Three hearts, one home (Dayasco)

A stripper

TW:SA

When Daya emerges from the bathroom, dressed in his plain work clothes, he's got a forced smile on his face. He leans down to kiss her forehead gently, his eyes lingering on hers for a moment longer than usual. "I'll be home as soon as I can," he murmurs, his voice a promise.

Molly watches him, her eyes wide and hopeful. "Don't worry," she says, her voice too bright. "Bossy and me are going to have so much fun!"

Daya nods, his smile strained. He gives Molly a squeeze before turning to leave. Bosco's eyes follow him, her thoughts a whirlwind of concern and fear. As the door clicks shut, she takes a deep breath and turns her attention to Molly. "Alright, let's pick out a movie sweetheart," she says, forcing a smile. But deep down Bosco was scared, she was scared Tyler was going to come home before Daya did.

Molly jumps off the couch and runs to the DVD shelf, her little hands grabbing at random cases before finally settling on "Toy Story." She runs back to the couch, her eyes shining with excitement. "This one!" she exclaims, holding up the case.

Bosco smiles warmly, taking the case from her and popping it into the player. The familiar whir of the machine fills the room, and soon, the screen lights up with the colorful images of Buzz and Woody. Molly crawls back onto the couch, nestling herself into the crook of Bosco's arm. Her tiny hands come up to cover her chest, her thumbs idly tracing circles on her skin.

Bosco's eyes flick to her, her heart breaking at the sight of Molly's nervousness. She gently takes one of Molly's hands and brings it down to rest on her stomach, her other hand coming up to stroke her hair. "You don't have to worry about anything, Molly," she murmurs, her voice soothing. "I'm here, I promise."

Molly looks up at her, her eyes wide and trusting. "What were you and Daya doing today?" she asks, her voice small. "I heard Tyler shout that you were... f-fucking..."

Bosco's eyes widen with shock, and she quickly recovers, pushing down the anger that threatens to bubble up at Tyler's disrespect. "Molly," she says gently, her voice firm but calm. "You shouldn't repeat words like that, okay?"

Molly nods, her eyes searching Bosco's face for answers. "But what were you guys doing?" she persists, her curiosity unabated.

Bosco takes a deep breath, trying to find the right words to explain. "Well, Molly," she begins, her voice gentle and patient. "Sometimes, when two people love each other very much, they like to hug and kiss and do other things to show how much they care."

Molly looks at her with a mix of curiosity and confusion. "But why would Tyler be mad about that?" she asks, her voice small.

Bosco sighs, her hand continuing to stroke Molly's hair. "Sometimes, people don't understand love or how it's expressed," she says, her voice careful. "And when they're confused, they say things that aren't nice."

Molly nods, but the frown on her face suggests she doesn't quite grasp the concept. "But you guys love each other, right?" she asks, her voice hopeful.

Bosco's heart clenches at the innocence in Molly's question. "Yes, we do," she says, her voice soft. "And that's all that matters."

Molly nods, seemingly satisfied with the answer, and nuzzles into Bosco's side again. They continue watching the film, the warmth of her small body a comfort against the ache in her heart. The tension in the room slowly starts to ease as they lose themselves in the adventures of the toys. Bosco's eyes flick to the clock, the ticking a constant reminder of the time passing.

As the credits start to roll, Molly yawns and snuggles closer. "Bossy, can i go to bed?" she asks, her voice sleepy.

Bosco smiles down at her, her heart swelling with affection. "Of course, sweetheart," she says, standing up and scooping Molly into her arms. She carries her to her bedroom, the warmth of her little body a comfort against the anxiety that still simmers beneath the surface. She lays her down gently, pulling the covers up to her chin and kissing her forehead. "Sweet dreams, baby," she whispers.