It was around one thirty in the morning, and Zelda was at her wits end. Her two month old son would not stop crying. She had tried rocking him, giving him his pacifier, playing soothing music, and currently she was pacing around her living room with tears coursing down her cheeks. He wouldn't stop, and she was losing it.

A loud banging on her door made Zelda jump, her heart speeding up. Carefully she moved to the door and opened it, only to find her incredibly attractive neighbor on the other side, shirtless and in low hanging sweat pants. "I know it's early," she said quickly, "and I'm so sorry I can't get him to stop I-"

"Calm down," he spoke softly, moving into her apartment without her permission. "You need to stay calm because he's picking up on your panic and crying more."

"I'm trying I just can't-"

"Hand him here," he held out his arms and Zelda tensed, unsure about that idea. "Zelda come on, what do you think I'm going to do?" He raised a dark blue eyebrow and she carefully handed over her screaming child. "Hey there buddy," he cooed in his deep voice, easing him onto his shoulder, patting his back gently. "You're alright, Ike's got you."

Zelda watched in awe as the man that was a relative stranger spoke softly in an even tone to her son, his hand patting his back in different places. It was a bit unreal to her, having the neighbor that had been her crush since she had moved in taking care of her son so gently. "Do you have kids?" she asked after a moment and Ike looked from the fussy baby to her.

"No," he replied in the same even tone he was speaking to her son in, "but my sister has a daughter and I've watched her to give Mist a much deserved break." Zelda smiled slightly at that, some of her nerves fading away. She watched Ike pat his back and mumble to him in the same tone for a moment longer, then grew horrified as her son spit up all over the shirtless man.

"Oh my goddesses! I'm so sorry!" she felt panic seize her heart and Ike turned to her.

"Just get a couple paper towels, wet them down," he said in the same tone and she stood there, frozen in horror. "Babe, paper towels," he said again and she snapped into action, the term of endearment making her blush. She wet down a couple paper towels and moved back to him. Ike eased her son from his shoulder and set him on her couch, taking the paper towels and wiping his little chin. She watched as he quickly wiped off his shoulder, her eyes lingering on his abs as he wiped them off.

"I'm so sorry," she said again and Ike gave her a grin.

"It's fine, and I think that's what was making him so fussy," he said as he scooped up her son again, laying him against his shoulder again. "Come back to Ike kiddo," he said gently as he rubbed her son's back, his eyes cutting to Zelda. "Why don't you get some sleep?"

"What?" she asked, taken aback.

"Sweetheart you look exhausted and I'm more than capable of handling this little man. Get you some sleep, I've got this." He gave her a small grin and she chewed on her lower lip. "Go." She nodded, admitting to herself that she was exhausted, and turned to go back to her room. There was a part of her that was nervous to leave her child alone with him, but at the same time Ike had never been anything more than a friendly neighbor to her. He had been there, standing in the hall of the apartment complex when her boyfriend had left, his eyes glaring daggers and his hands clenched to white knuckled fists at the man leaving his pregnant girlfriend. She had broken down the second her ex had descended the stairs and Ike had wrapped her up in a warm hug, promising her that someone better would come along. She glanced back to Ike in her living room, watching him hold her barely fussy son, a smile coming to her lips. She knew what better was, and better was currently pressing a soft kiss to her son's forehead.

XxX

She slept like a rock, deeply and soundly, only waking up when her bladder demanded it. She stretched, her body thankful for the long night's rest. She went to the bathroom and brushed her hair and teeth, her mind replaying the events of the previous night. That made her curious, and she quickly left the bathroom and went into the living room. She halted at the edge of the hallway, a smile on her lips. Ike was passed out on her couch, her son held to his bare chest, the duo looking absolutely perfect. Ike had somehow coaxed her son to take his pacifier, which he sucked on furiously as Zelda approached.

"My baby," she whispered as she touched a gentle hand to the back of his soft dirty blonde hair, "finally sleeping like one." She turned her eyes to Ike, took in his absolutely peaceful expression, and pushed a few strands of blue hair from his face. His eyes opened and she blushed, removing her hand quickly.

