go. He wanted Oliver to stay with him. But how could he think that? Benjamin wasn’t more important than Sam and he knew that. It still didn’t stop the thoughts.

It was quiet. Sam was holding onto Benjamin’s fingers and bouncing himself on the floor, completely unaware that he was the cause of all of this fright. A little white nub had appeared on top of his bottom gum and Sam took great pleasure in biting people with it.

But he was just so innocent. A happy squeal left his lips as Benjamin began bouncing him on his knee.
Benjamin wondered how he had gotten himself involved in all of this. He never wanted any distraction from that third star and now here he was, practically in love with a man who had a child. How much more distracted can you get with a kid? And yet...he wasn’t complaining in the least bit. He loved Sam, he really did. The baby was adorable in every sense of the word and he would do anything to see him smile. Just like he would do anything to see Oliver smile. Especially in times like this when he was under so much stress.

Both James and Benjamin jumped from their seats when they heard soft footsteps coming up the stairs. Both waited anxiously until the door opened.

There was no expression on Oliver’s face. He simply walked up to Benjamin, took his son from the man’s arms and left the room without making a sound.
James and Benjamin turned to one another. What did this mean? Is Johanna taking Sam to Glasgow with her? Is she staying?

“What the hell does that mean?” James finally broke the silence after two long minutes.
Benjamin shrugged.

“Beats me. I’m going to call Charlotte, maybe Johanna told her something.”

“Yeah, I’ll call Thomas and let him know...whatever the hell that was...”
Both men nodded and turned to opposite sides of the room, pulling out their phones.
Thomas picked up on the third ring. James smirked. It was always on the third ring.

“I just ran out of class, this better be good. What’s going on?” Thomas rushed out. He never left class for any reason other than to use the washroom and even then he would prefer to hold it in.
James recalled what happened. From him sitting on the chair to feed Sam to Oliver just taking his son and leaving the room without word or expression. Thomas began to panic.

“But what does that mean?” He almost yelled out before realizing that he was in a very busy hall.

“I don’t know! You’re his twin, I thought you’d know.”
Thomas growled into the phone. James could be very thick sometimes.
On the other side of the room, Benjamin had just finished explaining to his sister what had recently happened as well. She seemed just as stumped at the rest of them.

“Did she say anything to you about what she was planning on doing? He wasn’t smiling or anything, so it couldn’t have been anything good.”

Charlotte groaned and repeated that Johanna hadn’t told her a single word as to what she was planning on doing. She did agree that it couldn’t be anything good.

Both men hurried hung up their phones - Thomas had still been talking when James threw his cell on the ground - when Oliver’s small voice was heard calling them down the stairs. They wanted to trample down as quick as they could, but knew that it would be foolish and not help the situation in any way.

The two eventually made it and came face to face with a very glum Oliver and Johanna, whose eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

“Guys, um,” Oliver began, taking a deep breath. “Johanna’s pregnant again...she doesn’t know who the father is...”