As many of you may have noticed, I changed the name of this fic, thought it kinda suited it better.
The week drifted by, with Wade bumping into Missy and Emily briefly a couple of times, but for no more than a couple of minutes maximum.
After a few polite exchanges of words, the girls had rushed off, leaving Wade beaming after them each and every time…..
The merc knew, of course, that he was enamoured with them, without a doubt! But Missy was hard nut to crack…
Defensive and protective over her tiny daughter. He didn't expect anything less, but that just made Wade more and more bowled over by her.
She was perfect….and she didn't even realise it.
But tonight it was a Saturday night, and two days since the coughing had started.
Despite there being a hallway dividing them, Wade could still hear it, punctuating through the silence.
It was Emily. Wade had seen her looking sniffly and miserable on Thursday, but since then, the sounds that emanated from Missy's apartment had only worsened.
It was just gone 10pm, and even through the noise from his TV, Wade could still hear the bark-like coughs, sounding through the walls.
The merc was sprawled out on his couch after a tiring job.
Two guys who had tried to rob a liquor store. Wade had had a gold card with their names on it. Literally.
The merc knew for a fact that they didn't even have any weapons, but as soon as they had seen him they had run like hell. And Wade, despite him keeping fairly fit, wasn't as young as he used to be, had been winded after about five minutes and had given up. Pffft. Someone else could take the card.
So now, with his day pretty much wasted, Wade was sat, in jeans and a t-shirt, his sneakers still on, watching old re-runs of The Price is Right. His head was propped up on his hand, his face bored, his eyes staring, unmoving, at the TV.
It wasn't until there was a sudden knock on his door, did Wade finally break from his stupor…
He gave a frown, getting hastily to his feet.
Nobody usually called on him this late…and if they did, it was usually people demanding money….or worse, his life…
Grabbing his gun from the top shelf of a kitchen cupboard where he had stashed it, Wade stalked to the door before hurling it open, his eyes flashing dangerously.
But to his surprise, on the other side of the door wasn't a 6 ft7 hulking great man, ready to kill him…instead it was the opposite….
"Missy?" he said, tossing his gun down onto a sideboard, out of sight.
The caramel-haired woman was stood there, her face full of worry and concern. He could see that her eyes were red and tired-looking.
She gave a gulp, glancing back over to her open front-door.
"I'm really sorry….I didn't know who else to ask…." she said, shaking her head, looking close to tears, desperation in her voice. "It's Emily-"
From behind her came a sudden loud, carrying cough…
Again Missy glanced around, before staring back up at him once more.
"She won't stop coughing…it's been like two days…and she's getting worse….she just needs some medicine….but I haven't been able to get out and get some…." said Missy her voice breaking slightly as she spoke. "S-she just won't sleep….I-I've tried anything….medicine will help, but I just-"
Wade shuffled from foot to foot, the concern upon his features mirroring hers.
"You need me to go to the store?" he asked, his hand automatically reaching out and touching her shoulder.
Beneath his grasp, she was trembling like a leaf.
Missy was usually so composed, so reserved….but now…
She shook her caramel-blonde head quickly as he spoke.
"I know the one she needs….I'll be gone like five minutes tops…" she asked, in a hurried tone, her face reddening. "I just wanted to ask if you could-"
"-Of course," uttered Wade instantly. He knew what she was getting at but couldn't quite find the right words to ask him. "You want me to watch her?"
Missy nodded quickly.
"Like I said I'll be gone like five minutes," she said, her eyes wide and anxious. "She's just in bed….she's hot and just won't settle. I-I've tried everything. You don't have to do anything….just make sure she's ok… I just don't have anyone else to ask…"
For the slightest of seconds Missy's green eyes met with Wade's chocolate ones.
His heart broke for her. He could see the anguish that was coursing through her right now.
It looked like she had wanted to ask of him this all day, but had only now worked up the courage to do so.
"Lead the way," he uttered, giving her shoulder a small squeeze, and flashing her a reassuring smile.
Missy visibly gulped, turning away, tucking a stand of hair behind her ear before heading back over to her apartment.
Inside Emily's coughs were louder, more piercing inside the silent apartment.
As they reached the living room, Missy turned to him, pointing to a scrap of paper on the coffee table.