"Morning," he whispered, a little grin on his lips.

"Thank you so much," she said back just as softly and he shook his head.

"He was no trouble." Ike glanced down at her snoozing baby before he shifted his hands on the tiny bundle and sat up, her son not even stirring. "Did you sleep okay?"

"I did," she nodded and Ike gave her a little grin.

"Good, you deserved it." She smiled at that and he looked down at the sleeping baby. "He's adorable, I love his little sleeping expressions."

"You're going to make a fantastic dad someday," she complimented and he shrugged.

"Well for now I'm happy being the best damn neighbor you'll ever have," he said as he eased her son to the couch cushion beside him, the baby pouting and sucking on the pacifier furiously. "He's so cute it's unbearable." She smiled at Ike's fond expression, how he gently pushed a few hairs from his little face.

"I owe you big time for last night," she said and Ike shook his head.

"It was no problem," he said as he looked up at her, his eyes searching her face. "Anytime you need a break, I'm just across the hall okay?" She blushed and looked away, knowing she'd never put him out like that. "Hey," he took her hand gently and she looked back at him in shock, "I mean it okay? I don't want you getting worked up like that again. Just call me and I'll be here."

"Ike," she started as he pulled his phone from his pocket.

"What's your number?" She reluctantly gave it to him, watched him save it and send her a text. "Good. Now I've gotta get to my mom's house, I promised I'd look at her washing machine today... actually do you want to come with me? My mom would literally steal him from you and not let him go all day."

"I can't, I promised my parents we'd meet them for lunch," she explained, wishing she didn't have to say no.

"Ah gotcha," he nodded and stood up, looking down at her with a soft expression. "Well, just call me for whatever." She nodded in return and he surprised her by wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She melted into the embrace, burying her face into his bare chest. He wrapped both arms around her, running his hands down her back. After a moment she returned the embrace, her arms wrapping around his lower back. She felt so good in his arms she didn't want the hug to end, but eventually he pulled back, a small grin on his lips. "I'll see you later okay?" She nodded and he moved to the door and out, Zelda sighing happily as the door shut behind him.

XxX

Ike loved fixing things for his mom. She always paid him with some of her amazing cooking, and sent him home with enough to feed a small army. He climbed the stairs back to his apartment, mind on the beautiful woman that lived across the hall from him. He had been there when she had moved in with her ex, remembered giving her a wink that had made her blush violently, and made her ex glare at him. He had been infatuated with her since, every glance he got of the brunette beauty making his crush grow. He had noticed the bump under her shirt slowly getting bigger, and felt a jab of guilt for crushing on such an obviously devoted girlfriend. Then her boyfriend had dumped her, screaming his lungs out at her in the hallway as he was leaving. Ike had been getting back from work, and the commotion made him hate the man more than ever before. He had glared at the asshole, wanting to punch him for being so disgusting towards her. But he kept his temper in check, and the second the bastard started down the stairs he had moved to comfort the sobbing pregnant Zelda. He had wanted to do more than he had, but as someone who had barely exchanged pleasantries with her, he didn't want to push it. Now she was a single mother to the cutest baby boy Ike had ever seen, and he wanted to be more to them both than just the neighbor across the hall.

He finally reached his floor, eyes cutting to Zelda just pushing open her door, balancing the baby carrier and a few bags of groceries. Ike immediately stepped forward, gripping the carrier and she whirled, a smile coming to her lips to see him. "Hi Ike," she greeted, relief in her tone.

"Hey," he said back, eyes moving to the little one blinking up at him with dark eyes. "And hey to you little man."

"He got a little fussy on me in the grocery store," Zelda said as she moved into her apartment, Ike following with her son. "So I had to cut my shopping short. Apparently he doesn't like his carrier."

