Eddie Munson hated Mondays.

But this one in particular, it really sucked.

Charlie had started school that morning. He missed her terribly, even if he got more work done. The store was too quiet, too organized without her. Eddie felt lost without his little shadow. Five years of her company only to send her out the door with Chris, wishing her luck, her bright smile still etched in his mind.

Eddie couldn't wait for Charlie to arrive so he could ask how her day had gone. He hoped it went well. School had never been good for him. He didn't fit in with the other kids and earned himself a nice nickname: The Freak. Charlie was so sweet and small. She didn't deserve that kind of cruelty. Kids were mean.

When the bell above the door jingled, and he heard the telltale patter and giggle of his little girl, he quickly dropped the stack of albums he was supposed to shelve to scoop her into his arms. She laughed in delight, holding on around his neck fiercely when he spun her.

"Hey, babygirl, how was school?"

"Great! Mr Steve gave us cookies, and I got extra because Auntie Chris was late!"

Eddie glanced at Chris, and she shrugged sheepishly. "I thought school ended at half one."

"Well, I'm glad Mr Steve had extra." Eddie sat Charlie on the counter with a sigh. "You like him then?"

"Uh-huh. He's nice."

"Good." Eddie had paid a lot of money to get Charlie into the private preschool. It was the best in Chicago, apparently.

"We got packs too."

"Oh, yeah, take a look." Chris swung Charlie's backpack around to her front, rummaging inside to find a thick folder filled with papers. Eddie took it dubiously. "No, no, it's great stuff. I had a read when we stopped for burgers. There are loads of learning materials in there, even some recipes! I think he's planning to bake with them."

Eddie eyed her suspiciously. "Is he cute?" Chris rolled her eyes, slapping his arm when Charlie giggled. So he turned to her instead with wide eyes. "Well?"

Charlie considered the question with a hum. "Maybe. He wears a tie, though."

"Boo."

"Definitely your type," Chris whispered, laughing when Eddie flipped her off.

"Don't copy me," he warned Charlie. "I don't want your teacher to think I'm a bad influence.

"You're not a bad anything, Daddy." Charlie held out her arms, so he scooped her up again. "Can I pick a movie?"

"Sure thing." he set her down, and she ran off to look at the latest releases.

Eddie waited until she was distracted to ask Chris, "So this Mr Steve is okay then? Doesn't give off any weirdo creep vibes?"

"No. But c'mon, Eddie, he works for the best preschool in the city. He's there for a reason, and Charlie likes him. Don't be an ass."

"When am I ever an ass?" he held up a finger when she opened her mouth. "Don't answer that."

"Fine." she handed over Charlie's backpack with a smirk. "He was cute, though. I gotta run. See you tonight?"

"Sure."

"I'll bring popcorn!"

Charlie cheered from the aisle over as Chris left.

The afternoons were always slow, so Eddie took the opportunity to read through Charlie's new pack. Chris was right. It was comprehensive and full to the brim with ideas and activities. Eddie doubted they'd get through everything and considered trying some of the recipes as he flipped through them. The brownies sounded nice.

Customers were treated to a solo performance of Charlie's, her Munson charm shining bright because nobody complained, hell a few people even lingered to watch her bang on the drums and riff on the guitar. Eddie tried not to wince. She was still learning.

It reminded him of Corroded Coffin, back when they played in places like this. Their pay was barely enough to cover the rent, but they had been happy. His eyes strayed to the albums. There, under the plastic letter C was their singular album. It had been an instant hit, sending them into the stratosphere.

Eddie quickly found out he wasn't made for the stars.

"Daddy, can we go home now? I'm tired." Charlie broke him from the reverie as she trailed over, holding out her arms so he could lift her onto the counter.

He glanced at the clock. Only half two, but he could close up for the day. "Sure thing, babygirl. Go grab your coat, and I'll get ready."

Off she went back to the display set, sitting on the piano stool to wait. By the time Eddie had finished and grabbed his stuff, she was snoozing on the keys. Sighing, he scooped her up to go home.

Charlie didn't wake up until the smell of pizza permeated their apartment. Her little power nap had her jumping from the couch with a battle cry, charging into Eddie's legs so hard he stumbled. "Pizza!"

"With extra pepperoni." Eddie laid it on the table with a flourish. "Wash your hands first."

Grumbling, Charlie climbed onto the stool to wash up.

They had just finished when Chris joined them, holding up two bags of popcorn. "So, what are we watching?"

"Gremlins."

"Is that okay?"

Eddie picked up the case as Charlie shoved the disc into the player. "Probably. It doesn't mention nudity." he caught sight of Chris' appalled expression and shrugged. "Charlie likes scary movies. Don't you?"

"Yep!" she snatched a bag of popcorn from Chris and settled in the middle of the couch. "Lights!"

Eddie dutifully flicked them off and took the other bag, sitting beside Charlie. Chris only sighed and sat on her other side. It wasn't that scary, anyway. Charlie laughed at the Gremlins, even imitating their chittering long after the film finished. Eddie almost tripped over her as he returned their glasses to the kitchen.

