I DO NOT OWN ANYONE OR ANYTHING IN THIS STORY BESIDES THE OC'S.
Neal's Point of View-
Leslie got home at 11 PM, like she said she would and she accompanied me out on the patio.
"I can go for some wine tonight..." Leslie said as she sat down on the chair across from me.
"A rough night?"
"Yeah..." Leslie said as she moved some hair out of her face when I saw this big bandage on her hand.
"What happened?" I asked concerned.
"I cut my hand, it's no big deal..." Leslie said shrugging it off.
"Come on, I got better stuff in my medicine cabinet than napkins." I said as I dragged her to the bathroom trying to be as quiet as possible. She sat on the toilet seat cover extending her arm out, resting her elbow on her knee of the leg that she had up on the toilet with her. "You cut it deep, I need to clean it out...what'd you cut it with?" I asked.
"A knife that I was trying to clean, someone scared me and I ended up slicing myself..." Leslie explained.
"That will do it...this may sting..." I said pouring some of the alcohol onto her cut getting her to flinch and I poured a little more rubbing it along the cut.
"That stuff stings so much." Leslie said.
"But it helps fight the infections..." I said.
"I know...thanks Neal..." Leslie said smiling as I put some other stuff on it before putting a gause on it along with bandages that weren't as big.
"That better?" I asked curiously.
"Yeah, thanks..." She said smiling pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear, I opened the door going into the kitchen where we poured glasses of wine going back onto the patio. "What time you have to be at work tomorrow?" She asked.
"8, but I usually don't show up until 9 or 10...I was thinking walking Olivia to school with you then accompany you to your apartment before I headed off to work..."
"I don't want to cause you to be late...you need the money..."
"Psh, I'm like a boss there, I can set my own hours..." I said chuckling.
"Must be nice..."
"It is..." I said smiling.
"Olivia said you bought her Valentines Day cards?"
"Yeah, Valentines Day is Thursday..."
"It is? I lost track..." Leslie said sipping her wine.
"I was just as surprised...you work that day?" I asked curiously.
"No, I have Tuesday and Thursday's off..."
"Cool, you have any plans?" I asked subtly.
"Not yet...probably just bake cookies with Olivia in heart shapes or just stay at home...nothing too big..." Leslie said.
"Cool..."
"You have any plans?" Leslie asked.
"Not yet..."
"Valentines Day sucks huh?" Leslie asked.
"Yep..." I said as we both sipped our wines at the same time. "Is your work going to be doing anything special for Valentines? Like any deals or special event thing?"
"Nah...they usually just put red or pink balloons up along with flowers at every table then they make a lot of the food into hearts...nothing too special."
"Well, it's nothing much more than any other place, some places don't even do that..."
"Thats true...is your work doing anything special?"
"No...my business is very male dominant with occasionally a few girls, we don't do much of that type of stuff..." I said sipping my wine.
"Oh...yeah, it's hard when you are in a work environment trying to celebrate any holiday...some people want to celebrate and others not so much."
"Thats true...people celebrate differently and others don't celebrate some holidays compared to others..."
"I kind of have to celebrate a lot of the holidays because Olivia is a child and loves to do things on every holiday besides like Labor Day or Veterans Day, but we usually go to the parade..."
"Yeah, I know when I was a kid I loved all the holidays...wasn't a big fan of Thanksgiving though..."
"Me neither...I LOVED Halloween, let me tell you..."
"Me too..." I said smiling.
"What was your favorite costume?"
"I have to say my favorite costume that I was would have to be...hm...a shadow..."
"A shadow?"
"Yeah, I wore all black, wore black gloves and painted my whole face black..." I said.
"That is very unique, I would have never thought of that...did you ever not get seen?"
"Yeah, I loved it because I was able to jump out and scare people..."
"I bet, I love scaring people but I don't do it often because I don't know many people to do it to..." Leslie said.
"Olivia."
"That'll be mean..." Leslie said as she chuckled a tad.
"Yeah, does she not like the haunted houses or stuff like that?"
"Not really...she screams when she spiders..."
"And afraid of the drain monster..."
"Not again..." Leslie said.
"Yeah, it's fine...I thought the garbage disposal was a monster when I was a kid."
