#I just love him so much okay | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

causeilikelix · 2 years

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The Boy (and Girl) Next Door

↳ Pairing - Felix x Y/N (afab reader. tbh there are only a few references to the reader being a woman, so it’s mostly gn except for a few mentions)

↳ Words - 9.8k (and some change)

↳Warnings: FLUFF. TOTAL FLUFF. Minor angst in there. Felix has a 2-y/o girl. Mentions of wanting to have a family, have kids and stuff like that. Other than that I don’t think there’s anything else

↳Summery: When Y/N moves into the apartment across the hall from Lee Felix and his daughter, Mina, she falls for both of them QUICK. Mina is an adorable little girl in desperate need of a mother figure. Felix is a hot single dad who is devoted to his daughter. You... are their friend. When he asks you to babysit so he can go on a date, it's all you can do to keep your feelings to yourself.

↳Notes: This is my first time ever posting writing on here so.... don’t hurt me lol. I saw this prompt on TikTok (credit on AO3 page) and I accidentally wrote almost 10k words. Please enjoy, and let me know what you think!

Eomma - Mommy

Appa - Daddy

↳Ready on my AO3: Here

WHEN YOU MOVED in across the hall from Felix Lee and his absolutely adorable 2-year-old, you hadn’t expected to fall quite so hard for him. You couldn’t help it, he made it so easy. The first time you saw him, he was bringing her home after a long day at work. You were moving into the apartment and your friends were helping you carry your bulky furniture up the narrow staircase. Felix waited patiently at the bottom of the stairs while carrying his drowsy daughter, Mina, in his arms. You weren’t sure who you fell for first. Felix, when he smiled adoringly at her or Mina when she looked up at you with the biggest smile in the world.

Once you were done carrying your coffee table up the stairs, he ascended after you and followed you down the hall until you both entered your respective apartments. Mina giggled and waved at you and you watched as Felix fell even deeper in love with his daughter. He introduced himself and Mina and offered to help you carry anything else up to the apartment, but you assured him that you had it and that he had his hands full anyway. His rich, deep voice shocked you, as it was a sharp contrast from his sweet and angelic face. It was like you had no choice but to be enthralled with him.

Since Mina couldn’t keep her eyes off of something bright pink in one of the boxes, you pulled out the stuffed toy she was eyeing and offered it to her. Her entire face lit up and she took it from you and held it tight. Felix tried to apologize, but you insisted it was a gift.

The next time you saw him, you were spending the afternoon in your apartment by yourself when a knock came at your door. You peeled yourself off the couch to open the door and were surprised by Felix standing outside with a dish of brownies and a plate of sugar cookies that Mina decorated all by herself. The messy icing and uneven distribution of sprinkles were endearing and you almost couldn’t bear to eat them. You invited the pair in and shared brownies and cookies together in a makeshift welcoming party.

“Mina insisted on welcoming you to the building. You made quite the impression on her.” Felix smiled at his daughter as she waddled around your apartment to explore.

“Really? With my messy hair and workout clothes?” You chuckled. You took another bite of brownie and it practically melted in your mouth.

“No, you were kind to her. And me. Most women aren’t as open to our arrangement.” Felix sighed. “Mina... has never met her mother.”

“What?” Your jaw slipped open instinctively but you snapped it shut when Felix glanced up at you.

“It was a stupid mistake and when Mina was born her mother wanted nothing to do with the responsibility of raising a daughter. I didn’t even know she was pregnant until a few weeks before she gave birth.”

“So she left her with you?”

“It was either that or send her into the foster system. It’s not like I was prepared for being a dad, but I took her in anyway. It was hard, but I love her so much.”

“I’m sorry to ask... but... I know this might be rude but are you sure...” You started to ask your question before ultimately deciding that it was none of your business.

“If she’s really mine?” Felix finished the question for you and raised one of his perfect eyebrows. He stared at you for a minute and watched you squirm under his intense gaze. After a moment, he relaxed and his lips curved into a smile. “It’s okay. Yes, we did a DNA test. I would have taken her in either way, but she’s mine.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be insensitive.”

“No, it’s okay. I don’t mind.” Felix grinned.

Mina hurried back into the room as quickly as her little legs could carry her to show off the toy she found. Behind her, Mina dragged your comically large whale plush that you kept around for body pillow purposes when there was no one to cuddle. She babbled in baby talk to her father about the whale and he listened intently with hearts in his chocolate brown eyes. As she rambled excitedly, she took another bite of cookie and smeared blue icing across her cheek. Then, Mina waddled over to you and took your hand. She tugged, encouraging you to follow her. Willingly, you got up and followed her down the hall so she could show you the hoard of stuffed animals she found. You had a feeling that you wouldn’t be so immune to the baby section at the store anymore.

Playdates with Mina became more and more frequent. Both due to your desire to see Felix and because she was a joy to be around. She explored and played and ran all the time. She had more energy than you thought you ever had in your life. Sometimes on your way home from work you would see Felix sitting on a bench while Mina played on the playground at the apartment complex. When either one would see you, they would gesture for you to join them. Mina, however, would race over to you to pull you into whatever game she was playing. It didn’t take long to learn her baby talk and decipher just what she was saying half the time.

Conversations with Felix also became a regular instance. Especially if you would arrive home from work at the same time or go off grocery shopping at the same time. It didn’t take long for you to exchange numbers and for him to text you to ask when you were available to run errands. Every time you saw him, you became more and more entranced with him.

