"Make sure you turn in your papers on the way out!" I called as the teens in the classroom shuffled to toss their things into their school bags. They meandered out of the classroom, leaving it silent. I exhaled. It was the end of the day. I looked around at the classroom. "What a mess!" I instantly grabbed the broom by my cabinet and got to work on cleaning the floors. I heard the door open, and soft steps as my daughter, Larissa, tried to tip toe her way up to me and surprise me. I turned quickly and grabbed her, and she yelped in surprise, then laughed. "I almost had you, mama!"

"Almost," I said, and laughed. "Your snack is on my desk…"

"Thanks, mama!" She ran up to it and grabbed the plastic bag I had placed there, a peanut butter sandwich wrapped in its confines. "Mm! Peanut butter!"

I smiled as I continued to sweep the floor. "Guess what I did today, mama!"

"What did you do?"

"I made a picture of us to give to papa!"

My smile dissipated slowly. "That's wonderful, Lissa…You'll have to show me when we get home."

"Okay, mama…"

I replaced the broom to lean against the cabinet, and grabbed my purse. "Come now, Lissa…It's time to go home."

She hopped off my chair and grabbed her backpack.

It was a short drive from the school to my apartment in Manhattan. Larissa ran up the steps and bounced happily at the door, her blonde banana curls bouncing with her. I walked up carrying a large container full of things I needed to grade, and about tripped when my very short heel got caught on the edge of a stair step. The container and I were stopped before we could touch the ground. I looked up to see one of my neighbors, Steve Rogers. I stood up straight. "I'm so sorry, was I about to-"

"No…It's alright. You should be more careful coming up these steps. Why do you carry such a large box?"

I shrugged and set the box down on the next flight of stairs so it wasn't obscuring my face as I talked. "A lot to grade…Lissa! Come grab mommy's keys and open the door!"

She walked down the steps and took the keys from my purse, then ran back up. I watched her go, then looked back over. "Thank you…"

He just smiled and shrugged. "I was on my way out, and I figured you might need some help."

"Well that's very kind…"

"Would you like me to take it up for you?"

"But you're on your way out, I wouldn't want you to waste any valuable time you might need…"

He walked past me and grabbed the box. "The only place I ever go is the gym across the street. Not much time lost in that…" He walked up the steps. I walked up after him. "Only the gym?"

He walked in through the wide open door. "Yeah…I don't really have any other interests."

I took off my coat. "You can just place it wherever…I'll get to it."

He placed it on the floor out of the way. "School teacher, hm?" He looked at a painting that was hanging on the wall. "That's pretty good…"

I walked over, kind of in shock. "How did you know I painted that? No one has ever known that…"

"It's unlike anything I've ever seen before…I just figured…"

"Oh…well, thank you for your help, Steve."

He smiled and looked away from the painting, and straight at me. "It was no problem. Don't ever hesitate to ask for anything…"

I nodded. He walked to the door and grabbed the handle. "Have a good evening, Mrs. Owens…"

"You too, Steve…"

He closed the door. Larissa ran into the room. I looked out the window as he crossed the street to the gym building. "Look at the picture, mama!"

I looked over and knelt down as she walked up with the paper in her hands. I smiled. "It's beautiful, Lissa…We'll go visit daddy tomorrow, okay?"

She smiled, and I kissed her forehead. "Go clean up…I'll start making dinner."

She giggled as she ran from the room.

First Chapter! Whoo...I'm actually updating quite a few. So...yeah. It's not already bad is it?