"I thought there was a monster in my parents room because my dad snored and I thought monsters were under my bed..." I said.
"I'm surprised she isn't afraid of that, I was afraid of monsters everywhere in the house..."
"She has gotten better, she never really thought monsters were under the bed because her logic was they couldn't because the drawers were there..." Leslie said sipping her wine.
"Good logic..." I said sipping at the wine.
"I guess we shall get some sleep..." Leslie said checking her watch which led to me checking mine.
"I can stay up a little longer..."
"I don't want you to be tired at work tomorrow..." Leslie said.
"Pssh..." I said sipping at my wine again, "You want a snack?" I asked.
"Nah, I grabbed something at the diner...people didn't come pick up their order but already paid for it so it was mine..." Leslie said.
"Joys of working in the food industry..." I said smiling.
"It has its perks..." Leslie said smiling.
"I bet...I wish I can get free food at my work..."
"Don't you?"
"Nah..." I said.
"Well that bites..."
"But whatever..." I said shrugging.
"What do you have planned for work tomorrow?"
"Nothing too big...probably sitting at my desk doing nothing..."
"Sounds fun..."
"Doesn't it?" I asked looking over to her smiling and she smiled, the sliding door opened getting Leslie and I to look at the door.
"Mommy, when did you get home?" Olivia asked wiping at her eyes.
"Olivia, what are you doing up?" Leslie asked.
"I had a bad dream..." Olivia said walking out of the doorway and up to her mom.
"Alright, well I guess it's my bedtime." Leslie said.
"I guess I shall hit the hay as well..." I said standing up pushing my chair in as Leslie did the same grabbing her daughters hand and her wine glass in the other, I let them walk in first and Olivia went with her mom to the sink before Leslie went to the bed tucking her daughter back in.
"Mommy..." Olivia said in a whine.
"I'm right here Olivia." Leslie said as she walked around the bed climbing onto the bed after she took her shoes off, Olivia cuddled with her mom and Leslie held her daughter to her embrace humming 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' until Olivia fell back asleep. I didn't feel like changing into my pajamas so I just grabbed the pillow and blanket taking it to the couch making my bed laying down watching the two girls on my bed knowing Leslie hadn't fallen asleep yet.
"Does she have nightmares often?" I asked in a whisper.
"Only on nights where she misses me...the counselor at school sees her once a week, she thinks that her not knowing her dad makes her feel that I will leave her too and that she is extremely attached to me, she says she has early signs of attachment issues that can come out in nightmares..." Leslie explained.
"So, am I making it worse?" I asked afraid that I can make it worse with how attached she is getting to me.
"No, that is impossible." Leslie said.
"If she has a nightmare again and your not home, what will I do?" I asked as I rolled over onto my side facing her.
"Lay with her, run your hands through her hair and hum 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.' She just likes to know she isn't alone." Leslie said.
"Okay..." I said.
"I'm hoping she grows out of it..."
"I'm sure she will..." I said confidently as I watched Leslie stay up a little while longer and fell asleep with her daughter in her embrace. I personally couldn't sleep because I was worried about Olivia, I sat up fighting myself to stay up watching the two girls in my bed sleep peacefully. I got up making coffee, I was keeping myself busy with reading books under my blanket and not fall asleep. I looked at my clock seeing it was 6 AM, I went into my closet grabbing a new suit to wear for work today, and took a quick shower to help me wake up from my sleepless night. I got out getting fully dressed before I walked out of the bathroom seeing Leslie sitting on the edge of the bed rubbing at her face. "Morning." I said as cheerfully as I could.
"Morning..." She said.
"How'd you sleep?" I asked curiously as I walked out of the closet from putting my towel up.
"Good, how about you?" Leslie asked.
"Perfect..." I lied as she smiled.
"Time to wake this sleepy head..." Leslie said as she leant back shaking her daughter, "Olivia, it's time to get up." Leslie said as Olivia whined a tad as she finally rolled to her back looking from her mom to me.
"What time is it?" Olivia asked.
"Time to get ready for school." Leslie said.
"Okay..." Olivia said sitting up moving my blanket.
"Olivia, before you do anything..." I said.
"What?" Olivia asked.