"And who could blame him?" Ike asked as he set down his bag of goodies from his mom and began unbuckling the squirming infant. "It's like a straight jacket for babies." Once he unhooked the last strap he scooped the baby out into his arms, smiling at the way he immediately stopped fussing. "That's right buddy, Ike to the rescue against the evil mommy trap."

"Hey now," she said with a laugh, "no turning my son against me."

"But Zelda," he looked over at her, holding the small baby's face next to his, "you gotta admit, we make an unstoppable team of cuteness."

"Uh huh," she rolled her eyes and set about putting away her groceries, Ike's eyes trailing down her body as she bent and moved.

"I'm thinking very inappropriate thoughts while holding you," he whispered to the baby who just blinked at him before smiling. "Hey there," Ike said loudly enough for Zelda to hear, "I just got a smile." She whirled around, shocked and Ike held her son at a better angle. "Smile for momma," he cooed and watched as the little one smiled again.

"Oh my goddesses," tears sprang to Zelda's eyes and Ike moved over to her.

"Don't start crying," he begged and she smiled at him.

"You got his first smile!" she exclaimed happily.

"Seriously?" Ike laughed in disbelief, kissing the baby on the cheek. "Why thank you little man." He glanced at Zelda, seeing her eyes on him in a way he couldn't read.

"I can't believe how incredible you are with him," she said softly and Ike shrugged.

"Just because I don't have kids of my own doesn't mean I don't like them," he explained to her as he eased the baby down on the carpet. "I uh," he ran a hand through his hair, "was just coming back from helping my mom and she sent me home with way too much food as usual. Do you want some?"

"What is it?" she asked curiously and he picked up the bag she had packed full of roast and potatoes, with some kind of pie sitting on the top. He showed Zelda and watched her eyes light up, making him chuckle.

"Just take the whole thing," he offered and she shook her head.

"Oh Ike no-"

"She stuffed me while I was over there, just take this off my hands okay? I insist." She smiled at him as she took the offered food, making Ike grin. He looked down at the little baby laying on the floor where he set him and laid down in front of the inquisitive eyes, making faces.

"Be careful Colin," Zelda called out in warning, "the monkey seems nice now but they've been known to attack."

"Hey," Ike said with a fake pout. "Nah this little dude is on my side, he knows we're buddies, don't you Colin?" The baby graced him with another smile and Ike poked his cheek, relishing in the absolute joy of the moment. He heard a phone ring and Zelda sighed heavily as she ignored the call, making Ike raise an eyebrow at her.

"My mom," she explained with an eye roll. "Apparently lunch wasn't up to her standards and they want to see their grandson more but I just... I can't stand to see them so much."

"Family drama?" Ike asked carefully, knowing it was really none of his business.

"My mom lives just to create drama I swear," Zelda gave him a pathetic laugh at that and Ike shrugged.

"Well, if you're ever in the market for a stand in grandma, my mom's the best. She'll spoil him rotten and give him too many cookies." Zelda smiled at that and Ike gave her a wink. "Trust me, she'd adore him."

"She sounds like a great person and, judging by how amazing this food she sent back with you smells, an amazing cook."

"She is, and the food tastes just as good as it smells. I'm telling you, just let me take you guys over there once and she'll spoil you both." Ike knew she would too. He had confided in his mom about everything going on with Zelda and the woman had practically told Ike to marry her. While Ike wasn't that crazy, a dinner date with little Colin tagging along would be perfect in his mind.

"Why are you so nice to me Ike?" Zelda asked and Ike tensed, unsure what to tell her. "Is it because you saw the break up? Do you pity me?"

"What? No Zelda I just..." he trailed off, not wanting to admit that he had been harboring a serious crush on her since before her pregnancy had really started to show. "I like you, I like Colin, and I love helping people I like."

"You hardly know me Ike," she pointed out and he shrugged.

"Well, I'd like to fix that. You, me, and Colin should hang out more." She blushed, looking down at her shoes, and Ike sighed. "I mean, if you'd even want to. I know I'm just your neighbor but I'd like to think that we could be more than that."

