Missy had had a long, tough day at work. She had been in meetings all day, where important discussions on the finances of the company had taken place. It seems that the company wasn't doing too well and profits were down. Despite Missy only being in there to take the minutes, making hurried notes in the corner of the meeting room, she had however gleaned that job losses were likely in the coming weeks. And Missy had a horrible sinking feeling that it would be last one in, first one out…
It had been hard enough getting back into work since a having Emily and this company had been the only ones to even offer her any sort of interview. She was smart and had gone to college, but it was as though since having a child, people treated you differently, as though she wasn't capable…or willing to work…
The last thing Missy needed right now was to lose this job. If she lost her job, it would mean that she couldn't pay rent. And if she couldn't pay rent, it would mean she would have to move back down to Florida and live with her aunt again.
What other choice would she have?
But it would break her heart to know that after all these months, she would prove all the nay-sayers right, and that she hadn't been able to make it on her own after all. That she couldn't provide for her own daughter like she should be able to…
That would just be the start of a downward spiral that Missy had hoped she was well shot of…
The last year or so had not been an easy one. After what had happened with Scott…..
Well, Missy had become pretty depressed…it was an easy thing to happen, especially when you had to try and cope on your own…
But seeing Emily's beautiful, bright face each and every day, had made everything just that little bit better…until Missy had been strong enough to stand up tall again…
She just hoped she would not find herself repeating those horrible few months of her life all over, once more…
Climbing the last couple of steps up towards her hallway, she made her way over to Wade's door, giving a gentle knock.
After today, she was so excited to see Emily, it having been the longest she had been away from her in a while.
A second passed and another…
Missy listened, giving a frown.
Behind the door she could hear whispers and giggling. She pursed her lips, hitching up her handbag over her shoulder and knocked again.
It was only brief moment later, that the door was suddenly hurled open, and there came a loud-
"RARRRR!"
Standing there, was a grinning Wade, in a dark t-shirt and jeans. And in his arms, was Emily, dressed in an ENORMOUS t-shirt that hung past her chubby little legs.
Missy raised her eyebrows and placed a hand over her heart in mock-fright.
"Wow, now that was scary," she said, beaming over at the little girl.
Emily immediately giggled and reached out making grabby hands for Missy.
"Mommy, I mished you," said the tiny toddler as Missy reached out and tugged her to her, clutching her tight to her chest.
Missy felt her heart swell with love as she peered down at her daughter.
"What on earth are you wearing?" asked the caramel-haired woman, cocking a sudden eye up at Wade questioningly.
"I haa acsiden coz lady showted a me," said Emily in a quiet voice, reaching for Missy's diamond-studded earlobe. "Waydee gayv me baff!"
Missy's eyes widened. "A bath? Wait! What? Who shouted at you?"
She looked between the pair of them confused, as Wade gave a wincing grimace.
"Uh…you wanna come in?" he asked, stepping aside.
Missy's eyes roved over his long features questioningly, but she obliged him, walking past him, Emily still safe within her arms.
Wade's place looked like a bombsite, the table covered in spaghetti, the kitchen floor covered in water and Wade's bed littered with various crayons and sheets of paper.
A few feet into the messy apartment, she turned back to face him as he pushed the front door gently shut and looked over at her.
Wade gave a gulp. How the fuck was he gonna tell her?
There she was standing in his apartment, looking as heavenly as ever, Emily held tight within her arms.
She was waaay too perfect for him and he knew it. In fact they both were…
Wade couldn't help but be in awe of her right at this very moment…
The merc stood there, scratching the back of his neck, looking guilty.
"See the thing is…I kiiiinda, got Em-bear kicked out of day-care," he said after a lengthy moment had passed. He raised his hands to shoulder level. "But in my defence, the woman working there was compete assho- … I mean… a total hag."
He shook his head as Missy stopped still, her mouth falling slightly open.
Oh fuck….
Fuck…
Fuck…
Fuck…
Missy's eyes bored into his.
She had a strange look upon her face…and Wade was almost certain she was going to start yelling at any second.
She had more than a right to…
Emily, who had become bored of tugging on Missy's ear lobe, had now taken up sucking on a long strand of her Mom's caramel hair. But Missy barely reacted to the toddler, instead, she was still and unmoving…
This was worse than yelling, thought Wade, as silence pierced the room like a knife.
Yep, this was waaaay worse…
But suddenly, much to Wade's utter surprise, Missy gave a smile…
A sad smile…. then a small laugh….
She sat down on the edge of Wade's bed and lifted a hand to her face, running it over her delicate features.
Wade took a nervous step towards her, as she shook her head and glanced up towards him.
"It's ok…" she said in a gentle voice. Her face was warm, but tired looking. "…it was going to happen eventually."
She shrugged, giving the slightest of sighs, before turning back to Emily and prising the long strand of her hair from her mouth.
"I'll…." Missy uttered, pausing for a moment and stroking the toddler's cheek. "-I'll just have to see if I can get a sitter or something…"
She glanced up, her eyes meeting his once again.
"Seriously, don't look so worried.. its fine.." she said chuckling. Turning back to Emily, she jiggled the little girl on her knee. "We'll be ok…won't we, sweetie?"
