𝓛𝓮𝓸𝓷 𝓚𝓮𝓷𝓷𝓮𝓭𝔂| 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝟯

Time Stealer| Request

Leon helps me out of the car then closes it softly behind us. I bite my lip, worry gnaws at me at how this whole thing is going to play out. After our seventh date I promised Leon that I'd finally introduce him to my son. Being a single mother has been hard, but then Leon came along and treated me with such love and care that I hadn't received in so long that I couldn't not fall for him. He doesn't mind that I've got a child, if anything when I told him his eyes lit up, and after numerous late night conversations he confessed that he's always wanted a family. He was the perfect man, and we get along so well, but there's still my son's judgement that we need to get past. Every time I've spoken to my boy about Leon he's dismissed the idea, and sometimes snaps at me for not spending the evening with him and instead choosing Leon. I feel guilty, but I've spent the last eight years with my son non stop, I know that I deserve someone to take care of me too. 

I take a deep breath as Leon guides me to the door, then I grab my keys and unlock it, immediately I'm greeted by the babysitter, who smiles but sighs, giving me a regretful look. "Not great?" I wince as Leon's hand rests on my lower back, a steadying presence as I wrestle with this bump in the road. She shakes her head, glancing at Leon beside me. 

"He's refused to do anything but sit there with his arms crossed for the last two hours. He's a determined young man, I'll give him that." The babysitter says. I glance at Leon, who's smiling at me. He leans down, kissing the top of my head as I sigh and pay the woman as she leaves, then with a spine of steel I walk into the living room, where my son sits on the sofa waiting, arms still crossed. 

"Hey little man, heard you've been in a grump again?" I softly say, walking over to him and kneeling down to hug him. He hugs me back, but stares daggers at Leon, who shuffles in awkwardly and does a small wave. 

"Hey buddy, I'm Leon, your mom's...friend." 

"I know who you are." My son spits out, I'm taken aback by the anger there, "You're the one who keeps stealing her away from me, and I hate you!" He frowns, going back to crossing his arms. My mouth opens and closes in shock, I'm torn between scolding him and asking Leon to leave, I'd hoped that they'd get along, and now that they haven't tears spring to my eyes. I stand up, mumbling something about making some tea then head to the kitchen. Leon follows, wrapping his arms around me as I let my tears fall. 

"I'm so sorry Leon, I had no idea he'd be so mean-"

"It's alright," Leon coos, rubbing my back, "he's just protective of you, I would be too, let's just give him time, maybe if I spend more time with him he'll see how cool I am." He smiles, making me laugh a little. I nod, willing to give it another try. We head back into the living room and put on my son's favourite movie, Leon tries to ask him questions but doesn't get any answers. I bite my lip, ushering my son to answer, and then he gives one worded replies. Leon doesn't seem put off, as he wraps an arm around my shoulders and insists that everything is fine and that he's not trying to replace anybody. 

The evening grows late, so Leon leaves me with a kiss and a rejected high five from my son, I can tell he's wavering on the confidence but Leon insists he'll try and try again, he wants this to work just as much as I do, but at the end of the day I know that if my son never warms to him I'll have to choose, and of course I'll always pick my boy. As soon as Leon's gone my son's shoulders slump and he goes back to being a perfect angel, cuddling with me and apologising. I stroke his hair, accepting it and coaxing him to go to bed. 

A week later Leon and I agree to try again. It's a Saturday and we're having dinner together. Leon and I cook in the kitchen as my son stares at the new toys Leon bought him, they're expensive ones too, so I'm surprised he wants nothing to do with them. I encourage my son to help us cook by tasking him to help Leon. It's silent as they prepare the sauce for dinner, my son does help which is progress, but he's not happy about it. I'm worried he feels left out, so whenever I can I show him that I love him, with cuddles and assurances. We all eat dinner, once again my son barely talks to Leon, but he does ask about his job, and nobody can ignore the twinkle in his eye when Leon mentions about being part of the government. 

From then on things begin to look slightly brighter. We decide to play some board games after, sitting on the living room floor with snacks and drinks. My son perches beside me like a guard dog, and hugs me every time Leon goes to kiss me or even touch me. He finds it amusing thankfully. As the hours pass my son begins to tire of being snappy, and finally his walls break down, he engages in conversation with Leon. My boyfriend hides his glee as he replies and treats my son like an adult rather than an eight year old boy, which works. Eventually I feel like it's the right time to finally set in stone the future. 

"S/N, Leon's offered to take us on vacation next month, and he said that you should pick where we should go, isn't that right?" I smile. My son's eyes narrow on Leon as he nods. 

"I know we haven't seen eye to eye, but I really do want to take care of you. You and your mom. I know you feel like I'm stealing her away from you, but I promise that isn't it. She loves you more than anything, and always tells me how great you are," Leon says, earning a happy smile from my baby, "I just want to make sure that she's got someone who loves her just as much as she loves you, okay? Let's work together to take care of her."

My son nods, eyes filling with tears as he swallows back his pride and opens up. He holds out a hand, making Leon and I chuckle as Leon takes it and shakes it in return. "Sorry I've been mean, I just want my mom to love me forever."

I press my lips together, opening my arms for my son to climb in, "I will, you'll always be my number one baby, I love you so much. Now, start thinking of a place where we'll go." I smile, heart warming as Leon joins the hug, and my son doesn't push him away. 

"Antarctica."

Leon and I glance at each other, wincing. "Uhhh." Leon draws out. 

"Maybe not this time, how about somewhere warmer? Hm, maybe somewhere with a beach where we can make sandcastles?"

"Australia." 

I nod, looking to Leon who grins and reaches over to ruffle my son's hair. "Good choice mate." Leon does in the worst Australian accent I've ever heard. We all burst out laughing, finally getting along and beginning the start of our journey as a family together.