AN: I'm back. It took longer than I wanted. But I got enough chs for a stable update.
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[Kate's House, Brooklyn – 8:00 AM]
Charlie stood in front of a brick townhouse with a small blue stoop and a pale green door. It was quiet on the street except for the distant rumble of a delivery truck and a dog barking a few houses down. He checked his phone. 8:00 on the dot.
He adjusted the small paper bag in one hand, a white pastry box balanced on top, then rang the doorbell.
Footsteps. Quick and light, followed by a brief shuffle and a voice that sounded like a warning: "One second!"
The door swung open.
Kate stood there, barefoot in a long T-shirt and pajama pants. Her hair was up in a loose bun with a few strands falling around her face. She wasn't wearing any makeup. She blinked once, smiled, and let out a quiet laugh.
"You're on time," she said, stepping aside.
"I figured I'd better be," Charlie said, stepping in. "Wasn't sure what the breakfast vibe was, so I brought a peace offering."
He held up the box.
Kate eyed it with suspicion. "You didn't."
"Donuts," he confirmed, "and chocolate cake."
Kate raised an eyebrow. "You brought my daughter cake at eight in the morning?"
"I panicked," Charlie admitted. "I figured if she liked me, that would help. If she didn't, at least she'd be too busy with cake to complain."
Kate shook her head and closed the door behind him. "That's such a dirty trick. She's going to love you now, and I won't hear the end of it."
Charlie followed her into the living room. It was warm and lived-in. Toys neatly tucked into bins. A few family photos on a side table. A pink sippy cup on the couch.
He looked around. "You've got a nice place."
"Thanks. Still figuring out how to keep it from looking like a toy store exploded," Kate said. "Make yourself at home. I'm gonna change. Kitchen's that way if you want to put the box down."
Charlie stepped into the kitchen. It was cozy, sunlight coming through a small window above the sink. He placed the box on the counter, then looked over and saw a tiny table set up with two plastic chairs and a Peppa Pig placemat.
Just then, he heard small footsteps.
A little girl walked in, rubbing her eyes. Her hair was messy from sleep, and she had a stuffed elephant clutched in one arm. She stopped when she saw him.
Charlie bent down slightly. "Hi there. You must be Lily."
She looked at him, skeptical.
"Your mom said I might meet you," he added.
Lily took a step closer, still sizing him up.
"Did you bring that?" she asked, pointing to the box on the counter.
"I did," Charlie said. "There's cake in there. And donuts."
Lily's eyes widened slightly. She turned and shouted down the hall, "Mummy, he brought cake!"
Kate's voice floated in. "I told you not to yell inside!"
Charlie smiled.
Lily turned back to him. "What kind of cake?"
"Chocolate," he said. "And it has sprinkles."
"Do you know how to play dolls?"
"I can learn."
She seemed to think about it. "You can sit next to me. But don't touch Mr. Waffles."
"I would never."
Kate walked back in wearing a zip-up hoodie and socks. It looked like her jogging outfit. "Is she already recruiting you for doll duty?"
"She's putting me through a screening process," Charlie said.
Kate gave her daughter a quick hug and glanced at the box. "Alright. You want cake for breakfast?"
Lily nodded.
Kate looked at Charlie. "You realize this makes you the favorite now."
"I'm okay with that."
They sat around the kitchen table. Lily ate a small slice of cake with full concentration. Charlie had coffee. Kate made toast and eggs for herself and him.
As they ate...
"So," Kate said between bites, "what do you normally do at 8 AM?"
"In the past, I jogged every morning. But lately, due to workload, I'm just trying to fall back asleep," Charlie said. "Unless the studio calls. Or Berta starts vacuuming."
"Berta?"
"Housekeeper, therapist, enforcer of basic hygiene."
Kate laughed softly. "I like her already."
Lily pointed at Charlie. "Are you gonna be my mummy's boyfriend?"
Charlie coughed a bit and then cleared his throat. Kate looked over with a bit of toast halfway to her mouth.
"Well," Charlie said carefully, "your mum invited me to breakfast and I met you. That's a pretty good start."
Lily nodded seriously. She looked a bit mature for her age. She said, "Okay. But if you lie to her, I'll tell Peppa Pig and she'll bite you."
Charlie grinned. "Deal."
Kate just shook her head, smiling into her coffee.
They finished breakfast slowly, the kind of slow where nobody's in a hurry and nobody feels awkward about it.
After breakfast, Charlie stood up and started stacking plates.
Kate shook her head. "You really don't have to do that."
"I know," Charlie said, carrying the dishes to the sink. "But I'm not great at sitting still when there's something to help with. Also, I'm trying to keep my brownie points."
