From the moment that they had begun to get into talks of the activities the three of them would do together and Rick had made it clear from the beginning he had no intention of intruding on Eamon’s place as the father of her child. With Eamon gone now, though, the nature of that might change slightly. While he still had no intentions of replacing Eamon, he wanted to be there for her little girl as much as possible, and he had made that clear to from the very second she had talked to him about it. He wanted her to know that she could depend on him to be an active part of her daughter’s life- whatever she would need, he would be there in a heartbeat when Eamon could not be and was not available on a phone call. A boy needs his father, he remembered telling his ex-girlfriend when she had spoken about her own five year-old son who had not been in her care at the time, echoing his own feelings about it. Speaking of, he had yet to address the matter of the fact he would be departing to Stockholm for a few days within the next week to be there as his father departed the existential plane and into the next, whatever the next may be. There had been so much going on, he hadn’t a moment to bring it up and he figured he wouldn’t tonight, unless Luna left the room at some point long enough for him to address it, knowing it would be better that way. Hell, he probably even shouldn’t have brought up divorce, which had him on edge, but it had been absentminded. He really needed to watch himself tonight, remain on his best behavior, nervous to make a good impression. Regardless, he was sure that Anastasia didn’t feel too fondly toward his parents from what he had told her of his past and he was damn sure that she didn’t after their therapist session together where his psychiatrist had gone through all the potential issues that had stemmed from his deeply deprived childhood. The list had been so Goddamn long he had expected Ana to bolt out the door. Luckily, his therapist had explained what would be an issue better than he ever could. For the most part, his issues lay with both abandonment and the worry of faithfulness of another. Always left or neglected by those he cared about, along with being cheated on, it had become a deep-seated fear and though Ana had eased it, it would still require some adjustment period of his own that he was working on. Still, her reassurance helped and he was sure she would be there for him when he did have to leave, but there would be a promise of his quick return. It was humorous that the little girl had been inching closer to him this entire time he had been speaking with her, watching her out of the corner of his eyes and waving the bunny enticingly. “Only one, I promise,” he said with a nod of his head, “But if you’re only allowin’ me one, I gotta set up an Easter egg hunt for her. No ifs, ands, or buts. A girl has to have some chocolate in her life. Besides, this bunny is special. She should have it.”
Falling silent and focusing his attention on her as she nodded her head in response to his question, he smiled at her and nodded slowly. He could tell that she wasn’t entirely comfortable with it, so he would allow it to drop and ask her any other questions he had in private later, yet when she began to talk about it, he gave her his full attention, not wanting to miss a moment, absorbing it. When he was focused on her, that was all that mattered, although half his attention remained on Luna, not wanting her to feel ignored as his parents had made him feel, his gaze occasionally breaking from her to offer small smiles to the girl while she edged closer. While they were in no rush for talks of marriage, or even the possibility of it, it was good to know the door would be opening if it came to that, something he very much found himself hoping for. However, he wouldn’t be jumping the gun anytime soon. What was important now was the steps they would be taking for the girl to grow accustomed to him, and from there transitioning slowly into him spending nights at her house instead and in the presence of her daughter, a change he wouldn’t mind at all. It was what he had been waiting for, after all, and if she found a babysitter for when she wanted a weekend or a day at his house, he didn’t mind that either. Eamon leaving meant that they wouldn’t have nights to spend together for a while until they transitioned, unless she found a suitable sitter, but that was alright with him. He was patient. It was a big step and it meant they were serious, taking steps forward instead of his previous steps back in the now distant past. His head perking up then, he looked up and met her eyes, raising his eyebrows and splitting a grin. “Really? Wow, that’s quick- means ya got a strong case. Sounds like it’ll go over just fine, and when it does, we’ll celebrate some more. That’s a promise.” And he was happy to hear it. Happy she answered his questions at all in the presence of her daughter, finding it comforting that her own anxiety seemed soothed by just his presence. Stepping closer, he smirked in response to her, wiggling his brows and purring, “Just lemme know and we’ll have lil’ celebration party at mine.” His purr was suggestive enough for her to catch the thoughts he had in mind, leaning in close and pressing a kiss to her cheek. After all, it had been a quick minute since they’d had any time to be intimate and even if it was just snuggling her in bed rather than sex, he would have been content. “Seriously, ya left too much Merlot at my place. I gotta do somethin’ with it, I can’t drink it all by myself. But let me know what happens, like, what they tell ya in the letter, okay? We’re gonna have t’ do some serious celebratin’ either way. But seriously, let me know.”
