Family of two

16 - Mia

One week earlier

Mia's POV

Mia had had to run an errand when she saw Eric walking by a short distance away. He looked tense once again like he often did, she noticed with regret.

"Eric!" She called out when she wasn't able to catch up with him, which had the desired effect of stopping him immediately. Turning around he looked for her and gave her a short smile when his eyes found hers, while he waited for her to reach him.

"Mia, it's a nice surprise to see you." He looked a little less tense already.

Mia loved that she was able to do this for him without really doing anything. "Same goes for me." She returned his smile and reached out to touch his arm. "What happened?"

"You can tell?" His face showed his astonishment.

She simply nodded, waiting for him to open up. Her patience was rewarded when he began in a low voice:

"I'm went to enlist Teddy in daycare." Eric paused. "Tara, the head of it, she laughed in my face. She thought I was joking..."

No wonder he looked fraught. Over the past weeks Mia had learned that not being a good enough father to Teddy was one of his major concerns. That had to hurt deeply and add to his insecurities. Though in her eyes he did an amazing job with the little guy she had realized early on the way he often questioned his parenting skills. Mia took both of his hands in hers.

"Listen up! You are an amazing father. Don't doubt that because people who doesn't really know you do. Okay?"

Eric looked in her eyes for some time, before he eventually gave in. "Okay."

"Good!" Reluctantly Mia led go of his hands. It was only their fingertips touching and then her hand were left empty. Did he felt the loss as she did?

"Thank you Mia." His voice sounded warm and honest. She like it. Much happier too. Which she liked even more and couldn't help but beam at him.

"You're welcome, Eric."

"Would you like to have dinner with us again today?"

"I'd like that." Mia replied happily. There could be no other answer to his question.

"Good." He smiled.

.

.

All day long after Eric invited her over Mia had looked forward to it. Now she stood in her bedroom facing her wardrobe. She wanted to wear something nice but casual enough not to show that she actually cared what she wore so Eric wouldn't think she was hitting on him, which she was if she was honest with herself, though she didn't like the term hitting. And this morning she hadn't been aware either, but Jane had pointed it out. Great. She liked Eric, only, until a few hours ago she hadn't put a label on it. But Jane had a point: She did want Eric to recognize her. Did that mean she had become one of those brainless girl hitting on him for his looks? Quickly she dismissed the thought. No.

So what to wear? There was also Teddy to consider.

.

.

When Mia finally knocked at Eric's door she had settled on tight black jeans, a black shirt with cutouts along with some sneakers.

"Hi Mia!" Eric smiled at her on opening the door. "Come in." He was still in his boots and uniform, Mia noticed. Now she was happy she hadn't dressed up. That would have been awkward. But after all he had just ask her to join them for dinner, not asking her out or something like that.

"Mia!" Teddy came running from his room.

"Hi there Teddy." Mia ruffled his hair affectionately.

"Are you hungry Mia? I am huuungry! We had to go back to the office. Eric said some people can't do as told. Eric war really angry with them. And so we have not cooked. I have to wait more, Eric said."

Teddy was spilling his heart out and Mia couldn't help but snicker when Teddy told her Eric had been angry, while Eric eyes widened at the outburst, which made Mia snickering even more.

"I am sorry Mia. How about you make yourself comfortable on the sofa while you, Teddy," he said his voice now stern, "play some more in you room?"

"I want to stay with you!" Teddy opposed upset.

"How about we both help you with the cooking?" Mia suggested.

Immediately agreeing with her plan Teddy cried out: "I help!" While Eric told her earnestly: "You don't need to Mia."

"But I like to." She liked doing things together with Eric. It was something she discerned while working with him on the bed for Teddy.

"Okay then." Though he didn't say much, Mia could tell he was pleased.

They had fun preparing some homemade burgers together while an exited and agitated Teddy was jumping all over the place, only calming down after the meal. He then stayed with them, not wanting to miss anything, dragging his toys over. Later he had climbed up in Eric lab, snuggling into him, his eyes falling shut more and more often so Eric send him to bed.

Now that there were able to speak more freely, Mia was able to reassure him about the upcoming time Teddy would have to spend in daycare, while Eric listened patiently to her complains about some of the customers which somehow let to her telling him what she missed most about Amity.

"I know it's a small thing, Eric but I really miss being outside. All the colors and the life of animals and plants around, made me feel alive too. I loved it."

When she came home from work the next day a small posy of daisies put in a tumbler stood before her door. Mia was still smiling when she fell asleep. She had no doubt Eric was behind it and had to smile even more of the image of Eric crawling all over the lawn next to the compound picking daisies.