ok SIKE i had actually finished this chapter and hadn't even realised (it just needed edited) so here you go! two in one night!

he said that you are, you are the future, and the future looks good

future looks good | onerepublic

"We'll be back tomorrow around noon," Riza reminded him for what felt like the millionth time. "Call me if you need anything, okay?" Roy bit his tongue because he knew this was more for her benefit rather than his.

This was his first time looking after Mia by himself for an extended period of time. After the birth of her second child Riza quit her job to stay at home and raise her. She had mentioned to Roy before about how she wasn't interested in the job itself anymore and was looking for a change. This was just a very convenient time to have another child. Roy didn't mind either. As long as Riza was happy then that was what mattered to him. They could afford it financially so they thought, why not?

So she had always been there. He had looked after Mia by himself millions of times before but Riza was just worried because she wouldn't be there overnight.

And now Mia could walk and get her hands on things that she probably shouldn't.

Of course he was nervous.

"I'll be fine, love," Roy interrupted, placing his hands gently on her upper arms. He drew her close, kissing her forehead goodbye. It was a habit he had picked up and didn't plan on stopping. "She's my kid too," he teased. Riza's lips formed a thin line, not appreciating his joke. "I've done it before. Go and enjoy your night out with Catalina. We'll be fine."

They were going out for a belated birthday celebration for Catalina. A day in Central then a night out on the town is what the birthday girl had ordered and Riza didn't want to say no to her, despite not wanting to be apart from Mia for so long. This would be the first time she had been. Roy guessed Catalina was desperate to get away from Andrew. She loved the kid for sure, but Roy knew how tiring parenthood could be.

"I'll phone you in the morning." That sounded more like a warning than a reassurance.

"We'll be fine. Go and enjoy yourself and don't worry."

She didn't seem convinced – he was hurt that she didn't seem to have that much faith in him. When he told Riza that, she simply raised an eyebrow derisively.

"It's not Mia I'm worried about."

And so, father and daughter were left alone in their house. James was staying over at Jessica's after school so it truly would just be the two of them for the next twenty four hours.

"Buh," Mia stated, pointing to a small ball on the ground. God, she loved anything that was circular. They were all "buh", her word for ball.

"That's right," Roy stated, picking up the ball. "It's a ball. Ta," he added as he handed the ball over.

"Buh!" she cried happily, clapping her hands together, the soft ball hitting against her palm. She toddled off, ball in hand, to find something else to catch her attention. For her first birthday Roy had bought her a ball pit which she loved. Mia truly didn't know what to do with herself when she saw all those balls in the one place. Her body shook with excitement and she squealed in delight.

She found her bear blanket and picked it up, dragging it along the floor behind her in the opposite hand. Roy smiled fondly at his daughter as she wandered around the room, undecided about what to play with.

Raising Mia was a relatively easy job so far. They had heard the horror stories that Havoc and Catalina had experienced with Andrew, but – touch wood – none of that had come their way. She was a happy kid. Always on the go and could throw a tantrum every now and then, but it was only for a couple of minutes at best. Just mention baby shark to her or hand her a ball and she would be right as rain in an instant.

By the time lunch time rolled around Roy was feeling pretty confident and happy about his morning with Mia. She had her mid-morning nap while he took her out for a walk around the neighbourhood. There had been no drama and only a small amount of tears when he placed her in the pram. Armed with a ball from her ball pit, Roy offered it to her while he strapped her in and her cries stopped like he had flipped a switch. A large grin appeared on her face instead, showing off her teeth.

"What would you like for lunch today Mia?" he asked, perusing the cupboards in their kitchen. There were her carrot puffs – like cheese puffs but tasted awful – that she loved, pots of custard, apple flavoured biscotti that Roy had yet to wrap his head around, and, a rare treat for Mia (or really whenever Roy or James looked after her) a small bar of chocolate.

Riza was very anti-chocolate regarding Mia. "She's not getting any chocolate!" she would state firmly, yet happily gave her Nutella spread on toast. That meal was saved for days where she was feeling slightly stressed because their eighteen month old daughter was being picky and frustrating by not eating anything else.

After peering into the cupboard, crouched down exactly like her father even though she was already at the perfect height for looking inside – Roy knew because she turned round to look at his legs and checked before she lowered her body – Mia gasped excitedly, finger pointing towards the pot of custard. Clasping her hands to her chest she backed up into her father who was crouched behind her, looking up expectantly.

