Magcon Imagines and Preferences

Single Dad Part 3 (Preference #11)

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Jack G:
"Hi Ms. (Y/L/N)! And Mr. Gilinsky! Thank you for coming!" Ms. Collins, your daughter's elderly kindergarten teacher greeted you, as well as a man you'd never met before, but had heard countless stories of his son Tyler from your own five-year-old.
You knew it had been difficult for your shy little Georgia to make friends in school, but the way it sounded, her and Tyler had hit it off right away. You were even secretly going to plan a playdate for her when you were called into her school for a student-teacher conference instead.
"Please take a seat"
The two of you complied, both of you exchanging looks of puzzlement and concern.
"So as I'm sure both of you know, your children have become very close in this class" Ms. Collins began.
You both smiled.
"And while that is lovely and I do encourage the children to form relationships with one another, this time things were taken a bit too far" she said.
This time you both looked at each other, the looks of concern returning.
Ms. Collins lifted from her seat and moved aside a poster to reveal huge smears of multicolored paint decorating the white walls of the classroom.
Your eyes widened as she continued to take down posters and drawings that were clearly put up to conceal the paint.
"Your son and daughter decided to take Arts & Crafts to the next level" she explained.
You noticed the little handprints in the paint and couldn't help yourself, you laughed loudly. Soon Tyler's dad started laughing along with you.
"Ms. (Y/L/N) and Mr. Gilinsky, this is no laughing matter! Your children defaced school property!" she said haughtily, and the two of you only laughed harder.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You're right, it's not funny" you spoke finally once you'd calmed down sufficiently.
"Not at all" he repeated, grunting in an effort to clear his throat.
Then you both started laughing all over again.
Ms. Collins soon dismissed you both after Tyler's father offered to pay for the damages, which you were entirely grateful for seeing that you were struggling with your finances as it was being a single mother.
You both walked out of the classroom to see your children sitting side by side on a bench, both of them covered head to toe in paint. You and Tyler's father shared another glance, both of you desperately trying not to laugh again.
"Are we in trouble, Mommy?" Georgia asked.
You took in her blue and red smeared face and grinned.
"You know what, we'll talk about it later. Okay, honey?" you said and she nodded solemnly.
Tyler sat beside her without a trace of guilt on his mostly green splattered face. In fact he was grinning from ear to ear.
"Hey, wipe that smirk off your face, kid. We're going to have a talk when we get home too, you got that?" Tyler's dad remarked and Tyler's smile instantly faltered.
It was easy to tell that the two of you were both trying not to laugh again.
"Hey guys, why don't you go play outside and we'll meet you in a minute, okay?" Tyler's dad spoke.
They both nodded eagerly and rushed for the playground doors just down the hall. Once you were left alone, the two of you shared yet another laugh.
"So is this normal behavior for your little girl?" he asked.
You shook your head.
"Well it appears my son has corrupted her. I apologize for that, he's always been a bit of a trouble maker" he chuckled.
You smiled and shook your head.
"Honestly, it's completely fine. I was beginning to worry she might not make any friends here. She's always been very shy" you told him honestly, glancing out the window to see the two kids climbing on top of the monkey bars.
He nodded.
"So you're new to town then?" he asked.
"Just moved here about three months ago" you confirmed.
"Ah. Well. Welcome!" he said with a laugh.
"Thank you"
"What brings you out here?" he asked.
"If you don't mind my asking" he quickly added.
"No, not al all. Um...just a new start, I guess" you said, your finger absently going to rub the skin of your fourth finger where your ring had once resided.
Your husband had passed away a year ago and you only recently had gained the courage to remove your wedding ring.
"So...Ms. (Y/L/N)..." he started.
"(Y/N)" you offered, extending your hand.
He shook it firmly but gently.
"Jack" he replied.
You smiled.
"So, um. I couldn't help but notice, no wedding ring?" he inquired.
"Widowed" you replied simply.
"I'm sorry...divorced" he offered, lifting up his own ring-bare left hand.
"I'm sorry" you said and he simply waved you off.
The two of you stood and watched as Georgia and Tyler ran around the playground until he finally turned to you.
"So...um...I was thinking...since our kids get along so well, maybe you and I could...maybe do something sometime" he mumbled, scratching the back of his neck in the process.
You smirked.
"I'd love to do something sometime with you"

