Paper Hearts

It was the beginning of yet another school year and Gabriel had a feeling it was going to be different. He hummed as he stapled posters on the wall and wished the air conditioner would be fixed soon, preferably before Meet the Teacher day. Rolling up his sleeves and sorting through his box of classroom decoration, Gabriel smiled, glad to be back. He'd always loved children, but his girlfriend Kali had called off the engagement two years ago when they'd learn he was infertile. Since then, he'd been happy to teach kindergarten and bestow his life wisdom on other people's children.

"Hey Gabriel. Ready for the next batch of young grasshoppers?" Andy said, leaning in the doorway.

"Andy! Man it's good to see you," Gabriel said, hopping off the short ladder and setting the stapler and letter "L" on a desk.

The two fist bumped and Andy stepped further into the room. "Dude it's hot in here."

"Must be me," Gabriel quipped.

"I bet. How many moms are going to swoon over you this year?" The speech teacher said, half sitting on one of the low desks.

Gabriel laughed, "I don't know. What can I say? Women like a man who's good with kids."

"They probably like you so much 'cause you're the same height and maturity level," a new voice spoke from the door.

The two men looked over to see a familiar redhead, decked in jeans and a Lord of the Rings t-shirt. "'Sup bitches?"

"Charlie!" Gabriel said and ran over to hug his friend. Andy laughed and joined the hug, the two of them pressing their cheeks to Charlie's face. "We missed you!"

"I gathered that," she laughed as they let go and gave her some space.

"How was meeting the family? Dorothy's relatives like you?" Andy asked as Gabriel climbed back up the ladder and Charlie handed up the stapler and big ABC's.

She told them about visiting her girlfriend's family over the summer as Gabriel kept decorating his classroom. The three chatted and bickered good-naturedly about the Avengers for a while until Andy decided to head home. Charlie left with him, and Gabriel called after them, "Hey could one of you ask for them to send someone to fix the AC in here?"

"Roger that," Charlie said and exited the room with a smile and a wave.

Gabriel returned the wave and finished decorating his classroom. Then he cut two name tags for each student and taped one to a cubby and the other to a desk. Forgoing a seating chart, he pushed the desks together in groups of four and angled each pod so everyone wouldn't have to turn around too much to see the board.

Satisfied with his work, Gabriel turned the light off and locked the door, knowing if someone stops by to fix the air conditioner they'd have a key. Whistling as he walked down the hall, he stopped by the office to talk to the principal.

"Hiya Chuck. Want a ride home?" He asked his best friend and boss.

"Nah that's okay. Becks is driving the car up later to go out to dinner. Maybe we can catch a beer tomorrow after all the parents and kids have come and gone," Chuck offered.

"I'm always up for the bar. See you tomorrow Chuck," Gabriel called as he fished out his keys and walked out through the school's front doors.

~*~ *~* ~*~

"Daddy!" A high pitched voice screamed and seconds later a weight was attaching itself to Sam's leg.

"Hey sweetie! Ready to go home?" The man asked, picking up his daughter and signing her out of the daycare.

The little girl chatted excitedly about her day, playing with Sam's hair as he carried her to his car and buckled her in.

"I can do it myself," Robin pouted and unbuckled. Sam chuckled as she buckled the seatbelt again then he drove to their small home.