Archive of Our Own

You took out your cell, opened your messages, and handed it to him. “I thought you had plans. Don’t you need me to watch Missy for you tonight?”

Marcus scanned the text, shaking his head. He handed the phone back and hit you with a look that was almost apologetic. “I didn’t send this.”

“Actually, that was me,” came a chipper little voice. Missy pushed her way past Marcus and out on the front step. “Y/N, you’re right on time! Won’t you join us?”

She gestured for you to follow her inside as she retreated without another word. Marcus stepped aside to allow you to pass, offering you another confused/apologetic look as you walked by.

“This way, please.” You laughed as Missy took you by the hand and led you toward the kitchen, Marcus following hesitantly behind. You stopped abruptly and dropped Missy’s hand the instant you caught sight of the small dining table. It had been adorned with two place settings, some artfully arranged rose petals, and a solitary burning candle.

Marcus bumped right into you from behind and you spun to look at him. As his eyes went from the table to you, everything seemed to click all at once. For both of you. Missy cleared her throat. “My good man, m’lady, your table for two awaits.”

This was awkward. Cute, but awkward. But you were never one to disappoint Missy Moreno.

“Why, Missy, this is such a surprise! Did you do all this yourself?”

Missy nodded proudly. “Yep! You said you didn’t have any plans for Valentine’s Day. Nobody deserves to be alone today.” A lump started to form in your throat. How did this little girl know you so well?

Missy snapped her fingers. “All right, we’re wasting romantic moonlight. Take your seats.”

You did as Missy commanded, but Marcus hesitated for a beat until Missy gave him a nudge and whispered, “Dad, sit.” He obliged and the moment his butt hit the chair you exchanged awkward smiles across the table.

Missy cleared her throat again and assumed an air of professionalism. “Good evening. My name is Missy, and I’ll be your server this evening. I shall return shortly with your beverages.” As she marched off, you and Marcus started giggling at the same time.

“I think we’ve been set up,” Marcus said sheepishly. You picked up one of the rose petals from the table delicately between two fingers. “You think?” Even in the dim glow of the flickering candlelight you could see that his cheeks had gone red, and you were pretty sure yours were looking just as crimson.

Missy returns momentarily with two large glasses of lightly fizzing dark liquid. “Sparkling grape juice for the lovely couple.”

You wanted to do your best to ignore that “couple” remark, but you wanted to play along for Missy’s sake. And apparently Marcus wanted to be a good sport as well. He lifted his glass and offered it out to you. “Cheers.” You clinked your cup against his and took a sip. You licked the bubbles off your lips and grinned. “It’s delicious, Missy. Thank you.”

Missy leaned in close to you, attempting to be conspiratorial. “I tried to find some real wine somewhere around here, but apparently dad doesn’t drink.” Marcus sputtered around his mouthful of juice and tried to get most of what came leaking out the corners of his mouth back into his glass. You hid your mouth behind your hand as you struggled not to laugh. “I would have bought a bottle when dad and I went to the grocery store, but I didn’t have enough money,” Missy added.

“Nor are you old enough to be buying alcohol, young lady,” Marcus chastised.

You took another sip of grape juice and tried to keep the party going. “So, what’s on the menu tonight, Missy?”

“I’m so glad you asked,” she said, lapsing back into her “adult” voice. “Tonight’s special is spaghetti and meatballs with Missy Moreno’s famous homemade garlic bread.”

Suddenly, Marcus’ eyes went wide. “Wait, you’re using the oven and the stove alone?”

He started to rise from his chair but Missy eased him back down. “Dad, please, I’ve got this. Everything’s under control.”

That’s when you smelled it. An unmistakable scent that both you and Marcus detected at the same time. “Um, sweetie,” you said, eyeing Missy nervously. “Is something burning?”

The smoke alarm went off at the same time Missy said, “I don’t smell anything.”

***

Fortunately, the fire was nothing too hard for a superhero duo like Marcus and Missy to handle. In the end, the only real damage was to a few pots and pans, but Missy felt that the entire evening was in shambles.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled from between you and Marcus. The three of you had migrated to the living room sofa after you’d made the three of them each a PB and J. “I just wanted tonight to be special for the two of you.”

You took Missy’s face in your hands and gently coaxed her to look at you. “It was, Missy. Tonight was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. I’m never going to forget it. This was so sweet of you to do. A girl with a heart as big as yours makes for the perfect Cupid.”

“Yeah, kiddo. You made literal sparks fly on the most romantic night of the year. If that’s not special, I don’t know what is,” Marcus added, wrapping one arm around his daughter’s shoulders and pulling her into him. She gave him a lopsided grin. “Ha ha, dad.”

After you’d all scarfed down your sandwiches, Marcus sent Missy off to bed. Before turning in for the night, she gave you a big hug and you promised you’d see her tomorrow after school.