His plump lips that looked so kissable were a joy to watch as he rambled on and on. His expressive eyebrows kept his face dynamic and open. Somehow, Felix’s eyes held a permanent sparkle to them that made your heart flip flop in your chest. Nothing, however, was worse for your heart than when he smiled. It was like the sun came out from behind the clouds and showered the world in its golden light. His eyes filled with love and adoration when he would talk about Mina and the cute things she did that morning. He would sometimes get wistful as you weaved your way up and down the aisles of the store and claim that he missed her so much, even though she was just at her grandmother’s for the afternoon.

“What do you think, should I make kimbap for lunch this week?” Felix glanced at you over a package of sushi seaweed. You shrugged and picked up a bottle of soy sauce to check the label.

“Are you going to make enough to share with me?” You teased, nudging him lightly with your shoulder.

“I mean, I can if you want! We’ll have to go back for some more vegetables.” Felix tosses a few packages of seaweed into your shared cart.

“I was joking.”

“I know, but I know you like my kimbap. Last time you were over for lunch you ate almost all of it.”

“Look, I don’t know what the hell you do to the eggs but they’re so light and delicious, I can’t help it!”

“Maybe you can come over on Sunday to help me make it? If I’m cooking for three then I’ll need the help.” Felix offered, shooting you a soft smile. You added the soy sauce to your cart.

“I would love to.”

“You know, I really look forward to our weekly grocery trips.” Felix admitted to you suddenly as he pushed the cart down the aisle. “I used to hate grocery shopping and it was so boring for poor Mina. But her grandmother is happy because she gets weekly visits, I get a break, and we get some one-on-one time without a child to pay attention to.”

“Really?” You blinked in surprise at him. His freckled cheeks were tinted a soft rosy color. “You know, I’ve begun to enjoy our grocery trips as well.”

“I feel like we don’t talk much about you. With all of the time we spend our energy on Mina, I feel like I hardly get to hear from you.” Felix comments innocently. It’s your turn to blush. The pair of you round the corner into the next aisle and you pause to check your grocery lists. There’s nothing in that aisle on either of your lists so you moved on.

“What do you want to know?”

“I dunno. Everything. What did you go to school for?” Felix inquired, pausing in front of the wall of cereal. Mina had requested several different kinds so he had no idea which ones to get.

“Oh, gee. Tons of things.” You cringed at the thought of your college days, though they’d only been left behind a little while ago. “I was a teaching major for a year, I was a biology major for a semester, I considered psychology for a while. I did journalism for the last couple years and that’s what my degree is in, but I think I want to do something else.”

“Yeah, like what?”

“I don’t know, but I’ve been considering grad school. Maybe production, or creative writing, or English literature or something.”

“You don’t have a dream or anything like that?”

“As a kid I wanted to be the most beautiful and successful actress ever.” You offered with a shrug. Felix laughed at this. His eyes crinkled and his gorgeous smile nearly blinded you. “But now... I think I just want a stable job that doesn’t make me want to pull my hair out, good friends who love me, and a loving family.”

“Domestic bliss? You took me as a person who would want to be powerful and successful.” By now, Felix was barely focused on the cereal and instead had his eyes glued on you.

“Don’t get me wrong, I used to want that. But now I just want to be happy.” You met his eyes and you sucked in a breath.

His deep brown eyes bore into yours. They sparkled in the artificial lighting and it took so much control to keep looking at him. His gaze was startlingly intense and you desperately wanted to know what was going on inside his head. His lips parted as if to say something back to you and your eyes followed the motion. Felix watched you for a few minutes, gauging your emotions. Slowly, he lifted a hand and rested it on your shoulder.

“Are you happy? Do you have everything you want?”

“Almost.” You sighed, tearing your gaze away from him to focus on the selections of cereal.

“What’s missing?”

A family. You, Felix. Mina. You tried not to let these thoughts reflect in your eyes for a few long seconds.

“This family-size box of Rice Krispies. Maybe we should get some marshmallows, too.” You snatched the box off the shelf and tossed it into the cart.

“Ooh, great idea! Except... I think we should make them at your apartment.” Felix grabbed a box of Fruit Loops for Mina before continuing down the aisle.

“Why?”

“I wanna spend more time together... just us.” Felix admitted. The tips of his ears turned a bright red and you couldn’t believe how adorable he looked.

“You know, I’d really like that.” You reached for the handle on the cart and slowed the two of you to a meandering pace. “Why don’t we slow down, get all the time we can get?

While you were checking out, Felix called his mother and asked her to watch Mina overnight. Once the plans were settled, the two of you spent the evening making rice krispie treats, drinking soju, and talking over the movies you played on your small TV. Neither of you really paid much attention to anything playing on the screen. You were mainly focused on Felix, sitting on your couch and drinking your liquor. His knees were angled towards yours and you sat facing him. Getting to look at him like this made your heart pound in your chest. It couldn’t possibly be good for you.

Felix talked and laughed with you late into the night. When you ran out of alcohol, the buzz slowly started to wear off but the conversation didn’t cease once. Any lulls in conversation were due to whatever was playing on the TV somehow succeeding in stealing your attention for a few minutes before one of you would come up with something else to talk about.

“No way did he leave you like that?” Felix gaped as you told him one of your more recent dating horror stories.

“I was drenched and he just took the umbrella. Didn’t even look back.” You could laugh at it now, but at the time your vision went red. “And he told me that it wasn’t that far to walk to my apartment.”

“Why the hell did he leave?”

“His girl best friend called.”

“Ah, the old ‘don’t worry about her’ girl best friend?” Felix chuckled and you nodded.

“My friend who set us up was livid that it didn’t work out. But literally like six months later they sent out engagement announcements.”

“Good riddance.”

“For him? Or for me?” You teased, reaching out to poke Felix’s shoulder. His muscles were firm to the touch and you disliked this knowledge way too much. He couldn’t have the face of an angel and the body of an Adonis could he?