His attention diverted to her child then as he settled on the floor, he smiled as he thought she was so damn shy compared to both her parents and their strong attitudes. She would grow into it, sure enough. Her response only made him grin, pleased with himself and that he had made the right choice to have his childhood toy fixed up. It needed a new home anyway. It was even more adorable that her voice was not much more than a whisper, his grin only spreading further across his face, chuckling and his eyes lighting up with happiness. “Good, he needs it,” he murmured, “He’s had it rough.” Scooting forward when she stepped forward, meeting her in the middle, smiling fondly as she hugged the stuffed bunny, reaching out to touch the bunny’s nose. “His name is Bugs,” he replied softly, “Like Bugs Bunny. That was my thing as a kid, I liked that show. We didn’t really have television so I had to watch it at a friend’s, isn’t that crazy? No television at all.” Sighing to himself, he met her eyes, before looking back to the bunny in her arms and fondly stroking its ear, murmuring, “But… I promise he’s a real special bunny, even more special than all those other stuffed animals ya got. You know why? Cause whenever ya need somebody to hug and your mama’s not around, he’s gonna be there. And he’ll always be right here too,” punctuating his sentence by gently pressing his index finger against her heart, dropping his hands respectfully then. “He’ll love ya always. No matter what. He was there for me when nobody else was. He’s got your back too now.” Damn, she already stole his heart. His smile not leaving his face, he glanced at Ana and inquired softly, “What’s cookin’ for dinner, pretty mama?”
Ana couldn’t help the beaming smile on her face when he recounted the story of the bunny and how important it was for him to have Luna have something that was once so important to him. Also, the way her daughter clutched at the animal and hugged it tight to her chest. If her heart could have exploded in that instant, it would have a thousand times over. “Okay, I have nothing against that.” She said with a little laugh since that had always been a tradition of theirs. It was important for her daughter to live as normal as a life she could and that meant getting up at the crack of dawn to hide some chocolate all over the place and then having to deal with a toddler who was hyped up on sugar for one day, though she was sure to cut all sweets for the next two months just to ween her body off of the sugar rush. It would be nice to have someone to help her though and to share those special moments with. Which she had in the past, but now it would be someone that was present and would cherish them as much as she did. “I’m okay with all of that.” She grinned at him before pressing a hidden kiss to his lips. As of right now, Rick was her friend until the little girl adjusted to his presence and then they would have the talk about her being in a relationship with him and how the male would never take her father’s place, but would just be another figure for her to depend on. As she was reminded of the divorce papers, she shrugged her shoulder. Frankly, she hadn’t put much thought into it apart from rushing to get all the papers done. It was easy given that she’d decided it and there was nothing to be said about it. After all, she was in a new relationship and more than willing to move on from her past in a positive way. Everything that would come after was new beginnings and she couldn’t be happier about it. When it would all be done and said, they would go celebrate and she would be ready to flash her new relationship without guilt. At least then she wouldn’t be a married women stepping out on her husband even if that hadn’t ever been the case. Her other half, or ex-half, had split them up a long time ago, they just hadn’t ever gotten the chance to get their marriage annulled before they found themselves in others beds. Now, she could see nothing but new memories and new traditions to be had, that incorporated both their upbringings. It was an exciting thought, especially that Luna seemed to already be warming up to the male that was so welcoming and familiar with the little girl. It was as if he’d known her, and with how much she spoke of her daughter, he practically did, she was sure of it. “You can bring me anywhere you want to celebrate, anything you want to do. I’m happy to do it as long as we do something.”
Ana knelt down behind the little girl who looked down at the bunny and smiled as she listened intently to the male as he spoke. She had a few teddy bears but nothing that she’d gotten too attached too which always made her feel that her daughter was a little more strong ( though she was aware that was probably something each parent thought about their child ) because she had never hidden behind a security teddy or blanket. However, she could see the initial love for the stuffed animal. After all, she had always been the one to get closest to the most tatted and broken animal, which was only normal for her to love this used bunny. “I will be there for him too,” she said softly, hugging the little bunny in her arms. Soon enough, she walked over to her other toys and proceeded to sit the bunny down at the table for a tea party while Ana and Rick rose. Ana was reminded of dinner and then smiled as she walked to the kitchen. “I have a stew on the go. Something from home and I made that one thing you’ve been wanting to make but couldn’t find the right ingredient for.” She told him, showing him the pot as it was something from his home that they’d been wanting to have for a while now.
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