Chapter 11
Riker's POV
After my mom left, I turned to Curt still blushing.
"So this is what made you blush on the phone?" he asked. I nodded. "You know we don't have to do anything you don't want to."
"I know." I said softly. Why was he so sweet?
"How about we watch a movie?" Curt suggested. I nodded. "You choose." I went over to the movie case in the living room. Over time most of my movies became children's movies. I chose my favorite though, the first Pirates of the Caribbean. I put it in, and curled up with Curt on the couch.
"I knew you were going to choose this." he said with a chuckle. I smiled at him, and kissed his cheek, before laying my head back down on his shoulder. We watched the movie in silence for a while. I turned to him, and looked him in the eyes.
"I love you." I said.
He smiled, "I love you too." He bent down and kissed me softly. The kiss turned a bit heated, and I tried to hold in a moan, as Curt started to kiss down my neck. His hands started to drift lower, and I felt panic rising in my stomach. Curt must've felt me stiffen, because he pulled away.
"Too far?" he asked gently. I nodded, shakily. "I'm sorry baby." He hugged me, and I burrowed my face into his shoulder. "We can wait."
I nodded, and we cuddle back up, and turned back to the movie. I felt Curt start palying with my hair. It was so comforting. My eyes started to droop shut...
Curt's POV
I looked down, and saw that Riker had fallen asleep. I turned off the movie, and picked up Riker. I loved him so much. I felt bad about pushing him earlier. He needed time and I would give him that. I laid him down in bed, and went to go back to the guest room.
"Stay." I heard Riker mumble.
"What?" I asked.
"Stay with me." he said. I smiled, and climbed into bed with him. He cuddled into my chest, and his breathing evened back out almost immediately. I kissed his forehead, and then settled down to go to sleep myself.
The next morning I was awoken by Bella jumping up and down on the bed.
"Papa! We gotta leave for school soon." she said.
I looked at the clock. It was almost already six. "Crap!" I said, jumping out of bed, and running into the spare room. I threw on my clothes, and went back to wake up Riker.
"Rike." I said shaking him softly, "Baby."
"Mmm?" he said, slowly waking up.
"I'm leaving for school. I'll take Bella with me. You just sleep, okay? I don't want the chicken pox to get worse.", I said.
"Kay." he said. I kissed his forehead, and went downstairs. "Bella!" I called. She came in from the living room.
"Yes, Papa?" she asked.
"Are you ready to go?" I asked.
"What about breakfast?" she asked.
I looked at the clock. "I'm running a bit late, sweetheart. How about we stop at McDonald's?"
"Yes!" she said, and ran toward the door. I chuckled and followed. I grabbed her car seat out of Riker's car, and put it in mine. Then we headed to the school. We stopped at the McDonald's just down the street from school. They're weren't an other kids at the school yet. Since, it was an hour early. Bella and I sat and ate our breakfast.
"Where is everybody, Papa?" she asked.
"Well, because I'm a teacher I have to get here early." I explained patiently.
"What if I accidentally forget to call you Mr. Mega during class?" Bella asked as she finished eating.
"That's okay. Accidents happen sometimes, and calling me Papa at home, but Mr. Mega here will probably be confusing sometimes. I won't be angry. Just try your best." I realized that I'd just called Riker's house, home. The truth was that it felt more like home to me than my apartment ever did.
"Okay." Bella said. I finished my breakfast, and Bella helped me get everything ready for the day. Once we were done, Bella turned to me.
"Papa, can I help you like this everyday?"
"I don't know, sweetheart. You see, Papa has an apartment. He won't always be at you and Daddy's house.", I said. I picked Bella up and sat her on my lap.
"Why?" she asked. "Don't you love us?"
"Of course I do sweetheart. But it's not that simple." I said, "I have to wait for Daddy to ask me to move in with you."
"Why?" she asked again.
"Because that's the polite thing." I said.
She sighed, and hoped off my lap. "Adults making everything to hard. I'm running to the bathroom."
"Okay, sweetheart. Come straight back." I said. I was moving around some papers. When one of the mom's came in with her son. His name was Gavin. His mom, Cindy, was single, and didn't seem to understand the words, I'm gay. Or the words, I'm not interested. "Well maybe she'll understand, I'm taken." I thought to myself.
"Good morning, Curt." she said.
"Good morning, Cindy." I said, politely.
"How are you this morning." she said batting her eyelashes at me. I groaned internally. Did she ever stop?
"Papa! Papa!" Bella said, running back into the room, and hopping on my lap. "I reached the sink all by myself!" she said excitedly. I decided not to point out that that was because the bathrooms were specifically for small children, and said, "Wow, sweetheart I am so proud of you!"
