A random act of kindness [George Russel]

Chapter 1

GEORGE POV:

"Luna please baby, stop crying. Daddy doesn't know what to do if he's being honest." George murmurs while bouncing the crying girl on his knee. Her chubby face is wet from the tears and his cheeks aren't a lot better. He really tried everything that his mom taught him the last few months. First, he changed her, that didn't help, then he fed her, she didn't like that either, so now he's sitting in a café trying to calm her down while everyone around him probably thinks 'what the hell is this guy doing?'

At this point he's asking himself the exact same question. The last eight months his mom had been living with him, helping him with the small baby that was now his responsibility, but last week she left with the words; "it's time you take the step and start taking care of her yourself George, you're an amazing dad, and you can and will do it alone for now. Don't rely too much on us, even though we love you and Luna so much. She's your daughter, you need to take care of her."

The days after his mom left were okay, they barely left the safe space that was his home, because there was enough food, and he had a lot of baby stuff because his mom bought more than enough for Luna. That was two weeks ago now, and if he wanted to maintain his fit body and actually be deserving of his driver's seat, he needs to buy healthy food instead of living on the crap he has been eating the last three days. Luna has been growing insanely fast as well, and a lot of clothes don't fit her anymore. He has been working out as much as he could, sometimes using Luna as his arm weights, which she loved. She had started smiling around 4 months old when he would turn to her when they woke up, and when he was confident enough to lift her up as weights, she would giggle the entire time.

She has never been as fuzzy as she is today though, and it's freaking him out. He hasn't been outside with her a lot, not really interested in being around people. He was happy that he moved out of central London to a calmer neighbourhood. People didn't really care that he lived here, and that was all he wanted. The paparazzi could be pretty ruthless, but Mercedes apparently threatened enough, and he was left alone most of the time. He snaps from his thoughts when he hears something fall on the ground. Luna starts crying harder and he looks around, trying to locate what fell. "Daddy's looking baby girl please, please stop crying you're going to make daddy cry too. I don't know what to do for you now" he chokes out while trying to hold his tears.

"Hey, your beautiful daughter dropped this. I mean, I assumed she's your daughter. I heard you say daddy, so I just. Yeah, I shouldn't really assume things, should I?" he looks up at the soft voice, looking into the green eyes of one of the most beautiful women he has ever seen. Her eyes widen slightly when she sees his tear-stained cheeks. "Oh sweetheart, are you guys alright?" he shakes his head, and she points at the chair on their table. He nods, while admiring her a bit more. Her long dark brown hair is in a sleek ponytail, showing off her freckle covered cheekbones. She has a sharp jawline, but the rest of her face only shows kindness and softness. She's wearing a black knit cardigan, showing of her collarbones, black dress pants and some colourful Nikes. Luna is silently hiccupping while looking at the woman that's now sitting on their table, and she makes grabby hands at her when she sees that the woman is holding her toy. She looks at him with a questioning look, and George hesitantly nods, not wanting to make Luna cry again, before setting her on the woman's lap.

"Hello love, what's your name?" he was about to respond before he realised that she was just chatting to Luna. He leaned back a little after drying his tears and looked at the two women on his table. "My name is Rosie, I was actually going to get myself a cup of tea and write on my assignment, but this is a lot more fun!" he smiles. Luna fisted her tiny hands in the cardigan of, as he knows now, Rosie. "How old is she?" he blushes when he makes eye contact with her, 'I have got no game anymore, why is this making you flustered! Also, what am I saying, I have a child to take care of, I can't just randomly think about a woman like that' he thinks to himself before clearing his throat. "She's nine months almost." He smiles slightly.

"She has your eyes, so beautiful!" Rosie blushes when she says it, and George chuckles slightly. "U-uh, thank you?" she just nods before directing her attention back towards Luna. "H-her name is Luna by the way..." he stutters, mentally facepalming himself. If Alex and Lando heard him now they would probably roll around the ground laughing. Although, since Luna is here, they forgot he existed, so they probably won't notice him making a fool out of himself. All their attention is on his beautiful daughter now. He doesn't mind though, she is, in fact, the star of every room, every day.

"Such a pretty name for a pretty girl!" Luna giggles while playing with the bracelet around Rosie's arm. "Do you want to tell me why you were also crying just now?" she softly asks while leaning towards George a bit more. He thinks about it for a second. If he opens up to her now, she'll definitely run away immediately. On the other hand, if she doesn't, he at least has a new friend? And a woman that is not his mum or his sister, in Luna's life. He nods before scooting the chair a little closer to Luna and Rosie, making sure that his stuff is still in the stroller that's next to him.

Rosie smiles at him, and he swallows before taking a breath. "T-this is actually the first time that we're outside with just the two of us. My mom, she uhm, she stayed with me and Lunes the first 8 months, but she left about a week and a half ago." Rosie hums while stroking Luna's hair. The little girl was comfortably laying against Rosie's chest, and George had to calm his heart. "We basically stayed inside the whole time, but there is nothing left to eat anymore, and Luna needs new baby stuff. And also, some new clothes because she's growing so quickly, I don't understand how it goes so fast. I really cannot keep up with it." He feels himself getting emotional again. "I'm nervous to go into shops, I don't want her to start crying and then I won't be able to go anywhere. I don't want to annoy people or make her unhappy o-"

"Ssh, it's okay. You're doing so well though. Yeah, she was a bit fuzzy, but you made it outside of your house! You managed to bring everything you need as far as I can see, so if anything goes wrong you can at least change her or give her something to eat." He nods, that is true. Why does he still feel like a complete failure then? "Probably because you don't realise that all parents around you are also struggling." He looks up, "did I say that out loud?" she hums while nodding.

"I'm off today, shall I join you for a shopping spree? You can keep Luna close, and I will put everything you want in the cart?" George looks at her with raised eyebrows, "why would you do that?" Rosie shrugs, before answering, "it's not every day that I meet a handsome dad with a beautiful daughter who are both crying. Especially not a handsome dad that confesses to not having his shit together. I want to help you, simple as that. See it as a random act of kindness!"

10 minutes later George is pushing Luna's stroller while Rosie walks next to him. She's wearing a light brown coat over her outfit, and for a minute he loses himself in a daydream where they are a happy family. "Okay, we need to buy baby stuff, some new clothes and groceries, right?" he nods. "Let's do the clothes first, that usually takes less space. Then the baby stuff and then the groceries?" Rosie looks at him, and he just nods. "If I'm overstepping by planning this out, please tell me." He shakes his head dismissively, "I'm so thankful that you want to think for me now, I really can use all the help you want to give me today." She places her hand on his arm, making him look up at him. While smiling she says, "I will help you as much as I can."