Hi, it's been quite a while hasn't it? I haven't written on here in so long but I decided to just post whenever I can with little blurbs like these.
Summery: Leon and you became friends after ending a long term relationship with your ex. He was connected to you in more ways than you thought he was.
cw: Non-established relationship. Cute fluff. A real life situation coming from the author. Leon has a little boy around four years old.
Starting over was never as easy as people liked to pretend it was. Some talked about it like it was simple—like you could close one chapter of your life, gently set it aside, and walk into the next without carrying anything with you. As if love could be something temporary, something that faded quietly over time until both people simply agreed it was over.
As if the person who once felt like your entire world could slowly become just another memory.
Like one day you woke up and realized the spark was gone, and that was that.
But it never worked like that.
Ending a two-year relationship felt like trying to tear apart something that had been carefully built piece by piece. Two years of memories, routines, inside jokes, late-night conversations, shared plans for a future that once felt so certain. Two years of learning someone in ways no one else ever had. You knew the little things about them—the way they laughed when they were tired, the way their voice softened when they said your name, the small habits that once made your chest ache with affection.
And now you were the one who had to look at them and break their heart.
You had to be the one to bring up the conversation that had been sitting heavy in your chest for weeks, maybe months. The one they never saw coming. Because to them, everything was fine. Everything was good. They looked at the two of you and saw something strong, something steady—something that couldn’t possibly fall apart.
They thought you were happy.
They thought the two of you were unstoppable.
But the truth sat in your chest like a weight you couldn’t shake.
Because while they felt secure, you felt suffocated.
Somewhere along the way, loving them had slowly turned into losing pieces of yourself. Little things at first—changing parts of your personality, adjusting the way you spoke, the way you acted, the things you liked. You told yourself it was normal. That relationships required compromise.
But compromise had slowly turned into transformation.
You had molded yourself into someone easier for them to love. Someone calmer, quieter, softer around the edges. Someone who fit better beside them.
Someone who wasn’t really you anymore.
And the worst part was that they never asked you to break yourself like that.
Because that’s who you’ve always been.
The kind of person who bends until they break if it means someone else gets to be happy.
So with that kind of weight sitting heavy in your chest, it was impossible not to feel completely lost.
Lost in the quiet aftermath of it all. Lost in the realization that two entire years of your life had been spent loving someone who, in the end, was never meant to stay. Two years of memories that now felt fragile in your head, like something you didn’t quite know what to do with anymore. They were still there—every moment, every laugh, every night you swore you couldn’t imagine your life without them—but suddenly they didn’t lead anywhere.
And that was the part that hurt the most.
Because now your mind wouldn’t stop circling the same questions over and over again.
Maybe this pain wasn’t worth it. Maybe the loneliness creeping in around your life was worse than the quiet suffocation you had felt before. At least when you were with them, there was someone beside you. Someone to talk to. Someone who knew you in ways no one else did.
Now there was just silence.
Now there was just you and your thoughts.
And sometimes, in the late hours when everything felt heavier, your mind would wander to the dangerous what-ifs. The ones that made your chest tighten all over again.
What if you gave up too soon?
What if you walked away from someone you were supposed to fight harder for?
The uncertainty was the cruelest part of it all. Because there was no way of knowing if this pain was leading you somewhere better, or if you had just destroyed something that could have lasted forever.
If only life worked differently.
If only you could see what waited for you somewhere down the road. If you could catch even the smallest glimpse of the person you might meet someday—the one who might fit beside you without all the bending and reshaping. The one who would make all this heartbreak feel like it had meant something.
Maybe then it would be easier.
Maybe then you wouldn’t spend so much time lying awake, staring at the ceiling, wondering if you had just walked away from the best thing you were ever going to have.
Because right now, all you could see was the empty space where they used to be.
And the terrifying uncertainty of what your life was supposed to look like without them in it.
So as you sat there, half lost in the endless loop of your own thoughts, the quiet hum of your civilian job became little more than background noise. Your hands moved automatically, doing the same small tasks you’d done a hundred times before—straightening displays, organizing the counter, scanning over paperwork that barely held your attention. It was the kind of work you could do without really thinking about it.
