The next couple of days drifted by quickly, bringing along a cold blustery wind that seemed to whistle through the dark hallways of Wade Wilson's apartment building.
Wade had not seen Missy or baby Emily since his run-in with them on Saturday, keeping himself busy with a job from Weasel in the meantime. Perfect for a Sunday. A holy day.
It had been an easy gold card to collect, a little light threatening. Something that Wade, who stood at 6'2, could do with his eyes closed.
And by the time he returned in the early hours of Monday morning from Sister Margaret's. Wade stumbled into his apartment, only to find that a five dollar bill had been shoved beneath his door with a small note attached, which read- 'Thanks again. M'.
Wade had frowned lightly and gazed back across the hallway, where he could just about hear the wails of a crying baby, despite it being at least 3am.
Wade had not expected the money back, trying to reassure her several times that it was not needed.
But during the brief conversation he had shared with Missy, Wade had come to realise how smart and headstrong she was, despite her tears.
The merc's eyes had lingered on her closed door for a long moment, wondering if she ever managed to get any fucking sleep.
But glancing down at the five dollar bill in his hand, Wade had an idea - which he hoped his slightly hungover self would remember when he awoke in a few hours time.
It was 8am and Missy was certain that she was running on probably less than two hours of sleep.
Emily had had a pretty bad night. Every time Missy had put her into her moses basket, Emily had wailed out, desperate for the warmth of her mom again. Forcing Missy to spend hours soothing her back to sleep.
It was freezing in their tiny and dingy apartment. And despite the many layers she dressed Emily in, the teeny baby was still cold.
Missy stifled an enormous yawn now, as she paced through the tiny living space, rocking a crying Emily in her arms.
She had been upset for the past thirty minutes, and Missy worried whether she would get an annoyed knock from another irate resident at any minute.
But the only noise so far this morning were the cries of her infant child.
…that was, until the sound of her neighbour Wade's front door loudly slamming closed, reverberated the hallway outside and what felt like Missy's entire apartment with the impact.
It could easily have been an accidental slam. But in her sleep deprived state, Missy now worried that it was something more…
Had the sound of Emily crying woken him?
Was he angry with her for allowing her to cry so long?
Wade had been the only person on this side of the city that had offered her even one ounce of kindness since they had moved in. So Missy worried now, that he, like everyone else, had lost patience with her.
And that, give it a day, and she would hear him pounding his fist against her door too, demanding she keep Emily quiet or else.
But did she really think that Wade would do that?
From the small amount of time she had spent with her neighbour, he had seemed…well, sweet.
And kind…
And funny…
But Missy gave a sigh, which was quickly drowned out by Emily's screams.
She had to stop this.
Missy knew she couldn't trust anyone.
It was just her and Emily now. As it needed to was the only way they could be safe.
The final pay check from her old job before having Emily, had just cleared in Missy's bank account. But it had been far less than she had hoped.
Over the past two days, Missy had managed to pick up some essentials and a few cheap items of clothing to tide her over. But there really wasn't much to show for a month's work at a 9-5 office job doing secretarial work.
The amount of money she still had left over, possibly covering another month of rent.
But then what?
Would they be thrown out onto the streets?
There was always Missy's aunt down in Florida, but she hadn't seen her in years. And how would it look turning up on the doorstep of her 70 year old relative with a baby in arms?
But surely that was a better fate than what could await her on the cold streets of New York?
Missy knew she needed to find a job, and quickly. But it was difficult being alone with a newborn and no one to help out. Who would take care of Emily while she was working all day?
It all felt very overwhelming even considering going back to work so soon. But that was what was expected, right?
Despite having Emily five weeks ago. Three long weeks in the NICU meant that they had only left hospital two weeks ago, where they had taken only what they had come in with, and fled. Just the two of them. Away from the horrors that lay behind…
And so no matter what happened now, Missy knew she needed to keep looking forward.
But it was hard.
Doing this alone.
Dealing with every single long night…
And every single diaper change…
And every single judgemental comment…
It was all taking such a toll on Missy.
She couldn't remember the last time she spent more than two minutes in the shower.
Or ate a hot meal that wasn't straight out of a container.