Once Missy was down for the count, you helped Marcus wash the dishes, those that could still be salvaged anyway. And when you went to leave, surprisingly, he stopped you. “You don’t have to go,” he said taking you by the hand. “It’s still somewhat early.” Your heart skipped a beat when you felt his fingers wrap around your own. So gentle. So warm.

“I guess I could stay a little longer.”

***

You curled yourself up on the couch, making room for Marcus as he returned with two glasses of another dark beverage. “More juice?” You took the glass he offered and your eyes widened as you took a sip.

“Ah, no,” he said with a soft smile. “This is the real deal.” He took a seat beside you, comfortably close but still respectfully distant.

“Why, Marcus Moreno, you are just full of surprises.” You raised your glass, toasting his efforts. “And where were you hiding this? It must have been some super duper secret hiding place if not even Missy could find it.”

“You mean like the top shelf in the pantry that she’s not tall enough to reach?” He put a finger to his lips, swearing you to secrecy as you barked out a laugh.

You spent the next hour or so talking, mostly about how much both of you loved his daughter. But the tide of conversation eventually flowed into deeper waters.

“This is the first Valentine’s Day I’ve actually celebrated with someone other than Missy in awhile,” Marcus said, finishing the rest of what was his second glass of whine. “I don’t really get much into the holiday spirit anymore. Not since...”

He couldn’t finish the sentence, but he didn’t need to. You knew exactly what he was referring to. Who he was referring to. “I understand,” you said. “I wouldn’t really feel like celebrating either.”

He cleared his throat and forced himself to smile again. “Which brings me to my next point: why is a nice gal like yourself not out getting swept off her feet on this most Hallmark of holidays?”

You leaned into the back of the couch and heaved a heavy sigh that you hoped didn’t come off as depressing as it sounded. “I’m kinda SOL in the romance department. I pretty much stopped expecting anything awhile ago.”

You nearly jumped when you felt Marcus rest his warm hand on your bare knee. His palm was so warm it could have left a burn. You turned and met his soft brown eyes as he whispered, “you shouldn’t.”

Carefully, you rested your hand atop his and kept it there. “How do you and Missy normally celebrate the day?” You asked, your voice going up an octave. Marcus smiled and leaned in closer. “Every year Missy makes me a card. I’ve kept every one she’s ever made me. Whenever she gets home from school we bake cupcakes together and decorate them. Then we’ll put on a cheesy rom com and make fun of it until we’ve laughed ourselves silly.” You couldn’t help but grin at that level of father-daughter cuteness.

“And what do you do for Valentine’s Day, miss SOL?”

You down the rest of your wine in one gulp and hesitate before giving him an answer. “You promise not to laugh?” He mimed zipping his lips, but you knew he’d still laugh. You sighed again and said, “usually by now I’m two glasses into a bottle of Tennessee Fire and halfway through ‘My Bloody Valentine.’”

Just as you thought, Marcus stifled a belly laugh, trying to avoid waking Missy. “Well, that’s, um....that’s certainly, uh....”

“Lonely?”

“I was going to say unique.”

“No, you weren’t.”

He smiled again. God, but you loved his smile. “Okay, I wasn’t,” he admitted.

You two spent a solid ten minutes giggling, and once you’d run out of breath you put your mouths to better use. Feeling bold for a change, you made the first move. As you migrated your lips closer to his you found, much to your relief, that rather than retreat, he chose to close the distance. Your mouths interlocked, perfectly it seemed, like a pair of puzzle pieces. The kiss wasn’t hungry, nor was it chaste, it was just...right.

But like all good things, it came to an end. Rather suddenly it seemed, when Marcus pulled away. He looked at you, you looked at him, neither of you saying a word. Then, just as he broke the kiss, he broke the silence as well.

“Um...I,” he fumbled. “Wait right here. I’ll be right back.” Just like that he leapt from the couch and bounded out of the room.

You buried your burning face in your hands. Shit. SHIT. What the hell did you just do? You’d just put the moves on the father of the child you babysit, that’s what! What if you had just screwed everything up? What if he didn’t want to see you anymore? What if he fired you? What. Did. You. Just. DO?!

You were doing your best not to burst into tears when Marcus returned holding what looked like a dvd in his hand. It was a dvd, and when you saw which one all of your fear dissipated. “Is that...?” Marcus nodded, flashing you the cover of My Bloody Valentine.

“Sorry it’s just the remake, but I do still have the 3D glasses that came with it.”

You grinned from ear to ear as he powered up the dvd player and popped the disc inside. Then he grabbed the remote and flopped back onto the couch. Before he hit play, he took your hand in his own. “Can you stay a bit longer?” he asked.

“As long as you’ll have me,” you whispered.

He offered you his arm and you leaned into him. And just like your lips, you found that your bodies fit together just as well.

You owed Missy big time for this.