Wade cocked his head at the caramel-haired woman, catching the slightest look of worry and concern that lingered across her features. She tried to hide it well, but Wade could see through that in a second...
Missy was like a lioness protecting her cub…she would never show any vulnerability.
But Wade knew for a fact that she couldn't afford a sitter…not on her wage…and even if she could somehow manage to scrape together the money, there would be nothing left at the end of the month.
What kind of life was that for either of them?
Wade watched as Emily giggled and hugged at Missy, trying to climb up onto her wobbly little legs, which Missy grabbed at, and tickled.
"So did you have fun trying to give her a bath?" asked Missy after a moment, glancing up at Wade and smirking. "Because I know for a fact that she is a naughty little girl when it comes to bath time…aren't you baby?"
She grabbed the toddler's sides causing her to squeal with happiness.
Wade grinned, gesturing towards the kitchen.
"Not my finest idea," he said nodding towards the still-sopping wet kitchen floor. "But on the plus side, it's the first time in about four years I've had a girl naked on my kitchen counter."
Missy rolled her eyes, flushing slightly, but laughed anyway. She turned back to Emily.
"So did you and Wade have fun today while Mommy had to work?" she asked her, prising the lapels of her coat from her daughter's sticky hands.
The brown-haired toddler nodded.
"I 'ad baff an I dwaw pikshur an I goin shtay wiff Waydee in day naw!" said the little girl beaming happily.
Missy pursed her lips together, glancing up at Wade bemusedly.
The merc stared back at her through dark eyes.
"Way to let the cat out of the bag, Em-Bear," he said in a faux-irritated tone, rubbing the back of his neck. But Emily merely ignored him, too busy staring up into her Mom's face to pay any attention to his words.
Wade gazed over at the pair of them, taking a step closer to Missy.
"See, the thing is, Chicken Little and I have been brainstorming your problem, and we've come up with a solution," he continued, giving a grin. "Instead of you paying for an expensive sitter, how about I do it, for free?"
Missy slowly raised her eyebrows at him.
"I mean, I have nothing better to do until around 9pm anyway on most days…" he said, feeling his heart beating inside his chest.
He wanted to do this. He wanted to help her out. To be there for the little girl…and for Missy.
Geez, he knew how he felt about her…
He'd jump off a bridge if he thought it would make the pair of them laugh…
He was absolutely besotted with them…
Missy stared up at him. "Um…."
"Listen, you don't have to say yes right away-" said Wade, but before he could finish, Missy cut across him.
"Yes."
Wade looked up at her suddenly, stopping still.
What had she just said?
"I-If that really is ok with you…" said Missy, biting her lip and looking up at him a little tentatively. "…I mean she loves you a-and I would rather she be with you than someone she doesn't know…"
Wade's face almost immediately curved up into a wide smile, casing wrinkles to form at the corners of his eyes.
"…That's great with me…and hey, you can pay me, in….say, a bi-weekly takeout?" he uttered, raising a single scarred eyebrow.
Missy smiled back, a hint of something lingering within her gaze, that caused Wade's heart to beat just that little bit faster.
"Deal…"
"…and so, that's when I finally hit 'fuck it', and began working with the guys at Sister Margaret's. Y'know they're all not so bad, really, especially when you get past the smell of unwashed leather pants…"
Missy gave a laugh.
She and Wade were sat on Wade's couch, facing each other.
About an hour ago, Emily had passed out, fast asleep under the covers of Wade's bed, still in her oversized t-shirt.
Today had been a long an eventful one, especially for a two year old.
On noticing, Missy had immediately got up to carry her back over to their own apartment, but Wade had suggested that they leave her where she looked comfortable.
He had then insisted on taking Missy up on this afternoon's offer of a takeout and a movie.
They had ordered an enormous pizza to share and had stuck on a long and tedious Batman movie that had barely got going at all. So Wade had turned the volume down low and the pair had merely spend the last forty minutes chatting about, well….nothing much at all…
But were both more relaxed and happy than they both had been in a long time. That was definitely for sure. Wade had even pulled out a couple of bottles of beer from his fridge for them both.
Now, Wade lifted his own bottle to his lips and took a sip, staring at the caramel-haired woman as she glanced down into her lap.
Jesus Christ, he was crazy about her…
He just couldn't help himself.
Everything she did...
Every word she uttered…
He had fallen for her….and hard…
Her eyelashes fluttered up to his once more and she gave a gentle smile.
"What?" she asked questioningly.
But Wade merely shrugged.
"Well, I've given you my fucking life story…now it's your turn," he said goadingly.
Missy looked at him and paused for a second before giving a small sigh.
"I don't think my life is quite as interesting as yours," she said picking up another slice of lukewarm pizza.
But Wade shrugged.
"Nahhh, I just make it sound cool. I'm like J. but with machetes instead of wands…and Baghdad instead of Hogwarts," he said in a deadpan tone.
