Nygmobblepot

this would never happen

*Get ready for emotions*

"Edward, please."

The taller man adjusted his glasses and set his shoulders. Edward was the one who filed for a divorce after seven years of marriage. He loved Oswald—he still did. But things were different. His partner took the news pretty hard. It'd been a few days and he was still reeling. This morning, Oswald stood before him in a robe, his hair dishevelled, lack of sleep showing beneath his eyes. The pinkness of his skin at the top half of his face made it painfully obvious that he'd been crying. Ed didn't blame him. He did blindside him, after all.

"Don't." Oswald swallowed. "Don't be cruel. Asking for a separation is enough. Don't—"

"I want sole custody of Eleanor."

*I love their daughter I gave them*

Oswald's jaw slackened. Edward knew he was being greedy, and somewhere he knew his Ozzy didn't deserve this, but he wanted their daughter. His less than desirable self wanted to take her from him. Those blue irises were dwarfed by the partially bloodshot whites of Oswald's eyes. Ed had truly shocked him. The smaller man crumpled into a chair.

Ed continued to speak shamelessly. "We will work out an arrangement where you may see her once or twice a month, on holidays, what have you. However, Eleanor will live with me."

"Why?" asked Oswald. "What have I done to you, Ed? I-I love you. I-I-I never cheated. I took care of us. We shared responsibilities. I'm not a bad father to Eleanor. What did...what did I do to make you want to take her from me?"

The man who always had something to say was speechless. That was just it. Oswald hadn't done anything. Oswald was a phenomenal father, better than himself if he were completely honest. But he didn't care. He just wanted to hurt him.

"Ed, I don't want this to get any messier. We'll share custody—"

"No," said Ed. "Ellie should be with me."

"She's four!" Oswald snapped. "Be sensible. It's already hard enough for her to understand that her parents aren't together anymore. It's unfair for her. How do you think she'll handle it when one of her daddies is barely around?" He sighed. After running a hand over his face, he muttered, "Especially when it's the one who's been the most present."

Ed bristled at his insinuation. "Eleanor belongs to me, Oswald! She's biologically mine!"

He knew he was out of line the moment the words left his mouth.

"How dare you?!" said Oswald through gritted teeth. "Who are you, because you're not the man I married. My partner would never throw that in my face!"

*cries while writing*

Two years into their marriage, Edward and Oswald decided to start a family. The couple found a surrogate faster than anticipated. Ed and Oswald originally wanted to combine their genes, but both were without siblings. They agreed that they would have two children, the first with Oswald's sperm, the second with Edward's. It was perfect until they discovered one problem: Oswald's fertility. Eleanor Gertrude was their first and only child, and her genes belonged to Edward. When she was born, the pair immediately noticed Ed's ears and eyes reflected in her features. Oswald loved her more than life itself, as did Ed. Which was why, when Edward set divorce papers on the counter three afternoons ago during Eleanor's nap, Oswald figured they would make arrangements to co-parent.

Ed sighed, "I apologize."

"Why can't we co-parent, Edward?" Oswald's voice cracked. "Do you hate me that much?"