Or didn't look into the mirror and grimace at the sight that met her eyes.
The tall blonde took in a deep breath and held it for a moment. as she stared down at Emily who, at last, seemed to be settling in front of her very eyes.
Missy would survive this.
Because right now…she had to.
And as much as baby Emily did not deserve a life like this, it was far better than what they had run from those long few weeks ago.
It just had to be.
Missy gazed down at her daughter, who began to close her eyes, snuggling her face into Missy's breast.
She really was so, so beautiful.
With perfect skin, round cheeks and a soft swirl of fair hair over her head.
Emily was Missy's everything. And all they had been through together had only served to make their bond stronger.
And at the end of the day, Missy knew that despite the sleepless nights, the backache from rocking her endlessly, and the tears and screams that seemed to never end.
Missy knew that she would not change it for the world.
Emily was the only good thing in Missy's life. And there was no way she would ever ever let anything happen to her.
Missy watched, as Emily gave one final grizzle, before seemingly settling to sleep.
Fuck, ok this was it!
If Missy could just transfer her to her Moses basket, she might be able to have just enough time to jump in the shower…
…or maybe even make herself a drink.
Carefully Missy paced into her tiny bedroom, over to a spot in the corner beside Missy's bed where the small bassinet sat. Propped up on a small wooden stand.
Gently Missy lowered Emily into the crib, and with great care extracted her arm slowly from beneath her.
The blonde froze for a moment as Emily gave a small snuffle, but quickly settled again. As Missy grabbed a blanket from the bed, laying it over the small baby and tucking her tightly in.
She stood up straight and took a step back, waiting with baited breath for any sign that she was waking.
But to Missy's utter surprise the tiny baby stayed sound asleep.
Missy could have whooped in the air, but thankfully refrained.
But before she could celebrate too much, there came a sudden gentle knock on her front door.
Missy frowned, instantly swinging around. Panic suddenly coursing through her.
Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she headed from the small bedroom and made for the door, padding over cautiously on bare feet.
She was dressed in a white fluffy bathrobe tied over a grey bed shirt and shorts, not having had the chance to change yet.
Fuck.
Was this another neighbour here to yell at her?
Or worse?
The latter didn't bear thinking about.
Approaching the door quietly, Missy peered through the peephole.
But she immediately relaxed a little, greeted by the sight of a cheerful looking Wade Wilson, holding a coffee cup in each hand.
Missy gave a small frown as she hurriedly stepped back and unbolted the door.
She peered around the doorframe, all of a sudden very aware that she wasn't even dressed.
But Wade merely grinned as his brown eyes landed on her.
"Hey there, mama-bear," he said in a friendly tone.
He was again, dressed in a dark hoodie and jeans, his short hair slightly ruffled.
"Here. Thought you could use one of these. It's strong, bitter and caffeinated. Which is exactly how I like my women," he said easily, holding out one of the large, takeout coffee cups towards her. "When I got in at 3am it sounded like you were having a rough night, So I thought what better than a nice cup of joe to keep you motivated to survive the day."
At this long and winding statement from her neighbour, Missy frowned, wavering slightly.
She glanced down at the coffee cup before looking back up at Wade again.
"I…I'm so sorry if we-" she began, but Wade merely shook his head, cutting across her.
"I promise you, whatever you were going to apologise for, it's not needed," he replied reassuringly, brandishing the coffee once more in her direction. "Now can you fucking take this already, it's burning my hand."
Missy's lips twitched into the slightest of smiles as she did what she was told, cautiously taking the large coffee cup from his grasp.
"You really didn't have to-" she began with a shake of her head.
But Wade just smiled at her, which seemed to warm Missy more than the coffee cup she was now holding.
"Well who else was I going to give my tenth free coffee to after I'd finished filling up my coupon card?" he added smoothly. "And besides, I kinda just wanted an excuse to come over and ask you about that mac and cheese."
At this, Missy grinned before she could help herself, a look which Wade replicated instantly.
"So…was it as good as I promised?" he finished, taking a sip of his own coffee and wincing. "Ow, hot!"