"Would you like some custard?" he asked her, pulling the pot from the shelf. Mia's enthusiastic nod and excited grin was answer enough. "Custard it is!"

Roy loved this age. She had a firm grasp on basic words and could understand questions she was asked. Mia could tell you what she wanted with a nod or a shake of her head. For the last six months her only real "word" was "buh", ball. Recently she had grasped others, such as "doh" for door, "va" for van, "ka", for car, and "ma" for man. The latter she used whenever she saw Spider Man. James' school bag was black and grey checked, but here were small images of Spider Man dotted around the checks. It was his "I'm old enough that I want to look cool but I still love Spider Man" bag. Plus, Vans bags were all the rage right now so he was more than happy to oblige to embracing his childhood superhero again.

"Do you want to sit in your high chair?" Roy asked. Mia considered the question while eyeing the piece of furniture. She shook her head gently, as if afraid her father would put her in it anyway. "Okay, come on then, let's head back to the living room and eat your lunch."

Mia grinned and toddled through, Roy following dutifully behind her. She hurried into the centre of the room, picking up her orange ball while saying "buh".

"That's right, that's a ball." Roy sat in what Riza and James had dubbed "Dad's chair" because he always sat in it. Roy had huffed, muttering about how it was just more comfortable to him. That chair had been with him since he bought his apartment and he had become fond of the grey fabric piece. "It didn't match the décor" Riza would state when half-threatening to throw it out. How could grey not match the other shade of grey they had in the room?

Plus, that chair was the only piece of furniture he had saved from his time in his apartment. It held memories. He couldn't get rid of it.

Mia ate without fuss and the rest of their afternoon was spent playing with her toys. Roy tried to juggle keeping her entertained and making her dinner. That was an experience, especially when Riza called, cutting off baby shark for Mia. His daughter protested loudly and Riza chuckled down the line.

"Having fun?" she asked dryly.

Roy winced as Mia's cry pierced his ear. "Mia!" he scolded. She pouted in response, bottom lip sticking out like she was gearing up to cry. "You turned off a certain shark that she was dancing with."

"Oh, god forbid that happen," Riza remarked. "It's your own fault for sticking on that six hour loop on YouTube."

"It kept her happy so I was happy." Roy glanced over to his daughter who looked ready to explode into tears. "Speaking of, she's not right now." Roy lowered the phone to Mia, putting it on speakerphone. "Mia, its Mummy. Say hello."

Mia blinked up at Roy before peering into the phone, seeing the picture Roy had saved next to Riza's contact.

"Hello, sweetheart," Riza greeted through the phone. Mia's face lit up, her toothy grin spreading across her face. She garbled some nonsense while Roy sighed in relief. Riza laughed. "Hello to you too. Are you having fun?"

"Ya," Mia nodded enthusiastically. Roy slipped away and continued dishing up Mia's food while she was distracted.

"Are you being good for Daddy?"

"Da!" Mia shouted, clapping her hands together happily. She grinned over at Roy who waved back to her.

"I'll take that as a yes. What are you doing now?"

Mia babbled once more, only stopping once Roy placed the plate of food down in front of her. Mashed potatoes, chicken nuggets, and little cut up bits of cucumber.

"Daddy just made Mia's dinner. She's eating it now."

"We both know that is a two hand job, so I will leave you to it." Roy heard the amusement in her voice. Mia was prone to eating her food but also smearing it all over her high chair if left to do so. Roy knew it was a bad idea to let her play with Andrew's play-doh. Now she thought mashed potato and play-do were the same thing. Roy grabbed her wrist gently before she could dive her hands into it.

"No, Mia, that's for eating, not playing." She pouted but when Roy offered her a spoonful of potato she ate it eagerly. He only just now wondered – with great dismay – if this was teaching her to eat yellow play-doh. Roy grimaced. He hoped not.

"I have to go, Roy. Rebecca is finally ready. It only took her half an hour." Roy chuckled. Riza never did like to hang around when they were due to go out anywhere.

"Okay. Have fun."

"We will. I love you."

"We love you too, Riza."

"Love you, Mia."

Mia grinned again, showing her potato covered teeth.

