Chapter Text
All his daughter could talk about that day, after he picked her up, was the new daycare teacher. From the time they left the school up to bedtime, it had been "Jack this, Jack that." Even when he tucked her in that night and read her a bedtime story, it was "Daddy, you're not doing the voices like Jack." Aster just shook his head fondly, looking forward to meeting the amazing Jack. He wanted to thank him for making Emily's day at daycare a good one. His little girl usually had a rough time when he had to bring her there before he went to work, instead of dropping her off with her usual babysitter. This day had begun like the rest, with all the tears and the "No don't go"s and "I want to go to auntie Anna's" but it ended with her having the best time ever in daycare. He wasn't sure what was wrong with the other teachers, they seemed nice enough to him, nor did he know what made Jack so special but he was happy that his daughter was happy.
The next day was another day Anna couldn't babysit. So, Aster got Emily up early and, after getting her ready, they were off to Harmony Daycare. On the drive there the six year old asked her father an odd question, "Daddy, what's a cougar?"
Aster was a little taken back by the question but answered without too much thought. "It's a type of large wild cat."
"Can people turn into cougars?" She asked curiously.
Aster frowned at this, confused. He took a sip of the coffee he had in a to-go cup and placed it back in the cup holder before answering. "No, people can't change into animals." He shook his head.
There was a pause before the girl spoke up from the backseat again. "But, my friend Dave said he heard his mom telling her friend how cute Jack was and her friend called her a cougar."
Aster had just taken another sip of coffee when she said that and choked on it, spitting some out in the process. Emily gave a small laugh and asked "Are you okay daddy?". Aster nodded and said yes. Trying to decide how to respond to what she had said, he stalled for time by cleaning himself up the best he could while driving. Luckily for him, they had reached the daycare. He cleaned up a little more once he had parked then helped her out of the backseat. He led her inside the building and hoped he'd get to meet Jack.
Once inside the building, Aster didn't have to wait long. After being greeted by a teacher he recognized, an attractive young man approached them, whom Aster assumed was Jack. Aster thought attractive was perhaps an understatement. Jack was gorgeous.
Aster hadn't done a lot of dating in his lifetime. He had, had a boyfriend in highschool, a girlfriend in college prior to Emily's mom, then he was married to Emily's mom until the day she passed away. He hadn't found, or even looked for anyone since. Those three had been remarkably attractive to Aster yet neither could compare to Jack. Jack was tall, though a few inches shorter than Aster, slender and fair skinned. He had brown hair with platinum highlights and icy blue eyes. He smiled a bright smile when he reached the pair, revealing a set of perfect teeth. "Hey Flee, you're back!" Jack greeted Emily cheerfully.
Emily excitedly grabbed her father's sleeve to get his attention. "Daddy, this is Jack!" She announced.
Jack looked up to Aster and caught his eye for a brief moment before holding out his hand for Aster to shake. "Nice to meet you" Jack began. "Daddy." He smirked.
Aster's mind short-circuited at the way Jack seemed to emphasize the word daddy. He suddenly felt like a hypocrite for mentally shaming Dave's mom for being interested in someone who he had guessed was a lot younger than her. Scolding himself for the thoughts running through his head while in his daughters daycare, Aster cleared his throat and a bit more gruffly than intended, gave Jack his name. "Aster"
"Nice to meet you Aster." Jack corrected, politely, but his eyes still sparkled with amusement. He also held onto the other man's hand longer than strictly necessary.
Aster wasn't sure what Jack was doing. He almost sounded flirty but Aster knew that couldn't be. As attractive as he found Jack, the young man had to be ten years younger than him or better. Plus, being so young and handsome as Jack was surely he already was in a relationship. Aster was actually beginning to feel annoyed that he thought Jack might have been flirting. He couldn't be. Before his train of thought could go too far in that direction, Jack interrupted.
"Hey Flee, why don't you wash your hands for breakfast." Jack spoke to Emily. She nodded and Aster bent to kiss her goodbye. He really wanted to ask about the nickname but he had to head out before he was late.
"Same time as yesterday?" Jack asked and Aster nodded. "That's right." he answered. Jack beamed. "Sounds good. Looking forward to seeing you then." He said with a wink before walking away.
Aster didn't move for a moment. He was just reading to much in Jack's words. Jack just spoke like that to everyone. That had to be it, he decided and left for work.
It was late afternoon when Aster went back to the daycare to pick up his daughter. He was exhausted and happy that he and his little girl would get to go home finally. When he got inside he was immediately greeted by both Emily and Jack.
"Daddy!" Emily called happily, running up and hugging him.
"Hey ya ankle biter." He hugged her back. "How was your day?"
"It was really good." The girl smiled. Aster returned her smile before looking to Jack.
Jack's usual smile was in place too. "She was good as gold" he told Aster before looking down at the girl. He frowned briefly. "I think you forgot your pictures." He reminded Emily.
"Oh" the girl looked up in surprise then hurried back to the table on the other side of the room.
While waiting for Emily to return Jack moved to Aster's side. " I don't really know you, aside from what Emily's mentioned." Jack began, looking forward but glancing at the other man occasionally. "So, I was curious, aside from being sexy, what do you do for a living?"
Aster, taken back for a moment, stared briefly at Jack, open-mouthed. He quickly closed it and collected himself though when Jack didn't seem to notice his surprise. Aster narrowed his eyes. He was tired and didn't feel like playing Jack's game. He also didn't feel like telling the young man about his boring desk job. So he asked, "Why do you call her Flee?" instead.
Jack glanced at him but didn't seem surprised by the change in subject. "She reminds me of my little sister. That was her nickname." He replied with a shrug
Aster noticed that Jack's smile was a little sadder at the mention of his sister. Though he wanted to say more he figured he shouldn't.
"I can stop if you'd like." Jack stared at something on the far wall, the sadness not fading from his face.
Aster knew he didn't know the other man well but the few times he had seen Jack he seemed so cheerful and full of life. It was strange to see someone who was normally so happy look so lost and distant. Though it shouldn't be, no one could be happy all the time. "No, that's alright." He didn't have a problem with it, he had just had been curious. Jack smiled warmly at him and he could have sworn something passed between them. "Jack's sister sits with the Man in the Moon." A soft voice snapped the two men out of the moment and they both looked at Emily.
"That's right Flee." Jack answered, a happy smile back on his face.
Emily returned Jack's smile before looking up at her father. "I'm ready." She held up the pictures in her hand cheerily.
Aster was curious about what happened to Jack's sister but he knew they weren't close enough for him to ask. It wasn't the right place either so he nodded at his daughter. "Okay, let's go." They both said their goodbyes and left for home.