Wade paced along the busy sidewalk toward the business district of town, his usual red sheepskin jacket thrown haphazardly over his t-shirt.

He normally received some scornful glances from passers-by in this part of the city, and today was no exception.

Wade knew he did not look like the most trustworthy character, granted, but some men and women in flashy pinstripe suits and $200 haircuts, would actually take the time to cross the street to avoid him. But hey, he had experienced worse in his life than a few dismissive looks.

The merc barely even batted an eyelid as a young woman talking on a cell phone, actually scowled, side-stepping Wade as he strolled by.

It was ten minutes to three when the merc strutted through the revolving doors, hands in pockets and into Missy's office building.

He was early, he knew that, but he was sure Em wouldn't mind getting out of this place a little sooner.

I mean, even the foyer looked clinical and unwelcoming, and as Wade approached the front desk, a dark-haired receptionist in her thirties, looked him up and down with distaste upon her features.

"Can I help you?" she asked, her eyes lingering on him uneasily.

Wade gave an nonchalant grin.

"I'm looking for the day-care?" he muttered, his hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets.

The receptionist gave him another reproachful look.

"Ah, yes, Mr…Wilson, isn't it?" she said turning back to her PC and clicking her mouse a few times. "Yeah, you've been signed in. Take the elevator up to the sixth floor and it'll be on your left through the glass doors."

Wade gave a nod, and flashed the woman a smile. "Thanks…" he glanced down at her name badge. "…Bonnie."

She narrowed her eyes at him before tutting and turning away.

Wade gave a chuckle to himself as he strolled casually towards the sleek elevators, and within a couple of minutes he was flying smoothly up towards the sixth floor.

The doors pinged open and Wade swaggered out, receiving a frown from a snooty-looking man in a shirt and tie, as he did so.

Turning left, just as the receptionist had told him, he saw the looming glass doors up ahead and a boring little black and white sign outside which read 'Sixth floor Day-care'. No bright colours, no cartoon images of fluffy little animals, the likes of which you would normally find at a nursery. No. This place looked blank, and just as clinical as the lobby had seemed.

Wade pushed his way through the glass doors, taking care, as a small boy of about three, zoomed past him, holding his arms out like an airplane.

The place was slightly more child-friendly in here, with a few toys littered around and some scooters and trikes laying around on the floor. In the corner was a small playhouse where two tiny girls both about Emily's age were dressed up in pink dresses playing loudly together, shrieking and laughing.

There was no sign of Emily at first sight, or any staff for that matter…so Wade took a few cautious steps into the room.

He was no expert but surely leaving children pretty much unattended right by the front doors had to be a no –no, right?

But it wasn't until he peered around the corner, behind a large bookcase did he see just why the children had been left to their own devices.

Standing there in the corner, beside a tiny shelf full of kid's books, was a large sour-faced woman in her fifties. At this moment she was bent over, her face sneering down at a tiny brown-haired little girl Wade recognised very well indeed…

For there was Emily, backed into a corner, a book about a Lion called Lonny lying discarded on the floor beside her.

The tiny toddler was red in the face, her cheeks soaking wet with tears.

She looked terrified, her hands pressed tightly to her ears, her little legs shaking terribly. From her mouth poured the most heart-breaking sobs…

"You need to do as I say, like the other children, young lady, and stop being such a little brat," spat the woman, her voice raised harshly. "Take your hands off your ears and listen to me!"

With that, the woman doubled over, snatching Emily's hands away from her ears roughly, only causing the toddler to let out a scream of fear.

But the sour-faced woman was unrelenting, advancing on Emily as the tiny girl stood still, petrified.

"You think just because you're spoiled at home, that you don't deserve some discipline here? Well think again," continued the woman, her teeth bared. "You won't even listen to me when I tell you to go take a nap with the other children. Well I've had enough! I just think you're a bad child that needs to go sit on the naughty step. Now! Go on! Go!"

But Emily didn't move.

She was crying so hard that Wade doubted she could hear anything above the sound of her own sobs. She looked confused and terrified, clutching her hands to her ears once again, in fear.

Wade took a step further into the room.

He could feel his blood boiling, his teeth clenched hard, his jaw set.

"Ugh, well you know what?" said the hard-faced old woman, snatching Emily's arm away from her ear once more, but this time she did not let go. Clutching the toddler's forearm tightly, she pulled at her roughly, causing Emily to cry even louder. "I think someone ought to teach you a lesson-"

Wade gave a growl, and in an instant he was at the woman's side.

"Oh, I would not do that if I were you," he said in a low, dangerous voice, his eyes black.