“For you, obviously. You deserve someone much better than that.”

“Yeah? Do you know anyone better who you can set me up with?”

“Well, I was actually thinking...” Felix cleared his throat and reached for a bottle of soju. He swirled it around and drank the last few remaining drops. “I don’t have any friends who I could see you with but... you know maybe we could...”

“We could... What, Felix?” You cocked your head at him. Felix swallowed thickly. His gaze flickered from your eyes to mouth a couple of times. His tongue darted out to wet his lips and you almost whined.

“We could, I don’t know...” He tore his eyes away from your face and sighed deeply. “Mina wants to see that new Disney movie that just came out. Would you want to go with us?”

Something told you that wasn’t what he wanted to say but at this point you were too afraid to ask. He switched the conversation easily, turning it onto the drama he was watching and wanted to share with you. You put the first episode on, and Felix spent the next hour gauging your reactions and filling you in with context. At first you were apprehensive about the drama but before you knew it, you were on episode eight and the sun was beginning to peak over the horizon. By this time, both of you were beginning to doze off and you wondered if you would ever have so much fun again in your life and you couldn’t wait to spend more time with him.

Almost every weekend, Felix and Mina would work together to bake some delicious treats and then visit your apartment to share. Sometimes Mina would invite you back to their apartment so she could show you her toys and play pretend with you.

It wasn’t long until Felix and Mina had incorporated themselves into your life beyond return and you wouldn’t have it any other way. Any excuse you could get to stare at Felix, you took without hesitation.

“Come bake with us this Saturday?” Felix asked you one afternoon while you sat together watching Mina slide down the same slide for the twentieth time in ten minutes.

“Isn’t that a thing you do with Mina?” You countered, not wanting to invade his time with his daughter.

“Yeah, but yesterday she was asking when you would join us to bake cookies. She’s really taken a strong liking to you.” Felix grinned. “Also, I would love it if you were to join us. I've been dying to hear about that project for work you were so excited about. Something about a writing project?”

Your heart crawled into your throat when he flashed you a bright smile. You swallowed it down but you knew you were done for.

“Oh, then... I would love to!” You smiled back to pretend like your heart wasn’t racing a million miles an hour.

“Great! We usually get started between one or one-thirty after lunch. Which you’re also welcome to join us for, by the way!” Felix reached up to sweep his hand through his jet black hair and you glanced away. You needed to pay more attention to Mina and not Felix’s sharp jawline, strong cheekbones, or adorably freckled cheeks. You wondered if Mina would develop freckles as she got older.

“I’ll be there!”

“Mina-yah!” Felix called for his daughter suddenly, and the girl glanced up from where she was concentrating very hard on building a pile of leaves. “Come here for a second!”

“Yes, Appa!” Her tiny voice carried surprisingly well and she jumped up and ran over to where the two of you sat on your usual bench under the large oak tree.

“Mina-yah, why don’t you ask Y/N what she’s doing this weekend?” Felix prompted her, shooting you a dazzling smile. Mina gasped and hopped over to you. She looked up at you with her big brown eyes, definitely her father’s, and placed her hands on your knees.

“What are you doing this weekend?” Her question made you smile and you lifted her onto your lap. She settled in quickly.

“Hmm... Well, I was thinking of maybe... having lunch with my favorite little girl and then baking the most delicious cookies in the whole world.” You mused.

“Really? Appa and I are going to do the same thing!”

“Whoa, really? I have a question.”

“Yes?”

“Who do you think my favorite little girl is?” You asked and Mina stuck out her lip in a thoughtful pout.

“Um... your grandma?”

“No...” you laughed and poked at her stomach, which made her squeal and giggle. “You! You’re my favorite little girl. I’m going to come help you bake this weekend! Would you like that?”

“Yes!” Mina exclaimed, throwing her little arms around your neck. “We’re gonna bake snickerdoodles and sugar cookies and muffins and chocolate cake and-”

“Whoa, I don’t think we’ll have the time for that!” Felix chimed in with a chuckle. “Maybe you should just pick one or two and we can do the others next week.”

“Good idea, Appa!” Mina giggled. “Imma go slide now!”

With that, Mina landed a very open-mouthed wet baby kiss on your cheek before hopping off your lap. Felix ruffled her hair as she ran off before glancing over at you apologetically. You gently dabbed at the wet patch of baby saliva with your finger tips and went to wipe it off with your sleeve.

“Hold on, I have baby wipes. That’ll be better.” Felix reached behind him for Mina’s little backpack where he kept a little of everything. Diapers, fruit snacks, an extra change of clothes or two, a couple of juice boxes, and a package of baby wipes.

You reached out to take them from him, but he pulled one out himself and replaced the package into the bag. Felix turned back to you and honed in on your cheek. Once again, you reached for the wipe but he dodged your fingers. His dusty pink lips parted in concentration and your eyes darted to them instinctively. The urge to lean over and claim them with your own became overwhelming. Your mouth parted in preparation, but then something cold and wet touched your cheek.

Slowly, he dragged the wipe across your cheek. His eyes followed the motion of his hand as he wiped you clean. Felix’s eyes darted to yours a few times as if to check that this was okay, but you didn’t pull away. If anything, your body betrayed you by leaning a half inch closer. You wanted to smell his breath and taste his skin. You wondered if his lips tasted like the chocolate desserts he was so in the habit of bringing you. Felix’s gaze dropped to your mouth and you wondered if you really were about to give in and kiss him with his daughter only a few feet away.

“Appa!” Mina piped up from across the park. Instantly, Felix tore his eyes from yours to look for his little girl. “Eom- Aunty! Come look at my tower!”

