A/N: This story has been my brain child for quite some time now and I'm glad to say here it is, ready for the world to see. I want to thank TessaStarDean so so so much for helping me out with this. It wouldn't have made it this far without her help. But any and all mistakes are still mine alone.
Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize. Kerry and Loren are mine.
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Danny turned the key in the lock on his mailbox in the lobby of his building. He was finally making it home after nearly 16 hours on the clock. He wanted nothing more than to take a hot shower and go to bed.
He pulled his mail out of the box and sorted through it. Mostly junk mail, a couple bills, nothing exciting. Just as he was locking the box back up, he heard a little shuffle, then felt something collide with the back of his legs.
"Loren, Mommy said slow down." Danny heard a woman calling. Danny looked down to see a little girl, who he now presumed to be Loren, shaking her hair from her face and standing back away from Danny.
Danny smiled and squatted down to reach the little girl's level. "Hi. I'm Danny. Are you Loren?"
The little girl shyly nodded. "What do you say we wait here for your mommy?" She nodded again and turned around to look in the direction she had been running from. Just then a woman appeared around the corner, most of her upper body hidden from view by a box. She was trying to navigate her way around, peeking past the edges of the box as much as she could.
Danny looked at Loren again. "Is that Mommy?" Once again, the girl nodded, but still did not speak to him. He stood, keeping a mindful eye on the small child. "'Scuse me, ma'am. Why don't I give you a hand."
The woman set the box down on the table in the lobby and looked around to get a better look at who was speaking and to make sure she had finally caught up with her daughter. "Loren, come here please," she said softly to the child. Loren ran to her mother and clamped her arms around her leg. Looking up from her daughter to Danny, the woman shrugged and smiled. "Sorry. She was supposed to be holding on to me. I'm Kerry Motalzo. This is Loren. We're moving in upstairs, 6 D." She extended her hand toward him, now giving him a chance to finally look at her, without a box in front of her face. He was taken aback by the similarities between mother and daughter. They both had the same wavy dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, and bright cheeky smiles.
He reached forward to shake her hand. "I'm Danny Messer. I live in 11 D." He pointed to the box that Kerry had set down then to the elevator. "How about I help you out with this one while you and Loren catch your breath."
"Oh, that's not necessary. I wouldn't want to bother you. Besides, you look tired."
"Not a bother." He reached for the box. "Come on, maybe Loren here could push the button in the elevator for me, huh?" He looked down toward the girl.
Her brown eyes lit up and she looked up at her mother. "Can I push it?"
Kerry smiled. "Yes, but only push it once, and only push the button for our floor."
"Okay." She nodded her head and her curly brown pigtails bounced up and down with the motion.
They stepped into the elevator and Kerry pointed to the correct button for Loren to push. She pressed her finger on it very firmly and stepped back when it lit up. She looked up at her mother for approval and Kerry smiled. She then looked up at Danny who smiled at her also.
Danny shifted the box a little when the elevator reached the fourth floor and let them lead the way, even though he obviously knew where it was.
Kerry opened the door for 6 D and held it open for Danny to walk in. "Just set that down anywhere you want. There's no method to the madness yet."
Danny put the box on the floor among several others. Then turned back to Kerry and Loren. "Well ladies, that oughta do it. I'm gonna go home and clean up, get some rest. If you want, I can come by later and help out, ya know, if you need it."
Kerry smiled. "That's really sweet, but you don't have to do that. Really."
Danny shrugged. "Eh, not a problem. I mean, I don't wanna intrude or anything, but I'd certainly like to help out a new neighbor if I can."
"Only if you insist. But you can't come by for at least eight hours. You look like you need some serious sleep."
"Deal. I'll see you later." He crouched down to look Loren in the eye, which caused her to bashfully hold onto her mother a little tighter. "You listen to your ma, okay? Be a good helper for her."
Loren nodded. When Danny stood and turned around to leave, Loren waved at his retreating form. "Bye."
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Thanks for reading. I'd love feedback of any kind. If you want another chapter, let me know… ;)