The Daycare

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Shit, I was late. I hurried along out of my car, rushing across the parking lot and into the daycare. This was the third time this week work had me overloaded, staying extra hours and taking away my time from my daughter. It had me pissed, mostly at the competing companies that caused the problems, but also at myself. I should make time for her, not blame it on my job.

The bell dinged as I walked in, my eyes roaming around the nearly empty room except for the workers cleaning up.

"Mommy!"

I smile fell on my face at that voice and I immediately went to my knees, feeling a small body fly into my arms.

"Layla," I sang, seeing her grinning up to me, "I'm sorry sweetie, I didn't mean to be this late."

She tugged on my hair gently, showing her toothless mouth, "It's okay! I was having fun!"

I raised a brow at her, "You were?"

She nodded eagerly, "Mmhm!"

She left my arms and turned around, letting my gaze fall on a man walking over, smiling.

"Natsu!" She jumped up and down.

I raised to my feet as she ran over and hugged his leg, smiling up to him with dazed eyes.

Natsu was a daycare guy who worked here, I've met him a few times actually and we've spoken, usually only with a 'thanks', but we did have some nice conservations. I actually really admired him. He always had Layla in the happiest mood when I came to get her, and the way he played and managed the children was astounding. He was goofy and playful and practically a child himself, yet he was protective over them. People like that just made my heart swell. With jealously, as much as gratitude.

"Hey Lucy," He said, picking up Layla in his arms.

I nodded and smiled, "Hey. I'm so sorry I made you stay late for her."

He shook his head, his expression light, "No problem, I like her company."

Layla giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her cheek against his. I couldn't help but smile at that, and saw him set her down again.

"Come on Layla, we should get you to bed," I sighed, holding out my hand for her.

She pouted and backed up, holding onto Natsu's jeans, "I don't wanna go. I wanna stay with him."

"Sweetie," I pleaded quietly, feeling embarrassed.

"Hey," Natsu said, crouching down to her, "I'll still see you tomorrow right? Your mom's been waiting all day to come and see you, don't you miss her?"

I felt my heart swell up and sighed, reaching for her tiny jacket on the hook.

Layla nodded with a pout, pushing herself into his arms, "I'll miss you too though, can't we come over?"

"Layla," I interrupted, before anyone said anything else, and crouched in front of her to put her jacket on, "It's not very polite to invite yourself over to other peoples homes."

She mused it over as I pulled her arms through the sleeves, searching for an alternate way to come about this, "Than can he come stay with us?"

I hesitated, "I'm sure he wants to go home, Layla. You see him everyday, you're telling me you aren't tired of him yet?" I joked, hearing him scoff behind me.

She shook her head at me.

"I tend to be a person that's nice to be around." He commented, smiling at me as I stood up.

I walked us both towards the door and stopped at the last step, turning back towards Natsu as I dug through my bag. I pulled out my wallet, "Here, since you had to stay so late-"

"It's fine Lucy." He waved at me.

I hesitated, giving him big eyes and puffed up my cheeks, before continuing, "No, I would feel too bad if I didn't repay you."

"Lucy-"

"Natsu, let me do this, okay? If you reject it then you'll make me feel bad and guilty, and just overall upset me. Is that what you want?" I asked him sternly, holding out a fifty dollar bill.

He gave me a deadpanned look, before reaching out in defeat. I placed the bill in his palm, pushing his fingers closed as he stared at me, and smiled.

"Goodnight." I said quietly, leading Layla out the doors.

He gave me half a smile back. "Night, Ms. Heartfilia."


The door dinged again as I walked through, actually not late to picking up Layla today, but if factearly. Wow, surprise right? I saw a bunch of children running around and tense daycare workers trying to keep everything calm and collected. Toys lay strewn everywhere and colorful puzzle mats kept some of the quieter ones satisfied.

My gaze traveled around until my eyes landed on a certain pair, an involuntary smile making its way on my lips. Natsu held Layla, of course, (she never let go) while trying to usher other boys and girls to the back rooms, probably for snack time or naps or something like that. Layla had her arms wrapped around his neck again, her head resting against his as she watched all the other children below her. She even looked amused by it.

Ah, that's my girl.

Natsu turned to her then, asking her something and she lit up in a beam of sunshine. She kissed his cheek as he set her down on the floor, laughing, and letting her run off to a mix of the other kids.

"Hey," I said, walking up to him.

His expression lit up a touch at the sight of me, "Hey."

"Handful huh?" I questioned, nodding towards the chaos ensuing all around us both.

"Yeah," He sighed tiredly, "But its getting time for their naps so we get a break for a little while."

After a few minutes of bribing and manipulating, everyone was laid down with their blankets, softly snoring away. I stood by the reception counter, watching Natsu try to maneuver his way over hands and feet and come over next to me, sighing.

"So why are you here so early?" He asked, leaning over the table and glancing to me.

I shrugged, "Just felt like taking a day off, decided to come visit."

That was a lie. Well, actually, it wasn't but I did have a reason to come here today.

"Going to check her out early?" He nodded towards Layla, asleep on the floor.

I scoffed, "Are you kidding? She'd kill me if I took her away from here if I didn't have too."

He smiled at that, Layla was one of the few who actually enjoyed the daycare, and I had a feeling he knew why too.

"She has a crush on you, you know?" I said quietly after a few moments, looking towards her sleeping face.

