Henry (The Beck Brothers)

by Large, Andria

  His mother's eyes flicked to Claire for the first time since she barged in. " And who is she?", Anne asked as if Claire wasn't sitting right there next to him.

  " Claire is my per...my friend", Henry said, catching himself before saying personal assistant. His mother was weird about mixing work and personal life. God forbid she showed up when Asher was over to watch a football game or something. He had to listen to her rant about how he shouldn't be friends with his employees. " Claire, this is my mother, Anne"

  " Your friend? Since when do you have women friends?", Anne asked, eyebrow raised in challenge, completely ignoring the introduction.

  Henry clenched his teeth and glared at his mother. Claire shifted uncomfortably next to him. Goddammit! " You don't have to stay mom, I'm just going to finish my soup and go back to sleep, there's really nothing for you to do here"

  " So Claire is going to leave too then?", Anne asked.

  Jesus, she was acting like a jealous lover or something. His mother was so afraid that if her sons gave their attentions to another woman then they would forget about her. She really made their love lives very difficult. And it wasn't a surprise that only one of them had gotten married so far, even though that was now over. Their mother had run off so many potential wives between the four of them, it wasn't even funny.

  " Eventually", Henry replied evenly while inside he was livid.

  " I can go", Claire whispered to him.

  Henry's head snapped around to look at her, " No", he bit out. He would not let his mother run Claire off. Claire glanced at his mother then back at him and opened her mouth to protest but Henry cut her off before she could speak, " No", he said firmly, giving her his best don't-argue-with-me-face.

  Claire rolled her lips in like she always did when she wanted to argue but wouldn't. Henry turned back to his mother to find her watching him, her face hardened and her eyes narrowed at him. Henry narrowed his eyes right back at her.

  " Fine, you don't need me, I'll go find Sebastian", Anne snapped, making Henry feel only a twinge of guilt.

  Anne leaned down, kissed his forehead then left without a word. Henry slumped back against the headboard and banged his head a couple times against the soft leather. Shit, that had sucked. Not as bad as some other times. And he was a bit confused by how easily his mother gave in. She usually fought harder then that. Maybe she was preoccupied by why Sebastian was here.

  " Not that I ever really expected to meet your mother Henry, but that was definitely not how I saw it going", Claire said quietly, as if afraid his mother was listening in.

  Henry couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled out of him. Claire too started to giggle. Henry rolled his head against the backboard so that he could look at her. Claire brushed her strawberry blonde hair out of her face as she turned to smile at him. Henry's damn heart fluttered. She was just so beautiful.

  She nodded at the bowl of soup, " Finish up so you can go back to sleep"

  Henry nodded and went back to eating the delicious soup Claire made.

  Chapter 6

  Sebastian sat on the couch in the living room, looking for a job on his iPad. There weren't a lot of gunsmiths needed. He put a couple applications in but hadn't heard anything back yet. He was hoping that his mother was took busy babying Henry to worry about why he was here. He hadn't told her about Victoria yet and he really didn't want to.

  " Oh, there you are", came his mother Anne's voice as she entered the room.

  Sebastian stifled a groan and hung his head. Lifting his head back up, he looked at his mom as she walked into the living room. " I thought you were torturing Henry"

  " Ha ha, very funny. He's got that little twit up there with him and apparently doesn't need me", Anne sneered.

  Sebastian felt his hackles rise. He liked Claire. And he liked Claire for Henry. She was good for him. He would not let his mother ruin another one of Henry's relationships. For whatever reason, his mom was especially prickly when it came to the women Henry brought around. She ran off every woman that Henry brought around. Sebastian wasn't going to let her do that with Claire.

  " Claire is sweet, she cares about Henry and Henry cares about her, you should at least give her a chance", Sebastian said, trying to keep his tone light.

  His mother gave him a dry look that pretty much said "Yeah right" before changing the subject, " So what are you doing here my darling son? Why didn't you tell me you were coming? And where is Victoria?", Anne asked, looking around as if she expected Victoria to walk into the room at any minute.

  Sebastian raked a hand through his hair. " She's not here"

  His mother raised a curious eyebrow at him, " Really? You two usually don't go anywhere without each other"

  Sebastian shrugged.

  " How long are you staying?", Anne asked, her eyes narrowing on him.

  Shit, shit, shit! He had to tell her. No matter how much he didn't want to. " Mom, sit down, I've got something to tell you", he mumbled.

  Anne set her hands on her hips and pursed her lips. She wanted to argue, he could tell. But she eventually went and sat on the wing back chair that sat across from him. " Okay, what is it?"

  Sebastian put his iPad on the couch next to him then turned to his mother. " Victoria wants a divorce", he sighed.

  Anne sputtered and shot up out of her chair. " What?!", she screeched.

  " She's been cheating on me with some male model named Julian and she wants to be with him, not me, so she wants a divorce", Sebastian said.

  Anne's face turned red, her fists clenched at her sides, " That bitch!"