Because when your mind had nothing to focus on, it wandered right back to the same place it had been stuck in for days.
The emptiness that came with it.
Your store was quiet that afternoon, the soft buzz of the overhead lights and the faint sound of music playing through an old speaker filling the space. It almost felt peaceful—until the sharp ding of the entrance bell cut clean through the silence.
Your head lifted automatically, eyes drifting toward the door out of habit more than curiosity.
And that’s when you saw him.
A familiar figure stepped through the doorway, the afternoon light briefly outlining him before the door swung shut behind him. Broad shoulders, uniform pressed neatly, the faint shine of a badge catching the light as he moved further inside.
But not just any officer.
You recognized him immediately.
Blonde hair sat neatly on his head, the light strands catching under the store lights as he stepped inside. Baby blue eyes scanned the room, bright and observant, the kind that seemed to take everything in without trying too hard. His face still had that youthful look to it too—a soft, almost boyish baby face that made him seem younger than most officers.
And, like always, there was that small, easy smile resting on his lips. The kind that came naturally to him.
The same guy who had come into the shop a few months back, lingering by the counter longer than most customers ever did. At first, it had been harmless—just small talk while you rang up whatever he had grabbed off the shelf. Casual questions, easy conversation, the kind that felt natural enough that you didn’t think much of it at the time.
He had asked your name first.
Then came the light teasing, the polite compliments, the way he leaned casually against the counter like he had nowhere else to be. You could remember the moment his confidence had faltered slightly, the shift in his expression when he finally worked up the nerve to ask for your number.
It had been oddly sweet, honestly.
But you had still been in a relationship back then.
You remembered giving him a small apologetic smile as you explained that you had a boyfriend and weren’t interested. You had expected some awkwardness, maybe even a bit of irritation—but instead he had taken it surprisingly well. Just a small nod, a quick grin like it hadn’t bothered him too much.
“Can’t blame a guy for trying,” he had said with a light shrug.
After that, though, he hadn’t come around nearly as much.
At first you hadn’t noticed, but over time the pattern became obvious. The occasional visits stopped, the easy conversations disappearing with them. Part of you had always assumed that maybe you bruised his ego a little. It wouldn’t have been surprising.
After all, the man had a reputation around the city.
The handsome officer everyone seemed to recognize. A lot of ladies tried their shot with him, from what you could tell or heard about around the town. The kind of guy who turned heads when he walked into a room.
A heartthrob, as some liked to call him.
Which was probably why seeing him walk through your door again now caught you slightly off guard.
Because it had been a while.
But you noticed how he seemed to wander right towards your boss; a woman who felt like a mother figure to you considering your own wasn’t a very good one— and he started talking to her like he’s known her for years.
This peaked your interest considering you didn’t know they knew each other at all but here they were; conversing like old friends.
So as you stood behind the counter, scanning a customer out absent mindedly while flicking your eyes to your boss and him talking, it only made you curious even more.
““‘Scuse me, that was supposed to be on sale?”
The voice cut clean through the fog of your thoughts, pulling you out of the spiral your mind had been trapped in. It took you a second to realize the man standing in front of the counter was talking to you.
“What?” you blinked, glancing down at the gift card still sitting in your hand where you had just run it across the scanner.
“It was supposed to be like… fifteen percent off or something,” the man explained, pointing lightly toward the display behind him. His tone was easygoing, and the small smile on his face made it clear he wasn’t trying to be difficult about it.
“Oh,” you murmured, your brows pulling together as you looked up at the register screen. Sure enough, the price had rung up full. “Uh—hold on.”
You leaned closer to the monitor like maybe staring at it harder would somehow fix the issue, but the number didn’t change.
“Let me go grab my boss,” you said after a moment, setting the card down on the counter. “She’ll know how to fix it.”
“Okay,” the man replied simply, still patient as ever.
You pushed the small swinging gate open and stepped out from behind the counter, walking toward the aisle where your boss was organizing a display a few feet away. She noticed you approaching before you could even open your mouth.
“Hey, baby cakes, what’s up?” she greeted casually.
It was the nickname she’d given you not long after you started working there. At first it had caught you off guard, but by now it barely registered.