Jack J:
You watched as the little girl aimlessly tried to braid her long, straight blonde locks; her actions seeming only to create knots instead of an actual hairstyle. You tapped your knuckles lightly on the doorframe.
"Hey Pen...do you want some help?" you asked sweetly.
Penny shook her head defiantly as she attempted another braid, but when it fell apart over her shoulder she brought her wide blue eyes to you and nodded slowly. You couldn't help but grin slightly.
"Alright, let me show you" you spoke as you settled yourself on your knees beside the little girl in front of the mirror.
You styled her hair into a simple three-strand-braid with ease, explaining the process as you went. She nodded her head every so often to express that she was listening.
"Let me try!" she responded eagerly as you brushed out her hair again.
The little girl created a braid in her hair, her brow furrowed in concentration as she studied her actions in the mirror. You tried not to laugh at how cute she was.
When she completed the braid she looked to you and brightly beamed.
"Good job Penny! That looks beautiful!" you said.
She smiled.
"Thank you!" she exclaimed and rushed to give you a hug.
You hugged her back before settling her back down.
"Maybe tomorrow I'll teach you how to fishtail" you said causing her blue eyes to widen in wonder.
"Fishtail? What's that?"
You pulled up an image on your phone and the little girl gasped as she looked to you.
"You can do that?!"
"I sure can!" you chuckled.
"Show me! Show me! Show me!" she clapped her hands as you spoke and you knew you couldn't deny her request.
You taught her how to fishtail and she caught on almost as easily as she had with a regular braid and you praised her efforts.
"Can I try on you?" she asked sweetly.
"Sure! Why not?" you shrugged, sitting down on the carpet in front of her mirror.
Penny practiced the braids over and over in your hair and you simply sat smiling at your reflection.
Little did you know that Jack was peering into his daughter's room, his heart swelling at the sight of his two favorite girls.

Nash:
The three of you sat in a booth at the little girl's favorite Chinese restaurant; you and Nash on one side and Ellie on the other. Ellie had been in a sour mood all night and you knew it was due to your presence, although Nash had fervently tried to convince you otherwise.
"I'm gonna run to the bathroom real quick. Are you guys gonna be okay?" Nash asked.
You smiled at him and he pecked your cheek. Ellie nodded slowly, not taking her eyes away from her wonton soup. Nash ruffled her hair as he walked past but she hardly reacted.
Finally you sighed.
"Hey Ellie? I know that you don't like me all that much...but I just want to tell you that I really, really love your dad" you told her earnestly.
"I've heard that before" she spat back, with much more aggression than you'd expect from a six-year-old girl.
"Ellie...would you please look at me?" you asked as kindly as possible.
Her wide and vibrantly blue eyes reluctantly connected with yours. You couldn't help but notice how alike they were with her father's.
"I don't know who has told you that before but I can tell you, they didn't mean it like I do. Ellie, I love your dad so much and I'd do anything to make him happy. And you too if you'd let me" you said but she simply averted her eyes.
You sighed again.
"Look, I don't know who said those things to you before and I really don't care. I just want you to know that I'm in love with your dad. More than I've ever loved anyone before in my life. And he loves you so much. And I know how upset it makes him that we don't get along"
She brought her baby blues back to you.
"So...if you don't think you'll ever get along with me or be happy with me around, just let me know, okay? I won't be offended. I just want you to be happy. And I want your Dad to be happy. And if I can't do that for both of you, just let me know, Ellie, please" you pleaded with her.
She looked down into her bowl of soup again, toying with the noodles with her spoon.
"You make my Daddy really happy too" she spoke finally.
"So I guess...I could try to like you too" she said.
The two of you beamed at each other just as Nash returned, settling into his seat and snaking his arm around your waist.
He grinned when he noticed the way his little girl was smiling.
"What did you do?" he whispered in your ear.
"Nothing" you replied simply, digging your fork into your fried rice and taking a bite while sending Ellie a wink.
She giggled.
Nash set his confusion aside and simply let himself enjoy the happiness radiating from the two loves of his life.