Eutopia (Lloyd Hansen AU)

29

"So how's your new friend Tammy?" Lloyd asked his wife over dinner on the night that he had come home. One of his guards had let Autumn know what time he was expected and she'd managed to make it in time for him to walk through the door.

She now looked up. "One of your guards told you about her I take it".

"Nothing gets past me Auty, I've done my digging on her".

"And you think she'll be a bad influence on me like Eva" She sighed, "Lloyd, I need friends".

"I never said that she couldn't be - just as long as she knows the penalty".

Autumn swallowed. "The penalty for being my friend, right ". She now looked at him as a thought now crossed her mind. "Did you tell the wives not to talk to me? Or order their husbands to keep them away from me?"

Lloyd stared at her. "You honestly think I have the time to worry about who you have coffee with? No, I haven't told anyone shit, but you should choose who you talk to wisely".

"Well thanks to being married to you, no one wants to". She replied and stared at her plate. "I thought I wouldn't be alone here, not with so many women who have been through the same, but I am..."

"Sweet pea, you're the one the wives look to and model themselves on, whether you're aware of it or not".

"But they're scared of me, scared to even talk to me because they think they'll say something wrong and end up being punished".

"Good" He slammed his fork down. "They should be. We need to be the ones who are seen as in charge, and considering that you're my wife, you should be asserting yourself into that kinda role too - you wanna make us look fucking weak? We should be who everyone looks to, a couple who are the example of just what marriage here should be about".

Autumn stared at him. "We are not the prime example of what marriage is here! Women want to be safe and loved by their husbands! Not scared of being replaced!".

Lloyd was on his feet and dragging her up, now slamming her against the wall as his hand wrapped around her neck. "I am trying to be the husband you would like me to be Auty, but I am not that guy!" He hissed, the grip becoming tighter. She struggles against him, trying to breathe. "You may have given me a daughter but you're far from achieving security here. Once you're recovered? I'm gonna fuck you whenever I want, as I like, and you're gonna just take it like a good girl. We're gonna fill you up nice and good again so you can show all those ladies out there what a true wife is! You are the fucking example
Autumn!"

The sound of Margot crying made him stop and glance up, letting Autumn go. "Go see to her". He commanded as she quickly darted from the room to get away from him, silent tears now falling. Grabbing the baby, she tried to soothe her, slowly trying to take her mind from what had just happened.

A short while later, Lloyd appeared in the doorway. "Autumn..." He now said as she looked up at him. "You need to see that you're not like them, no matter how much you think you are - you're my wife. There's a difference".

Autumn slowly rocked Margot. "I still meant what I said. Wives want to be loved and feel safe".

"So that's up to their husbands, that doesn't mean dick to me". He snapped, leaning against the door and crossing his arms.

"I want to feel loved and safe..." She stressed and now met his eye. "The wives will only look to me as an example if I can genuinely show them that I feel it, that I'm happy - but how can I be when you have almost strangled me?".

Lloyd sighed. "I'm sorry sweetheart..."

"Are you? We were making progress, but it seems like every time I feel like we do or even see a glimpse? You revert back to how we first met? I'm not trying to change you; I'm trying to know you for who you are. So why won't you let me see it? Why do I have to see Lloyd Hansen, that guy who is just my husband by name? I want to see Lloyd, the man who I know is in there somewhere..." She looked down at Margot. "I see how you are with her...why can't you be more like that with me?"

He said nothing. "Just focus on Margot, we'll talk about this later". His tone was calm now.

"We won't...because you'll be too caught up working late, and I won't see you. Then you'll tell me not to speak of it again and perhaps put your hand around my throat to threaten me". She said tiredly. "Perhaps you should just put a bullet in me now and get a wife who will bow down to your every word, because I'm bound to be replaced at some point".

"No". Came the firm reply.

"Is this a new method of torture you're trying out then? Shutting me out and keeping me here anyway so that I'm miserable? Because it's working Lloyd - you've broken be down price by piece, you win".

Lloyd watched her. "Put Margot to bed and then get some sleep, I need a Vicodin", and then he disappeared down the hall to his office, leaving Autumn sat in the nursery, wondering where they went from there.