“I just need your help at the register,” you explained. “The gift cards aren’t ringing up fifteen percent off like they’re supposed to.”
You stopped beside the blonde officer who stood facing her. When you glanced up at him, he gave a small nod in greeting— his quiet way of saying hello.
You returned the gesture.
Your boss’s eyes flicked between the two of you.
And then, without even a second of hesitation, she blurted out, “You guys should totally date.”
For a moment, the words didn’t fully register in your head.
You just stood there, staring at your boss with a slightly dumbfounded expression, like your brain had lagged behind the conversation. It hung in the air awkwardly for a second, your mind still trying to catch up with what she had just said.
You guys should totally date.
It took another beat for it to actually sink in.
And when it did, your eyes instinctively flicked toward the officer standing beside you.
That’s when you noticed it.
The way the color had suddenly rushed to his cheeks, a soft pink spreading across them almost instantly. His reaction was quick, like he hadn’t expected that to come out of her mouth either. One of his hands came up to cover his mouth as he let out a quiet, breathy chuckle, clearly trying to play it off.
But it didn’t quite hide it.
The way his shoulders shifted slightly. The way he looked down for a second, rubbing the back of his neck like he suddenly didn’t know what to do with himself.
And for someone who carried himself the way he did—calm, confident, the kind of guy who seemed used to attention—it was surprisingly endearing.
The thought slipped into your mind before you could stop it.
You could already feel the heat creeping up your cheeks, the warmth spreading fast enough that you were sure it was obvious. Your eyes flicked between your boss and the officer beside you, still trying to process the fact that she had just said that out loud—so casually too, like it was the most normal suggestion in the world.
“You heard me,” she replied without missing a beat.
There wasn’t even a hint of embarrassment on her face. If anything, she looked entirely satisfied with herself.
And before either of you could even think of a response, she simply brushed past the two of you like the moment was already over, heading straight for the register to help the waiting customer.
Leaving the two of you standing there.
For a few seconds, neither of you said anything. The silence hung awkwardly between you, thick enough that you could practically feel it pressing in. When you glanced over at him again, the faint pink still lingered on his cheeks, though his hand had dropped from his mouth now.
He let out another small, slightly embarrassed laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Uh… sorry about that,” he said, his voice light despite the obvious awkwardness.
You huffed out a quiet laugh despite yourself, shaking your head. “No worries.”
The tension eased a little after that.
Conversation started slowly at first—simple things. Small talk. The kind of easy back-and-forth that had happened the first time he ever came into the store months ago. But once it started, it didn’t feel forced. If anything, it felt strangely natural.
He leaned casually against the counter while your boss handled the customer, the two of you filling the quiet with light conversation.
Little jokes here and there.
What was supposed to be just a quick moment stretched into something longer without either of you really noticing. Before you realized it, nearly fifteen minutes had passed. Fifteen minutes of easy conversation and soft laughter that felt… surprisingly comfortable.
Comfortable enough that when the moment came for him to leave, he hesitated slightly.
Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
“Hey, uh,” you started, glancing at him for a moment before speaking again. “Is it too late to get your number?”
Your stomach flipped slightly.
Months ago, you had turned him down without hesitation because you had someone else.
Now things were different.
He hesitated for only a second before finally taking the small receipt paper you pulled from your machine and began writing down his number
“Sure,” He said, trying to sound casual as he held it out for you to grab.
His smile widened just a little while staring down at you with those gorgeous baby blues.
Just two people exchanging numbers. Talking. Getting to know each other.
You could be friends, right?
Months passed before you really realized how much time had gone by.
What started as occasional texts slowly turned into something more constant. At first it was simple—checking in every now and then, little jokes sent back and forth, conversations that picked up randomly throughout the day. But somewhere along the way, it became part of your routine.
Late night conversations.
Random pictures of things that reminded you of each other.
And when your schedules allowed it, the two of you would meet up. Nothing fancy—just small things. Grabbing coffee, walking around town, sitting in his car talking longer than either of you planned to. The kind of time spent together that felt easy.
That was when you learned more about him.
More about his life outside of the uniform.
