H O P K I R K (houseofleaves) wrote in valesco,
@ 2008-07-17 14:14:00

WHO: Mafalda & Tobias
WHAT: DIVORCE
WHERE: Hooomee

Tobias honestly couldn't believe what he was reading. Mafalda knew he'd had an affair, Estella had betrayed his trust and told her, and now she wanted a divorce. After everything. After he'd ended things. After he'd left his lover out of love for his wife. And she was pregnant. He wasn't an idiot. He knew this was his fault, but he also knew that he didn't want to lose Mafalda. He didn't want to lose the family he'd come to love more than anything else. He just had to make Mafalda understand that it had all been a mistake and that he would never do something like that again. There was no other option. He loved Mafalda, and he wasn't going to stand idly by and let her leave him.

He got one of the other healers to cover for him and apparated home, looking for his wife. "Mal?" he called. "We need to talk! If you think I'm just going to accept this, you're mistaken. We can work through this, love. There's no need to be rash." Of course she was being rash, saying she was going to leave him while she was pregnant. "Please, Mal, just talk to me. Please"

Mafalda was not in the mood to deal with Tobias. Not even a little. Through journals was one thing, she could contain herself and abuse him through words, but in person was completely different. It wouldn't be her fault if she just happened to throw a piece of furniture in his direction. Not her fault at all.

She had suspected an affair, but desperately tried to reassure herself. When they were together after she got out of the hospital, her suspicions were hushed, however they were raised shortly after by shady behaviour. Hearing his voice, Mal decided to start packing faster. Caleigh was asleep, but she would wake her when it was time to leave. She zipped up her suitcase quickly, deciding she'd come back for more when she new Tobias wouldn't be there.

Heaving it off the bed, she hauled it down the stairs, only to see him standing there calling for her. "I'm leaving," she hissed, tears welling up in her red rimmed eyes. Her cheeks were stained and her eyes swollen from all the crying she had done. As much as she didn't want to do this, she felt it was necessary. Especially if it meant keeping the children safe. What kind of life would either child have if they were in a home where the mother loved her husband and her husband loved another man? It just wasn't a good environment.

(Post a new comment)

icarus
2008-07-17 07:45 pm UTC (link)

Shite, she had a bag? No way. Tobias wasn't just going to let Mafalda leave, no, she was pregnant and had their daughter too. He couldn't let her leave without talking this through. She had to let him talk, because if she left then it really was over and Tobias would just die if Mafalda left him. "No, no you're not leaving, because you're pregnant and hysterical. I will leave if you want, but not until you've let me talk. Please talk to me."

Tobias was pathetic sounding, but there was no way he couldn't. His life was about to fall to pieces around him. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to figure out what to say next. Apologize, of course, but how did one apologize for something like this? Maybe you couldn't but Tobias would try. "I'm sorry. If there was a way to make it sound less cliché, I would, but it's never happening again. Please believe me, its been over for months and I only love you. Truly."

(Reply to this)(Thread)

houseofleaves
2008-07-17 08:01 pm UTC (link)

"Well, I'm not bloody staying," she spat, dropping her suitcase on the floor, arms crossed as she glared at him. He had no right to tell her whether or not she could leave. Just because he was her husband didn't mean he had absolute power over her. Hell, he had no power over her. "I don't feel comfortable raising children with you anymore, Toby. You've hurt our entire family and yours." She blinked hard, letting her tears fall, though doing her best to stay composed.

He could say anything he wanted to to keep her there, but Mafalda had no intentions of staying. His words were like a knife in her chest, but she refused to believe them. Desperately, her heart tried to tell her brain to forgive him, but it was a battle that was quickly over. "No, you love you, Tobias. You only care about you and what I can do for you." Which now a days, it seemed as if she could do nothing. Nothing right and nothing good. This family had been destroyed by a couple of words, but it certainly wouldn't be built up by a couple of apologies. "I can't be married to someone who cheated. You obviously don't love me or your daughter."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

icarus
2008-07-17 08:25 pm UTC (link)

"You need to stay. This is your home and Caleigh can't go either." He was going to be adamant on this part, she could very well lose this baby if she got too upset. He couldn't let that happen, but this was hi fault, entirely, no matter what he'd written to Estella. "Please don't go! We are adults and can be rational and talk about this."

Her words cut him to the quick, aside from this, he was a good father! "Mafalda, I do love you, I love Caleigh too. I'm crazy about you, always have been! I absolutely hate myself right now, I don't know how I could be so fucking stupid." He took a step forward but didn't touch her or reach out, fearing that she'd flinch away from him. "Mal, I'm so... if there was a word for how sorry I am, I would be that word, but there isn't one that can adequately express how much regret I have for hurting you."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

houseofleaves
2008-07-17 08:40 pm UTC (link)

"There is nothing you can say to change my mind!" She exclaimed, throwing her hands up in anger. "You've done nothing to prove me that it was a mistake but bitch about it. You lied to me. You're killing what belief I had left in you by even speaking right now. I should have known that you would have done this to me years ago." She rubbed her eyes and sat down on the arm of the couch, now rubbing her temples in frustration. "I devoted my life to you. I stayed home with Caleigh while you worked and I tried to be the best wife I could, but apparently I could have done more."