  " Yeah, that's what I said", Sebastian snorted.

  " You told her to forget it right? That you won't divorce her?"

  Sebastian frowned, " Uh no, I told her to send me the papers asap"

  " Sebastian! How can you just give her what she wants so easily? At least make it hard for her!", Anne snapped, stomping her foot.

  Sebastian shook his head, " No, I just want it done and over with, I don't want to see her again, I just want her out of my life"

  " This is unacceptable!"

  Sebastian sighed and stood up. " It's not up to you mom", he said and started for the kitchen. And of course his mother followed, jabbering on about how he needed to make this hard for Victoria, for him not to give in so quickly, blah blah blah.

  Claire took Henry's empty bowl and glass back down to the kitchen. She rinsed them and put them in the dishwasher. She jumped when she heard Sebastian let out a sharp curse before stomping into the kitchen with his mother in tow.

  " See, this is why I don't tell you shit!", Sebastian snarled.

  " You can't let her get away with this Sebastian", Anne snapped.

  Sebastian rounded on his mother, " What the fuck do you want me to do?!", he cried, gesturing wildly with his hands, " She doesn't want me anymore, I can't make her love me!"

  The pain on Sebastian's face was almost too much for Claire. She wanted to go over and hug him, tell him it would be okay. Claire looked to Anne, hoping she would see what this conversation was doing to her son. But Anne looked furious, her light green eyes sparking with anger. Which Claire understood. Someone hurt her baby and she wanted revenge.

  " Call a lawyer, take her for everything she's got, she made you move out there and...", Anne argued.

  " No!", Sebastian snapped, cutting her off, " No, I just want to forget about her, I don't want some long drawn out divorce, I just want it done and over with", Sebastian sighed heavily, shoving both hands into his blonde hair and closing his eyes.

  " Well, I'm going to call her and give her a piece of my mind", Anne said furiously, her fists balled at her sides.

  " You will not", Sebastian bit out, his head snapping up to look at her, " Do not call her, just let it go", he pleaded.

  " Damnit Sebastian", Anne barked, stomping her foot, " I have to do something!"

  " Why? Why do you have to do something?", Sebastian demanded.

  " I can not stand by while some bitch rips my sons
heart out and gets away scott free! She's not going to mess with my family thinking that no one will say anything to her. She needs to know that what she's doing is wrong!"

  Claire remained silent where she stood at the sink. She wasn't even sure if they knew she was there. Henry had said on many occasions that his mother was overbearing and always in their business. Well Claire was seeing that first hand. And she felt horrible for Sebastian.

  Sebastian looked about ready to hit something. His jaw was clenched and bulging, Claire was surprised that she hasn't heard his teeth cracking. His nose was flaring and his eyes were rimmed with unshed tears. Damn Anne, she was really doing a number on him. Claire couldn't take it anymore.

  Claire filled a glass with water and grabbed the ibuprofen. She walked over to Sebastian and held them out, " Sebastian, can you please bring these to Henry?"

  Sebastian's green eyes flicked to hers. He took the glass and pill bottle as he blinked, the tears slipping down his cheeks, his face closed off as he turned and headed out of the room. Claire watched him leave, knowing that when she turned back to Anne, she was going to get an earful.

  " And just who do you think you are?!", Anne squawked.

  Claire sighed and turned to face the older woman. " I'm sorry, but he's heartbroken right now and doesn't need you getting involved", she said softly.

  Anne sputtered, " You think I don't know that my own son is heartbroken?!"

  " I'm sure you do Mrs. Beck, but I don't think you can see how much you're hurting him with what you're saying"

  Anne's eyes flashed, " Oh you've got a lot of nerve! How dare you tell me what to say to my son!"

  " I'm not telling you what to say, I just think it'd be better if you didn't say anything at all, other then being supportive of his wishes", Claire frowned. This was not going well.

  Anne stared daggers at her for a few moments before turning, grabbing her purse off the counter and storming out of the house. Claire was shocked. She expected to have to argue with her some more to get her to understand. But she didn't know if this was a good or bad thing. And she didn't know how Henry was going to take it.

  Henry was just returning to his bedroom from using the bathroom when Sebastian burst through his bedroom door. He had a glass of water in one hand and a pill bottle in the other. He had tears running down his face and he kept sniffing. Damn, mom must have got a hold of him.

  " Hey, you alright?", Henry asked gently, going over and taking the glass and pills from him.

  Sebastian covered his face with his hands as soon as they were free and shook his head. " She wants to call Victoria"

  Henry groaned, " Fuck"

  " Your woman fucking saved me, she told me to bring you the glass and pills then threw herself to the shark", Sebastian said in awe, wiping the tears from his face.

  Henry stared at Sebastian, " You left Claire with mom?", he asked dryly.

  " She saved me", Sebastian whispered, his eyes wide.

  " Jesus Christ", Henry bit out, raking a hand through his hair.