“Be right there, Sweetie!” Felix cleared his throat and pulled out of your bubble. He discarded the wipe and gestured for the two of you to go and see what his daughter built.

You wondered if you would ever recover.

You knew instantly that Felix was a force to be reckoned with and you probably shouldn’t indulge into your crush. It had to remain just that... a crush. He had a daughter and definitely had no room for another woman in his life right now. Mina was only just two years old and Felix had a huge learning curve ahead of him. You also knew that if anything did come of it then you would have a lot to learn, too. You were already very close to Mina but you weren’t sure if you were quite ready to be her mother. That was, if Felix even held the same feelings you did.

Despite all your worrying, you didn’t have to wait long to find your answer.

Saturday rolled around too quickly for your liking and around noon you knocked on the door to their apartment. You could hear Mina squeal from inside and Felix’s deep voice rumbled, asking her if she would like to get the door. A smile rose onto your lips as you heard her run to the door and fiddle with the knob a little. A few seconds later, she called for Felix to help her. Felix padded through the house and opened the door to reveal you standing there. Without a second thought, Mina immediately hurried to you and raised her arms so you could pick her up. You thought you imagined Felix’s tender smile directed at you, too, and not just his adorable daughter.

“Mina-yah!” You gasped when your eyes landed on her face. “You look more and more like your Appa every day!”

“I do?” She asked. Felix stood aside to let you into their apartment. He made his way to the kitchen to resume cooking something over the stove. Whatever he was making smelled incredible.

“Yes! Look at you, you’re starting to get some freckles on your cheeks!” You lifted your finger up to tap each little dot. Mina giggled with each gentle touch.

“She does take after me, doesn’t she?” Felix beamed at you over his shoulder.

“Yes, she does! Good thing, too. You’re so pretty, Mina-yah!”

“Are you saying I’m attractive?” Felix laughed and wiggled his eyebrows. You stifled a laugh.

“No, I’m saying you’ve contributed to Mina being the prettiest girl in the world!” You tapped her nose and Mina smiled brightly.

“She’s smart, too!” Felix exclaimed, leaving his place by the stove to walk up to you and place a hand on Mina’s back. “Show Y/N how high you can count!”

“You can count?” You exclaim with a happy gasp. “Show me.”

“One... two... three...” Mina holds up her small baby hands to count, but her counting quickly goes off track. “Four... seven... twelve... fourteen!”

“Whoa! You are smart, babygirl! You’ll be a star mathematician when you grow up.”

“Oh gosh, listen to this.” Felix exclaimed. “Mina-yah, tell Y/N what you want to be when you grow up!”

“I want to be a pineapple!” Mina giggled and Felix lost it.

He snorted and burst out into a fit of the most beautiful laughter you’ve ever heard. He threw his head back and it was like you were watching him in slow motion. How could someone be so beautiful? Of course, you couldn’t hold back your joy at Mina’s answer and laughed as well. Mina joined in and soon all three of you were laughing brightly. You suddenly became overwhelmed with the joy of getting to be someone Mina enjoyed being with. You loved her more and more every day and you wondered how you lived your life before she and Felix came along.

While Felix cooked lunch, Mina wanted to show you all of her new toys so she dragged you into her room for a little while. Once lunch was ready, Felix called you back into the kitchen so you could eat. He served a delicious japchae that Mina gobbled up right away. You were surprised with how well she ate, including the fruit that Felix cut up to accompany the meal. Felix helped Mina eat and for a moment, you sat outside of their perfect little bubble.

Felix was so attentive, helping her take little bites and use her fork so she wouldn’t get food everywhere. He watched her with warmth and love radiating off of him and you suddenly found yourself a little jealous. Not necessarily of the attention he was giving Mina, just that he wasn’t giving you the same attention. You figured that he would never look at you with even a fraction of the love he was showing her. It wasn’t that you wanted to overshadow Mina, you just wanted him to love you back.

When you were finally done with lunch, Mina hurried off to play in her room while you and Felix worked on doing the dishes together so there would be room for you to bake later. He washed the dishes while you dried.

“You’re doing a good job with her.” You comment innocently.

“Thank you.” Felix beams. “I do my best. Sometimes I worry if I’m doing all the right things or if I’m doing well enough for her. I worry that I’m going to make mistakes.”

“I mean, of course you’re going to make mistakes. No parent knows exactly what to do. You didn’t even get any warning before being thrust into this full-time job. Honestly, I respect you for it.”

“Wow, it means a lot to hear you say that. You know, you’ve really made an impact on her. For her whole life she’s just had me. Sometimes she stays with my mom but mostly it’s whatever babysitter I can find. She’s never had a consistent woman to look up to and it means a lot that the woman she has right now is you.” Felix pauses his task to look at you. You hold off for a second, but he waits for you to look back at him. Your heart erupts into butterflies the moment you lock eyes. “It means so much to me that you’re here.”

“I didn’t really have a choice in the matter.” You grin and he responds with a quiet laugh. “That’s true. You know, she sleeps with that stuffed toy you gave her when she first moved in. These days it’s like she can’t sleep without it. And she asks about you all the time. When she’s going to see you next, when we can play with you, what you did that day...”

“She does?”

“All the time. I’m only a little worried. She doesn’t have a mother figure and I want to be able to give her that. Y/N, you’re such a good friend to me and I feel weird even bringing this up because I don’t want to scare her away. I don’t know what to do.”

“About what?” You venture, taking the dish he hands you thoughtlessly. He turns his attention back onto the task at hand.

“I don’t know if this is weird to ask... but are you available Friday night?”

You paused.

