𝓛𝓮𝓸𝓷 𝓚𝓮𝓷𝓷𝓮𝓭𝔂| 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝟯

Babysitting Hesitations

As soon as the doorbell chimes Leon's face falls, his eyes take on that pleading look, but I've already told him numerous times before today that I want him here, so like the loyal man he is he's sticking around for my benefit. I hop off of the sofa, rushing to the door with a wide smile, and open it to reveal my best friend and her little five year old daughter. I immediately crouch down, already expecting her leap at me. Her small arms wrap around me as my best friend laughs, passing Leon C/N's bag, he takes it shyly, still hesitant to this whole thing.

I stand up, hand in hand with C/N, as my bestie reminds me of the time she'll be back from her date. I nod, bubbling with excitement at the fun time we're going to have. I don't have kids of my own, but C/N is like a trial run, plus she's fantastic. As soon as my best friend leaves and I close the door Leon's turning to me, holding up the Disney bag as if it's some kind of dangerous weapon rather than a backpack filled with toys and snacks. "Are you sure we can handle this?" He quietly mumbles with uncertainty as C/N smiles up at me, waiting on some instructions or conversation.

I nod to Leon, laughing softly as I walk past him, patting his arm reassuringly. "It'll be fine, I've babysat C/N loads of times, just never at my own apartment." I say, "Besides, it's only a few hours, you can handle that, right?" I ask. I'm not that selfish in the fact that I won't let him out of my sight whilst I look after my niece, if he's that unsure I don't mind Leon going out for a while.

Leon's eyes linger on mine, debating internally what he should do, but then his shoulders slump and a resigned sigh escapes his lips. "Alright, yeah, I can do it." He mumbles. It's odd, he used to be fine around kids when he was younger, especially Sherry, but when the government took her away Leon became distant, like he suddenly didn't know how to act around kids anymore. I think he misses Sherry sometimes, and maybe feels like he failed her in some way. Regardless, the past is in the past.

Leon looks down at C/N as she stares at him, eyes wide until he squats down to her level, holding out a hand. "Hey, I'm Leon, I'm dating Y/N." I roll my eyes, snorting as C/N blinks at him, but then she's laughing with me whilst Leon's left staring at us both, brows knitting together at what went wrong. Truthfully nothing was wrong, but it felt so awkward. C/N eventually takes his bigger hand in her smaller one, shaking it as Leon's lips lift, then he stands up, glancing to me with a newfound sense of duty.

"So, what should we do first?" Leon asks, his voice laced with a hint of nervousness as C/N leads me to the living room, her eyes soaking in the new environment. She doesn't answer as she guides me around, silently learning about her surroundings, then finally once she feels comfortable she smiles again.

"Can we play dolls?" C/N asks softly, her eyes full of excitement. I nod, then we all sit on the floor as she grabs her backpack and tips everything out, including at least 5 dolls. She picks her favourite, then passes me one, then surprisingly she passes Leon some mermaid one too. Leon stares at it, arching a brow as he gives me an odd look.

"How am I supposed to make this thing walk if it doesn't have legs?" He mutters. I bite back my grin, shaking my head at him as C/N changes her doll's outfit.

"Pretend." I reply.

Leon shakes his head, then with an actual wince he pretends that the mermaid is walking across the floor towards C/N. She smiles, happy for now with the playing, then we all begin to follow her lead. At first Leon's hesitant, just making the mermaid doll walk back and forth, until C/N grows tired of his boring sense of play.

"Leeooonnn," She giggles, making Leon grin, "you have to make her talk, she's a singer too."

I'm sure Leon's life flashes before his eyes as I nod to him, taking C/N's side. He shudders, taking a breath, then the most manly girlish voice comes from his mouth. I slap a hand over my lips, cheeks flaming red from the pressure of holding in my laugh, my eyes water as he 'ooh la la's' and laughs. C/N is impressed with his performance however, so he keeps it going for her benefit. Leon turns pretty enthusiastic, really getting into the storyline until C/N decides doll time is over. Leon frowns.

"But they haven't found the magic poodle yet?" He asks. C/N just looks at him as if he's crazy, that storyline was so five minutes ago. I shrug, then pack the dolls back into her bag as Leon leads her into the kitchen for a drink as I tidy. I hear her infectious giggles mixing with his own, then not two minutes later is Leon walking back out of the kitchen with C/N dragging his hand, a cookie wedged in her mouth. I give Leon a pointed look, but he shrugs, smirking as he lets C/N lead him. He's doing surprisingly well, I can't help but to think he's actually enjoying this now.

The rest of the afternoon passes playing 'hide and seek' and building a blanket fort, until lunchtime arrives. Leon cooks as I keep C/N entertained, but she keeps asking for Leon to come back. I narrow my eyes at Leon's smug smile when he peeks his head out of the doorway, telling us that lunch will be done soon. It turns out Leon makes us some mac and cheese, which once again C/N loves.

"This is so good!" She exclaims with her mouthful. Leon nods, patting the top of her head as she eats, meanwhile Leon and I have already finished our meal and sit with her anyway. Leon watches her with an intensity, as if ready to make sure she doesn't choke or anything.

"I'm glad you like it sweetheart. Maybe we can make it together some other day." Leon replies to her softly. The whole interaction warms my heart, sending butterflies to my stomach at his fatherly instincts. More of the day passes, and my best friend calls to tell me her date will take a bit longer. I don't mind though, spending the day with my two favourite people has been the best. I sit on the sofa, an abandoned movie playing as Leon and C/N sit on the floor in front of me. Not wanting to disturb their peace I watch in silence as C/N grabs her bag, pulling out a hairbrush and some bows.

"Could you do my hair like mommy does please?" C/N sweetly asks. Leon looks to me, but I give him a nod. C/N won't realise if it's different or new, so he hesitantly grabs the brush as she settles between his legs, her back to him as he hesitates, then carefully begins to brush her hair with such care. I smile, grabbing my phone to take a quick picture of the scene. Leon brushes her hair, then takes the bows from her as he asks which colours, then he puts them in, smiling at the job. It's a little messy, but great for a first time.

"Wow," I coo to her, "You look so pretty!"

She grins, spinning around, then her eyes widen at Leon. He already knows what's coming, and his head shakes as he holds his hands out, but one teeny pout later and he's crouching low so C/N can put some bows in his own hair, a bright yellow one and a pink one. "Doesn't he look pretty too?"

I nod, "You're both so so pretty, just like princesses."

Leon throws me an unimpressed look, then chucks a bow to me. "I think Y/N wants one too." I'm soon subjected to the feeling of a five year old tugging at my hair, but the admiration and her little fingers grasping at my head feels nice. We're all bowed up, so we take some photos and then get back to the movie, putting on a new one as C/N yawns loudly, eyes heavy as she rubs them.

Without being asked Leon goes and grabs a blanket, tucking C/N in between us as she lounges on both of us, with her head on my lap and her feet on Leon's thighs. "When are you getting married?" She blurts out randomly.

Leon blushes a little as I smile, shrugging. We don't get to answer though, because she's already asleep. Leon looks to me, his face so much lighter and happier than it was this morning.

"Feeling better about babysitting?" I ask quietly to not wake the sleepy child up.

Leon glances at C/N, then nods. "Yeah," He replies, "kinda makes me want one of my own."

I cough, accidentally stirring C/N as I catch my breath and hide my shock. Leon just chuckles though, amused at my reaction. He's not wrong though, having C/N is nice, and now I know Leon's more than capable, maybe in the future this could be us for real.