She wasn't being very adult about this at all, but Mafalda was stressed and acting rash and just all around extraordinarily upset under the circumstances. "I don't know what you think I should do, but forgiving you isn't what I'm going to do."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

icarus
2008-07-17 10:30 pm UTC (link)

"You're perfect, there's nothing you did or didn't do, Mafalda!" Tobias said, sounding a little exhasperated and putting his hands on his hips. "It was all me, I fucked up, I'm the idiot. I promised to love you and be faithful and I messed up, but you promised for better or worse and this is me at my worst. All I am asking of you is to not leave right now. You are a much better person than me, we can get through this."

He knelt on the floor next to her and the couch, looking pathetic and pleading. "I wil do anything to make this better. Please, tell me what I can do." Tobias was a very proud man, there was no one he would ever beg to, but Mafalda. She was his lifeline and Tobias thought he might just cry if she never forgave him.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

houseofleaves
2008-07-17 10:39 pm UTC (link)

She shook her head, trying to make sense of this. The more he talked, the more she wanted to punch him in the mouth and shut him up. And that thought was seriously tempting. They were so perfect for each other years ago, but now as she thought about him like this, maybe it was just time to let him go. "So wait, you broke your vows, but I'm a better person, so I'm not allowed to break mine? What the fuck is wrong with your logic? Did you get shagged stupid by this bloke or have you been this ridiculous since we met?" Yes, it was rash, but she had to say something to shut him up.

Watching him, she frowned, holding in threatening tears as he knelt down next to the couch. Idly, she ran a hand through his hair, though not of reassurance. "You don't understand how badly you've hurt me, Toby," she said quietly, her eyes welling up more. "Marriage is supposed to be forever. You wouldn't have cheated if you loved me, just admit it. I spent the last seven years of my life devoting myself to you and our family and I want to be able to do that for the rest of my life, but how can I trust you now? You've ruined everything."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

icarus
2008-07-17 11:15 pm UTC (link)

That did shut Tobias up, like a punch in the gut and ha closed his mouth with a click and just watched her. He felt absolutely wretched and horrible for being the one to make her cry, and when he touched his hair, her words brought tears to his eyes. Tobias let his head fall forward, onto her thigh and took a shuddering breath. She was right and how could she forgive him? ait had only been the thought of her dying that had brought him back to reality. "I'm sorry," he whispered and shook his head a little.

"I will do anything you want me to. Please don't leave me," Tobias said, clinging to her leg and feeling so ashamed of himelf. He ha done some pretty horrible things in his life, but he'd counteracted all of that with being at the hospital and saving lives. This had nothing he could do to make it okay. "I thought you were going to die," he whispered bleakly, referring to her being sick with the virus.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

houseofleaves
2008-07-17 11:47 pm UTC (link)

A sense of pride flooded Mafalda as he stopped talking for now. She knew that was crappy behavior, but he deserved to have that said to him. Her eyes narrowed as she cried silently to herself, still trying to make sense of this entire situation. His words tugged at her heart as she shook her head, fighting the urge to just forgive him all together.

"I won't," she whispered quietly, dropping her eyes. She couldn't leave him now after 7 years and a daughter that was three years old. It wouldn't be fair to the children to not have a father. Hearing that he thought she was going to die, Mafalda, began sobbing. She didn't like hearing that, but at least he cared enough to think of her.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

icarus
2008-07-18 12:18 am UTC (link)

Tobias was releaved to hear his wife say that she wasn't going to leave him, but he still felt so bad, as he listened to her sob. He invited himself onto the couch and pulled he lightly into his arms, leaving way for herto pull back if he wanted to, which he fully expected hr to and wouldn't hold it against her if she did. He pressed a kis to her temple and tried to calm her down, because this stress was definitely not good for the baby.

"Thank you," he said quietly, rubbing he back and holding her close. "Tell me what you need or what you want me to do and I will do it."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

houseofleaves
2008-07-18 12:43 am UTC (link)

The last thing Mafalda wanted was to give in, but unfortunately she had which only made her cry more. She leaned into him, eventually wrapping her arms around him, her head buried into his shoulder while she cried. This wasn't fair at all. She should have just left and not bothered with him at all, but she couldn't leave so quick like that, she loved him unconditionally and she couldn't hold a grudge. But she still didn't forgive him.

She shook her head instead of answering. She didn't want anything but time to work things out. Marriage was supposed to be forever and a divorce sort of defeated the purpose of that.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

scribbld is part of the horse.13 network
Design by Jimmy B.
Logo created by hitsuzen.
Scribbld System Status