Chapter Text
Fingers tapping the steering wheel, driving into the Oceanside public library parking lot, a smile stretching across your lips, seeing your eight-year-old jumping next to her dad, Andrew. Holding his hand, waving at you with the other, dressed in her favorite princess dress.
Waving back, parking in the next spot, keeping the car running, air on full blast. Popping the car door, closing it behind you, arms opening as she runs over, scooping your daughter up, hearing her giggles of excitement.
"Oh my baby," you coo, squeezing her tightly, rocking side-to-side. Looking over her shoulder, scanning the man standing there.
Sharing custody of your daughter, no court order, only a mutual respect for one another. Separating when she was no older than three, not from the lack of love, still eyeing each other longingly every custody exchange, but because of his mother, Smurf.
The relationship being impossible with her around, keeping Andrew on edge night and day, then giving him back to you. Giving the woman what she wanted after years of dating, breaking her son's heart, crying three-year-old in your arms, packing your things. Stopping in the driveway, taking the cash he stuffed in your bag, tears streaming down both of your cheeks, then disappearing from Oceanside.
Only getting back in contact months later, settled into your new apartment, planning her future, deciding you couldn't leave him out of it. Calling him on the phone, heartbreaking once hearing his voice, pushing through every emotion that bubbled up in your throat as he agreed to the visits without protest.
All under your terms, Andrew needing to live in his own place, no drugs or drinking, no jobs during her visits, and most importantly, no staying at Smurf's. Dropping her off with you if anything had come up, instead of pulling Baz's classic move with Lena, demanding he always be around if visiting her home.
Only recently trading off each week from weekends, trusting Andrew would keep her away from the chaos under Smurf's roof for more than two days. The new schedule sprouted only a few hiccups, Andrew dropping her off in the middle of the night the first few weeks, but slowly she got used to spending more nights with her dad.
"How was it?" you ask, setting her down. Holding her hands, swinging them side-to-side as Andrew gets her bag from the backseat of the black truck he drove.
"Good, I got to have a sleepover with Lena," she chirps, smiling ear-to-ear. Eye twitching a little, wondering where the sleepover happened, knowing you told Andrew no overnights at Smurf's.
"That's exciting, you'll have to tell me all about it on the way home," you say, feeding into her excitement, glancing at Andrew, catching his eyes. Watching as he closes the truck's door, shaking his head, answering your burning question.
Seeing his face fully, noticing the cuts littering his face, bruises lining his jaw and arms. Eyes chasing his avoidant ones, communicating his guilt, doing a job during her visit.
"Say bye to Daddy," you say, seeing her turn, Andrew bending down, hugging his little girl. Kissing each other's cheeks before opening the door to your car, buckling her in, closing the door.
"It was a sleepover at Baz's place," he explains first, voice sounding weak. Scanning his body once again, noticing his body's stiffness, no doubt having broken or cracked something.
"Was Baz there?" you ask, earning a head shake. "No, I slept in the living room," he explains.
Figuring, hearing all of it from your daughter, thankful Lena confides in your daughter, telling you, then passing it on to Andrew. Knowing he tries his best with both of the girls, with Lena's mother's disappearance, the little girl needed someone to be there.
"How'd she do this week?" you ask, leaning against your car. "Good," he responds, causing your brow to lift.
"Just good?" you ask, making the man shift on his feet, groaning through his nose. Normally, telling you every detail of her visit, down to what she had for breakfast, but the man could never think under pain.
"You look like shit," you comment, eyes focusing on the cuts to his face. "I know," he sighs, looking down at the parking lot floor.
Silence growing between you, your car's humming engine being the only noise to fill it. Feeling bad for the man, remembering all the times he would curl into your arms after a job, sleeping away the pain. Tossing around the idea, though it wasn't like he hadn't stayed at your home before, when Andrew showed up with her in the middle of the night, having to sleep on the couch.
"Why don't you spend some time with us" you offer, pulling eyes finally onto yours. Watching his hazel eyes flicker around, mimicking his mind's train of thought.
"Just a break so Smurf or Daren can't pull you into another job while you heal," you reason, seeing the wheels in his mind stop, nodding.
"What about my truck-" "Leave it, I'll drive you back," you say, opening the driver's side. Sitting inside, blasted with cold air, hearing your daughter greet her dad as he gets in.