"I would love that Ike," she said with a soft smile. "It's been really hard to do anything social lately and that would just be wonderful."

"Awesome," Ike grinned at her, his eyes skimming down her thin form. "We should go out and grab dinner, my treat, the three of us."

"Tonight?" she asked and he nodded.

"Why not?"

XxX

Zelda felt nervous for dinner with Ike. She wasn't sure if this was a friendly dinner, or some form of a date. The presence of her two month old made her think this was meant to be more of a friendly gesture, but the butterflies in her stomach said otherwise. As she tried on her fifth top, tempted to toss it aside like all the others, she heard Ike knock on her front door. "Crap," she growled as she smoothed out the few wrinkles in the dark grey v neck and moved to her door. She opened it, completely unprepared for the sight of Ike looking like a male model on the other side. He was just wearing everyday clothes, but something about the dark red shirt and dark jeans really made him look amazing. "Hi," she greeted, internally cringing at how breathless it sounded.

"Hey," he responded casually, her blushing as he looked down her body. "You look great."

"Thanks," she rolled her eyes and he huffed.

"I'm serious, Zelda you look beautiful." She stared at him for a second, trying to find the lie in his eyes. She hadn't put on much baby weight, but she definitely wasn't the twig she was before Colin either.

"Thank you Ike," she finally responded, seeing no hint of a lie on his face.

"Is the little dude ready?" he asked and she looked over at her son, currently laying on a blanket on the carpet, a soft toy shoved in his mouth.

"Yeah, let me just grab the diaper bag and my purse okay?"

"Sure," Ike nodded as he stepped inside, moving to Colin with a grin. "Hey kiddo," he cooed as he sat on the floor, "how's my guy?" Zelda watched them for a moment, how Ike got yet another smile from her son, before she moved to get everything she'd need for the evening.

"Okay," she nodded at the duo, completely unsurprised to find Colin in Ike's arms, "let's go."

XxX

Ike had picked a noisy chain restaurant for their dinner, knowing that if Colin started crying Zelda would be embarrassed in a stuffy silent place. He gave Zelda a quick grin as he killed the engine of his car and hopped out, immediately going to her side and opening the door for her as well as the door to the backseat. There he unbuckled the baby carrier and hefted it up, the sleeping baby absolutely adorable in his little dark onesie. "Here I'll carry him," Zelda tried to take the carrier and Ike held it out of her reach. "Ike, if you walk in carrying him people will assume-"

"People can assume whatever the hell they want, I wanna carry this cutie," he said firmly as he wrapped his free arm around Zelda's shoulders. She smiled at the ground shyly, making Ike's heart skip a beat. He knew what people would assume, that they were a happy couple having dinner with their baby, and he didn't mind the assumption.

"Welcome!" The hostess greeted them with a friendly smile. "Table for two?"

"Two and a half," Ike said and the woman laughed lightly.

"Aw what a cutie!" she exclaimed as she peered into the carrier. "Follow me, we'll get you all set up." Ike smirked down at Zelda before following the hostess, happy with the evening so far.

They were seated at an intimate table for two, the hostess bringing over a high chair to set the carrier on. Ike pulled the carrier closer to him, shooting Zelda a wink to ease her nerves. She gave him a soft smile, her eyes going over him before going down to her menu.

"So come on," Ike started, "tell me more about the woman sitting across from me." She shook her head, nervously biting her lower lip.

"I don't even know where to start," she admitted after a moment and he grinned at her.

"What do you like? What do you not like? Just tell me about you."

"Well," she sighed and shook her head, "I like finding a new show to go crazy over, I don't like when they end. I like going out to eat, I don't like to party. I'm actually kind of a homebody, so I'm boring."

"Not at all," Ike corrected quickly. "I'm a professional binge watcher on my days off. I used to like to party but now? I'd much rather sit at home curled up on my couch... preferably with someone I care about, but I'm not such bad company by myself. I love spicy food, and have yet to find something I can't handle."

