Modern!
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I was walking round the supermarket with my three year old daughter, Marie because we needed to do shopping. I turned round for a second to get something and when I turned back round I couldn't feel her hand on mine anymore. I looked round the whole shop and eventually heard giggling. I turned the corner and noticed a man with poofy hair holding Marie in his hands with her playing with a strand of the man's hair, both of them giggling.
"Marie, I told you not to wonder away from me, Come on. You have no idea how long I've been looking for you for," I said approaching them.
"I'm guessing you're the little darlin's mother right?" the man asked.
"Yes I am and I would like my daughter back now if you don't mind," I said taking Marie out of his hands, "Thank you for looking after her. I'm just really stressed at the moment, I'm not very well of, her father left as soon as he found out I was pregnant, my parents kicked me out when they found out I was pregnant, so, now I'm a single mother with barely enough to feed us. Truth, whatever she doesn't eat is my dinner, and I will say she eats it all 97% of times she gets any food... I'm sorry I'm rambling, I'll just go, I'm sorry I didn't mean to spill my life problems to you, I mean I don't even know your name..."
"Thomas Jefferson, at your service."
"(Y/n), I don't really have a surname now, as I said before my parents kicked me out when I told them I was pregnant."
"Well, if you want I can buy you some real food and you both can have a proper meal to fill you up."
"I don't even know you very well. Why are you being so kind to me?"
"Well, who wouldn't kind to a pretty lady like yourself, darlin'?"
"I'm not pretty just.."
"At a loss for words?"
"Ok, fine! If you're sure it wouldn't be a burden."
"Of course not darlin' and it gives me a chance to see the little one again, I mean if you don't mind."
"It's perfectly fine, I'm too tired right no.." I collapsed before I could finish my sentence.
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I woke up in a room I didn't know. I sat up and just as I did there was a knock on the door, "Come in."
"Ah, Miss (Y/n), you're awake, Mr Jefferson has requested you see him in the living room when you woke up."
"And you are?"
"Annie, I'm the housekeeper."
"Would you mind showing me where the living room is?"
"Of course."
I stood up and followed her out the room to a big room, "This is the living room." I looked inside to see Marie playing with Mr Jefferson.
"There's my little darling," I said entering the room.
"Mama!" she shouted running up to me and hugging me, "Ok sweetie you can let go now." She let go and went back to playing. I turned to Mr Jefferson, "Um. How long was I out for Mr Jefferson?"
"Three days, and please just call me Thomas."
"Three days! Is Maire ok? Is she doing alright?"
"Yes, she's fine. She's had a proper meal everyday, three actually."
"You didn't have to do this. You know, we get by just about."
"Clearly not, you're, and excuse me for this but, you literally skin and bone, no wonder you fainted. You know I though you had died of starvation. I was starting to get worried," he said then realising what he had said, "You know for Marie obviously, knowing you were her only parent, I was worried about what would happen to her."
"Huh, I was starting to believe you were worried for me," I said trying to keep a straight face but failing.
"Of course I was worried for you as well. I'll go and put a meal on for you, now you're awake. Will Mac & Cheese do you? It seems to be the only thing I have."
"I've actually never had it before. You know, with Maire being first priority for food."
"Well, you need to try it. It's honestly the best thing in the world."
"I'll see if it is that good."
"Oh and you can stay as long as you would like. I guessing you're finding it hard to pay rent as well."
"Well I'm just staying in a hotel, no real home. My parents literally gave me nothing to help with Maire, they just cut all communication off. Even my brother cut connections with me."
"If you don't mind my asking, who's your brother? Maybe I can knock some sense into him."
"Alexander."
"Hamilton?!"
I nodded.
"Well, I'm going to do more than knock sense into him, I'm going to kick his ass."
"Would you mind your language when there is a three year old in the room?!"
Just then we heard a knock on the door, "That will probably be James. You're welcome to stay and meet him if you want. I'll get your food, can you let him in?" I nodded and found my way to the door before opening it, "Thomas!" The guy shouted running in not even noticing me until I fell over, "Oww."
"Oh, miss. I'm so sorry I didn't mean to knock you over."
"It's perfectly fine, James."
"Hold on, how do you know my name, I've never seen you before?"
"James, this is (Y/n), I'm helping her out as she's not in a very good financial situation at the moment," Thomas' voice came from the kitchen, "And guess what?! She comes with a free child to fawn over!" he continued running out the kitchen with Marie in his arms.
"Thomas, you talking about me as if I'm something you can buy, which I'm not."
"Sorry, I'll get your food," he said handing Marie to me and going back into the kitchen.
"Can I?" James asked me.
"Can you what?"
"Can I held her?"
I giggled and handed Marie to him, "So cute! I love children!" We walked into the living room.
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A few weeks had passed and I had developed a full blown crush on Thomas. I decided I would finally tell him.
"Thomas what would you say if, someone who you helped out of a bad financial situation, told you that they had developed feelings for you and-?"
I was cut off, "You want to know what I would do?" I was about to answer but he kissed me.
"Ok that works," I said giggling, "I'm sure Marie, you love to have you as her father figure in her life."
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We finally had a day to ourselves as we had asked James to look after Marie.
"You know Thomas, I'm glad Marie ran off away from me that day, if she hadn't I probably would never have met you and the two of us would probably have died of starvation by now. So, thank you. and thank you for being her father figure."
"Well, (Y/n) I know I will never be her real father but would you at least let me be her step-father?" he asked getting on one knee and producing a ring.
"Yes! Of course! I love you so much." he placed the ring on my finger and kissed me. "I love you too."