Half a smile came up to his lips, nodding slowly, as if embarrassed by it, "Really? I hadn't noticed."

I laughed softly, careful to not wake anyone up, "It's really cute actually, this is the first I've seen her without you by her side."

He sighed, "Yeah, I always have to promise her that we'll play her favorite game when she wakes up."

I leaned my head on my arm, watching her sleep away and hummed. I heard him stay quiet for a bit, then fidget around.

"Hey uh, not to pry or ask you anything you don't wanna answer but," He started, drifting off into a softer voice, "What about her dad?"

I exhaled and turned my head to face him, shrugging. "He died before she was born. She didn't know him."

He looked guilty, "I'm sorry."

I shook my head, "It's fine, I made sure to teach her that just because she doesn't have two parents means that she's left out. She's proud of that, and I'm proud of that. People always think single parents can't do anything for their kids or provide, but I'm doing great. At both."

He gave me a small grin at that.

"It is nice to have some extra help at times too." I thought out loud.

I glanced to him from the corner of my eye, fiddling with my fingers once seeing him look back at me. I breathed in a breath of confidence.

"Come work for me."

He turned to me, eyebrows raised and expression confused.

"I'll pay you," I blurted, quieting down. "However much you make here, you can ask for more."

I was a successful business woman, I liked to think, I could afford it.

I know it sounded weird, having him come just for Layla now, but I'll admit, I need him. I've never seen any adult click with children like he does, and I'd be damned if I let him slip away.

He still didn't say anything, so I kept going, drifting off carefully, "And…I have plenty of room at my house, my dad used to have this mansion with dozens of rooms that you can use, if you want to stay there. Or, you can just come drive over every day, if that's what you want, I don't know, whatever makes you comfortable."

He nodded shortly, but still didn't say anything.

"I just…" I started again, looking at him desperately, "I really want you to stay with Layla."

His expression softened, giving me a certain flash of his eyes that I couldn't quite read, and smiled.

"Okay."

I stood up, a wide grin falling on my face. "Okay?"

He copied me, "Okay."

I felt a burst of happiness rush through me, just thinking about how excited Layla would be about this. I ended up tackling him in a hug, wrapping my arms around his neck and being lifted off the floor. I stilled in his arms, biting my lip.

"Thank you," I whispered in his ear.


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~A Few Months Later~

I never thought how happy it would make me to come home to this big, giant house, usually silent and barren, and hear laughter flowing through it every night. I had a busy job after taking over my fathers company when he died, so I was always tired when I came home, but now, just knowing that Layla sounds so joyful when I step in the door, it makes me want to stay up forever just to listen to her.

Most of the house was dark, but a small stream of light led me to the sitting room, catching Natsu reading a book with Layla, of course, in his lap with her arms around his neck.

"Hey," I said softly, Layla looking as if she was just about to doze off.

His gaze traveled up to me, smiling at the sight, "Hey."

I sighed and fell to the seat next to him, seeing that he was reading her favorite book, yet the one that always made her fall asleep. I felt his eyes look back to the book and continue reading out loud. I felt my head fall to his shoulder, staring at the colorful pages tiredly as I tried to listen to his voice echo through my mind.

His words drifted off until he stopped, and I noticed him close the book, "You know there's a limit to who I'll carry upstairs after they fall asleep on me."

I laughed a bit, putting my chin on his shoulder, and saw Layla snoring softly in his chest. I felt dazed, more than usual today, but I also felt really content. Everything was just so nice and at peace, it made me feel great inside. Hiring Natsu was probably the best thing that ever happened to me.

"Thank you." I whispered.

Before he could reply I leaned up to him and pressed my lips against his cheek. I lingered longer than I intended too, but pulled away to see him staring at me, speechless. I offered a small smile, before standing up.

"I can take her upstairs." I said, seeing him finally blink and look away.

He cleared his throat, "It's alright, I can do it."

I saw him stand up and followed him to Layla's room, navigating between all her toys while trying not to wake her at the same time. He laid her on her bed, and I came over, pulling up her blanket to her cheek in the dim light of her nightlight. I brushed the blonde hair from her eyes and sighed, standing back up next to Natsu with my arms crossed.

I stared at Layla for a moment, before I felt his eyes on me, feeling swarms of warmth pulse through me. I glanced over, catching my eyes in his as he switched between mine. He had a look I don't think I've ever really seen before, and it nearly had me to my knees.

His gaze fell to my lips, and before I could breath in, his hand held the back of my neck, kissing me deeply. I felt all the wind get knocked from my chest at the feel of him, his hand grasping my shirt at the small of my back so that I didn't fall back from the sudden eagerness. I sighed out against his mouth, pressing into his arms, but he let me go then, taking a step back.

He froze for a second, as if he was surprised himself that he did that and let his lips part. I searched his eyes; he looked like a mix of guilty and desperation.

"I should…uh, go, I guess…" He swallowed thickly, nodding towards the door.

I saw him begin to leave, and forced myself to step forward. I grabbed his hand, pulling him back from getting any further. He stopped, looking back towards me, surprised. I hesitated for a moment, before stepping up and pulling his lips down onto mine again. I kissed him anxiously, feeling a sharp pang in my chest.

"Don't leave." I said, between breaths.

He smiled against me at that, nodding, and picked me up into his arms. "Never."


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I heard people really liked this one for some reason, so here you go :) Leave a thought?