“Um, yes... Why?” You managed out through your tight throat.

“Well... I was wondering. I have reservations at this nice place in the city for dinner and I was thinking...” Felix mused. Your heart plummeted into your stomach.

“I would love to-”

“Would you be available to watch Mina for the night?” Felix spoke over you. “I have my first date since I took Mina in and I don’t have anyone to watch her. I don’t want to bring a two-year-old on a first date, so...”

“Oh.”

The syllable hung in the air for a few long seconds. You tried not to let your disappointment shine through but you were worried it did anyway. Felix barely noticed the heavy atmosphere as he passed you the next dish for drying.

“Sure.” You eventually managed out. “Yeah, I can watch her.”

“Oh, thank you! You’re a life-saver!” Felix beamed. “I have to pick her up by seven, so can you be here around six?”

“Yeah... that’s fine.” You choked out. “Who is she?” Your words were out before you could stop yourself.

“Oh, she’s someone from work.” Felix explained. “We’ve been getting lunch together pretty consistently so I finally just asked her to get dinner with me one day. She’s really sweet and she has a bunch of little nieces and nephews so she likes kids...”

“Does she know about Mina?”

“Not yet. I’ve been too scared to say anything. The stigma around single dads scares me a little, so I want to play it safe.” Felix explained.

“Makes sense.”

“Have you dated much since Mr. ‘Left You In The Rain’?” Felix flipped the conversation but you weren’t sure how much you wanted to share.

For the last several weeks he’d been the object of your affections and you had stopped dating completely when you met him. You didn’t date particularly often, preferring to focus on your work. However, when you met Felix it was like you couldn’t even see any other guys before. One of your coworkers even asked you out but you turned him down in favor of your crush on Felix. Which now you realized wasn’t even reciprocated.

“No, not really. I’m waiting until something feels right.” You try to brush it off. Sensing that you don’t want to talk about it, Felix changes the subject.

“Did you see the last episode of ‘My Liberation Notes’? It just came out last night and I’m dying to talk about it with someone!”

Instantly, the conversation switches gears and you gratefully jump into the new topic. The two of you talk and laugh about the latest episode, sharing your theories about the advancement of the plot. The pair of you smiled and laughed as if he hadn’t just ripped your heart out and held it under the dirty dish water. You figured it would be inevitable that he would want to look for a mother for Mina. You knew that Felix would never consider you for the role. You figured that if things went well on his date then you would have to take a step back and let the new girl have your spot in Felix and Mina’s life.

After a few minutes, Mina hurried into the kitchen to ask when they were going to start baking. Felix smiled at her and passed you the very last dish to be dried. Once you wiped down the plate with your cloth and set it on the drying rack, Mina went straight for the pantry and threw it open to get all of the ingredients that they would need to bake. She decided that chocolate chip cookies would be the option of the day and that they would bake cake next week.

All three of you got to work. Felix insisted on baking everything from scratch, so he had you and Mina working together to mix the dough while he prepared the oven and the baking sheets. Mina stood on a chair pushed all the way up to the counter and you stood behind her so you could reach around her to stir. Together, you forced your spoon through the dense mixture while occasionally stealing small tastes for each other. You used your pinky to gather up a small dollop of dough and held it up to Mina’s lips. She gratefully licked it off your finger and giggled up at you. She held up her fingers to her mouth and shushed you loudly to keep your snacking a secret.

Felix glanced up from where he carefully cut out a piece of baking parchment paper to place on the sheet. He smiled as he watched his two favorite girls playing together. Mina put her hand in a small bit of flour and reached up to smear it along your cheek. You gasped and put a dot of flour on her nose. Mina gasped in fake offense before cackling loudly and grasping your cheeks in her small hands. You smiled down at the little toddler in front of you and you realized that you had no idea what you would do if you had to give up your place by her side to someone else.

For today, you decided, you were going to make the most of every moment and love both of them to your heart’s content.

The cookies were delicious and you knew you ate too many. Felix sent you home with most of them so you spent the week eating them and wishing that Friday would never come. You couldn’t help it, but you did distance yourself from him. When you would see them on the way home you would pay more attention to Mina than Felix. When he would text you to go grocery shopping with him you would claim you had plans and couldn’t go.

On Wednesday he asked you to stop by for dinner, but you pretended to have plans with friends. So after work you went and sat at a bar by yourself until you thought it was a good enough time to return home. You drank a little too much than you should have, but you made it home without any issues. At the end of your hallway, you took a deep breath and crept down as quietly as possible in case he could hear you walking around. Thankfully, he didn’t hear you and you were able to get into your apartment without seeing him.

You hated not being able to see him. Your heart ached and you kept looking at your phone, peering at the lock screen. To any outside person, it would look like you had a family to go home to. Your lock screen was a picture of Felix holding Mina in front of the tree outside the complex. They both looked at your camera with bright smiles that melted your heart. Felix asked you to take a few, since your camera was just a little better than his, and you couldn’t help but to make this one your lock screen. You fell for him just a little more every day and you wished more than ever to be part of their little family. It ate at your heart that you would never get the chance.

Friday came much too quickly for your liking and before you knew it six o’clock rolled around. You decided to dress comfortably, in a pair of sweatpants and an old band t-shirt. Since you weren’t the one going out, you didn’t feel the need to dress up. Mina wouldn’t mind if you dressed down. Since you were going to be babysitting for many hours, you figured it would be better to dress comfortably.

About two minutes after six, you knocked on Felix’s door and shuffled your feet. You could hear Felix murmuring something to Mina from the kitchen, something about sitting still while he got the door. He also mentioned something about eating all of her dinner so as not to inconvenience you. As if Mina could ever do that. Then, you could hear his footsteps trodding through the apartment and your breath caught in your throat.

