Nanny

5

Waah! Waah! Waah!

Liam's eyelids flutter open as he rolls over into his stomach and buries his face in his pillow, groaning loudly into the pillow. He throws the covers off of him and climbs out of bed as he trudges out of his bedroom and walks into Bear's room to see him screaming and kicking around in his crib. He frowns slightly and picks his son up, trying to console him, but Bear is still screaming and crying.

He looks down at his crying son and asks, "What's wrong, little guy?"

Destiny is brushing her teeth when she hears on the baby monitor Bear crying. She quickly spits out the toothpaste into the sink and wipes her mouth before heading out of her new bedroom and into the nursery. With a quick glance, she could already tell Bear has a fever. She takes him in her arms and gently kisses him on the top of his head as she sings a French lullaby that her maternal grandmother sang to her when her grandmother used to babysit her.

She smiles softly when he stops crying and wipes his tears as she whispers, "It's okay."

Liam watches her calm down his son. It actually amazes him how quick Miss Harrison gets Bear calm. He finds himself soaking in her beautiful facial features.

He snaps out of his thoughts when she says, "Mr. Payne, I think Bear might have a fever."

He raises an eyebrow and responds in a cold tone, "And how do you know that my son has a fever? What if he just needs his diaper change?"

She rolls her eyes and scoffs at his last question as she replies, "First of all, his nose is cherry red which is a sign that he is sick. Second of all, I changed his diaper two hours ago."

He definitely does not like how she is talking to him. He has never had people talk to him like that before as he said, "That proves nothing to me."

She sighs softly and grabs the thermometer as she places it in Bear's and waits for a minute before showing the thermometer to him. He sees it is 100.4°F/ 38°C as he sighs softly to himself, knowing she is right about the fever.

He says in a cold tone, "Guess you're right about the fever."

She frowns slightly and asks, "Why do you are so cold to me?"

He becomes angry about the question as he says, "How about you do your job and not ask any more questions?"

He storms out of the room, and she sighs softly as she whispers to Bear, "Let's get you some medicine, and maybe you can help me make your daddy breakfast and his lunch before he goes to work."

Destiny walks out of the nursery and enters the kitchen as she places Bear in his high chair and begins making pancakes for Mr. Payne, asking, "Do you want me to make you a lunch, Mr. Payne?"

He looks from his phone and says, "Okay, Ms. Harrison."

She sighs softly and places the plate of his pancakes in front of him as she says, "Okay, Mr. Payne."

She turns away and opens the fridge as she begins to make his lunch for the day. She makes him a ham and cheese sandwich with cut fruit and vegetables while she tries to have a conversation with him, but he is avoid the talking with just one words answer. She places the food in a brown paper bag and folds the opening closed before she gives Bear's medicine and then his milk to wash down the medicine.

Liam watches Miss Harrison make his lunch for the day before giving his son the medicine. He couldn't help but sees she is bending over, wearing a old large university sweatshirt with no pants or shorts. He runs his fingers through his hair and finishes his breakfast as he gets up from his seat and goes back up to his bedroom, getting ready for work.

Destiny pulls a chair chair in front of Bear and sits down as she kisses his little chubby hands and gently strokes his cheek, whispering, "It's going to be okay. Destiny will make sure of it."

She has never like to take care of a sick baby, but she has babysat sick kids when she was in high school. She doesn't like seeing Bear all sad and tired because of his fever.

She looks to Mr. Payne is ready for work as he grabs his lunch and kisses Bear's head, saying, "I'll be back in a little bit, little guy. Get better for Daddy."

Bear begins to cry again and reaches for his daddy. Destiny frowns softly at the sight as she picks him up from his high chair and rubs his back gently, seeing Mr. Payne standing there not knowing what to do in this situation.

Liam stands there, unsure. He couldn't decide whether he should leave his child sick when his son obviously wants him or stay home and be the father he wants to be and needs to be. He bites his lip in thought, looking between Miss Harrison and his son.

"I, uh-"

"You'll be late. I've got Bear," Destiny says and gives him a reassuring smile, still rubbing soft circles onto Bear's back to sooth him and rid the baby of his agitation.

"I know, but," he starts but presses his lips shut to stop any words from flowing.

Destiny raises an eyebrow in a way that tells him 'go on, finish what you were going to say.' She also has this hopeful look in her eyes that maybe he would take off work to be with his son.

He looks between her and Bear before finally deciding. "Yeah, you're right. I'll be late," he mumbles and turns his back only to hear Bear beginning to cry again.

Liam's heart feels like it is breaking in two at the sound of his poor child wailing, but he continues on to the front door and leaves Destiny to take care of the unwell baby that wants nothing more than the affection from his very father.
A/N Thanks to Taystrob12_Louis who wrote the ending of the chapter for me. 💋