"I'm not too crazy about spicy stuff," Zelda admitted with the most adorable crinkle to her nose Ike had ever seen. "It depends on if there's flavor beyond the spice."

"I get that," he said with a grin, loving this conversation with her. She blushed and looked down at her menu, pushing a few stray strands of hair from behind her ear.

"Aren't you going to ask why he left?" she asked quietly and Ike raised an eyebrow. "That's what everyone wants to know."

"I was just going on my personal opinion that he was a douchebag that didn't deserve you or the little one, and I'm not going to ask otherwise. You can tell me if you want, but that could be pretty personal and I don't wanna overstep my bounds." She stared at him, a look of something he wanted to call awe on her face and he gave her a grin.

"Why are you so nice to me Ike?" she asked and he shrugged.

"Because I like you, you're an awesome woman and I can't believe that you're somehow still single."

"I have a kid now, that makes a lot of guys think twice," she pointed out and Ike rolled his eyes before looking down at the sleeping baby next to him.

"Colin is awesome and adorable, anyone that has a problem with him can fight me." She laughed lightly at that, shaking her head.

"You're too much sometimes... like when you winked at me while I was moving in," she said and Ike laughed.

"Yeah, I did wink at you," he nodded and blushed lightly. "I was just happy to have an attractive neighbor, I didn't mean to get glared at."

"Yeah he was pretty possessive," she said with a scowl and Ike decided to wipe that frown off her lips.

"Look Zelda I know I didn't know him but every time I saw him I wanted to punch his face so," Ike shrugged, "I want you to know that you can do better. You know that right?" She shrugged and Ike let out a sigh. "Zelda-"

"Ike I had a baby, that ruins a lot of my chances."

"Chances with assholes maybe," he said dryly. "I'm sitting here with you aren't I? I'm crazy about him and I've barely spent time with him, and you are beyond incredible." Zelda stared at him and Ike gulped, realizing he had just basically said that he liked her.

XxX

Zelda couldn't believe what she had just heard. Had Ike basically just said he liked her? She couldn't have heard that right. Her heart thundered at the thought and she blushed as she glanced at an approaching waitress.

"Hi, what can I get you to drink?" Zelda was thankful for the interruption, unsure about the situation with Ike. She had been crushing on him for a long time now, but how could he find her attractive while she was raising someone else's child?

Zelda turned her attention to the waitress, ordered a strawberry lemonade, and listened to Ike order an unsweetened iced tea as she glanced back down at her menu. The waitress began to fawn over the somehow still sleeping Colin and Zelda looked up, catching Ike telling their waitress that he was the cutest baby he'd ever seen. "Don't all daddies feel that way?" their waitress teased as she walked off, and Zelda paled. That's what she had been afraid of. Everyone was going to assume Ike was the father of her son, that they were a happily together couple...

"Since when does Ike have a baby?" a British accent purred out and Zelda tensed as a beautiful woman sauntered over to their table.

"Hey Bayonetta," Ike grinned at the newcomer, who peered into the carrier curiously.

"Oh Ike he's far too cute to have any of your genes, I'd get a paternity test done," the woman, apparently Bayonetta, said as she straightened up and turned her eyes to Zelda. The woman's raven hair was pulled up in an intricate ponytail, her dark eyes framed perfectly by red glasses. "And how did this foolish man convince you to have a child?"

"Hey now," Ike chuckled, leading Zelda to assume the jabs were said in a friendly way.

"He didn't," Zelda said quickly, wanting to clear the air of assumptions. "Colin is my baby."

"Oh," she said, dragging it out slightly. "That does make more sense because it would be incredibly un-Ike like for him to not have bragged about the baby or you." Zelda looked to Ike to see him chuckle.

"Are you done Bayonetta? Where's Jeanne?"

"She's waiting for me," the raven haired woman waggled her eyebrows and Ike chuckled. "Behave yourself Ike, she's far too good for you." With that Bayonetta shot Zelda a wink and walked off, Zelda unsure what that whole interaction had even been.