"I'll be back as soon as I can….that's my cell phone number….call me if anything happens…." Missy uttered, biting at her lip. "She shouldn't even notice I'm gone…"
Wade nodded. "It'll be fine, just go…" he said giving her a poignant look.
This was no time for the charm and teasing he normally presented to her. Her mind was not on him right now….
"Thank you…" she murmured, gratefully. And this time it was her turn to reach out for him….her hand grasping his forearm tightly, giving a squeeze.
But within a second she had pulled away and was heading out the door, purse and cell phone clutched tightly in her hands.
Wade gave a sigh, staring after her, long after the door had been pulled gently closed.
Emily's coughs rang out…
He wouldn't go in. It would only wind the little girl up further to wonder where her Mom had got to. From the sounds of it, Emily needed to rest…sleep…hopefully Missy would be back with the cough syrup that could help alleviate Emily's symptoms, and help her to calm and drift off.
The merc settled himself down onto Missy's couch before gazing around. For the first time he realised he had never actually seen the inside of her apartment before. Not with the lights on at least. But now no boxes littered the floor, only a couple of Emily's toys and a pair of Missy's patent high heels.
The room was neat and tidy and Wade couldn't help but feel relaxed, and almost at home here…
He smiled gently to himself as he sat up, pulling towards him a large drawing that lay beside the phone number Missy had left for him.
It was a haphazardly-drawn picture filled with red blobs Wade could only presume were supposed to be people, one of them with yellow hair- he could only imagine was Missy.
From what he could make out, there were three figures altogether. Three.
If the smallest one was Emily and the yellow-haired figure- Missy, who was the third?
Missy was a single-mom, there was no doubt about that…. the way she acted like a lioness, protecting her cub at all costs. But she was attractive and just…..amazing….there was no doubt in Wade's mind that she wasn't dating…or at least been in a relationship of late.
And besides, Emily hadn't just appeared out of thin air…she had to have a Dad…was he still on the scene? Missy hadn't mentioned him….although Wade had never asked…too busy flirting with her to ask her anything, in fact. He reprimanded himself internally.
He was a fucking jackass sometimes and he knew it, but his heart was in the right place.
Wade dropped the picture back onto the coffee table, just as a sudden voice over his shoulder made him jump in fright.
"I did pikshur."
Wade swung around, to see Emily stood there in little yellow bumblebee pyjamas, her soft brown hair tied up in a little bow.
Her face looked red and her eyes were puffy, like she had been crying.
"Heeeey there Em-bear," said Wade giving her a gentle smile. "What are you doing up?"
The little girl didn't answer but merely scrunched up her sleeve in her sticky hands, letting out another piercing cough.
Wade winced at the sound. That cough sounded painful.
"Want me to take you back to your bed?" he said turning to face her fully, perching on the edge of the couch cushion. "Your mommy has just gone to get you some medicine…and hopefully she will buy me some more ice cream after you two ate all mine the other week. You remember that?"
But again, Emily didn't answer.
Wade half expected that the cough had worsened the toddler's already-poor hearing.
Emily merely gave him the most-heart wrenching look he had ever seen and approached him, suddenly grasping his knee with her sticky paw and trying to lift herself onto his lap.
"I did pikshur,"she repeated, pointing over to the crayon-drawing on the table and giving another cough.
Wade's heart melted there and then, and in an instant, he had picked Emily up and lifted her onto his lap.
"Theeere you go," he said as she wriggled about on his knees, finally coming to rest next to him on the couch, her little hand on his leg. "You want this?"
Leaning over, Wade grasped up the drawing once more.
"Pikshur…" she repeated again, pointing at the red blobs with her chubby fingers, giving a sniffle and wiping at her nose with her other hand, which she instantly placed back down onto Wade's jeans straight after.
Wade couldn't help but smile, as she nuzzled her little body close to him, coughing again.
"Is that you?" he asked, as the little girl let out a nod. "And this is your Mommy?"
Emily gave a little yawn. "That vam-ire Mommy…she pwety…"
Wade agreed, grinning.
"Oh she is very pretty!" he said in a serious voice, pointing down at the two thick red lines Emily had drawn beneath the figure. "And gorgeous legs, by the way!"