"Hey, we talked about this!" He told her over his shoulder. "No games in the walkway, or someone will break their neck!"

Charlie growled playfully, scampering off to her room. Eddie could hear her jumping on the bed and giggling, pulling a smile out of him. It was a good thing they were on the bottom floor. Chris was in the apartment above them, and he knew she liked her beauty sleep.

"So…" Chris joined him by the sink, taking the first glass to dry. "…how did it go last night?"

"I went to a club, had a drink - coke, by the way, not alcohol - and that was it. Very boring. Might go back next month."

"For the ambience or…?"

"Christ, you're annoying. Fine. There was a guy." Eddie could feel his cheeks burning but kept his eyes on the bubbles. "He was cute. I asked him to meet me next time, so, yeah. Happy now?"

"Sure. If you go back."

Eddie opened his mouth to object but then closed it. A month was a long time. Maybe the guy would forget about him. He wasn't exactly in his prime anymore, and he had a kid in tow. Not that he regretted her, not at all. Charlie had saved his life. But most guys weren't in the market for a washed-up rockstar and his daughter.

"You will go back, right?" Chris nudged him, looking concerned. "Or are you gonna hide away forever?"

"Maybe I don't want a boyfriend."

"Then get laid."

"Chris!" He looked around, but they could hear Charlie was still in her room. "If I want to fuck about, I will, okay? But I've gotta think about her. I'm not bringing a parade of guys over. If someone wants to be in my life, they damn well better want her too. Not gonna find that in some shitty gay bar, am I?"

Silence followed his little outburst as he aggressively washed the glass. When nothing but bubbles remained, he sighed and handed it over.

"Doesn't matter. I'll go back, maybe he'll be there, and maybe we'll have a good time. Then I'll come home and pretend it never happened. Never see him again."

"You're really depressing these days. Anyone ever tell you that? Maybe getting laid will chill you out a bit."

Charlie walked over, leaning against Eddie as she wrapped her arms around his leg, head resting against his stomach. He smiled, glad for an excuse to drop the conversation and brushed her hair back. "Tired?"

"Uh-huh."

"Well, say goodnight to Auntie Chris, and we'll get ready for bed." He lifted her up, and Charlie leaned over to hug Chris. "We'll see her in the morning so you can get to school."

"I'll give Mr Steve a kiss for you."

"Out," he told her sternly as Charlie giggled. "You- brush your teeth."

"Okay," she sighed and started slowly walking down the corridor. When Eddie threw a dishcloth at her, managing to drape it over her head, she shrieked with laughter and ran into the bathroom.

"See you tomorrow, Eddie." Chris hugged him tight before leaving.

He couldn't help thinking about what she had said. Begrudgingly, he could admit she was right. He needed to get laid. And not just a simple fuck; he needed someone to play with. The guy from the club was gorgeous, and Eddie wanted nothing more than to take him apart, make him cry and beg for more. Something told him he might be in luck. There had been something there, a spark, an intuition.

Remembering how warm and soft his lips had been, how it had caused his heart to race.

Eddie, for the first time in years, wanted to chase.

He sighed and emptied the sink as the bathroom door reopened, and a damp-faced Charlie emerged. She grinned, showing off her clean teeth. "All done!"

"Bed then."

"Nuh-uh, not without my story."

"Yes, yes, anything for my babygirl." He scooped her up again, dropping her unceremoniously on the bed. Once she was settled and tucked in, he picked up the battered copy of The Two Towers from the bedside table. It had been his own copy when he was a kid. Well-loved and starting to fray in places, they had read through it many times—a chapter a night through all the books, over and over again. The routine was good for both of them. "Now, where were we… Merry and Pippin were back with the others, yes?"

"No." Charlie rolled her eyes. "They're fleeing to Helms Deep."

"Ah, of course, one-moment fair lady." He flipped back to find the right chapter and cleared his throat. "The sun was already westering as they rode from Edoras, and the light of it was in their eyes, turning all the rolling fields of Rohan to a golden haze…"

Barely two pages in, Charlie was asleep. Eddie bookmarked their place and got up, leaning in to gently kiss her forehead before turning off the light. Mr Steve had worn her out, apparently.

As much as he loved an easy bedtime - Charlie was always difficult when it came to sleeping - it left him feeling oddly lonely. Having a child with a 7 o'clock bedtime meant he spent most evenings alone. Most nights, Chris stayed, which was nice. But tonight, he was left to his own devices.

This inevitably led to him pulling out another old book, more tattered than the Lord of the Rings but barely opened these days. Back when he was a teenager, his head had been full of so many ideas, songs and lyrics alike. The book was full of them. It had been a long time since he'd added to it, despite staring at the stupid thing every night.

Tonight was no different, and after half an hour of wracking his brain and coming up with nothing, he put it away.

One day, he would find his muse again.