"Daddy is going to stay with us for a little bit," you say, closing your car door, hearing it echo alongside Andrew's. Smiling as she cheers, feet excitedly kicking the back of your chair, seeing her hazel eyes light up in the rearview mirror. Freckled cheeks squishing up cutely as she smiles, curls that match your hair color bouncing as she jumps in her booster seat.
Pulling out of the parking spot, driving out and down the road, making your way back onto the highway. Living only thirty minutes out of Oceanside, still close to the beach, your daughter being just like her dad, needing the sound of the waves to calm down.
Few minutes into driving, sun setting over the busy highway, glancing at your daughter nodding off in the rearview mirror. Smiling to yourself, seeing her face squish against the car door. Attention fully on the road, seeing Andrew out of the corner of your eye, still able to see his tired demeanor, bringing your mind back to the injuries lining his skin.
"What was the job?" you ask, knowing your daughter would be passed out until you drove up the driveway. "What?" Andrew mumbles, looking over at you.
"You're covered in cuts and bruises," you say, eyes staying on the road. "I didn't do a job. Smurf got me back into fighting," he explains, sounding out the first words more through his teeth.
"I would never do a job while she’s around," he reinforces, looking over his shoulder at his sleeping princess.
"I'm sorry-" "No, don't be, she doesn't like it either," he states, meaning your daughter, imagining just how heartbroken she must have been, seeing her dad all broken up, just as you had all those years together.
Allowing the air to fall silent, minutes passing until pulling into your neighborhood, hearing your daughter shift in the backseat. Eyes locking on the one-story home, buying it after the first few visits, Andrew gave you a bag, stating you needed to buy a house instead of staying in the apartment you were renting.
Parking in the driveway, grabbing your bag from where Andrew's feet were, having opened his car door before you. Getting out as he takes her out of the car, seeing the adorable scene of her being carried, cheek smushed against his shoulder, eyes fighting to stay open. Reaching out, caressing the side of her face as Andrew turns, leading him towards the house.
Unlocking the front door, stepping aside for him to enter, before closing, locking it behind him. Kicking off your shoes, throwing the keys on a hook on the wall, walking down the hall where Andrew had disappeared.
Standing in the doorframe of your daughter's room, watching Andrew tuck her in, head on pillow, passed out as he kisses her forehead. Taking her shoes while getting up, turning around to see you, smiling at each other, watching as he sets her shoes off to the side, neatly.
Walking off, leaving him to fix things around her room, opening the hall closet, grabbing the blankets stacked inside. Footsteps following behind you, stepping into the living room, setting them down on the couch as he sits on it.
"I'll grab a pillow from my room you can use," you offer, turning to Andrew, eyes looking up into yours from the couch. "No, that's okay, I'll use these," he says, head turning towards the couch pillows.
"Thank you," he whispers, peering back up at you, avoiding your eyes. "Yeah, of course," you respond, leaning against the living room wall. "No, I mean, letting me stay," he says softly, gazing into your eyes.
"You needed it. And I mean, this house is technically yours too, you paid for it," you comment, a laugh brimming in the back of your throat, watching Andrew shake his head, looking down.
"No, this house is for both of you," he states, causing a draw of silence to grow between you. Feeling drowsiness start to creep in, you push away from the wall, thankful it was a Saturday night, planning to sleep in as much as you can tomorrow.
"There are towels in the bathroom if you want to take a shower in the morning," you inform, seeing as he nods at the information. "Get some sleep, Andrew," you voice before walking off.
Walking into your bedroom, closing the door, leaving only a crack for your daughter, in case of nightmares. Quickly changing, stepping into the joining bathroom, doing your nightly routine before switching off the light. Climbing into bed, closing your eyes, waiting for sleep to take you, only for your ears to be awakened.
Soft footsteps growing closer, hearing the familiar creak of your bedroom door opening, eyes still closed, waiting for the small arm of your daughter to wrap around you.
Bed dipping, furrowing your brows at its heaviness, feeling a strong, warm arm wrap around you. Pulling you against a chest you hadn't felt in years, fingers intertwining with Andrew's thick ones. Breathing in the long-forgotten scent of his shampoo and laundry soap, the urge to turn around, to bury yourself in it, burns within your chest, but you stay still.
Soaking in his warmth, smell, and touch, knowing you'd wake up in an empty bed, smelling coffee and breakfast. Wishing things had been different, thinking most nights where you'd be if Smurf were gone, but all you have are little moments like these where you feel like a family.