"Sorry about her," Ike said awkwardly, his eyes going to the table. "I met her through a friend and she's... different."

"Is she an ex of yours?" Zelda asked and Ike laughed.

"Her? Oh god no," he shook his head quickly. "Not only is she not interested in men, but she's a nightmare."

"Oh," Zelda nodded and looked to her now stirring baby. "Uh oh, someone's waking up."

"Hey little dude," Ike beamed at her son, immediately scooping him out of the carrier and holding him. Zelda smiled at her son's wide eyes trying to look around at the unfamiliar surroundings and Ike chuckled. "Where are you huh?"

Colin proceeded to make a few cute faces, spit dribbling down his chin. Ike chuckled and wiped it away with a napkin, looking more perfect by the second to the still self conscious mom. "Hi baby," she cooed and Colin turned his head, giving her a small smile as he bounced lightly in Ike's arms. "Someone had a good nap."

"Tell your momma you're all charged up to party with Ike huh?" Ike grinned as Colin looked at him, a tiny hand smacking into Ike's jaw. "Ah, good right hook there kiddo." Zelda laughed as Colin tried to get his tiny fingers to cooperate, Ike ending up with baby fingers in his mouth. Ike pretended to nibble on them, earning him a smile and an unidentifiable baby noise. The scene was almost too perfect, making Zelda's smile slip. The father of her child refused to hang around, preferring to leave her all alone so he could go "live his life without attachments"... would Ike be the same? Sure Colin was being cute now, but he wasn't always the perfect little angel trying to bite Ike's nose.

XxX

The rest of their dinner passed with easy conversation, Ike proud of how he handled eating and holding the munchkin. He drove them back to their apartments, refusing Zelda's help with the carrier that now contained one very passed out baby. He followed her up the stairs and into her apartment, easing the carrier down before turning to her. She looked slightly nervous, standing in her living room with a small smile. "Dinner was fun," Ike said softly as he took a step closer to her, "we should do it again sometime."

"I'd like that," she whispered back and Ike grinned as he closed the distance between them and hugged her gently. She surprised him by wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. Ike looked at her as she pulled back, stunned by the contact. "Thank you for dinner, I know he and I had fun."

"Anytime," Ike grinned as he stepped back, a slight blush on his cheeks. "I'm gonna go back to my place but uh, let me know if you need me yeah?" She nodded and he turned, his eyes falling on the still sleeping baby. "Night little dude," he whispered as he crouched to give the baby a kiss on his forehead.

"Ike?" Her voice made him stand up and turn around, surprised to find her closer to him than she had been before. Just as he was about to ask what she wanted, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his lips down to hers. Ike couldn't help but respond immediately to the soft kiss, his arms snaking around her waist gently. The kiss was gentle and innocent, obviously not going to evolve into more, and Ike relished every second of it.

Colin began to fuss in his carrier and Zelda leapt back, her eyes wide. Ike tried to give her a reassuring grin before he turned to her son, only to have her brush past him and unbuckle the infant herself. "You want me to-"

"I want you to go," she cut him off as she moved past him towards the diaper bag on the couch. Ike felt the words like a slap, his hopes falling and shattering on the ground by his feet.

"Alright," he mumbled, going to and out the door quickly. Once he was inside the safety of his apartment, Ike pulled out his phone and opened his texts to Zelda.

'I didn't think that the situation would go beyond that, hell I didn't even think we'd kiss. My plan for the evening was to just grab dinner and, if you enjoyed it, maybe plan another one. Text me back when you get him settled down please, I don't like not knowing if you understood my intentions or not.' With that Ike pocketed his phone and kicked off his shoes, desperately clinging to the last bit of hope remaining in his chest.

XXX

So yeah, I promised myself I wouldn't do this. I was going to finish one story before putting up another... obviously my feverish mind didn't like that and I started on this without really meaning to and I couldn't stop. This will probably only have a few of chapters to it, considering I wrote so much for this first one. I should really try to sleep more when I'm sick. Ha. Let me know what you think. Much love, Leigh