"Moo..." I said as she smiled and she jumped off the bed running to the spot.
"What is she doing?" Leslie asked as I was chuckling watching Olivia climbing through my clothes to get to the spot. Leslie stood up walking over to me looking into the closet not seeing Olivia, "Olivia?" Leslie asked as we heard Olivia's giggles from the spot.
"I taught her where to hide with a secret word in case anything happens she'll be protected..." I said.
"When will that come in use?" Leslie asked.
"Trust me, it will come in use...I don't want her to get involved with our type of work, this way she is protected...June knows about this spot, I know about it and now you do...the code word is 'moo'" I said.
"Moo?" Leslie asked.
"Yeah mommy, it's my favorite word." Olivia said from her spot, I walked Leslie to the spot where I parted my clothes seeing Olivia sitting in the little cave thing.
"Is it?" Leslie asked as Olivia nodded, "Come on out..." Leslie said sticking her hand out helping her daughter climb over the things on the ground.
"Remember, never leave that spot unless if it is myself, Mozzie, June or your mom." Neal said.
"I know...stranger danger." Olivia said.
"You taught her that?" I asked.
"I didn't, the school did..." Leslie said.
"Well, the school is smart..." I said.
"That they are..." Leslie said as we walked out of my closet, "Where's her school uniform?" Leslie asked.
"I hung it up." I said stepping back into the closet grabbing it handing it to Leslie.
"Go get dressed." Leslie said as Olivia grabbed the school uniform, she went into the bathroom to change as Leslie sat at the table pulling her shoes on.
"She okay after last night?" I asked concerned.
"She should be, today she is going to see her counselor...it rarily occurs, I think lately with you watching her it has kinda started to remind her of it subconsciously." Leslie said.
"Alright...it's nothing big to worry about?"
"Nah...she just has nightmares as of right now..." Leslie said as Olivia walked out carrying her pajamas.
"What is for breakfast?" Olivia asked yawning.
"Muffins..." I said as Leslie took her daughters pajamas setting it aside.
"The blueberry ones we made last night?"
"Yep...you want milk or juice?" I asked.
"Milk, milk tastes better with muffins." Olivia said as I nodded, I poured a glass of milk for her and brought her a plate putting one muffin on it since the muffins were big. "Thanks Neal." Olivia said.
"Coffee?" I asked looking to Leslie.
"Please..." Leslie said as she joined me in the kitchen helping me make the pot of coffee.
"You excited for school?" I asked.
"Yes...today we are going to make decorations for Valentines Day...and we are going to make our holders..."
"Sounds fun..." I said.
"It will be..." Olivia said as Leslie and I grabbed our cups going to the dining room table, I grabbed one muffin taking a bite of it.
"Aren't you going to eat?" I asked nodding to Leslie.
"Yeah mommy, I helped Neal make them." Olivia said.
"I'm not that hungry." Leslie said.
"Come on..." I said standing up wavering the plate of blueberry muffins in front of her nose.
"Dude!" Leslie said pushing the plate away.
"Just have one, here split one with me." I said.
"I'll split one." Leslie said as I split the muffin handing her half mine.
"What are you going to do with rest of these muffins?" Olivia asked.
"I'll take them to work with me, my co-workers would eat anything." I said honestly.
"Those type of co-workers." Leslie said chuckling.
"Yeah..." I said smiling.
"Maybe I will be a consultant when I get older like you Neal." Olivia said.
"No you don't..." I said.
"Why not?" Olivia asked.
"Yeah, why not?" Leslie asked.
"It is a lot of work...you'll think about it more when you get older, but I personally think you will be a great rockstar like Hannah Montana."
"You think so?" Olivia asked.
"Yep..." I said.
"You can be anything..." Leslie said as Olivia started singing Hannah Montana songs, mainly making up the lyrics because it was hard to believe those were the original lyrics. "Why don't you go brush your teeth and I'll put your hair into a ponytail." Leslie said.
"I don't want a ponytail, I want a braid." Olivia said.
"Alright, go brush your teeth." Leslie said as Olivia grabbed the step stool taking it with her into the bathroom brushing her teeth. "I should start packing up our things..." Leslie said taking care of her daughters plate and cup.