More about the person he was when he wasn’t just “Officer Kennedy.”
Like the fact that he had a little boy.
He had told you about him one evening while the two of you were sitting on a bench outside a small café, his voice softening in a way you hadn’t heard before when he talked about work or anything else. You could see it immediately in his expression—the quiet pride, the warmth that lit up his face when he spoke about his kid.
The boy’s mother and Leon weren’t together anymore, but they did their best to co-parent for their son. It wasn’t always perfect, he admitted, but they tried.
Because at the end of the day, their little boy came first.
And it was obvious how much Leon loved him.
The way he talked about him made that painfully clear.
Always making time for him no matter how busy work got. No matter how exhausted he was after long shifts. If his son wanted to play, Leon played. If he wanted attention, Leon gave it without hesitation.
You’d even seen it yourself a few times.
The way his whole demeanor changed when he was around his son—softer, lighter somehow. The serious edge he carried as an officer fading into something warmer, more patient.
And the thing that stuck out the most?
He could never seem to tell the boy no.
Even when he was clearly tired. Even when he probably needed a moment to breathe after a long day.
Yes to playing one more game.
Yes to staying up a little later for a movie.
Yes to whatever small thing made his kid smile.
And you couldn’t help but admire it.
There was something about the way Leon loved so deeply that stayed with you. The way he treated his son like the most important thing in the world, protecting that little piece of innocence with everything he had.
Every time you saw it, every time you heard him talk about his boy with that same soft pride in his voice.
You felt something warm bloom quietly in your chest.
Something that made your heart swell just a little more each time.
And today was no different.
Leon had invited you to spend the day with him and his son, something he had mentioned a few days earlier over text like it was no big deal. But to you, it was. Being included in something like that—being welcomed into that small part of his life—felt oddly special.
The plan for the day had been simple: whatever his son wanted to do.
And honestly, you were perfectly fine with that. More than fine, actually. You felt honored that Leon trusted you enough to let you step into his little world with his boy, even if it was just for the afternoon.
Leon had picked you up earlier that morning, his car pulling up outside your place right on time. The moment you opened the passenger door, a small voice chirped from the back seat.
You looked back to see his little boy waving at you enthusiastically from his car seat, a bright smile stretched across his tiny face.
Your heart fluttered instantly.
“Hi there,” you laughed softly, giving him a wave back.
Leon’s son had quickly decided that the park was the place he wanted to go today, something Leon had agreed to without even a second of hesitation.
So the three of you headed there together.
But during the drive, you started to notice something a little… off.
Not completely silent, but quieter than usual. Normally, he could talk your ear off if you gave him the chance. He always had something to say—a story from work, a random thought, some teasing comment that would make you roll your eyes.
Today, though, his voice was softer. Slower.
When you glanced over at him, you noticed the faint shadows under his eyes—small bags that hadn’t been there the last time you saw him. His gaze seemed a little heavier too, the kind that suggested he’d probably kill for a solid power nap right about now.
Still, he did his best to stay present. He responded when you spoke, glanced back at his son whenever the boy excitedly pointed something out the window, and even managed a few tired smiles along the way.
When you finally pulled into the park, Leon climbed out first and walked around to the backseat.
You watched as he carefully lifted his son out of the car, settling the boy easily on his hip like he’d done it a thousand times before.
“Alright, bud,” Leon said, brushing some hair back from the boy’s forehead. “You’ve got about an hour, maybe two.”
His son tilted his head. “Why?”
“Because,” Leon sighed dramatically, though the small smile on his face softened it, “you need a nap today.”
The kid didn’t seem thrilled about that idea, but he didn’t argue either.
And if you were being honest, it almost sounded like Leon was trying to convince himself just as much as his son.
Probably because that nap would give him a chance to relax for a little while too.
The next hour passed quickly.
The three of you ran around the playground, the afternoon filled with laughter and the sound of little sneakers pounding against the ground. You played tag until Leon’s son dissolved into giggles, pushed him on the swings while he shouted for you to go higher, and chased him around the jungle gym while he declared himself the fastest kid alive.
Leon joined in too, even though you could tell he was running on fumes.