"She says goodbye," Roy translated.

"Bye!" she shouted loudly, waving at Riza's picture.

Roy love that smile. There was only two teeth on the bottom of her mouth but all the teeth at the top had come through by now. When she grinned like this and showed them all that was Roy's favourite smile.

The call disconnected and the two were left alone once more.

Roy was exhausted by the time Mia was down at seven o'clock. He picked up the baby monitor and trudged back down the stairs, but he knew it wouldn't be for too long. He was ready for his bed now. Mia was a tiring toddler. He was asleep by ten o'clock, passed out on the couch. He was woken up by the television at two am and Roy groaned, his back stiff from sleeping in his chair. Yes, it was his favourite, but it was incredibly uncomfortable to sleep on.

By the time Riza arrived home the next afternoon, both he and Mia were spent. Roy had taken her to the park that morning and the pair had ran around playing with a ball and went on the swings. Mia screeched "mo'!" as she swung, wanting to go higher and higher. Roy was reluctant to do so, but he indulged his daughter slightly. The baby swings were secure, there was no way she would fall out, he was sure. Her laugh had been music to his ears and truthfully he didn't want it to stop.

When she had gone for her mid-morning nap Roy had lay down on the sofa next to her and had dozed off, his arms curled protectively against his daughter. She was against the back of the couch while he lay towards the edge.

Mia squirming in her sleep was what woke him and he sat up, rubbing his eyes and yawning tiredly. Glancing at his watch, he noticed with surprise he had slept for about an hour.

"Did you guys have fun?" Riza asked softly, a grin on her face. She sat on the couch opposite, a book in her hands. Judging by her position she had been here for a while.

"Hey," Roy greeted sleepily. Riza stood with a chuckle and kissed him, something he readily accepted. "We did, yes. I knew she was exhausting but I suppose it was my own fault for taking her to the park this morning."

Riza grinned, her look knowing. "A rookie mistake. What was it this time? The slide? That hill can be murder to walk up umpteen times."

Roy shook his head. "The swings."

Riza chuckled. "She loves them."

"Perhaps we should get one for the garden if she loves it so much? It would save a journey to the park."

Riza paused, looking thoughtful. "That's not a terrible idea. Her birthday is coming up after all."

"There we go," Roy grinned sleepily. "Present sorted." Riza sat next to him, peering around to look at Mia who was still out of it. Her little cheeks were red, the tell-tale sign of teething, something she'd had bother with earlier in the morning. "How was your night?"

"Really great," Riza replied honestly, sounding surprised.

"Why do you sound surprised?" Roy asked.

She shrugged. "I don't know. I think I just expected to not enjoy it so much. I thought I would be worrying too much about Mia."

"So you forgot about your child." Roy tutted jokingly. "Terrible."

Riza elbowed his side playfully while Roy laughed softly and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, drawing her against him. "No, I just thought I was past all that going out stuff. Turns out I was wrong."

"So I may be required for more babysitting duties?" he asked cheekily, his expression conveying that.

"You don't babysit your own kid, Roy," Riza deadpanned.

"I know," he sighed dramatically. "I've got to put up with her twenty four seven instead." Riza's elbow this time wasn't playful in the slightest. He supposed he deserved that, he grinned. Riza knew he adored that kid and if he had his own way he would be with her twenty four seven.

Mia stirred, eyes opening as she woke from her nap. Roy lifted her up, cooing at her gently as she fought off sleep. For a minute or two her eyes drooped closed and she placed her head against Roy's shoulder, hands curling around the back of his neck. He grinned at Riza who made a quiet "aw" sound. Mia really was the cutest.

He would enjoy this small moment where she clung to him like this because in a few minutes time she would be off again. Not that Roy minded at all. All too soon she would be going to school and that terrified him. His little girl was growing up so fast already.

Riza placed a hand on Mia's back, it coming to rest atop his own and she smiled softly at him.

Yeah, the future might terrify him slightly, but in a good way.

Besides, with his two kids and Riza by his side, the future looked really good.

there we have it! thank you to everyone who continued with this story even after the main one finished. i hope you enjoyed the further insight into this world as much as i did writing it. i'm sad to be finally finished with it but all good things must come to an end after all! now i want to go back and read let you love me ;_; i really love this world

thank you again! much love!