The woman jerked her head around to look at him.

"And who are you?" she asked in a snide voice, not relinquishing her grip on Emily's arm.

Wade was furious, seeing red. It took him all his effort not to pull out the knife he knew he was carrying from inside his pocket.

"Oh, I'm gonna need you to take your fucking hands off her," he said in a menacing tone, taking a step closer to the sour-faced witch.

But the woman merely shot him a hollow look. "I don't see what it's got to do with you!"

But now it was Wade's turn to back this woman into a corner.

He advanced on her, looming over her intimidatingly. That he was good at. It was his job after all…making all manner of grown men cower and cry…

The horrible woman took a swift step back, letting go of Emily's arm. "I-I'll call security…" she uttered, giving a visible gulp.

Wade growled under his breath, his fists both clenched and his chin lowered.

Right now he looked every inch the mercenary people whispered amongst themselves about...

He was tall and broad, and little did this woman know, that he was trained in almost everything that was needed to take a man out…

The woman whimpered, her back now flush against the wall, her nicotine-stained lips quivering.

But Wade didn't care, and as quick as a flash he had turned away from her and crouched down before the tiny Emily who was still sobbing her little heart out.

It took her a second or two to finally focus on him.

"Hey Em-bear…" he uttered his face softening slightly, as he brushed his thumb down her sticky cheek, wiping away her still-falling tears.

A second passed before she suddenly clutched his coat tightly in her little fists and tried her best to clamber into his lap, trying to get as close to him as she possibility could.

Wade immediately grasped her to his chest, lifting her into his arms, he could feel that her little butt was wet, but she definitely could not be blamed for that right now. Or ever, in fact.

She continued to sob in his arms as he held her close, getting to his feet. "Shhh, it ok, Wadey's here," he said in a quiet voice, barely knowing if she could hear him or not, but he needed to say it, if only for his own benefit.

It was only now that he realised how much his heart was pounding and how much of a lump he had in his throat.

He was absolutely besotted with Em and to see this woman talk to her like that…

All he wanted to do was get the toddler out of here.

Turning on his heel, he began to promptly stalk out of there, back over towards the door.

He lingered for a second or two, grasping up Emily's recognisable red coat from a hook by the door, just as the woman, regaining her confidence slightly, strode across the room towards him.

"Y-You're the father?" she scoffed loudly, her voice still sounding a little shaken up.

But Wade didn't answer, not even wanting to rise to her words.

"Well that says a lot doesn't it?" spat the woman, pointing at him accusingly. "Of course a child like that would spawn from a lowlife like you! She doesn't deserve to be here, with the normal kids-"

Wade's eyes blackened and he turned sharply to face her, his chin lowered dangerously.

"A child like what?" he murmured in a dark tone.

But the woman, seeing his look, gave a gulp, backing away slightly, looking fearful and defensive.

Wade who didn't want a still-trembling Emily, to have to be here a moment longer, hurled open the glass doors, stalking out.

"S-She's not welcome here again. You hear me? You can tell that girlfriend of yours that too!" he heard the woman yell behind him as the door swung shut.

Wade headed straight into the elevator, still holding Emily tightly to him. Her sticky paws were still tightly clutched around his sheepskin lapels, and she looked him directly in the face as her sobs began to subside.

He smiled up at her, as the doors closed shut, brushing a free hand across her forehead.

She looked back at him, giving a sniffle and placing her tiny fingers into her mouth.

A moment passed between them and Wade felt a love like he had never felt about anything else in this world.

All he wanted was for her to be safe…happy…to grow up knowing that she had people around her that truly loved her.

It was a long second before the tiny toddler finally opened her mouth and spoke, her voice quiet…

"I not nowmal?"

Wade almost immediately shook his head, a frown settling itself between his brows.

It broke his heart to hear her say that…

"Of course you're normal, in fact you're better than normal," he said bouncing her slightly in his arms. " You, Chicken Little, are the most amazingly, fantastic little bear I know…"

She looked at him, blinking for a second, before she let out a sudden gushing smile, her hands reaching up for his cheeks.

"I not bear!" she said giving a giggle and 'smushing' Wade's face between her sticky paws.

He raised his eyebrows at her, pressing the button marked G for ground floor.

"Are too!" he said giving her sides the tiniest of tickles causing her to laugh a little louder. The sound brightening his day entirely…


Thanks to petite-yoyo, Legolas Girl 31, dancindonna, pyroleigh, Momochan77, jonstar1034 and Smaug the Golden for reviewing the last chapter.

What did you think about this one? Was it alright?

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