Sweetheart. - III

                                    

                                          


Warnings - mentions of self-harm, no physical sh happens
Enjoy!
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It had been two months since Charlotte had sent off the divorce papers, and the papers requesting full custody of her children. Both had been approved and the court date was in a week. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't terrified, Mia had been such a huge help but she had to go into court alone, she'd been gathering evidence of him abandoning their children and cussing her out over the phone, along with the multiple voice notes and photos of him cheating, which he had deleted, but Charlotte had screenshots. She knew it would be alright, the court would never leave children that young with a Dad that shit, but she still couldn't help but get scared every time she thought about it. She desperately wanted a good life for her babies, but she couldn't give them that with him around. They were starting school this year and their 5th birthday was coming up, she wanted to sort her life out before they started school.
She'd grown closer to Mia since their talk in the preschool room, Mia had been such a huge help with all of this, Charlotte's mental health was strained more and more each day, but Mia kept reminding her how special she was and that it was going to be alright. Charlotte was so madly in love with her, she could barely keep her hands to herself with Mia around, she always wanted to hold her hand, Mia would hold hers back but it still felt strange, Charlotte had never been in a relationship with a woman before, but she knew Mia would let her navigate through it how she wanted to if they ever got together. Charlotte really hoped they would. She was so close to breaking and wanted to talk to Mia, but didn't want to keep burdening her with the same issues, so didn't. Which would have the most extreme effect on her and everyone around her Charlotte had ever seen.
(8 days later)
She'd done it. She'd won custody of the girls, and finalised her divorce with her now ex husband. She felt strange though, she didn't feel happy, she felt like she'd torn the girls apart, that was their father and they now no longer had a father in their lives and Charlotte felt guilty from walking away from that, even if he was a dick, the girls wouldn't even understand they'd just think she didn't want them to see their father. Every time they'd asked she'd said he was on a work trip, now they'd been in a courtroom and seen him what was she meant to say now? As soon as she'd put the girls to bed for the night she broke down in tears. She felt like she'd stripped the girls of their childhood, and as for herself? She felt like she'd lost her entire world. Her husband, Cameron, never really showed Char any type of affection or love, he was forever bringing home other women and sleeping with them in the guest room when the girls were asleep and he thought Charlotte wouldn't hear him. She heard him. She heard him every time. However, there were good moments when the twins first arrived. For the first 2 years he was such a good dad to them, and showed Char so much love and helped her with the healing process, she couldn't ever come to terms with what made him change on her like that. In total honesty she never wanted to know. She'd blocked and deleted his number, so he could never contact her again, but was worried another one of his mistresses would message her again, like before. Most times when he bought girls home, they'd message Char later with something along the lines of 'he wasted his looks on a girl like you, shame he's with you really, he deserves better' and Charlotte hated it. She'd began cutting herself every time he bought a new girl over. She'd got scars on her arms due to him, and she hated them, even Mia didn't know about them.
She was pulled back to reality when her phone rang. She quickly wiped her eyes and cleared her throat before answering, not bothering to check the name. "Hello?" she spoke quietly, desperately trying to keep her voice from cracking.
"Are you okay baby?" Mia's voice rang through her ears. Charlotte blinked back her tears, it was 12am, why was Mia calling?
"I'm fine, why are you calling at midnight? You have work."
"So do you sweetheart, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't shake the feeling something was going on with you and...I don't know I just had to call" Mia explained, sheepishly. That was all Char needed before she broke down crying. "I feel like I've made the wrong choice, Mia. I've ruined their childhood, their dad was a prick but at least they had that figure in their life, now they only have me. I miss him, I miss the times he actually loved me and didn't run off with other women for the last 2 and a half years. He used to be amazing with the girls Mia. I don't know what happened. I don't know what I did to make him leave me." she rambled, sobbing her eyes out. She could hear keys jangling on the other end. "Don't move baby, I'm coming over, is the door open?"
"No...no but your key is still under the flowerpots" 
"I'll be there in 20 minutes, it is not your fault darling, he was a useless, pathetic little man, he left you because he knew you were too good for him and he needed to seek validation from other whores because he was attention hungry. That's what men do, if they don't get enough attention due to children or changes in life they kick off and go to find it in others. It's disgusting but none of it is to do with you baby, you'd just had twins, they needed attention too and he got jealous. Narcissistic idiot" Mia ranted, she sounded angry but Charlotte knew it wasn't at her. "I still haven't told anybody about any of this, I don't know if I'll be ready for a long time" Charlotte admitted, still crying but had calmed down a little. "That's fine baby, we'll work through this together. I'll drop you to work tomorrow and I'll drive you home, we'll pick up the girls and take them to the park, I'd love to meet them" 
"You would?.."
"Of course baby, you up for it?" Charlotte smiled at that, nobody ever showed much interest in her children if she had any romantic connection with someone, which she only had once because she was desperate, and it lasted for 3 days. She agreed to Mia's plan and they talked about anything but the divorce as Mia drove to Char's, only hanging up once she reached Charlotte's bedroom door. As soon as she saw Mia, Charlotte broke down all over again. "Oh, sweetheart.." Mia walks over and lays down on the bed, Charlotte instantly cuddles up to her and Mia runs her fingers through her hair. They spent hours talking about Char's divorce. It was really therapeutic for Char, she needed the support and she was glad she had it with Mia, she confessed she was really struggling mentally due to the guilt and Mia reassured her she was there for her, and she made sure Char knew she'd move the earth for her. 
She'd move it over and over if Char ever needed her to.