Step-Dad [Mother!Reader x Kakashi] |Modern AU|

Day 32

Kakashi took a week off from work to care for [Name]. She's been overwhelmingly needy lately, and being the perfect boyfriend he is, Kakashi decides to stay and help around. Her mood swings are out of control, but thankfully she only loses her temper at him and not at her kids. Right now, he's making lunch while [Name] looks for a suitable daycare online.

"Do you know anything about Iruka's Learning Child Care Center?" She asks Kakashi as she carries her laptop into the kitchen.

Kakashi shrugs as he focuses on making the grilled cheese. "Iruka is a friend of mine."

She grins and places her laptop down. "Oh, does he know about us?"

Kakashi sighs. "Maybe I overestimated the word friend. I only know him because we met at a bar once and got to know each other a little. He's an acquaintance."

[Name] seems to deflate at the flatness of his voice. She watches him plate the food and deliver it to the dining room table.

"Well, do you know if he's any good at his job?" She asks as she watches him set Athena's highchair.

"All I know is that he's passionate in teaching small children how to identify shapes," Kakashi responds, remembering the night Iruka got drunk and ranted on about how important shapes are.

[Name] raises an eyebrow but doesn't question it. She returns to her laptop and decides to sign both her kids up for this daycare since the others looked a little shady. When she finishes with enrolling Nika and Athena into daycare, she returns to the dining room to see that Nika is shoving his food down his throat and Athena is scooping applesauce with her hands.

Kakashi sits next to Athena, his face in his palms and his eyes closed. There is a plate for her sitting on the table. Kakashi looks dead tired and guilt sprouts in her core from the sight. He's been so kind and has taken charge of everything in the house. He's doing her chores, cooking the meals, watching and playing with the children, all the while, [Name] lounges around and complains about her chocolate cravings.

She sits at the table, but her appetite withers away. She reaches across the table and her fingers intertwine with his.

"I'm sorry," she apologizes. Before he can question her apology, she speaks again. "I shouldn't have made you do my chores all by yourself. I've been lazy, and I'm really sorry for it."

She pauses for a moment and sees his eyes wrinkle at the ends. "You can rest, I'll take care of everything else, okay Kakashi?"

"Okay honey, whatever you say."

...

Although Kakashi promises to let [Name] return to her motherly duties, he now shadows over her and watches every little thing she does.

"Kakashi will you back up? I got this under control," [Name] says as she cooks dinner.

"I'm just seeing if you needed an extra hand," Kakashi says while placing a hand on her lower back.

"For the love of goodness, go somewhere Kakashi."

[Name] pushes him off of her and kicks him out the kitchen.

"But!"

"Bye! Go rest," [Name] interjects before returning to her task. As she's chopping up vegetables she grumbles, "He acts as if I've never cooked before."

Kakashi is acting this way is because he doesn't want [Name] to think he's useless like Pein. So, he tries his hardest not to laze around or take too many breaks. Of course, this leads him to overwork himself, something [Name] wants to avoid.

But alas, Kakashi allows her to finish dinner without hovering over her, and when he finally sits down, his muscles relax. Athena, who was playing with some blocks, crawls over to him and climbs onto his lap.

"Dada Gashi!" She cheers, wrapping her little chubby arms around his neck.

"Hello Athena, what have you been up to?" He asks as he pats her head. She blows a raspberry in his face, her spit flying everywhere. He chuckles and sighs. "That's fantastic."

He holds her in his arms as she tries to tug off his mask. His mask stops just before his upper lip before she rips it all the way down.

Kakashi smiles at the little girl. "Now why'd you do that?"

With his face now exposed, her chubby fingers gloss over his skin. Her eyes seem to sparkle as she processes the new face in front of her. She cups his cheeks and hesitates for a moment. Before Kakashi can ask Athena what's wrong, she presses her little lips to the corner his mouth.

For a moment, time stops for Kakashi. His heart swells up with a newfound love and it almost bursts at the seams. Receiving love from a child is the purest form of love. Is this what it feels like to be a father? To want to protect and care for a child no matter the obstacles that are in the way? Of course, ever since Kakashi met little Athena, he's always wanted to protect her because all children should be protected in his eyes. But this, this feels a little different than before. He no longer wants to be a good father figure for Athena, he needs to be the best father she will ever have even if their connection isn't through blood.

"Dada!" Athena squeals as she pinches his cheeks. Kakashi snaps back into reality and grins at the little girl.

"Athena, you're too darn cute," he says as he pinches her cheek back. He chuckles as she mushes his cheeks together, something she liked to do to Pein's face. If possible, someone would see the many hearts popping from his head.

"Why does she call you dada?" Nika asks as he pops out of nowhere.

Kakashi fixes his attention towards the young boy. He shrugs his shoulders, saying, "She likes to call me it, I guess."

Nika thinks this over for a second, his face scrunching up from his deep thought. "Can... can I call you dada?"

Surprised by Nika's question, Kakashi's eyes widen with wonder. Flustered and not sure how to answer, he replies with, "If-- If you want to?"

Nika nods, leaving the conversation there. He walks into the kitchen and tugs on his mother's sleeve. While stirring the pot, she looks down at him.

"Yes, honey?" She addresses him.

"Do I have to call him dada?" He asks, confusion written all over his face. [Name] laughs lightly and pats her son's head, knowing he's referring to Kakashi.

"If dada is too affectionate for you, you can just call him Kakashi."

The confusion clears from his mind and he turns on his heel. As he runs back to the living room, [Name] can hear him calling Kakashi's name.

"Kakashi? Can you come play with me?"

"Of-- Of course!"

...

A/N: A request made by katsumitheanimegirl and snowfox138

Sorry it took so long ^^;

Love ya bye!