  " Claire is amazing, you know that right?", Sebastian murmured.

  Henry climbed back in bed, his body still achy and tired, " I do know"

  " I think she cares for you", Sebastian said quietly.

  " We're friends", Henry sighed, closing his eyes, wishing they were more then that.

  " No, I think she really cares for you, like more then a friend", Sebastian replied.

  Henry had no reply. Nothing could be done about it anyway. She worked for him. He didn't date people who worked for him. It was extremely unprofessional. Even if she was totally perfect and absolutely gorgeous. And made him chicken soup.

  " I approve, just so you know, I think she's perfect for you", Sebastian said quietly just as Henry drifted off to sleep.

  Henry was woken by his bed being jostled. He'd been out of work for a week just like Claire had said. He was finally starting to feel better but it was now Saturday. Claire had spent the whole week taking care of him, making sure his fever stayed down and making sure he ate and drank enough. She was amazing just like Sebastian said. And Henry was falling for her hard. Henry heard a little giggle as a small body climbed all over him. Henry smiled. Ethan.

  Two small hands cupped his cheeks, " Wake up, Henwee", Ethan whispered.

  Henry could hear Claire stifling a laugh by the end of the bed. Henry cracked open his eyes and was met by the cutest little boy he's ever seen. His mop of blonde curls and big blue eyes were enough to melt even the hardest of hearts.

  " Hi", Ethan chirped when he saw that Henry was awake.

  " Hi buddy", Henry murmured sleepily and ruffled Ethan's hair.

  Ethan clamored off of Henry to let him stretch and sit up. Ethan bounced on his knees next to Henry, who rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He looked up to Claire looking as gorgeous as ever standing at the end of the bed, bright smile on her beautiful face, her arms crossed over her chest.

  " Henwee, I make dis for you", Ethan said, holding up a piece of red construction paper.

  Henry took it and looked at it. Claire had written Get Well Henry at the top of the page while Ethan scribbled in different colors underneath. Henry glanced at Claire, who was watching with complete adoration on her face. Then he looked over at Ethan, who was just beaming.

  " This is the best gift anyone has ever given me, thank you Ethan, it makes me feel so much better", Henry said sincerely, giving Ethan a soft smile.

  Ethan flung his arms around Henry's neck. Henry wrapped his arms around the little boy who just made his whole year. How could he have ever thought he didn't want kids? The love he felt for this little boy was unimaginable. Especially since he's only seen him once before. But there seemed to be some kind of connection between them. Just like him and Claire seemed to have some kind of special connection.

  He's always felt different about her. He's never treated her the same as his other assistants. From the first moment he laid eyes on her, he knew she was different. She was kind and caring and beautiful and sexy and she's grown to actually mean something to him. Especially after this week. But what could he do about it? Nothing, if he wanted her to remain his assistant.

  Ethan let him go and sat on Henry's lap, facing him, " Henwee, you come park with me?", Ethan asked, his big blue eyes hopeful.

  " Ethan, I told you, Henry might not feel well enough to come out yet", Claire said gently, moving forward to his side of the bed.

  Henry brushed Ethan's hair off his forehead, " I think we can go to the park", he smiled.

  Ethan bounced, " Yay!", he exclaimed, clapping his hands.

  Claire sat down on the bed next to Henry's hip, facing him. She placed her hand on his thigh, " Are you sure you're feeling up to it?", she asked quietly.

  Henry patted her hand, " I'm feeling pretty good, I think I can go out"

  Claire nodded, " Okay"

  Henry turned back to Ethan, " Let me get a shower and something to eat then we can go, okay?"

  Ethan nodded excitedly and climbed off of Henry's lap. Claire gave his thigh a squeeze, drawing his attention.

  " Are you sure?", She asked quietly.

  Henry nodded, " I'm good", he murmured, slipping his hand over hers.

  Claire's hand was soft and warm under his. Henry met her blue gaze. They searched each other's eyes for a moment. Something passed between them. Something Henry couldn't think about right now. There were too many complications that he didn't want to deal with.

  Claire took Ethan downstairs to the kitchen to wait for Henry to get a shower and get ready. She sat Ethan down at the table where he played with the toy car he brought. Claire then went about making breakfast for Henry and Sebastian, who was sure to show with the smell of bacon.

  It didn't take long for Sebastian to shuffle into the kitchen in a pair of sweatpants. He yawned, stretched and scratched his bare chest. His blonde hair was a mess and his face was covered in stubble. Sebastian was a fine looking man, almost as gorgeous as Henry.

  Sebas
tian gave her a tired smile and a kiss on the cheek, " Morning lovely", he murmured.

  Claire gave him a soft but confused smile at his affection. He didn't seem to notice since he saw Ethan sitting at the table. Sebastian started towards him, " And who is this little guy?", he asked with a smirk.

  " My son Ethan, Ethan this is Henry's brother Sebastian, can you say hi?", Claire prompted.