Emily, who obviously didn't appreciate Wade's humour, snuggled her little head beneath his arm, giving another wet-sounding sniffle.
"An tha Waydee," she said pointing to the third red blob.
Wade didn't think he could adore one little girl more that he already did, but he had been mistaken.
He peered down at the toddler who was busy scrunching the corner of the paper in her hands.
"That's me?" he asked her gently, giving a gulp.
Emily nodded, coughing once again, the sound echoing through the room.
"You an Mommy vam-ires and tha me…" she said quietly, her voice croaky.
Wade smiled placing his arms around her, pulling her tiny little body into him.
That made her happy.
Emily snuggled down into his soft t-shirt, folding up her tiny bee-covered legs beneath her and closing her eyes.
She coughed and her little form shook beneath his grasp momentarily, before settling once again.
And it was only a matter of seconds….before little Emily's breathing shallowed and she became still….falling fast asleep.
Wade didn't dare move, he merely remained there, his thumb rubbing across her tiny warm back.
Only a minute or two passed, before Wade heard the door open behind him.
"Sorry….I rushed back as soon as I could-" said Missy suddenly, hurrying into the room, brandishing a white package of children's cough syrup, but she suddenly stopped in tracks as she saw the sight that met her eyes…
Wade glanced around to see Missy standing there, mouth open slightly, as she gazed down at the pair of them.
"She's only just dropped off…." he whispered with a small smile. "She wanted to show me her picture."
Wade pointed to the crayon drawing of the three of them.
Missy relaxed a little, letting out a long breath, before the corners of her lips curved up into the smallest of smiles.
"Yeah, she showed me that yesterday…" she said glancing down at the floor. "Sorry…she just likes you I guess."
But Wade merely beamed.
"Don't apologise!" he said staring back at her. "Can I keep it? It will look great on my fridge next to my coupon for half-off pizza."
Missy gave a chuckle, nodding.
"Of course," she replied, her warm eyes meeting his. "She would love that."
After a second, a moment of comfortable silence fell between the pair, the only sound between them being the horse breathing of little Emily on Wade's lap.
Missy walked over to him, gently picking up the little girl and holding her close to her chest.
Emily didn't stir…
Wade looked up at the pair of them, adoration in his eyes.
"So…" he said smirking. "You got a matching pair of those bumble-bee pyjamas hidden away in your bedroom?"
Missy merely smirked back.
Back to her usual self….her worry drifting away…
Wade got to his feet, snatching the drawing as well as the scrap of paper beside it.
"Oh and I'm taking your number by the way," he said matter-of-factly. "So expect some emoji-filled texts from yours truly VERY soon!"
Missy rolled her eyes, letting out a laugh, before heading over towards one of the bedrooms, holding Emily tightly in her arms.
"I'll let myself out," he grinned, staring down at the crayon drawing of the three of them once more, before strolling over to the front door.
"Thanks…for tonight…" came Missy's sudden voice, as he turned back towards her. "I appreciate it….I really do…."
She gave him a soft smile, stroking Emily's back with her hand.
Wade returned the smile, before nodding and hauling open the front door.
"Oh and Wade," came Missy's voice one last time, causing him to stop in his tracks and glance over at her.
This time she was biting her peach lips. She looked him up and down.
"I don't wear pyjamas to bed…" she uttered, giving him a long and lingering look, before smirking, wrinkling her nose and heading into the bedroom, disappearing out of sight.
Wade stared after her longingly as she went, before turning back to the door and raising his eyes to the heavens.
"Oh….fuck me…" he mouthed in awe, as he headed back out into the corridor, and pulled Missy's front door shut behind him.
...
Should I really carry on with this? Not sure if anyone is really reading. Comparatively to my other fics I'm barely getting any views. Which kinda sucks.
I'm really grateful to those who reviewed the last chapter- starrat, Legolas Girl 31, TJ, Claire, Trappy and Dean, dancindonna, RomansBride, Guest, AngiMK, RandomFandoming and kaayrakoi.
Do you think I should continue because if not I'll go back to my other Deadpool/Missy fic and leave this one as it is? Some feedback on what you like about the fic/chapters would be awesome.
Please review!