"Who is this?" Cindy asked.
"I'm Bella." Bella said, smiling at the women.
"Well, aren't you adorable." Cindy said to Bella. "Is she yours?", she asked directed at me.
"She's my boyfriend's." I said, "But I love her. And him."
"Papa's moving in with us." Bella said matter-of-factly.
"Oh." Cindy said. She looked a bit upset. "Maybe she'll leave me alone now." I thought to myself. "Well, I better get going. I just had to drop Gavin off. Good-bye Curt, Bella."
"Bye!" Bella said, waving as Cindy left. I let out a sigh of relief. "Are you okay, Papa?" Bella asked.
"Fine, sweetheart. But you should probably start calling me, Mr. Mega again, since other students are starting to get here." She nodded, and went to her seat. The room quickly filled with children, and I smiled, and stood up to start the day.
Riker's POV
I woke up to the sunlight streaming in my window. I had an initial moment of panic, until I remembered that Curt took Bella to school this morning. "I could get used to this." I thought. I lay in bed for a few minutes, just thinking. When I did finally get up, I took a shower, got dressed, and made myself some breakfast. It was so quiet. I'd already gotten used to the sound of Bella and Curt chattering away, and it was odd to not hear them. I was just finishing my breakfast when my phone rang.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Hi, is this Riker Lynch?" A voice asked.
"This he." I said, wondering who was calling.
"Hello, Mr. Lynch. We're calling about one Bella Lynch. She seems to have gotten in a fight. We're afraid your going to have to pick her up for the day. Her teacher will be notified."
I frowned, "Why would Bella get in a fight?"
"Alright, thank-you." I said. I finished my coffee, and headed out the door. When I got to the school Bella was sitting in the office waiting for me. It was still recess and all the other kids were outside playing.
"The recess moniter pulled them apart." the secretary informed me. "They both are a little scrapped up, but other wise fine. They both saw the nurse."
"Thank-you." I said. The secretary nodded, and I turned to Bella. She looked like she had been crying, and she had several band-aids on her arms and knees. "Let's go young lady." I said trying to sound firm.
Bella followed him back to her classroom, to get her backpack and jacket.
When Curt say us his smile quickly turned to a frown, and he walked over and scooped up Bella.
"Bella Arlene Lynch, what happened?" he asked.
"She got into a fight." I informed him.
Curt frowned, "Bella why would you do that?"
"She said that you weren't my Papa." Bella said softly. Curt and I sighed almost in unison.
"Bella, you know the truth sweetheart. Don't let what other people say affect you." Curt said. "You shouldn't have hurt the girl. And I expect you to apologize next time you see her, and I bet daddy does too." They both looked at me, and I nodded.
"Okay, Papa." Bella said.
"That's my girl." Curt said, and kissed her cheek. Bella smiled, and Curt sat her down. He turned to me. "It's wonderful to see you, babe. Just wish it weren't for this reason."
"Me, too." I said, and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
"Care to try that date again tonight?" he asked.
"Sounds perfect." I said.
"Great." he said. The bell rang, and students started to be heard in the halls.
"I'll see you tonight." I said. We shared a quick kiss, and Bella and I left.
When Bella and I got home, she quickly shed her shoes and jacket, and ran to the kitchen.
"Bella!" I called. She always did this to try and avoid punishment. She came back slowly.
"Yes, daddy." she said.
"You know what I'm going to say." I said, gently, but firmly.
"That you have to put something up." Bella said.
"Yes, your Barbies are up for the next week.", I said.
"Yes, daddy." she said, resignedly.
"I love you." I said, "That's why I have to put things up."
"I know." she said with a sigh. "I love you, too."
"Good." I said, smiling. "Can I get a hug?"
She smiled, and ran to me, and hugged me. I picked her up, "Now, how do you feel about going to Uncle Rocky's for the night?"
"Are you going out with Papa?" she asked.
"I am." I said.
"Uncle Rocky's sounds good." she was silent for a moment, "Daddy?"
"Yes, baby girl." I said, as we walked upstairs to her room.
"Will you ask Papa to move in with us?" she asked.
"What?" I asked. Did she really just say that?
"I want Papa to live with us." she said.
"I don't know baby girl." I said.
"But I love having Papa around. He makes your eyes sparkle, daddy." she said. I looked at her, her expression was dead serious.
I sighed, "I'll think about it okay, baby girl."
"Okay." she said. She yawned.
"Nap time?" I asked. She nodded, and we went to my room, and curled up in bed.
"Night daddy. Love you." she said.
"Love you too, baby girl." I said. I kissed her forehead, and she smiled already half asleep. I leaned over and set the alarm, and laid down to take a nap too.