When he opened the door, it took every ounce of self control inside you to keep from letting your jaw drop to the floor. The first thing that hit you was his musky scent and bourbon aftershave. His jet black hair was pushed back out of his eyes and had actual body and style. He wore a pair of flattering light gray slacks and a black button up tucked in to show off his slim waist and broad shoulders. The sleeves were rolled up to the elbow to show off his forearms and you swear you could have drooled over the look. He looked drop dead gorgeous. And you looked...

“Wow.” He breathed as if his breath was stuck. His eyes trailed over your outfit and for a moment you thought it was disapproval. “You look...”

“Like a hobo, I know.” You laughed sheepishly and rubbed the back of my neck. “You look incredible! You should dress up more often.”

“Thank you! But I was going to say that I think you look pretty tonight.” Felix’s soft smile made your heart do flips in your chest.

“Oh... thank you...” You weren’t sure what to say for a few moments as you stared at him. “Is Mina having dinner?”

“Ah, yes. I made her some pasta.” Felix stepped aside to let you in. You slipped through the door and pretended that your shoulder grazing his chest didn’t make your head spin. “I made some extra if you want some or if she’s hungry later. There’s also some money on the fridge in case you need anything.”

“Okay, great.” You made your way into the kitchen to see Mina sitting in her high chair in front of the table. She used her fork to stab at the bowtie pasta in her bowl. She had more sauce on her face than was on the pasta, but she made it look cute.

“Um... you know pretty much everything already. You know where the medicine cabinet is, you know her bedtime, you know what shows she likes to watch...” Felix mused, leaning against the counter.

Mina smiled up at you when she saw you and you ran a hand through her thick black hair. Another thing she had in common with her father. You’d never seen a picture of her mother, but it was clear that she looked so much like Felix. You wished for a moment that your children would look like him, too. That is... if he ever saw you and let you in.

“I’ve got it covered.” You assured Felix.

“Call me if anything goes wrong, yeah?” Felix held up his phone pointedly.

“It’ll be fine, Felix. Go. Have a good time. Don’t get home until late.” You tried to smile, but you were sure the hurt in your eyes came out so you didn’t look at him.

“Are you sure?” Something in his voice made you pause. You glanced up at him to see him watching you carefully. He searched your eyes but you didn’t know what he could possibly be looking for.

“I’m sure.”

“Okay... well... the money on the fridge is yours. If you spend some of it tonight then I’ll give you more when I get back.”

“Okay. Have a good time.”

“I... will.” Felix tore himself away from the counter and made his way over to the table. He leaned over to give Mina a kiss on her forehead and a bright, loving smile. “Have a great time tonight, baby. Be good for Y/N, okay? I love you.”

“Yes, Appa!” Mina beamed up at him and her tomato-paste covered cheeks puffed out. “Love you too!

Felix started towards the door but paused halfway there. He kept his back to you for a moment before turning on his heel to face you. You glanced up at him and tried to blink back the tears brimming in your eyes.

“You know...” he began and toed something on the floor. He averted his gaze. “I could... cancel. I could stay and we could, I dunno, order takeout and watch the new episode or-”

“Don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet.” You cut him off with a soft chuckle, trying to hide the swell in your heart. “Felix, it’s your first date in who knows how long. Go, don’t keep her waiting.”

“I know, but if you...” Felix sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “If you...”

“If I what?” You prompted, but he stayed quiet for a few more seconds. His gaze bore into you as if he was willing you to read his expression. “Just go. You’re going to be late. You don’t want to keep her waiting.”

With that, Felix spared you one last glance before slipping on his shoes and exiting the apartment. When the door slammed shut behind him, you had to turn away from Mina so she wouldn’t see the tears pricking your eyes. Mina kept eating in silence for a few minutes and you were grateful for that. You weren’t sure you would be able to stay in Felix’s life if his date went well.

After a few minutes, you noticed that Mina’s bowl was almost empty. You asked her if she wanted more, but she shook her head and told you that she wanted to play ‘doctor’ instead. So, you got right to work. You cleaned up her dishes and wiped off her face so she wouldn’t get red sauce all over Felix’s furniture and let her loose. Mina ran down the hallway to her room and you promised to go after her in a minute. You quickly washed the dinner dishes and finally followed her, carefully dodging the toy cars and little plastic farm animals strewn about the hallway.

Once in her room, you settled on a spot on the floor at the end of her pink framed toddler bed. There wasn’t much space on the floor but you made due. Mina found her doctors’ kit somewhere in the chaos so you pretended to have a cold so she could treat you. As she poked and prodded you with the fake plastic tools, you slowly began to clean up after her. You knew she was getting big enough to clean up herself but you figured the mess was overwhelming to both Mina and her father. You put her blocks back into its bag, gathered the toy cars together on the track in the corner of the room, folded some of the clean laundry sitting in a random basket, and determined what was dirty and needed to be washed. When Mina grew tired of playing doctor, you asked for her help to put it away so you could move on to the next thing. Her room could have been a lot worse, but you could already see an improvement.

“Eom-” Mina started to speak but she stopped herself. She pouted and spoke mostly to herself. “Appa said no...”

“Appa said no to what, baby?” You cocked your head at her.

“Appa said not to call you that. You are my Aunty!”

“Call me what?”

“Appa said not to tell you because you would be mad... are you mad at Appa?” Mina asked and your eyebrows raised.

“What, no?” You tried to laugh it off as you put the little stethoscope into the tiny doctors’ bag.

“You’re not?” Mina’s face lit up. “Appa said you were mad at him!”