"I put her clothes from last night into this plastic bag and I went grocery shopping for you, but you will have to carry them back to your place." I said.
"You what?" Leslie asked.
"When I took Olivia back to your place, I saw how empty your cupboards was and bought you a few groceries..." I said smiling as I handed her the keys to her apartment.
"Why?" Leslie asked kind of freaked out.
"I was helping you out...now you can cook me dinner one night..." I said smiling.
"I have to now, I owe you so much." Leslie said hugging me tightly, I didn't know what to do other than slowly wrap my arms around her holding her there. When Leslie broke the hug, I saw her wiping her eyes.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Yeah, just emotions..." Leslie said chuckling.
"It's okay..." I said smiling as I hugged her again.
"I want a hug!" Olivia said running to us, I squatted down hugging Olivia and she hugged her mom. Leslie walked Olivia over to a chair where Olivia sat while Leslie put a braid in her hair, Olivia then put her shoes on before pulling on her back pack and I grabbed a cup of coffee to go. Olivia held onto both Leslie and my hand, she would walk a few steps then jump letting Leslie and I to swing her forward. She was giggling and having fun with it until we reached the steps up to her school.
"You want me to walk you to class?" Leslie asked.
"No, but can Neal?" Olivia asked.
"No sweetie, I got to get to work..." I said feeling bad about saying no.
"Are you leaving me?" Olivia asked.
"No, I got work..." I said.
"Olivia, let me walk you to class, Neal will be back later..." Leslie said as Olivia ran up the steps and into the school. "Go ahead head to work, I can do this..." Leslie said.
"Is she going to be okay?" I asked concerned.
"Yeah, I don't want you to be any later." Leslie said as I couldn't do that.
"Nah, no worries." I said running with her into the school and to Olivia's classroom seeing Olivia in there with her teacher, we both looked in through the window on the door. The teacher excused herself leaving the room to talk with us.
"Is she really upset?" Leslie asked.
"She is upset but more scared that Neal, I'm assuming thats you, won't come back...she really likes Neal from what I can tell..." The teacher said.
"Is there anything I can do?" I asked.
"Not right now...I'll mention it to the counselor when she comes by to grab her...she really is a great girl and student." The teacher said.
"She hasn't had many of these lately has she?" Leslie asked.
"No, this is the first big one since Thanksgiving break, she has small ones but they were mini-episodes." The teacher said.
"Okay, thanks..." Leslie said as the teacher nodded going back into the classroom, Leslie and I stood there quietly before we both walked down the empty halls hearing the bell finally ringing.
"I guess your stuck with me now..." I said smiling.
"You say it like it's a bad thing..." Leslie said.
"Isn't it?" I asked as I opened the door for her and walked out behind her as we walked down the steps together.
"No, not really...you may be good for Olivia...she will have a male influence in her life." Leslie said as we stood at the bottom of the stairs, she slid her hands into her pant pockets.
"Very true...I'll walk you back to my place, I forgot the muffins and I'll let you in..." I said.
"What about your work?" Leslie asked as we headed back to my place.
"They can deal without me for a little while." I said smiling.
"You know for someone that likes their work, you certainly don't want to go."
"I never said I liked it...I have to grab your resume too, crap..."
"Don't worry about it."
"I will..." I said smiling.
"For a person that has a criminal record, you sure are nice..."
"I'm only nice to those I like, so take it as a compliment." I said.
"I will...that and I have a cute kid?" Leslie asked as we headed up the stairs to the front door.
"Olivia doesn't help."
"She never does...it gives me sympathy..." Leslie said smiling.
"That it does...so, what did Leslie want to be when she grew up?" I asked curiously as I shut the door behind me and led her up the stairs.
"I wanted to be an FBI agent, could you believe that?" Leslie asked as I turned to look at her momentarily.
"I am shocked that came out of you, no one like us never would want to be one of those." I said afraid to say anything about Peter.
"I know, I know...I am a bad criminal, but that was before I started pick pocketing and other things."
"You've done more than pick pocket?" I asked curiously as I opened my door letting her go in first.
"More than you know, but-" Leslie begun when my phone begun to ring, I knew it was Peter by the special ringtone I had set.