Missy took a deep breath, placing her untouched pizza slice back down again. "There's really nothing to tell… I'm an only-child, I majored in English Lit in college, I had a couple of admin jobs…then I had Emily…that's really it. My life has been anything but exciting or glamourous…"
She looked away from him, picking at a loose thread at the hem of her grey pencil skirt.
But Wade gave a bemused frown.
"Now, I wouldn't say that," he said giving a chuckle. "I mean, you gave birth to perhaps the cutest kid, I've ever known. AND you met, and live across the hallway from me….I mean that's something to fucking be proud of!"
Missy looked up at him finally, her face breaking into a smile.
But Wade could see that behind her eyes, there was a hint of something. A sadness lingering there that she didn't want to let out.
He gave a blink.
"So am I right in guessing you were one hell of a gorgeous prego-mama?" he said raising an eyebrow.
Wade noticed Missy almost instantly flush.
"Well, if you include having swollen ankles and looking like a planet, being gorgeous… then, yeah, maybe I was," she uttered, nudging his knee and giving a laugh behind her hand.
There was a moment of silence before Wade spoke.
"Nah, I'm sure you still-looked fucking amazing," he insisted, gazing at her face.
The merc desperately wanted to ask about Em's Dad…about why he was no longer on the scene…but at the last second, decided better of it…
He merely watched as Missy gave a sigh, glancing over at the TV as a car crashed into a wall on screen, bursting into flames.
She shifted around slightly and to his surprise shuffled over an inch or two, closing the gap between the pair of them.
Wade, who was propped up against the corner of the couch, his arm flung out over the back of it, stared down at her.
He could feel his mouth going dry and his heart begin to beat faster.
Fuck…how the hell did she keep doing this to him?
He, of course, however, obliged her, feeling her weight shift slightly against him.
Neither of them said word for a moment or two, Missy, at least, engrossed in the movie.
Wade could smell her warm vanilla perfume…that heady scent reminding him of the feeling of her skin pressed up against his.
Memories of Christmas eve night came suddenly rushing back to him…the feeling of her smooth skin beneath his fingertips, the feeling of her racing pulse in her neck as he kissed her there…the sound of her gentle moans in his ear…
Wade stared at her.
Jesus Christ, she was fucking beautiful….
…and smart…
…and gorgeous…
...and interesting…
…and just…so unbelievably fucking amazing…
"You realise… " she said after a long moment had passed, causing Wade to jump slightly, shaking himself out of his trance. "…that looking after Emily is kind of a full-time job…I mean, I wouldn't blame you if you want to back out at any point… I mean with her disability….she can be tough to handle sometimes…I just…."
She glanced up at him from beneath heavy-eyelashes and shook her head a little worriedly.
"…I just wouldn't want you feeling like you had to help us out….we'd be ok on our own…" she continued before trailing off.
And he didn't doubt that for a second. She would be ok without him, of course he would. She was strong, gorgeous woman. But there was no way in a million years he was going to leave her now…
Right at that moment she looked sad, her eyes falling to her lap. But Wade gave a frown.
"You realise I'm not fucking going anywhere…like I said I'll be here, no matter what fucking happens…" he began, trying to get his point across to her.
He desperately wanted her know what he was trying to say…
Wade shifted slightly in his seat, locking his dark-brown eyes onto hers.
"…I know I might seem the kinda guy that would run out on you….but I won't…."
She looked up at him and he could hear her breath hitching slightly in her throat.
"I meant what I said…" he said in a serious tone, his eyes never leaving hers. "I'm fucking crazy about the both of you."
There followed a long silence, where it felt like there was only the two of them left in this entire world…
Wade took in a breath.
He wanted right then to confess exactly how he felt about her…
But she had pushed him away. That had been what she had wanted.
And if he tried anything on with her again he knew he might risk losing both of them for good.
"And besides," he replied after a long second or two had passed. "You've heard what my resume has had on it, so far. I think I can handle a two-year old girl, even if she can do more damage to my apartment in a couple of hours, than a pair of AK-47s."
The pair seemed to relax a little at Wade's comment and Missy gave a smile, turning back to the TV and shifting closer to him once again…
She seemed happy with that, and Wade desperately hoped that she had figured out what he been trying to tell her….what he had been trying to say beneath all his lengthy, Wade Wilson words.
That he wanted her…that he wanted Emily…that he wanted them both…
He gave an internal sigh and gazed down at Missy, her caramel-blonde head resting against his shoulder…
Fuck, he was in love…there was no fucking doubt about it…
Not any more…
Wade gave a gulp and settled himself into a comfortable position once again, with her leaning half up against his broad torso.
And this is how the pair of them remained, until the movie ended two hours later, and the screen went black…
With both of their eyes fallen shut, and their soft, sleep-filled breathing being the only sound emanating from either of them.
This was, for Wade and Missy, the best night's sleep either of them had had…since that fateful Christmas Eve night…
Thanks to Wellisarne, jonstar1034, dancindonna, KatieR, Legolas Girl 31,xxcheshiregrinxx, Momochan77, Smaug The Golden, Carlypso, AngiMK and Raging Raven for reviewing the last chapter.
I'm sorry if that was an awful chapter. It took me ages to write and I felt like it could have been way better. Apologies.
Please review…