“No, I’m not mad at your father. All is well! What do you want to play next?” You brushed off the conversation and checked the time on your watch. He would be getting to the restaurant by now.

“Princesses!” Mina exclaimed.

“I have an idea!” You chimed in. “What if we played princesses and had a sleepover? We can get snacks and watch movies and get dressed up all pretty.”

“Yeah!” Mina exclaimed. “I want to be Elsa! You can be Anna!”

You chuckled at her words, expecting nothing less. You helped her go through her closet for her Elsa dress and get into it. She then went to rummage through her toy box for plastic crowns to wear. She found one and gave it to you so you put it on your head, despite it being way too small. Mina found one and shoved it on her head. You smiled brightly and told her that you should take some pictures together to show Appa when he got home. Mina posed for two or three solo pictures and one picture with you before she was off to the races and playing the story to Frozen. You had no other choice but to play along, but you didn’t care. You would happily play the plot to Frozen as many times as she wanted.

Mina tried to talk you into baking, but you told her that she would be baking with her dad the next day. She was quick to settle for playing Restaurant where she baked a number of pretend pastries in her plastic kitchen. You “ate” every single thing she brought you. The lull in activity was an opportune time to respond to Felix’s text.

[Felix: How are things going?]

[You: They’re going well! Mina is being very good. Don’t worry.]

Along the way, you did your best to tidy up. You scooped up the plastic farm animals and other toys in the hallway. When Mina was finished with her kitchen, you put all the little plastic dishes where they belonged. For a little while, when she distracted herself in her room with her crayons, you continued to clean her room and put her laundry away. You had to admit that you weren’t great at cleaning your own apartment, but this was the home of an overwhelmed single dad and his lively little girl. Felix had a lot on his plate and you were happy to help where you could.

Before you knew it, Mina reached up with one of her hands to twirl her hair around her finger. Her telltale sign of being tired. It was thoughtless and unconscious. You asked Mina if she was tired, but she violently shook her head no and claimed to be hungry instead. So, you took her to the pantry and told her to point to what she wanted. You lifted her into your arms so she could get a better look. She decided on a pack of Pororo fruit snacks. You grabbed her one and suggested that you watch a movie. Mina immediately perked up and agreed but only if you watched... you guessed it... Frozen.

You didn’t mind in the slightest. It was getting late and if it would get Mina to calm down then you were happy. You carried her into the living room and navigated the TV the best you could. He had a different TV system than you but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. After a few clumsy minutes, you put the movie on and settled back into the couch. Mina sat surprisingly still while she watched but you figured the fruit snacks helped. She sat still through the first twenty minutes or so. Her eyes were glued to the screen.

When her fruit snack bag was empty, she got off the couch and meandered around the living room and played with random toys she found on the floor for a few minutes before moving to the next. Every few minutes she would sit on the couch next to you and watch the movie for a while more, all while playing with her hair. You sat there and watched, slowly adjusting to lay on your side on the couch so you could watch her and the movie while being horizontal. You loved Mina endlessly but after playing with her for several hours you still got tired. You moved one of the couch pillows under your head and rolled onto your back.

After a minute, Mina moved to sit in front of your torso. You almost cried with relief when she yawned. You checked your watch and grinned. Her bedtime was almost upon you. Mina watched the movie for a few more minutes before she made a decision that melted your heart and made you fall so much more in love with her. Mina turned and crawled up onto the couch with you. Just when you thought she was done she crawled up onto your torso and laid her head on your shoulder. Her legs straddled your stomach and her feet barely touched the couch below her. Your lip quivered, almost about to cry with how adorable she was.

“Are you tired, babygirl?” You whispered. “Do you want to go to bed?”

“No. Wanna lay here with you. Like I do with Appa sometimes.”

“Of course. Does it help you sleep, babygirl?” You smiled and wrapped your arms around her and let her lay with you. She only nodded at your question. You began to gently rub your hand along her bath, occasionally moving to run your fingers through her dark hair. This caused her eyes to slide shut and her breathing to slow.

“I miss Appa, when will he be home?” Mina’s voice was slow.

“I don’t know, but he’ll be here when you wake up. I promise.” You placed a soft kiss on her hair.

“Aunty?”

“Hm?”

“Why did Appa tell me I can’t call you Eomma?” Mina asked quietly and your eyes widened. Eomma. Mommy.

“Do you want to call me Eomma?”

“You are my Eomma, right?”

“What makes you say that?” You asked.

“You play with me and Appa. And you take care of me. That’s what Eommas do!” Mina exclaimed. “I want you to be my Eomma.”

Your eyes widened and you were sure they were the size of dinner plates. You wanted to ask questions, but before you knew it Mina started to snore lightly. She left you alone with a sleeping toddler on your chest and Frozen playing in the background. You checked your watch one more time and you wondered when Felix would be home. You needed to get out of here immediately.

Felix didn’t want you to be her mother. If he did, he wouldn’t be out on a date with someone else right now. And if he didn’t want you to be Mina’s mother... you didn’t know how much more you could take. You loved both of them so much and you hated the idea of leaving them behind. You’d never wanted to be part of a family more in your life. You wanted to wake up next to Felix every morning and you wanted to make breakfast for your darling little step-daughter. You wanted to take her to school and pick her up. You wanted to kiss Felix when he came home from work. And you wanted to give him another baby. He was already such an amazing dad, and you wanted to do it with him.

Slowly, your eyes slid shut. Lulled by Mina’s breathing and quiet snores, it didn’t take much for you to start to doze off. You originally wanted to put Mina to bed and then stay up to talk to Felix when he got home from his date, but you had no idea when that would be. You figured he was having a good time, since he hadn’t texted you aside from once. On one hand, you loved that he was having a good time but on the other you wished that he was having a good time with you.