At his words Missy was silent for a second, narrowing her eyes as she pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Hmmm, I'd give it a six out of ten."
"A six?" replied Wade looking aghast. "Fuck. You really are hard to please!"
Missy cocked her head at him, still smiling.
"Well it was kinda gloopy-" she said delicately.
But Wade let his mouth drop open in a look of faux-disgust.
"Wow," he uttered in a sarcastic tone, pointing a finger at her. "Sounds like someone doesn't know how to properly make microwave mac and cheese-"
Missy gave a laugh, surprising even herself at the sound. "You literally have to put it in the microwave and wait for it to go ding," she replied with a shake of her head.
But Wade gave a tut. "Oh, you're a rookie," he muttered accusingly, grinning back at her now. "Ok, ok, next time I make the mac and cheese and then you tell me it's not the best fucking thing you've ever eaten in your life."
Missy laughed again, gazing up at him….for a brief moment forgetting every single trouble she had in her life, as she stood here with Wade Wilson.
"Ok," she said with a smiling nod. "Deal."
"Deal," he repeated, flashing her another dazzling smile, looking like a happy puppy, as he gazed her way.
And in that moment, something seemed to pass between them. Something that neither seemed aware of, but neither wanted to prevent either.
Something full of warmth.
And light.
And happiness.
Something neither of them had felt an abundance of in their past lives…
And so neither of them now able to recognise just what this feeling was…
Not yet…
"Oh, but in the meantime," Wade suddenly continued, reaching down for something at his feet. "I also got a buttload of pastries, I'm gonna need help finishing."
And with that, Wade held out a small brown paper bag towards Missy.
"I-"
"Before you turn them down, know that I will fucking hold it against you forever if you don't take them off my hands," he said in a sarcastic tone. "I already ate like two on the way up here and I have absolutely no fucking self-control. I mean it. I once ate thirty five tamales whilst watching half an episode of Narcos and thought I was going to die."
Missy chewed on her lip for a small second, before slowly and finally taking the bag from his grasp, her fingers gently brushing his as she did so.
She could smell the warm pastries from here…hot and sweet…
But Missy's green eyes were fixed on Wade's chocolate ones, an odd feeling passing over her.
A tug in her lower belly, which Missy assumed was hunger…but unbeknownst to her was something else entirely…
"Thank you…again," she muttered in a gentle voice, just as there came a sudden noise from behind her.
A baby's cry.
Missy turned her head for a brief second before looking back to Wade.
"I have to go-"
But Wade just smiled back at her easily.
"Laters, mama-bear, oh and hit me up for that mac and cheese date. I'll be wiating by the phone. I know you don't have my number but I'll be waiting all the same" he said in a low voice, turning to head across the hallway to his own apartment as Missy smiled.
"Bye, Wade," she uttered quietly, as she slowly closed the front door with a gentle snap.
Leaning back against the doorframe, still smiling, Missy lifted the hot coffee to her lips and took a grateful sip, closing her eyes in satisfaction, as she felt the caffeinated liquid slide down her throat.
And, after a moment or two of what felt like pure bliss, Missy opened her eyes, and pulled open the paper bag in her hand eagerly.
As soon as she opened it, she was met with the delicious scent and sight of two croissants and her favourite she noted, an apple danish. But before she could reach for the hot pastry, she stopped, suddenly noticing something which sat neatly on top of the baked goods.
Reaching inside Missy pulled out a white paper napkin and found to her surprise a five dollar bill tucked neatly into it.
And on the top white napkin was a note scrawled in black marker- 'Nice try. Now no take backsies. Love Wade'.
Missy stared at the note for a long moment, before finally her face broke into a wide smile. The first of many that Wade had allowed her over the past few days.
Suddenly there came another sharp cry from the bedroom, shaking Missy from her stupor slightly.
Ok, it looked like she would not be getting a nice long shower this morning. But a strong hot coffee and a sweet pastry would more than make up for that.
And so, taking one more sip of coffee, Missy headed into the bedroom to fetch her daughter…
…her bad night, having turned into a not-so-bad morning after all.
Is anyone still reading? Not sure whether to continue.
Please review! Any feedback would be appreciated.