Still, he never once slowed down when his son wanted to play.
By the time an hour had passed, Leon finally clapped his hands together and let out a tired breath.
“Alright, bud,” he said gently. “Time to head home.”
Little boys were no joke.
Leon started gathering the few things you had brought with you—water bottles, a small bag with snacks, the boy’s jacket that had been tossed aside earlier. You helped pick up the rest before Leon scooped his son back up into his arms.
The boy rested easily against him, his small arms loosely wrapped around Leon’s neck.
As they walked ahead of you toward the car, something about the scene made your chest tighten in the best way.
Leon carried him so naturally, one hand secure against the boy’s back as he murmured something softly that you couldn’t quite hear.
Without thinking too much about it, you pulled your phone out and quickly snapped a picture from behind them.
Just the two of them walking together.
It felt like a moment worth keeping.
By the time you reached the car, Leon carefully settled his son back into the car seat and buckled him in, double-checking the straps like he always did. Once everything was secure, he shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side.
Soon enough, the three of you were back in the car.
And Leon started the drive toward his house so the boy could finally get that much-needed nap.
The drive back wasn’t very long.
Partly because the park wasn’t too far from Leon’s place—but mostly because Leon was driving just a little faster than he probably should have been. You noticed it when the car picked up speed along the quieter streets, the tires humming softly against the pavement.
It didn’t bother you though.
You trusted his driving, and honestly you could understand why he was eager to get home. His son was starting to get that quiet, sleepy look in the backseat—the kind kids get right before they crash.
Leon probably wanted to get him inside before he completely knocked out in the car.
So you just leaned back in your seat, glancing out the window as the houses passed by while the car filled with a comfortable kind of silence.
Eventually Leon slowed as he pulled into his driveway, the car rolling to a stop in front of the house.
He shifted the car into park and turned the engine off, the sudden quiet settling over the vehicle.
“Alright,” he murmured mostly to himself as he unbuckled his seatbelt.
Leon stepped out first, closing the driver’s door quietly before walking around to the backseat. You followed a moment later, stepping out onto the driveway just in time to see him carefully opening the door and leaning inside to unbuckle his son from the car seat.
His movements were gentle, careful in that way parents naturally are.
He lifted the boy into his arms with ease, adjusting him against his hip while grabbing the small bag of things you’d brought with you earlier.
You walked up behind them, a small smile tugging at your lips without you even realizing it.
It still felt a little surreal.
Spending the day with him and his son like this—so simple and normal that it almost didn’t feel real. No pressure, no complicated expectations. Just the three of you enjoying the day together.
Leon unlocked the front door and stepped inside first, nudging it open with his shoulder while balancing his son in one arm.
The house itself was modest, comfortable in a lived-in kind of way. Nothing fancy, but warm. You stepped in after him, watching as he set the bag and a couple other things down on a chair near the door.
The living room sat just ahead.
A couch rested against one wall—though you noticed pretty quickly it wasn’t a typical one. It was one of those sofas that could fold out into a futon. Right now it was set up as a regular couch, a blanket tossed over the back like it was used often.
“You can sit down,” Leon said, glancing over at you with a small, tired smile. “I just need to grab something to drink really fast.”
“Okay,” you replied softly.
He disappeared into the kitchen a moment later, the faint sound of cabinets opening following him.
You made your way over to the couch and sat down, sinking slightly into the cushions as the quiet of the house settled around you.
Your attention shifted toward the middle of the living room.
That’s when you noticed the small mattress laid out on the floor.
It looked like it had been used recently—blankets slightly rumpled, a pillow resting near the top. You realized pretty quickly it was probably where his son had been sleeping the last few nights.
The couch probably wasn’t comfortable enough for Leon to leave the boy there alone.
And sure enough, his son shuffled over toward the mattress now, clearly exhausted from all the running around earlier. The little boy climbed onto it without much fuss, curling up slightly as if his body already knew it was time to sleep.
You watched him quietly, a soft warmth spreading through your chest at the simple sight.
It was such a small thing.
But it felt strangely intimate being here to witness it.
A few moments later, Leon came back from the kitchen, a glass of water in his hand.