Before you knew it, the music of the movie faded out to black. You hadn’t meant to fall asleep but you were out like a light. At least you knew that Mina was safe and you would be right there if something went wrong.

You weren’t sure how long you were asleep, but at some point you were somewhat roused by the door to the apartment opening and the jingling of keys. You tried to open your eyes but your exhaustion got the better of you. You kept quiet and didn’t open your eyes as Felix slipped off his shoes and made his way into the living room. He chuckled quietly and you sensed him kneeling by the couch to get a look at you both. He ran a hand through Mina’s hair a few times and your heart sank. You wondered for a moment if he could even see you, but then his hand moved from her head to yours. His fingers ran through your hair a few times and you fought the urge to break the ruse and open your eyes.

“So pretty...” Felix muttered under his breath. “You’re so pretty... it’s like you don’t even know.”

You sucked in a quiet breath and hoped that he hadn’t caught it. Thankfully, he hadn’t. Gently, he slid one of his arms under your neck and the other under your knees. Almost effortlessly he lifted both you and his daughter into the air. You could only imagine it was awkward for him to carry the both of you, but you didn’t wake.

You kept your eyes shut as Felix walked down the hallway to his bedroom. He kicked open the door and after a moment he gently set you down on his bed. Instantly, his smell overwhelmed your senses and you sighed happily. You relaxed into the sheets, letting his scent overwhelm you. Felix chuckled again before slowly lifting Mina off of you. You almost whined when you were parted but you kept up the ruse and rolled onto your side. When you risked opening one of your eyes, Felix had retreated out of his room to put Mina to bed properly.

After a few minutes, you thought you dozed off again but then the bed dipped behind you. Felix’s arm slid under your neck and gently coaxed you to roll over so your head rested on his shoulder. From the feel of the material under your skin, he hadn’t changed out of his date clothes yet. Under the guise of sleep, you nuzzled deeper into him to inhale his honey-like scent. You thought you’d gotten away with falling asleep but his voice pulled you back out.

“Are you asleep?” Felix whispered and his deep voice made you shiver. “Did I wake you?”

“Hm?” You hummed. He brought his other arm around you to hug you properly. His hand traced up and down your spine, similar to what you’d just done with Mina not too long ago.

“Y/N, thank you.”

“Mm.”

“Y/N?”

“Yeah?” You groggily lifted your head to meet his eyes. Even in the dim lighting of his bedroom, they sparkled.

“What are you doing to me?” His voice came out mostly as breath as something within him gave way. His deep eyes penetrated yours and you couldn’t breathe. “Holding my daughter like she’s your own? Loving her the way you do?”

“I...” You suddenly felt a lot more awake. You tried to sit up but he gripped you tighter.

“You cleaned her room. You cleaned my house and did the dishes.”

“I did. Why would I not? I do love her.” You declared, your voice coming out stronger. “Is that wrong?”

“No.” He breathed, his eyes deepening. “Y/N... the entire time I was out today I could barely focus. I wanted to know what you were doing. I wanted to know if you were having a good time. Of course I was thinking about Mina but I was also thinking about you. The entire time. And then I come home and I can see how much you love her in everything you do. I see how well you take care of her. Why?”

“Felix...”

“She wants you to be her mother.” Felix admitted quietly.

“I know. She told me.”

“You care for her so much and you’re the first real consistent mother-figure she’s had. But... I didn’t want that to scare you. I asked out my coworker because I don’t want to force you into anything. Because I... also want you to be her mother.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry... I shouldn’t have said anything. But you’re so good with her and she loves you so much. Y/N... I love you so much. I thought you would never want anything with a single dad and his daughter but I don’t think I can keep it to myself anymore.” Felix’s arms tightened around you, as if he was afraid that you would disappear.

“Felix... you love me?”

“So, so much. You’re so lovely. With me and with her. I was so afraid all night that I was going to lose you.”

“Lose me?”

“Y/N, I don’t want to be with anyone else. I don’t want anyone else by my side. You’ve been so distant lately and I thought for sure you hated me.”

“Felix, I could never hate you! I want to be in your lives. But...” You paused before you finally spoke your mind. “I was afraid that I would become irrelevant if a new woman came into the picture. I figured you were trying to find a mother for Mina, and it hurt when I thought you would never consider me.”

“All night, when I was with her, the only thing I could think of was that I wanted to wake up with you tomorrow. Not her. Not anyone else. You’re so beautiful and caring and I want so much to hold you like this every night. I’ve been focusing on dating other people and trying not to show you how much I love you because I don’t want to scare- mmf-”

You shut him up by leaning up and slotting your mouth over his plump lips. Felix blinked a few times as he took in the new situation. However, it didn’t take him long to melt into you. His hand moved from your spine to the back of your head to deepen the kiss. His mouth was warm and wet and he moved his lips skillfully. Felix leaned over you slightly and pressed your back into the bed. He kissed you fully and deeply, letting all of his love for you seep into the moment. You reached up to run your hands through his black hair and sighed into his lips. After another minute or so of kissing, you pulled away first.

“I love you, too. More than you know.” You whispered, a smile rising onto your kiss-swollen lips. “And I love Mina. I would love nothing more than to be her mother.”

“Go out with me? On a proper date? I can get my mother to watch Mina and we can do whatever we want.” Felix asked, his beautifully freckled cheeks flushed a charming shade of red.

“I would love to go out with you, Felix.”

He leaned in to reclaim your lips and you knew instantly that you would get to kiss him for the rest of your life. You smiled into it, already excited to wake up the next morning with your brand-new family.

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