"You already bought cake. I think you're ahead," Kate said as she followed him after putting Lily down. She rinsed her mug.
Charlie grabbed a sponge and wiped the table while Lily wandered off to the living room with Mr. Waffles in tow. She started setting up her dolls on the couch.
Kate leaned on the counter, watching him. "You always like this?"
"What? Polite?"
"Helpful."
Charlie smiled. "Only when I like someone."
Kate gave him a mock glare. "So this is just a performance?"
"Nope," he said, drying his hands with a kitchen towel. "This is what happens when I sleep well and don't have studio deadlines breathing down my neck."
Kate walked over and opened a drawer, pulling out a pamphlet. "Alright, so... we were planning to head to this small theme park in Jersey today. It's more for kids, but Lily's been asking for weeks."
Charlie glanced at the brochure. It had a cartoon dragon on the front and photos of smiling families next to mild roller coasters and bumper cars.
Kate looked up at him. "You don't have to come. I know it's kind of last-minute and probably not your thing, but if you're free..."
Charlie looked at her, then toward the living room where Lily was now giving her stuffed elephant a tea party.
"I'd love to come," he said.
Kate blinked, a little surprised. "Seriously?"
"Yeah," he said. "I don't have to be anywhere. And I've never actually been to a kid's theme park. Could be a new experience."
Kate smiled. "Alright. But just know, there will be a lot of standing in lines, possibly spilled juice, and at least one bathroom emergency."
Charlie nodded. "Sounds like a great training ground."
Kate raised an eyebrow. "Training for what?"
He shrugged. "Life. Touring. Chaos. You know, the usual."
Kate laughed and folded the pamphlet back up. "Okay then. Let me pack a few things for Lily. You can help her pick shoes if you really want to earn your honorary dad badge."
"Dad badge, huh?" He gave a smug smile.
"You know what I mean," She smiled.
Charlie smiled and walked toward the living room. "Hey, Lily. Want some help picking out shoes for the park?"
She looked up from her dolls. "I can't find my sparkly ones."
"Let's go on a shoe hunt," he said, and she jumped off the couch, already pulling him toward her room.
Kate stood at the kitchen doorway, watching them go. She didn't say anything, but the look on her face said plenty. 'He loves kids and... Lily seems to take an interest in him.' She took a deep breath. 'Ok. Kate. Don't think too much. He's been honest with you so far. So, maybe just go for it... Give him a chance.'
[10:30 AM]
Charlie checked the time on his phone and stood from the living room couch where Lily had been explaining the complex family dynamics of her dolls.
"I'm gonna run out for a bit," he said to Kate, who was zipping up a small daypack in the hallway. "Figured I should dress the part for theme park day. Right now, I look like I'm on my way to a podcast recording."
Kate glanced over her shoulder. "You're fine, but okay. There's a Target three blocks down. Or if you want fancy joggers, there's an overpriced boutique two blocks the other way."
"I'll keep it humble," Charlie said. "Just need sneakers that don't make me look like I borrowed them from a fashion intern."
Kate smiled. "Got it. Be back by eleven. I promised Lily we'd leave by then or I'll have a full-blown mutiny on my hands."
Charlie nodded and grabbed his wallet and keys. "I'll be quick."
[10:45 AM] [Clothing & Shoe store]
Charlie grabbed a plain grey T-shirt, a blue zip-up hoodie, and blue jeans. In the shoe aisle, he picked out a pair of low-top sneakers with memory foam soles.
At the register, the cashier gave him a second look.
"You look a lot like that singer guy. Charlie something."
Charlie smiled. "I get that a lot."
She handed him his change. "Well, if you are, tell Lisa and Laura they're cool as hell."
He gave a small wave and left the store.
[Kate's House – 11:00 AM]
Kate had already buckled Lily into her booster seat in the back. The car was a dark red SUV with multiple safety features.
Charlie jogged up the front steps and gave a quick wave. "Made it."
Kate looked him up and down. "Alright, you win. You officially look like a cool dad on casual duty."
She paused for a moment, 'Ah! I said that again. Arggg! Kate, control it. He ain't her 'dad'.'
Charlie grinned. "I'll take that."
He opened the back door and climbed in beside Lily, who was humming to herself and petting Mr. Waffles. Her eyes lit up when she saw him.
"You changed!"
"I did," he said, pulling his seatbelt on. "I'm theme-park ready now."
She nodded approvingly. "Your shoes are new."
"Yup. Super comfy. I can run, skip, or dance if required."
Lily giggled. "You are funny. We don't skip in the car. You'll hit your head."
Kate looked back through the rearview mirror. "Seatbelts on?"
"Yup," Charlie said.
"Ready, Lily?" Kate asked.
"Ready!"
They pulled away from the curb.
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