“Did you want something?” he asked, lifting the glass slightly as he motioned toward it.
You shook your head, looking up at him with a soft smile. “No, I’m okay. Thank you.”
“Alright,” he replied quietly.
He walked over and sank down onto the couch beside you, the cushions dipping slightly under his weight. The tiredness in his movements was more obvious now that he was finally sitting down. He leaned forward just enough to set his glass on the small glass table to your left before settling back again.
That’s when you noticed the pillow in his other hand.
He must’ve grabbed it from his room while he was in the kitchen.
It made sense—if he was planning to stay out here while his son slept, he probably wanted something a little more comfortable than the bare arm of the couch.
Leon glanced over at you, hesitating for a brief moment before speaking again.
“Do you mind if I lay down against you?”
Your heart fluttered almost instantly at the question.
“Of course not,” you replied softly.
You moved your hands from your lap, giving him room as he carefully set the pillow down beside you. Leon shifted until he was lying along the couch, his head resting on the pillow close to your thigh.
He let out a quiet breath as he settled in, like his body had been waiting all day for this moment to relax.
At first, you weren’t quite sure what to do with your arms.
You didn’t want your arm trapped awkwardly beneath him, but you also didn’t want to accidentally make him uncomfortable by pulling away too quickly. So you kept your hand lifted slightly in the air for a moment, giving him some space while trying to stay comfortable yourself.
Eventually though, your arm started to get tired.
Slowly, you lowered it, letting your hand rest gently against his shoulder.
Leon didn’t react negatively at all.
If anything, he seemed to relax even more, his breathing slowing slightly as his eyes drifted shut.
So you let yourself relax too.
The room was quiet, save for the faint rustling of his son shifting around on the mattress in the middle of the living room. Leon never fully fell into deep sleep though—not completely. You could tell he was still half-aware, always listening for his boy.
He drifted in and out of sleep instead.
A few minutes of quiet rest. Then a small shift when his son moved. Then back to resting again.
You found yourself slowly starting to doze off too, your eyelids growing heavier as the peaceful quiet settled around you.
Then you felt Leon move slightly.
His hand lifted, gently reaching for yours where it rested on his shoulder. Carefully, almost absentmindedly, he guided your hand down until it rested against the side of his face.
Your palm settled softly along his jaw.
You could feel the faint scratch of stubble there, light against your skin as it trailed down his cheek and toward his neck. His skin was warm—warmer than you expected—and surprisingly soft for someone with such a physically demanding job.
Your thumb brushed slightly near the spot where his pulse rested beneath his skin.
You could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat there.
Leon’s hand remained loosely around yours, his thumb slowly rubbing across your knuckles in slow, absentminded motions. The touch was gentle. Soothing.
It made your heart begin to beat a little faster.
Not in a bad way, Just nervous in the best kind of way.
Every once in a while, the movement would stop completely.
You’d think he had finally fallen fully asleep.
But then a minute or two later, his thumb would start moving again—soft, slow circles against your skin like it was something he was doing without even thinking about it.
He shifted slightly closer, pressing his cheek deeper into your palm.
Your index finger slid just enough that it rested in between his lips.
And that’s when you noticed how soft they were.
You couldn’t help the small thought that passed through your mind.
Most of the guys you’d dated before never really had soft lips. Not truly. They were fine—normal—but there was always some dryness, some roughness that came with it.
Smooth. Warm. Not even slightly chapped.
Leon was almost obsessive about taking care of himself. You had noticed that over the months you’d spent getting to know him. His hygiene, his appearance, the way he kept everything neat and clean.
And strangely enough, that kind of care was attractive.
A man who actually took care of himself.
The quiet intimacy of the moment slowly pulled you deeper into that half-asleep haze too. The warmth of him beside you, the gentle way he held your hand, the peaceful quiet of the room—it all made your eyes grow heavier.
Leon’s lips brushing softly against the pad of your finger.
So light you almost thought you imagined it.
But then he did it again, slower this time.
Your heart fluttered helplessly in your chest.
He was so sweet. So gentle with everything and everyone he cared for.
He made it extremely hard not to fall for him.
But here you were, doing exactly that.
